"The Black Water Corporation?"
As a world-class mega-corporation, the Black Water Corporation likely looked down on everyone except for the super-first-rate guilds and super guilds — let alone
"Guild Leader, our guild has been growing rapidly in the Beastman Empire lately. They're probably here specifically to warn us about that." Hei Zi collected his thoughts and said slowly, "Why don't we just leave them hanging? Even if they're a major corporation, they can't do anything to us in the open right now. As long as we're prepared behind the scenes, it won't be easy for them to make trouble for us!"
"You're overthinking it," Shi Feng chuckled. "Black Water is ultimately a mega-corporation. They wouldn't stoop to personally warning us over something as minor as the Beastman Empire. If other corporations found out, they'd lose too much face. Forget it — there's no use speculating. Let's just go meet them."
He knew a thing or two about how these mega-corporations operated.
If they truly wanted to do something, they would never send someone in person. They'd simply make their move in the shadows.
Hei Zi then led Shi Feng to the reception room on the top floor.
Walking inside,
Shuise Qiangwei, by contrast, was perfectly composed. As the honorary elder of a former first-rate guild and the daughter of a major corporate group, she had seen scenes like this before.
There were two representatives from the Black Water Corporation in the reception room. The first was a middle-aged man dressed in casual clothes, his expression resolute. Though not particularly tall, every movement he made carried an oppressive weight. The second was a tall man in a suit and tie standing behind the middle-aged man — clearly a bodyguard. Although he radiated no sharp aura and seemed like an ordinary passerby, Shi Feng could tell this bodyguard was far from ordinary. In fact, the man gave him a sense of genuine, deadly threat.
"Hello. You must be Elder Yefeng of Zero Wing. You really are as young as the rumors suggest — your future is boundless. Allow me to introduce myself. I'm
"Elder Jing Yang, may I ask what business the Black Water Guild has with Zero Wing?" Shi Feng glanced at Jing Yang and cut straight to the point.
He had some recollection of the name Jing Yang.
His impression came from the Divine Realm, not from the real-world Black Water Corporation.
The reason he remembered was that Jing Yang was a Fifth Tier Holy Archmage. Although he hadn't achieved any notable combat records, a Fifth Tier Class was still a Fifth Tier Class — someone standing at the very pinnacle of the Divine Realm.
He hadn't expected the Black Water Corporation to send someone of such stature in person.
"A refreshingly direct question," Jing Yang laughed and nodded. "In that case, I'll be straightforward as well. I'm here on behalf of
"Fifty bottles of S-rank nutritional potions?" Hei Zi's eyes nearly bulged out of his head.
He and Shi Feng had seen their fair share of Credit Points, but S-rank nutritional potions were an entirely different matter.
He was no longer a clueless novice when it came to Divine Realm training. Through this period of intensive drills and the occasional S-rank nutritional potion Shi Feng had given him, he had come to understand just how precious S-rank nutritional potions were. They provided tremendous benefits for both physical fitness and cognitive function, and they could help players improve rapidly over a short period.
Moreover, they were things money couldn't buy — you couldn't simply get your hands on them whenever you wanted.
It was precisely because of that batch of S-rank nutritional potions from the
"So that's how it is." After hearing Jing Yang's proposal, Shi Feng finally understood.
He had to admit, the battle at Xiyue Town had made the Guard Puppets famous in a single engagement. Even the Black Water Guild had set its sights on them. But Guard Puppets weren't something you could seize by force — Black Water had no choice but to try purchasing them, and they were even willing to offer S-rank nutritional potions.
Watching the silent Shi Feng and the stunned Hei Zi, Jing Yang smiled and continued, "Now that the Auction Arena system has been activated, the competition for every major NPC city has begun.
"If you're willing to sell ten Guard Puppets, Vice Guild Master Xuanwu can help you — guarantee that you secure White River City. What do you think of this offer?"
In the hall, Jing Yang's voice was gentle yet brimming with temptation, striking Zero Wing precisely where it hurt most. Even Shuise Qiangwei, standing off to the side, felt this was a remarkably worthwhile deal.
Setting aside the fifty bottles of S-rank nutritional potions, the battle for White River City alone would be a grueling fight. Competing for an NPC city's Auction House wasn't like wilderness combat or siege warfare — it came down purely to each side's experts and resources. And in that regard, Zero Wing was severely lacking compared to the Star Ring Guild, which held an overwhelming advantage.
Furthermore, Zero Wing was currently strapped for cash. A massive capital injection could give the guild an explosive boost in a short time. Add to that the S-rank nutritional potions to cultivate a batch of Perfection-level experts, plus Vice Guild Master Xuanwu Chisha's backing, and securing White River City would be practically a done deal.
Seeing the undisguised interest in Shuise Qiangwei's and Hei Zi's eyes, Jing Yang felt no surprise whatsoever. After all, their offer was extremely generous and precisely what Zero Wing needed most right now. All that remained was to sign the contract.
After thinking for a moment, Shi Feng looked at Jing Yang and said seriously, "I'm sorry, but we decline."