Li Xiao Bing's pace was neither tense nor rushed as he tried to exert his dominance and obtain the initiative in the negotiation.
After all, in Li Xiao Bing's eyes, Fearless and Wang Yu were merely two alley dogs that had to depend on luck just to arrive on this level.
However, Wang Yu was simple-minded and such displays of dominance didn't have any influence on him. This was also the case for Fearless. After all, he was from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and he had even met the nation's leaders. How could he be intimidated by a mere studio boss?
Thus, when the two heard Li Xiao Bing's words, their expressions remained firm.
Fearless replied with indifference, "Oh, I'm not very interested in who you first. We are only here to discuss the compensation."
"Err…" Li Xiao Bing choked slightly and his face changed slightly. He immediately smiled, "Actually, I really didn't think that you would be able to win."
Fearless, "I also didn't think that we would fall into your schemes."
"Keke." Li Xiao Bing laughed and set his eyes on Wang Yu. Then, he said slowly, "Actually, it doesn't matter whether you win or lose because my main motive was simply to have a discussion with you."
When smart people discuss, their actions were filled with profound theories. When they first arrived, he tried to intimidate Fearless and Wang Yu. However, they remained calm.
Thus, Li Xiao Bing decided to speak openly and intimidate Fearless, "I am an experienced sophisticate while you guys are still tender grass."
Fearless remained unflustered, "Even if you're any more experienced, you're not the one that planted this grass…"
In two exchanges, Li Xiao Bing instantly knew that this fella in front of him was hard to deal with. Thus, he decided to calm down and start with the proper negotiations.
"Oh? What's there to discuss?" Fearless raised his eyebrows and asked.
Fearless liked smart people. However, he didn't like businessmen who placed benefits ahead of everything.
"President Fearless is a knowledgeable man, so I won't beat around the bush. Do you think there's any meaning in our competition in the potions market?" Since the two were well aware of the situation, there was no need for Li Xiao Bing to continue feigning ignorance.
Fearless laughed coldly, "I'm only here to play the game. I'm not here to do business. As long as I'm happy, then it's fine. Whether there's meaning or not doesn't matter to me."
Li Xiao Bing smiled, "There's completely no need for us to go into conflict because of this. I have a win-win proposition. I wonder if President Fearless is interested in listening."
"Please speak."
"Why don't we cooperate? The potions market is a huge cake; a small number wouldn't be able to swallow it. It can only be done if we cooperate. What do you think?" Li Xiao Bing said enticingly.
"I don't think much about it…" Fearless shook his head, "I came to negotiate about the contract, not anything else. 100,000USD for the contract. I don't want to discuss anything else, nor am I interested in listening."
100,000USD was equivalent to 10,000 official gold coins. This was an accurate valuation of a guild headquarters.
"President Fearless, 100,000USD doesn't mean much to us. However, you must know that if you cooperate with us, your profits will be far more than 100,000USD."
Li Xiao Bing wasn't wrong. The potions market was huge and Daybreak Studios was an expert in monopolising the market. If they cooperated, there's no need to talk about high-grade potions, even medium-grade potions would be priced exorbitantly.
"No…" Fearless shook his head.
Li Xiao Bing was confused, "Why?" From the intelligence reports gathered by Daybreak Studios, the people from Quan Zhen Sect were scoundrels that wouldn't get out of bed unless there was something in for them. With such immense benefits placed in front of him, this person didn't even think twice before rejecting? Were the benefits insufficient?
Fearless, "There's nothing much. I just don't like you as a person."
A gentleman has his ways to make money and scheming and plotting is one of those ways. Of course, Fearless could accompany Daybreak Studios in its games. However, Daybreak Studios actually initiated a guild war in an attempt to reset Li Xue and co.'s levels. This caused Fearless to be utterly disgusted with Li Xiao Bing.
He was willing to even do such a thing. It would already be not bad if he didn't screw over his own friends. How much benefits could Fearless expect from him?
Thus, Fearless didn't believe anything that Li Xiao Bing was saying.
"You…" Li Xiao Bing was left dumbfounded by Fearless's words.
I just don't like you as a person… What happened to the logic "There are no permanent friends, only permanent interests"? Fearless's words sounded unfathomable. Was this what a smart person would say?
Fearless disregarded Li Xiao Bing's shock, took out the contract and asked, "Is there anything else you would like to say? If not, then hand over the money and I will hand over the contract…"
Li Xiao Bing glanced at the contract. He did not seem to have any intentions to hand over the money. Instead, he said coldly, "I believe that you will be cooperating with us."
As he said this, a hint of maliciousness appeared on Li Xiao Bing's face.
"Oh? Based on what?" Fearless asked.
Li Xiao Bing laughed, "Didn't you notice that when you were defending your headquarters, you were missing one person?"
"Missing one person?" Fearless and Wang Yu turned to one another and started to recall the previous battle.
Mary and the other two were there and Li Xue was sent to the safe zone. Only Mu Zi Xian didn't come…
Mu Zi Xian!!
Fearless broke out in cold sweat.
Wang Yu also remembered this. He hurriedly sent a message to Mu Zi Xian, "Young wife, where are you?"
Mu Zi Xian quickly replied, "There's a studio in Storm City that's having a warehouse clearance. I'm currently looking at items in their guild headquarters."
"... Alright."
As a housewife, Mu Zi Xian was especially attracted to warehouse clearances and discounts. Li Xiao Bing must have used some scheme to deceive her… Up till now, Mu Zi Xian still doesn't know that she was kidnapped."
At first, Wang Yu jolted in shock. The more he thought about it, the angrier he got.
"This is a game. What's the point in kidnapping her?" Fearless frowned and asked Li Xiao Bing.
When Li Xiao Bing saw their expressions, he knew that his plot had worked. He said contentedly, "That woman is important to you, right? Many items and properties should also be under her name… Of course, I'm not really kidnapping her in reality. But without her, your loss definitely wouldn't be lesser than losing the guild battle."
Li Xiao Bing was right. Besides the money that was stolen by Daybreak Studios, the rest of Wang Yu and Mu Zi Xian's money was in their shop. Transactions from such immovable real estate required one's presence. Thus, Li Xiao Bing's act was equivalent to sealing Mu Zi Xian's account.
"How? Boss Fearless, will we be working together?" Li Xiao Bing was still smiling but his words contained hints of threat.
"..."
Fearless didn't say a word. By this time, the hairs on Wang Yu's head were already standing by their roots.
Li Xiao Bing continued, "I can give you time to think, but I won't give you much time."
Fearless looked at Wang Yu, then turned to look at Li Xiao Bing as though he was looking at a dead man, "Boss Li, do you know that you just got yourself into big trouble."