Ku Zhu was observed treading cautiously, not daring to overstep in the slightest. It was as if, compared to his demeanor before Ouyang Yue, he was still suppressing his true performance.

Meanwhile, a flicker of unease stirred in Ku Zhu's heart; he initially suspected an ambush. But he quickly realized the source. It's Wang Zhan! The current Wang Zhan is somewhat dangerous, and the closer one gets, the more perilous it becomes. Therefore, deciding to trust his instincts and intuition, Ku Zhu naturally wouldn't risk upsetting Wang Zhan unnecessarily, nor was he interested in Wang Zhan's private affairs. He focused solely on fulfilling his duty as a guard, ever prepared to serve as a human shield. After all, putting other things aside, Ku Zhu's physical strength as a Martial King far exceeded Wang Zhan's. If Wang Zhan were to be instantly killed, Ku Zhu would be utterly finished. Moreover, Ku Zhu was not only mute but also blind…

Soon after, the two once again quietly entered the Underground City from a concealed location. With the Internal Affairs Department surrounded and a sea of people everywhere, the Underground City was now completely sealed. However, after glancing at the surging crowds and the well-prepared resources of the Internal Affairs Department, Wang Zhan suddenly smiled.

"Very good."

Although there were two or three individuals inside who had concealed their auras, Wang Zhan already knew that the Quan State Underground City base hadn't attracted much attention from the original organization. Perhaps those people were merely second-rate characters dispatched by Snakehead's father. They seemed lax; though they possessed some strength, they were unremarkable before two Martial Kings. This being the case, Wang Zhan felt relieved. Let them cause a commotion; as long as his own plans remained unharmed, it would be fine.

As for Ku Zhu, he no longer paid any mind to Wang Zhan's actions or thoughts; he had long grown accustomed to them. Because experience told him: don't show off your abilities in front of someone like Wang Zhan. Although Ku Zhu possessed some skills and was once widely feared, before Wang Zhan, he truly had little to rely on.

Subsequently, Wang Zhan turned his head and instructed him, "Have those men prepare. Once a major upheaval occurs in the Underground City, get Tian Qi out. Remember, I want him kept alive. No matter who you assign, if they fail, tell them to bring me their heads!"

Lord Ku Zhu, who had also noticed some subtle signs, frowned slightly as he looked towards the Internal Affairs Department. "That's somewhat difficult. How about… I dispatch three men?"

Wang Zhan turned and continued walking. "You decide."

After some wandering, his destination remained unknown.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK…

The sound of knocking echoed.

Suddenly, the atmosphere inside tensed; the air itself seemed to grow heavy with solemnity. Then, with a creak, the door opened.

"Who is it!"

Little did she know, when Tie Xiuqing, her expression grave and her entire being on alert, opened the door and saw Wang Zhan, her face instantly registered stunned astonishment.

"Ah, Young Master, when did you arrive?"

Wang Zhan was calm and composed, showing no surprise; after all, he had been monitoring these individuals all along. Observing her imposing manner, however, Wang Zhan nodded with satisfaction and smiled. "You've done well."

The world perceived through mental energy always felt somewhat different from seeing things with one's own eyes.

Tie Xiuqing, however, smiled, unfazed by praise or criticism, and quickly stepped aside, holding the door open. "Young Master, please come in!"

Wang Zhan stepped inside. He saw Boss Chen and another old man standing there; they had evidently heard the commotion and were awaiting his arrival.

Looking at that Old Man, Tie Xiuqing then glanced at Wang Zhan somewhat sheepishly and said, "Young Master, this is a distant cousin of mine whose family has fallen on hard times. I… I had no other choice but to bring him here, hoping he might find a way to make a living. You wouldn't mind, would you?"

Wang Zhan looked at the old fellow, whose face showed some trepidation and whose limbs trembled slightly, yet whose eyes held a scrutinizing depth. He smirked inwardly. Who wouldn't know? A distant relative, indeed!

Nevertheless, Wang Zhan's lips curved slightly as he looked at Tie Xiuqing with an enigmatic expression. "I don't mind now, of course. However, next time you plan to do something, it's best to ask me first. While I don't mind this time, it doesn't mean I appreciate actions taken without prior approval."

Tie Xiuqing's heart tightened, and her expression froze. The Old Man also felt his heart clench, fearing he might have displeased Wang Zhan.

But Wang Zhan simply waved his hand, unwilling to waste time. "Alright, I have little interest in these matters. Brother Chen, it's been a few days. I wonder, how is our performance?"

Only then did the ever-respectful Boss Chen respond, "Young Master, we've sold most of the goods you allocated to us. The remaining orders are shipping out today. Actually, if you hadn't come, we might have had to approach Lord Ku Zhu for more stock…"

The casual ambiance of the room gradually shifted with Boss Chen's report. In fact, from the moment Wang Zhan had arrived, the harmonious atmosphere within the small house had instantly vanished, replaced by an air of solemnity that permeated every corner. Without a doubt, as long as Wang Zhan was present, he was the undisputed authority, and no one dared to challenge his dominance. This had led to a situation where, even though Wang Zhan might have originally had a good relationship with Boss Chen, it had now clearly transformed into one of superior and subordinate.

But Wang Zhan seemed unconcerned, merely offering a slight smile. "That's excellent. Now, bring the orders to me. This time, I'll give you fifty percent of the remaining goods. Brother Chen, keep up the good work. I have high hopes for you!"

Boss Chen immediately replied, "Alright!"

However, looking at the three busy and tense individuals, Wang Zhan knew. The things he had anticipated since the day he stepped out of the Federal Martial Arts Academy had already come to pass. Days where ambition and sincerity were intertwined were never easy. Filled with much fear and hesitation, as well as numerous interests and conflicts, such days naturally lacked warmth. It was just like the way these people now regarded him. Wang Zhan was no longer a youth; he was a demonic genius. But this was in line with Wang Zhan's own choices. Since he didn't want to be wholeheartedly kind, only to be manipulated by others in the name of kindness and pushed into a Fate from which he could never escape, his sole desire was to protect his family and provide them with a peaceful sanctuary—much like his deep concern for his sister, whose whereabouts remained unknown. Therefore, in this process, Wang Zhan had to possess means and power comparable to those influential figures, whether they operated in the light or the darkness. Before that, everything else was superfluous. Consequently, distance was an inevitable outcome, like the chasm that now lay between Wang Zhan and people like Boss Chen and Ku Zhu, a chasm difficult to cross. This was the metamorphosis a person in power must endure—loneliness!

However, in reality, only Wang Zhan himself knew the truth. All of this was merely an illusion. The reason he compromised was simply that he lacked sufficient, overwhelming power. In essence, Wang Zhan was still that same child who had once stood in the refreshing breeze of Chu State, shouting, "Run, youth!"

「Quickly, he left his emotions behind and returned to reality.」

Looking at the orders in his hand, which were neither too large nor too small, Wang Zhan frowned and asked, "Our progress is slowing. Can't we accelerate it?"

One should know, in Wang Zhan's plan, this was merely the beginning. Of course, in less than four or five days, they had already captured nearly sixty percent of the market share, a testament to the efforts of those around Wang Zhan. Yet, Wang Zhan still felt it wasn't enough! They could be faster, much faster. Because this was essentially a one-time transaction; the goal was to make a substantial profit and successfully achieve the strategic objective. There was no need to be overly cautious. To this end, Wang Zhan had dispatched all the forces he could muster and had also specifically prepared a considerable amount of wealth. However, looking at the current results, he was very dissatisfied.

And yet, because Boss Chen and the others didn't grasp Wang Zhan's strategic intentions and had only seen the 'pie in the sky' Wang Zhan had described, they couldn't keep pace with his thinking. Therefore, Wang Zhan absolutely needed to change the mindset of Boss Chen and the others—without, of course, revealing the truth behind his plans.

Sure enough, just as Wang Zhan had anticipated the loophole, Boss Chen explained, "After all, our actions violate Federation regulations. Even when we sell, some people are wary and hesitant to engage with us extensively. Therefore, we might require more time…"

Wang Zhan shook his head. It wasn't directed at Boss Chen. Instead, he deliberately pretended to close his eyes and hold his breath, though inwardly he was already fully confident, having prepared the next steps and plans.

After waiting for a long moment, Wang Zhan suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze sharp as he looked at the four people before him. With solemnity, he said, "I know you may want to help those children struggling at the bottom of the Federation, so you proceed steadily and cautiously. I don't fault you for this; it's just that you still haven't recognized one crucial fact."

Which boss wasn't a consummate actor?

Wang Zhan declared righteously, "The very nature of our endeavor goes against the Federation's will. Our speed determines the kind of bright future those people can access. The more we delay, the faster the Federation can react, and then we will undoubtedly become the target of public criticism. Sacrificing most possibilities for the sake of a 'perfect' outcome is, in my view, a sheer waste of time!"

Boss Chen's expression changed slightly. Wang Zhan's intentions were rather severe; he was clearly applying pressure. Considering he was currently the one in charge, and Little Qi was undoubtedly under Wang Zhan's control, what could he say? Additionally, he knew all too well that achieving their original, cautious goal was impossible. However, he had always believed that if he was just careful enough and proceeded slowly enough, that goal should be attainable.

Yet, would Wang Zhan, now unwilling to continue any pretense and clearly revealing his true intentions, still grant them this opportunity?

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