Lu Chengwen said:
"They guarded against me at every turn. I couldn't even see the core data and materials! They just expected me to go negotiate blindly—what was I supposed to negotiate with? What could I possibly offer?"
"Billions in investment, and I know nothing about the competition. I don't have time, a team, or intelligence for market research and information integration... What am I supposed to discuss with them? Romance!?"
"And their situation is incredibly complicated. The Tianwu Clan is practically a separatist regime. If I make them money, they might treat me better. But what if I lose it? Do they have the capacity—or the stomach—to accept failure? My gut says their first reaction would be that I was setting them up, that I was swindling them out of money. Then they'd kill me."
Zhao Ritian nodded. "I think you have a point."
Long Aotian said, "I definitely have to escape! I'm Long Aotian, the mighty God of War of the borderlands, a Child of Destiny! How could I stay here and be their breeding stud!? Cheng Wen, I'm running with you!"
Lu Chengwen nodded. "Mm."
"Me too!" Zhao Ritian said. "I, Zhao Ritian, am a peerless genius of my generation. How could I languish under another's thumb for long!? I'm running with you!"
Lu Chengwen patted him on the shoulder and smiled.
The three of them looked at Long Batian together.
Long Batian backed away. "Don't look at me. I really can't do this anymore. I'm covered in injuries. If I run again, I'll run myself to death."
Zhao Ritian rushed over, grabbed him by the collar with both hands, and slammed him against the wall, demanding furiously, "Are you going to stay behind and have children for the Tianwu people!? Huh!? Do you have any dignity