Xu Lai came with a message from Gu Qingfeng, thinking it was just an errand, but he didn't expect Gu Chen to have no intention of returning to the Northern Territory.
In a hurry, he could only repeat Gu Qingfeng's message.
Before Gu Chen could say anything, Liang Yi beside him said, "What do you mean? Are you trying to threaten Gu Chen with the title of Northern War King?"
"..." Xu Lai looked upset, "No."
"Then what about the recommendation quota?"
"The king said that as long as the young master returns to Gubei City, the recommendation quota will be immediately confirmed."
"Isn't this a threat?"
"..."
Gu Chen watched this scene without saying a word. He knew very well that Liang Yi was exacerbating the conflict.
Xu Lai, aware of this, ignored Liang Yi and addressed Gu Chen, "Sir, if you follow Liang Yi to Dongzhou, how will you face the people of the Northern Territory in the future?"
Gu Chen smiled. "It's not impossible to stop me from going to Dongzhou, but you have to agree to two conditions."
A hint of joy flashed in Xu Lai's eyes. "Sir, please. I will do my best."
Liang Yi, standing beside him, suddenly changed his mind upon hearing this.
"No, just agreed, and now you're backtracking?"
"First, how did you collude with the Li family to try to steal my recommended admission? Reveal the entire process and apologize to me."
A look of embarrassment crossed Xu Lai's face. If this were revealed, his career would end there.
"Sir, I can disclose the entire process, but I truly did not collude with the Li family!"
"Okay, then, let me ask you, did I receive the SSS-level rating?"
"Yes." "
Then why didn't the City Hall issue the recommended admission in a timely manner?"
"..." Xu Lai fell silent.
"No talk? Then there's no room for negotiation. I guess I don't need to state my second condition."
Xu Lai frowned, speechless for a moment.
Was exposing his collusion with the Li family to steal Gu Chen's admission quota too much?
For Gu Chen, the victim, it wasn't excessive at all.
But Xu Lai was the city lord after all. How could he do something so self-destructive?
"No talk, huh? Fine. I've already given you the opportunity. If you don't agree, there's nothing I can do."
Gu Chen looked at the surrounding professionals and shrugged. "Everyone saw it. I just want justice, and he won't even agree to something as trivial as this."
"If he won't even give me justice, how can he give me my quota, my resources? Definitely not."
"So, it's not me who wants to leave Lincheng, it's Lincheng that's forcing me to leave."
Xu Lai's cheeks twitched, and he was speechless.
The talks had collapsed.
In truth, there was no need for negotiation. As long as Xu Lai lived, he would never reveal his collusion with the Li family.
He was the Lord of Lincheng, a fifth-rank professional. Gu Qingfeng hadn't pursued him, so he certainly wouldn't do anything that would destroy his foundation.
Even if Gu Chen was Gu Qingfeng's son, he wouldn't risk his future by exposing his own dirty laundry.
After all, he came on orders, simply to deliver a message to Gu Chen.
If Gu Chen was willing to return, he'd certainly completed his mission. If Gu Chen refused, could he, as Gu Qingfeng's subordinate, abduct Gu Chen and take him to Gubei City?
Impossible.
Now that the Li family of Lincheng had been wiped out, there was no evidence he'd blocked Gu
Chen's admission. In fact, it was precisely because he blocked the admission that he gave Gu Qingfeng leverage over Gu Chen.
However, no one anticipated that Liang Yi's arrival would present the perfect alternative.
Beijing wouldn't allow him a place?
Sorry, Dongzhou had already sent him one, bringing a substantial amount of resources as compensation.
Gu Chen knew exactly which option to choose, so he readily agreed to Liang Yi's offer.
Xu Lai nodded and said in a regretful tone: "I have delivered the king's message. Since you don't want to return to Gubei City, this is all I can say."
"As for the recommendation quota, it's not that I, Lincheng, don't want to give it to you, but the king has already made arrangements for it."
"If you want to get the recommendation quota, please go to Gubei City early and don't keep the king waiting for too long."
After speaking, Xu Lai bowed and turned to leave with his people.
Liang Yi watched Xu Lai leave, then looked at Gu Chen with a strange expression and said, "He blocked your admission quota, and you just let him go? That doesn't suit your style."
Gu Chen smiled faintly, "Xu Lai respects the Northern War King, not me. Even if I asked him to kowtow and admit his mistake, he wouldn't feel the slightest remorse."
"So, to deal with people like this, you have to hit them where it hurts."
"Let him drift for a while. When he's accused and abused by all the people of Lincheng, he'll regret letting me go today."
Gu Chen certainly didn't intend to let Xu Lai off easily. Since he had attacked him, he would naturally pay the price.
After all, he was a vengeful person.
After returning to Lincheng via the teleportation array, Xu Lai immediately entered his office and said to the secretary behind him,
"Alright, I've delivered the message. Since the young master doesn't want to go back, report the actual situation to His Majesty."
"Next, spread the word in the name of the City Hall: all dungeon fees in Lincheng will be reduced by 20% for one month."
"After all, our young master is just a talented professional. How much damage can his departure cause to Lincheng?"
"Now I'm waiving dungeon fees for all professionals in the city. As long as we hype this up, everyone will stop dwelling on Gu Chen."
"As for the future, hmph, in two years I won't be serving in the Northern Territory anymore. Even if he's a royal son, what can he do to me?"
"Okay, got it."
The secretary jot down a few key words in her notebook and headed out to make arrangements.
Ultimately, Xu Lai was only afraid of Gu Qingfeng, the Northern Territory's War King.
As for Gu Chen, while he remained polite and respectful, he didn't take him seriously.
Genius?
What kind of genius was that?
No one who could hold the position of City Lord in the Shenxia Empire was mediocre; they were generally all exceptionally gifted.
A mere undeveloped genius held no weight in Xu Lai's eyes.
In his opinion, if Gu Chen wanted to challenge him, he would have to at least become a fifth-tier professional first.
Unfortunately, Gu Chen changed his profession to the Summoner profession. No matter how strong he was in the early stage, he could not change the fact that he was weak in the later stage.
The professional system has been developed for hundreds of years, but there has never been a fifth-level professional in the summoner profession.
It is said that nobles are invincible at the same level after changing their profession to summoners?
Yes, but that is only limited to the second to fourth levels, and that is when a huge amount of resources are invested.
With a summoning slot opening every 5 levels, no summoner can afford the training resources required for the fifth level.
This is why Xu Lai despised Gu Chen.
However, Gu Chen is not an ordinary summoner.
In a few days, Xu Lai will definitely regret this contempt.