That must be how it was.
Xu Xiaoyou shrugged helplessly.
As for the matter with the Golden Navigator, she didn't push them too far afterward. With the old chairman of the Golden Navigator stepping in to mediate, they conceded interests in certain areas and transferred a large batch of the most advanced military armaments to the command of Light-Chaser Garden. Both sides then shook hands and reconciled, bringing the farce to a close.
Nanjiamu was ultimately stripped of his vice-chairman position, and the old chairman came out of retirement to manage the guild once again.
Currently, Light-Chaser Garden could be described as having massive funds and a perfect operational system internally, while externally possessing enough military weaponry to arm itself to the teeth and a formidable number of high-end combatants. Within the alliance, it maintained surface-level friendly relations and mutual interests with most guilds.
As for why it was only surface-level...
Xu Xiaoyou understood perfectly. Once the final stage of the competition for the Sovereign Key began—whether outside the arena or during the matches—neither the King's Clan nor Assassin's Creed, who were currently on good terms with them, would care. Friendly treaties and friendship match agreements would all become waste paper. Anyone who wasn't strong enough would become a little lamb to be slaughtered on the dinner table the moment their masks were torn off.
Fortunately, given the current scale of Light-Chaser Garden, developing into a colossus before that period arrived was inevitable.
Self-strength was the only absolute truth.
She could understand the Golden Navigator's decision to break ties with them for the sake of profit.
Back then, the world dungeon had just ended and immediately transitioned into the qualifiers, leaving Light-Chaser Garden with very limited time to develop. Today was different from the past. She had weapons, allies, and her own territory. The entire grade 3 main city of Pangard was her back garden, and she could station heavy troops to guard it.
Most importantly, she had the confidence to face other large guilds head-on and no longer feared military threats. Regardless of who won or lost, the other party would have to carefully weigh the cost of going to war with Light-Chaser Garden.
She was currently considering whether to expand her scale and influence by developing sub-guilds.
Just then, an incoming call caught her attention. Xu Xiaoyou silently chose to answer.
The figure of a youth appeared before her; it was Lu Shuhang, wearing his usual polite smile.
"Greetings, Dark Gold Rose. My subordinates had a conflict with your people today in Oasis City. I hope you can find it in your heart to be magnanimous."
"Let's skip the pleasantries. Before the finals, no matter what happens, our alliance with the King's Clan will not be broken," Xu Xiaoyou said.
"In that case, does Chairman Tzirshu agree?" Lu Shuhang asked.
"Yes."
As everyone knew, a triangle was the most stable shape, even if the reliability of alliances was always subject to scrutiny. During this time, through active diplomacy, Light-Chaser Garden had established a strategic alliance with the King's Clan and Assassin's Creed, which the outside world called the 'Golden Triangle'.
Of course, such an alliance couldn't be settled by Dark Gold Rose's reputation alone. She had taken the interests ceded by the Golden Navigator and transferred a large portion of them to the guilds that had assisted her on the Fire Street battlefield, with the lion's share going to the King's Clan and Assassin's Creed.
The only area where she made no concessions whatsoever was military supplies.
One had to admire the reliability of the management team led by the 'glasses guy'; three agreement meetings were finalized in less than half a month. The final result was much better than her lowest expectations. Radiating outward from Pangard, ownership of the coastline from Black Swan Port in the southwest to Victoria Harbor in the northwest belonged entirely to Light-Chaser Garden.
This was equivalent to establishing a complete defensive line around her base in Pangard, acting as a buffer zone. Within this buffer, she would be the first to notice any movement, making it impossible for anyone to launch a surprise attack on Pangard from the sea.
"Returning to the matter in Oasis City today, Chairman Lu, you really should carefully screen the recent membership applications."
As soon as those words were spoken, Lu Shuhang understood Xu Xiaoyou's meaning. His expression turned solemn, and he let out a soft sigh.
"I've been looking into these matters lately as well. Whether it's the sub-guild Shadow Striker's Faith or the Sea of Thieves, many people with unclear backgrounds have joined. It's as if they just suddenly popped out..."
Lu Shuhang shook his head and didn't continue.
"I won't say more about my own house's affairs. My apologies for the embarrassment, Dark Gold Rose."
"As for the matter with Nanjiamu."
"I have already withdrawn the internal bounty on him within Light-Chaser Garden. This is the greatest concession I can make," Xu Xiaoyou said calmly.
Lu Shuhang breathed a sigh of relief and nodded. "Thank you for your understanding, Dark Gold Rose."
"The Golden Navigator counters many guilds hostile to Assassin's Creed, and we still have mutual interests. No matter what the situation looks like on the surface, they must not fall."
"Then, regarding tomorrow's schedule, let's hope no more conflicts break out between us."
"See you soon, Dark Gold Rose."
With that, Lu Shuhang cut the communication.
Having dealt with guild matters, Xu Xiaoyou let out a soft sigh, finally able to return to her life.
Leaving the room, she was met by a black-haired girl in pajamas. Xu Xiaoyou gave a soft smile and walked forward quietly.
The latter simply stretched as she approached her, her graceful waist and fair, slender legs fully visible.
At the moment they crossed paths, Bai Youyou pulled a pair of handcuffs out of nowhere and raised her hand toward Xu Xiaoyou with lightning speed. The latter, as if anticipating it, raised her hand to catch Bai Youyou's wrist, but in the next moment, the girl raised her right leg high, pinning her against the wall with incredible flexibility. At some point, a silver handcuff appeared on her wrist, connecting her to Bai Youyou's left hand.
"I caught you this time," Bai Youyou said with a triumphant tone.
"I let you," Xu Xiaoyou replied nonchalantly.
A camera flash clicked nearby.
Angelina, with her silver hair in a mess, heavy dark circles under her eyes, and a mouth full of foam while clenching a toothbrush, grinned as she snapped several photos with her phone, recording the somewhat ambiguous pose of the two.
"What a rare photo. I've already thought of the title: 'The Untold Stories Between Miss Investigator and the Notorious Chairman.' I'm sure it will be tomorrow's headline."
"Tch," Bai Youyou clicked her tongue, lowered her leg, snapped her fingers, and vanished into thin air.
Angelina also shrugged sensibly and went back to playing Snake on her phone.
Indeed, compared to the curtain, she still preferred this complex little box. Perhaps she was just nostalgic?
Upon arriving downstairs, Akabane Tsubaki had just returned from the Pale Red Battle-Net. Similar to an arena, the Pale Red Battle-Net would deploy matched players into an area for combat. It had no main quests and was a mode born purely for battle, offering rewards for win streaks and no penalties for death. She had spent almost every day immersed in it lately.
Most training matches organized between guilds also took place in rooms created on the Pale Red Battle-Net.
"I'm back~! My record this time is... exactly one hundred and thirty-five people!"
Seeing that no one was playing along, Akabane Tsubaki's proud face dropped, and she crossed her arms and pouted.
"Give me a bit of a reaction, please? Say something at least!"
"Something," the three of them said in unison.
"Hmph, Big Sister Tang is still the best. If it were Big Sister Tang, she would definitely smile and clap while affirming me. You guys are just a bunch of people without any emotional value!"
Just then, the final person teleported back.
Tang Xin wore a professional smile, dressed in a fishtail evening gown, holding a stand microphone in her hand.
Under the gaze of the three others,
Tang Xin tossed the microphone aside and walked toward Xu Xiaoyou with a sweet smile. As the latter's lips curled up and she prepared to return the smile and hug her, Tang Xin slowly raised her hands.
She grabbed Xu Xiaoyou's neck and squeezed, her voice gritted through her teeth.
"Why do I still have to run around doing concerts to earn money for you even here?"
Rate on N.U.
