Chapter 112: The Air in the Venue Filled with Joy - It’s the Cyber Age—Still Playing a Traditional Villain?

**Chapter 112: The Air in the Venue Filled with Joy** Upon hearing Xu Shi's suggestion, everyone's gaze immediately turned to him. "Hmm? Are you suggesting we spread the word throughout the entire city?" Wen Shengkui was the first to react, squinting his eyes as he asked. "Exactly." Xu Shi nodded with a smile. “The ‘Forgotten Ones’ represent a significant group. Regardless of the outcome of our dealings with them, it will inevitably impact Night Sin City.” “So, I think it’s only right to give the city dwellers a heads-up, otherwise, it wouldn’t feel quite right, would it?” Everyone sitting at this table was astute, and they quickly caught on to his underlying message. Interaction with the ‘Forgotten Ones’ was inevitable and could not be dismissed outright as He Jiayuan had suggested. Accepting or not accepting them was one thing, but since they came to us out of sheer desperation, it immediately established a hierarchical disparity between the two parties. It's only natural to exploit their value, and the only question left is to what extent. Thus, creating public opinion that is unfavorable to the ‘Forgotten Ones’ could further widen the gap in status, thereby extracting more benefits for Night Sin City. What's that saying again? Regardless of the crime, the first punishment is always the harshest? Something like that. “I agree.” Xie Qingyan nodded slightly. The others followed suit, nodding in agreement. Even He Jiayuan of the “Shark Teeth” didn’t oppose. What he said earlier was indeed just ireful remarks; he wasn’t so senile and obstinate. “So, shall we leave it to you, Qi?” Seeing everyone reach a consensus, Xu Shi turned to Qi Maoyang, saying, “Your expertise lies in this field.” “…Alright, no problem.” Qi Maoyang hesitated for a moment before reluctantly nodding back with an awkward smile. In truth, he was somewhat unwilling. It wasn't that he disagreed with Xu Shi's approach; there was nothing wrong with the plan itself. The problem was that this arrangement placed him in the position of being the overt 'bad guy.' This goes utterly against his inclination to stay neutral—in the hierarchy of the six consortiums, “Imaginary Numbers” had always preferred not to be the first to act. In such situations, they typically benefited by blending in. Historically, when the other consortiums openly or secretly competed, they would remain neutral, accepting whatever came their way without altering it, claiming they were just reporting. In a way, “Imaginary Numbers” was somewhat like “Dragon City”; the only difference was they used a subtler method. But now, abstaining wasn't an option. Given their role as the communication outlet, who else but them? The other five were watching; refusal wasn't viable. Thus, regardless of what transpired, “Imaginary Numbers” would inevitably harbor more grudges with the ‘Forgotten Ones’ than others, which was not ideal. With this realization, Qi Maoyang couldn't help but sigh internally. Of course, it was Xu Shi who proposed this, the same person who had recently poached the “Long Knife Party” that he had been cooperating with for years. And now, this. Though its impact wasn’t enormous, it was indeed irksome. But before he could figure out how to voice his discontent, Xu Shi spoke again. “Of course, ‘Imaginary Numbers’ will inevitably face some setbacks because of this.” He gazed at Qi Maoyang with a smiling face, “But as we all stand united, those who shelter others can’t be left freezing in the storm. So, my suggestion is, should any benefits arise in the future, ‘Imaginary Numbers’ deserves a bigger share. What do you all think?” “For instance, I have a batch of new weapons and equipment. If Qi is interested, I'll offer them to you at a discounted price?” Qi Maoyang was taken aback; he hadn’t expected Xu Shi to say such a thing. “That’s simple enough. ‘Feather Pen’ already collaborates with ‘Imaginary Numbers’ frequently. We can revisit those unfinished projects.” Old Man Wen chimed in, “Of course, don’t you come to me, Qi. Let your father handle it.” With this pair setting the tone, the others had nothing left to argue. It’s just the way of such matters among the consortiums; seeing each other regularly, it's not wise to push someone into being the target without some consideration. “…Actually, there’s no need to be so formal. As a media outlet, this is our obligation.” At this point, Qi Maoyang felt a tad more at ease, reciprocating warmly. “Really? Then should we just forget about it?” Xu Shi jested. “No, no, no.” There was no way Qi Maoyang would truly let it slide, quickly shaking his head to dissuade him, forgoing the formalities. “If I did this without compensation, my father would give me hell.” He couldn’t help but reflect. He understood now, setting him in front was indeed genuine, but Xu Shi’s move clearly aimed to mollify tensions from the previous “Long Knife Party” situation and to mend things between them. Balancing both aspects, ultimately, “Imaginary Numbers” stood to benefit, especially considering the unknown elements that any negotiations with the ‘Forgotten Ones’ might hold. Yet, the tangible benefits dispersed from the other five were real and possibly exceeded what they would have reaped alone. Would one say Xu Shi was being generous at others' expense? Well, not entirely; he also brought something to the table, which in turn meant “Snake Ring” had much less to contribute. It was a neat maneuver, at least from Qi Maoyang’s perspective. The earlier discontent dissipated considerably. Others didn’t mind sharing the benefits. In essence, the receptionist’s fee was split five ways, a cost minimal for each. Moreover, this essentially meant “Imaginary Numbers” was stepping back regarding the ‘Forgotten Ones,’ meaning whatever came from that cake would have a larger share among the five rather than six. In the grand scheme, no one lost. With these thoughts, everyone chuckled, and the air of the venue suddenly filled with joy. “Shall we settle on that? Qi, please handle this with your expertise.” Xu Shi beamed, “As for the negotiations with the ‘Forgotten Ones,’ shall we leave it to Governor Yue?” “Ah, of course.” Yue Chizheng agreed repeatedly. The scheming of the six consortiums didn’t include him, nor did the profits or compromises fall to him; the grunt work, however, landed right at his feet. In essence, his position as the governor was like being the errand boy, occasionally playing a white glove. Yet, he had become accustomed. Over the years, that's just how it went. Besides, as long as the six consortiums were eating, he wouldn’t go without. The old man chuckled helplessly, letting out a sigh. The gathering dispersed after some idle chatter, wrapping up their meeting. The next morning, major forums were abuzz with headlines about the “Return Intentions of the ‘Forgotten Ones.’” “…WDNMD! How can this be?” (End of Chapter)