"And you are?"

Jiang Weisheng asked in wary surprise.

"Security Department Logistics Division, Bill Homme."

Ace replied blandly.

"Bill Homme..."

Jiang Weisheng’s brain spun rapidly, and he quickly matched the name to the right person.

"So you’re Master Homme’s son, my apologies for not recognizing you. What brings you here this time?"

His attitude became even more respectful.

"I’m just Brother Zheng’s little sidekick. Wherever Brother Zheng goes, I go. Brother Zheng’s word is my word, Brother Zheng’s face is my face. Anyone who crosses Brother Zheng is crossing me, and if you cross me, then..."

Ace deliberately dragged out his words and left the sentence hanging.

"Then you’re crossing our old man, Master Homme."

Liu Zheng picked up the line.

"Exactly. That’s my Brother Zheng—our chemistry is perfect."

Ace grinned and gave him a thumbs-up.

"Alright, let’s get back to business."

Liu Zheng steered the topic back.

"Ah? Ah, right."

Jiang Weisheng steadied himself and said.

"Bottom line, what you want is to transform the gang. Whether that’s buying into the New Grape Hotel or something else doesn’t really matter, right?"

He said.

"Not exactly. Buying into the New Grape Hotel is also the result of us weighing all kinds of factors."

Jiang Weisheng shook his head.

Transformation isn’t that easy, especially for a gang like the Sea Star Gang that sells dope—most industries just don’t fit them.

"Then let me help you think a bit more."

Liu Zheng replied.

"Please go ahead."

Jiang Weisheng straightened his posture.

"Why did your supply line for raw materials get cut off?"

"Because of City Hall’s anti-drug crackdown."

As Jiang Weisheng answered, he shot a glance at Ace.

In fact, ever since taking over the Sea Star Gang, Jiang Weisheng had always wanted to transform; he just hadn’t found a good chance.

This time, with City Hall cracking down so hard that the traditional business couldn’t go on, he took the opportunity to press down internal opposition. Otherwise, if they just toughed it out a little longer, eventually the squeeze would ease.

"City Hall’s crackdown is because of the mermaid princess being trafficked. And it was me who rescued the mermaid princess, and the Round God Sect that trafficked her was taken down by me as well."

Liu Zheng said.

Listening to that string of words, a tidal wave crashed through Jiang Weisheng’s heart.

But he didn’t rush to speak. Instead, he stared hard at Liu Zheng’s face, trying to catch any hint of a lie.

However, he saw nothing—because Liu Zheng was telling the truth.

"Mr. Liu is even more formidable than the rumors say."

A moment later, Jiang Weisheng said hoarsely.

"Just bad luck. I keep running into all kinds of bullshit."

Liu Zheng, for once, actually sounded modest.

"Mr. Liu is too modest. This is clearly because the capable get saddled with more work. You mean you can get City Hall to cancel the crackdown."

Jiang Weisheng slipped in a compliment, then probed.

"Old Jiang, you’re already thinking about transforming, how come your mind’s still stuck?"

He spoke in a tone of hating iron for not becoming steel.

"Then what do you mean?"

"If you can’t smuggle, then run legit cross-border trade. You’re Deep Sea Clan to begin with, and you’ve got the mermaid princess connection. Flip whatever you want and you’ll make a killing."

Liu Zheng said.

"Actually, cross-border trade isn’t that easy either."

Jiang Weisheng sighed.

If cross-border trade were easy, they wouldn’t have gone into dope in the first place.

But what Liu Zheng said was indeed a viable path; it was worth a try.

"Start small and see. Since when does transforming not involve risk?"

Liu Zheng said.

"True. Then what do you want out of this?"

Jiang Weisheng asked bluntly.

"Two things. First, sign for a delivery. Second, help me get enough deep-sea volcanic mud. Third, help me track down a Weaving Spider called an Artisan Weaver Spider."

He said.

"Deep-sea volcanic mud? Artisan Weaver Spider?"

Jiang Weisheng froze for a second.

The first demand was within his expectations; the other two were a bit out of left field.

"What? Hard to do?"

Liu Zheng asked.

"With the lockdown this tight, of course it won’t be easy. But since Mr. Liu has asked, we’ll find a way. I’m mainly curious what you want them for."

"I’ve got a friend who wants to use Deep Sea volcanic mud to grow flowers. As for the Artisan Weaver Spider, I’m good friends with its little brother, a Box Weaving Spider. It asked me to bring its big brother back."

He replied.

"You can grow flowers with that stuff? Alright, I’ll ask around about both things."

Jiang Weisheng said.

There aren’t volcanoes all over the deep sea, and the Deep Sea Empire is huge. Finding a single Weaving Spider is like looking for a needle in a haystack, so he didn’t dare guarantee anything.

"Then about the profit share..."

Seeing that Liu Zheng hadn’t brought it up, Jiang Weisheng asked of his own accord.

"I don’t need a share."

Liu Zheng shook his head.

"Huh? Mr. Liu, don’t tell me you look down on that little bit of money?"

Jiang Weisheng said suspiciously.

"Not exactly. First, making the connection with the mermaid princess is something you’ll have to do yourselves. I can talk to her on the phone, but I absolutely won’t go to the Deep Sea Empire. Second, at least before you get me enough deep-sea volcanic mud, I won’t speak up on your behalf."

He shook his head.

He’d seen too many cases of repaying kindness with betrayal, and the mermaid princess seemed to have her own secrets coming to the Metropolis. Under those circumstances, he had zero intention of walking into her turf himself.

"Alright then, we’ll talk about it when the time comes."

Jiang Weisheng was a bit disappointed but still nodded.

If something’s off, there’s a reason. Liu Zheng had already turned down a share of the profits; if he didn’t set stricter conditions elsewhere, Jiang Weisheng would actually start suspecting there was a con involved.

"Then on your side..."