Zhang Yinghao shrugged. "The Bloody Club kills for money. They take pure pleasure in killing and torturing people, which runs completely counter to my business philosophy."
"So this is a business dispute," Gu Qingshan said.
"More or less. Rivals in the same line of work are enemies. I enjoy making life difficult for my competitors," Zhang Yinghao said.
"So that's why you came to help me?"
"There's another reason. Well, some of the Federation's policies are actually undermining its own foundations."
Zhang Yinghao hesitated for a moment, but in the end, he spoke up. "Everyone says the Fuxi Empire is conservative, but it has a complete training system for every person with a special talent. Meanwhile, here in the Nine Prefectures, we're always afraid of progress."
"Afraid?" Gu Qingshan repeated.
"Right. Afraid of the social changes brought about by breakthrough technologies."
Zhang Yinghao spoke at length.
"They terminated Gene Modification technology simply because they were afraid more and more people would become Star-Rank warriors."
"They withdrew from the international space research program, claiming that extraterrestrial monsters were impossible to defeat. The truth is, the expenses made them wince."
"They've never taken the initiative to learn about the Holy Kingdom's mystical forces, and they've never cared about the Fuxi Empire's revolution in vocational weapons."
Zhang Yinghao gave a scornful smile. "They're all old."
"You're an interesting guy. I'm starting to feel a little tempted," Gu Qingshan said seriously for the first time.
Unexpectedly, as soon as his attitude changed, Zhang Yinghao grew serious too.
Zhang Yinghao nodded and said solemnly, "To show you my sincerity, I can tell you that the one coming to kill you is Mr. Jackal, the Bloody Club's trump card."
"Trump card? I'm almost flattered."
Gu Qingshan chuckled.
"Also," Zhang Yinghao thought for a moment, "it seems