Good grief. Li Wei was speechless.
I used to count on you to help deal with the Iron Fist Gang. Turns out you were one of their biggest clients behind the scenes?
"Dad!" Seraphine looked at her father in disbelief.
The perfect image of her kind and benevolent father seemed about to collapse in her heart.
"Ahem. There was nothing I could do about it." Erwin flushed as he defended himself. "Seraphine, you don't understand—"
"The indentured laborer business is divided according to gang territory. The district where our factory is located happens to be under the Iron Fist Gang's control."
"Everyone rents indentured laborers from the Iron Fist Gang. Even if you don't want to rent theirs, you can't find anyone else's."
"But..." Seraphine bit her lip anxiously. "Dad, can't you just not rent indentured laborers? They're so pitiful... and you're exploiting them alongside those gangs?"
"H-How can you say this is my fault?" Erwin said guiltily. "They're already slaves. Even if I don't rent them, wouldn't they still have to work at someone else's factory?"
"Besides, everyone is using indentured laborers now. If we don't rent them, we can't lower labor costs with those few apprentice slots alone. If our goods cost more than our competitors', how can this factory keep operating?"
"Nini, there was nothing I could do. I had to keep the factory alive so I could earn money for your treatment and give you the best life possible..."
Erwin muttered out a long string of excuses.
But when he saw his daughter's innocent, sparkling eyes, he had nothing more to say. He could only lower his head in shame.
"Alright, Mr. Erwin, I understand the situation." Li Wei sighed sympathetically, then brought the conversation back to the point. "Since our opponent is the Iron Fist