The Black Rock Trade Association's opportunity, and a bargain-basement powered paraglider

"Brother Zhou, please, you have to save us. I'll bring my brothers over to join you. We'll follow your lead from now on. All we ask is a chance to live."

Click.

As the recording stopped, Zhou Yuan and Yuan Lang looked toward Yu Yuan, who sat beside the stove.

"Sir, that was Golden Tooth's radio message. I contacted you as soon as I received it."

"From what I know of Golden Tooth, I think he's genuinely willing to join us."

Yu Yuan had already confirmed from the newspaper reports that Golden Tooth meant it, so he agreed with Zhou Yuan's judgment.

"Good! Zhou Yuan, you handled this well!"

"I wouldn't dare take the credit. It was all thanks to your support, sir."

Yu Yuan waved a hand.

"Don't give me that routine of yours. With me, credit is credit, and mistakes are mistakes..."

He paused, then continued:

"I've heard that the Green Forest Council Alliance knows Golden Tooth is preparing to join us. They have similar ideas themselves. What do you make of that?"

"The Green Forest Council Alliance..." Zhou Yuan and Yuan Lang exchanged a look. Both saw the gravity in the other's eyes.

In the end, Yuan Lang spoke.

"Sir... From what I know of the Green Forest Council Alliance, we need to be especially careful with them."

Yu Yuan's interest stirred.

"Oh? Let's hear it."

"They're different from the Golden Tooth Brotherhood. I've dealt with Golden Tooth before. He's no saint, but he does have one quality worth respecting: he's loyal, and he remembers both favors and grudges.

"Loyalty matters a great deal to him. That's why people still follow him even after the Golden Tooth Brotherhood has lost more than half its members. That's also why Zhou Yuan and I believe we can trust him