"They're gone."
Looking at the empty hall in front of her, the young lady let out a long sigh of relief. Then, she turned around to look at the person beside her.
There, an old man in a butler's attire stood quietly behind her.
After hearing that the entrusting party was Ba Xianon Mens, these people who wanted to seize the opportunity to seize the Star Trade Association immediately made a decision and decisively gave up on their previous thoughts. They brought their subordinates away and expressed that they wanted to leave the Star Trade Association.
It wasn't surprising since they didn't know that the entrusting party was the Ba Xianon Mens Family and wanted to fight for it.
And now that they heard that the Star Trade Association actually provoked such a terrifying existence, they naturally weren't willing to go up against it.
Otherwise, they would have to face the wrath of the Passus Overlord after taking over the trade association with great difficulty. Unless they were masochists, who would do such a thing?
Merchants chased after benefits, but in order to obtain this benefit, they had to face greater risks and challenges. This was obviously not a wise choice.
"Everything is as I said, isn't it?
You see, after they heard the name of the Ba Xianon Mens Family, they ran away faster than rabbits … "
"Missy, I don't think this is a wise move."
Hearing the young lady's words, the old butler knitted his brows in worry.
"Both of them control nearly half of the Star Trade Association's wealth. Aren't you being too reckless by agreeing to let them leave just like that?
The Star Trade Association has already suffered a great loss, and this will be a greater loss for us. When that time comes … Even if we barely get through this, we won't be able to resist the attacks of the other trade associations. "
"You don't have to say anymore. I understand."
Facing the old butler's dissuasion, the young lady sighed helplessly and shook her head.
"If worst comes to worst, we'll just start anew. That's good too. We don't have to worry about anything anymore. No one will go against us, and no one will hold us back.
Although this is a crisis for the trade association, I think this is also an opportunity for us. After getting rid of those half-hearted people, we can develop better, isn't it? "
"That's true …"
Facing the young lady's answer, the old butler revealed a troubled expression.
"But our biggest problem now is … that … how do we deal with the Ba Xianon Mens Family?"
Hearing the old butler's question, the young lady's pretty face revealed a troubled expression.
Almost everyone in Boulder City knew how terrifying the Balxianon Mens family was. That feudal lord had cut down a city gate in Boulder City, and had even beaten up the most powerful Legendary Sword Saint of the Federation, Stalk.
From then on, the Barxianon Mens Family was listed as an existence that Hardstone City could not afford to provoke.
Especially after Jenn led the Pale Blue Army to bombard the capital of the Glittergold Empire, the citizens of Hardstone City became even more fearful of that terrifying liege — they were not willing to be eaten by a bunch of dragons as a midnight snack while they were living a good life.
Due to his relationship with the Glittergold Empire, almost everyone in the Skal Federation knew about the Lord of Parsus. After all, if he hadn't barged into the capital of the Glittergold Empire and forced them to retreat, the Skal Federation wouldn't have had the chance to retaliate.
From this point alone, the citizens of the Skal Federation were rather grateful to Jenn.
Most of them were focused on how powerful, handsome, and rich this liege was. Oh, and how much he liked beautiful women.
Facing such a person, it was impossible to say that there was no pressure.
But what could they do?
"Young Mistress, why don't you write a letter and let me bring it to Parsus to explain …"
"There's no need for that."
Facing the old butler's suggestion, the young lady smiled bitterly.
"In fact, I've already sent someone to inform the Balxianon Mens Family."
"Ah?"
Hearing this answer, the old man's expression changed drastically.
"Young Mistress, y-you can't … But this way, we …"
"We can't hide it. They aren't stupid. We haven't delivered the goods to the destination after so long, the Balxianon Mens Family must know that something is wrong.
Instead of waiting for them to come to us, we might as well admit it directly. At least that will show our sincerity.
As for how they will punish us … "The young lady hesitated and gritted her teeth.
"… I'll take responsibility!"
"Young Mistress …"
Hearing the young lady's answer, the old butler stared at her blankly. His eyes couldn't help but redden, and he quickly turned around and sighed inwardly.
Looking at the young lady like this, he seemed to see the Old President again. At that time, the Old President was also high-spirited and full of confidence. No matter how much pressure there was, he would bear it alone.
What a pity … Sigh, the Old President had worked hard to restore the Star Trade Association's former glory, but in the end, it actually ended up like this.
Now, the two most powerful families in the Star Trade Association had already withdrawn.
Although the Young Miss said that those who were loyal to the chamber of commerce could stay, the old butler was very clear that there were only a few trusted aides in the Starry Sky Chamber of Commerce.
"How many people are left in the trade association now?"
Hearing this question, the old butler's heart ached. He hesitated for a moment before answering.
"Reporting to Young Mistress, there are only 35 people left in the headquarters of the Star Trade Association …"
"So few?"
Hearing this, the young lady couldn't stay calm anymore. Although she was mentally prepared, after hearing the old butler's answer, she still couldn't help but feel her vision turn dark.
As one of the largest trade associations in the Scal Federation, the Star Trade Association's headquarters usually had close to 300 people. But now, the old butler told her that there were only 35 people left. How could the young lady not feel disappointed?
Although she expected that the tree would fall and the monkeys would scatter, this reality was a little too cruel.
"It can't be helped. After all, the Soros Family has been denounced as heretics by the Holy Church, and no one is willing to provoke them.
Also, in addition to our mission failure this time … Everyone is afraid that the Barxianon Mens Family will come looking for us … "
Speaking until here, the old butler also sighed.
It was no wonder. Everyone in the Scal Federation knew about Jenn's illustrious reputation, and their Hardstone City "had a deep understanding" of it.
They knew that he was a powerful and dangerous existence who would start a fight at the slightest disagreement.
Now that the Star Trade Association accepted the mission from the overlord of Parsus and messed it up again, if the other party came looking for them, they would be in danger.
If the Star Trade Association were to be destroyed, wouldn't they be dead for sure?
For their own lives, it was better to escape as far as possible.
Hearing the old butler's answer, the young lady was speechless. However, her body that was originally sitting upright on the chair curled up at this moment as though she had lost all strength.
Looking at the young lady, the old butler hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"Missy, it's almost time for lunch. You …"
"I'm not hungry. Let me be alone for a while … You go eat first …"
The young lady's voice was very calm as though nothing was wrong.
But upon closer inspection, one would realize that the young lady was biting her lips and her right hand was clenched into a fist by her side. A faint layer of mist emerged in her big, bright eyes. Hearing the young lady's answer, the old butler hesitated for a moment and lowered his body.
"Missy, that …"
"M-Missy, bad news!!
It's here, it's here, it's here!! "
At this moment, suddenly, the door that was originally closed was pushed open. Then, a guard ran in breathlessly. His face was pale as though he had seen a ghost and couldn't help but gasp for air.
Seeing his appearance, the young lady and the old butler were shocked.
She hurriedly sat up and stared straight at him as she asked.
"What's wrong?
Don't panic. What's here?
Is it our Star Trade Association's enemy? "
Although she tried to look calm on the surface, the young lady's tone revealed some uneasiness.
These few days, she also heard some rumors. Many trade associations saw that the Star Trade Association was in trouble and planned to take a bite out of it.
The business world was like a battlefield. There was no friendship to speak of. Although the Star Trade Association was declining, it still had a foundation.
If they could swallow this fat piece of meat, then their trade association's strength and status would rise by a lot.
Such a good thing, how could those merchants not do it?
Although the young lady had thought that these guys wouldn't let her go so easily, she didn't expect that they would come so quickly!
"No, no, it's not. Missy, it's not those people …"
Looking at the Missy's nervous expression, the guard knew that he didn't explain clearly. Therefore, he hurriedly waved his hand and wanted to say something, but because he ran too fast, he couldn't catch his breath. After a moment, he came back to his senses and hurriedly said.
"It's, it's, it's the Ba Xianong Mens Family. The Ba Xianong Mens Family is here!!"
"What?!"
Hearing the guard's answer, the old man's heart couldn't help but sink. It wasn't that he didn't think that the other party would send people, but he didn't expect them to come so quickly.
But there was no point in thinking about it now.
Since the other party had already sent people, it meant that things had come to this point. At this time, there was no point in hiding anymore. He could only see what to do next.
Thinking until here, the old butler looked at the young lady beside him.
"Missy, you see …"
"I know."
Hearing the old butler's question, the young lady nodded and stood up.
"This day will come sooner or later. No matter what, since they are here, we have to make a choice."