Chapter 4135 — Contesting the Deputy Island Lord
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 2
"Old friend Nantian, you're making too much of it. Between us, it's all mutual benefit—what's this talk of thanks! For that distant talk of yours, you deserve to be fined a cup!" Si Haitao put on a show of displeasure.
"Fine, fine, I accept the penalty, I accept!" Nantian Jiguang laughed and downed a cup in forfeit.
"That's more like it. Think back—when I was still with the Hong Clan Merchant Guild, didn't you, old friend Nantian, go out of your way to pull strings and have people place a huge batch of orders with the Hong Clan Merchant Guild, all to help me take that North Island branch steward's seat! Every one of those favors is seared into my heart—I'll never forget them in this life!" Si Haitao thumped his chest.
"Heh heh, we've been old friends for so many years, and you were just accusing me of being distant—now it's your turn, so you have to drink a forfeit too!" Nantian Jiguang laughed at once.
"I accept, I accept!" Si Haitao roared with laughter, then said: "Now that I'm the North Island steward of the Central Chamber of Commerce, I have all the spirit jades I could want, and enormous discretion—drawing however much is no trouble at all. So I must repay you properly! This time, as you contend for Deputy Island Lord of the Central Island, my backers have spoken: the Central Chamber of Commerce will spare nothing—we'll support you with all our might!"
"That's wonderful!" Nantian Jiguang was overjoyed. Though the Central Chamber of Commerce was a newly risen power, its strength was no smaller than that of the Five Elements Chamber of Commerce, the foremost of them all—indeed, if anything, greater. He had witnessed it with his own eyes.
With the full support of the Central Chamber of Commerce, Nantian Jiguang reckoned his bid for Deputy Island Lord of the Central Island was now a sure thing.
"I'm confident that with the Central Chamber of Commerce's strength, plus your own abilities, old friend Nantian, the Deputy Island Lord's seat is as good as yours. Come, let's celebrate in advance—bottoms up!" Si Haitao declared with utter conviction.
"Good, bottoms up!" Nantian Jiguang's heart blossomed with joy. He had coveted this seat for many years, though he had never dared dream too boldly. Now, unexpectedly, the dream was about to come true before his very eyes.
"However, there's something I must tell you in advance, old friend Nantian: if you succeed in taking the post this time, you'll need to come with me to pay respects to our backers. Do you see any problem with that?" Si Haitao said suddenly.
"No problem, absolutely no problem. From now on, I and your Central Chamber of Commerce will be one family on the same boat—it's only proper." Nantian Jiguang agreed readily.
"Mm, good. I was afraid old friend Nantian might not be willing..." Si Haitao smiled. He knew full well what methods his backers employed—if Nantian Jiguang really went to meet them, he would thereafter be a grasshopper on the same string, and no one would be able to escape.
Nantian Jiguang, however, remained utterly oblivious. With his intellect, he was not so foolish as to harbor no wariness at all toward this mysterious and unfathomable Central Chamber of Commerce—but greed clouds the mind, and he was now wholly immersed in the thrill of charging toward the Deputy Island Lord's seat. This was the illustrious station countless cultivators dreamed of day and night!
The post of Deputy Island Lord of the Central Island had a fixed quota, long since filled to capacity—not a single seat to spare.