After Qin Siyang finished speaking, Yan Ran flushed crimson, her thoughts laid bare by his guess.
She studied the young man, who looked barely eighteen, once more. She simply could not understand how Qin Siyang, an orphan who had lived in a remote region until this year, could be as seasoned as a boatman who had weathered countless storms.
Zhao Longfei said to Yan Ran, "I'm still somewhat interested in your proposal to provide a Sequence unit establishment. But Xiao Qin is right. I can't agree to your original terms. I'll offer my own."
"You still give me the Sequence unit establishment, and I open an underground market in the Yan Character Legion. But you cover the operating costs and keep all the profits, while the Zhao Family manages it."
Seeing that Qin Siyang was interested in the Sequence unit establishment, Zhao Longfei immediately proposed a new arrangement-giving up the profits, but not control.
Yan Ran looked hesitant and did not answer immediately.
Zhao Longfei continued, "The terms I'm offering are actually quite good. Essentially, I'd be working for your Yan Character Legion for free. People still have to deal with the here and now. Troops and wounded soldiers, food and clothing, magic potions and equipment-which of those doesn't cost money?"
Yan Xiaowen said, "Principal Zhao, perhaps you don't understand. Our Yan Character Legion's finances have always been very stable. We've never had any financial problems."
"That was then. This is now."
Zhao Longfei blew a smoke ring. "There were two main reasons the Yan Character Legion had no financial problems. First, it had the fewest troops among the Six Great Legions, so expenses were low. Second, Yan Budong worked with both the Zhao Family and the Three Major Merchants' Associations, and the United Government also gave the Yan Character