Chapter 341 - 260: In Today’s Huangpu Guard, Only One Man Deserves to Be Called Master

Chapter 341: Chapter 260: In Today’s Huangpu Guard, Only One Man Deserves to Be Called Master

「Huangpu Guard.」

The roar of cannons the previous night had kept many people awake, but their reactions couldn’t have been more different.

The common folk were terrified, while the various factions were a mix of excitement and shock.

After all, explosions don’t lie, and the flames erupting from the enormous ships were bright enough to illuminate the entire surface of the sea.

At first, the various factions had no idea what was happening. Some were even terrified, believing the fleet had launched an attack on the Huangpu Guard.

It wasn’t until the situation became clear that many were astonished to discover the fleet had turned on itself.

The successive volleys of cannon fire, followed by the sinking of three massive ships in a row, left many observers completely dumbfounded.

And then, a question surfaced in many minds.

’What in the world is going on?’

’How could they suddenly turn on each other for no good reason?’

However, such questions were limited to the smaller, less-informed factions. As for the major powers with better intelligence, they quickly connected the event to what had transpired at Flower Square that night, and the answer became glaringly obvious.

Because in all of the Huangpu Guard, there was only one person with the means to pull this off.

Wei Tiantong was certainly one of the well-informed. Coupled with Miyamoto Sha, who was also constantly probing for information, he naturally learned of the situation right away.

When news arrived that the great ships at sea were engaged in internal conflict, firing upon one another, Miyamoto Sha’s first reaction was that it was impossible.

’The fleet is being personally led by a prince. How could anything possibly go wrong?’

But when the news came that the flagship had been the first to sink, followed closely by two other giant ships, leaving only one remaining, Miyamoto Sha was left completely stunned.

She sat there in a daze, her mind a complete blank.

She never imagined that a situation where she held every advantage, where victory seemed assured, could unravel so quickly and end in such a crushing defeat.

And the cause of all this was merely the death of an old wonton seller.

At this thought, Miyamoto Sha felt beyond tears as an overwhelming hatred for Ono Shunyu, the architect of this entire disaster, swelled within her.

’That damned bastard,’ she fumed. ’The Monarch’s grand ambitions, ruined at the hands of such a man.’

But it was too late for regrets now.

Because just then, Wei Tiantong, sitting opposite her, suddenly spoke. "Miss Miyamoto, you’ve lost."

"Yes... I’ve lost," Miyamoto Sha said, her voice hollow.

Then, she lifted her head and said with a bitter smile, "I’m willing to admit defeat. Even as a woman, I understand that principle, so you don’t need to remind me. I will transfer all of my businesses to you today."

Miyamoto Sha knew better than anyone that her previous status had been built entirely on the might of the East Sea Nation.

After all, no argument is as persuasive as the giant cannons at sea.

But now that those advantages had vanished, her status would naturally crumble along with them.

But before Wei Tiantong could say a word, Hua Ziqi—the very same man who had been so deferential to Miyamoto Sha just moments before—spoke up first.

"Leave? It’s not that easy," Hua Ziqi sneered. "I’m telling you, not a single one of you from the East Sea Nation is going anywhere. You’re all staying put."

Miyamoto Sha’s expression changed. "What do you mean?"

"What do I mean? What do you think I mean? Do you think the Huangpu Guard is a place you can come and go as you please? You know better than anyone how Lu Shengjiang died. Now that the tide has turned, you want to pull out? You think that’s possible?"

Miyamoto Sha’s expression wavered, and the look she gave Hua Ziqi was incredibly complex.

After all, right after she had "taken care of" Lu Shengjiang and seized control of the grain and oil industries in the Huangpu Guard, this very same Hua Ziqi had eagerly come to her side.

And now, she realized, he was the first to turn on her.

She then turned to Wei Tiantong.

"Shopkeeper Wei, do you feel the same way?"

Wei Tiantong didn’t answer Miyamoto Sha directly. He leaned back in his chair, gently stroking the jade thumb ring on his hand. Only after a long while did he say nonchalantly,

"We of Great Yan have an old saying: ’A life for a life, a debt for a debt.’ I find those nine words quite reasonable, don’t you?"

Miyamoto Sha’s expression changed drastically. She whipped her hand up, about to draw a firearm hidden in her sleeve, but at that exact moment, a gunshot rang out.

Miyamoto Sha’s chest, neck, and face were shredded by countless iron pellets, turning them into a bloody sieve. She slumped limply in her chair, and a torrent of blood quickly dyed her entire body red.

Even so, she wasn’t dead yet. Her eyes were wide open, staring intently at Wei Tiantong across from her.

A firearm had appeared in Wei Tiantong’s hand at some point, its muzzle still emitting wisps of blue smoke.

"Did you really think you’re the only ones who know how to play with guns?" Wei Tiantong said coldly.

Ever since Miyamoto Sha arrived in the Huangpu Guard, Wei Tiantong had become keenly aware of the power of firearms. He had spared no expense and tried every method possible to finally get his hands on a high-powered one for himself.

"Brother Wei, why’d you have to kill the woman? What a waste," Hua Ziqi said with a look of pity, staring at Miyamoto Sha’s body, which had been blasted into a mangled heap of flesh.

Wei Tiantong shot him a cold glance. "If you don’t want to die unjustly in your sleep, I’d advise you to stay away from women like that."

Hua Ziqi gave a sheepish laugh. "I was just making an offhand comment! Look at you, taking it so seriously!"

Seeing this, Miyamoto Sha, who was only a breath away from death, finally seemed to understand something. A gurgling sound escaped her throat.

Hua Ziqi chuckled darkly. "What, surprised? That’s right, I did pledge my loyalty to you. But that was on Master Wei’s orders."