Chapter 178 - 178 IAmFashionista Arc 1 is ending (II)

But Mr. Luo was not waiting for an answer.

"There will be a war. And the starting point of that war is IAmFashionista. If the dam who holds the gigantic water broke, the gigantic water would flow out and would keep eating its surroundings. Can you see how bad it would be?" Mr. Luo held his forehead.

It was not a literal war he was talking about. It was an economic war that would affect not only the specific countries but the whole world. Those were major figures after all. A certain figure could cause some of the country's international trade to freeze. 

That's how powerful those major businessmen were.

Xiong Zhi's face was stern. She doesn't clearly understand what's going on. But based on what Mr. Luo was hinting at and based on his grieved expression, it was a serious matter.

But..what's going to be her involvement in this?

She wanted to skip first what cause this dam, IAmFashionsta, to break. Or who was threatening this balance was.

It was clear that Mr. Luo does not want to tell her that.

"What is my involvement?" If her involvement would bring disadvantages and trouble to her rather than the benefits then she would not hesitate to reject this position that all rich men were eyeing for.

"I just need your presence. Another mighty Xiong who could keep the balance for now. "

This vague explanation made Xiong Zhi furrowed her brows.

"In the next few months, no maybe a week or two. Heck, maybe even in just a couple of days, some people will approach you. Not only you but to all the legendary families. They would be asking you to approve a deal. " Mr. Luo's face suddenly turned serious than usual.

"If that day comes, please make sure you and Master Xiong won't agree to them. Even the other families agreed, please don't agree. It would help us buy more time." Mr. Luo pleaded.

Xiong Zhi stared at him with deep thought.

After a while, she sighed.

"I can't really promise without seeing the whole picture. But I can promise that if it does not affect me badly too much if I disagree with them, then I would try to keep the balance as you said. "

Mr. Luo finally let out a sigh of relief.

"Im glad. Thank you, Miss Xiong Zhi."

Xiong Zhi was still full of questions. She had so many questions but she only managed to ask this one question, 

"Is grandfather and I are enough to keep the balance you are speaking of?"

Mr. Luo smiled sadly.

"Not enough. I at least need the four families to be at my side."

Xiong Zhi got confused more. 

"Why don't you talk to the other three families? I'm sure at least the Lu's and Tang's might agree with you if it's about keeping the balance."

Mr. Luo shook his head. He remembered again the talk of that night. The cold presence of the mask men and how he introduces that two possible heirs of the Lu and Guan family. That man has two legendary families in his hands. He also got the south and north's approval. If he got the other two legendary families to his side, the Xiong and the Tang... 

Mr. Luo shivered in that thought.

If that happened, then IAmFashionista would have a new organizer. That man would play IAmFashionista in his hands.

With IAmFashionista, that man could raise in status, authority, and money. He, Mr. Luo, who knew what kind of privilege an organizer has, knew the best what benefits that could gain from this event. 

That man would be crowned as a new king. In a few more years, he might have the same power as the legendary families. Or maybe more...

That man would break the balance. Once that balance broke, the other powers would no longer hold back to expand their territory. Some conglomerate would be threatened and might side to a bigger power. Making the business industry a mess.

That time, those who supported that man would be too late to regret it.

Mr. Luo has a clear picture of what about to happen.

That's why he needs to convince the other sponsors. To make them not be convinced of their greed because of that man's offer.

That's why he needs Xiong Zhi. He needs another VVIP. Another major sponsor who could add one more vote to disagree with that man. 

So that he could buy more time.

At first, he doesn't know where he would get a VVIP out of thin air.

It's good that that night, Xiong Zhi bid 20 billion for a dress. She was a great candidate to be a VVIP. If she becomes a VVIP after just one event, people might not question why she would be a VVIP immediately. They would think she deserves it as the first person who bid 20 billion and breaks many records of the history of IAmFashionista.

Xiong Zhi was like a life-saving straw for him.

He would have time to convince the other sponsors.

"I plan to talk to them. But for now, please accept this. " He handed the envelope. It was the official doc.u.ment stating she was now the main sponsor of IAmFashinosta.

Xiong Zhi took a look at the envelope.

She had not really expected it to be like this. 

If there would be a problem in the future, she would just need to take care of it in the future. For now, she would use this VVIP position on her advantage.

"Thank you for accepting the invitation, Miss Zhi. If you can't convince Master Xiong, I will try to talk to him. "

"It's alright. I'm sure grandfather would understand. But if he looks for you, please explain it to him."

"I will." Mr. Luo was finally relieved that his hope was finally planted.

However, their plan was bound to be doomed.

Because a week later, news of Mr. Luo's death was all over the news.

****

Xiong Zhi stared blankly at Linfeng.

"Come again?" Xiong Zhi felt like she misheard things.

"Mr. Luo Yang, the organizer of IAmFashionista died of a heart attack yesterday night," Linfeng reported to Xiong Zhi.

Xiong Zhi could only do was to stare blankly.

"You talk to him before right? Are you alright?" Linfeng got worried when he saw Xiong Zhi's face was pale.

'Mr. Luo died? Heart attack? How come? Was it really heart attack?'

Xiong Zhi was really shocked. She was just talking to that person a week ago. But now that person does not exist anymore. She would not be able to talk to him anymore.

"H-how? I think its more than that." Xiong Zhi could not believe it.

Mr. Luo was just full of life a week ago. Even he was frustrated he has a strong will and strong heart. Was he really sick?

" I know you would say that. You spoke to him after all. That's why I gather some information. There's was no signs of bruises to him. He just clutched his chest before he dies. His family refused for an autopsy."

Linfeng was concerned about Xiong Zhi. It might be the first time Xiong Zhi experienced this. Someone she just spoke to a week ago had died. It might be really shocking.

"S-something doesn't feel right." Xiong Zhi held her heart that was beating fast.

What happened now happened to her before. It was when Old Xiong died in the past.

The Old Man who was so strong and was stubborn to live died of heart disease. The cause was his heart became weak.

This strange feeling that told her before that there was something wrong was ringing in her mind right now.

De Ja Vu.

"Young miss?" Linfeng supported her who looked like she was about to fell down.

"I'm alright. I'm just shocked. When the funeral would be?"

"There days from now."

"I see. Let's bid him goodbye then."

Xiong Zhi clenched her hand. This made her recall some bitter memories.

****

Mr. Luo Yang was a founder of IAmFashionista since 2000.

He was only a man who owned an investing company that managed to strike a deal in every corner of the world. He was a wealthy rich man.

This person founded IAmFashionista to gather his connections. Of course, he could not do it alone. So he reached to other great figures, who had a greater status and wealthier than him to be IAmFashionista's sponsor. 

The mighty figures saw this yearly event's potential. With the sake of helping the needy and the poor on the surface, they manipulate people's attention to themselves and to other people who would like to join.

Causing every rich man to be part of it.

IAmFashionista's influence gets stronger as time passed by. The main people behind grew as well.

Even the major figures from different part of the world were gathering for this event, even all of them were greedy ones who wanted to expand their territory, no one gone overboard and challenge the others. 

They agreed tacitly to maintain their position and let Mr. Luo be the central figure who would control everything. It was because Mr. Luo don't hold much power and wealth like them. Hence, he was not threatening to them.

This balance and unspoken peaceful treaty continued to exist until this day.