Chapter 685: Thousand Gold Spent

All three chairmen froze where they stood.

“Explosives? What do you want those for?”

Buying bread was understandable, but Lu Yuanzheng racked his brain trying to figure out why Huang Suyue would buy explosives. Was she planning to blast open a new underground shelter on such short notice?

“That’s none of your concern. In short, I want all of your Dinglu Consortium’s explosive reserves, as well as all your bread and other short-term emergency rations,” Huang Suyue repeated calmly.

Lu Yuanzheng stared at Huang Suyue, bewildered. He suddenly realized he couldn’t guess what the young woman was thinking. Even so, he instinctively shook his head:

“No... that’s not possible. After this disaster, the main city will be in ruins awaiting reconstruction. Our Dinglu Consortium will need a large amount of explosives to clear the rubble and rebuild structures. This is fundamental to our recovery. We can’t just give them to you!”

“What’s most important for a merchant is balancing risk and reward. Even if your Dinglu Consortium keeps the explosives, how long will it take to clear the ruins and rebuild from scratch? If the main city of Hongchen suffers heavy casualties, how many people will be left to buy your buildings? After this disaster, how much property will ordinary people have left? Do I need to teach you how to calculate these risks?”

Huang Suyue waved her hand again. Her bodyguards behind her brought forth more suitcases, opening them to reveal dazzling amounts of real gold and silver.

“Is it a future full of risks, or immediate gold and silver in hand? I’ll give you one more chance to choose.” Huang Suyue’s voice was icily clear.

Lu Yuanzheng stared intently at the nearly 200 million in assets before him, his mind racing.

Lu Yuanzheng was a shrewd businessman, equally sensitive to risk and reward. He constantly calculated gains and losses in his mind, and after a moment, he reached a conclusion, suddenly speaking:

“The explosives can be sold to you... but to buy the future of my Dinglu Consortium with mere cash, this amount isn’t enough.”

“All the cash of the Huang Family Consortium is here.”

“You can owe us.”

The moment this was said, even Su Xiaohong and Pang Shan couldn't sit still. It proved that Lu Yuanzheng's heart was utterly ruthless; not only did he demand all the Huang Family Consortium's money, but he also wanted them to buy on credit. Uncle Quan, standing behind Huang Suyue, glared furiously, on the verge of erupting in curses.

“Heh, that’s impossible.” Huang Suyue scoffed, then forcefully slammed the small suitcase she held onto the marble tabletop!

Bang—!!

A dull thud echoed in the underground shelter, making everyone’s hearts tremble.

All of Lu Yuanzheng’s bodyguards immediately stepped forward, an oppressive aura sweeping over them. Huang Suyue’s bodyguards also quickly released their presence, but in this contest of wills, the long-established Dinglu Consortium’s resources proved superior.

Lu Yuanzheng frowned, then reached into his pocket and pulled out an exquisite brass-gleaming revolver, pointing its barrel directly at Huang Suyue’s forehead.

With the gun barrel pressed against her, Huang Suyue showed no fear. Instead, she laughed:

“I’m sure you’ve all realized that the Huang Family Consortium never intended to hide during this main city disaster, nor am I afraid of death... If this deal falls through, then the worst that can happen is we, the Huang Family Consortium, overturn this place, and none of us get out alive!”

This business prodigy, who usually persuaded with reason, now showed no restraint, directly putting her life on the line. Her imposing aura momentarily suppressed the three major consortiums!

The expressions of the three major consortiums changed.

They were hiding there, naturally, because they valued their lives and feared death. What’s more, they couldn’t let go of their wealth and status. Although Lu Yuanzheng had just defiantly suggested luring the silver monster to kill them all, his intimidating presence was less than a tenth as powerful compared to Huang Suyue’s.

Everyone knew that Lu Yuanzheng might not dare to do such a thing... but Huang Suyue, at this moment, absolutely would!

Lu Yuanzheng stared at Huang Suyue for a long time, eventually relenting. He nodded, his face pale:

“Alright... fine. Xiao Li, take their people to the warehouse.”

The subordinates present immediately split into two groups: one led Huang Suyue’s people to the warehouse, while the other stepped forward to take the suitcases. As the gold and silver were carried away, Huang Suyue was left with nothing but a few subordinates by her side.

Soon after, a bodyguard from the Huang Family Consortium approached and whispered in her ear, “Miss, the trucks loaded with explosives and bread are ready. We can go.”

Huang Suyue glanced at the three consortiums in the shelter and nodded slightly.

Just as she was about to turn and leave, she suddenly seemed to remember something. She turned back to the marble table and extended her hand to Lu Yuanzheng:

“That gun of yours is nice. Sell it to me.”

“?” Lu Yuanzheng immediately shook his head. “No, this is my weapon for self-preservation.”

Huang Suyue scoffed, “What does a quail hiding underground need a weapon for self-preservation? With the bullets in your hand, will they even have a chance to leave the barrel?”

“You!!”

Lu Yuanzheng felt insulted, his neck immediately turning red. Yet, he couldn't refute her. Hiding there, they indeed had no use for weapons. If the Witchcraft Association truly reached this point, it would mean the entire main city of Hongchen had fallen. What could a revolver do then?

“Miss Huang, if I’m not mistaken, your Huang Family Consortium is out of money,” Lu Yuanzheng said through gritted teeth.

“The Huang Family Consortium doesn’t, but I do.”

Huang Suyue opened the small suitcase she carried. A dazzling array of jewelry, along with large denomination banknotes she had with her, were all poured onto the table like trash, clinking and clanking.

After emptying it, Huang Suyue tossed the empty suitcase onto the table and then reached directly for the gun in Lu Yuanzheng’s hand...

Lu Yuanzheng thought Huang Suyue was insane, and the other two chairmen thought the same. Therefore, Lu Yuanzheng dared not forcibly resist the young woman. After a moment of hesitation, he obediently let go, allowing Huang Suyue to take the revolver.

Huang Suyue didn't spare them another glance. Gripping the gun in her hand, her yellow dress flowed as she, surrounded by her retinue, disappeared into the far end of the shelter.

Only after Huang Suyue had completely left did Lu Yuanzheng finally relax, sinking back into his chair as if his soul had left his body.

The three chairmen simultaneously let out a long sigh of relief.

Huang Suyue ascended the steps, returning step by step to the Dinglu Consortium’s surface estate.

By then, her motorcade had been waiting at the entrance for a long time. At the rear of the convoy were more than a dozen roaring trucks, loaded with various supplies under the dim sky, resembling steel beasts poised for action.

Huang Suyue watched the scene, her expression somewhat complex.

Her earlier assertiveness and dominance were a forced act. Ultimately, she was just a young woman with no physical strength. Without resorting to such intimidation, the greed of the three major consortiums would have been endless.

But now, the Huang Family Consortium no longer existed in the world.

A cool breeze swept across Huang Suyue’s cheek. She took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled... and then, as if burdened by a heavy weight, she walked directly towards the rumbling motorcade.

The wealthy young woman once famous in Hongchen had now spent all her family’s fortune. All that remained with her were eight trucks of explosives, five trucks of bread, a single revolver, and...

...a solitary golden bracelet.