Chapter 579 - Lu Jin and Xiong Mai's Agreement
It had been a day and a half ever since the displacement of Xiong Mai's position.
The EU Organization was currently in a chaotic time. The presidential position remained vacant. Those who eyed the presidential position but lost against Xiong Mai in the past regained their courage to run for it again.
Thus, after that day, the EU members were busy creating their own factions to run as the leader.
"President, an invitation arrived from the three factions." Xiong Mai's trusted assistant filled her in regarding the recent events in EU Organization.
(E/N: Although she's no longer the president of the association, Xiong Mai is still the president of her own company, so as a subordinate, the assistant still calls her president.)
"Mmh. I see. So Mr. Wegner has the biggest faction?"
"Yes. He will likely be the president unless you make a move, President."
"Nah. I don't like moving much for the organization nowadays after those ungrateful geezers treated me like a disposable pawn."
"But the faction which remained loyal to you..."
"I know. However, among them, who is capable enough to rival Mr. Wegner in leading EU aside from me?"
The trusted assistant was silent.
If she had to choose amongst the faction who supported Xiong Mai, she really could not think of any person more suitable to become the president aside from her boss.
Xiong Mai chuckled at her trusted assistant's complicated face. "I think so too. Truthfully, it is not bad to give the position to Mr. Wegner. He is capable and responsible. He will do everything in his own power to lead EU. However..."
Xiong Mai's eyes lowered. "What I am more worried about is the card used by those people against them. If they are able to rope in the majority of the members of EU Organization against me, what terrible means could they have used?"
Xiong Mai had her own guesses, but she wanted to be sure. In order to negotiate with an enemy, she had to know which cards they were playing first.
"Have you looked into what I told you to investigate?"
"Yes. According to my resources, the members who voted against you all received a letter two days prior from when they gathered all members to talk about your impeachment. Like we suspected, 'that person' likely cornered them."
"Hmm."
Xiong Mai suspected that the mysterious sender used some underground means.
She frowned as she looked at the doc.u.ments. "Majority of the EU members have businesses in the black market? That is no good."
"This is more likely the fuse."
"What specific threat is used against them?"
"Unfortunately, we don't have much influence in the underworld. It might take a while to trace the method which that person used."
Xiong Mai thought for a moment and shook her head. "There's no need for that. I think I can ask 'him' personally."
"Indeed, President. The words you left to Mr. Wegner have already reached that person's ears. We received a reply that he is already in the country and is taking a rest in some hotel."
"Hmm." Slim white fingers tapped on the table rhythmically. "He seems quite impatient. I wonder why?"
The assistant was silent. Although she was very capable, she did not have all the answers.
"What is really going on?" Xiong Mai continued to mutter to herself.
****
The next day, a guest arrived in Xiong Mai's residence.
The guest had already told them in advance that he would be visiting Xiong Mai to negotiate with her personally. Xiong Mai's reply was to invite the person to her residence and discuss the matter privately.
Xiong Mai's assistant led the guest to the enormous and luxurious drawing room.
When the door opened, Xiong Mai glanced up.
She was wearing an elegant black dress.
Seeing the guest, she stood up and walked in front of the latter.
"Lu Jin," she acknowledged the young man casually. She dropped all formalities.
There was no need to, because this was the young man who constantly threatened her albeit politely.
Lu Jin slightly bowed his head.
"It's a pleasure to meet you in person, Miss Xiong."
Xiong Mai gestured for Lu Jin to sit. The assistant withdrew to serve tea.
"We can drop all the unnecessary greetings. May I ask why are you taking it this far?"
"Did Miss Xiong ask for my presence personally just to ask this question?"
"You answer a question with another question, quite daring I say, coming from the person asking desperately for my favor."
"If it is a favor then there will be no unnecessary movements needed from our sides. I will be in your debt then. However, Miss Xiong clearly rejected us when we asked very sincerely. We have offered a deal that is quite advantageous for you. Signing the paper will not bring you any disadvantage."
"It will not bring me any disadvantage? How come? Please enlighten me."
Xiong Mai wanted to know the real reason why these people were so adamant in getting her signature.
She knew that it was more likely to get the position of the new organization leader.
The thing was, why did they waited for so long and only acted at this time? And suddenly acting urgently at that?
Lu Jin did not bite Xiong Mai's bait.
"I believe our offer is good enough. If Miss Xiong is still not satisfied, then we can leave the conditions blank. You may write what you want."
Xiong Mai chuckled. "A blank check? How tempting."
Normal businessmen would try to hide their eagerness and desperation in securing a deal so as to not get unfavorable conditions, yet these people did not even bother hiding it.
Yet it was this very unusualness which made them reek of intimidation and danger.
Their tea arrived. The steam from the hot tea rose so no one took it yet.
"We can use any means. This is nothing," Lu Jin said nonchalantly.
"By any means, you mean... underground?" Xiong Mai hinted.
She wanted to confirm.
Lu Jin stared at her. He did not deny it.
He paused for a while before speaking slowly.
"The night could easily swallow the day."
A statement full of meaning.
Xiong Mai was silent.
Firstly, Lu Jin just confirmed her thoughts that those members who voted against her indeed had dealings with the underworld and the black market, and that he could control them in however way he liked it.
Secondly, it implied that Lu Jin was confident that he possessed enough handle to corner Xiong Mai, using the threat of the underworld to pressure Xiong Mai into agreeing.
This would be an endless battle of attrition for them. But in the end, it would be Xiong Mai who would be at a disadvantage in this prolonged war.
How could a clean pair of hands fight against the fearless dirty hands without staining themselves?
Xiong Mai understood it clearly.
But...
Xiong Mai smiled, showing the charm of a mature woman. "But daytime is longer than nighttime. I am afraid, the night is running out of time."
If Lu Jin was desperate for her signature and was pushing her buttons without a rest, it meant that he was running out of time.
Although it was only her pure guess.
Lu Jin's eyes turned colder.
Xiong Mai got hold of his weakness in this short conversation.
The woman was right.
Time.
Lu Jin was running out of time. To be precise, it was his father who was impatient.
"So in this war, I can say that I might suffer some losses, but I am sure it will be you who will still lose," Xiong Mai added.
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