The non-commissioned officer who received them was neither warm nor cold. Following standard procedure, he simply led Meng Qiuqiu and Zhao Mu into a reception room.
When the two entered, they found that many people were already waiting inside.
Compared to everyone else, they looked exceptionally young.
After all, they were only eighteen years old.
As soon as they stepped into the room, they attracted quite a few curious glances.
Meng Qiuqiu smiled casually and quietly explained,
"These people are all suppliers for the Military Commerce Department."
The military consumed an enormous number of weapons.
Because battles against beasts were incredibly intense, even a First-Grade Jinhai weapon could easily be destroyed after a single fight.
Unfortunately, producing new weapons took time.
The military's own arsenal simply couldn't keep up with the rate of consumption, forcing them to purchase large quantities from private weapon manufacturers.
Zhao Mu didn't recognize anyone present.
Business negotiations were Meng Qiuqiu's responsibility, so he remained silent.
---
Many of the merchants greeted Meng Qiuqiu as soon as they saw him.
Regardless of whether they liked him or not, everyone had to show some respect to the Young Master of the Meng Family.
"Young Master Meng, we meet again!"
"I never imagined you'd establish your own company and become successful so quickly."
"I heard you've supplied the Military Commerce Department with a large number of high-quality Ember Remains over the past two months."
"You've made life very difficult for small workshops like ours."
Some praised him.
Others mocked him.
Still others spoke with obvious hostility.
Meng Qiuqiu simply smiled innocently and responded politely to every greeting as though he couldn't sense their hidden intentions.
---
At that moment, a deep voice sounded from across the room.
"Young Master Meng..."
"Who is the young man beside you?"
"Why don't you introduce him?"
The speaker sat at a nearby table where several people were passing the time by playing cards.
Apparently, they had already been waiting for quite a while.
The man had a neatly trimmed goatee and appeared to be in his forties.
Meng Qiuqiu leaned toward Zhao Mu and whispered,
"That's Li Xiang."
"He's from Quenching Weapons Shop, one of the biggest weapon stores in Lujiang City."
"Our production has been too successful."
"We've taken a big piece of their market."
"So these old fellows definitely aren't happy with us."
"But don't worry about them."
"Business is all about ability."
"If they can't compete with you, Brother Zhao Mu, that's their own problem."
Having vented quietly, Meng Qiuqiu immediately turned back with another cheerful smile.
"This is our partner from Tiangong Hall..."
"Mr. Zhao Mu."
---
Zhao Mu?
The merchants silently searched their memories.
None of them had ever heard that name before.
Nor did they know of any influential Zhao Family in Lujiang City.
Still...
Anyone capable of becoming the business partner of the Meng Family's Young Master certainly wasn't an ordinary person.
Several people immediately decided to investigate Zhao Mu after today's meeting.
---
At the card table, a broad-shouldered man with a thick beard snorted.
"Young Master Meng..."
"The Meng Family's business stretches pretty far."
"Your family is already one of the military's largest suppliers."
"Now you've opened another company."
"Are you planning to leave the rest of us with nothing to eat?"
The man's name was Qi Chengyu.
He represented another major weapon store in Lujiang City—
War Hammer.
His words were just as sharp as Li Xiang's.
After all...
Tiangong Hall had stolen a considerable share of their business.
Naturally, they weren't happy.
Especially during the previous procurement meeting.
Director Gu Ningyuan had taken one look at their Ember Remains and immediately lowered his purchasing price.
Qi Chengyu had tried to explain that every Ember Remain had been carefully forged by their master craftsmen.
Without saying a word...
Gu Ningyuan simply placed Tiangong Hall's latest shipment on the table.
Compared with Zhao Mu's products...
Their own suddenly looked pitiful.
---
The second shipment Zhao Mu produced had already been significantly improved.
To Zhao Mu...
Even Medium-Grade First-Grade Ember Remains were merely acceptable.
He didn't truly understand the market value.
After spending so much time learning from Liang Gongchi, he had unconsciously begun viewing anything below High Grade as little more than scrap metal.
What Zhao Mu didn't realize...
Was that Liang Gongchi possessed one of the finest forging techniques in all of Lujiang City.
Ordinary weapon shops often required two or even three months to complete a single batch of Ember Remains.
If twenty percent of that batch reached Medium Grade...
That was already considered an outstanding achievement.
Faced with Tiangong Hall's products...
Qi Chengyu had been left completely speechless.
In the end...
He had no choice but to accept Gu Ningyuan's lower purchasing price.
Naturally...
He blamed both Zhao Mu and Meng Qiuqiu for the humiliation.
Nor was he alone.
Many owners from other medium and large weapon shops looked at the pair with obvious hostility.
The reason was simple.
The quality of Zhao Mu's Ember Remains was simply too high.
By comparison...
Everyone else looked like dishonest manufacturers selling inferior goods.
---
Only now did Zhao Mu understand the situation.
No wonder Gu Ningyuan had insisted on meeting him personally.
It seemed the director intended to use Zhao Mu as leverage against the other weapon manufacturers.
Previously...
The Lujiang City Ember Remains market had been comfortably divided among a handful of large workshops.
There was almost no competition.
Everyone earned easy money from military contracts.
Then Tiangong Hall appeared.
Their products were better.
Their production speed was faster.
Overnight...
The comfortable balance was shattered.
---
Meng Qiuqiu merely laughed.
"We're all working toward the same goal."
"The better our Ember Remains are..."
"The stronger our soldiers become."
"And when the military grows stronger..."
"The people become safer."
He spoke these lofty words so naturally that it sounded as though he genuinely believed every sentence.
The surrounding merchants secretly ground their teeth in frustration.
It wasn't as though they hadn't tried investigating who was forging Tiangong Hall's Ember Remains.
Unfortunately...
Everything led back to Qingfeng Camp.
A place no outsider could easily investigate.
---
Several owners of smaller weapon shops hurried over and politely offered Zhao Mu and Meng Qiuqiu seats near the center of the reception room.
Their intentions were obvious.
If Tiangong Hall continued growing, it would be beneficial to stay on good terms with them.
Across the room...
A calculating smile flashed through Li Xiang's eyes.
He lightly tapped the card table.
"Young Master Meng."
"Director Gu is busy."
"We don't know how long we'll be waiting."
"Why don't we play a few rounds of cards while we wait?"
Qi Chengyu instantly understood Li Xiang's plan.
One was Meng Qiuqiu.
The other was Zhao Mu.
Both looked like inexperienced youngsters.
Although neither man dared openly provoke the Meng Family...
Winning a little money from them would at least ease their frustration.
Qi Chengyu immediately joined in.
"Exactly."
"I wonder whether Young Master Meng would honor us with a game?"
With so many people watching...
Refusing outright would make Meng Qiuqiu appear timid.
A nervous expression immediately appeared on his face.
He waved both hands repeatedly.
"Cards?"
"I..."
"I don't really know how to play."
Li Xiang and Qi Chengyu exchanged amused glances.
Their wrinkled faces almost split apart from smiling.
"The rules are simple."
"You founded a company as successful as Tiangong Hall at such a young age."
"Surely someone as clever as you can learn a card game in no time."
"We're only passing the time."
"The stakes won't be high."
The spectators immediately joined in.
"Come on, Young Master Meng!"
"Don't be shy!"
"Just play a few rounds!"
Many of them secretly wanted to watch the pampered young master embarrass himself.
On the surface, they smiled politely.
Behind those smiles...
Their eyes were filled with ridicule.
So this is the famous Young Master of the Meng Family?
He looks like a harmless fool.
Wouldn't it be entertaining to tease someone like him?
Meng Qiuqiu scratched his head awkwardly, looking completely cornered.
Finally...
He turned toward Zhao Mu.
"Brother Zhao Mu..."
"Do you know how to play cards?"
Zhao Mu calmly shook his head.
"No."
Meng Qiuqiu blinked.
"Why not?"
Zhao Mu answered without hesitation.
"Because they're meaningless."
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)