After seeing everyone else off, Zuo Ci stopped Penguin, Cobblepot, and Riddler, Nygma, saying he had something important to discuss with them.
"So, this is the important thing you wanted to talk about?"
At that moment, the four people left in the shop each held a bowl of steaming Spicy Pepper Soup, with twenty-four baskets of Xiaolongbao sitting on the table.
Yes, Zuo Ci and the other two shared four baskets, while Jack had twenty.
"Of course not. We can talk while we eat. Besides, it's better to set off on a full stomach."
"Huh? Doesn't something about that sound a little off?"
"Don't worry about the details. Come on, let's start with Cobblepot."
Hearing Zuo Ci call his name, Cobblepot hurriedly set down his bowl, looking extremely respectful.
Thanks to Zuo Ci's help, his influence had grown considerably lately, and he had reaped benefits he would never have dared dream of before.
Precisely because of that, he had to show absolute loyalty. He had to cling to this powerful backer!
"It's fine. No need to be so formal. Let's eat and talk."
"That's all right. Please go ahead. I can always eat afterward."
"All right."
As he spoke, Zuo Ci pulled a bottle of red wine and several glasses from inside his clothes, then personally poured each of them a glass.
"I don't drink, so I don't know much about this stuff. Try it and tell me roughly how much you think it's worth."
Jack didn't know much about wine either. At a formal banquet up above, he probably would have put on an act, but here in private, he didn't bother. He downed it in one gulp without appreciating any of its finer qualities, then went straight back to eating.
Cobblepot and Riddler, on the other hand, behaved