Chapter 580 - Xiong Mai and Lu Jin Agreement (II)

Lu Jin touched his teacup. It was a bit warm now.

"You deserve your title, business empress of the South." Lu Jin took a sip. He was confident enough that this person in front of him would not poison the tea. He had already made clear of the terrible power behind him after all. "But I still have not forgotten. You said you wanted to meet me and consider my proposal. I can draw from it that you don't want a meaningless war too, correct?"

Lu Jin believed that Xiong Mai was a person who can be reasoned with. 

He was right. 

The moment Xiong Mai felt that this would go on as long as the other party did not get what they wanted, she had already arrived at the conclusion that both of them would suffer from a meaningless war of pride. 

This was why she deliberately said that she would consider it when they talk in person.

Xiong Mai smiled at Lu Jin. She liked speaking to smart people. 

"You are right. I don't like power struggles because they are tiring. The sacrifices and efforts you made just to get the troublesome inheritance is not worth it. Anyway, we are off-topic. You said you are willing to offer a blank check, right?"

"Yes, it still stands."

"Then, how about this? I want to put in that blank check are... information and assurance."

"..."

His face remained expressionless, but Lu Jin was surprised.

He slowly put down his teacup.

Information and assurance.

It was way pricier than the original offer. No... To be precise, it was the kind of thing which could not be put a price on.

How cunning and sly.

Lu Jin stated calmly. "It depends on what kind of information and how much of an assurance you want."

"It is simple. You just have to answer some of my questions and give me a small assurance, a safe seat to stay in the little play you are making," Xiong Mai answered with a sharp look in her eyes.

Lu Jin could feel the trap ahead.

This was the first time he felt cornered in front of a person aside from his father. 

Should he give in?

There was no other way to get her signature.

After weighing the pros and cons, he spoke. "Fine. You can ask."

Xiong Mai smiled like a hunter who caught her prey in the trap.

"Then, let's start with... the method you used to make Wegner and the other EU members turn their backs against me."

Lu Jin faintly felt goosebumps on his skin as Xiong Mai preyed on him like a starving wolf.

****

Lu Jin did not like to speak lengthily. He consumed the tea faster than usual after answering Xiong Mai's three questions.

Her first question was about the method he used to pressure EU members, which he answered honestly. The second question was if there were others who was in the same situation like hers--people who were being coerced to sign. 

Since these questions were still within the limit where Lu Jin could answer, he answered truthfully. 

The third question was about how long they were preparing for this. Lu Jin answered vaguely but it still gave an impression to Xiong Mai that Lu Jin's side had prepared very meticulously.

An extremely meticulous plan would take a long time before it was implemented.

For it to be this long meant Lu Jin and the person behind him were firm and resolute in achieving their goal no matter who stood against them.

Xiong Mai was in deep thoughts. 

"I think this arrangement is quite unfair to my side..." Lu Jin started to complain amidst the silence.

"You said it yourself that it will only be advantageous to me. Of course, I will take advantage of it."

Lu Jin: "...."

"My fourth question... What are you trying to achieve by becoming the head of the organization IAmFashionista?"

Lu Jin's hand on the teacup stiffened. He calmly put it down. 

The assistant went forward and poured more warm tea.

"It looks like it's no secret to you as to what our goal is," Lu Jin said, although he already expected that Xiong Mai must now know their objective in gathering the signatures based on the questions she threw at him.

"Anyone with the right resources and keen eyes will understand your movements. However..." Xiong Mai's eyes turned sharp again. "What will you do after you get the position?"

"That question is not available for the blank check. You can't afford the answer."

Xiong Mai frowned. 

How secretive.

But it at least gave her a hint that these people would not stop on just getting the position. 

Putting IAmFashionista in the bag for them should be a big step towards their goal.

But what goal was that?

Uniting the underworld forces?

The legendary families and the other great factions would not allow Lu Jin and the person behind him to gain more power, which could destroy the delicate balance.

If these people got what they wanted, which she based on her analysis, then there would likely be war. 

An economic war between the large forces in the global scale.

[E/N: Just to clarify to the readers, in this novel, military and politics is not the defining top power of the world, it is money and economic power, which is why the legendary families (who are the economic giants of the nation) are more powerful than the military powerheads (such as Gu Zhen's military lineage).]

This would spell a big trouble for a businesswoman like her.

"If you can't answer that, you can at least answer this. That goal of yours... It will not harm any of my people, will it?"

'My people'. 

It might be referring to the EU Organization, to her business partners... or to the Xiong family.

Lu Jin was silent.

That...

The answer was clearly 'no'. 

It would harm a lot of people.

The Lu family, the legendary families... and many more.

Lu Jin stared at Xiong Mai.

Xiong Mai frowned after Lu Jin's extended silence.

It was clearly an overpriced answer. 

Yet she had already entered the fray and the other party had already fulfilled half of the conditions. She could not withdraw as well because she knew that the other party would definitely not let go.

Xiong Mai spoke. "Then perhaps this is where the assurance should come in. I won't care for now what kind of goal you are pursuing. But at least, you have to spare my niece from whatever conspiracy you are brewing... I think I need proof to ensure that you will not back down from your words."

"Niece. You are referring to Xiong Zhi?"

"Yes. She has a company in Country C. That place might become a battlefield of what I think is an upcoming economic war in the future. Her IHZHI will surely suffer in the aftermath. The assurance I want is to not touch her company and the person herself."

Lu Jin silently praised Xiong Mai.

She was only given a piece of the puzzle yet she already had a clear picture of what might happen in the future in case his father succeeded.

"I can't promise you that."

Xiong Mai raised her brow. She chuckled when a thought came to her. "Don't tell me, you guys are already keeping an eye on a company that is not yet four years old?"

"Your niece is talented like you."

"You are right, haha. But I am serious. I don't care what happens to the Xiong family, but I care about my niece."

Lu Jin was silent. 

His mind analyzed the current premises available to him and tried to determine the risks and value of Xiong Mai's condition.

Would his father spare IHZHI in the future?

If IHZHI did not go against them, his father might overlook this small company. He might even rope IHZHI in to his side considering IZHHI's stellar performance.

Just like how Ming Zhi Yi saw SC's capability and expressed his desire to get SC to their side.

However, IHZHI's owner was the heiress of Xiong. Xiong Zhi would surely not stand by when the Xiong family was under pressure.

"I am not confident to say that I can give assurance in exempting your niece's company. But if your niece is smart and has keen eyes like you do, then perhaps it is not only assurance that we could give to her."