Chapter 77 : Zhuang Jianfei
October 18th, Friday, luxury private dining room in a five-star hotel restaurant in S City, eastern coastal China.
This was once the tallest building in S City and even the entire nation. Sitting in the magnificent private dining room on the 88th floor, one could look through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows and overlook the prosperity of Asia's premier metropolis beneath the clouds.
At this moment, only a single elegantly dressed young man in a suit sat alone on the room's sofa, leisurely flipping through an English magazine, with a steaming cup of coffee beside him, looking like a returned overseas elite executive.
Zhuang Jianfei, Executive Elder of the Hermit Alliance, Apennine Blood Clan, Mid-tier Baron.
Fifty years ago, Zhuang Jianfei was just an ordinary intellectual youth sent from S City to a southwestern border province for progressive education. In that era of both passion and confusion, Zhuang Jianfei secretly left the country seeking opportunity, wandered Southeast Asia, and was infected with blood during that period.
In the early 1980s, Zhuang Jianfei returned to the country as an overseas Chinese and joined the Hermit Alliance, already a Mid-tier Knight at that time.
To become a Mid-tier Knight in just over ten years with an ordinary blood type was already considered peak genius talent.
Some in the Hermit Alliance suspected that Zhuang Jianfei might have joined the Black Blood Clan during his Southeast Asian period. The reason was simple: the Apennine Blood Clan was the most difficult ancestral lineage for growth, bar none.
With a non-rare blood type, to grow to Mid-tier Knight in just over ten years made Zhuang Jianfei's past questionable. All Blood Clan worldwide knew what Southeast Asia was like.
Except for the Kingdom of Siam, it was the only region globally without an Orthodox Blood Clan major family, overrun with Wandering Blood Clan and Black Blood Clan, a chaotic, lawless place driven purely by profit.
However, the rich overseas connections and channels that Zhuang Jianfei brought enabled the Hermit Alliance to achieve extremely rapid development in just twenty years, earning deep trust from the Central Elders and successfully ascending to Executive Elder seven years ago.
"Elder Zhuang, Elder Wu and Elder Xiang have arrived..."
The door opened halfway, and Wei Jun's voice came into the private room.
"Mm, notify the lobby manager that they can serve the dishes."
Zhuang Jianfei tossed aside his magazine, stood up to adjust his suit, then walked smiling to the dining table in the center of the room, looking toward the private room door in a welcoming posture.
A few minutes later, a man and woman also arrived at the private room. They simply nodded to Zhuang Jianfei in greeting, then sat at the dining table.
Hotel waiters filed out in succession, dishes were served one after another. Very abundant, typical eastern coastal flavors, light and fresh-sweet. After declining dining service, the private room door closed tightly with no more outside interference.
"Zhuang Jianfei, why choose S City? If I'd known earlier, this sister would have hosted. I wouldn't have chosen such a nouveau riche showing-off place..."
Dressed in a Shanghai-style qipao with Suzhou embroidered shawl, the voluptuous middle-aged beauty lazily leaned against her chair, not even glancing at the fine food on the table, just taking out a cosmetics case and matter-of-factly touching up certain details on her face in the small mirror.
Wu Yuqing, Executive Elder of the Hermit Alliance, Lower-tier Viscount, Iberian Blood Clan.
"Big sister Wu lives right here. You brat holding a banquet on her turf is just not giving her face, haha!"
A burly, robust middle-aged man forcefully slapped the dining table, full of vigor, rough and bold.
Xiang Zuxing, Executive Elder of the Hermit Alliance, Mid-tier Viscount, Altai Blood Clan.
"This wine is for women to drink, right? Bland as water..."
Xiang Zuxing was completely unceremonious, grabbing a bottle of yellow wine from the table and drinking directly from it. After one gulp, he smacked his lips several times, clearly somewhat dissatisfied.
Wu Yuqing rolled her eyes while drawing her eyebrows, no longer paying attention to this northern rough man, instead saying to Zhuang Jianfei: "What, just the three of us? You didn't invite Elder Deng and Elder Feng?"
Zhuang Jianfei smiled warmly without immediately answering, instead very cordially pouring Wu Yuqing a cup of Huadiao wine first: "Nothing official, just a private gathering. This time I came to S City, I have some plans to cooperate with some European and American major families.
"If the cooperation goes smoothly, the Alliance can procure a new type of Blood Clan secret medicine they've recently launched. Hehe, the effect is ten percent higher than the Wang Family's Big Golden Pills, and it works for Barons and above, though the annual procurement quantity is limited."
As soon as he finished speaking, Wu Yuqing's makeup movements instantly stopped. She slowly turned her head with an expression of disbelief.
"Works for Barons and above!? Oh my, never mind ten percent higher effectiveness, even ten percent lower would be incredible! It could save us so much growth time!"
Xiang Zuxing also put down his wine bottle, his eyes wide with disbelief at what he was hearing.
"Hehe, that's a project by North America's James Family and Japan's Fujiwara Family in cooperation, with MIT behind the scenes. On the surface, it's a veterinary painkiller.
"They also promise that if this cooperation negotiation with the Alliance can get support from the three of us, this secret medicine can be provided with additional personal special allocation quotas beyond the procurement quantity limit..."
Zhuang Jianfei proudly raised his wine glass. Wu Yuqing also knowingly lifted her wine, but Xiang Zuxing beside them held the whole bottle of yellow wine without any movement.
"Brother Zhuang, things that greatly benefit the Alliance are naturally the more the better. But hearing you say this, such cooperation probably isn't that simple, right? I think those foreigners wouldn't just be looking at Brother Zhuang's face."
Xiang Zuxing had calmed down, putting the wine bottle back on the table, his eyes staring fixedly at Zhuang Jianfei's face: "What kind of cooperation method requires the three of us to mobilize together in the Alliance?"
"Very simple, just use some Alliance resources to operate in financial markets, diluting and reducing the shares of several listed companies that the Wang Family holds behind the scenes, mainly some bank stocks."
"Brother Xiang, you also know that Elder Feng, to put it nicely, is a peacemaker; to put it harshly, he's a fence-sitter who goes wherever the wind blows strongest. Elder Chu holds a central position but is an old stick-in-the-mud, and with his life limit approaching, he won't likely agree to competing with the Wang Family's old turtle for profit. Don't even mention Elder Deng, she's Elder Feng's former protégé and completely follows his lead.
"As for the remaining two Central Elders, they're both in hibernation now and probably won't come out to handle affairs for several years. So as long as we three advance and retreat together, Elder Feng will inevitably see which way the wind blows, and Elder Deng will also side with us. At that time, even if Elder Chu opposes, he'll have to consider the opinions of us five..."
Zhuang Jianfei's face showed regret as he sighed repeatedly: "What era is this? For rapid development, we must integrate with the international community and fully utilize global resources, developing relationships with overseas Orthodox Blood Clan major families!"
"Are you crazy? The Hermit Alliance has deep relations with the Wang Family. Hundreds of years of staying in our own lanes, standing together against external threats when in difficulty. Many brothers in the Alliance have marriage relationships with the Wang Family. Although the Alliance has many hidden cards, isn't undermining them like this too underhanded!?"
Xiang Zuxing's palm heavily slapped the table, his face gradually turning blue-green, seeming very disgusted with Zhuang Jianfei's cooperation method with foreign Blood Clan major families.
"Underhanded? The Wang Family is deeply rooted in several western provinces with extensive influence radiating through half of China. The Zhou Family in eastern China and Liang Family in southern China combined can't match the Wang Family. The Wang Family dominates alone but refuses to make progress. Although they seem to offend no one on the surface, they obstruct domestic Blood Clan development, don't they?
"These thousand-year-old turtles are best at exploiting blood relationship marriage connections. If the Hermit Alliance continues getting along with the Wang Family like this, perhaps one day we'll truly become their vassals.
"Brother Xiang, think about it. In the past few decades, whatever good projects the Hermit Alliance had, we always left a share for the Wang Family. But on their Wang Family territory, we can't even get a drop of water... Isn't this obviously eating at our table while guarding against us?"
Zhuang Jianfei's expression also began to look ugly. He drained his wine in one gulp and sat back in his seat sullenly.
Xiang Zuxing was stunned, also slowly sitting down, his brow slightly furrowed, showing some hesitation in his expression.
"The Wang Family has vast wealth and business, maybe they don't even care about these small profits... Let's eat and drink. I think what Jianfei said also makes some sense. Recently I've had some contact with the Zhou Family, and they also have some complaints about the Wang Family these years. Can only say the Wang Family's appetite is too big."
Wu Yuqing smiled as she personally served Xiang Zuxing several chopsticks of food, while giving Zhuang Jianfei a meaningful look.
"Sorry, Brother Xiang. My emotions got the better of me and I spoke too harshly. Let me apologize!"
Zhuang Jianfei stood up and directly downed an entire bottle of red wine. This gesture naturally made the forthright Xiang Zuxing feel somewhat embarrassed.
"I won't take sides, but I won't oppose either. I can only do this much. Brother Zhuang, Sister Wu, I have matters at home, so I'll leave first."
Xiang Zuxing also drained the yellow wine in his hand in one gulp, lifted his arm to wipe his mouth clean, then strode out of the private room.
Wu Yuqing smiled as she ate an expensive steamed large yellow croaker, looking completely confident.
"No problem. I'll chat with him again later. He's just a straight shooter who doesn't beat around the bush."
Zhuang Jianfei also smiled slightly, neither confirming nor denying.
Night shrouded S City. Zhuang Jianfei stood alone at the riverside dock, gazing at the brilliant lights on the broad river surface with a calm expression.
A black shadow approached from the distance, taking small, careful steps as if in a very cautious state.
A middle-aged man in ordinary civilian dress. If people from Shadow Arrow headquarters' Intelligence Bureau saw him, they could recognize him at a glance as the last important figure from the Tang Family whose whereabouts were unknown.
Tang Zexuan, Lower-tier Baron, nephew of Tang Family patriarch Tang Zhaowen. He escaped with his life when Tang Zhaowen was trapped and hunted by S Province Black Blood Clan who kicked him when he was down. He was also a target listed as B-level wanted by Shadow Arrow.
"Elder Zhuang, are the Engel Family people here to pick me up... Sigh, I really can't stay in the country anymore. Shadow Arrow's pursuit is getting tighter and tighter!"
Tang Zexuan's face looked terrible. After months of being constantly on edge, he had developed some nervous breakdown. Even a Baron's basic pheromone control ability was loosening, emitting weak scents of anxiety, panic, and fear.
"Mm, people have arrived… they're in the warehouse over there. You'll disguise yourself as a crew member and board their cargo ship directly, then you can go to Europe."
Zhuang Jianfei smiled and patted Tang Zexuan's shoulder with a reassuring expression: "Tang Zhaowen bit off more than he could chew, wanting to monopolize other people's good fortune. His actions were too big and were discovered by the Wang Family who set him up. He was asking for death, but I know it has nothing to do with you."
"Yes, yes, it was originally something entrusted to the Tang Family for safekeeping. But when the patriarch discovered there were two blood seeds, he got greedy. I couldn't dissuade him!"
Tang Zexuan said with tears and snot, completely losing the dignity of a Baron.
"Alright, let's go together. I'll also introduce you to them. Consider it your first meeting with your new bosses. After reaching the Engel Family, your status might be even higher than domestic. You'll have to take care of this little brother then."
Zhuang Jianfei embraced the other's shoulder like a good brother, leading him toward a large dock warehouse a kilometer away while chatting along the way.
As they walked slowly, Zhuang Jianfei's body began quietly emitting barely detectable pheromones, while his internal hormones also began some unique chemical reaction, mixing into the pheromones.
This was the unique ability of Apennine Blood Clan Barons, Phantom Dream, which could even be activated without blood-boiling. Even Barons and above, if they didn't activate their own blood-boiling, couldn't easily detect this atmospheric change.
The two chatted while slowly walking into the pitch-black large warehouse like they were taking a stroll.
Feeling like he had stepped on some liquid under his feet, with sticky soles like standing water, Tang Zexuan looked around somewhat puzzled. But even with Blood Clan's terrifying night vision ability, he discovered nothing wrong. His scent perception only detected the familiar Zhuang Jianfei beside him.
Continuing forward, the wet, sticky sensation underfoot became increasingly severe. Tang Zexuan began sniffing through his nostrils but still detected no abnormal odors.
Suddenly, a row of bright lights flashed from the distance, directly hitting Tang Zexuan's face, causing him to involuntarily raise his hand to shield his eyes.
The space beside him emptied. Tang Zexuan discovered that Zhuang Jianfei, who had been supporting his shoulder, had somehow suddenly disappeared.
"Zhuang Jianfei, you've set me up!"
A sense of crisis exploded in his mind. Tang Zexuan immediately activated blood-boiling, only then discovering that under his feet was a layer of viscous blood covering almost the entire warehouse floor, with thick bloody stench making him dizzy.
"Damn it, you've been using Phantom Dream to interfere with my vision and smell all along!?"
More than ten figures appeared around him. Zhuang Jianfei had somehow appeared dozens of meters away standing with two unfamiliar European men and women. Tang Zexuan's eyes split with rage as he began charging desperately toward the main door regardless of everything.
But it was too late. Under Zhuang Jianfei's Phantom Dream interference, blood spikes rising before Tang Zexuan's eyes seemed real and fake, overlapping confusingly. He was pierced, completely unable to make correct judgments, even though as an Altai Blood Clan Baron, he possessed mobility abilities second only to Caucasus Blood Clan.
Emma and Luca, two Rhine Blood Clan members, once again jointly deployed a Blood Domain. With Zhuang Jianfei's cooperation, they trapped Tang Zexuan like an insect in a spider web with no escape. Tang Zexuan, who should have countered Rhine Blood Clan, had now become a lamb awaiting slaughter.
Three Barons against one, with the most sinister Apennine Baron present, Tang Zexuan had almost no chance of victory. In less than ten minutes, Tang Zexuan's body collapsed from overdrawing through excessive blood-boiling. Held up by dozens of blood spikes, all four limbs severed, his torso pierced like a honeycomb, he bled profusely like a torn sack but hadn't truly died.
"Mr. Zhuang, please enjoy your feast... What a wonderful cooperation."
In Emma and Luca's sight was Zhuang Jianfei's body mutating in excitement and bloodthirsty greed. The two exchanged smiles and turned to leave together.
"Zhuang... Zhuang Jianfei, you're fucking Black Blood Clan... Wuwu, Master Zhuang, please spare me... Surnamed Zhuang, may you die a horrible death!"
With mutated hands, Zhuang Jianfei enjoyed the other's screams and curses while tearing apart Tang Zexuan's already riddled body piece by piece, strip by strip, pulling out liver, pulling out large intestine, stuffing them in his mouth and chewing with relish, as if enjoying exquisite delicacies.
Tang Zexuan's miserable cries grew weaker and weaker, finally becoming unrecognizable bloody chunks.
Meanwhile, Wei Jun and other trusted subordinates living it up at some nightclub in the city district seemed to have no idea that their elder was currently feasting heartily in the riverside dock warehouse.