If I remember correctly, Barbara told me not long ago, "Currently in Warm Fire City, most of the high-ranking figures belong to the Neutral Faction."

At that time, I even joked that they weren't neutral but just fence-sitters.

Only now does Andrew realize: I underestimated the Warm Fire Commerce Association.

I was too young and naive!

Including Susan, six figures stood by the president's wife's side.

Another six figures stood by Jin, and also my side.

Clearly, there were two distinct factions!

Where's the Neutral Faction?!

"So this is the round table meeting?" Andrew quickly denied it, "In what meeting do two factions confront each other right from the start? This is just a setup for a brawl!"

Even though I was mentally prepared: even if I passed Jin's review smoothly, and the product was flawless, actually dealing with the president's wife would likely still have complications.

But I never expected a scene like this!

"Come, young man!" An energetic elder approached and greeted, "Stand by my side later!"

Andrew: "?"

Who are you? Why do you sound so familiar with me?

The man's appearance was distinctive, with hair like steel needles standing straight, eyebrows flying upwards, narrow upturned eyes like his eyebrows, and a strong chin like a shoehorn.

This look screamed: My temper is very bad! So don't mess with me!

However, this seemingly ill-tempered elder's gaze was gentle: "Andrew, right? My disciple contacted me three days ago and told me about you. I heard you can make a magic potion that replenishes physical ability and greatly enhances recovery rate?"

Andrew suddenly realized, "Ah, so you are Linda's mentor?"

Three days ago, at the Shield of Flowing Fire, I did ask Linda to relay a message to her teacher, the chief leader of the Warm Fire Temple's medical team, that I could make a magic potion to help the wounded at Warm Fire Temple.

That potion, of course, was the Snickers, which Jin just tested and rated at "at least SS-Class."

The old man nodded, "That's me, you can call me Medicine Elder. I also enjoy making magic potions, so I'm very interested in your potion. My disciple spoke very highly of you!"

Speaking of which, the elder calling himself Medicine Elder slapped his forehead and chuckled, "Look at me, not considering time and place, let's discuss the magic potion after we solve this current issue."

In theory, Jin rang the evening bell to initiate the round table meeting, gathering the commerce association's top brass to discuss the final rating of Andrew's products, including the Snickers.

Yet, Medicine Elder suggested discussing it later.

This confirmed Andrew's suspicion: this wasn't a round table meeting at all!

Or rather, the so-called round table meeting was just an excuse.

The confrontation of these two factions in the hall seemed more like an internal "reshuffle" within the commerce association!

Using the review I just passed as a trigger to initiate the reshuffle!

The driving force behind it, without a doubt, was the president Beiru, who hadn't shown up and was still recovering in seclusion.

"The question is, what exactly does President Beiru intend to do?" Andrew pondered.

Despite the difficulties posed by Barbara's mother, I am quite dissatisfied.

But if possible, Andrew still hopes to negotiate a peaceful business cooperation with Warm Fire Commerce Association.

I really don't want to see a scene where the president and his wife actually fight!

"May I boldly ask, what is the president's intention—" Andrew lowered his voice, asking Medicine Elder beside him.

Meanwhile, Susan stepped forward, her small eyes on her chubby face gleaming, asking loudly, "What do you mean? What is this supposed to mean?!"

She is the president's wife's maid and bodyguard, and also her professional partner.

After hearing the bell, she was the first to rush into the hall.

After entering the hall, Susan quickly scanned around.

Seeing the wife's gloomy face, Jin's lips bleeding, yet Andrew seemed perfectly fine, an odd feeling swept through Susan's heart.

After all, when she sent Andrew into the hall, she didn't think he would be able to walk out alive!

However, that strange feeling was fleeting.

Because soon, Susan had to face the commerce association's high-ranking members who had spontaneously gathered around Jin after entering the hall: "What are you trying to do? Is this the president's intention, or are you acting on your own?"

Not only Susan, but the other five commerce association high-ranking members standing by the wife also had varying degrees of uncertainty.

Clearly, this scene, this shift in the situation, was beyond their expectations.

"Of course, it's Beiru's intention."

The one who answered Susan was actually the president's wife.

Her face was grim since the bell tolled.

But now, she shook her head and smiled.

"I mean, why would that damned ghost specifically ask Peter, who's far away on the front lines, to make time to report the battle situation to me, forcing me to meet this young man named Andrew..."

The President's wife looked down from above, her gaze sweeping across the high-ranking individuals like Gold and Herbal.

Her eyes paused slightly when she saw Andrew.

Finally, she looked at the group of people on the President's side, the leader being a refined middle-aged man, who asked indifferently, "So Beiru had planned all this, wanting me to meet this kid, then have Gold evaluate his product, and then hold a Round Table meeting, so you guys can legitimately jump out?"

After speaking, she looked at that person. Beside her, Susan and others couldn't help but look at the refined middle-aged man.

Andrew also glanced over.

Wanting to know what's really going on here?

Only to hear the refined middle-aged man say respectfully, "I dare not offend madam.

Having Peter contact you and having Gold ready to evaluate the products was indeed arranged in advance by the President. But... we weren't originally supposed to meet with you at this moment. Round Table meetings weren't part of the initial plan."

Saying that, he glanced at Gold.

Gold's complexion was much better, and his aura had largely stabilized again, saying, "The reason for holding the Round Table meeting is because that young man's products all passed my evaluation, three of them are S-Class, and one, I judge, might reach SSS-Class. That's what initiated the meeting procedure..."

He didn't finish his words, but among the high-ranking individuals on this side, and Susan's group on the other, someone exclaimed without agreement, "What? Three S-Class items?"

"And one might be an SSS-Class product?!"

"Gold, are you sure?"

In an instant, all eyes fell heavily on Andrew's face.

Especially Susan, who then realized: not only was Andrew not killed by the madam as she thought, but he used his strength to pass Gold's famously stringent evaluation!

Andrew, under those invisible but heavy gazes, remained silent.

He only said in his mind, "As expected! Though the Round Table meeting is an accident, it was indeed Barbara's father who orchestrated this long-planned action against her mother!"

At this time in the hall were, after all, the top figures of the Warm Fire Commerce Association.

Looking at the entire Flame Realm, they were those few standing at the very top of the pyramid.

Although no one really expected Andrew to make Gold decide a "must hold Round Table meeting" kind of decision.

But soon, everyone calmed down.

Because no matter what, at present, Andrew had become a catalyst, forming this kind of standoff between two groups in the hall.

Some long-standing internal issues of the Commerce Association, which everyone knew about, might finally reach a conclusion today!

"So what is Beiru's intention with such a grand setup?"

This time, the President's wife spoke herself, asking indifferently, "Does he want me to surrender the control of the Magic Tower? Does he want me to stop being upset with him over my daughter's death years ago? Does he want the Commerce Association internally to have only him as the highest leader, rather than the current situation where we stand on equal footing?"

From the President wife's standpoint, she couldn't think of any other purpose for her husband to launch such an action.

Before the Twin Flame battle, the internal division problem of the Commerce Association wasn't obvious.

After the war broke out, a series of issues were exposed consecutively.

The President's wife thought that damned ghost wants to confront me and suppress me completely from now on?! Humph, must be like this!

Andrew thought so too.

Honestly, from when Gold initiated the Round Table meeting, bringing together the high-ranking officials, and forming the current confrontation of two factions on site, Andrew felt somewhat uncomfortable inside.

After understanding that the President was indeed orchestrating all this behind the scenes, the discomfort only grew stronger.

No one wants to be used as a pawn without knowing it.

I came to negotiate cooperation, not to engage in internal shuffle and struggles of the Commerce Association!

"Originally, I just felt Barbara's mother became somewhat hysterical due to certain events in the past."

Andrew thought, "Now it seems Barbara's father is not one to be trifled with either?"

Yet, that refined middle-aged man maintained his respectful attitude throughout, shaking his head and saying, "No, the President isn't aiming for the things madam mentioned."

"Isn't it?" The President's wife sneered, obviously not believing it.

The refined middle-aged man's face turned solemn, and he slowly said, "The President said, if he wasn't injured, he should personally discuss this with madam. But now, he really can't immediately come out, so he had to resort to this, letting several of us represent him to discuss with madam—

From now on, the President said he's willing to give up the president position, let you be the president, and he will be the president's husband.

In future, our Warm Fire Commerce Association shouldn't have a divided situation anymore. The President said from today on, all Commerce Association affairs will be yours to manage solely; he will always listen to you. Of course, we will too.

As for the control of the Magic Tower... Since it was initially determined that you are the most suitable person to wield the Magic Tower's power, past, present, and future, you will always be its controller. Anyone daring to snatch it, the President said he would be upset with them first."

With each sentence spoken, Andrew's expression grew increasingly peculiar.

The President's wife was too.

Frowning at the refined middle-aged man, the President's wife was silent for a moment, then frowned again, "So? He's said so many nice words, promising me so many benefits, there must be some conditions in return, right? What's Beiru wants me to agree to as an exchange?"

The refined middle-aged man said, "Indeed, the President has one condition. As long as madam agrees, from now on, Warm Fire Commerce Association will be captained by madam."

The President's wife displayed a mockingly "I knew it" expression and said, "Let's hear it."

The refined middle-aged man took a deep breath and said solemnly, "The President's condition is: please prioritize the bigger picture and kindly treat this young friend Andrew from the Wildfire Territory, refrain from thinking of forcibly recruiting him or any such notions. As long as you are willing to heed the President's advice on this point, then all the promises he made through me just now will immediately take effect today."

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