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Chapter 960: Ganging Up
Proofreader: Papatonks
Zhuo Fan and the Wu father and son pair sat down, with Baili Jingyu also taking the main seat, in all his indecency, with just a white silk across his bulging midsection.
As for the two girls, they kept serving him regardless.
“Sir, since we’re bosom buddies, I hope you won’t mind while I talk with you like this. Not like I’ll change even if you do. This is how I’ve always been in Goldbough City, a man of my word and headstrong, ha-ha-ha…”
“Lord, never ever change. I love your character!”
Zhuo Fan waved his hand, showing his admiration, “The Goldbough City is your domain and no one can stop City Lord from doing what he loves. Make sure to kick out anyone who disproves of it. Let the world see who’s the man in charge, who is the true city lord!”
Baili Jingyu’s eyes lit up, then stood and walked to Zhuo Fan. He reached out his blubbery hand and shook Zhuo Fan’s hard, “Brother, friend, why couldn’t I have met you earlier? Everyone says that I should act my station and be more of a City Lord, but only you understand my pain. I wish we could’ve met ages ago.”
“The feeling is mutual, he-he-he…”
Zhuo Fan smiled, taking his hands out of those trotters with a touched expression that got Baili Jingyu even more overjoyed.
This was what it meant to go on an endless search only to just look around to find what you needed.
Anyone would be thrilled about meeting a friend that knew you best.
The Wu father and son’s faces fell, their minds frantic. They worked so hard to get the capricious tub of lard to fall in line, yet this kid showed up with a few words and had him at his whim.
[Baili Jingyu has no sense of self. He’s only being overly nice since he’ll be leaving anyway. He wants nothing to do with you, unlike us who are stuck with you.]
[He doesn’t care, but we do. You just let yourself go and enjoy his praises. Anyway, that’s something we can never stomach.]
Ahe-hem…
Wu Jiangtao cut off the two’s touching friendship and smiled, “City Lord, sir wishes to speak with you about the commercial line. Would it be possible to go easier…”
“Uh, oh, well…”
Baili Jingyu’s face changed, taking back his fat hands and sitting in his chair with a frown, “It’s a problem alright. Chairman Wu, the commercial line is only used to transport goods, a channel approved by the other four states. But as it is on the empire’s domain, it’s under tight jurisdiction. It’s not something to be used on a whim. A serious inspection will have to take place each time it’s activated along with thorough examination. I may be the City Lord of Goldbough City and wield great power, but I have great responsibilities as well. I can’t just approve of it out of the blue. Who will be held accountable of any mishaps?”
Wu Jiangtao frowned and nodded, “We know lord’s pain but sir is our most important client. Please, City Lord, help us out and be a little flexible?”
“What flexible?”
Baili Jingyu huffed, “Do you know who’s behind him? Do you know anything about why he wants to use the commercial line? No, you don’t! So how can I be flexible? Every use of the commercial line must be put on record!”
Wu Jiangtao looked at Zhuo Fan and lowered his head.
Zhuo Fan looked at the three of them with an impassive face.
[Is the fatso that stubborn? He’s been dealing with Serene Shores Trading for years yet never gives them any leeway?]
[Two bosses can’t ever reach a consensus?]
[Then there’s this old Wu’s attitude. He’s acting like he’s doing me a favor but actually telling the fatso what to do.]
[Are they ganging up on me, is that it?]
Zhuo Fan squinted, putting his plan in motion, “Lord, as bosom buddies, I hoped to enjoy lord’s power for one tiny matter. But I guess City Lord is tied down by his duty, your power being so different from any other city lord and can’t do everything. I’m sorry for my rudeness, but I’ll have no choice but to travel all the way to the imperial capital and use talk with the other lords.”
Zhuo Fan stood up, walking and muttering, “The City Lord holds no power here and the city would be better off without one. What a pain in the ass.”
“Who said that?”
The ball of fat rumbled in anger, “My word is law here! If you want to do anything, I vow to make it happen!”
“Truly?”
“Yes!” Baili Jingyu nodded heavily.
Zhuo Fan spoke with a smirk, “I want to use the commercial line.”
“Not a problem. Old Wu, get it ready for him!” Baili Jingyu declared.
Ahe-hem…
Wu Jiangtao had to interject again with a red face, trying to get him to cool off, but the lord was blinded by anger, “Old man, enough with the coughing. Just go home and fix it! Anyway, it’ll take three days to get the commercial line ready. Then you can use it. I’m the lord here and what I say is law!”
“Thank you so much, oh great City Lord!”
Zhuo Fan cupped his hands and left. He only got to the door when the fatty shouted, “Wait, come back!”
“What is it, City Lord?”
“What thanks are you talking about?” Baili Jingyu felt his dignity insulted, put on the spot and made promises while forgetting to ask for demands. Only now he recalled that he was getting nothing for it, so he was downright blunt about getting a bribe.
Beaming, Zhuo Fan held out his ring and the fatty raised his and knocked with it.
Zhuo Fan wiggled his eyebrows, “City Lord, recognize this? It’s amazing!”
“A hundred thousand demon spirit stones?”
Baili Jingyu showed a wide smile and nodded, “Sir is a true friend indeed. Next time you drop by Goldbough City, don’t forget to pay your friend a visit!”
“Of course, City Lord, I’ll never forget you, ha-ha-ha…”
Zhuo Fan left with a smile.
Bam!
The door slammed shut and Zhuo Fan’s face was ice cold,
[Damn you, Serene Shores Trading, you dare gang up on me?!]
[Too bad the moment I saw the fatso, I kicked you from being the middleman. But next time we meet, all your company will be in my pocket, humph…]
Zhuo Fan’s eyes flashed and smirked…
After he left, Wu Jiangtao turned to the pleased fatty, “Lord, this isn’t anything like we agreed upon!”
“How so? Didn’t I get him to fork some more goodies?” Baili Jingyu fondled his ring and showed a depraved smile.
Wu Jiangtao’s beard shook, “We still know nothing about him. How are we going to hold talks with him, how are we going to negotiate?”
“Isn’t that your company’s rule, to not look into your clients?”
“This is different. You know very well how important these are!” Wu Jiangtao gnashed his teeth, “It’s beyond even the North Sea Gel. With a monopoly on it, nothing can shake our position in the five lands and all the profits will be ours. All the powers will scramble to buy from us and we’ll have control over the five lands’ market. And you will reap immensely from it!”
“You dare give something so serious to other lands? If Prime Minister gets word of this…” Baili Jingyu gave him a cold look.
Wu Jiangtao spoke, “Lord, we’re both clear of your integrity, or lack thereof. Since when did you care about the Sword Star Empire?”
“Ha-ha-ha, yeah, I never did since it won’t collapse. Anything good or bad to it won’t mean anything to me. All I care about is endless wealth!”
Giving the ring a sloppy kiss, Baili Jingyu grinned, “The demon spirit stones in here are way more than you got. With these, I can use them on the other nobles of the imperial capital and take it up a notch, he-he-he…”
[Narrow minded fool!]
Wu Jiangtao gnashed his teeth, “If we had used this chance to know more about him, we’d have a way to keep in touch, making our supply endless. But now, if he leaves for good…”
“He will be back.”
“How do you know?”
“Think about it. Such a big deal is only done with your Serene Shores Trading. And also, with how agreeable I was, he’ll be sure to return.” Baili Jingyu’s eyes flashed.
Wu Jiangtao’s face twitched and his face fell.
[This guy’s confidence is through the roof, eating up every praise the guy gave.]
[Though he’s right about one thing.]
Only their company got to make such a huge deal. He had nowhere else to go to with this.
The father and son eased their worries…
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