Everyone looked at each other; the proposal for a union had truly touched them.

But how to achieve it remained an extremely complicated matter.

No one spoke, and the entire room seemed frozen in time.

At this moment, Lu Luo turned to look at Zhang Yifan.

"Zhang Yifan, doesn't the Family Head have anything to say to me right now?"

Zhang Yifan stared at Lu Luo, perplexed. Did the Family Head have something to say to him? No, he didn't.

"The Family Head…"

RING RING RING!

Zhang Yifan had just begun to speak when the cellphone in his pocket rang. He took it out with astonishment.

The calling number was Luo Xuemin's private line.

"Hello, Family Head!"

Zhang Yifan answered the phone and immediately showed a shocked expression.

"What? How is that possible? Alright, I understand."

After hanging up, Zhang Yifan solemnly said to Lu Luo, "Lu Luo, the Family Head just said that you can decide the ultimate ownership of the Luo Family's media company and all its subsidiary opinion-shaping industries. Just do what you want."

As Zhang Yifan spoke, the others all showed expressions of astonishment.

The Luo Family, or rather Luo Xuemin, seemed to be playing for very high stakes this time!

Lu Luo simply smiled. Both his fathers-in-law, how should he put it, were not simpletons.

Luo Xuemin's actions truly had the feel of someone burning their bridges.

The Luo Family nowadays was completely tied to the Inner Ring Council. If the Inner Ring Council perished, the Luo Family would naturally perish as well.

That was why Luo Xuemin had forsaken the Shi Family.

Luo Xuemin had repeatedly mentioned one thing: those who stand in the Inner Ring are often blinded by its environment.

This blindness prevents people from seeing the current situation clearly.

The onlooker sees most of the game; only an outsider from the Outer Ring like Lu Luo could truly see the situation clearly.

And from Lu Luo's perspective as an outsider, the Inner Ring Council now had to be reformed!

"Since Uncle trusts me so much, I naturally cannot let his trust down. I hereby declare that all media companies under the Luo Family's name, as well as all opinion-shaping industries, as of today, belong entirely to the Alliance Council. They will be held in common by the remaining eleven families, each holding a 9% stake. The remaining 1% will be publicly operated for the construction of the Inner Ring."

When Lu Luo announced this, the members of the other families all wore expressions of disbelief.

"Lu Luo, can you really represent the Luo Family?"

"Although I'm just a nobody, Zhang Yifan should still be someone you can trust, right? Your aunts and uncles back home… they're probably peeking, right? Hurry up and call them back; let them discuss it properly."

Lu Luo's reminder was straightforward, and they all reacted immediately, promptly making calls to their respective Family Heads.

And the answer they received was the same.

"Luo Xuemin has already signed the company ownership agreement in the Alliance Council; the Luo Family's media now belongs collectively to the Alliance Council."

"Damn, for real? With just a few words from this kid, Luo Xuemin relinquished his power?"

One had to admit, the field of public opinion was very important. Many were surprised that Luo Xuemin was able to make such a decisive, bridge-burning move.

However, immediately after, Lin Zhiqi turned his head towards Lu Luo.

"I've already contacted my family, and they said you would have an additional condition. Tell us, what is your additional condition?"

Lu Luo chuckled. These people really wouldn't make a move without seeing a clear advantage!

"My additional condition is quite simple—it's ownership of the Ji Family's original Outer Ring mining excavation team."

"Ownership of the mining excavation team? What use is that?"

Today, the Fourth Ring and the Inner Ring were completely severed, and many people were still unclear about the situation in the Fourth Ring. They only knew that current commodities from the Fourth Ring, if transported to the Inner Ring, would be extremely expensive.

"I am a person from the Fourth Ring, and I come to the Inner Ring with sincerity. The Inner Ring needs what the Fourth Ring has, and the Fourth Ring also needs to connect with the Inner Ring! We are all intelligent people. After over one hundred years of development, the connection between the Fourth Ring and the Inner Ring has become inseparable. If it's completely cut off, it would be very difficult for you to even buy a bar of soap. Therefore, the commencement of trade between the Fourth Ring and the Inner Ring is inevitable!"

After Lu Luo had said so much, the people from the three great families finally understood his intent.

Shi Tingyu immediately grasped the key point.

"Do you mean that you and the Luo Family want to become the trade link between the Inner Ring and the Fourth Ring?"

"Miss Shi Tingyu is truly astute!"

Shi Tingyu nodded slightly. Even so, the Luo Family's sacrifice was immense! This plan is feasible!

Of course, not everyone could make a decision on the spot, such as Lin Zhiqi.

"This matter requires negotiation and consideration; it cannot be easily decided by just a few of us here. I think…"

Lin Zhiqi said a lot. Standing beside him, Lu Luo could feel Lin Zhiqi's tension and unease.

At this moment, the Family Head of the Lin Family must be very disappointed. Because what the Lin Family Head wanted to hear at this time was definitely not Lin Zhiqi's choice of evading the issue.

In Lu Luo's view, the problems Lin Zhiqi was talking about were just evasions. He dared not take the initiative to solve this issue crucial to the Alliance's future. So, Lu Luo was certain that after this incident, Lin Zhiqi might completely lose the qualification to contend for the position of Family Head.

"I agree…"

Just as Lin Zhiqi had not finished speaking, Li Luoya suddenly interrupted, her gaze serious and resolute. It seemed as if nothing could shake her.

"Li Luoya, what did you say? Do you know what you're doing?"

Li Luoya paid no heed to Lin Zhiqi's challenge; she simply said faintly, "I know what I am doing, and I also know why I am here today. We've come to resolve the Ji Family's matter. And isn't the Ji Family's matter a reflection of the issues faced by each of our families? Now Lu Luo and the Luo Family have put forward a reasonable solution and have already made sincere concessions. I think this is already quite good; it's an acceptable plan for us. I will find a way to persuade our Li Family Head, my mother…"

As Li Luoya spoke eloquently, her phone rang.

"Hello, Mother? Alright, I understand."

Li Luoya hung up the phone, a smile now on her face.

"Just now, my mother, Madam Li Yiping, called and conveyed her agreement to Mr. Lu Luo's proposal. She has also presented a detailed complementary plan in the Council to discuss further with Mr. Luo Xuemin. I have said what I wanted to say. The Li Family, and the three families standing behind the Li Family, are in absolute support of this matter."

This woman is really ruthless.

Lu Luo looked at Li Luoya with a bit of surprise.

He had to admit, this woman was indeed very smart. If you really thought she had seen through everything and let go of it all, you would be sorely mistaken.

Considering the current balance of power, although the Li Family was strong, they controlled Sea Star Livelihood, which was least suited for warfare. If a civil war truly broke out, it would be very difficult for Sea Star Livelihood to hold out until the end. Most of their family's industries were in civilian sectors. If they were to develop military equipment, everything would have to start from scratch, and their time was also the most pressing. For them, such an outcome was undoubtedly worse than for the lone-acting Shi Family.

Therefore, Li Luoya decisively chose to agree to Lu Luo's proposal. This gave the Luo Family a sufficient buffer. Although their corporate equity would be diluted, this kind of alliance was a method to truly bind everyone together.

"I agree as well."

Shortly after Li Luoya finished speaking, Shi Tingyu, who had pondered for a long time, also nodded, consenting to the matter.

"Regarding the alliance, I can make the decision on my own; I don't need to report back to the family. The Shi Family is willing to give up its shares in Lan Tian Biotech to facilitate this alliance. As for past conflicts, I can set them aside. I can also play this out to the end with you all, especially the Lin Family. But if it concerns the future of the entire Alliance, our Shi Family is also willing to compromise."

With both the Shi Family and Li Family having agreed, most people's gazes then turned to Lin Zhiqi.

Lin Zhiqi remained indecisive. He was not the heir of the Lin Family, and before coming here, the Family Head had not informed him of anything.

While Lin Zhiqi hesitated, in the Lin Family's lounge at the Inner Ring Council, many of the Lin Family's vassals watched the scene unfolding before them.

Family Head Lin Changping shook his head slightly, "He lacks the decisiveness a leader should have; inferior to Shi Tingyu in this regard. And he lacks truly rational judgment, inferior to Li Luoya in this. This generation of our Lin Family is truly lacking!"

"Family Head, the second young master is still young; he still has the chance to grow."

"Young, my foot! Isn't he 28 already? At 28, we were already capable of handling matters independently. And what is our second son like now? He still doesn't dare to call me. Do you know why?"

"Why?"

"Because he's thinking about what his elder brother would do, whether his elder brother would call me if he were here. If he called, he worries it might not be considered his own achievement. With such character, how could he possibly become the Family Head?"

Meanwhile, Lin Zhiqi, hesitating in the Ji Family's parlor, was unaware that his family had already labeled him inadequate. Such an assessment almost ended his chances of becoming the Family Head.

At this moment, his only chance was to make a definitive decision right there. Whether to join or to refuse, he had to state his position clearly so that the Lin family members might change their attitude towards him. Because when a family faces a crisis, the Family Head must make a clear judgment—right or wrong, a decision must be made. If a family loses its direction, it will fall into complete chaos. Therefore, even a wrong goal is far better than no goal at all.

Unfortunately, Lin Zhiqi did not grasp this and was still hesitating.

"Let's set this matter aside for now. After I go back…"

RING RING RING! Lin Zhiqi's phone, surprisingly, also rang!

Lin Zhiqi picked up the phone with some surprise. Upon seeing the number, he became nervous.

"Dad, I…"

Because of the Observer ability, Lu Luo could hear the voice on Lin Zhiqi's phone from afar.

"You don't have to manage this matter anymore. Tell that kid named Lu Luo, the Lin Family is willing to re-enter the alliance!"

Looks like this old Lin is pretty dissatisfied with his son!

Upon hearing these words, Lu Luo already understood that this fellow named Lin Zhiqi was finished. Perhaps in the future, he could live comfortably as a second-generation heir in the Inner Ring, a profligate son, but he had lost his chance to contend for the position of Lin Family Head.

Lin Zhiqi's fingers trembled slightly. He truly lacked a leader's decisiveness. But lacking decisiveness did not mean he was stupid; at this moment, he understood his father's meaning. He no longer had the opportunity, nor the qualification.

"I understand, Dad."

After hanging up, Lin Zhiqi looked numbly at Lu Luo and Shi Tingyu.

"The Lin Family is willing to form an alliance. Mr. Lu Luo can arrange this matter."

"No, it's not for me to arrange. I am merely the initiator of this alliance. The actual terms of the alliance still need to be decided by you, the families of the Inner Ring Council. All you Family Heads are individuals of great vision and strategy; I know you all sense this crisis. To confront this crisis, I know what you lack is merely an opportunity—a chance to unite. And I have appeared because of this opportunity! Now, my task is complete. As the initiator, I can consider my role fulfilled and step back. Everyone, I hope you cherish this chance. Because this is also the last opportunity for the Inner Ring Council. Let's go!"

Lu Luo walked away with great aplomb, his fingers intertwined with Bai Yuetong's, never letting go.

The usually chattering Bai Yuetong was as well-behaved as a baby today. Luo Feng, after a moment of stunned silence, followed behind Lu Luo.

Only Zhang Yifan remained in place, looking at Mu Fei before him!

"Lu Luo, what about him?"

"Of course, we bring him home. What else can we do?"

Bringing home a Fifth Tier Believer of Light, who was also a member of the Tribunal. Lu Luo's nonchalance seemed strange to many, but perhaps it was precisely someone like him who could facilitate the formation of this Alliance Council.

「...」

After leaving, Lu Luo tossed Mu Fei into a car.

"Don't run off. I still have questions for you when I get back. If you behave, I won't hurt you. If you don't cooperate, you'll have only yourself to blame for the consequences."

Mu Fei, who had originally intended to flee, became somewhat disoriented after hearing Lu Luo's series of warnings. He even began to doubt if this was still the Inner Ring, and if he was truly a member of the Church.

After hesitating for a moment, Mu Fei nodded.

"Alright, I understand. I'll go back with you."

"That's good. I like interacting with smart people; it reduces unnecessary friction and allows for peaceful conversation. Of course, if the other party isn't so smart, I have my ways to ensure a 'peaceful' conversation with them too, hehe!"

Mu Fei roughly understood what Lu Luo meant by a 'peaceful conversation.' If anyone dared not to converse 'peacefully' with Lu Luo, Lu Luo would likely beat them until they were gasping for breath. In such a state, they would indeed be 'peaceful.'

He had already experienced Lu Luo's strength, so he didn't argue at this time.

"Alright, let's go back."

Lu Luo, Bai Yuetong, Zhang Yifan, and Luo Feng all got into one car.

As soon as they were in the car, Luo Feng couldn't help but ask, "Did you plan for this union from the very beginning?"

"No, it was something I thought of during our discussions. I didn't fully grasp my uncle's intentions at first, but as I interacted more with these people, I began to understand what they were thinking."

"The Family Head's thoughts?"

"Not just my uncle's, but the thoughts of all the council members, or rather, the thoughts of the three great families."

"The thoughts of the three great families?"

"The three great families aren't fools. Even if their Family Heads couldn't figure it out, the think tanks they employ certainly could. Under the immense pressure from the Judgment Chief, they had to unite. If they didn't unite, they would perish. This was inevitable because the current Alliance was incapable of resisting such a powerful Church. They were an alliance to begin with, so reuniting at this time was only natural."

"Lu Luo, why do you understand so much…"

The one who spoke was Luo Feng.

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