Starforce Warriors-Chapter 526: San Zang (2)

Hashimoto Mako was not alone in attempting to curry favor. Driven by an increasing sense of crisis, Hashimoto Mako tried repeatedly to seduce Li Xiaofei as she dressed in light, provocative garments and relied on her beauty.

Yet, Li Xiaofei treated her as if she were invisible. To him, the cheap charms of Jiepeng’s women were unworthy of a Great Xia man’s attention. Aside from the exceptional case of Tsukiha Yaiba, women like Hashimoto Mako didn’t even deserve to share his bed.

However, the transformation of the Dragon Bloom Factory left Tanaka Kenichi and Yokan Kasumi both stunned and overjoyed. Tanaka Kenichi made several attempts to initiate conversations with Li Xiaofei, but despite his efforts, Tanaka Kenichi couldn’t find an opportunity to approach Li Xiaofei. The towering figure of Tanaka Kenichi gradually came to understand that beneath Li Xiaofei’s seemingly easygoing demeanor lay a commanding presence beyond ordinary comprehension.

What puzzled him even more was the occasional look of detachment in Shinzu Genshi’s eyes, as if he had suddenly dropped all pretense of camaraderie toward people like himself.

On the other hand, Yokan Kasumi remained blissfully unaware of these subtleties. She continued to deliver meals to Li Xiaofei’s room every day. Her eyes sparkled with admiration for the extraordinary master. She had gained some weight thanks to the improved meals over the past few days. Her face visibly glowed with health, and even her hair seemed shinier.

Yokan Kasumi felt grateful to the young master from the depths of her heart. She now hummed cheerful tunes as she went about her day.

On the morning of the third day, Tsukiha Yaiba arrived at the Dragon Bloom Factory.

"The Asura Dragon Gang and Urawa Dojo have issued a joint declaration," Tsukiha Yaiba said. "They’re demanding that the Tsukiha family relinquish its absolute control over Urawa Base City. They also propose settling who will represent Urawa Base City at the annual consortium assembly in Kyoto through a combat tournament."

The annual consortium assembly of the Jiepeng Empire, led by the royal family and attended by the nation’s top financial conglomerates, was essentially a high-stakes meeting to divide the spoils of the empire.

Securing a seat at the table was, in itself, a recognition of a conglomerate’s status. For years, the Sanshang Group, built up by the Tsukiha family as one of the empire’s top ten conglomerates, had naturally held the position of Urawa Base City’s representative.

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But the death of Tsukiha Tensō and the ensuing internal strife within the family had emboldened the Urawa Dojo and the Asura Dragon Gang, both renowned as equals to the Flying Blade Stream school, to seize the opportunity to challenge for dominance.

"The Urawa Dojo has the backing of insiders from the Inquisition," Tsukiha Yaiba explained. "On the other hand, the Asura Dragon Gang has the support of the Redshirt Group, another one of the top ten conglomerates. Even the imperial royal family has tacitly approved of this combat tournament."

Li Xiaofei listened, lost in thought.

The Redshirt Group? Isn’t that the owner of the Distillation Research Institute?

His mind worked quickly to devise a plan.

"What’s your take on this?" He asked, looking up at Tsukiha Yaiba.

She responded, "It seems like we have no option other than meeting their challenge head-on."

Li Xiaofei nodded. "I can represent the Tsukiha family in the tournament on one condition. All rewards from the victory will belong to me."

"That’s not a problem at all," Tsukiha Yaiba replied, as relief flooded her. "But these tournaments don’t typically offer anything of great value as prizes."

Since most of the family’s experts had been eliminated by Li Xiaofei during the infamous meeting-room incident, the Tsukiha family was now little more than a hollow giant. It would be difficult to stand against two major factions by relying on martial strength. However, Li Xiaofei alone could support the entire family.

Li Xiaofei remarked, "As disruptors of order, if they wish to challenge the Tsukiha family, shouldn’t they demonstrate their sincerity by offering a meaningful stake? Otherwise, why should we accept their terms?"

Tsukiha Yaiba thought over his words.

Li Xiaofei continued, "Respond as I’ve suggested. The Tsukiha family has every right to reject their so-called tournament without stakes that carry real weight. Unless they dare to openly sever their subordinate relationship and attack the Tsukiha estate, they have no grounds to pressure us."

The Jiepeng Empire was a rigidly hierarchical society, one that placed extreme importance on the subordinate relationships between different levels of power. Nominally, the Tsukiha family was still the ruler of Urawa Base City. For all their ambitions, the two factions were officially subordinates. Challenging their superiors directly would be a blatant violation of protocol.

"I understand," Tsukiha Yaiba said, turning to carry out Li Xiaofei’s orders.

Half a day later, Li Xiaofei’s private light core received a document. It detailed the stakes that the two factions were willing to offer. After reviewing it, Li Xiaofei rejected it without hesitation.

Three hours passed, and the second proposal arrived. After reading it, Li Xiaofei rejected it again. This back-and-forth continued for two more days.

Finally, Li Xiaofei found acceptable conditions in the latest proposal. After a bit more posturing, he agreed. No one outside the walls of the small factory knew that the true power center of Urawa Base City was living there. Nor did anyone realize that Shinzu Genshi, the returning prodigal son, had become the ultimate representative of the Tsukiha family’s will. Soon, he would represent all of Urawa Base City.

Once I take control of the Sanshang Group, I’ll have access to Jiepeng Empire’s core circles. Investigating the divine weapon used for controlling star beasts will be much easier.

That was his ultimate goal. However, unlike what Tsukiha Yaiba might have imagined, Li Xiaofei had no intention of resolving the matter through combat alone. Instead... he planned to use another method.