At this, the indifferent smile vanished from Ruan Xiongfeng's face. He took out a trimmed cigar and clamped it between his teeth.
With a hiss, a faint flame flickered to life, and Ruan Xiongfeng exhaled a puff of pure white smoke.
Amid the swirling smoke, the burly man's deep voice rang out:
"S Squad has never been loyal to any single person or group. I'll take responsibility for those words. At least in the past and present, that's how it's been. As for the future, if the day comes when I'm gone, I won't give a damn about this crap anymore."
Crude as his words were, Ruan Xiongfeng had made his meaning perfectly clear. It was also an answer that satisfied Qi Longxiang.
"But..."
Ruan Xiongfeng paused, then turned to look at Qi Longxiang.
"Hey, kid, you aren't trying to pump me for information, are you? Speaking of which, the Staff Department you're in is valued several levels above s Squad. If the higher-ups told you to pick a side, which side would you choose?"
"Bauhinia, Iris Flower, Mandala... you'll have to choose one of those families eventually, won't you?"
Ruan Xiongfeng looked at him with a faintly smiling expression, though the sharp glint in his eyes was somewhat piercing.
Qi Longxiang met his gaze calmly. His expression did not change because of Ruan Xiongfeng's look; instead, he smiled lightly. "Why make fun of me, Mr. Ruan? Qi Longxiang still understands that one should not impose on others what one does not desire for oneself. If I can't stay here freely, perhaps it's time to find another place to stretch my legs."
"Don't tell me you're going to the Gador Empire!"
Ruan Xiongfeng's eyes widened, looking ready to throw down at the slightest disagreement.
"I still want to live." Qi