The Mysterious Card Maker: Starting with Zhang Jiao's Deification

"President Wang, isn't it a bit inappropriate to poach people from our foundation?" Just then, Zhao Zhong's voice suddenly came from outside the villa.

Lin Fan turned his head and saw Zhao Zhong leading Qin Muyao in from outside, his gaze fixed on Wang Bo.

When Wang Bo saw Zhao Zhong arrive, he showed no surprise whatsoever, as if he had expected him to appear.

"Chairman Zhao, you're not quite right," Wang Bo said with a smile. "Mr. Xiao Hei isn't one of your foundation's employees."

"Besides, I just feel that a card maker like Mr. Xiao Hei has a lot of potential for advancement and shouldn't be buried here."

After he finished speaking, he waved his hand lightly, and the two men in black behind him immediately closed the gift box again and silently retreated to their original positions.

"Oh, right, I don't think I've formally introduced myself yet," Wang Bo said casually, adjusting his sleeves as he looked down.

"I belong to the foundation's 'headquarters'." He emphasized the word "headquarters".

"In terms of resources, authority, and status, none of them can compare to this foundation."

"If Mr. Xiao Hei is willing to join us..." Wang Bo paused deliberately, a slow smile spreading across his face.

"I can guarantee that you'll soon be sitting in a position similar to mine." As he said this, he gave Zhao Zhong a meaningful look.

When Zhao Zhong heard this, his smile froze, and the veins on his forehead bulged, but he still suppressed his emotions and did not lash out on the spot.

"Mr. Xiao Hei," Wang Bo looked at Lin Fan again, his tone gentle, "you should think it over carefully. You're welcome to come over anytime while I'm here."

After he finished speaking, he turned and walked away, but as he passed Zhao Zhong, he suddenly stopped.

"Chairman Zhao."

Wang Bo turned his head, still smiling, "You don't look too well. Why don't you go back and rest?"

The air fell silent instantly.

Zhao Zhong remained silent for a few seconds before managing to force a smile.

"Thank you for your concern, Vice President Wang. I probably haven't been resting well lately, it's nothing serious."

Wang Bo seemed completely oblivious to the emotions in his tone, and his smile only deepened.

"You must take care of your health, Chairman Zhao. After all, you're not young anymore, and who knows, one day... you might have to retire!"

After saying that, he raised his hand and patted Zhao Zhong on the shoulder.

The movement seemed casual, but it made Zhao Zhong's body visibly stiffen for a moment.

Afterwards, Wang Bo led his men away from the villa at a leisurely pace.

Only after they had completely disappeared from sight did the smile on Zhao Zhong's face gradually fade. His knuckles clenched so tightly they turned white, and his body trembled slightly from suppressing his emotions.

Seeing this, Su Wanqing quickly stepped forward to support him and gently patted his back.

"Are you alright?"

After a long while, Zhao Zhongcai slowly exhaled, forcibly suppressing his emotions.

"fine."

His voice was noticeably lower, and then he looked up at Su Wanqing and Da Niu.

"Wanqing, you and Da Niu go out and keep watch first. I need to have a few words with Mr. Lin alone."

"it is good."

Su Wanqing nodded. Before leaving, she made a point of exchanging a glance with Lin Fan. There was no panic in her eyes, only a relaxed feeling that "it's all taken care of."

Seeing this, Lin Fan felt a slight sense of relief.

It seems that Su Wanqing has kept Xiao Hei's identity a secret for him.

After Zhao Zhong and the others had completely closed the villa's doors, he slowly spoke, "Mr. Lin, everyone's gone. You can take off your mask now."

Lin Fan remained silent for a moment, then his fingertips flicked, and his face flashed with light. The [White Peach Wood Mask] transformed into a card and returned to his hand.

"Mr. Zhao, is there something you need from me?"

Zhao Zhong's expression softened considerably at this moment, and the suppressed anger he had felt when facing Wang Bo earlier was now back in his heart.

"There is indeed one more thing."

"If it's about making cards, Da Niu should have already conveyed the message for me. Once I'm in the right state of mind, I'll make the 'He Jin' card."

When Zhao Zhong heard Lin Fan speak, he shook his head. "I came here today not just to make cards."

"Is there anything else?" Lin Fan suddenly became interested. He couldn't imagine what else Zhao Zhong might want besides urging him to speed up the card production process.

Zhao Zhong paused, considered for a moment, and then said, "I hope you can clearly refuse Wang Bo's invitation."

"In front of Wang Bo, I'm just Xiao Hei. If the real boss finds out about me one day and comes after me, I won't know how to explain myself."

Lin Fan frowned slightly, a troubled look on his face. Of course, he knew that this day would never come, after all, he was 'Little Black' himself.

Besides wanting to know why Zhao Zhong did this, he also wanted to get some benefits from it. Ever since he first sent those material cards, Zhao Zhong had never sent him any new cards.

Zhao Zhong, however, seemed to have anticipated Lin Fan's words and immediately took over the conversation.

"I'm doing this for your own good. If you agree to Wang Bo's request, knowing him as I do, he might just take you directly to 'headquarters'."

"If you slip up and it's discovered you're not 'Little Black,' you probably won't even see the sun rise the next day."

"Hmm? What do you mean by that, Mr. Zhao?" Lin Fan looked at Zhao Zhong calmly.

"Isn't Xiao Hei's most valuable asset his card-making ability? What he can do, I can do too."

"Even if it's discovered later that I'm not Xiao Hei, as long as I reveal my card-making methods, I don't think those people at headquarters would go so far as to take action against me directly, right?"

Lin Fan's tone suddenly changed at this point, "Or... is Mr. Zhao worried that after I'm poached by headquarters, they won't produce 'He Jin' for you anymore?"

Zhao Zhong looked at Lin Fan and suddenly smiled, "On this point, I believe Mr. Lin. You don't seem like the kind of person who goes back on his word."

Hearing this, Lin Fan smiled and said directly, "Then what is Mr. Zhao worried about? Surely you're not really worried that I'll be discovered by headquarters one day!"

Seeing that Lin Fan had noticed something, Zhao Zhong stopped trying to hide it. He slowly walked to the window and looked out at the manor.

"I have been preparing this 'He Jin' document for nearly ten years. Much of the information in it is classified information that cannot be known to outsiders, not even headquarters."

Hearing this, Lin Fan understood that what Zhao Zhong was truly worried about was never "Xiao Hei" or his identity as a card maker.

Rather, once he enters the headquarters, or more precisely, the All Souls Society, he might expose He Jin's affairs, and then they might find out about his plans against the All Souls Society.

"So Mr. Zhao wants me to keep this a secret?"

Zhao Zhong looked at Lin Fan, his smile still gentle. "There are usually only two types of people who keep secrets."

"One type is our own people, and the other..." Zhao Zhong paused for a moment, then didn't continue.

The air suddenly became quiet, and a faint sense of oppression emanated from Zhao Zhong.

"The other kind isn't one of our own, but they can definitely offer benefits, right? I'd be willing to be that kind of person." Lin Fan said this, but he remained constantly wary of Zhao Zhong.