My exclusive card pool

Chapter 279 deserves an explanation.
Haicheng Yongxie Headquarters.

rest area.

In the afternoon, there was a knock on Wang Xi's door.

Tuk Tuk.

The door opened, and a silver-haired girl, dressed in a white floral dress, stood gracefully outside.

"Brother Xi, ta-da!"

Chu Nai presented the bouquet of flowers she was holding, her eyes crinkling with a smile, and she even added a playful voiceover.

"Huh?" Wang Xi was completely taken aback by the girl's actions. He paused for a moment before reaching out to take the item and asking, "What are you doing?"

"I knew you passed the 'Preparatory Disaster Hunter' test, so I bought some flowers on the way here. It's good to have a little ceremony, isn't it?"

Chu Nai chuckled.

"I received a cell phone broadcast notification from the Overlook Bureau immediately. At first, I didn't react. I never expected that Brother Xi had become a 'Disaster Hunter.'"

"Thanks." Wang Xi smiled gently, took the flowers, and welcomed Chu Nai into the house before closing the door.

The girl walked to the table, and without any hesitation, picked up Wang Xi's cup, took a sip of water, and continued:
"Hmm, it seems I can't fall behind either. Once I get back to Kunwu Camp, I'll prepare to climb the rankings and get the rewards... and after digesting Rogers' deck, my strength should improve significantly."

"You'll definitely have no problem getting first place this month. You might even receive an invitation to the 'Preparatory Disaster Hunt' assessment."

Wang Xi placed the flowers on the table, turned his head and smiled.

"By the way, Xiao Nai, has everything been settled at Dongzhou University?"

"Yes, it's all taken care of." Chu Nai nodded, then smiled broadly and said happily, "There was a bit of an accident while leading the team this time, and Dongzhou University even gave me compensation."

"Brother Xi, guess how much money it has?"

Wang Xi, playing the straight man, asked, "How much?"

Chu Nai held up a number and exclaimed in an exaggerated tone, "Eight million! Hehe! I used to only get one or two million for doing things for the school, but this time it's several times more!"

Upon hearing this, Wang Xi sighed inwardly.

This silly girl has really never seen a lot of money before...

Despite possessing top-tier "Taisho" level strength, he was doing jobs that even high-ranking warriors could easily earn.

Chu Nai almost lost his life because of this incident, but Dongzhou University only gave him a paltry eight million.

In truth, Wang Xi knew that all official institutions were like this. The most typical example was the Bureau of Oversight and the Public Security Bureau, whose salaries and bonuses were notoriously meager. Not to mention compared to the benefits offered by conglomerates, even Hermes Business Alliance and Cupid Housekeeping were much more generous.

Moreover, Chu Nai's situation is rather special.

Because she inherited the core deck of her predecessor, "Haicheng Taiyu: The Burning Sin Old Man," she had to work for Dongzhou University as a way of repaying him.

Wang Xi was thinking when he heard Chu Nai say again:
"...With this money, Mom and Dad can pay off part of the research debt they owe to the Gear Group."

Judging from her tone, she seemed quite satisfied.

Wang Xi shook his head and asked, "Xiao Nai, how much money do your aunt and uncle still owe the Gear Corporation?"

This time, Chu Nai did not hide it anymore. After a slight hesitation, he said frankly, "Well... I originally had 6000 million. Over the years, I have paid back more than 1000 million, and I still have about 4600 million left."

Upon hearing this, Wang Xi frowned inwardly.

"I never expected Xiao Nai to be such a high earner, making so much money."

He made a joking remark.

Chu Nai shook her head shyly: "It's nothing. As long as I can pay off the debt as soon as possible, I'll feel more at ease..."

Wang Xi thought for a moment, then said casually, "I happen to have some spare cash on hand, so why don't I just pay it off in one go?"

"Huh?" Chu Nai was taken aback. "Brother Xi, how come you have so much money?"

"Hmm..." Wang Xi said. "Do you remember that wealthy woman from the Shining Consortium I met in Gucheng?"

Unexpectedly, Chu Nai's eyes narrowed and suddenly became sharp.

Wang Xi couldn't help but chuckle: "I had accumulated a lot of high-level colored cards that I didn't need in the disaster zone and the maze. The Shining Consortium saw my potential and invested in me... So I packaged these cards and sold them to them, making a fortune."

Upon hearing this, Chu Nai's expression softened.

But she still shook her head: "No, Brother Xi, this is a family matter, there's no need to trouble you... Besides, this debt is not a small amount."

"Consider it a loan from me," Wang Xi chuckled. "It's better to owe me than to owe the Gear Consortium, right? I'm not going to ask you for money every month... Besides, the Shining Consortium sends me money every month, so I'm not short of cash for the time being."

After hesitating for a long time, Chu Nai finally nodded and said, "Thank you, Brother Xi..."

In fact, she knew very well that Brother Xi was saying all this to ease her burden and make it easier for her to accept.

The other person's care and affection filled the girl's heart with sweetness.

...

...

Because the two had agreed to return to Zhongzhou the next day, Wang Xi accompanied Chu Nai to the Haicheng Gear Group branch in the city center that afternoon.

The skyscraper, like a giant metal sword, pierces the sky and stands tall in the bustling central business district.

On the giant screen on the building's exterior wall, dazzling advertisements for the latest models of armed mechs, nanotech armor, and energy weapons are constantly scrolling.

In front of the building is a hovercar exhibition and sales area. High-end hovercars of various shapes are neatly arranged, and large transport vehicles shuttle back and forth, unloading or loading tightly sealed cargo boxes.

Wang Xi and Chu Nai walked into the park and were somewhat surprised by the orderly and busy scene.

Compared to other areas of Haicheng, this place seems to have escaped the disaster, and the Gear Group's business is even more booming.

The two walked straight into the impressive, fully automatic sensor door, where the first floor was a spacious and bright technology exhibition hall.

Products from various gear conglomerates are displayed in shop windows, where well-dressed customers chat and laugh with professional sales assistants or try out the products themselves in the experience area.

Their arrival did not attract much attention.

A young and capable female receptionist stepped forward and politely inquired about the purpose of the visit.

After Chu Nai explained that he was there to settle the research debts left by his parents, the female receptionist maintained her formulaic smile and led them to a relatively quiet VIP reception room, asking them to wait a moment.

The private room was exquisitely furnished, but lacked warmth.

The "tea" that was served was brought by a general service machine. It contained only warm water and not even a single tea leaf, making the perfunctory attitude obvious.

The wait was longer than expected.

Just as Chu Nai frowned slightly, the door to the private room was finally pushed open. A middle-aged woman, around forty years old, wearing a gray shiny business suit, walked in.

Her makeup was impeccable, and her eyes revealed a shrewdness.

"You two have been waiting for a long time."

The woman smiled.

“I am Selena Wu, the regional customer relationship manager.”

After a brief exchange, the two sides...

Chunai provided the relevant debt document numbers.

The female manager quickly operated the on-screen display she carried, bringing up the file, and a perfectly timed "aha!" expression appeared on her face:
"Oh, it's that old debt of Dr. Chu and his wife... The total amount is confirmed, and there are still 4600 million credits left."

Chu Nai nodded and was about to proceed with the transfer.

The female manager then changed the subject, saying with a hint of apology, "However, Ms. Chu Nai, according to Article 17 of the original contract, the outstanding minimum repayment balance over the years will incur an additional late payment fee of 600 million credit points."

Chu Nai frowned slightly: "Late fees...why weren't there before?"

The female manager spread her hands, her expression appearing quite innocent.
"The contract does clearly stipulate that, Ms. Chu, the previous person in charge, considering the contributions Dr. Chu and his wife had made to the consortium, as well as their...unfortunate experiences, made some lenient arrangements in the execution and did not pursue the collection of debts."

"However, more than ten years have passed, and that person in charge has long since retired. The newly appointed regional president has implemented a stricter financial recovery system, instructing us to strictly follow the contract to collect all outstanding payments, including any historical arrears."

"I'm just following the rules, please understand."

Upon hearing this, Chu Nai's face showed a hint of anger, and she was about to argue.

"Late fees, is that right?" Wang Xi's calm voice interrupted the conversation.

His gaze fell on the female manager's face.

“Of course, no problem.” He nodded. “Six million, including the principal.”

"This gentleman is a very straightforward person." A smile flashed in the female manager's eyes as she quickly operated the screen. "Then let's proceed with the formal repayment process; just a signature will suffice."

Soon, with a crisp system notification sound, Chu Nai's parents' debt account was finally reduced to zero.

Chu Nai paid 800 million, while Wang Xi helped out with 4400 million.

The female manager put on a professional smile and began to speak:
"Congratulations, Miss Chu Nai, the debt is finally paid off. The Gear Foundation will always remember Dr. Chu and his wife's outstanding contributions to the field of labyrinths..."

"Wait a moment."

Wang Xi raised his hand, forcefully interrupting the female manager, and then, amidst her astonished expression, slowly said, "Chu Nai gave your Gear Group an explanation on behalf of her parents. Now, shouldn't the Gear Group also give her parents an explanation?"

The female manager frowned: "Sir... what do you mean by that?"

Wang Xi did not answer, but instead took out a heavy metal card from his pocket.

The card is made of neither gold nor iron, and in the very center is a three-dimensional, raised, inverted blue triangle emblem—the symbol of "Weitai," the emblem of the highest federal authority.

He gently placed the card, which represented the identity and authority of "Disaster Hunter," on the table.

pat.

“Ms. Selena, I am now informing you that you must immediately summon your highest-ranking person in charge.”

Wang Xi spoke calmly.

Although the female manager was well-informed and had met many "big shots," she had never seen the card on the table before.

But that azure inverted triangle emblem couldn't possibly be faked.

This is the symbol of "Weitai"!

Selena realized that this young man's identity was probably not simple. Unsure what to do, she quickly got up.

"Please wait a moment, I will go and inform them."

She left the private room in a hurry, forgetting to even close the door.

The top floor of the building.

CEO's office.

Outside the huge floor-to-ceiling windows lies the bustling skyline of Haicheng.

Zhang Zhihai, beaming with joy, was enjoying a rare spiritual tea from the labyrinth with several important clients, discussing a procurement contract for military mecha.

The atmosphere in the office was harmonious.

buzzing...

Suddenly, his private encrypted communicator on his wrist vibrated sharply.

Zhang Zhihai frowned, intending to ignore it, but seeing that it was Selena's number, he smiled apologetically at the customer, got up, and walked to the window to answer the call.

"President, there seems to be some trouble here..."

Selena's voice sounded slightly hesitant and apprehensive.

After Zhang Zhihai finished listening to the brief explanation, his brows furrowed.

He politely apologized to the customer, summoned his subordinate to handle the reception, and then quickly went to his desk to retrieve the live surveillance footage from the VIP room.

The screen lit up, clearly showing the situation inside the private room: a man and a woman were sitting there.

Zhang Zhihai recognized the woman, after all, she was a legendary figure at Dongzhou University, and he had heard that she had joined the Kunwu Camp.

As for the man, he didn't recognize him, but he felt that he looked somewhat familiar.

Just as he was carefully examining the scene, the young man in the picture suddenly raised his head, his deep eyes seemingly piercing through the screen, and met Zhang Zhihai's gaze.

The young man suddenly revealed a meaningful smile.

"?!" Zhang Zhihai was startled.

He turned off the monitoring, frowned and pondered for a while, then brought up the internal encrypted archive.

A large amount of information that had been buried or even deliberately downplayed and concealed was unearthed.

More than a decade ago, during the "Los Angeles Fall Incident," the greed and inaction of the conglomerate's top executives led to the deaths of Chu Nai's parents.

Another couple of researchers were also involved.

When Zhang Zhihai saw that the couple had a son named "Wang Xi", he was completely stunned.

Wang Xi...

Ok? !

How come it has the same name as that newly promoted "Disaster Hunter"?
Zhang Zhihai's heart was in his throat.

He had a very bad feeling.

But as I continued reading, this premonition grew stronger.

Just recently, the head of the Gucheng branch even tried to seize the research results left by Wang Xi's parents, and even turned around and accused them of wrongdoing...

With a mix of trepidation and excitement, Zhang Zhihai checked the internal database and found Wang Xi's file.

The archive contained a message updated just two hours prior: "Active 'Disaster Hunter' in the Mountain and Sea Register, Serial Number 60, Title 'Dragon Lord'."

Let's compare the photos again.

Zhang Zhihai's anxiety finally died.

"It's over..."

He felt a chill run from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head.

It really was him!
Although the Gear Consortium has befriended many "Taiko", including several top 100 powerhouses, "Disaster Hunter" is a completely different concept.

Each "Disaster Hunter" possesses strategic-level power, making them true "guardians" of humanity.

Gulu.

Zhang Zhihai swallowed hard, cold sweat pouring down his face.

This matter involves too many levels; a regional president simply cannot make a decision on it!

Zhang Zhihai didn't dare to delay for a moment and immediately dialed a video call with the headquarters leaders.

Not long after.

Zhongzhou Longcheng, the global headquarters of the Gear Consortium.

A gray-haired man flew into a rage in his luxurious office, smashing a priceless antique crystal glass to pieces.

Snap! !
"Those idiots from Gucheng! Useless trash!!"

He roared at Zhang Zhihai on the other side of the screen:
"How did you get involved with him?! He's a 'Disaster Hunter'! And with old grudges! Are you tired of living?!"

"..."

After the roar came a suffocating silence.

Zhang Zhihai lowered his head, not daring to say a word.

The major shareholder, his hair graying, looked ashen as he rapidly weighed the pros and cons. Finally, he sighed in dejection.

The other party revealed their identity and blocked the Haicheng branch, making it impossible to suppress the matter through conventional means or other "Taiyu" connections.

He dialed a special communication channel and made the call.

This phone number is only available to board members…

The conglomerate had spent countless resources investing in the other party from when they were just "Taiya" until they finally succeeded in advancing to "Disaster Hunter" and became the conglomerate's biggest backer.

The communication was quickly connected.

A deep, hoarse voice came from behind: "What is it?"

"Master Mark."

The major shareholder spoke with utmost respect.

"Something happened at the Haicheng branch."

He briefly explained the cause and effect.

The person on the other end of the phone was silent for a few seconds.

"Okay, I got it. It's nothing."

...

...

The door to the private room was pushed open again.

The female manager, Selena, kept her head down and followed cautiously behind a slightly overweight middle-aged man whose forehead was covered with fine beads of sweat.

As soon as Zhang Zhihai entered the room, he bowed slightly to the man and woman, adopting an extremely humble attitude.

"My name is Zhang Zhihai, and I am the head of the Haicheng branch. I hope you will forgive any shortcomings in my conduct."

"Well, it's like this," he said with a fawning smile. "We just rechecked the system and found a serious malfunction. In fact, Dr. Chu and his wife's debts have already been settled... We will return all the payments Miss Chu Nai made before, including late fees."

"As compensation, the consortium will also offer an additional 1000 million credits as a token of our apology!"

He spoke very quickly, trying his best to calm things down.

Wang Xi didn't even lift his eyelids.

"It's only right and proper to pay off debts."

He leaned back lazily on the sofa and said casually, "We've paid back every penny we owed. The problem now is... how do we repay the debts owed by the Gear Group?"

“Your Los Angeles branch was seriously negligent in its risk assessment of the research project back then, and failed to take action after the disaster struck, which directly led to the deaths of my parents and Chunai’s parents. That’s one point.”

Wang Xi's voice was calm, but every word made Zhang Zhihai break out in a cold sweat.

"The head of the Gucheng branch coveted the research results left by my parents, framed and slandered them, and attempted to seize them by force. That's the second point."

"Miss Bai Qimeng of the Shining Consortium clearly produced the corresponding evidence, yet you have not been punished... Why is that? It's so hard to guess."

His gaze swept over their pale faces:

"These debts have been dragging on for over a decade. Today, it's time to settle the principal and interest."

Zhang Zhihai felt his calves cramping, his lips trembling, and he couldn't utter a single word.

Just then, the communicator on his wrist vibrated. His face lit up with joy, as if he had been granted a pardon. He practically lunged at the wall and activated the holographic projection function.

hum!
A holographic projection suddenly appeared in the center of the private room.

The projection showed a mixed-race man who looked to be in his thirties. He had a handsome face, deep-set eyes, casually draped brown curly hair, and strange dark gold pupils.

He was wearing a loose linen robe with a hood over his head, and the background was an extremely desolate snow-capped mountain.

“Mr. Wang Xi.” The man’s voice came through the holographic projection, his tone calm. “Nice to meet you. Let me introduce myself. I am Mark Fan, a current ‘Disaster Hunter’ of the Mountain and Sea Federation, serial number 44, title ‘Alchemist’.”

""Disaster Hunting"? "

Wang Xi raised an eyebrow and laughed.

"I never imagined that the Gear Consortium had 'Disaster Hunt' backing it up. No wonder they're so brazen."

Mark did not respond.

He gazed silently at Wang Xi, and said bluntly, "I already know what happened. Now that the Chu family's debts have been cleared, the matters of Gucheng and Luocheng are, in the end, old scores from the improper actions of our predecessors..."

"The Gear Consortium is an important partner of mine. Give me some face and let this matter drop, okay?"

"The consortium will show sufficient sincerity to compensate Mr. Wang and Ms. Chu for their losses and guarantee to provide them with the highest level of care in the future."

The private room was completely silent.

Chu Nai frowned slightly.

To be honest, she didn't like the man's tone; it always gave off a condescending feeling.

Wang Xi slowly stood up, walked to Mark's projection, and met his dark golden eyes without flinching.

"Give you face?"

He laughed.

Here's an egg for you!

"you……"

Mark's dark golden pupils suddenly contracted, and an invisible mental pressure surged toward Wang Xi through the projection like a tsunami.

But it was quickly and silently dissolved by an even more domineering aura, carrying a vast and majestic presence.

"This matter..." Wang Xi held up his index finger and said calmly, "There's no room for discussion. You must give me an explanation, do you understand?"

Mark's face darkened.

"Youthful vigor is a good thing, but not knowing when to advance and retreat can lead to premature death. What do you want to do?"

“Simple.” Wang Xi withdrew his fingers and stood with his hands behind his back. “The new world values ​​rules and order. I won’t resort to violence lightly.”

“Since you keep saying you’re a partner of the Gear Group and you’ve rushed here to stand up for them, then we’ll do it the cardholder’s way.”

Wang Xi's voice grew increasingly indifferent: "Let's have a fight. The winner takes all, and the loser accepts defeat."

"Ah."

Mark was so angry he laughed.

“Fine, if I lose, the Gear Consortium will compensate you and Miss Chu Nai with 10 billion credits each.”

“Credit points?” Wang Xi shook his head. “Mr. Mark, do you think credit points still have any meaning at our level?”

He raised his hand, gesturing: "Ten drops of 'Primal Ether' each. If you win, this matter is settled. If you lose, ten drops each for us."

"..."

Mark fell silent.

"Mr. Wang Xi, do you know what 20 drops of 'Primordial Ether' means?"

Wang Xi shrugged: "Afraid of losing? If you don't even have that much spirit, what kind of 'Disaster Hunter' are you? Go home and raise pigs."

"..."

Mark narrowed his eyes.

He hadn't been ridiculed like this to his face in a long time.

Ultimately, the emotion in his dark gold eyes settled into a cold composure.

"Mr. Wang Xi, I must admit, your provocation tactic was very effective."

He said lightly.

"I accept this challenge. You can decide the time and place."

Wang Xi nodded: "At the end of this month, on the 30th, in front of the 'Arena' in the Xuanzhou Disaster Zone, life or death will be irrelevant."

"Mr. Wang, please don't be late."

Mark gave him a deep look, then immediately turned off the holographic projection.

The private room fell silent.

Zhang Zhihai and Selena didn't dare to breathe, only Chu Nai cast a worried glance at Wang Xi.

(End of this chapter)