Lu Xuan didn’t interrupt. After patiently listening to him finish, he calmly asked:
"Brother Chen, do you know why this banquet is being held? I heard the heads of every departnt in the province are here, and the mayors of a dozen or so first-tier cities have also co in person..."
Chen Dao shrugged and said with a smile:
"That, I don’t know. I just tagged along with my old man to see the world and, while I’m at it, get to know young prodigies like you, Brother Lu..."
Lu Xuan chuckled in amusent.
Just then, Chen Dao glanced at the silent, stone-faced Yan Jiangxue, then politely and quickly averted his gaze. Looking straight ahead, he asked:
"This Miss Yan..."
Before he could finish, suddenly—
"Ahem!"
A cough echoed from the high platform, resounding throughout the spacious banquet hall.
Chen Dao stopped talking. Lu Xuan and Yan Jiangxue also focused their attention, looking up toward the high platform.
By now, two people were seated on the stage. One was a wizened, white-haired old man with a face full of wrinkles, exuding a dense scholarly aura. The other was a powerfully built, middle-aged man radiating an air of iron-willed slaughter.
A thought flashed through Lu Xuan’s mind, and he guessed their identities. The old man with the scholarly aura was likely the Great Mansion Master of the Provincial Governnt, a Confucian Cultivator. The middle-aged man, then, must be Wu Shangpin’s father, the Grand Governor of Langya Province.
’If I rember correctly, his na is... Wu Zhongshu?’
As Lu Xuan’s mind was racing, the Provincial Governor on the high platform began to speak with a asured cadence. After a formulaic welco to all the guests,
he got straight to the point without any pretense.
"In truth, besides providing a chance for everyone to network, there is another, extrely important matter for which you’ve all been invited to this banquet."
The expressions of Lu Xuan and Yan Jiangxue turned solemn at the sa ti as they listened intently.
"Before we get to that, allow to make an introduction."
As he spoke, a shorter, middle-aged man levitated into the air and landed steadily on the high platform.
The Provincial Governor continued:
"This is Mr. Sakata Jun of Sakata Heavy Industries. He is a mber of the Sakata Heavy Industries board of directors."
As his voice fell, countless people in the banquet hall exchanged looks of dismay. At the front, Wu Datong’s expression grew grave, as did Lu Xuan’s.
He glanced at the girl beside him, whose expression was as cold as ever, and a thought stirred in his mind.
’So it’s just as Xiaoyan guessed. This so-called banquet was arranged by a Super Conglorate... and Sakata Heavy Industries, no less!’
’What does Sakata Heavy Industries want?’
As he thought this, a dangerous light flashed in Lu Xuan’s eyes.
’Interesting...’
On the high platform, under the gazes of countless top figures from Langya Province, Sakata Jun took over from the Provincial Governor and began to speak in a low voice:
"Summoning all of you here was the intention of us at Sakata Heavy Industries. What I say next represents the will of Sakata Heavy Industries!"
When he finished, a slight commotion rippled through the hall. Dignitaries and officials began whispering to one another, realizing sothing major was about to happen today.
Chen Dao leaned in at this mont and whispered:
"Sothing doesn’t feel right... These Super Conglorates are usually so aloof. Why would one directly interfere in a province’s internal affairs and summon all the departnt heads..."
After a pause, he continued:
"Pretty much every person in power in our Provincial Governnt is here, right?"
Lu Xuan didn’t answer, rely nodding slightly as he stared intently at the high platform.
Just then, Sakata Jun continued from the stage:
"And the reason for gathering you all here is to discuss a certain matter."
He heavily emphasized the word "discuss," his tone leaving no room for doubt.
"That is, the matter of jointly petitioning to expel Longque Technology from Langya Province."
The mont he said it, the entire banquet hall erupted in an uproar!
Lu Xuan’s brow furrowed sharply. He subconsciously glanced at the young woman beside him, but Xiaoyan’s expression hadn’t changed at all. She was just listening quietly.
"What do you think?" he asked in a low voice.
Xiaoyan replied softly:
"Most likely, it’s because public resentnt has been escalating recently. They want to create a major incident to divert attention, and at the sa ti..."
She paused, then continued her calm analysis:
"At the sa ti, they plan to completely tear off all pretenses with Longque Technology, bringing the hidden struggle out into the open. This has already reached a very dangerous point. The next step will be a life-or-death battle between the higher-ups on both sides."
The n and won at the sa table overheard her words and shot her astonished looks. Even Chen Dao was taken aback, a look of admiration appearing on his face.
They hadn’t expected this stunningly beautiful yet incredibly cold young woman to be able to deduce so much in just a mont. And... she seed to be right!
The hearts of several young n and won tightened. They realized they shouldn’t have co to this banquet, having been forcibly dragged into the vortex of a conflict between two, or possibly even more, Super Conglorates!
At that mont, Xiaoyan displayed the calmness and insight befitting the Eldest Princess of Longque Technology, stating succinctly:
"If I’m not mistaken, they’ve probably already had reporters on standby. They’re just waiting for all the high-ranking officials here to confirm their joint petition to expel Longque Technology before imdiately holding a press conference and putting every official on cara."
Her words had barely faded, before Lu Xuan could even respond, when on the high platform—
Sakata Jun waited a mont for the discussions to die down, then pressed his palm downward. The vast might of an Earth Immortal surged forth, and the entire banquet hall fell deathly silent once more.
"Currently,"
he said flatly,
"we have already invited various dia outlets and had them prepare. After you all sign the joint letter, you will represent Langya Province at this press conference and fully announce the expulsion proposal to the public."
Chen Dao and the others whipped their heads around, looking at Yan Jiangxue in shock and amazent. She, however, remained as still as a mountain, sitting there quietly, not a single ripple of emotion on her face.
After a mont, Chen Dao swallowed hard and tugged on Lu Xuan’s sleeve.
"Brother Lu, this lady next to you is... incredible, seriously incredible!"
After a pause, a worried look appeared on his face.
"I wouldn’t have co if I’d known... Brother Lu, do you think we can still slip away? We’re not key players in this banquet anyway, we’re just here to fill a seat..."
Lu Xuan smiled faintly, his expression profound.
"Before this banquet is over, I doubt those people up there will let anyone leave."
"Sigh." Chen Dao sighed again and muttered, "Brother Lu, why would the Mansion Master and the Grand Governor agree to sothing like this? They couldn’t have been coerced, could they?"
"Who knows?" Lu Xuan lowered his gaze, his face betraying no emotion.
Just as Chen Dao was about to say more, suddenly—
"Furthermore,"
on the high platform, Sakata Jun continued in his flat tone,
"at this very mont, in twenty-eight of the thirty-three provincial capitals of the Eastern Zhou, banquets identical to this one are taking place. I believe you all understand what I an, and what Sakata Heavy Industries ans..."
He paused, then asked:
"Is there anyone here who does not intend to participate in this joint petition to expel Longque Technology from Langya Province?"
The banquet hall was deathly silent. After a long mont, a Celestial Human stood up and bowed respectfully.
"Mansion Master, Grand Governor, and Mr. Sakata Jun, I will not be participating. Please excuse—"
Before he could finish.
DONG!
Sakata Jun pointed a finger. Half of the Celestial Human’s body exploded, and he collapsed to the ground, on the verge of death!
The banquet hall fell into a sudden, stark silence.
"Next. Is there anyone else who plans to withdraw?"
Sakata Jun swept his gaze domineeringly across the room. He waited for a mont, but no one dared to make a sound.
A satisfied smile appeared on his face. He folded his hands and said coolly:
"Since that’s settled, let’s officially begin the discussion and signing for the expulsion of Longque Technology. Hmm, I’ll ask one last ti: regarding this matter, who is in favor, and who is opposed?"
The hall was utterly silent.
The smile on Sakata Jun’s face grew even more satisfied. Just as he was about to say sothing more—
"I object."
A calm voice rang out.
With a collective WHOOSH, the terrified dignitaries in the banquet hall turned their heads in unison, staring at the back tables as if looking at an idiot.
Chen Dao, completely dumbfounded, stiffly turned his head to look at the calm-faced Brother Lu beside him.
"Are you crazy?!" he hissed, tugging at the young man’s sleeve. But in the next mont—
Chen Dao watched as this Brother Lu calmly stood up. His gaze was clear, betraying no arrogance or rashness, no shock or fear. He simply repeated, very peacefully:
"I object to this matter. Now, regarding my objection—who is in favor, and who is opposed?"
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