Ning Zhuo suddenly stood up, his louder voice overpowering Yuan Er: "Stop spouting nonsense! How could we assassinate you or plot against your monkey pets without evidence?"
"Do you have any evidence?!"
Yuan Er was taken aback, his eyes turning bloodshot with anger, pointing at Ning Zhuo, his gaze murderous, killing intent clear: "You little thief, you've brought this trouble to my home. You deserve to die, you deserve to die!"
Ning Zhuo raised his neck and stepped forward directly, walking around the desk toward Yuan Er, shouting loudly: "Come, come, come! Here is my head, please, Leader Yuan Er, take it as you wish."
As he approached step by step, Yuan Er was overwhelmed by his aura and wanted to retreat, but the chair behind him blocked his way, causing him to sit down heavily.
He, a dignified Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator, was forced into such a position by a young cultivator of the Qi Refinement stage; if anyone saw this, his prestige would be completely ruined.
Seeing this, Ning Zhuo laughed heartily but stopped pressuring, taking a few steps back, his tone softening: "Leader Yuan Er, you are a wise man."
"Since I have been ordered to come here to accept your surrender, I have ways to protect myself, but let's not delve into that."
"If I suffer even the slightest injury here, what do you think Lord Fei Si will think? What will my Ning Family do? How will Flying Disc Workshop retaliate?"
Yuan Er was intimidated, gritting his teeth tightly, his fists clenching, fingernails digging into his flesh, blood oozing out.
Yet this pain was nothing compared to the humiliation he was experiencing, the seething hatred in his heart!
Ning Zhuo seemingly relaxed completely, with his hands clasped behind his back, pacing leisurely in the small study.
If Yuan Er became angry out of shame and struck as a Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator with rage, Ning Zhuo's end would be tragic. But he strolled leisurely, because he knew the more composed and confident he appeared now, the more he could intimidate the opponent.
Ning Zhuo raised his head, speaking freely as he began recounting the life experiences of Yuan Yi and Yuan Dasheng, detailing the rise of the Monkey Head Gang and the key battles along the way in great detail.
This feeling of being thoroughly understood made Yuan Er's heart grow cold.
Clearly, the opponent was just a mere Qi Refinement Stage Level Three, but in his mind, Ning Zhuo was like a giant beast opening its mouth, ready to devour him and the entire Monkey Head Gang!
Ning Zhuo approached Yuan Er again, his gaze sharp, piercing to the heart: "Leader Yuan Er, your father and your Monkey Uncle struggled all their lives to establish this foundation. Now that it's passed to you, are you going to let it fail?"
"Are you willing to? Are you worthy of your father and your Monkey Uncle?"
Yuan Er glared: "My current predicament is all because of you, isn't it?"
"No, you're wrong!" Ning Zhuo waved his hand, "Even without us, there would be others! This world is about survival of the fittest. You are weak, so naturally, you become the prey of the strong."
"Otherwise, how did your father and your Monkey Uncle rise? How was the Monkey Head Gang established?"
"Your current thoughts are the same as those of the failures you've trampled underfoot, aren't they?"
"Stop blaming the heavens and others, Leader Yuan Er."
"Such thoughts are too weak. Leave some dignity for your father and your Monkey Uncle!"
Yuan Er still glared, but couldn't say a word.
Coming from a gang background, he fundamentally believed in the survival of the fittest, leaving him no room for rebuttal.
Ning Zhuo lifted his head, resuming the topic: "Join us, and we can help you, only then will we help you."
Yuan Er took a deep breath: "How will you help me?"
Ning Zhuo turned around, clasping his hands behind his back, taking a few steps, leaving only his back for Yuan Er. His tone was ghostly: "Are you aware of the relationship between Flying Disc Workshop and Lord Fei Si?"
"Let me tell you a secret, forty percent of the profit from selling mechanical monkeys goes to Lord Fei Si."
"Although Lord Fei Si would never publicly admit it, just a little favor would change your situation entirely."
"This relationship alone is enough to deter those ambitious elders."
Yuan Er took another deep breath.
Resentment surged in his heart once more.
"So, Flying Disc Workshop is so powerful because it has dealings with Fei Si, because Fei Si supports them."
"Ugly, truly ugly and corrupt!"
"No wonder my Monkey Head Gang has been bullied so miserably."
"With a Golden Core cultivator backing them, especially the ruthless Fei Si, how could we win?!"
The more Yuan Er thought about it, the more grief-stricken he became, losing all courage.
Ning Zhuo watched every subtle change in Yuan Er's expression and continued: "Not only that, we will also sell a large number of mechanical monkeys to you."
"From now on, you must abandon your monkey pets and switch to using mechanical Explosive Flame Monkeys."
Yuan Er was stunned, then exclaimed: "That's impossible! If I issue such a command, I will be immediately overthrown; they would never obey such a ridiculous order."
Ning Zhuo laughed heartily, having anticipated this, and replied immediately: "Of course, I won't let you lose your position as leader."
"You only need to tell them that from now on, the business of picking fire persimmons will be exclusively handled by the Monkey Head Gang, Flying Disc Workshop won't touch it!"
"The only condition is that you must use mechanical Explosive Flame Monkeys and abandon all monkey pets."
Yuan Er found it hard to believe: "What did you just say?"
Ning Zhuo chuckled: "You wouldn't think Flying Disc Workshop wants to steal your business, would you?"
"You lack perspective, your vision is too small."
"We have a close relationship with Lord Fei Si, intertwined by interests. If we were to steal the business of picking fire persimmons, wouldn't that be competing with the people for benefits? This would greatly damage Lord Fei Si's reputation and will never happen."
"We only sell mechanical Explosive Flame Monkeys, reducing the risk of picking fire persimmons, decreasing casualties, benefiting the country and the people. This is the true good deed."
Yuan Er's face turned pale, finding the entire scenario utterly absurd!
For so long, he had thought that the opponent wanted to steal the Monkey Head Gang's livelihood, thus fighting with all his might, only to realize the opponent's ambition wasn't there at all.
Then why were they so tense before, preparing for a great enemy, taking all sorts of actions?
Ning Zhuo seemed to read his thoughts: "Leader Yuan Er, don't let your mind wander."
"If you continue using monkey pets, you remain an enemy. If you use mechanical Explosive Flame Monkeys, you become our guest!"
"The difference between an enemy and a guest should be clear, even to a child."
"According to Lord Fei Si's intentions, in the future, Persimmon Fire City will no longer need such outdated methods of picking fire persimmons as using monkey pets."
"Each monkey is also a living being. How can you be so cruel?"
"Mechanical monkeys are great, unafraid of death, highly efficient."
"I assure you, as long as you align with us, we will secretly sell you special models of mechanical monkeys. These monkeys will outperform conventional models in every aspect."
"This will give your Monkey Head Gang a significant advantage in picking fire persimmons."
Yuan Er's heart sank to its lowest point. He was very clear if he agreed to the condition, he would forever be at the mercy of others. The supply and maintenance of mechanical monkeys would depend on Flying Disc Workshop. The vast Monkey Head Gang would be strangled at the neck.
And Flying Disc Workshop could significantly enhance its influence over the entire market through them.
The Monkey Head Gang would still have to guard against business competitors, while Flying Disc Workshop sat back, collecting money, watching tigers fight from a distance, without getting stained with a drop of blood.
"What an excellent scheme, truly an excellent scheme!" Yuan Er cried sorrowfully, losing all will to fight.
Ning Zhuo's eyes glimmered darkly: "Leader Yuan Er, have you made up your mind?"
A deep sorrow filled Yuan Er's heart. At this point, what choice did he have?
From the moment the Thousand-Year Fire Persimmon Forest exploded, he had lost completely; he had no choice left!
So, Yuan Er walked around the desk, standing before Ning Zhuo.
He took a deep breath, suppressing the sorrow and anger in his heart, bowed, and greeted in a trembling voice: "Yuan Er, greets Mr. Ning!"