護花近衛 - 第4491章 都是邪修 - 翰墨軒

"You're not convinced?" Hai Wuliang cast a provoking glance at Qi Mingyuan. As for Long Kuiba and Cheng Haonan standing off to the side, he could not even be bothered to look their way—in his eyes, those two were already dead men.

"Heh. Still putting on the airs of head judge, are we—so used to being the overlord of the escort agencies that you plan to cling on till death, refusing to let go? You think we'll be convinced?" Qi Mingyuan gave a cold laugh.

"And the rest of you? What do you think?" Hai Wuliang smiled without a care and turned his gaze toward Zhao Bufan and the others.

If Qingtian Escort Agency and Longzhou Escort Agency were both taken down, his Four Seas Escort Agency would only rise from sixth to fourth—but Divine Wind Escort Agency would leap straight from third to first, reaping far greater benefit than Four Seas. And for the other agencies among the Five Great Escort Agencies, it would be a rare stroke of good fortune as well.

These escort magnates had always been devotees of profit above all else; there was no need to guess how they would choose. And so long as he could win their support, Hai Wuliang would stand naturally in an unassailable position. Never mind Longzhou Escort Agency—even Qingtian Escort Agency would have no hope of ever rising again.

Every gaze fell upon Zhao Bufan, waiting for the head of Divine Wind Escort Agency to speak his mind. And indeed he did not disappoint. Clearing his throat, he declared in a ringing voice: "To send Qingtian Escort Agency and Longzhou Escort Agency packing together—Head Escort Hai has truly played a fine hand. It is only a pity that this humble one cannot agree."

Cannot agree? Hai Wuliang was struck dumb on the spot. Without expending the slightest effort, the seat of escort overlord could be taken into hand—this was fat meat delivered right to the door. How could anyone not agree?

"This humble one's view aligns with that of Head Escort Zhao," Tianhong Escort Agency declared immediately after.

Having heard these two declarations, the crowd's interest kindled anew, and their gazes shifted to Zhao Shanying. Black Eagle Escort Agency now ranked fifth, and could be counted a settled powerhouse among the Five Great Escort Agencies.

"Such a shameless, laughable affair—my Black Eagle Escort Agency could never bring itself to do it." Zhao Shanying gave a cold laugh, curling his lip in unsparing disdain.

Hai Wuliang's expression darkened once more in an instant. The declarations of these three meant that not a single one of the Five Great Escort Agencies approved. And as for his identity as head judge—since Four Seas Escort Agency ranked only sixth, it looked dubious and ill-founded no matter how one saw it. This was utterly at odds with what he had envisioned; nothing at all was turning out as he had planned.

Not only Hai Wuliang—even Qi Mingyuan could not help but regard these men with astonishment. He too had never imagined that at a moment like this, these escort magnates who never rose early unless there was profit to be had would prove so "righteous and principled."

The onlookers were all at a loss, but Zhao Bufan and the others knew full well in their own hearts. It was not that their consciences had awoken and they had shed their profit-first nature—Divine Wind Escort Agency especially. Faced with the seat of escort overlord dropping into his lap, to claim he felt no temptation would be a bald-faced lie.

But the problem was, this was a scalding-hot potato he dared not take up!

With a single sentence, Hai Wuliang would dare send Qingtian Escort Agency and Longzhou Escort Agency packing together. If Divine Wind Escort Agency took up the offer, might he not later play the same trick again—and cancel Divine Wind's own qualification along with it?

From the mocking gazes of everyone in the hall, it was plain that Hai Wuliang's method was sheer reckless meddling, utterly without feasibility.