Chu Baxing couldn't argue with Qin Siyang, so he could only clench his fists and protest through silence.
Hu Chan and Gu Yunpeng were both stunned.
It felt like there was no reason for the two of them to stay and hear about the Richard family's situation.
'Isn't this a dispute between the Chu family, the Zhao family, and the Richard family?'
'Is this really something outsiders like us should hear?'
Especially Hu Chan. Surrounded and hunted by multiple forces, he was constantly on edge and wary of everything. It could be said that aside from Qin Siyang, he didn't want to get involved in anyone else's affairs.
Yet today, Zhao Longfei had let him hear something huge.
Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced at Chu Baxing, then looked at Qin Siyang, wondering whether knowing this would bring even bigger trouble down the road.
'Should I find an excuse to slip away?'
But Zhao Longfei was the host. If Zhao Longfei didn't let him leave, he couldn't leave.
Thinking about it, Hu Chan couldn't help feeling uneasy.
Qin Siyang also noticed that there were quite a few people present today.
This wasn't like the previous times when Zhao Longfei only talked with him in private. It seemed there was another purpose behind it.
At that moment, Zhao Longfei said, "The Gu family and Saint Hu will find out about these things sooner or later. None of you are outsiders. It's fine for everyone to listen."
Zhao Longfei's words couldn't even fool Zhao Sifang.
When they first came in, he had said Qin Siyang was an outsider. Now he was saying nobody was an outsider.
No one knew what he was really planning.
In any case, the Richard family's affairs had little to do with him, so he would just listen to Zhao Longfei's arrangements.
Zhao Longfei continued, "The Richard family's goods are gone, but Yan Budong, who paid real money and divine resources, isn't going to sympathize with them. He insists that the Richard family either return the money or deliver the goods."
"The Richard family wanted the other families in the Lotus Cloud Chamber of Commerce to contribute money and fill the hole together. But the others weren't willing to be suckers. When you make money, you keep it for yourself. When you lose money, everyone shares the loss. That doesn't make sense. So they gave a condition, either force South Glory University out of District 7, or simply make it go bankrupt and shut down."
"So it was to repay debts. No wonder Kafu was so anxious," Qin Siyang finally understood what had happened, "But if demolishing the building failed, why did he want to have dinner with you the very next day?"
Zhao Longfei lit a cigar, "My guess is that after seeing there was no chance of bringing down South Glory, he turned around and came to me for help."
"Help from you? The Zhao family isn't some local charity. You can't possibly cover the Yan Legion losses for them, can you?"
"Of course they weren't looking for money from me. The Richard family used Kafu to suppress me for so many years. If I gave them even one copper coin, it'd mean my brain had been stirred into pig slop."
"Then what was it for?"
"They came to me for information about that shipment. The Richard family's intelligence network, or rather, their ability to gather information, is still lacking."
Qin Siyang asked in confusion, "They wanted information from you? Why not ask people from the Lotus Cloud Chamber of Commerce or the Warren Chamber of Commerce for help?"
"How do you know they didn't?"
"You mean..."
"The more people you ask, the better the odds. Such a huge shipment being hijacked out of nowhere couldn't have been done perfectly. If I had to guess, they've probably already learned the information I just shared with you."
Hu Chan spoke up, "Principal Zhao, thank you for sharing all this. But I don't understand why you're telling me. As far as I can see, this matter doesn't seem to have much to do with me."
"Don't rush, Saint Hu. I'm not finished yet."
Zhao Longfei looked at Chu Baxing, whose stern face now carried a trace of tension.
"Commander Chu wants that shipment, and I want the Richard family gone. So I'm very willing to work with him on this matter."
"But the Richard family has deep roots. Losing the shipment will at most make it impossible for them to remain in the Lotus Cloud Chamber of Commerce. They still have influence in the Trinity Church and the United Government to rely on."
"So I hope Saint Hu can lead the Zephyr Church to victory over the Trinity Church. I also need Yunpeng to have his family help remove the Richard family's influence within the United Government."
Zhao Longfei's eyes were fixed on the group.
"Everyone here, working together with the Zhao family to remove the Richard family, this tumor, that is the reason I kept all of you here."
Qin Siyang's expression darkened.
The Zhao family intended to mobilize multiple forces and eliminate the Richard family as quickly as possible.
Their ability to spot opportunities and seize them truly impressed Qin Siyang.
Not only had they discovered the Richard family's problem before anyone else, they had also used the chance to create an effective plan with the lowest cost.
The Chu Legion would never return the supplies. A direct clash with the Richard family was inevitable.
Hu Chan was already in open conflict with the Trinity Church. There was no possibility of backing down and making peace.
Aside from the Gu family's position still being unclear, the others had already been pushed by circumstances onto the same side as the Zhao family.
As expected, Chu Baxing and Hu Chan were both carefully considering Zhao Longfei's proposal.
Only Gu Yunpeng spoke up, "Principal Zhao, why are you telling me these things instead of my father or my third uncle?"
Zhao Longfei chuckled, "Yunpeng has a point. Of course I wouldn't tell you first thing. Before talking to you, I had already spoken with the people behind all of you."
As he said this, Zhao Longfei's gaze lingered on Hu Chan's face for a moment.
Hu Chan paused briefly, then understood.
Zhao Longfei meant that he had already discussed this matter with Yu Ziying as well.
"Letting you know about these things was done with their approval. Although you're only eighteen or nineteen and still very young, all of you have unusual backgrounds. You've already experienced many storms, and in the future you'll certainly become people who shape the situation."
"Talking to you about the older generation's affairs lets you understand the landscape ahead of time and gradually prepare for the future. You can make your own judgments about the situation, think about what each force intends to do, then verify your guesses through actual events, identify mistakes, and keep improving. That way, when unexpected situations arise one day, you won't know nothing and be forced to learn everything at once, scramble for solutions at the last minute, and lose your composure."
Zhao Longfei blew out a long ring of smoke.
"The future will belong to you in the end."
Listening to Zhao Longfei's earnest advice, the group nodded slightly and thought it over seriously.
Qin Siyang asked, "From the sound of it, surrounding and eliminating the Richard family doesn't seem to have much to do with me. Can I leave now?"
Zhao Longfei immediately changed completely, going from an elder giving guidance to a foolish old man rubbing his hands together.
"Well... how should I put it? We have a relationship closer than family. There are some things that can only continue with your support, Little Qin."
"Short on money? Short on materials?", Qin Siyang laughed, "So you're treating me like a blood bag?"
"Look at what you're saying..."
"It's fine. I don't mind. As long as you pay for the blood, my support will definitely be there."