Forced to Marry a Female Billionaire CEO-Chapter 605 Ma Tong is Here

"Hmm…"

After Xu Ke finished, Yuan Shang and Duan Chongfeng fell into deep thought. It was mainly Yuan Shang who was pondering, since family constraints prevented Duan Chongfeng from intervening in the conflicts between Tianhai's native families. Only Yuan Shang, as the Vice Alliance Hierarch, had to seriously consider Xu Ke's words.

Xu Ke wasn't in a hurry and allowed Yuan Shang to think things through.

He had detailed the Ye Family's many strengths not to genuinely praise them, but to put Yuan Shang on high alert. Destroying the Ye Family was their most important strategic goal at the moment.

And Hua Xingxue was the first step Xu Ke intended to take toward that goal.

"I'll ask Old Hua to consider it further," Yuan Shang finally said with a long sigh after a while.

A sense of relief washed over Xu Ke, and he smiled. "Don't look so conflicted. My intentions aren't that complicated."

"I just want the position of Law Enforcement Hall Chief to be held by one of our own. I'm sick of the Ye Family using Peng Hetong to manipulate and disgust us."

"Don't take it so hard."

Yuan Shang picked up the documents and glared at him speechlessly. "Do you really believe that yourself?"

"Of course, I do," Xu Ke grinned.

Some things, Xu Ke would never say aloud, and neither would Yuan Shang.

But they both knew the truth. Xu Ke's desire to see Hua Xingxue reinstated was anything but charitable. To put it bluntly, Yuan Shang knew Xu Ke was scheming to use Hua Xingxue.

After all, only the Law Enforcement Hall Chief who had personally suffered the Ye Family's cruelty and survived could serve as a legitimate piece in their downfall.

However, promoting Hua Xingxue was not without risk…

I know I'm being a bit ruthless, even cruel, to Hua Xingxue and her granddaughter, whom I've never even met. Xu Ke thought. But my hands are tied.

"I'm leaving," Yuan Shang said, picking up the documents and standing.

"Go on, then."

The three of them rose.

"No need to see me out," Yuan Shang said with a casual wave, affecting a carefree air.

"I wasn't going to," Xu Ke said with a chuckle. "I just wanted to tell you to adjust the Martial Alliance's focus. Stop having them chase the Ghost Poison Elders; lower their profile. The main priority now is to investigate Lin Zhongtian's death. We need to find ways to put psychological pressure on the Ye, Huang, and Qin Families."

Yuan Shang's carefree demeanor vanished, replaced by a thunderous rage. "You little brat! Are you telling me how to do my job?"

"I wouldn't dare, Vice Alliance Leader Yuan!" Xu Ke grinned.

"Damn it! If I could beat Elder Tang, I'd kill you right now," Yuan Shang threatened fiercely.

This guy is just using me as a tool.

"My bad, my bad," Xu Ke immediately conceded.

Yuan Shang glared at him one last time before taking his things and leaving.

As he watched Yuan Shang's retreating back, Tang Yingchang smiled silently to himself. Vice Alliance Leader Yuan, even if I didn't step in, you probably couldn't beat Mister Xu…

...

After Yuan Shang left, Duan Chongfeng scratched the back of his head. "So, you're planning to move against the Ye Family now?"

"We definitely have to make a move. We'll just wear them down slowly," Xu Ke replied. "The Ye Family will never stop trying to destroy me, and the feeling is mutual."

"Tsk..." Duan Chongfeng clicked his tongue. "Honestly, this place, Tianhai, is too chaotic. It's not suited for a young genius like you to develop."

"It would be so much better if you came to Long Capital. The power structures there are stable, and people negotiate with each other instead of resorting to such bloodshed."

Xu Ke couldn't help but laugh. "You call that negotiation?"

"If there wasn't someone keeping them in check, they'd have beaten each other's brains out by now..."

Who dares act recklessly beneath the foot of the great dragon?

Although Tianhai was a major economic center, which invigorated the residents' quality of life and urban development, its downside was an excessive atmosphere of freedom, where everyone fought without restraint.

If Tianhai were like Long Capital, with someone keeping everyone in line, Xu Ke guaranteed he could be having tea and opening hotels with Ye Yunfeng every day.

Just like Bai Lejing and Xie Jiancheng…

"If you put it that way... you're not wrong," Duan Chongfeng admitted, choking on his words.

He was not unaware of this. He had only been trying to persuade Xu Ke to go to Long Capital and join the Duan Family. He never expected Xu Ke to call his bluff right away…

"Don't worry. I'll get to Long Capital sooner or later," Xu Ke said with a smile. "There's a whole group of people there who want me dead."

Duan Chongfeng had just started to feel happy hearing the first half of the sentence, but the second half wiped the smile clean off his face…

This guy's only going to Long Capital to start fights!

"Forget it, forget it. Just be careful with your next moves. Call me if there's anything I can do to help," Duan Chongfeng said, patting his shoulder.

"No problem," Xu Ke smiled, then quickly added, "Actually, there is something you can help me with."

"What is it?" Duan Chongfeng's eyes lit up.

He had been fretting about his family's restrictions preventing him from helping Yuan Shang and Xu Ke. Did this mean that he, Boss Duan, finally had a chance to shine?

As his excitement grew, Xu Ke grinned just as excitedly and said:

"Help me cover the room and board for the five from the Northern Dragon Guard..."

The joyful look on Duan Chongfeng's face froze. He spat out a single word:

"Scram!"

...

When Xu Ke left Villa No. 1 with Tang Yingchang, Duan Chongfeng saw them out, though he wasn't really there for Xu Ke.

"Elder Tang, please feel free to visit more often. Long Capital has many interesting sights, and I'll take you to see them when I get the chance," Duan Chongfeng said with a beaming smile as he handed a box of Dahongpao from Tian City to Tang Yingchang. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

Tang Yingchang nodded, awkward but polite, as he couldn't very well refuse the gift from Boss Duan. "Thank you, Boss Duan."

"Don't be so formal. Just call me Chongfeng."

"Alright, that's enough poaching. I'm still standing right here," Xu Ke said, watching from the side.

Every time he brought Tang Yingchang or Wang Wu over, Duan Chongfeng would make his presence felt just to leave an impression on them.

"Pay him no mind, pay him no mind," Duan Chongfeng said with a wide grin, having perfectly learned Xu Ke's own playbook.

Xu Ke was speechless.

Just then, a hearty female voice called out from nearby. "Good evening, Boss Duan!"

Xu Ke turned toward the voice, startled.

He saw a man and a woman approaching. The man was dressed in a black shirt and pants, his hair neatly shaved, though Xu Ke noticed his head was unusually large. The woman had short hair, about the same length as Bai Qian'er's. Her features were well-proportioned and stately, her skin a healthy wheat color. She was tall, at least 1.75 meters by Xu Ke's estimate.

It was the woman who had spoken.

As the pair drew closer, the man bowed slightly to Duan Chongfeng, a bit timidly. "Good evening, Boss Duan."

"Hello to you both. Just get back?" Duan Chongfeng smiled.

"We did!" the woman nodded slightly. She then looked at Xu Ke, paused for a moment, and her eyes flashed with surprise. "And who might this be?"

"Oh, I forgot to introduce you." It was only then that Duan Chongfeng remembered they hadn't met. A curious smile played on his lips as he looked at Xu Ke. "These two are young talents from the Northern Dragon Guard. He is Ma Lian, and she is Xiang Hongyu."

Xiang Hongyu laughed heartily. "Both of our names are hard to remember. Just use our nicknames. I'm Ma Tong, and he's Da Tou."

The man, Da Tou, nodded. "Just call me Da Tou."

Xu Ke's eyes flew wide open.

"Alright, nicknames it is. They sound friendlier," Duan Chongfeng said, recovering after being momentarily stunned by Xiang Hongyu's self-introduction. He then gestured to Xu Ke. "This is Xu Ke. I'm sure you've both heard of him."

Before he could finish, Xiang Hongyu spoke. Her voice was filled with astonishment, realization, and the pleasant surprise of finding someone you've searched high and low for.

"So, you're Xu Ke!"

Meanwhile, Xu Ke's voice was filled with bewilderment, shock, and a mind full of questions.

"You're... Ma Tong?!"