Chapter 398: Without Prior Coordination, They All Came Calling

Sanjiang Studio, 50th Floor.

Li Na was receiving several people in charge of neighboring game studios.

“You all came by together so suddenly. What guidance do you have for me?”

Li Na asked, though she already knew the answer.

Seated across from her on the sofa were five representatives from Tianxia Studio, Black Panther Studio, Warring States Game Studio, Lingji Studio, and Black River Studio.

Originally, Su Wan of Warring States Game Studio had come alone, intending to speak with Su Wangchuan face-to-face. But the other four representatives had, as if by prior agreement, all appeared at Sanjiang Studio’s entrance and intercepted Su Wan. In the end, the visit had become a joint call from all five of them.

“First of all, we’ve naturally come to congratulate Hall Master Wangchuan on taking control of Sanhe Commandery Hall...”

“And then, well...”

“We’re all studios from H City. There’ll be plenty of room for cooperation in spirit realm in the future. We hope Sanjiang Studio and you, Li Na, will look after us local brothers a bit more.”

“Exactly.”

“The benefits shouldn’t go to outsiders.”

“If there are martial arts, idle posts, or any openings that require manpower in the future, do think of us first.”

Lin Tao of Black River Studio truly did not treat himself as an outsider at all.

Li Na folded her fingers together on top of the desk. Faced with the enthusiasm of the five representatives, she naturally responded with equal courtesy.

“I appreciate your visit and your goodwill. I’ll pass it on to the boss. I believe he would also be very willing to cooperate with all of you. Let’s stay in touch.”

“Could you invite Hall Master Wangchuan out to meet us?”

“To be honest, Black River Studio has prepared a gift for Hall Master Wangchuan.”

Lin Tao made the request.

Li Na hesitated briefly, then contacted the boss.

Su Wangchuan had already finished instructing Fei Zai and telling him to prepare to expand the escort agency into the prefectural commandery of Sanhe Commandery. As soon as he received the message, he came downstairs to meet the five representatives.

Lin Tao got straight to the point.

“Hall Master Wangchuan, Black River Studio has already changed bosses. In order to clear away past misunderstandings, our boss intends to send over a batch of wild boars we have gathered from various places. There aren’t many, only a little over two hundred, but every one of them is a fully grown wild boar with the strength of a Quasi-Martial Artist. We hope that if there is any room for cooperation in the future, Hall Master Wangchuan will consider Black River Studio.”

Su Wangchuan was momentarily taken aback, then smiled and nodded.

“Manager Lin is too courteous. That small misunderstanding between us was cleared up long ago. Thank you for the gift.”

“That said...”

“I heard that Black River Studio still has a group of players serving under the Five Poisons Sect. Has the Five Poisons Sect shown any intention recently of returning to Sanhe Commandery and establishing another branch helm?”

Since the people were already here, Su Wangchuan naturally was not going to miss the chance to probe for intelligence on the Five Poisons Sect.

Lin Tao immediately answered seriously, “After the Five Poisons Sect branch helm was destroyed, the Five Poisons Sect did send several people over to investigate. Using secret signals, they contacted the disciples scattered across various areas and planned to restart the branch helm. But they were also worried about being targeted by the Caobang, so it seems they intend to place the new branch helm in a more concealed location. The exact site has not yet been decided.”

“Do you have any specific intelligence on the people sent by the Five Poisons Sect headquarters?”

Su Wangchuan stared at Lin Tao and pressed further.

Lin Tao’s heart tightened.

This Hall Master Wangchuan was truly imposing.

He was clearly determined not to give the Five Poisons Sect any chance to rise from the ashes in Sanhe Commandery.

Lin Tao quietly felt some concern for the players who had thrown in their lot with the Five Poisons Sect, but he still made his decision quickly.

This visit had been made to establish an alliance with Su Wangchuan, the Caobang Hall Master. It was to tie Black River Studio to him. If he refused, then this batch of gifts would likely never be accepted, and any future cooperation with Sanjiang Studio would be impossible.

And yet Sanhe Commandery Hall of the Caobang controlled nearly half the manpower and employment in Sanhe Commandery, not to mention several hundred martial arts master copies. It was even said that Hall Master Wangchuan possessed twenty Niche Cultivation Method master copies.

There was no reason to offend Su Wangchuan for the sake of a few players who had taken shelter under the Five Poisons Sect.

So Lin Tao immediately decided to lay everything out and cleanly sell out the Five Poisons Sect’s outside personnel.

That included one newly appointed branch helm master, two deputy helm leaders, and a Third-Rank Martial Artist known as Scorpion Elder.

Two Third-Rank Martial Artists, two Second-Rank Martial Artists.

Along with ten Five Poisons Sect disciples.

Fourteen people in total.

Lin Tao even sold out the location of the courtyard in Kuaiji County where those people were staying.

Su Wangchuan smiled and cupped his fists toward Lin Tao.

“Manager Lin, I will remember the help Black River Studio has given Sanjiang Studio today. How about this? I’ll give you two spots among the Hall’s disciples. You can arrange for them to report to Sanhe Commandery. It just so happens that my Hall is preparing to hand out a full round of martial manual rewards. You can let them take this opportunity to copy out one niche cultivation method from the Armory Manual Vault.”

“Many thanks, Hall Master Wangchuan!”

Lin Tao’s expression turned solemn, and delight filled his face. He leapt to his feet and cupped his fists in thanks.

Niche cultivation manuals had now been pushed above one thousand taels of gold and were impossible to find on the market.

Su Wangchuan had casually offered two niche cultivation methods in one breath, worth at least two thousand taels of gold.

How could such a return not move him?

The other four studio representatives were all visibly stirred as well, their eyes full of envy.

It was then that Su Wangchuan spoke again.

“Of course!”

“If Black River Studio can help deal with that batch of people from the Five Poisons Sect and eliminate this hidden danger for my Caobang...”

He deliberately drew out the sentence, making all five of them focus on him.

“Then after it is done, I promise to reward you according to the ratio of one martial art for every two people.”

Before he had even finished speaking, Lin Tao had already answered firmly:

“I’ll take it!”

“Black River Studio accepts this job. You’ll have an answer within three days.”

Game studios were ordinarily unwilling to get mixed up in Jianghu vendettas, and especially unwilling to make enemies of gangs and sects. But Su Wangchuan was simply offering too much.

Fourteen people meant seven martial arts manuals.

Seven thousand taels of gold!

Where else could one find a deal like that?

Lin Tao was afraid that if he answered too slowly, one of the four competitors around him would intercept the opportunity.

And indeed—

At that moment, Wang Zhiwen, the representative of Tianxia Studio, smiled warmly and said to Su Wangchuan, “Hall Master Wangchuan has just taken office. Naturally, the new broom will sweep clean, and you must be preparing to purge all your enemies within the prefectural commandery. Since that is the case, aside from the Five Poisons Sect, are there any other targets you intend to deal with? Tianxia Studio’s Land-Clearing Team could actually be of service.”

Su Wan’s expression changed at once.

The other three representatives all turned to look.

“Would you dare move against Beggar Sect disciples?”

“As long as the price is right.”

Wang Zhiwen’s smile looked utterly sincere.

Su Wangchuan stared at Wang Zhiwen and said word by word, “Any Beggar Sect disciple who has broken into the ranks is already recorded in my Caobang registers. I won’t haggle with you. The same rule as before—two heads for one martial arts manual.”

Then he looked at the other four.

“If you’re interested, you may also participate. But I’m only giving you three days! Your promise is valid only within those three days. After that, my Caobang Hall will move in person and wipe out every Beggar Sect disciple within the counties of Sanhe Commandery!”

All of them were visibly shaken.

Su Wan stared at the Su Wangchuan before her and suddenly felt dazed.

Was this still the same Su Wangchuan she had once known?

Back then, she could easily lead him into a trap.

Now, with only a few words, he had drawn a whole crowd of studios into volunteering to move against the Five Poisons Sect and the Beggar Sect on his behalf.

Even though everyone knew that Su Wangchuan was borrowing their knives to kill on his own behalf, they still rushed toward the deal.

Even she felt that this transaction was extremely worthwhile.