55 Card Dealer

"Actually, I don't mind if we continue the previous conversation that Master Dong started," President Wu proposed while picking up his wine glass. "I am still healthy, so I can stand for a moment with ease."

Wu couldn't help but praise him for the swift turn. She wanted to meet all the figures first to figure out her plan yet the flow changed. 

'Very well, grandpa. Let me play your game for a bit…'

Wu gazed at Master Dong interested, not minding President Wu's idea. 

"What was the topic if I can ask, Master Dong?" Wu asked politely. "I can share my insights and fresh ideas."

Although the chairs were brought at that very second, Wu couldn't go back anymore, following the new route. 

"That would be perfect, Miss Wu. We were talking about our cooperation and the future. As I said before, I'm Trade Union's main supplier for raw ore and refined metals that I produce in my factories all around the Heaven Realm. I search for mines, exploit it, and then look for another," Master Dong explained. "Unfortunately, although the Earth in Heaven Realm is filled with countless mines, we already discovered at least eighty to ninety percent of them across Eight Lands. In the next one hundred years, we should have covered the remaining ten to twenty percent, so we need to slowly start looking for new sites of exploitation." 

"I see. Did anyone point out any solutions so far? What about the last land?" Wu questioned, turning into her business mode of focus. 

"The last land is actually one of the solutions for the problem. The first one is exploring different realms in search of resources and another one is investing in Metal Land," Master Dong replied. "What are your thoughts on that?" 

Wu raised her eyebrows. 

"Why wasn't Metal Land explored already?" Wu questioned, before answering on her own, "Let me guess, the Metal Land is filled with dangers or some powerful race that is dominating the area and claiming the resources for themselves." 

"Both are true," Master Dong nodded with a smile. "Metal Land wasn't developed because of those reasons. Too many Celestial Stage Spirit Beasts live there, making it almost impossible to live in. We tried exploring it but we were always beaten up by the beasts and suffered countless losses. It's not easy to venture into Metal Land and it's even harder to mine for resources." 

"Aside from the beasts, the land is dominated by the Dwarf Kingdom. They are extremely powerful and their endurance is scary. We don't want to offend them. Although their individual power is nothing scary, once the whole race mobilizes their forces, it's beyond scary," Master Dong added while pretending to shiver. 

Elder Yang shrugged as he replied, "It will never happen, so we can only guess. Our Sect Master is too busy with his own matters to fight with Dwarfs." 

As he spoke, Nuwa nudged her with her foot, but Wu already knew. Elder Yang has been staring at her strangely from the very beginning as if something bothered him. With how he looked at Blissful Knight earlier, it wasn't hard to deduct they had some connection with each other. 

As they had Blissful Knight's Storage Ring on them, he must have already figured they were the ones who scammed them. For now, he could only sit patiently and hope the duo doesn't reveal anything. Wu appreciated that, not willing to bother herself with the clowns. 

"Then isn't the solution simple? To keep the steady inflow of resources, we need to take over Metal Land. Once I improve my strength which shouldn't take me long, we will personally visit the Dwarf Kingdom and negotiate the Peace Treaty. We will also establish a trade route with them and improve our relations, pulling the Dwarf Kingdom to our side," Wu declared. "With those connections, we can invade the Metal Land and start building our own companies and cities."

"Miss Wu, do you think we never tried it?" Master Dong asked back with an awkward smirk before giving others a glance as if checking if they are going to laugh. 

Too bad, before anyone could laugh, Wu turned cold and snapped back at him. "If Master Dong doesn't believe in my words then I can always find someone who does. I'm sure there are other suppliers who would like to work with me." 

The smile on everyone's faces froze, turning serious. President Wu wasn't different, low-key panicking. All the people by the main table were extremely important to the prosperity of the Trade Union. All of them lived in a symbiotic relationship. The lack of any of them would slow down many production lines. 

Wu knew that very well. That's how Trade Union worked in the Earth Realm as well. They couldn't monopolize the whole market else they would become the target of many. Because of that, aside from their own supply chains, Trade Union cooperated with various top clans and independent contractors. This way, everyone was happy in the end. 

"Little Wu, you should—" President Wu tried to interfere but was silenced by Wu right after. "I know what I should do, thank you, Grandfather." 

Her voice didn't soften one bit when she spoke his family title. Wu didn't even turn to him, her eyes directed at Master Dong. 

Nuwa put her plate down at that moment, finishing all of her food, and called out casually, "Just because you were incompetent, doesn't mean everyone is. When we want something, we get it. You don't need to worry about how it will happen. If we say so, it will." 

Wu nodded firmly before scolding, "I'm not sure what my Grandfather expected from you, but I expect full loyalty and professionalism. I'm the card dealer and you, Master Dong, are just a player. I have the right to kick any player from the game at my own discretion. Please remember that before you disrespect me."