The Steward Demonic Emperor

Proofreader: Papatonks

“Are you looking to mess up the deal?”

Wu Randong stood dumbly under Zhuo Fan’s scrutiny, “Feel like sharing why? Given enough reason, I may be inclined to let this deal fall through like you want.”

[What?]

Wu Randong gave Zhuo Fan an incredulous look, “Aren’t you after the commercial line? If the deal is off, how are you going to use it?”

“You don’t have to worry about that. That’s the kind of guy I am, casual, ha-ha-ha…”

Zhuo Fan’s eyes shone, using his guile to sway him, “Second young master, I’m more than sure of your position in the company. You’re an eyesore to your own family, unable to do even the most menial tasks, just like a dead weight.”

“Why you…”

“Before you deny, know that I’m right.”

Zhuo Fan continued, “You can’t strike deals, you can’t break them, you’re weak, and you can’t change my mind. The trade between me and your father and brother won’t be influenced by you. And if you had it in you, you’d have gotten them to break it off already instead of looking to take it out on me. In other words, I’m the only person that can help you. And all I want is to hear your story. Or is it that there isn’t one, with second young master wanting to make a scene out of anger? Are you that much of a child? Of course your dad won’t care about you!”

Wu Randong’s lip shook, staring at Zhuo Fan, and finally sighing, “Fine, you wanted my reasons, here they are. I hate the company. I don’t want it to grow any bigger, I want to destroy it!”

“Why? You’re the second young master and only have to gain from its development.”

Zhuo Fan found a nice ol’ chunk of rock to sit on and look at his furious face, “I’d get it if it came from the guards, being annoyed by their boss and having a hard time. Yet a successor like you, instead of vying with Wu Ranze for the lead, you want to run the family business into the ground, with everyone losing. I gotta say, you’re a true prodigal son to want to destroy your family. Or is it envy from seeing your brother taking the power? Spite makes more sense in this case. Some people would rather destroy what they can’t have. I’ve seen plenty of those to last a lifetime…”

“You’re the spiteful one! I’m a man of virtue and it won’t matter even if I have no real power. How could I just lust for power?”

“Why then…”

“They’re all dead inside!”

Wu Randong squinted and gnashed his teeth, “You went into the company and you’ve seen bowing and scraping, right?”

Zhuo Fan paused and nodded, “It’s not all bad, bowing to…”

“That’s what you think!”

Wu Randong glared and roared, “Serene Shores Trading are always respectful to all clients. That’s how it spread throughout the lands. It used to be my pride as well, thinking being kind is what makes you strike big deals, respecting the other party to achieve your goal. But then I found that this nice attitude has made us weak. Not fighting back or never talking against any dissent aside, they still have a smile on their faces even after the other took a life. This is a disgrace.”

“A business is a negotiation. You respect me and I respect you, but if you don’t why the hell should I respect you? We’ve grown big enough already and don’t need to scrape for deals like beginners…”

“Naive!”

Zhuo Fan chuckled in disdain, “That’s why your dad gives you the cold shoulder, since you’ll get into trouble at some point. Because of your ‘virtue’, you don’t compromise, clueless that you’re still in the palm of the strong. One wrong move and your family is finished!”

Wu Randong cried out, “You’re also saying that?”

“Of course, since business and politics never match.”

Zhuo Fan waved his hand, his eyes shining, “Second young master, was the other party someone important to end up with a fatality?”

Wu Randong nodded heavily, “Three years ago, because the friend I grew up with found out Baili Jingyu took his sister, he barged into his manor to save her, yet they both died. I wanted to take some men and turn his home upside down, but brother told on me to father and had me confined home for ten years, afraid that I’ll offend that bastard. I realized then that our company has grown weak!”

“The company used to mock Baili Jingyu’s incompetence, with Goldbough City’s entire power belonging to us, but that’s when I knew that we were mocking ourselves. A useless fool is able to kill the guard of the merchant company that trades in all the lands without so much as a slap on the wrist. What will happen when a true city lord comes along? The bright and strong company on the surface is shaking from within.”

“Ha-ha, maybe not.”

Zhuo Fan chuckled, “The Serene Shores Trading only came along as a tool to connect the five lands by the five leaderships. But if a tool goes bad, you change it. You can’t get too confident in yourself. While your father and brother are indeed a bit too cautious. Regarding that incident three years ago, it didn’t matter if it was anyone else, but since it was Baili Jingwei that came to power, he knows what matters are crucial and where to draw the line. Did you think it’d change anything if you ruined his manor? You’re a tool that still needs using and Baili Jingwei won’t throw it away.”

“While on the contrary, if you had handed the boy personally to Baili Jingyu, then praise him of his qualities, showing your stance and being suave, the Prime Minister might be even willing to pay back in kind. The Baili clan has plenty of people and can do away with a dead weight, ha-ha-ha…”

Wu Randong gave him a long look and his face grew solemn.

[Right! We could’ve asked Baili Jingwei for help! But thinking they’re all Baili, maybe they’d cast out one of their own, since their relationship is strained…]

“All things hang in the balance. Being headstrong tips it.”

Zhuo Fan had a vague smile as he muttered, “Serene Shores Trading’s pursuit for money made it lack in many areas, making it weak despite its tough front. As for the second young master, he’s too rash and impulsive. It’s only a matter of time before he invites disaster. However, with me in control, there’ll be no problems. Also, unlike his other kin, Wu Randong is passionate and far easier to mold for my use. He’ll make a good lackey…”

“What did you say?”

Wu Randong was stunned at his prattling.

Zhuo Fan gave his most evil smile, “Second young master, I know why you hate the company. Deep love breeds deeper hatred. You hate its weakness, being unable to protect yours and losing your dignity as merchants. It’s one thing when you’re powerless and a whole nother when you’re not. The humiliation is unbearable, right? “

Wu Randong sighed and nodded.

“Great, I got the picture. Now let me ask you this, how will you handle the company if you were to lead it? Will you be a loose cannon like before?”

“Me?”

Wu Randong flinched, shaking his head, “No way, dad decided three years ago that brother will be following him. How…”

Zhuo Fan smirked, “Nothing’s absolute. I’m just asking if you’ll be the same if you’d be leading.”

Wu Randong’s heart shook.

He never stopped to think of things like that, because he knew how he was, too reckless, unlike his able brother.

“You hate how weak the company became, but aren’t you even weaker?”

Zhuo Fan bewitched him, “Real strength comes from supreme power. If you want to change the company, you must first wield it. I’m here to make it happen but you don’t want to. Whatever happens to your company you don’t like, you’ll have no one to blame but yourself. You don’t want to be strong, so stop showing dislike for the cowardly company. All of you are the same!”

Wu Randong shuddered and grimaced. Then his eyes shone with conviction, “Whenever did I say I won’t take it? If dad gives me the power, I will make the company be born anew!”

“That’s the right attitude! The strong don’t whine, but think of how to step on the weak! Even if they aren’t weak, you’ll make them feel weak. Furthermore, the strong don’t make excuses for their failures because of other’s faults!”

Zhuo Fan gace a creepy chuckle, “Better not regret it later, second young master…”

[Regret?]

Wu Randong had a really bad feeling looking at his strange smile.

All that he could tell was that he had struck a deal with the devil…