Chapter 284 — My Name Is Yang Ce

"Good. Now call them, get them to come here. I trust I needn't teach you what to say," Yang Ce said flatly. "But the moment you show a flaw and put Tian Long on his guard, you can imagine the consequences for yourself."

Wang Renping nodded. He understood well enough the stakes. He picked up the phone and, in the order of the address book, dialed the numbers listed there.

"Hello? President Zhang? This is Wang Renping..." Wang Renping's tone was flat; even though the other man was a manager, there was no trace of fawning in his voice.

And President Zhang on the other end, hearing that it was Wang Renping, immediately warmed: "Secretary Wang, hello! Is something the matter?"

"Come by my family's old house for a bit, there's something I need to discuss with you," Wang Renping said, his tone perfectly natural, not a hint of anything amiss to be seen.

"Oh? Yes, yes, I'll be right over!" Zhang Zong naturally did not think much of it. Wang Renping's words represented Tian Long's will in the vast majority of cases, so Zhang Zong was naturally very deferential toward Wang Renping. And when Wang Renping summoned him to discuss a matter, he was plainly delighted, taking it as a fine opportunity to cultivate a closer relationship with Wang Renping.

Wang Renping hung up and dialed another number: "Hello? Uncle Zoma? This is Wang Renping..."

This Uncle Ma was one of the old guard who had helped Tian Long carve out his empire, yet after receiving Wang Renping's call, his manner was still exceedingly amiable. There was no help for it—such has been the way since ancient times: a founding hero under an emperor, upon meeting the little eunuch at the emperor's side, still dared not give offense.

"Secretary Wang, it's so late—what business do you have with me?" Uncle Ma asked.

"It's like this—are you free right now?" Wang Renping asked. "Come by my old residence for a bit. There's a small matter I need to see you about."

Many of Tian Long's orders went out through Wang Renping, so Uncle Ma naturally dared not be negligent. Since Wang Renping said he had business with him, he would of course go: "Very well, I'll be right over..." Yang Ce watched as Wang Renping made call after call with such exceptional smoothness—a few words apiece and each man was settled. Only then did Yang Ce marvel that he had truly found the right man. There could be no better choice than Wang Renping for this task. It seemed Wang Renping enjoyed considerable prestige among these people.

Only after the last call was finished did Wang Renping breathe a sigh of relief and say to Yang Ce: "Mr. Yang, I've invited all of them over as you instructed. They should be arriving soon. What do you need me to do next?"

"When they come through the door in a little while, tell them there's an important matter to discuss and have them hand over their communication devices and weapons," Yang Ce said after a moment's thought.

"Handing over communication devices is one thing, but weapons..." Wang Renping paused, then said: "When we hold meetings, handing over communication devices is routine, but weapons have never been collected. If I ask for their weapons this time, they'll certainly grow suspicious. And if the situation gets hard to control and something goes wrong..."

Wang Renping was speaking out of consideration for Yang Ce now—there was no help for it. His own grandparents were in Yang Juehuan's hands, so he had no choice but to side with Yang Ce.

Yang Ce nodded after hearing Wang Renping's words. These men would be carrying weapons, but Yang Ce was not afraid. He was a top-tier assassin, after all, and with his flying needles in hand, what did he have to fear from the likes of them?

Disarming them was only for the sake of prudence. Since Wang Renping had said as much, whether the weapons were collected or not made little difference.

"Then just collect the communication devices," Yang Ce said after a moment.

"But..." Wang Renping was somewhat troubled now. He had originally stood on the opposite side from Yang Ce, but now they had become comrades on the same front. He could not but consider things for Yang Ce—if Yang Ce failed, he too would be finished—so he had to help him: "If they have their weapons, will they really obey your every command?"

"Don't assume I can only coerce people through trickery," Yang Ce said with a faint smile. "They can't stir up any real trouble."

Seeing Yang Ce speak with such confidence, Wang Renping had no recourse; at this moment he could only trust that Yang Ce had a plan.

Before long, a knock came at the door. Yang Ce shot Wang Renping a look and slipped into the kitchen, while Wang Renping went to answer the door.

The visitor was Zhang Zong, the first man Wang Renping had called. After coming in and seeing Wang Renping, Zhang Zong hastened to exchange pleasantries: "Secretary Wang, hello, hello—what business do you have with me?"

"Please give me your communication device first, Zhang Zong," Wang Renping said.

"Eh? Oh, of course!" Zhang Zong had attended Tian Long's high-level meetings and knew the rules for such occasions, so without hesitation he took out his phone, powered it off, and handed it to Wang Renping.

Not only did Zhang Zong find nothing amiss—he was actually quite pleased. The more important the talks, the more it showed he was valued, so naturally Zhang Zong was happy! "Zhang Zong, please go inside and rest a while. A few others haven't arrived yet; once they're here, we'll discuss the great matter." Wang Renping's expression was utterly natural. If he could keep himself so well controlled over the phone, that was understandable—after all, they weren't face to face. But now, face to face, Wang Renping still showed not the slightest nervousness, which showed that his psychological fortitude was exceptional! Watching from the kitchen with his supernatural perception as events unfolded by the door, Yang Ce thought Wang Renping was truly a fine talent—no wonder he had won Sun Lin's trust. He was clearly a ruthless character.

Without the slightest suspicion, Zhang Zong entered the main hall of the old residence to wait. One after another, the others arrived as well, and at Wang Renping's request they all handed over their communication devices.

The others were fine, but one man voiced doubts—and that man was Li Baihu. Like Wang Renping, he was one of the men Tian Long trusted most.

"Brother Wang, surely I don't need to hand over my phone?" Li Baihu asked with a frown.

"Brother Hu, it's the rule. You know that," Wang Renping said, still neither haughty nor humble, showing not the slightest nervousness.

"Brother Wang, what exactly did you gather so many people here for? Is it Brother Long's idea?" Li Baihu glanced into the room, then asked.

"What, you don't believe me?" Wang Renping gave a cold snort. "Shall I call Brother Long and have him tell you himself?"

Li Baihu gave Wang Renping a long, deep look, then said: "That won't be necessary!" With that, he pulled out his phone, switched it off, and tossed it into the little basket before Wang Renping.

Though Li Baihu was somewhat resentful inside, he truly did not dare call Tian Long to question him! He also knew that in recent days Wang Renping's standing had surged, already placing him ahead of Li Baihu himself, so Wang Renping's words really could represent Tian Long's. The reason Li Baihu had bristled was simply that he was unconvinced and had taken the chance to make trouble.

"Brother Hu!" "Hello, Brother Hu!" "Brother Hu's here!"

Li Baihu was likewise one of Tian Long's favorites, so after he entered the room, everyone greeted him one after another. That lofty sense of superiority once again gave Li Baihu's self-esteem unprecedented satisfaction, and he forgot his earlier displeasure.

It seemed he still commanded great prestige! So Li Baihu thought to himself.