“What are you talking about? How dare you call us traitors? Do you know how much impact your words can have on us?” But just then, a leader of the middle-level managers slammed his hand on the table and stood up, glaring at Zhou Mo, who was now standing right in front of them, his face filled with rage as he loudly rebuked, “You are slandering us.”
“Are we really slandering? Am I wrong? Haven't your current actions let down Shen Mu and Deherim? By obstructing us from capturing the remnants of the Diesel Company, aren't you traitors?” But Zhou Mo showed no reaction; instead, he looked at the leader of the middle-level managers who had stood up and even walked closer to him, staring into his eyes, his face radiating a sense of moral superiority and arrogance.
Of course, in Zhou Mo’s heart, seeing these agitated middle-level managers, who had already fallen into his trap, made him inwardly smile. He was like a high-and-mighty chess player, toying with these middle-level managers in the palm of his hand, casually plucking at their heartstrings and stirring their emotions, just like a master chess player planning the intricate steps that should naturally unfold on the chessboard.
Zhou Mo thoroughly enjoyed this feeling.
This was the feeling of manipulating others, whether it was controlling their minds and emotions or toying with their destinies. This feeling was always one of superiority, a refreshing sensation derived from power and status.
“Zhou Mo, you senior managers think you are high and mighty. Your actions against us back then already offended us. We are simply retaliating now, and it has nothing to do with Shen Mu or Deherim. You damned fellows, you hoarded so much power and status back then, refusing to share any resources with us, and now you still want us to cooperate with you? That’s simply ridiculous!” Faced with Zhou Mo’s accusation, the leader of the middle-level managers was seething with rage, but he dared not directly admit that he had betrayed something, that his current actions were actually tarnishing Deherim’s and Shen Mu’s reputation.
He absolutely dared not say that, so he could only accuse angrily, using his anger to express the guilt in his heart. Otherwise, would he have to admit that his current actions were actually obstructing the capture of the Diesel Company’s remnants?
Of course not, but the more he thought this way, the angrier he became, and the more extreme his emotions grew.
However, he could only forcefully suppress his emotions to calm down, not daring to completely fall out with Zhou Mo, because their presence at the negotiation table already indicated that they were at a disadvantage. After all, they were the ones who wanted to propose terms, and they also wanted to gain credit. If they overturned the table now, all their efforts for credit would be in vain.
Therefore, they could only be forced to express their anger here, yet they dared not leave the table or overturn it.
This already indicated their guilt.
“Alright, Zhou Mo, we are all staff members working for Shen Mu and Deherim, so let’s not talk like this. Our essence is to capture those remnants of the Diesel Company. Isn’t that right?” Wu Jian reached out and pulled the leader of the middle-level managers beside him, calming him down, and then looked at Zhou Mo with a bitter smile on his face: “There’s no need to say more. You know my difficulties, and I understand yours, but there’s no other way now. I must be responsible for these brothers behind me. If not, we will be excluded and will never be able to advance.”
“Oh, yes, yes, yes, indeed. If you can’t advance, you won’t be able to challenge our authority, you won’t be able to replace us, and you won’t be able to stand at the pinnacle of power and status. That’s truly a pity.” But Zhou Mo’s face still held a mocking expression: “We must let you share in this credit. We, the senior managers who already hold high positions, power, and status, must give you a hand so that you too can have the power, status, and identity to challenge us. Right?”
But when these words were spoken, Wu Jian and the other middle-level managers were instantly speechless. They had no way to address this matter, as they were in the wrong. How could they possibly admit that this was what they wanted to do at such a time?
Even if it was the truth, they absolutely could not admit it.
“Let’s talk business. We are willing to concede to a 60-40 split. What do you think? To be direct, we don’t want to say more.” Wu Jian slowly lowered his head, sighed deeply, and then looked up at Zhou Mo, his tone very dejected: “You know, this also represents my biggest concession.”
“Ah, yes, yes, yes, that’s right, that’s right. You have indeed made a great concession. After all, you’ve given up ten percent of the credit, which for us is truly… so grateful, I am truly prostrate with gratitude.”
But Zhou Mo’s mockery continued, especially as he looked at these middle-level managers, the mockery in his eyes completely undisguised. He even walked over to Wu Jian, placed a hand on his shoulder, and said helplessly, “But is there nothing else? Is that all? Are your concessions just these laughable concessions? This was ours to begin with. I understand. You mean you need to take care of a group of brothers, but don’t I have a group of brothers? You know, I also have brothers to feed, and I also have to consider their credit. You say it’s not for yourself, but am I doing it for myself?”
As he spoke, Zhou Mo patted Wu Jian’s shoulder: “Alright, then let’s go with your 60-40 split. But can we finalize this matter? I get 6, you get 4, and then let’s discuss the distribution of credit and benefits during the process of annihilating this Diesel Company remnant group after capturing them. How about that?”
“Fifty-fifty. That way, we can also help, so it’s fifty-fifty, do you think that’s acceptable?” Wu Jian didn’t actively dwell on this issue at the moment; instead, he tacitly accepted the 60-40 split and then, following Zhou Mo’s suggestion, spoke: “This way, in the upcoming process of jointly eradicating the Diesel Company remnants, our people and those who are not Spiritual Realm Commanders can play a greater role. You know, in terms of numbers, we have more than you. So, I think we are qualified for a fifty-fifty split.”
“What about intelligence? While your numbers are large, your quality isn’t as good as ours. We have established an effective management system and have also planted secret informants throughout the Blue Star Humans. That’s why we can find intelligence. Compared to your crude searching, our intelligence is directly aimed at the heart of the Diesel Company.” Zhou Mo’s lips still held a sarcastic smile. He was now leaning close to Wu Jian, speaking softly to him as if they were good brothers: “After all, you can’t doubt our professionalism and technical expertise, can you? And we’ve cooperated before; our professionalism and technical expertise are far superior to yours, and we are also good at management and analysis. Don’t you think so?”
This was the system established by these senior managers, and by their senior management system, a system almost like a bureaucratic one.
This was also the advantage of the system.
“Indeed, that’s true.” Wu Jian couldn’t deny it at this point and could only nod in agreement. However, seeing the other middle-level managers looking at him, all appearing somewhat dissatisfied, he still slowly said, “But we can also handle it. Our large numbers will eventually yield results. This way, we aren’t doing nothing, and we can also cooperate with your actions. This way, our numerical advantage can still secure a fifty percent share.”
“Are you being a bit shameless? My companions, those middle-level managers sitting across from me. Do you think we are all male humans, and we senior managers are easy to bully? Do you know how ridiculous your words are? We have technical expertise, we have professionalism, can’t we do it ourselves? And we have direct access to the heart of the Diesel Company’s operations, do you? We can completely cut you out and do it ourselves. Do you really think we can’t capture those remnants of the Diesel Company or their groups?” At this moment, a senior manager suddenly spoke with a mocking expression, looking at the silent middle-level managers. He couldn’t help but scoff, “Are you silent now because you think you’ve gained an advantage, so you don’t need to speak? No one wants to understand what’s really happening? Who is the main contributor? Without intelligence, just relying on aimless, crude searching is like headless flies, utterly useless.”
“We are the most important. You must understand that without you, we can still find the Diesel Company’s operations, but if it weren’t for us, you wouldn’t be able to find those remnants of the Diesel Company.” Another senior manager also directly pointed at the noses of the middle-level managers and began to accuse and reprimand them, almost lecturing them.
In fact, this was true.
But as these senior managers spoke, their mood was quite joyful. Even if their faces showed gnashing teeth and distorted expressions, and they all seemed quite unconvinced, when they exchanged glances, they saw the smile deep in each other’s eyes. They also thoroughly enjoyed the satisfaction of accusing the other party from a moral high ground, especially seeing Zhou Mo, who had entered the acting phase like a superb actor, they couldn’t help but join in the performance.
Wasn’t it just acting? It wasn’t like they couldn’t do it, especially now that their performance had stunned these middle-level managers, who had previously been in verbal conflict and antagonistic relationships with them. Seeing them stunned made their mood even more joyful.
This was simply fantastic. This was the joy actors felt when they tricked others, or it could be called deception, but it was ultimately the same. Being able to deceive these middle-level managers truly made them feel great.
“What are you talking about? How dare you call us liars? How dare you call us shameless?” Just then, a middle-level manager slammed his hand on the table and stood up again, and the other four leaders of the middle-level managers also slammed their hands on the table and stood up, glaring at the senior managers in front of them.
They were truly furious.
“Ah, yes, yes, yes, that’s right, that’s right, you are indeed angry.” Zhou Mo suddenly interjected, looking at the angry middle-level managers around him. He sighed and walked behind them, slowly saying, “But you must understand that a fifty-fifty split really won’t work. After all, the most crucial intelligence comes from our professionalism and analysis, which has consumed the minds of our specialized talents. We painstakingly dug out this intelligence, and we have to share it with you. Do you think that’s reasonable?”
“Yes, that’s indeed unreasonable.” Wu Jian slowly closed his eyes, sighed, and the lingering sense of moral guilt still made him slowly say, “We do owe you a favor. In that case, can we go back to a 60-40 split? This is also the biggest concession I can make. We really can’t concede any further. We can’t say much more, but we also need to ensure that our brothers have a way to survive in the future. Moreover, Deherim will develop more in the future, and at that time, I will restrain our subordinates. As long as there is a conflict with you, we will actively avoid it. What do you think of that?”
“You’ll avoid us in the future? But you must understand that in the future, you will be challenging us. You are a group of people who want us to step down so you can take our current positions as senior managers! Why should we necessarily agree to your favor? You should know that if you develop, you yourselves will be the biggest threat to us. You are our most threatening competitors.” Zhou Mo spoke again.
But he looked at the middle-level managers, who had their backs to him, a sinister grin appearing at the corner of his mouth, and he reached for the one-handed axe tucked into his waist.
A sharp, heavy one-handed axe, typically equipped by the Swadian Militia.
Easy to pierce armor.
And at close range, a single fatal blow!