Chapter 429: Please Entrap the Guest

A thunderous roar—!Those two words, accompanied by the booming thunder, seemed to possess a terrifying power, instantly freezing the five corporate directors in place like statues. The arguments and curses that had filled the hall abruptly ceased.

Whether it was the directors, the bewildered celebrities, or the bodyguards who had just rushed in, at this moment, everyone's gaze fixed on the golden mask on the stage, their eyes filled with terror.

The banquet, meticulously prepared for the envoy, had been secretly sabotaged, resulting in a rotten piece of wood being presented as a gift. No one knew what the envoy was thinking now—anger? Disappointment? Or even... a surging murderous intent?

While previous envoys' temperaments suggested they wouldn't go so far as to decimate the five major corporations over a gift, what if this envoy possessed a violent temper? If he truly harbored murderous intent over this incident, then no one present would survive.

"En... Envoy!" Zong Wen was the first to react, speaking with a choked voice, nearly kneeling before Chen Ling on the spot to prove his innocence. "I truly did not switch your item... Even if you gave me a hundred times more courage, I wouldn't dare to scheme against you!"

"Envoy, our Dinglu Corporation absolutely did not participate in this matter!" Lu Yuanzheng quickly added, his forehead already beaded with cold sweat.

"Although our Paradise Corporation doesn't get along with Beidou, we truly weren't involved in this..."

"Our Whale Shark Corporation is also innocent!"

Watching the four corporations outdo each other in their feigned innocence, Mu Chunsheng felt his lungs nearly burst with rage. He tremblingly sat upright in his wheelchair, his eyes bloodshot. "Envoy, I swear I had prepared the Sandalwood Peace Buddha... I truly don't know what happened in between..."

Chen Ling let out a cold laugh and spoke chillingly:

"So you're implying... I switched out the gift meant for me myself?"

Bang—!!As Chen Ling's hand gripped the withered piece of wood, it instantly shattered into countless splinters with a resounding boom. Everyone present blanched, realizing the envoy was truly enraged.

"No... that's not what we meant..."

"Who said that even with a hundred times more courage, you wouldn't dare to scheme against me?" Chen Ling's eyes behind the mask narrowed slightly. He seemed to walk on air, advancing step by step towards the five corporate directors, his voice growing colder and colder.

"I think... each of you is quite bold."

The moment they heard these words, the hearts of the five corporate directors sank, and cold sweat streamed uncontrollably down their backs. They knew Chen Ling must have already guessed something.

Watching the black trench coat gradually approach the five directors, the nearby bodyguards hesitated, unsure whether to step forward and protect them. But upon reflection, it was the envoy... Even if they could somehow stop him, once they stepped in, the relationship between the five major corporations and the envoy would be irrevocably severed.

No one dared to act, nor dared to face the consequences. Inside the darkened hall, only the flashing lightning outside the window illuminated the scene as the ancient, mysterious golden mask slowly advanced towards the five corporate directors, exuding a suffocating presence.

Aside from the faint thunder outside the window, the world was so quiet that only the rapid breathing of the five corporate directors could be heard.

The next moment, Chen Ling's emotionless voice slowly emerged:

"I had thought that even if the so-called five major corporations were utterly disgraceful, they would at least possess basic business integrity."

"It seems... I overestimated you."

As these two sentences were uttered, the five directors dared not speak, and involuntarily swallowed hard.

"I came to Hongchen bearing gold and sincerity. I had thought I would encounter similar sincerity here, and even forge friendships... But you have disappointed me greatly." The voice behind the golden mask held no emotion whatsoever.

"I attended the banquet, and I received the gift... Yet, no one has expressed a desire to do business with me. In your eyes, I see only endless scheming and greed."

"Since you are unwilling to do business with me, there's no need for me to stay. Besides the five major corporations, there should be some smaller ones."

"They may not have your financial power, but I believe they will have more 'sincerity' than you."

Chen Ling took out the golden list he had previously given them from his pocket and released it in front of them. It fluttered lightly to the ground, soaking in the spilled wine... like trash.

Chen Ling seemed to walk on air, passing directly through the five directors. His trench coat flowed behind him as he headed straight out of the hall.

The five directors froze simultaneously.

They stared at the familiar list before them, Chen Ling's recent words echoing once more in their ears.

"Gain... friendship??"

"The friendship of the Golden Society's envoy??"

At this moment, it was as if thunder exploded in the minds of the five directors. Mu Chunsheng reacted the quickest; he immediately snatched the list from the spilled wine and turned to shout at the departing Chen Ling:

"Envoy, please stop!!"

Chen Ling's steps did not falter, as if he hadn't heard the shout.

Seeing this, Zong Wen quickly added:

"Envoy, you've misunderstood! We were just about to discuss business with you... The Beidou Corporation's gift was an accident. We had originally intended to have a good talk with you after this segment of the evening..."

After speaking, he forcefully kicked Lu Yuanzheng beside him, who immediately understood and respectfully said, "Envoy, the original arrangement for the banquet was indeed like this."

At this moment, even the slowest of the five major corporations realized they absolutely could not let Chen Ling leave like this.

They knew that among the non-top-tier corporations, many posed a significant threat. If those corporations truly united, acquired Chen Ling's golden goods, and then gained the "envoy's friendship," things would become troublesome.

Previously, the five major corporations might not have been overly concerned, but this incident had undeniably created animosity between the envoy and them. If those other corporations exploited this to inflame tensions, steering the envoy to completely oppose the five major corporations and elevate new top-tier corporations, then the tragedy of four years ago would undoubtedly repeat!

Hearing this, Chen Ling, who was about to reach the hall entrance, slowly stopped.

He tilted his head slightly, his golden mask like an abyss, gazing at the corporate directors in the darkness. His voice resonated faintly:

"Since that's the case... let's skip the gift segment and proceed directly."

"Let it be clear beforehand, I will decide the rules for this transaction."

"Furthermore, I will only accept silver notes of equivalent value."