Thanks to Qi Tian's push, the legion's crystal coin quota was the first to be negotiated.
On the other side, the round-table meeting of the chambers of commerce was also arguing endlessly.
Jiang Hao stared at the Haori Chamber of Commerce's points, his brows tightly furrowed, "How could the total points of our Haori Chamber of Commerce be lower than those of the Warren Chamber of Commerce?"
Zhao Sifang, sitting at the table, was not suppressed by Jiang Hao's presence. He answered neither servilely nor arrogantly, "President Jiang, this question should have been asked of Secretary-General Gu, but as it happens, I know the reason, and I'm happy to explain."
"The Haori Chamber of Commerce's total points are low because recently, many members of its branches died unnatural deaths, while quite a few other branch members chose to leave. So, when the points were calculated, you had many fewer."
Jiang Changqing angrily slapped the proposal document on the table, "Even if they died, they sacrificed themselves for the Haori Chamber of Commerce! Why should our total points be counted lower just because of the killing by a bloody butcher?"
Zhao Sifang glanced at Jiang Changqing, then looked at Jiang Hao sitting opposite him, "President Jiang, I believe that at the meeting table, each side should have only one representative. May I ask whether this seat is yours or Mr. Jiang's?"
"You!", Jiang Changqing clenched his fists. He was so angry that smoke seemed to come out of his seven orifices, yet he could not find an opportunity to vent it.
Jiang Hao said, "Even if they died, they died sacrificing themselves at their posts. Their existence cannot be erased."
Zhao Sifang answered seriously, "I deeply sympathize with what happened to them. But our struggle against the gods is far from over. Rather than mourning the past, it is better to stand in the present. The living are always more important than the dead, right?"
Jiang Hao swept his eyes across the table.
Zoff Fan, president of the Lotus Cloud Chamber of Commerce, and Kyle Warren, president of the Warren Chamber of Commerce, both said nothing.
They were showing an attitude of helping neither side.
When the presidents of the other two of the three major chambers of commerce chose to help neither side, they were actually standing on the opposite side of Jiang Hao.
When a wall falls, everyone pushes it down.
The Jiang family had been beaten by a single Lu Daoxing to the point of being completely unable to fight back, and the family had also been exposed as having the top wanted criminal [Remnant Thought] within its ranks. No one was willing to provoke them any further.
What was more, with the division of the family imminent, all the feelings of the past vanished in the "clink-clink" of crystal coins.
Jiang Hao did not say much, instead pointing at the Zhao Chamber of Commerce's total points and asking, "There is another question. I hope President Zhao can answer it. The Zhao Chamber of Commerce is only a newly established chamber of commerce. How could the total points of its members be as high as three times those of the Haori Chamber of Commerce?"
Zhao Sifang explained, "That is because not long ago, many graduates of South Glory University joined the Zhao Chamber of Commerce and became members of the chamber. Therefore, the total points of our Zhao Chamber of Commerce increased somewhat."
Jiang Hao gave a cold laugh, "The Zhao Chamber of Commerce happened to expand its manpower just before the crystal coin issuance plan?"
"Yes. Sometimes I also sigh that there are always coincidences around me," Zhao Sifang nodded as if he meant it, "But without coincidence, there can be no story. I think everything is full of uncertainty. You don't know whether today's bet will lose everything tomorrow or return double. That is one of life's pleasures."
After saying that, Zhao Sifang signed the proposal directly.
Afterward, Kyle and Zoff Fan also chose to sign, then handed the proposal bearing all three signatures to Jiang Hao.
Neither Kyle nor Zoff Fan had any objections to Gu Weiyang's quota plan.
Even if the Zhao Chamber of Commerce had suddenly expanded its ranks and raised its total points, it had not taken all the quotas spat out by the declining Haori Chamber of Commerce.
Overall, the Warren Chamber of Commerce and the Lotus Cloud Chamber of Commerce still profited.
Since they had gained an advantage, they should not pretend otherwise.
Signing and confirming it as soon as possible was the safest course.
Jiang Hao knew that the general situation was already decided. Persisting would be meaningless, so in the end he had Jiang Changqing sign to show his approval.
Soon, the meetings at each small round table ended, and the discussion over the crystal coin quotas was settled.
Everyone then had another dinner together before leaving separately.
When Qin Siyang was preparing to leave, Qi Tian stopped him.
"Old Commander Qi, what do you need me for?"
Qi Tian said shakily, "Before I came today, I went to see Yaman first. She said that you avenged Mr. Lin, so she gave you my IOU?"
"That's right."
Qi Tian nodded, "If there is anything you need the Qi Legion's help with, bring that IOU and come find me."
After saying that, he was helped into his special vehicle by his secretary and drove away, raising dust behind him.
'Huh?'
Qin Siyang was very surprised, 'Qi Tian really acknowledged the debt?'
Watching the vehicle disappear, Qin Siyang could not help being stunned, "I really didn't expect… among the legion commanders, there's actually a commander who cares about his reputation?"
The various groups gradually left, and the inside and outside of the meeting hall gradually became quiet.
After everyone had left, when Qin Siyang was preparing to ride in Zhao Longfei's special vehicle, he found that Zhao Longfei and Jiang Hao had started talking again in a corner.
"Zhao Longfei, although the Jiang family encountered some trouble because of Lu Daoxing, it is impossible for things to remain like this forever. There is still a long road ahead."
"Lu Daoxing can even kill [Remnant Thought]. Apart from you, who else in the Jiang family can stop him?"
"The Jiang family has plenty of people. He can't kill them all."
Zhao Longfei smiled slightly, "President Jiang, have you ever thought that your appearing in public today and coming to District 7 to attend the crystal coin issuance meeting means… Jiang Yuanrui, Minister Jiang, who is staying in District 2, may already be in danger?"
When Jiang Hao heard this, he was stunned at first.
Immediately afterward....
"Hahahahahahaha!"
He suddenly threw his head back and laughed loudly, his laughter echoing all around.
Zhao Longfei narrowed his eyes, somewhat puzzled.
"I've been pretending all day. Now that the meeting is over, I can finally relax a little."
The laughter gradually subsided. Jiang Hao slowly raised his hand and gently twisted his tie.
His facial features twisted slightly like ripples in water. After a moment, the face that originally belonged to Jiang Hao actually became—
"Jiang Yuanrui?", Zhao Longfei's pupils suddenly contracted, "You're not Jiang Hao?"
Jiang Yuanrui's smile grew wider, "My big brother had something come up and went to District 2 temporarily, so he had Changqing attend the meeting in his place, while I came along. That's why Changqing had more to say at the meeting, and he was also the one who signed at the end."
Jiang Yuanrui said to Zhao Longfei with a look of triumph, "Principal Zhao, if Lu Daoxing really dares to go to District 2 to find me, then my big brother should be very welcome! I guess Lu Daoxing should already have arrived at my residence in District 2. You'd better pray for him more!"
Zhao Longfei's fingers trembled slightly, and for a moment he could not speak.
No wonder Jiang Hao's behavior today had been unreasonable from beginning to end.
'So it was a substitution!'
'Hopefully, Lu Daoxing wouldn't…'
Suddenly, Zhao Longfei's eyes widened again, his face filled with disbelief.
He abruptly turned his head and looked toward the indistinct night under the streetlights.
The lights were dim, and the night was hazy.
A sigh came from within the interplay of light and shadow.
"What a pity. I came today because I originally wanted to kill Jiang Hao."
[T/N: LMAO!]
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