So, Zhou Mo made a gesture to invite Wu Jian to follow him into the alley beside them.
As he walked, Zhou Mo waved to the senior managers nearby and openly declared, "Send people to block both ends of the alley. Don't let anyone in. Only Wu Jian and I need to be together."
"Understood." The senior managers behind him immediately nodded and led their subordinates, wanting to walk across to the other side of the alley. Once they crossed, they could completely seal both sides of the alley, allowing them to trap anyone inside like a turtle in a jar, no matter what they were doing.
But just then, Wu Jian suddenly sensed something and said, "Wait."
"Is there something else?" Zhou Mo looked at him, seemingly puzzled.
"I need to bring a few people with me. These are my trusted subordinates, and they have fought alongside me before. They are definitely not remnants of the Diesel Company. Besides, we operate under a democratic system; everything is discussed together. I am absolutely not allowed to be a dictator." Wu Jian spoke calmly, then turned his head to look at the leaders of the middle-level managers beside him, pointing and saying, "You all come with me."
This was for his safety and for everyone to unite with greater loyalty.
After all, as he said, they all valued democracy. Everything was decided through discussion and meetings. Moreover, he was now negotiating privately with Zhou Mo. What if Zhou Mo didn't explain the situation to him, or didn't give him absolutely useful information?
What would he do then? He alone wouldn't be able to explain it clearly.
So, it was better to call these more trusted middle-level managers to go together; that would be better.
"Alright, as long as you say so. After all, I also need to find a few senior managers to come along. If there's anything, we can speak openly, and there will be witnesses. We don't want anyone denying things at the end; that won't do." Zhou Mo's face still held a mocking expression, especially as he watched Wu Jian's somewhat ashamed look. He pressed on, saying, "I think after our negotiation, this rule can be completely set, right? Let's not have any unpleasantness at the end."
"As long as it benefits both our interests, that's fine." Wu Jian simply said at this point. He couldn't say more, as his current values still made him feel somewhat ashamed, so he could only say that.
"That's very good." Zhou Mo nodded, not saying much. He directly instructed a few senior managers to bring tables and chairs into the alley. Moreover, on both sides of the alley, senior managers and their troops blocked the passage.
So, Zhou Mo and the five senior managers he had chosen walked towards the middle of the commercial street.
However, just then, five middle-level manager leaders approached Wu Jian, their expressions somewhat off. Especially as they looked at him, they worriedly said, "Both sides of the alley have been blocked by those senior managers and their lackeys. If anything really happens, we'll be helpless inside."
According to combat experience, if they were trapped inside, they would be like turtles in a jar.
If anything truly happened, they would indeed be helpless and would truly be deeply trapped inside by those senior managers, easily killed.
They had all survived the brutal environment of the apocalypse. They had witnessed much killing and being killed. Now, being asked to enter such a dangerous, confined space made them feel a little terrified.
"Arrange for others to block them again on both sides of the alley. After all, we have more people. They surrounded us, but our people also surrounded them." Wu Jian waved his hand at this point, his face not showing much worry. Instead, he slowly said, "Things are mutual. Besides, this is all about the remnants of the Diesel Company; they wouldn't dare to act. If they did, it would be a cruel massacre, and Lord Shen Mu would definitely intervene. They would be the murderers who acted against us, and nothing would spare them then."
"I hope so." The other middle-level managers nodded, especially those middle-level manager leaders. This was a point they had considered and they agreed with Wu Jian's statement. After all, they were all under Lord Shen Mu's management, all within Lord Shen Mu's Deherim. If any problems truly arose, no one would escape unscathed.
And this was also due to these middle-level managers, who had risen from the bottom, lacking the experience of brutal, bloody political struggles, still retaining some idealized notions of political struggle.
They truly hadn't considered the extreme cruelty and danger of political struggle.
They had thought too highly of the senior managers, but they hadn't realized that these senior managers fundamentally intended to directly slaughter them all.
So, with these naive and idealized thoughts, they followed Wu Jian into the alley. Looking at the table already set and the chairs beside it in the alley, they said nothing and went to their side and sat down.
"Alright, we can begin to talk. We hope you will be frank with us about anything, and we will also be very frank with you. As for the 80-20 split you initially mentioned, we completely reject it. What I accept now is a 50-50 split; we share the credit equally."
Wu Jian also sat in his chair, looking at Zhou Mo, who was already seated, and the five senior managers also seated beside him. Without further ado, he directly brought the conversation to the main topic: "You know, since there are remnants of the Diesel Company among those middle-level managers as you said, it can be imagined that they have been infiltrating my team for a long time. My team is very united and very loving. They should have already been influenced. Now, I tell you clearly, as long as you tell me that person's name, I will have a way to make him reveal more names, and even dig out the entire Diesel Company remnant gang completely. In that case, our credit will be shared, and it will be very significant, enough for both of us to share."
"Yes, that's right. We are all very united and friendly, and indeed, things can be discussed. We can also tell you clearly that as long as we can get that person's name, we can indeed dig out more remnants of the Diesel Company. At that time, the credit will not only be yours, the senior managers, but also ours, the middle-level managers. Both sides will share this pie, so neither side will be at a disadvantage."
Another middle-level manager leader, who had a better relationship with Wu Jian, also slowly spoke, his tone carrying a hint of threat: "I know what we are doing is a bit awkward, but there's no other way. You should know that we only united because of your oppression. If you hadn't oppressed us before, we wouldn't have chosen to oppose you like this. If we can improve our relationship, then there are many opportunities for Deherim's development to move forward together, and we are willing to cooperate with you."
"That's right, we are also willing to cooperate with you in the future. It's not that everyone must remain a middle-level manager; as we gain more credit, we can also become new senior managers. In that case, we will also express our gratitude to you." Another middle-level manager also said soothingly.
However, at this moment, Zhou Mo and the senior managers beside him did not speak. They merely looked at them with cold, mocking gazes, not even responding after hearing their words. The mockery on their faces grew increasingly intense.
They found it extremely ridiculous.
"What do you mean?" Wu Jian finally noticed the peculiar expressions on the faces of these senior managers. So, he slowly spoke, looking at them, and clenched his fists: "You said you came to negotiate. Is this how you negotiate? If you want to negotiate, then do it properly. Don't just sit there saying nothing, looking at us like clowns. In fact, we are here for the greater good to negotiate with you. Otherwise, we would just search for the remnants of the retired company within our own ranks, and then you would get no credit at all. And once you leave, I will directly tell that Diesel Company remnant that if he surrenders to me, I can use him as an inside informant to atone for his sins, and then all the credit will be ours. What does that have to do with you then?"
"Yes, you certainly can do that, but do you really think that Diesel Company remnant will definitely surrender to you? Will he definitely trust you? Can't I say that if he is willing to surrender to me, I can give him more power and status, allowing him to enjoy more special treatment?" At this moment, Zhou Mo's eyes held mockery, and he suddenly became a little interested.
Especially in playing with these middle-level managers.
After all, it was still early. There was plenty of time for them to pass. It was only around 7 PM; there was still time. If they resolved these middle-level managers too early, what other fun could they find?
"What exactly do you mean?" Wu Jian's face grew increasingly difficult, and the middle-level manager leaders beside him also glared at Zhou Mo and the five senior managers beside him. Such a situation appearing at this seemingly equal negotiation table truly surprised them.
They felt manipulated, and in fact, they truly felt a sense of being manipulated. These senior managers in front of them seemed to have no intention of negotiating with them at all.
Of course, they also understood that it was actually because they had acted too shamelessly that these senior managers showed such mocking expressions and an unwillingness to negotiate with them. However, the negotiation was initiated by the other party, and they had already agreed.
Now, the other party's demeanor made them somewhat exasperated.
"70-30 split. This is what I want to say, because truly, only we can find that person, and we also have information on other Diesel Company remnants." At this moment, Zhou Mo saw that the other party was angry, and the smile on his lips became even more sarcastic. But with a sneer in his heart, he still said, "As for the other Diesel Company remnants, we can also share that credit with you, but all the credit must be split 70-30."
What credit, what Diesel Company remnants?
There was no such thing at all.
These senior managers had already deceived these middle-level managers. Zhou Mo's state of mind and the state of mind of the five senior managers beside him were now beaming. One by one, they exchanged glances at the corners of their eyes, leaving no trace.
They all saw the mockery, ridicule, and joy in each other's eyes.
This was truly too interesting.
Since these middle-level managers had been foolishly tricked by them, and now they were still foolishly believing in this negotiation and foolishly bringing their elites here, this was truly too interesting.
So Zhou Mo directly said, "The commission is ours, and the subsequent credit earnings commission is also ours. We can provide all key information about those Diesel Company remnants and share it with you, while you can't give us anything, only cause us trouble here. You should understand this as well."
"But precisely because we can cause you trouble and prevent you from completing this achievement, we have the confidence to negotiate with you. If we don't cooperate, you will absolutely not be able to catch those Diesel Company remnants." Even at this moment, before Wu Jian could speak, a middle-level manager beside him directly raised his voice and angrily said, "Without us, you absolutely cannot accomplish this matter. Perhaps we cannot make you succeed, but look at us, these middle-level managers, these united loyalists. Do we have the qualification to make you fail, to prevent you from accomplishing this matter?"
However, after he finished speaking, the entire area fell silent. The entire alley also seemed to enter a dead silence, especially this narrow alley, as if it had become a sound tube, directly transmitting through the space of this alley to the ears of the senior managers and gathered middle-level managers outside.
They heard every word clearly.
"Oh, what do you mean by that?" But at this moment, Zhou Mo's eyes lit up. He immediately extended his ear and vigorously dug it with his finger, even standing up and coming to the area near Wu Jian and the middle-level manager who had spoken, with a considerable difference in height: "Don't you know that your current appearance is like that of traitors?" (End of Chapter)