Chapter 4499 — The Black Falcon Escort Agency Arrives

"Chief Escort, Brother Qi, you two are being far too formal with me. With the friendship we share, is there any need to drag all this profit and loss into it? Besides, my whole purpose in fighting for the agency this time was to get at Wu Baoliang. Now that Wu Baoliang has paid with his head, I can retire with my achievements complete—there's really no need for all this." Wei Zhao shook his head repeatedly.

"Young Hero Ling, everyone knows that the Qingtian Escort Agency climbed to the top of the escort world on your shoulders alone. This is no longer a matter of just you—it concerns the reputation of the entire agency. If we treat you shabbily, the Qingtian Escort Agency will have fingers pointed at its back." Qi Mingyuan's face was stern, and he went on: "Besides, giving you a mere twenty percent in dry shares both draws us closer and costs the agency nothing—in fact, we're the ones coming out ahead."

Having been pressed this far, Wei Zhao no longer knew how to refuse. Surely he could not disregard the Qingtian Escort Agency's reputation entirely and force these twenty percent dry shares back into their hands?

He himself might remain clean-handed that way, but for Qi Mingyuan and Qi Wenmo the matter would turn thorny indeed. After all, they could not possibly fail to repay Wei Zhao handsomely this time, and if Wei Zhao would not take dry shares, they could only give him spirit jade—except they simply could not produce that much spirit jade!

In the end, Wei Zhao was not the sort to insist stubbornly on his own way; he would never leave his friends in such an awkward position. And as Qi Mingyuan had said, even if he accepted the twenty percent dry shares, so long as he did not tamper with them and did not take the initiative to meddle in the agency's decisions, the Qingtian Escort Agency would suffer no loss at all—it was the perfect solution for both sides.

"Very well, then. But I must make one thing clear: I will accept these twenty percent dry shares, but they must be placed under Brother Qi's sole management on my behalf. After all, I won't be staying in the South Continent for long, and I won't be able to take part in the agency's affairs in the future." Wei Zhao could only say, with a helpless air.

"Of course, of course. Come, everyone, raise your cups—to the newest owner of our escort agency!" Qi Mingyuan was overjoyed and at once called on the gathering to drink, and the atmosphere in the hall grew lively once again.

When Qi Wenmo had first proposed giving Wei Zhao twenty percent in dry shares, he had worried a little whether Wei Zhao might push his luck and climb higher. A small loss of spirit jade would have been nothing; the real concern was that the tail might later grow too big to wag, interfering with the agency's decisions. But Wei Zhao's present gesture of returning kindness for kindness made that worry vanish like smoke.

The twenty percent dry shares placed under Qi Wenmo's sole management, with an explicit declaration that Wei Zhao would not take part in the agency's affairs, meant that Wei Zhao would thereafter be a hands-off proprietor—nothing more than a regular dividend, and all would be well. For the Qingtian Escort Agency, this was the best possible outcome.

No loss on either side, and Wei Zhao bound all the more firmly to them. Never mind Wei Zhao's own host of wondrous abilities—the Hong Merchant Guild behind him alone was enough to benefit the Qingtian Escort Agency beyond measure.

After all, the Qingtian Escort Agency was now riding the momentum of its ascent, and the wealthy Hong Merchant Guild behind Wei Zhao was the great wind that could carry it soaring ninety thousand li in one breath. That single return alone had already made the twenty percent dry shares more than worth their price.

"Since everyone showers me with such kindness, I shall not stand on ceremony." Amid the crowd's cheers, Wei Zhao raised his cup on the spot and drained it in one go.

Just then, several people entered through the hall's main doors. Ignoring the strange looks from the crowd, the leader strode up to Wei Zhao and the others with a hearty laugh: "Chief Escort Qi, Young Hero Ling—since everyone's in such fine spirits, might you count Old Zhao in?"

The newcomer was none other than Zhao Shanying, Chief Escort of the Black Falcon Escort Agency, and the several men following behind him were all core higher-ups of the Black Falcon Escort Agency.

"Haha, Chief Escort Zhao is a rare guest whom we could never invite even if we tried—of course you're warmly welcome!" Qi Mingyuan said with a laugh. As for what had brought Zhao Shanying and his party here, he could guess without thinking twice: the man had come to extend an olive branch.

The new order of the South Continent Escort Alliance was already perfectly clear. Among the five great agencies, the Qingtian Escort Agency stood at the head, followed by the Divine Wind Escort Agency, the Tianhong Escort Agency, the Black Falcon Escort Agency, and the Four Seas Escort Agency. And the one that had won the greatest voice of all was, without question, the newly risen overlord, the Qingtian Escort Agency.

Among the remaining agencies, the Divine Wind, Tianhong, and Four Seas Escort Agencies were all old-established houses. Only the Black Falcon Escort Agency was newly risen to the top. On its own it could hardly clap with one hand; once squeezed by the others acting in concert, even a seat among the five great agencies might not bring it any considerable profit. In such a situation, Zhao Shanying had to find a powerful ally.

And the Qingtian Escort Agency was precisely the peerless choice in Zhao Shanying's eyes.

For one thing, this ally was the new overlord of the escort world, wholly deserving of the word "powerful." For another, it too was a new force, separated from the other traditional houses by no small gulf. If the Qingtian Escort Agency wished to unfold a grand design, it would inevitably need a reliable ally to echo it—and the Black Falcon Escort Agency fit that role exactly.

So the Qingtian and Black Falcon Escort Agencies drawing close to each other was, in the eyes of both Qi Mingyuan and Zhao Shanying, a matter of mutual benefit that came as naturally as water flowing into a channel. That was why Zhao Shanying had come to lend his presence at this victory feast, and why Qi Mingyuan greeted him with a smiling face, turning none away.

As a local warlord, Zhao Shanying must surely have his ruthless side, yet before Wei Zhao and the others he showed himself smooth and agreeable. With his hearty manner, a few words were enough to draw them closer—only the one he praised most at the table was not Qi Mingyuan, the Chief Escort, but Wei Zhao, who had left such a deep impression on him.

Heroes admire heroes, and Zhao Shanying held Wei Zhao in the highest esteem. Had he not been so keenly interested in Wei Zhao as a person, a man of his standing as Chief Escort of the Black Falcon Escort Agency would hardly have been willing to stoop so low as to come in person to lend his presence, even to ally with the Qingtian Escort Agency.

Of course, beyond that esteem, whether there lurked other, deeper intentions in his heart was impossible to say. At least as far as Wei Zhao was concerned, he did not believe that a cunning figure like Zhao Shanying was a mere starstruck admirer; if anything, flattery with the aim of setting him up for a fall seemed the more accurate description.

By his reckoning, Zhao Shanying, while drawing close to the Qingtian Escort Agency this time, had likely also meant to seize the chance to sow discord between Wei Zhao and the Qi father and son. Four words—merit so great it shakes the sovereign—were enough to plant a fatal knot of resentment in both hearts.

Only, the bond between Wei Zhao and the Qingtian Escort Agency was not something outsiders could ever understand!