"Hahahahahaha, we're just showing off our capabilities, how could we possibly threaten you?" Just then, a seemingly hearty laugh came from the front.
It was Yang Di, the CEO of Green Leaf Group, the village chief of Wood Elf Village, and a Spiritual Realm Lord, who was walking over.
"CEO Yang." Seeing Yang Di approach, Zhang Song stood up and bowed slightly to him as a form of greeting. At the same time, other management personnel from Green Leaf Group, who were also negotiation counterparts, walked over behind Yang Di.
At this moment, Zhang Bo's face bore a complex expression, and his eyes were a little moist.
Because for Zhang Bo, he held Yang Di in high esteem; after all, when he was young and an orphan with both parents deceased, it was Yang Di who extended a helping hand, not only funding his university education but also ensuring he had no worries about food, clothing, housing, or transportation.
He even directly recruited him into Green Leaf Group as a reserve management cadre after he graduated from university.
It could be said that during the most crucial 10 years of Zhang Bo's mental development, Yang Di fulfilled the responsibility of a father, even taking time on weekends to meet with them individually, listening to what they had done that week, what they had learned, and what they had gained.
This also included providing them with psychological guidance and career planning.
Many fathers could not achieve what Yang Di did.
Therefore, in the young minds of Zhang Bo and Zhang Song, they had long recognized Yang Di as a very important father figure and treated him with genuine sincerity.
However, the cadre could not directly express his emotions now; he didn't even dare to show any change in his eyes.
He just looked at Yang Di with a complex gaze, then remained silent, still sitting in his chair.
He even put on a cold expression.
Because he now represented Deherim, he was the chief negotiator sent by Shen Mu, and for the dignity of Deherim and the prestige of Shen Mu, he absolutely could not show any subservience or even a friendly attitude.
Of course, Zhang Song and Yang Di were well aware of this; they looked at each other, and upon seeing Zhang Bo, their hearts were also quite complex.
Especially Yang Di, seeing this young man he knew so well, who had now grown to a position where he could influence attitudes, and even become a general manager of Green Leaf Group.
His heart was even more filled with mixed emotions.
Yang Di truly didn't know what Zhang Song's situation was now, whether he had betrayed Green Leaf Group, whether he had become a double agent, or whether he had sacrificed Green Leaf Group's intelligence and used Green Leaf Group as a stepping stone to climb to his current position in Deherim.
They didn't know.
Therefore, Yang Di also swept a complex glance, looked at Zhang Bo again, then looked at Sun Zhiru and the other 10 Negotiation Experts sent by Deherim, calmly sat in his seat, with Zhang Song and other department managers on his left and right.
The negotiation was about to begin.
"As you all know, we are very uneasy now. We did make mistakes, but there's nothing we can do; we hope you can understand, after all, one mountain cannot accommodate two tigers, everyone understands this principle."
Yang Di, sitting there, had no intention of shirking responsibility.
Instead, he waved his hand, signaling a Wood Elf attendant to bring over a few glasses of juice, then shrugged and said, "Of course, I am quite surprised by your arrival for peaceful negotiations. I also didn't expect Shen Mu to be such a generous and benevolent person. For this, I express my heartfelt gratitude and thanks."
He even praised Shen Mu.
This was the plan Zhang Bo had outlined in his letter to Yang Di earlier: as long as he followed his rhythm, during the negotiation, he would generously sign conditions that seemingly benefited Deherim but actually benefited Green Leaf Group, due to Green Leaf Group's show of weakness and the praise of Shen Mu.
Although Yang Di was unsure whether Zhang Bo had betrayed Green Leaf Group, or if he was the mastermind behind the destruction of Green Leaf Group's elite Wood Elves.
But suspicion is just suspicion.
Now, he lowered his guard, inwardly increased his vigilance towards Zhang Bo, and still chose to bide his time, continuing to follow the plan Zhang Bo had given him.
After all, there was no other way; if he didn't follow Zhang Bo's negotiation plan and relied solely on his own negotiation, if he truly angered Zhang Bo and was given extremely harsh conditions, he would have no choice but to accept them.
Green Leaf Group was the defeated party, and he, Yang Di, was the loser.
This was already a fact.
So, it was better to bide his time and follow Zhang Bo's plan; if anything happened, he could react in time, at least stabilizing Zhang Bo first.
If Zhang Bo had not betrayed Green Leaf Group, that would naturally be for the best.
But once they learned that Zhang Bo had betrayed Green Leaf Group and his trust, he could also use the temporary stabilization of Zhang Bo as a false appearance to plan for future revenge opportunities.
After all, as long as he didn't die, there would be a chance for revenge.
The reason Yang Di could become the CEO of a large group like Green Leaf Group, with a market value of billions, was not due to connections; it was also due to his own strong will, decisiveness, and personal ability to endure.
"This is CEO Yang of Green Leaf Group. I know you; I've heard of you for a long time. Of course, back then, you probably wouldn't have looked down on a small fry like me."
Zhang Bo's tone was mocking at this moment; he didn't react much to Yang Di's words, instead, he spoke indifferently: "The reason you can praise Lord Shen Mu and Deherim now is entirely because you have been defeated, and Green Leaf Group is the offending party, which is why you can be so humble."
As he spoke, Zhang Bo looked at Sun Zhiru and the other Negotiation Experts beside him, with a playful tone: "Otherwise, if Deherim had been defeated, whether you would even look at us would be another matter."
Immediately, these words also drew laughter from Sun Zhiru and the other 10 Negotiation Experts.
After all, as victors, they certainly could swagger around here.
This also aroused the anger of the department managers around Yang Di and Zhang Song; one by one, they gritted their teeth, clenched their fists, and their faces showed expressions of humiliation.
But they couldn't say anything.
That was the fact.
As the defeated, they had to endure humiliation.
"Alright, let's not talk about this anymore. What's done is done, and dwelling on the past is useless. We are very willing to hear the conditions you propose, as we are indeed the defeated party."
Yang Di, however, shook his head at this moment, propped his chin with both hands, looked at Zhang Bo and the Negotiation Experts in front of him, and said with a weary tone, "If you make a mistake, you get hit. If you get hit, you stand at attention. If you stand at attention, you listen. I must accept punishment for my wrong actions."
His attitude was very sincere; at least for Zhang Bo, Sun Zhiru, and the Negotiation Experts, it was indeed quite sincere.
The 10 Negotiation Experts exchanged glances, seeing the relief in each other's eyes.
If Green Leaf Group had truly been unreasonable, then it would have been quite difficult for them, as a lack of cooperation from the other party during negotiations, even if they were the losers, would still make the negotiation personnel quite awkward.
If the negotiations reached a stalemate, then Lord Shen Mu would have to arrange for direct military threat to succeed in the negotiations.
For these Negotiation Experts, the credit would be very small then.
It also wouldn't show what purpose they served.
Therefore, facing Yang Di's frankness now, their faces showed some relaxed expressions. Then they nodded in unison, smiling, their expressions no longer as mocking as they had been initially.
At least now their attitude had become amiable.
If the other party gives you face, then you should also give face to the other party.
Respect is mutual, and if Green Leaf Group truly merges into Deherim, then everyone will be colleagues and will inevitably meet frequently. If the atmosphere truly becomes too tense, then how will both sides get along then?
It would definitely be very awkward.
"Very good, CEO Yang, your sincerity makes us feel your willingness to negotiate."
Zhang Bo also spoke with a smile at this moment, "Do you know? I learned a lot from Lord Shen Mu."
"I'd like to hear more."
Yang Di seemed to frown when Zhang Bo said this, not understanding why he said such a thing, but still nodded and said, "Regarding Lord Shen Mu, I have also heard his name. To be able to create such astonishing development achievements in such a short period, I also want to know what makes him extraordinary."
"Lord Shen Mu, as a Spiritual Realm Lord, is actually quite similar to all of you, but Lord Shen Mu has always been very supportive of Blue Star Humans. He considers the future of the Blue Star World, the inheritance of Blue Star Civilization, and the continuation of Blue Star Humans."
Zhang Bo praised him at this moment, "When we Blue Star Humans were still fighting amongst ourselves, Lord Shen Mu used every possible means to unite us, to jointly resist the danger of the Undead Monster. This is a great love, a very noble character. I think, CEO Yang, you should be able to appreciate this."
"Yes."
Yang Di gave a bitter smile at this moment, "Lord Shen Mu sending you to our Green Leaf Group for peaceful negotiations was already beyond my expectations. After all, what we did, if it were any other Spiritual Realm Lord, they wouldn't easily let us off, but Lord Shen Mu actually let you come to negotiate, for the Blue Star World, Blue Star Humans, and Blue Star Civilization. This character indeed surpasses me, far surpasses me."
"Therefore, CEO Yang, we are not enemies. For Lord Shen Mu, the current Blue Star World is truly vast, and after transforming into a Spiritual Realm, the territory of the Blue Star World will also become larger and larger, expanding 10 times compared to before. So, we do not need to contend for the current small areas, nor do we need to contend for power and profit. We can completely wait until the cake is made bigger and then share it together."
Zhang Song slowly began, finally leading the topic to the main point of this negotiation, "So, Lord Shen Mu truly hopes that you are also willing to join Deherim peacefully and fight side by side for the future, instead of being at loggerheads, at daggers drawn, and fighting to the death, as is the case now. That would seem very foolish."
"Making the cake bigger to eat?"
Yang Di spoke softly at this moment, a thoughtful expression appearing in his eyes.
And right beside him, Zhang Song and the department heads of the management department also began to ponder thoughtfully.
Of course, Yang Di and Zhang Song knew Zhang Bo's identity, and two or three of the most core department heads in the management department also knew Zhang Bo's identity. They also knew that this negotiation was actually a very hard-won peaceful negotiation that Zhang Bo had secured.
Therefore, they had to use this negotiation to prevent Deherim from being directly destroyed.
To prevent it from being completely wiped out like Diesel Company.
Thus, they had to pretend to be thoughtful, to feel that what Zhang Bo said was very correct, that it touched their souls, and they also expressed affirmation for this statement.
This was tantamount to standing on the moral high ground and pointing fingers at them.
What else could they do besides thinking?
Certainly nothing.
"Then, what are the conditions for joining Deherim?"
However, at this moment, Yang Di seemed to smile even more bitterly, slowly saying, "We all understand that it's certainly impossible to completely merge into Deherim peacefully, and it won't be that easy for us to join Deherim. I want to know what conditions Deherim has?"
"There are no conditions, as long as you can obey Lord Shen Mu's arrangements."
Zhang Bo smiled at this moment, "Lord Shen Mu appreciates you, and is willing to fight side by side with you, to face more challenges together in the future. Are you still dissatisfied with anything?"
But facing Zhang Bo's statement, Yang Di slowly said, "Regarding Lord Shen Mu's willingness to appreciate us, to fight side by side with us, and to face more challenges together in the future, we are certainly very satisfied, and we are also very grateful for Lord Shen Mu's benevolence..."
He paused here, and the people around him all knew that there was more to his words, so they quietly watched him.
Including Zhang Bo and the Negotiation Experts. (End of Chapter)
