"Revoking their advanced membership?" Yuan Tiexin stared at Shi Feng, momentarily stunned.
Beside Yuan Tiexin, Ziqiong's mouth fell open as she stared at Shi Feng in disbelief. She had never expected Shi Feng to make such a decision.
Turning down the benefits and instead choosing to strip Star Ring of their advanced membership?
Doing something like this was outright madness!
"Chairman Black Flame, setting aside whether or not the higher-ups would even agree to this — do you understand what the consequences of such an action would be?" Yuan Tiexin took a deep breath and said, "Star Ring paid an enormous price to obtain advanced membership. If they learn that Zero Wing had them removed, they'll swear to fight you to the bitter end. When that happens, things will be far less peaceful than they are now."
"Elder Yuan is jesting. We're simply doing what Star Ring already did to us. If Star Ring truly wants an all-out war, Zero Wing will gladly oblige." Shi Feng replied, completely unfazed.
Others might fear Star Ring going all in, but within the Star Moon Kingdom, Zero Wing had nothing to fear from an all-out confrontation.
On the open battlefield, they now had War Golems and Hell Chariots — Tier 2 players simply couldn't make a dent. In the field battles, while they might not have the upper hand, the home-court advantage was theirs. They occupied the Kingdom's prime leveling grounds, and the longer things dragged on, the more favorable it would become for Zero Wing.
Conversely, what currently gave Zero Wing the biggest headache was the war of economic attrition. Guild development alone already demanded vast resources and capital, and having to carve out a significant chunk of that for the kingdom made the outlook for the guild's future growth rather grim.
The advanced membership in Heavenly Secrets Trading Company was no trivial matter. That 5% share of the trading company's profits was significant for any faction. If Star Ring lost their advanced membership, it would deal a severe blow to their economy while giving Zero Wing some much-needed breathing room. What was there not to like?
"Very well! However, I can't make this decision myself. I'll report this matter to the higher-ups, and what they decide, I cannot guarantee." Yuan Tiexin looked at the completely unconcerned Shi Feng and couldn't help but sigh.
"Of course." Shi Feng nodded.
Simply getting ordinary members kicked out of the Heavenly Secrets Trading Company was already difficult enough. Removing an advanced member was exponentially harder. But in the end, it all came down to a matter of costs and benefits, and it ultimately depended on the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion's own stance.
Whether ordinary member or advanced member, the shares exchanged with the Heavenly Secrets Trading Company were only 1%. The difference was that advanced members enjoyed far better terms. Moreover, before any contract was signed, all contracts were unilateral — the trading company could cancel at will, and advanced members were no exception. However, the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion rarely did so, since the profits advanced members brought to the company far exceeded what ordinary members could offer.
The reason Zero Wing had been kicked out back then was because Star Ring had paid a sufficient price. Now, wanting to remove Star Ring would similarly depend on what price was being offered.
Yuan Tiexin then hurried off to a side reception room to contact the higher-ups directly and begin discussing the matter.
In less than half an hour, Yuan Tiexin returned from the reception room, his expression notably grave. The outcome was clearly in.
"Chairman Black Flame, the higher-ups have reached a decision. But before that, I'd like to ask — how can you guarantee that Stone Forest Town will definitely establish a presence in the Bottomless Abyss?" Yuan Tiexin asked seriously.
"I can't guarantee it," Shi Feng said with a smile.
"Chairman Black Flame, do you understand what advanced membership represents? If you can't provide a guarantee, then this deal simply can't move forward." Yuan Tiexin's expression darkened.
"Don't be hasty, Elder Yuan. While I can't provide a guarantee, we can draw up a contract. The question is whether you're willing to take the gamble." Shi Feng was fully prepared and produced a contract, slowly laying it out. "There are two options. If the Heavenly Secrets Trading Company revokes Star Ring's advanced membership now, you can receive a 30% stake in Stone Forest Town after it establishes a presence in the Bottomless Abyss. Alternatively, you revoke Star Ring's advanced membership only after Stone Forest Town has successfully entered the Bottomless Abyss — but in that case, you would only receive a 20% stake."
"Chairman Black Flame, wasn't it 40% before? That's quite the sudden change," Yuan Tiexin said, his brow twitching.
"That was the price for Zero Wing becoming an advanced member. Now we're simply talking about revoking Star Ring's advanced membership, so naturally the terms are different," Shi Feng replied with a smile.