Chapter 4015 — A Private Inquiry
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 3
The wealthy consortium behind Manager Hao ranked third within the Merchant Alliance, while the yellow-haired man was named Wang Tong, and behind him stood the Wantong Grand Gathering, ranked fourth. Add to that the other three formidable guilds of the top ten, and with such a splendid array suddenly launching an offensive, even the Hong Clan Merchant Guild—ranked second in the Alliance—could not withstand it.
As for the first-ranked, that was the Five Elements Apothecary of Middle Island, a subordinate guild of the Middle Island Pill Hall, founded by the Pill God Zhang Lifeng himself. Naturally, no one dared entertain designs upon it.
This Four Islands Auction Exposition was merely the opening battle in which the Anti-Hong Alliance revealed itself; a whole series of follow-up moves would come after. Their goal was singular: to carve up and devour the Hong Clan Merchant Guild, that colossal obstacle standing in their path.
Seeing that no one took it seriously, Manager Hao cautioned carefully: "Gentlemen, this is the first battle of our Anti-Hong Alliance, and a battle of the utmost importance. The higher-ups behind each house are watching this closely. Success or failure bears upon your lofty prospects, and there is no room for the slightest mishap. Though Hong Zhong is now a turtle in a jar, this old man still believes caution is the better part of valor—beware a ship capsizing in a ditch!"
"Well said. Manager Hao has the right of it. Hong Zhong has held sway over North Island for decades and has weathered many a storm, great and small. Who knows what unsuspected contingency measures he may have up his sleeve—impossible to guard against them all. One moment of negligence and all could be lost. Young Manager Wang, caution can never err." The others chimed in one after another.
Wang Tong's station was that of young master of the Wantong Grand Gathering. He had been brimming with self-satisfaction, but at these words from Manager Hao and the rest, his brow knit at once.
"They say the older one grows, the smaller one's courage becomes, and truer words were never spoken. I had long since concluded that old dog Hong Zhong was at his wit's end. But since you are all set on taking precautions, suit yourselves. Still, let me trouble myself to ask one question: he has already sunk to this state—just what precautions do you propose to take?" Wang Tong asked, eyes sweeping over them with contempt.
Manager Hao chuckled with the steady assurance of long experience: "Young Manager Wang, fret not. This old man has a method that will ensure everything is foolproof—though it will require Steward Song to step forward and handle the matter."
Just then a voice came from beyond the door: "Require Song to step forward? What kind of favor are you gentlemen looking to bestow?"
Seeing Steward Song stride through the door as though no one else were present, everyone in the room rose to pay their respects. On this Far North Island, Steward Song was the plenipotentiary agent for every matter great and small, from top to bottom; to call him the master here was no exaggeration in the least.
Manager Hao cupped his hands and smiled: "A frank man speaks no cryptic words. Our affairs could hardly be hidden from Steward Song. So this time we shall speak plainly with you. Barring the unexpected, the Hong Clan Merchant Guild will very likely attempt to ship a batch of supplies over today, to serve as emergency reserves for tomorrow's auction. This is a rare opportunity to pin the Hong Clan Merchant Guild down for good, and we will not tolerate their escape from the jaws of death. So we would ask Steward Song for a small favor."
"You want me to intercept them along the way?" Steward Song swept his gaze over the assembly with a half-smile, his tone laden with meaning.