I Became the Progenitor Vampire Chapter 234 – Chapter 234: Chapter 235 Earth, Dawn City Branch (10,000

Chapter 234: Chapter 235 Earth, Dawn City Branch (10,000-Word Mega Chapter)

Shanghai, Earth.

Lying in bed, Lide opened his eyes.

The familiar surroundings of his home once again appeared before him.

Each return gave him an unreal feeling, as if his life in Glory was just a long dream.

But looking at the handsome guy in the mirror still reminded him that this was more real than gold.

Standing up to adjust to his body for a moment, he felt a sense of loss.

In Glory, he was too powerful.

Although quite ordinary compared to those top-level combatants under him, as a Level 14 Advanced Mage, a single spell could easily demolish a building. He wouldn't flinch in the face of a Mechanical Group from Earth–it was like being a human tank.

Having the strength to dismantle mechs with his bare hands felt so different compared to merely having a handsome face on Earth.

But even though he was weaker on Earth, the sense of safety was something Glory could never give.

At least here, he didn't have to worry about a top-level Demon Beast suddenly turning up and taking him out–the most dangerous creatures on this planet were women.

Luckily, as a single man, Lide didn't have to face a challenge more fearsome than Transcendents.

Turning on his computer, he logged onto the official website of “Glory” and began browsing the latest game news.

Stanley's idea of opening a Dark Contract subsidiary on Earth had given Lide a lot of enlightenment.

He had been somewhat neglecting Earth's role; because there's no Magic Power on Earth, it was impossible to leverage the planet's power for magic or even the more advanced Power of Faith.

He couldn't possibly let a bunch of silly players suggest how to research magic, right?

Damn it, their outrageous ideas were certainly plentiful, but trying to put those fanciful ideas into practice would be disastrous–even with his strong affinity for Magic Power.

Improving magic was a very rigorous process that required exploring the function of each Magic Node, the speed and intensity of Magic Power flow,

And only after fully understanding the nature of all the Magic Nodes could one proceed with improvements.

Moreover, each spell's Magic Nodes were completely different, which increased the difficulty of improving spells.

He had failed countless times before finally improving two spells.

This subtle sensation, only felt through personal experience, was not something players could solve by guessing or giving advice.

The Power of Faith was the same–a higher-tier force shrouded in mystery.

Although many novels and films on Earth mentioned the role of the Power of Faith.

But could he trust them?

Reading a hundred novels, each novel has a different description of the Power of Faith; which one should he believe?

Watching a hundred films, each film gives a different explanation of this power and its application; how should he operate?

Try them all one by one?

That would be insane. Even as the Vampire Ancestor with formidable Life Force, he wouldn't dare to experiment like that.

He hadn't paid much attention to Earth because it was incapable of providing what he wanted.

In a world without even a trace of uranium, how could he research atomic bombs? This was a joke.

But after Stanley's hint, he suddenly understood, he got it.

Although Earth's force couldn't directly research Magic Power or the Power of Faith,

There was no need to be fixated on those aspects; there was plenty of room for maneuver. The official website of “Glory” was on Earth, and all player information also converged there.

He could absolutely set up a branch of Dawn City on Earth, using Earth's power to help collect information from within “Glory.”

If he were alone, even if he spent 24 hours a day on the official Glory forum, he couldn't collect information from half the players.

Or his mind would be filled with useless information.

After the game's beta test, the 100,000 beta players had already started exploring “Glory.” Although slow and the beginning could be described as hellish difficulty,

After all, there were 100,000 people, and undoubtedly, players would explore many useful pieces of information.

For instance, hidden characters that appear, discovered Ancient Ruins, mysterious NPCs, powerful Demon Beast caves, buried giant dragon treasures, etc.

Players certainly wouldn't be able to take on these quests right now and given players' mischievous nature, they definitely wouldn't be able to resist sharing them.

That's when he could just pick the fruits, right?

What players couldn't do, he could.

Right now, all 100,000 beta players combined weren't as powerful as any one force in his hands.

If anything truly worthwhile was discovered, the power he could wield now was beyond any player's comparison.

And the most crucial part was.

He wielded a powerful native force in “Glory”, capable of recruiting on Earth and cultivating his own players in the game.

By then, he'd truly be a force to be reckoned with on both fronts.

So, he planned to return to Earth and establish a force to support his development in “Glory”.

The Earth division of Dawn City, even the thought of it felt thrilling.

Lide's smile curved up at the thought.

Moments later, he fell into deep contemplation again.

How to establish a force, he still needed to mull over.

The Li De of today was no longer the fresh resignee from a year ago.

After nearly a year of battling in Glory, he had experienced numerous battles, big and small, and in the fight against the Beastmen, he even personally slaughtered dozens of them.

The fates of tens of thousands of people under his command, in Dawn City, the Crimson Mage Tower, and the Dark Contract, were held in his hands.

The Lion Tribe, a Beastman tribe with an army of thousands, was forcefully defeated by him, and even the terrifying, Level 18 Beastman King, who could go toe to toe with a Bone Dragon, was captured by him.

If he wanted, he could even launch a large-scale war in Glory.

Experience is the best nutrient for growth.

Now, he had fundamentally transformed.

Not only had he become more handsome physically, but spiritually, he'd truly metamorphosed into a big boss in control of countless fates.

An elegant noble, an unequivocal superior.

“To establish a force in Glory, the most basic requirement is–strength. Without great strength, you're just a sheep waiting for slaughter.

But Earth isn't that dangerous; here, all you need is enough money.”

Thinking of this, Li De's brow furrowed slightly.

In Glory, he was a super tycoon, earning hundreds of thousands of Gold Pucks a month with Magic Scrolls, able to buy anything he wanted… as long as it was for sale.

But on Earth, he was just an ordinary person. Though his parents left him this house, it was his lair and not for sale.

As for his savings, the mere thought of the 300,000 or so left in his account made the corner of his mouth twitch.

Before, he felt pretty good – after all, he owned a house and just needed a car to surpass 90% of people in Shanghai.

But compared to his wealth in “Glory”, he was less than a beggar.

“To establish a force that meets my requirements is actually quite simple…”

“First, I need enough Gold Pucks, no, RMB.”

“At least tens of millions.”

Li De's eyes flickered with thought. Tens of millions in funds were astronomical for him a year ago when he just lost his job.

But now, it seemed to be not so difficult, only a matter of time.

This year's experiences had allowed him to grow tremendously.

“How can I make money the fastest?” Li De murmured to himself, then suddenly burst out laughing.

“In Glory, the combined wealth of 100,000 players might not even be a tenth of mine.”

“Making money? Easy. I'm the biggest game merchant in Glory. Pay me RMB and I could even get Valen to forge you Extraordinary Equipment.”

Sitting atop three forces, the undisputed super big boss, and still needing to think about making money–that was the real joke.

Li De chuckled at his own slow-wittedness.

Opening the player forum for “Glory”, he casually searched and saw a multitude of posts buying Gold Pucks.

“Buying Gold Pucks, Silver Pucks, Copper Pucks in Bulk”

Game merchant here, professional Gold Puck buy-back, currently the highest exchange rate in the forum, 1 Copper Puck: 4.5 RMB, 1 Silver Puck: 470 RMB, 1 Gold Puck: 50,000 RMB, interested parties DM me.

“Twilight Studio Seeking Beta Players, Also Buying Game Coins in Bulk, DM for Price”

“Highest Exchange Rate Ever: 1 Gold Puck for 51,000.00 RMB, willing to pay more for large quantities, urgently seeking 20 pieces”

“Corner City Buying Rare Warrior Equipment, DM if available, Also Selling 10 Silver Pucks”

After browsing a few posts, to Li De's surprise, the selling price of Gold Pucks was so high.

But then it made sense; a virtual gaming capsule sold for 200,000 RMB, and Glory was using private gaming capsules,

Aside from internet cafes that purchased a batch of equipment, most players who won the beta test had their gaming pods.

At the very least, most players weren't poor.

With the hardcore nature of Glory, it has only been a little over a month since its release and players are just barely figuring out how to survive in the game.

Don't even talk about living well, many times they can hardly manage to get a full meal.

How could those wealthy players stand for this?

I'm spending money to enjoy myself, I even bought a 200,000 RMB gaming capsule, f**k, and now you're telling me my enjoyment of the game is moving bricks at the dock?

Under these circumstances, it's no wonder players are pouring money into the game.

But money is hard to earn, ah, it's too difficult to make money in Glory without the right connections.

Most players are still newbies, just wandering around at level 1 apprentice rank, without even stepping into the level 2 official profession stage.

Now, aside from doing some menial labor, their only option to make money is to join a mercenary corps and do some dangerous jobs.

Typically, it's a fight to the death, where they die before even completing the mission.

While the reward might be lucrative, it further suppresses their level advancement.

Overall, players have found a way to survive in Glory that suits them.

But it's still tough.

This hellish difficulty level has sparked countless protests on the forums over time.

But the official website remains unmoved, even thoughtfully asking players if they need to cancel their accounts.

This has enraged players to the point of cursing out the planners' entire families a hundred times over.

If the official Glory game operations team's address were on the website, angry players would've already shown up at their doorstep with a 40-meter-long machete to discuss the philosophy of life.

So at this stage, it's common for players to be broke, and even with such high prices, it's very hard to get your hands on silver pucks.

Lide casually clicked on a somewhat reliable post and started a private chat with a game coin merchant.

“Still buying Gold Pucks?”

At that moment, in a suburban area of Shanghai, Zhao Xinming looked at the notification on his phone, paused, and then with growing impatience, clicked to enter.

F**k, this idiot. Every time he asks if I'm buying Gold Pucks, he's actually thought someone could sell them.

By the end of the conversation, the previously boastful folks would offer a couple of silver pucks at best, and the most ridiculous one sold only 10 copper pucks.

F**k, this is like screwing a husky.

“Buying, I'll take as many as you have!!”

Zhao Xinming sent this message with a trace of impatience, seemingly already anticipating what the other person was about to say.

I have two silver pucks, can you give me a little extra…?

“Really taking as many as I have?”

Sh*t, Zhao Xinming felt his anger rise instantly upon seeing this skepticism.

“That's right, I'll take as many as you have! You can ask around about my nickname, the 'Game Coin Little Prince'!!”

“ThumbsUp.jpg, then let's start by selling a thousand Gold Pucks, I'm in Green City of the Nolan Empire, how do we trade?”

The mocking look on Zhao Xinming's face froze when he saw this message.

“A thousand Gold Pucks? Not a thousand copper pucks??”

“Yep, if that's too few I can add more, up to ten thousand isn't a problem.”

Zhao Xinming felt breathless at those numbers, ten, ten thousand??

“Um, can we start with a trade for 10 pucks, no, 15 pucks??”

“Boss, boss, if you just agree to contact the seller for me, it's guaranteed to be inside Green City!!”

“Boss, don't stop talking, I assure you, it's cash on delivery, what's your address…”

“Ding~ The other party has left the chat”

Lide shook his head with a wry smile and closed the Glory forum.

If he had to sell them 10 or 15 at a time, he'd exhaust himself to death.

He didn't have time to waste on their nonsense.

“Thought limitations, still stuck in the old ways.

Empiricism just won't do.”

He actually went to the official forum to negotiate deals worth tens of millions with game coin merchants. Those who could handle transactions over a million were already considered strong.

Real power brokers wouldn't be posting acquisition ads on forums, would they?

After a moment of contemplation, Lide's eyes slowly brightened.

Selling Gold Pucks by himself was undoubtedly a foolish thing to do; even posting a message and waiting for others to inquire was annoying enough. How much he earned was one thing, but more importantly, it wasted his time.

In Dawn City, there was a heap of matters awaiting his attention.

The superior commands brains, the mediocre commands hands.

As the big boss, personally selling low-end things like Gold Pucks was beneath him.

What he needed was to find a group of capable people.

To establish a force, people were necessary; selling Gold Pucks was not the most pressing issue.

After clarifying his thoughts, Lide's deep gaze regained the indifference and confidence from his days in Glory.

He opened his computer and searched for headhunters.

In the highly developed online sphere of 2051, the information he sought was easily found.

Sky Moon Headhunting, the top headhunting firm in Shanghai, specializes in elite recruitment for multinational corporations and Fortune 500 companies.

Of course, this huge headhunting firm also provides professional corporate acquisition services.

In other words, as long as he had the money, he could get these elites to do anything for him.

After registering his information on Sky Moon's official website, it took less than three minutes for their service staff to call him to ask for details.

“I need to acquire a well-established gaming club that includes a professional gaming data analysis team, professional gaming merchandise sales team, professional gamer team, and a professional and mature management team…”

Lide unapologetically had the other party record everything he needed.

He had previously not shifted his mindset, always thinking about gradually cultivating his own force with money.

But there was no need for such trouble; a direct acquisition was sufficient.

As for where the money would come from… he naturally had a plan.

Due to the specialization of the gaming industry, a gaming club was undoubtedly the best acquisition target for him at the moment, more useful than buying a few companies.

Once he acquired a well-established gaming club, he wouldn't have to worry about something as simple as selling Gold Pucks.

Just like with Dawn City, he only needed to plan and establish the farm; as for how long it took to be built, what materials to use, how to build, and how to plan production, these issues would naturally be handled by his subordinates.

He only needed to manage the overall direction.

This is how a superior delegates.

If this had been a year ago, even if he'd had the funds, he wouldn't have dared to say he'd directly acquire a mature company, as his management skills were insufficient.

But things were different now; breadth of vision, observations, and tact had all been honed in the year that passed.

Whether it was acquiring a company or headhunting from other companies, the services offered by headhunting firms were essentially information services, exploiting information gaps to earn hefty service fees.

So, whether it was headhunting or helping clients acquire companies, although there was a considerable difference, the essence was still within this scope.

Thus, Lide's request was not excessive, and even to a professional firm like Sky Moon Headhunting, it was quite straightforward.

“Mr. Li, have you made an assessment of your acquisition budget?”

The caller on the other end was a girl with a pleasant voice. After a brief consideration, Lide spoke slowly.

“I can accept a ceiling of 50 million to 100 million.”

Upon hearing this price, the tone of the person on the other end of the phone clearly became more animated, laced with a trace of excitement.

“Received, Sky Moon Headhunting will definitely provide you with the most professional services. Are you aware of the company acquisition fees?”

“Go ahead and tell me.”

“At present, Sky Moon Headhunting offers three tiers of service charges: the first tier, for small companies valued at two million or less, incurs a 20% service fee; the second tier, for companies valued within 20 million, charges an 18% service fee; and the third tier, for companies valued above 20 million, charges a 15% service fee. We'll provide you with the first batch of candidate options in a week…”

15%? For 100 million, they'd be charging a service fee of 15 million.

Lide wasn't sure if this price was high or low at the moment; he had casually learned that headhunting firms charged service fees ranging from 15 to 30% of a talent's annual salary.

Meaning for a talent earning a million a year, the headhunting firm would charge a service fee of 150,000 to 300,000.

The cost of acquiring a company was often high; auditing accounts, checking the company's profitability, verifying core businesses, investigating liabilities, and so on.

All of this required the most professional personnel.

So Lide wasn't sure if the price was high or low, but naturally, he wouldn't reveal any weaknesses during the negotiation, maintaining a nonchalant tone.

“No, I need you to provide the first batch of no fewer than five candidate lists within three days, and I will also be inquiring with other headhunting firms. I hope you can be swift,”

Hearing this, the other party clearly became much more nervous.

“Mr. Li, I assure you, Tianyue Headhunting is absolutely the most professional in Shanghai. We are fully capable of providing you with the best choices.

If you sign an exclusive headhunting service contract with us, we can lower the charge by three percentage points…”

Lide grinned slightly, “No, I don't care about the money; I care about speed. I need the fastest speed to get the results I'm satisfied with.”

With only 350,000 in his card, Lide spoke in a calm and confident manner as if casually whipping out thirty or fifty billion was a trivial matter.

Hearing these strong financial words, the girl from Tianyue Headhunting was clearly silent for a moment, then decisively said,

“No problem, we will use all our resources to serve you.

Mr. Li, if you agree, we can sign the service contract right now. After signing the contract, you just need to pay a 10% service fee deposit, and we can immediately start searching for suitable companies for you.

Currently, based on the lowest acquisition amount–200 million–the service fee is 15%, which is 30 million. You just need to pay us 10% of that, which is 3 million, as the deposit.”

A 10% service fee as a deposit?

Lide decisively shook his head; if he gave out 3 million, how could he continue playing this game when he only had 350,000 in his account?

“Impossible, the initial search service does not require you to use too many resources.

I can only give you a 5% deposit. If you don't agree, I will switch to another headhunting firm immediately,”

he finished, then impatiently added, “I believe in Tianyue Headhunting's professionalism, which is why I approached you. Now, give me an answer immediately; if not, we can perhaps collaborate another time.”

His tone seemed ready to hang up the phone at any moment.

The other party's breathing immediately quickened.

“Yes, Mr. Li, but we won't be offering any further discounts on the service fee.”

Lide showed a smile, “As I said, as long as you can provide me with the best service, I don't care about the service fee.

Pleasure doing business.”

The other party clearly breathed a sigh of relief, sounding very excited.

“Pleasure doing business.”

Before long, Tianyue Headhunting sent over the service contract, and the two parties even met in person via a virtual video call. During a fully recorded video and audio call, they amicably signed the contract.

Initially, Tianyue Headhunting had some doubts about the transaction, considering only a 5% fee was provided as a deposit; they even sent a senior executive to supervise.

Earning a profit of several million for the company was not considered a huge deal, but worth an extra look.

However, as soon as the deputy director saw the noble air Lide carried with his every move–a quality that could not be concealed–he immediately cast his doubts aside.

Two things in this world can't be hidden: poverty and love.

The deputy from Tianyue Headhunting was used to seeing all kinds of people; he dealt with individuals with annual salaries of tens or even hundreds of millions or with fortunes in the billions. The difference between someone superior and an ordinary person was immediately apparent. This was unmistakably a super-wealthy second-generation from a high position with great power.

Such ease and irrefutable quality couldn't possibly be cultivated in an ordinary household.

Of course, Lide was unaware of the other party's thoughts. After thoroughly checking all information and qualifications of Tianyue Headhunting and ensuring everything was correct,

and after spending 50,000 yuan to have a renowned law firm verify the contract online, he signed the agreement and transferred the first installment, 1.5 million, into their account.

350,000 yuan leveraged the first step of a multimillion-acquisition deal.

As for inquiring other headhunting firms, Lide asked for a few quotes and proposals before not paying much attention to it.

The prices from Tianyue Headhunting were still quite reasonable.

The first batch of candidate lists took Lide by surprise, coming out on just the second day.

A total of seven large gaming clubs' names lay on his desk, and the owners of these clubs were all thinking of selling.

With technological advancement, the gaming industry's growth was healthier than ever, and its size was increasing.

Now, with a yearly output nearing 20 trillion RMB, many entertainment industries have already been overtaken by virtual games. The gaming industry has become the absolute mainstream of entertainment.

Such a huge market naturally attracted countless pursuers; everyone wanted to claim the sweetest slice of the pie.

Yet not every company or gaming club could survive; many closed their doors each year.

The Sword and Shield Club was one of them.

“Mr. Chen, Tian Yue headhunting and that buyer will be at the company at three o'clock…”

Mr. Chen slightly raised his head upon hearing this and looked towards the somewhat somber and graceful figure outside his office desk.

He let out a slight sigh.

“Little Zhao, you've been with me for such a long time now. If I sold the club, would you hate me?”

Zhao Yue shook her head, “Mr. Chen, you built the Sword and Shield Club from the ground up. I believe no one feels a deeper connection to it than you do.”

After a moment of silence, Mr. Chen slowly said, “If the company's cash flow hadn't hit a snag, I wouldn't want to sell, either. This place represents our shared youth.”

Mr. Chen's voice was very low. He had founded the Sword and Shield Club ten years ago, and he had gone from a 25-year-old young man to a 35-year-old uncle.

Life always seems to want to bring people to their knees. Some are still gritting their teeth and holding on, while others have long since been tamed.

With growing maturity, everyone has to give up many things they hold dear. The game he once loved so much hadn't been played by him for three years now.

A hint of nostalgia appeared on Zhao Yue's captivating face, “Yes, I joined the company at the age of twenty-two and have been here for ten years.”

Mr. Chen shook his head and laughed, “Enough of that, finding a good buyer for the Sword and Shield Club is also not a bad choice.

I hope the renowned Tian Yue headhunting won't bring someone who disappoints me.”

Zhao Yue nodded slightly, “If they can't satisfy us, Sword and Shield Club must not be sold.”

Mr. Chen very much agreed with this and nodded. Though he was in urgent need of money, this was, after all, his effort and toil. He didn't want it to be wasted.

When Lide walked into the building with the huge logo of the Sword and Shield Club hanging above the entrance, his expression was somewhat playful.

The Sword and Shield Club had quite a reputation in the gaming world.

This club maintained professional player teams for nearly a dozen games, and Lide had even watched their competitions.

However, with the rapid pace of technological development, a popular virtual game might lose its popularity the following year.

Many teams had slowly faded from memory like that.

But for this well-known club, Lide still had quite a favorable impression. He needed such a professional club to provide him with data support.

Leading the way in front of him were 10 Tian Yue headhunting staff members dressed in professional business attire.

Six gentlemen and four ladies, among them, the youngest and most attractive woman was the one who had previously discussed the cooperation with Lide.

“Mr. Li, Sword and Shield Club is a very famous club, and it's definitely a top contender in the gaming industry. I believe you've already gone through their information.

Three months ago, a buyer wanted to purchase the Sword and Shield Club and even offered 80 million.

Although the buyer didn't reach a purchase agreement with the Sword and Shield Club in the end,

we have conducted a detailed investigation of the Sword and Shield Club for this purpose.

Debts, operation status, revenue, and so on are all included in the documents provided to you.

I believe that everything you need can be found in this club.”

Lide nodded with undeniable satisfaction; he trusted the professionalism of Tian Yue headhunting and had meticulously reviewed those documents the previous night.

The Sword and Shield Club indeed met his criteria.

The club was not only mature but also possessed many of the resources he needed.

A professional data analysis team, a professional player team, and even a professional game equipment sales team–this all corresponded perfectly with his requirements.

He needed a team that could provide him with sufficient information and had a group of players with considerable combat capability.

The Sword and Shield Club undoubtedly met his expectations perfectly.

Now the only question was, how much money would it take for them to sell?

His current card balance wouldn't even cover the one-time appearance fee for Tian Yue headhunting's 10 elite members.

That's how poor a spender he was.

When Mr. Chen saw the people from Tian Yue headhunting in the meeting room, he immediately noticed the infuriatingly handsome figure in the crowd.

Dressed in a classic Versace suit that showcased Lide's tall and majestic build and the unmistakable air of elegance and noble demeanor that couldn't be concealed, it was truly eye-catching.

Anyone would recognize his distinction at first glance.

Mr. Chen immediately knew who today's buyer was.

When he saw Lide's young face, he let out a small sigh of relief.

He feared most that a man in his forties or fifties would come to purchase the club because people of that age were almost no longer interested in gaming.

For such a person to run a gaming club would be a disaster.

The reason he had rejected the previous 80 million offer was precisely because of this.

That buyer simply wanted to take the Sword and Shield Club to rake in profits and had no intention of actually managing it.

Young people are different; gaming is their nature, and there are hardly any young people who don't play games, although not all of them necessarily manage it well, at least they won't mess around.

“Hello, Mr. Chen…. and this is Mr. Li…”

After a round of polite handshakes and introductions, everyone took their seats.

Lide sat opposite Chen Feng and Zhao Yue.

The team from Sky Moon headhunters divided to sit to his left and right; he was undeniably the star of the day.

Although his pockets weren't full, just by the way he carried himself seated there, no one dared to overlook him.

Lide looked at the two people opposite him with a somewhat playful look in his eyes. Chen Feng was okay, but Zhao Yue, a beautiful woman in her early thirties, made him unconsciously take a few more glances.

Dressed in a red professional suit, her voluptuous figure was like a ripe peach emitting an enticing fragrance,

with a delicate face that had a light beauty mark at the corner of her lips, which inexplicably added a few more touches of charm and seduction to her otherwise pure visage.

A perfect ten of a beautiful mature woman, the ripe kind.

“The first moment I saw Mr. Li, I was astonished; I feel fortunate to meet such a talented young man like Mr. Li.

Hahaha, where has Mr. Li been employed before? So young and yet so accomplished…”

Chen Feng had just settled in his seat and started with a hearty smile complimenting Lide.

Lide didn't take it seriously; he was an old hand at this, nobody took those words to heart.

“Mr. Chen is quite the expert himself, to be able to manage a small unknown club to its current status, truly a model for our generation.

I heard Mr. Chen also runs a not-so-small chain of restaurants? Mr. Chen is truly the one I should be learning from…”

“Mr. Li flatters me; everyone says it's impressive to be young and successful, but someone like Mr. Li sets the standard…”

“Mr. Chen is joking, Mr. Chen is the one who…”

After a round of insincere mutual flattery that got everyone from Sky Moon headhunters tired, all admired the unchanged expressions on their faces.

No wonder these people are bosses; with that thick skin, it would be a surprise if they didn't do well.

Eventually, it was Chen Feng who couldn't endure the pointless talk anymore and took the initiative to discuss the matter at hand.

“Mr. Li, I believe you've come this time because you're very interested in Sword and Shield. Why do you want to acquire a game club?”

Lide's expression didn't change at all, as if the nonsense they had just been talking about had nothing to do with him.

Negotiations are like walking face-to-face on a log bridge, whoever steps back first loses.

“Mr. Chen, what do you think it's for?” Lide slightly picked up the coffee on the table and took a slow sip.

After a brief pause, he didn't wait for the slightly frowning Chen Feng to speak up and slowly said,

“Sword and Shield Club has a glorious history.

But now, Sword and Shield needs a better opportunity. I like games, and I'm confident I can make Sword and Shield Club do even better.”

“Do you know why I haven't sold it even when someone offered 80 million RMB, Mr. Li?” Chen Feng didn't directly respond to Lide but instead spoke his mind.

“To be honest, it doesn't matter to whom I sell, the 80 million offer for Sword and Shield Club, though not low, is completely fair.

But what I can't stand is to let someone who doesn't love games take over Sword and Shield; that would be a disaster, and I don't want to see Sword and Shield get trashed.”

Chen Feng looked at Lide and said word by word, “Does Mr. Li understand what I mean?”

Lide lightly smiled, “Mr. Chen doesn't want to see Sword and Shield Club become purely commercial, right?”

After saying that, his eyes were ablaze as he looked at Chen Feng, “Mr. Chen, trust me, Sword and Shield is very important in my domain.

In fact, I won't use Sword and Shield Club for profit in the short term. On the contrary, I will continuously invest funds to make Sword and Shield Club the leading presence in the country.

In my plan, Sword and Shield Club will be one of the top ten clubs in Huaxia, no, the first among the top ten.”

Although the promise was big, Chen Feng clearly wasn't impressed, and just as he was about to speak, Zhao Yue interrupted.

“Then please tell me, Mr. Li, what arrangements or plans do you have?

Do you know how much it costs to build a top-tier club?”

Her captivating eyes fixed on Lide, as if trying to discern the truth from his expression.

Lide looked at the charming woman and smiled faintly.

“Money? I will invest one billion in operating funds each year for the next five years to support the club's expansion, and I do not expect the club to be profitable for the next five years.”

Invest one billion per year??

Now, Sword and Shield Club's total value was just between 70 and 80 million.

That was the result of Chen Feng's 10 years of management. If what Lide said was true, then the strength of Sword and Shield Club would certainly grow rapidly.

Perhaps they wouldn't reach the top ten in Huaxia, but reaching the top thirty, or even top twenty, was not impossible.

Lide's lips curled slightly as he watched the subtle expressions on their faces, and he continued.

“This is not all. A hundred million in capital per year is just the baseline. If necessary, I'll increase the investment.

I plan to invest 2 billion into the Sword and Shield Club over the next five years, truly making it the leading game club in Huaxia.”

Penniless Lide spoke of 2 billion as though it were a mere two hundred, casual and understated.

Even the people from Tian Yue Headhunting couldn't help but be surprised by Lide's boldness.

They've handled many acquisition cases worth billions, but they've never seen anyone willing to pour billions into a club worth only tens of millions.

This damn tycoon–why doesn't he just buy a large game club outright?

While Sword and Shield Club wasn't small, compared to giant ones, it was still just a little brother.

“Mr. Li, are you serious??”

Zhao Yue looked at Lide's calm demeanor, very excited.

If this were true, then all the hard work they had slowly built up wouldn't be in vain.

Lide shrugged, his face unchanged.

“Of course, this can be included in the acquisition contract.

Guaranteeing to invest at least a hundred million per year to develop the club, with a minimum of 2 billion over five years.

If this investment target is not met, after five years, you have the option to buy it back at market price.”

Lide's tone was even, but the undeniable certainty and confidence affected everyone.

This is what a real tycoon would do.

Chen Feng was moved by Lide's sincerity and immediately stood up, his eyes unexpectedly welling up.

“Mr. Li, the Sword and Shield Club is like my child. I designed every part of it, and every employee was personally recruited by me. I hope you will take good care of my child…”

Some people scorn their own startups, while others treasure them–human nature is complicated.

At this point, the people from Tian Yue Headhunting were looking at Lide with glowing eyes.

The negotiation had reached this point; the acquisition was half complete.

All they had done was provide some materials they had previously investigated, and before they even entered the scene, the negotiation was already nearing its end.

Their commission of tens of millions this time was too easily earned.

But just when everyone thought this would be a very successful collaboration, Lide shook his head.

“No, Mr. Chen, I'm not certain yet…”

Huh??

Everyone looked at Lide with questioning faces, somewhat puzzled.

You've promised so much, what more could there be now?

Chen Feng's expression stiffened, and he immediately pressed for an answer.

“Mr. Li, do you have any doubts? I can answer any questions you have about Sword and Shield Club.”

Lide shook his head, his tone laced with a hint of mirth that outsiders couldn't detect.

“I need to test the true strength of Sword and Shield Club. Only if it meets my requirements will I proceed with the acquisition.”

“Oh, what do you mean by that?” Chen Feng's brow raised, not quite following Lide's train of thought.

Lide smiled playfully.

“I also had a private studio. After 'Glory' launched, I got some beta testing qualifications through some channels.”

Everyone turned their heads towards him, curious.

Everyone knew 'Glory', the game that was currently the hottest topic, but what does that have to do with today's acquisition?

“As it happens, my studio completed several major tasks, earning a considerable amount of 'Glory' game coins–Gold Pucks.”

As he said this, a playful smile flashed in Lide's eyes.

“I need to test the strength of Sword and Shield Club, and the best way to do that is:

I have 3,000 Gold Pucks. You need to exchange these 3,000 Gold Pucks into RMB within one week, without causing market turmoil.

If you manage that, this deal will be valid.

If Sword and Shield Club can't do it, the deal is off and I will find another suitable club.”

Lide*The Ultimate Schemer*Kachar logged in.

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Chapter end