Chapter 4435 — Stunned on the Spot
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 2
The five great agencies were the five great agencies after all, their foundations truly formidable. The steadfast loyalty of their escorts, their profound sense of belonging, was beyond comparison with any second-rate agency present; and in this respect, even the newly risen Skysupport Escort Agency still fell far short.
"There is one great difference between the old established houses and the upstarts," Hai Wuliang remarked with a pointed smile. "Foundation. So long as the foundation stands, an old house may stand forever; but an upstart—well, that's harder to say."
The heads of the other great agencies nearby exchanged knowing smiles at these words, and every mocking gaze came to rest upon Qi Mingyuan.
In the earlier contests, the Skysupport Escort Agency had shone brilliantly, trampling all these old established houses underfoot, and they had been nursing their resentment all the while. Now, at last, they had recovered a little face.
Mocked to his face like this, Qi Mingyuan's face went livid with suppressed anger, yet he could hardly say much in return. After all, it was a fact that his Skysupport Escort Agency lacked foundation; to win a war of words at the cost of offending the other four great houses would hardly be worth it.
On the other side, Qi Wenmo gave each and every competing escort who had chosen to stay a great bear hug—only to find their expressions varied. Watching those three wretches nearby, jubilant over their fifty thousand spirit jades, there was something of lament in their eyes, something of resentment, and even something of regret.
"I hereby declare," Qi Wenmo suddenly announced in a loud voice, "that in return for your loyalty to the agency, each of you seven escorts who chose to stay shall receive fifty thousand spirit jades as a reward!" At the same time he cast a cold, sneering glance at the three. "The Skysupport Escort Agency will never treat its own people shabbily. Every ounce of devotion and sacrifice you give will in the end reap a generous return!"
As his words fell, the crowd around burst into an uproar, and the seven escorts, whose hearts had been in turmoil a moment before, were now overjoyed beyond words, their cheers shaking the heavens.
Not far off, the three escorts who had taken the fifty thousand spirit jades heard Qi Wenmo's words and were struck dumb on the spot, each longing to slap himself twice across the face, their guts twisting with regret. Damn it—had they known there would be such a reward for staying, what had those three steps forward been for?
Though the gathering strictly forbade any agency from settling accounts afterward, having taken those fifty thousand spirit jades they could certainly never work in the escort trade again. Bearing the stain of ingratitude, not only would the Skysupport Escort Agency refuse them—every other agency would refuse them too.
Indeed, throughout the whole of the Southern Continent's waters, they would lose their footing forever. Chaotic as these waters were, a man who forgets his debts can hold his head up nowhere; he will be despised wherever he goes. (To be continued..) R527