Chapter 172: Shimao Center

He could no longer contain his anger. He gripped his knife, vaulted over the balcony, and jumped directly onto a raft below, landing right in front of Su Li’s group.

He now had the reinforcement from the B-Building. Even though he didn’t know why Brother Rui and the two men had suddenly jumped into the water, the remaining men were enough to deal with Su Li’s eleven people. They had a considerable numerical advantage—seventeen people. Although the opposition had eleven, three were women, one of whom was a child, clearly useless for fighting.

Unlike the hook-nosed man’s rage, the eleven men who had just arrived from the B-Building mostly wore strange expressions. They remained silent and did not move to support the hook-nosed man.

The hook-nosed man had come to the A-Building early yesterday morning to take charge, so he didn’t know about the events that happened in the B-Building, much less that Ding Shijie had left and failed to return.

In this dangerous world, his protracted absence meant something ominous. Furthermore, Brother Rui’s frantic escape yesterday had made everyone uneasy. Anyone who wasn’t completely stupid understood the implications of Brother Rui and his companions jumping into the water the moment they saw Su Li’s group. No one dared to step forward now.

The hook-nosed man, holding his knife, feigned a charging motion out of anger. He then realized the eleven men behind him were just standing there, not supporting him. Feeling awkward, he turned and said, “Brothers, these guys are too arrogant! Let’s all go and teach them a lesson! The boss said we can kill any outsiders who dare provoke us without any consequence!”

He invoked Ding Shijie’s name, hoping to intimidate them into supporting him against Su Li’s group.

The eleven men on the two rafts looked at each other, waiting for someone to act, but all remained motionless.

Ding Longyun watched the bizarre scene. Finding it both strange and amusing, he picked up his steel rod and chuckled. “You guys are acting like women! If you want to fight, fight! If not, then don’t! What are you all waiting for? Hey, hook-nose, you want to fight? Your grandpa will play with you.”

The hook-nosed man’s face turned ugly. Even he realized something was wrong now. The behavior of the group from Gold Eagle One B-Building was too strange.

The hook-nosed man suddenly felt a wave of panic. His grip on the knife wavered. Seeing Ding Longyun advance, he stumbled backward a few steps.

Ding Longyun looked confused. “Weren’t you going to fight? Why are you retreating? What the hell are you playing at?”

Gong Xiao also leaped onto the raft. Her phoenix eyes flashed with a cold light. She looked at the men before her and said coldly, “We’re taking these three buildings. You either surrender to us or leave immediately. If anyone refuses to comply, they can step forward now and try to stop us.” As she spoke, she brandished her military dagger.

The night before, Su Li and Jiang Shuijue had agreed to try to peacefully absorb the Golden Eagle Alliance. If not for that agreement, she would have attacked already.

The hook-nosed man’s face turned red, then green. He took another step back. He desperately wanted to jump into the water like Brother Rui and flee.

He was a Level 6 Wielder with decent skill, but if the eleven men wouldn’t fight, how could he face Su Li’s group alone? Brother Rui’s escape had terrified him. He knew Brother Rui was stronger than him.

Since someone stronger than him had fled, why was he foolishly standing here, trying to fight?

He desperately wanted to slap himself for his stupidity.

Ding Longyun and Gong Xiao closed in. He lost his nerve and courage, his face turning a purplish-red.

Su Li saw that the men refused to fight and refused to surrender. He frowned, preparing to lead his group into the A-Building. If anyone tried to stop them, he would strike them down and establish dominance.

Suddenly, Jiang Shuijue, who had been standing beside him, spoke. “Look, more people are coming from that direction. This is turning into a real crowd.”

Gu Mingfeng, standing next to her, immediately responded, “Those look like people from the Shimao Center.”

Su Li turned and looked toward the distant Shimao Center. He saw three rafts in front of the 42-story building, packed with people, rapidly approaching.

“That’s interesting.” Su Li nodded slightly. It seemed not only had the B-Building sent reinforcements, but the Shimao Center had too.

“We’ll wait for them all to gather and deal with them at once.” Su Li wasn’t worried; he had patience.

The hook-nosed man, seeing the group from the Shimao Center approaching, regained his composure.

The Shimao Center group arrived on three rafts, totaling seventeen people.

The three rafts stopped. The raft in the center held four people. Two men paddled, and a couple stood at the front.

The man was around 28 or 29 years old. He wore a short beard and had a wry smile on his face. He wasn’t particularly handsome but exuded a strong masculinity. Beside him stood a beautiful young woman, the only woman in the group of seventeen. The two held hands, standing close together, the woman leaning against him, looking very much in love.

“Brother Wu!” The hook-nosed man recognized the man and immediately greeted him loudly.

He had followed Ding Shijie and met this man once. He knew the man was Wu Feng, the leader of the Shimao Center Building. His position was equal to Gao Shupeng’s before he died.

Wu Feng had brought his people because he had noticed the conflict here.

The hook-nosed man recognized Wu Feng. Wu Feng, however, had no recollection of him. Seeing the man’s enthusiastic greeting, he merely nodded and scrutinized Su Li, Jiang Shuijue, and Gong Xiao.

The three rafts stopped. Both sides were about four or five meters apart, eyeing each other, weapons in hand. With Wu Feng’s group’s arrival, the atmosphere grew tense.

“Where are you from, and why are you all gathered here?” Wu Feng smiled faintly, looking at Jiang Shuijue, then Gong Xiao, then Su Li and Ding Longyun.

The hook-nosed man quickly spoke loudly. “Brother Wu, these people came from nowhere and suddenly said they wanted to take over our Golden Eagle Alliance! They told us to either surrender or get out! The boss isn’t here, so we have to rely on you to take charge!”

Wu Feng didn’t know Ding Shijie was dead. Hearing the hook-nosed man’s accusation, he looked at Su Li and Jiang Shuijue in surprise. “You want to take over the Golden Eagle Alliance?” He then glanced at the hook-nosed man’s group and muttered, “Brother Ding isn’t here? Where did that guy run off to now?”

The young woman leaning against Wu Feng giggled softly. “Brother Feng, are these people crazy? Saying such foolish things! They want to take over the Golden Eagle Alliance? Hey, hook-nose, are you making this up?”

The hook-nosed man, sensitive about the nickname, was annoyed, but he knew Wu Feng doted on the woman and dared not show his displeasure. He forced a smile. “I’m not lying. That’s what they just said.”

The young woman turned to Su Li and Ding Longyun, giggling. “Hey, I’m asking you. Did you really say you wanted to take over the Golden Eagle Alliance?”

Su Li replied, “That’s right. I’m interested in taking over these three buildings. If you want to stay, I welcome you. If you don’t, you can leave now. I won’t stop you. It’s entirely your choice.”

Hearing Su Li’s words, the young woman was truly stunned. Wu Feng’s group was equally shocked. They exchanged glances, and several of them burst into laughter.

“Kid, that’s not a funny joke. That kind of talk can get people killed.” Wu Feng’s smile vanished. He scrutinized Su Li, then Jiang Shuijue. He was slightly annoyed to realize that Jiang Shuijue’s companion was prettier than his own woman.

Su Li smiled faintly. “So, you’re going to stop us from taking over these three buildings?”

Wu Feng said, “Where are you from? You don’t look like madmen, but do you even know where you are? I’m Wu Feng. I run the Shimao Center, and I have over forty people under me. Plus, the people in these two buildings. We have over a hundred people in total. These three buildings form the Golden Eagle Alliance. And you, kid, you say you want to take over? With just you eleven?”

Ding Longyun was getting impatient. “We don’t care where we’re from. Today, we’re taking over these three buildings. Those who surrender are welcome to stay. Those who don’t, get out! Hurry up and leave before we change our minds.”

(End of Chapter)

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