Team Members and a Deal

Glinda pulled Liu Yun down beside her. The many War Gods looked astonished and teased her for being single too long and getting desperate.

The biggest issue between Liu Yun and Glinda was that, although she still looked beautiful, she was actually four or five years older than him.

Glinda seemed not to notice the teasing and astonished looks around her. Beaming, she led Liu Yun straight to the lounge on one side of the hall, where several elegant sofas had been arranged. It was clearly a place for the War Gods to relax.

"This is the HR Alliance's core area. All the alliance's Core Members are here, so you can get to know them."

Her words made Liu Yun somewhat suspicious of Glinda's intentions. He wasn't a Core Member of the HR Alliance yet. Generally speaking, the Limit Dojo and Thor Dojo operated the same way: their members were divided into Core Members and ordinary members.

Ordinary members had more freedom. If things really didn't work out, they could choose to leave. Core Members were different; they often had many more obligations. Of course, the benefits offered by the HR Alliance were also much better!

But Liu Yun wasn't interested in those generous benefits. He was more concerned with upgrading his base, so Glinda's words did little to interest him.

The people around them were all War Gods of the HR Alliance—in other words, members of the Twelve Great Families—and quite a few of them were interested in Liu Yun.

In their eyes, a rapidly rising War God like him was someone all of them would want to recruit. A slightly plump old man in his eighties or nineties walked over and greeted Liu Yun warmly.

"I'm Xu Yunguo, head of the Xu Family in Jiangnan. I heard you're about the same age as my niece, Xu Xin. I can hardly believe you've already become a War God!"

His words were full of warmth, and Liu Yun was taken aback. What was going on? Even the head of the Xu Family had come over.

The Xu Family held a high position within the HR Alliance, and in the China Region, they practically had everything under their thumb. Liu Yun might not have planned to humor Glinda, but he couldn't afford to act carelessly with Xu Yunguo.

"Hello! I was just lucky, that's all. A friend told me about Xu Xin. I saw her a couple of times when we were students. She's a lovely girl!"

Liu Yun's words were modest and sincere, and the admiration in Xu Yunguo's eyes grew. He smiled slightly, the wrinkles on his face seeming to smooth out as he took on an even more kindly look.

"Liu Yun, you're too modest. In this day and age, becoming a War God through your own efforts can hardly be called luck. Xu Xin is fortunate to have a friend like you."

The two of them soon found common ground. Glinda smiled and joined in, steering the conversation back to her aim: persuading Liu Yun to become a Core Member of the HR Alliance.

They had even considered that Liu Yun hadn't formed a team yet, so they recommended several promising candidates, hoping he would consider them.

They were all members of the Twelve Great Families. If Liu Yun joined their ranks, he would have one foot in the door of the HR Alliance's inner circle.

Liu Yun understood their intentions perfectly. He couldn't be bothered with their little schemes, but the HR Alliance had the most comprehensive supply network on Earth. Many of the rare metals needed to upgrade his base could only be obtained through them.

For that reason, he wasn't about to offend them outright. Instead, he stated his terms bluntly.

"I really ought to have a better relationship with the HR Alliance. But given my strength, I can't accept just any teammates. If you can provide War God-level fighters to join me, I'd be willing to learn more about the HR Alliance!"

The moment Liu Yun spoke, the atmosphere in the lounge turned delicate. Xu Yunguo and Glinda exchanged a glance, surprise and a hint of difficulty in their eyes. War God-level teammates were an extremely valuable resource for any team.

Liu Yun's demand had exceeded their expectations. Money was easy enough to offer, but people like that were hard to recruit.

Xu Yunguo pondered for a moment before breaking the silence. "Liu Yun, we've all seen your strength, so it's only natural that you have high standards for your teammates. However, powerful War Gods—especially those willing to join a new team—are indeed hard to find. But rest assured, the HR Alliance has always been committed to cultivating and gathering elite Martial Artists from around the world. We have extensive resources and connections."

He changed tack, his tone earnest. "If we find someone suitable, we'll do everything we can to meet your request!"

Glinda quickly added, "Liu Yun, joining the HR Alliance isn't just about teammates and supplies. It's also about having a broader stage and more opportunities. Here, you'll have access to the most advanced technology, take part in the highest-level missions, and fight alongside top Martial Artists from around the world. Those opportunities would be invaluable for your growth and for your base's future."

Liu Yun considered her words. He wasn't opposed to working with other people; he wasn't a gloomy loner. It was no big deal. The resources and platform offered by the HR Alliance were, indeed, what he needed right now.

Still, neither of them had offered him anything concrete. They had only promised to do their best, so he didn't need to take their words too seriously.

"Fine! I'd actually be willing to consider high-level War Generals, too. But whether they'd be willing to lower themselves to work with a youngster like me is another matter!"

He had lowered his standards and said he would consider high-level War Generals. But Liu Yun was so young that even such people would be difficult to find. Glinda and Xu Yunguo both knew this, though neither said it aloud.

Liu Yun handed them another list, this one detailing the various rare metals he urgently needed. It also included many alloys and specialized synthetic materials.

"Here's a list of materials. Head of the Xu Family, could you help me find some suppliers? If you can gather the materials on it, I'll pay for them and give you a fee as well! Sorry for the trouble!"

What he valued most was the HR Alliance's financial power. Even the governments of various countries couldn't match the alliance's extensive connections. He handed them the list now because he had seen their apologetic expressions and hoped to take the opportunity to have them gather the materials for him.

Xu Yunguo took the list from Liu Yun, a grave look flickering in his eyes before his warm smile returned. He knew how rare and hard to find these materials were; even a great family like the Xu Family couldn't gather them easily. Still, the young man before him had exceptional strength, a clear goal, and unwavering resolve. Xu Yunguo couldn't help but feel that such a talent was worth nurturing.

"Liu Yun, the materials on this list are indeed hard to come by, but don't worry. The Xu Family will do its best. The HR Alliance is enormous, and our network stretches across the world, so we have a decent chance of finding them." Xu Yunguo spoke solemnly, already considering how to mobilize his family to complete the task.

Glinda nodded in agreement. "Don't worry, Liu Yun. The HR Alliance has a dedicated supply allocation system. We'll do everything we can to help you gather these materials. Your strength and potential make you a worthwhile investment."

Hearing this, Liu Yun secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Getting the Xu Family to help would spare him a great deal of trouble. He had also gained a deeper understanding of the HR Alliance's strength. The power behind this organization was far beyond what he had imagined.

"Then my thanks to you, Head of the Xu Family, and to you, President Glinda. I'm not one to forget a kindness. If I get the chance, I'll repay you tenfold." Liu Yun spoke with genuine gratitude. In a world where strength ruled, he knew that favors were a valuable asset, too.

Xu Yunguo waved a hand with a smile. "You're too kind. We're investing in the future, too. Your growth and success will be a great boon to the HR Alliance. I'll ask Xu Xin to come see you sometime. As former classmates, you can get to know each other better."

The head of the Xu Family's intentions were obvious. He clearly hoped Xu Xin and Liu Yun would fall in love. Liu Yun smiled; stealing another man's girl sounded rather interesting.

Glinda chimed in at the right moment. She shot Xu Yunguo a look and said, "By the way, Liu Yun, we can provide you with a temporary base and training facilities for your team, for you and your teammates to use. As for the team members themselves, we can look for them gradually. We'll find suitable candidates eventually. It's just that your requirements might be..."

Glinda crossed her legs on the sofa, holding a glass of virtual wine. She pressed down with one hand as if to calm things down. Liu Yun smiled at the sight, then walked away without committing either way.

They had made their positions clear, so there was no need to keep taking up each other's time. He still wanted to find a few of the famous War Gods from the original story and have a good chat with them.