Colonel Hans spoke coldly, noting that while Burton had always spouted nonsense, he had finally uttered something useful today. If the Hadwall Corporation didn't care for that one percent guaranteed share, they could certainly leverage their own influence to secure projects. For instance, the Federal Military was planning a new colonial city on Planet Heaven, with the initial phase involving the construction of eighteen massive new recruit training camps, a total investment exceeding five hundred and forty billion—a project they could absolutely compete for.”

Colonel Hans’s face was full of confidence and arrogance. This project had already been secured by their Alps Integrated Defense Corporation, and it wasn't even counted within their five percent guaranteed share. He had clinched this deal through his reliable connections within the military. The nearly two centuries of construction experience Alps Integrated Defense possessed regarding Federal recruit training camps was certainly no idle boast.

This remark was a jab at Gu Yechen, and even more so, a taunt directed at the Hadwall faction companies. Jin Bolai, Burton, and Chakem all curled their lips into sneers, watching Gu Yechen with absolute certainty.

When it came to networks, influence, and connections, how could Hadwall Corporation possibly compare to them?

Gu Yechen glanced back at Penghua and the others; everyone was watching him intently.

“Do you trust me?” Gu Yechen asked with a wicked smile.

Everyone nodded in unison, even the usually aloof Arediya did so.

“!” Gu Yechen typed the number of the Bearded Commander into his communicator. He smiled at the head that popped up on the light screen, covered in shampoo suds, “Uncle Beard, I need your full authorization. Someone here is looking down on us Hadwall faction, thinking we’re just a bunch of lucky nobodies who stumbled into becoming a defense corporation. So, I need your complete authority to give them a real run for their money!”

The Bearded Commander’s eyes widened, and he roared, “Then do as you see fit! Hey, I’ll send you my authorization codes right now!”

The Hadwall faction was divided into two main departments, Operations and General Affairs. When it came to handling legion matters, Gu Yechen and the Bearded Commander each held one vote. With the authorization code sent by the Bearded Commander, Gu Yechen could represent the entire Hadwall faction in making decisions and mobilizing all the company’s resources.

Click, swish, swish, a few sounds later, an electronic certification appeared on the light screen. The script indicated that Gu Yechen now possessed the Bearded Commander’s full authorization.

Gu Yechen pointed at the electronic certificate on the screen and sneered, “Gentlemen, from now until the next fifteen days, within the bounds of Federal law, I have complete control over the Hadwall faction. Therefore, we can play a much bigger game.”

“What big game?” Jin Bolai, Burton, and the others immediately looked at Gu Yechen with curiosity.

“Ten percent of the development rights for Planet Heaven, esteemed sirs. If you pay attention to Federal affairs, you would know that our predecessor, the Hell’s Angels Mercenary Group, holds ten percent of Planet Heaven’s development rights. Think about it: the development rights for a super-planet with nearly perfect environmental conditions, whose first wave of development investment is eighteen massive new recruit training camps, totaling over five hundred and forty billion!”

Gu Yechen looked mockingly at the ashen-faced Colonel Hans, then continued loudly, “Think about what this one-tenth share of development rights signifies! The Conglomerate, the Vinkert Group, the Leighton Group, Alps Integrated Defense Corporation—do the combined assets of all four of your companies even measure up to the little finger of this one-tenth development share?”

Jin Bolai and the others fell silent, staring grimly at Gu Yechen.

Their hearts felt heavy. With the ten percent development rights to Planet Heaven, the future prospects of the Hadwall faction were limitless. Hadn't they deliberately provoked the Bearded Commander, and hadn't one of the four of them even hired a sniper to assassinate Gu Yechen, precisely to suppress the Hadwall faction’s momentum?

“I propose a wager with five percent of Planet Heaven’s development rights against all of you. We will move the Great Battle of Operational Directors of the Six Defense Corporations forward.”

Gu Yechen presented a proposal that made everyone’s hearts race violently, laughing carelessly, “Five percent of the development rights. If I lose, it goes to the winner of the Operational Directors’ Duel. If I happen to win, then our Hadwall faction will receive an eight percent guaranteed share, plus… all the shares of the Gu Group currently held in your hands.”

The words were earth-shattering; Gu Yechen’s announcement made everyone flinch. The demand for an eight percent guaranteed share was not unexpected by Jin Bolai and the others. But the Gu Group stocks held by the major defense companies? The total shares of the Gu Group held by the five companies combined exceeded fifteen percent... Jin Bolai and the others looked at Gu Yechen solemnly. They suddenly recalled Gu Yechen’s other identities.

A light screen suddenly descended from the ceiling. Jin Keli, the CEO of the Conglomerate, with his signature aquiline nose, appeared, coldly commanding through the smoke of his ivory pipe, “Jin Bolai, accept Mr. Gu Yechen’s wager. An eight percent guaranteed share, plus the entirety of the Conglomerate’s shares in the Gu Group, plus five percent of Planet Heaven’s development rights—it is absolutely worth it.”

Three consecutive light screens dropped from the ceiling. The top bosses of the Leighton Group, the Vinkert Group, and Alps Integrated Defense Corporation all showed their faces and agreed to the stakes Gu Yechen demanded.

Ms. Mei elegantly smoothed her short bangs and stated steadily, “Mr. Gu, we, Kunlun, fully support all of Mr. Gu’s decisions. Furthermore, our Operational Director, Mr. Lin Kefeng, will not participate in this Duel. We unconditionally agree to the Hadwall faction receiving an eight percent guaranteed share, and we will transfer the Gu Group shares held by Kunshang Company to Hadwall faction at market price without reservation.”

Jin Bolai jumped up in shock. He couldn't figure out why Ms. Mei had suddenly become so generous. In his impression, this middle-aged woman with short gray-white hair was a stingy and stubborn spinster, the most difficult one to deal with among them all.

However, to his surprise and delight, that freak Lin Kefeng wasn't participating in the Operational Directors’ Duel?

Gu Yechen looked deeply at Ms. Mei. This time, he heard clearly: Ms. Mei was expressing Kunlun’s goodwill toward him, Gu Yechen, for the second time. Not Kunlun Company, but Kunlun. This Kunlun Dao Sect, the only one among the righteous denominations of the Yayu Dao Alliance capable of standing alongside the Zhongnan Mountain lineage, was openly showing its favor and courting him.

Penghua once again grimaced at Ms. Mei, his two prominent canine teeth gleaming under the light. He subtly gave her the middle finger.

Dropping his cigar, Gu Yechen ground the butt out fiercely under his heel.

Looking at the astonished Jin Bolai and the others, Gu Yechen sneered, “Then we can sign the agreement. Hmm, I require the presence of sufficiently weighty notaries to attest to the legality and validity of our wager. Otherwise, if I manage to defeat the Operational Directors you send, and you refuse to honor the terms, things could get troublesome.”

Jin Keli, visible in the light screen, stared coldly at Gu Yechen and stated blandly, “Mr. Gu, please rest assured. We are all individuals of standing and status; we don’t pay much attention to these minor figures.” He paused, lifting his ivory pipe and drawing an elegant arc in the air, Jin Keli said casually, “If you require notaries, I can invite His Excellency Fernand, the Chairman of the Federal Council, His Excellency Wen Shu, the Speaker of the Federal Upper House, and His Excellency Burch, the Speaker of the Federal Lower House, to serve as witnesses. Do you feel secure with such witnesses, Mr. Gu?”

Duke Watson, the top boss of the Vinkert Group, could not be outdone and spoke in the most arrogant tone, “I can invite the thirty-six Grand Dukes with the highest status and reverence in the Federal Nobility Corps to witness. Mr. Gu Yechen, are you not confident in such a group of noble, trustworthy individuals?”

Colonel Burton stated coolly, “We can invite General Vender, Vice Chairman of the Federal Military High Command Council, to be the witness.”

Colonel Hans stood up, bracing his hands on the conference table, staring at Gu Yechen with the predatory gaze of a vulture eyeing its prey, and sneered, “Do you know the Federal Military’s most famous group, the Dakewood Knights? They are true knights possessing the most traditional military honor. With them as witnesses, no one will ever dare violate this contract!”

Gu Yechen wasn't surprised by the others; figures at the pinnacle of Federal power like the Chairman of the Federal Council were just for show. These people had no immediate conflicts of interest with Gu Yechen, and it wouldn’t be difficult for Jin Keli and his peers to invite them. However, the Dakewood Knights were actually a secret club composed of the Federal’s most fanatical mid-to-high-ranking officers. They espoused the most aggressive Earth Federation chauvinism, frequently advocating in public forums for a full-scale war against the Roman people, promoting the idea of completely annihilating the Romans with nuclear warheads. This made Alps Integrated Defense Corporation even harder to provoke than the others; they were a dangerous beast bristling with fangs and stingers, capable of exploding without warning.

The Dakewood Knights had a glorious history of fifty-three assassinations of Federal councilors and important officials because those individuals proposed bills to seek peace with the Romans. Forty-nine of those assassination attempts succeeded, and while the Federal judicial system knew who was responsible, for various reasons, not a single Knight had ever been arrested.

This was an extremely dangerous organization.

Gu Yechen looked deeply at Colonel Hans, then coldly laughed, “With so many great figures guaranteeing this, it seems the power of our company’s stake is assured. Then, shall we sign the wager now? Let’s hold the Operational Directors’ Duel tomorrow. I’m eager to pocket those Gu Group shares; I hope everyone can understand my impatience!”

Jin Keli and Duke Watson both gave Gu Yechen a deep look, and the surrounding light screens rippled and simultaneously dissolved into scattered points of light.

Gu Yechen ignored Jin Bolai and the others, who were rushing off to finalize documents and clauses. He extended his hand courteously to Ms. Mei, “I appreciate Kunlun’s goodwill. I hope that in the future, I can become a good friend with Kunlun.”

Ms. Mei laughed heartily and shook Gu Yechen’s hand firmly, slipping a jade talisman into his palm. “Kunlun always welcomes Mr. Gu’s esteemed presence. This is the Spirit Talisman of Command for entering Kunshang. Wherever you are, as long as you are within Lunar orbit, activating this talisman will instantly return you to the Kunlun Sacred Realm!”

Penghua gasped, then sidled up to Ms. Mei with a greedy look, “Heavens, you are generous! Isn’t this your Kunlun’s highest-grade Void-Breaking Heaven Talisman? Tsk, tsk! Little girl Mei, it’s not our first meeting, can you spare one for me? Never mind anything else, this thing is invaluable for self-preservation—with this, almost no one can kill me as long as I’m inside the Lunar orbit!”

Ms. Mei pursed her lips and smiled, seemingly rather pleased by Penghua’s address, “Little girl Mei.” She clapped her hands and laughed, “There are none left. Kunlun only possesses three Void-Breaking Heaven Talismans; the one I’m giving Mr. Gu is the one belonging to our Sect Master. How could I have extras?”

Gu Yechen looked at the bluish-white jade talisman in his hand, about the size of a child’s fist, squarely carved with countless flying clouds and heavenly horses. It felt warm to the touch, and a gentle warmth flowed from his palm throughout his body, making him feel wonderfully comfortable. He knew this was an extremely rare treasure and quickly thanked Ms. Mei.

Penghua languidly straightened up. Once Ms. Mei said she had no more Void-Breaking Heaven Talismans, he immediately lost interest in her. He snorted, “Junior Brother, a sugar-coated bullet. Offering such courtesy when there’s no reason means treachery. But your looks aren't as good as mine, so you’re safe to keep your valuables! Don’t assume everyone in the Righteous Path is a good person. Look at that bastard Little Zhang—isn't he no different from us demons and monsters?”

Gu Yechen simply smiled without speaking, while Ms. Mei shot Penghua a sharp glare. But her sharp gaze had no effect on the thick-skinned Penghua.

After waiting for about two hours, the official agreement documents from the other four defense companies were finally ready, along with all the stipulated clauses and the share transfer documents for the Gu Group.

Gu Yechen also prepared the official document for the five percent development rights of Planet Heaven. Both parties signed and affixed their seals to the wager. After inputting their respective authorization electronic certificates into the Federal Notary Office’s main computer, their agreement gained full legal effect. Tomorrow, at a quarter past noon, on a newly erupted volcanic island one hundred and twenty kilometers northwest of Easter Island, Gu Yechen would fight a decisive battle against the operational directors of the four defense companies. The ultimate victor would receive all the stakes agreed upon in the pact.

Looking at the priceless wager in his hands, a glint of avarice shone in everyone’s eyes.

Serene, Arediya, and Penghua all began to breathe heavily. This was no small scheme like the one they set up for Gu Yuru in Sydney; this was a truly earth-shaking gamble.

Could Gu Yechen win?

Alright, the influence, social resources, and connections of the five major defense companies had pretty much been revealed...

...

This is just the foundational chapter; the defense companies will still have plenty of roles to play later on!