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Chapter 500 - A Daring Proposal

What he said was shocking enough.

"You don\'t have to think about it too much. It\'s just my conjecture as a… leader, based on the movements I observed. However, if what I\'m thinking is true, then you might take it as a warning. Hopefully, I\'m wrong."

Mr. Finch looked at Linfeng.

His greying sideburns were particularly striking.

"Though, the deeper I investigate, the truer it seems to be." Mr. Finch sighed. "But I am already old. The constant battles that will ensue will just make me older and tired."

"In a few years, I will be retiring."

Linfeng\'s eyes flashed.

Mr. Finch was indeed an elder, but he was not old enough to retire, unlike Old Xiong. Old Xiong had not even retired yet. Why was Mr. Finch expressing his intentions of retiring? Did he have a sickness that he hid secretly?

Rather, were all of these even true?

But there should be no reason for this exemplary man to lie to him.

"I have my son who will be inheriting VIKINGS, but… I don\'t plan to leave him the other side of the business. It\'s my selfishness as a father. But I can\'t find anyone else who is capable enough to handle the underground business in Russia, who can also be trusted as my son\'s ally."

Mr. Finch then smiled at him.

"Well, not until now."

Linfeng remained silent.

He could see how this conversation was going.

"That\'s why I looked for you. A capable and talented young man. I wonder how far you will go if you have another power in your hands. What do you say?"

Mr. Finch raised his glass at Linfeng.

Linfeng was silent for a moment.

He knew how powerless and clueless he was to what was happening.

Mr. Finch deliberately told him his conjectures to bait him.

This person clearly knew that he was a person who wanted his own fate in his own hands.

Linfeng did not want to remain in the dark, especially now that he had someone he strongly wanted to protect.

They were not the common people who just waited for their wages and paid their due taxes while meeting their needs in their everyday lives. They were the people in the upper society who had many enemies waiting to pull them down.

Information was vital in their circle.

But…

He had many questions.

"You seem to know me well." Linfeng could only say these words.

"I confess, I did investigate. I need to know my candidates well, don\'t you think?"

"Candidates?"

The elder chuckled.

"Before you, I had considered many candidates, including your brothers, the five kings. Unfortunately, although they are also highly capable, they have their own entanglements and background that made them not suitable in the end. There are other candidates who did not have those problems, but unfortunately does not really hit my fancy, something seems to be lacking."

"…So you chose me."

"The moment after I read your information, I instantly got interested," Mr. Finch said with a teasing look.

"You started from scratch, with many hindrances on your way, yet you\'re able to get to what you have reached now. I did deeper investigations, and simply became more convinced."

Linfeng looked at Mr. Finch squarely.

"Then you should know that I once dissolved an agreement with our old masters. Loyalty… are you not afraid that I will do the same thing?"

Linfeng watched as the elder man put down his cup on the small table and lean forward.

"Zhou Linfeng, it\'s precisely because you dared to do it that I became more convinced. You want your family\'s freedom, but because you feel responsible, you stayed behind. Not to mention, the dissolution ended spectacularly. I wonder how you made the head of the Xiong family agree harmoniously. It\'s a miracle."

"That\'s not enough premise," Linfeng calmly countered. "This is the first time we met. Are you not worried that I might not be the same person you think I am? Are you not afraid that I will refuse you, and tell others your secrets?"

The other laughed.

Linfeng waited.

Finally, the man continued.

"So you are worried about that. What can I say? This is a gamble." The elder\'s eyes turned serious. "I always know that I\'m making a gamble, Zhou Linfeng. The moment I decided to look for a candidate, I knew there will be that possibility. However, do you think I cannot counter that?"

Linfeng watched him quietly.

Of course, he knew that the other party could.

Given his power and confidence, it was obvious that he had prepared beforehand.

"I actually appreciate that you asked these things," Mr. Finch continued. "If it were others, some would have already jumped ship, or refused in fear. Your ways, I noticed, is also quite fearsome. I assume you already have your network down there, but it\'s sad that you cannot even catch the wind in Asia, your own home ground."

Linfeng\'s eyes were dark as he fell in his thoughts.

Silence befall them.

The music from the main hall continued to play in the background as the two men observed each other.

Finally, Linfeng spoke.

"On what condition? I don\'t believe in free gifts, unless I\'m your illegitimate son."

"Haha," Mr. Finch laughed. "It is very simple. I just want you to support VIKINGS Group in the dark. The business in Russia is not something I can give to my son. He is very capable, but he is too soft hearted for that."

"And I\'m not?" Linfeng asked.

His smile was not gentle or polite, but daring.

Mr. Finch smiled and said slowly, "You are not. You have a rational mind, strong moves, and despite being in a lower position, you managed to turn the tables many times."

"Besides, I won\'t give it to you for free. I\'m interested in ZD Comprehensive Project."

Linfeng raised his eyebrow. "ZD World cannot be monopolized by VIKINGS group alone. I have many plans for this project."

"I know. My team prepared a business model for a joint venture with ZD World as a core feature. A partnership with your company… Since you are going to jump onto our boat, you should let us ride your fame for a bit as well. It\'s a win-win situation."

Linfeng was silent.

There were many conglomerates interested in partnersh.i.p.s and joint ventures with SC Company due to ZD Comprehensive Project.

For now though, no one was able to secure a deal.

He wanted to study the best proposals offered with his executives and R&D team before deciding on one. If it was before, Linfeng might still reject Mr. Finch\'s offered partnership depending on the joint venture proposal, even if the VIKINGS Group was behind him.

He initially wanted to extend the buffer time so that the profits of ZD World would be magnified in everyone\'s eyes, resulting to the major consortia and conglomerates adding more sincerity in their offered business deals to SC Company.

However, right now, Mr. Finch was not only offering a partnership with VIKINGS Group, but a considerable, concrete power in the underworld as well.

This was what he urgently needed.

Mr. Finch not only revealed his identity as a Lord, but also expressed his intentions of having Linfeng succeed him too in the underworld. The only condition was to help his son, and not to move against him.

This was a very tempting offer.

Even if ZD World had become a multi-billionaire project that gave returns of several folds, it was still not enough for Mr. Finch to give Linfeng this opportunity.

This not only included money, resources, connections in the underworld, but the priceless information as well.

Linfeng\'s thoughts returned to the bait words earlier.

Economic war… in Asia…

Those prophetic dreams which Xiong Zhi had dreamed also implied this.

The hidden power behind Guan Gao Huan seemed to be a player causing the country\'s economic turbulence in Xiong Zhi\'s dreams as well.

They seemed to be connected.

Linfeng and Mr. Finch fell on another extended silence.

The guests who were watching in the distance started shooting glances again. They also had their own interests they wanted to discuss with Linfeng.

Linfeng finally straightened up. His polite smile was back.

"I\'d like to think more about it."

He knew that he would take it, but he needed time and more preparation.

Mr. Finch also understood.

He smiled. "I am not in a hurry." He finished his wine and looked around. "There other people who also want to meet you. I can\'t just hog you all night."

They both stood up and shook hands.

As if remembering something, Mr. Finch leaned closer.

"By the way, your lady is charming. You two look good together. I wish you all the best."

Linfeng raised a brow.

His woman? Was he talking about Xiong Zhi? He saw her earlier?

But Linfeng did not ask and watched the charming elder go.

He sighed inwardly, thinking that he still lacked experience after all.

Mr. Finch really had his ways, to actually attack at first sight.

Even Linfeng was caught off guard by him, and bit the bait. However, Linfeng knew that what he would be getting out of this deal was worth it.

As Mr. Finch left, Linfeng also drank the remaining wine in his cup and watched the other guests come forward.

\'Underworld, huh.\'

It was quite a surprising proposal.

He had plans to expand his influence and network in that world.

There were many things he needed to learn and investigate about.

Linfeng smiled at the upcoming group of guests.

Another round of business proposals came.