“Really?” Li Hao beamed widely. “I hear that the Four Seas Company is under the Ministry of Finance. Can I lead that trading company?”
“The Four Seas Company...” Minister Liu laughed and looked at a tanned middle-aged man next to him. “Little Wu, are you interested in giving up your position?”
“The head of the Four Seas Company is here?” Li Hao remarked with astonishment. “My apologies for the disrespect!”
The tanned man looked frostily at Li Hao, but soon recovered to a normal expression. “This humble one is Wu Yong. It is my honor to see the true countenance of the Demon Sword! If Demon Sword is interested in this position, I will naturally withdraw and be one of your subordinates,” he laughed. “You don’t need to consider my preferences, minister. If we can recruit such a talent like Demon Sword to the ministry, then it would be my greatest delight!”
“Really?” Li Hao beamed.
“......” The premises quieted down!
“Then I really can join the Ministry of Finance!” Li Hao crowed. “I hear that the Four Seas Company is as rich as nations. Not only that, but pirates don’t even dare run afoul of the golden coin flag. I’ve offended many pirates in the North Sea and the East Sea pirates also want to kill me. If I command the Four Seas Company, none of that will be an issue!”
The young man grew more worked up the more he spoke. “If Minister Liu doesn’t mind, you can send out the order tonight and I’ll report to my station tomorrow morning!”
“......” Minister Liu was still smiling, just that his smile had turned a bit odd. This was simply a pleasantry, one that they’d voiced thousands of times. It was his first time seeing someone treating a polite remark as gospel and strain at the bit so much, to be so... exuberant!
Li Hao really did want the position! If Minister Liu sent out the appointment letter, then the boy would ninety-nine percent show up at the Four Seas Company tomorrow to be their new ranking officer.
The minister suddenly felt that he was a shrewd schemer who’d come across an impulsive brute. There was no way for him to communicate with the other. Instead, he quickly smiled, “I would like to, but I’m concerned that the Inspectorate won’t let you go! Your inspector general has quite the temper...”
“That’s fine!” Li Hao chirped. “So long as Minister Liu gives the command, I can lose the post of peacemaker commissioner if that means I can immediately start at the Ministry of Finance! As for whether or not the Inspectorate will agree to it... Blocking someone’s path of promotion is more vicious than killing one’s parents!”
“Now that’s much too serious,” Minister Liu laughed heartily. “I would love to have you, but it would not be right to clash with that stubborn mule over this matter. How about this, I’ll chat with your inspector general when the right opportunity presents itself. You can come to me anytime if he agrees!”
This provided a way out for both of them.
“Then forget it.” Li Hao drooped. “I’ve never even seen our inspector general, nor am I familiar with him. He probably won’t agree to it. I really am interested in the Four Seas Company! I could even be in a deputy position, but it looks like it’s not in the cards for me!”
Those from the Ministry of Finance suddenly felt quite some discomfort with the young man’s display. Enough was enough! Li Hao was as the rumors stated, a bit thick-skulled and quite bold.
Hou Xiaochen laughed before the minister had a chance to respond. “What Four Seas Company? That’s too far. You just got here, so you should settle down here. And you’ve just become the Skystar vice commander, so it won’t be that easy for you to leave.”
“Congratulations!” Minister Liu offered after the briefest of startled pauses. “So Ole Yao’s promoted you as soon as you arrived! The responsibilities of the Skystar vice commander are great...”
“Indeed they are!” Hou Xiaochen nodded with a smile. “I’m prepared to let Li Hao oversee and create an official agency for the Skystar commander. We lack an ideal site and some more personnel...”
He pointed at the screen. “This place is good! Minister Liu, I’d like to send Li Hao to this locale and modify it to be my office. I’ll also gather up all of the shadowy enterprises for the dynasty and make sure they pay their taxes and fees on time. That will also increase revenues for the Ministry of Finance. What do you say, minister?”
“That would be a good thing!” Minister Liu laughed heartily. “It would just be a tricky problem to tackle. Of course, this would be an Inspectorate and Night Watcher affair, so I’m not at liberty to say much. Do as you see fit, Little Hou! I understand your intentions. How about this, let’s just enjoy dinner tonight and not talk about any of this. You can see how your Inspectorate decides tomorrow morning, I won’t involve myself in this matter!”
“That’s good!” Hou Xiaochen nodded. “The Inspectorate shouldn’t have any opinions otherwise. Not to mention, this falls within the scope of responsibilities for the Skystar commander. The inspector general won’t say anything and Director Yao will certainly not be opposed either.”
“Commander Hou!” A slightly beguiling woman spoke up next to Minister Liu. She was also a metamorphosis expert, as was Wu Yong. She smiled winsomely at Hou Xiaochen. “Commander Hou, the Night Watchers are a formidable agency with quite the power. This place is just a location of entertainment for the noble and lofty. Skystar City might fall into disarray if it’s modified to be the Skystar commander’s office! Supernaturals are full of vigor and will have no place to vent their energies... This may not be a good development.”
“I understand, so I’m ready!” Hou Xiaochen nodded. “I will suppress anyone who dares cause a disturbance! I’d like to see if I suppress them faster, or if the disarray comes faster!
“The boss of Skystar’s Colosseum is said to be a female powerhouse. She might even be a metamorphosis expert. Who knows if she’ll put in a showing?”
The woman’s smile deepened; she didn’t continue the conversation. Minister Liu seemed to recall something and abruptly said, “I suddenly remember that I have some matters to take care of back in the ministry... Little Hou, enjoy yourselves tonight!”
He turned to the female manager who’d just walked in. “Put all of tonight’s expenditures on my tab!” He then rebuked, “This is the Nine Dragons Pavilion! Be careful next time to not place such items in the private rooms. They are an affront to refined taste!”
Minister Liu turned once more to Hou Xiaochen with a merry chuckle. “Then I’ll be off, Little Hou. You can do as you see fit with the Skystar Colosseum, but the royal capital is an important locale. Don’t incite a widespread disruption. It’ll also be troublesome if too many rise up and you lose your position for it!”
“Understood, thank you for your reminder, Minister Liu!”
The minister smiled radiantly and left. The rest of his people quickly followed him out. Unpleasant expressions crossed the faces of the two metamorphosis experts. This was a declaration of war! Indeed, it was an intent of open hostilities!
What did that madman Hou Xiaochen want to do?
Everyone had known that something was inappropriate with his presence here tonight, but no one fathomed that he would be so unmoved after Minister Liu came in person to offer friendly words. Surely he didn’t think he was invincible with a Li Hao in the city?
Minister Liu didn’t intend to be embroiled in the situation. Since Hou Xiaochen had made up his mind, they could see how the situation developed!
Hou Xiaochen laughed and looked at Li Hao, the young man also grinned.
“Get me an order of everything on the menu as well as a drop of Water of Life! I would ask for more, but I don’t think you guys have it!” the young man boomed.
Minister Liu was yet to depart from the room. He looked back at Li Hao with a nod. “Silver Moon martial masters... are indeed what they are reputed to be!”
He left after those words. These people from Silver Moon were much bolder than the average person!
Li Hao chuckled happily and looked at Hou Xiaochen. He couldn’t help but transmit, “Director, you don’t really mean for me to do this, do you? I can be your minion... but I don’t really have the guts to do this. We face two metamorphosis experts, to say nothing of that fatty... I’m afraid of death!”
Hou Xiaochen sipped his tea and didn’t respond. Of course it’s you! What, can it be me?
“I can go back to Silver Moon tonight...” Li Hao’s scalp crawled with numbness.
Fuck! Li Hao wanted to cry. I just wanted to see how big the world was and if it was pretty here. I don’t want to fight those metamorphosis experts! I’ll die if anything goes wrong! Ole Hou thinks too highly of me!
Hou Xiaochen seemed to be in a lovely mood and ate heartily when the dishes were served. “What are you afraid of?” he asked without lifting his head. “I can give you a guarantee that there won’t be anyone stronger than metamorphosis making an appearance. If there is, I’ll make a move myself and see if I can kill one to boost your confidence!”
The attendants serving them shook as sweat drenched their bodies.
The trio ate and drank as various dishes were served in the room. It wasn’t in the spur of the moment that Hou Xiaochen decided to make trouble for the Ministry of Finance. He just lacked an opportunity—one that seemed to be at hand now. As for whether or not there was an even deeper level of plan in the works, Li Hao was currently unaware of any details.
He focused on calculating his gains and losses as he feasted. Hou Xiaochen wanted to use him as a blade. But why him? Golden Spear and Yu Luocha were both good candidates—were they weak?
Golden Spear was undoubtedly strong, and so would Yu Luocha be if she unsealed herself. In that case, why should he be this blade? Just because he happened to be on the scene?
That wasn’t necessarily the case.
Li Hao’s mouth was covered in grease as he ate and he also fed some to Panther. After a while of feasting and thinking, he came to some thoughts on whether or not being this blade was a worthwhile proposition.
Perhaps... it was time to be personally involved if he wished to see more of the world. In his current state, he might not be seeing everything clearly. However, he knew that Hou Xiaochen wouldn’t rashly cause his death. People such as Yuan Shuo, Hong Yitang, and Light Sword were all of the young man’s backers.
What kind of success or benefits would Hou Xiaochen gather if he caused the young man’s death? It would only cause the complete collapse of Silver Moon as the fractures between the martial world and provincial government would widen.