Their surprise that Wang Qifu let Xu Ke speak stemmed from how astonishingly fast he was climbing the ranks. But Wang Qifu's intention to train Xu Ke was clear to everyone. However, when Ye Yunfeng casually made a few remarks, Xu Ke simply remained silent.

So what was going to happen?

But just then, Xu Ke spoke.

"Family Head Ye, you spoke well, and being a guest professor at Tianhai University isn't a bad gig either. But you seem to have forgotten the rules of the Martial Alliance. I hope you understand one thing…"

A sarcastic smile touched Xu Ke's lips, his eyes turning icy. "The amount of compensation you owe is not defined by how much money our corporation has or how much it can make. When you engage in unfair practices to infringe on our rights, you should understand that your profit is the measure of your penalty. The facts are clear and have been acknowledged by Alliance Leader Chen, so you don't need to give me that 'young people don't know any better' speech."

"Family Head Ye, when you owe money, you pay it. Saying the Wang Family is broke doesn't change the fact that you have to pay."

"Furthermore, if you think the profits I mentioned are exaggerated… then that doesn't show I'm being unreasonable. It just means the Ye Family's capabilities are lacking and still need work. After all, the amount I'm demanding is based on what you earn. If you can make a lot, I'll ask for a lot. If your incompetence means you make less, then I'll ask for less."

"That's all I have to say. If you think I'm wrong, Family Head Ye, by all means, correct me. But that doesn't mean I'll listen. After all, I just sent a professor from Tianhai University packing."

The moment he finished speaking, the quiet meeting room fell into a dead silence.

The three representatives from the Martial Alliance stared at Xu Ke, slack-jawed.

They hadn't expected Xu Ke's silence to be him brewing such a powerful counterattack. His speech not only invoked the Martial Alliance's regulations but also pointedly insulted Ye Yunfeng to his face—So what if you mock our Wang Family for failing to secure the land? You still have to pay up, don't you? If you pay less, it doesn't mean you, Ye Yunfeng, are impressive or that you won the debate… It just means the Ye Family is useless and couldn't make a single cent from the land!

Yuan Shang, who was flipping through documents at the side, fought to suppress his laughter.

He desperately wanted to stand up, run over to Ye Yunfeng, and do a celebratory dance. The Ye Family had been trying to infiltrate the Martial Alliance for years, much to Yuan Shang's displeasure. Now that he finally had a chance to mock them, he was itching to take it. Unfortunately, this wasn't the right time or place…

Peng Hetong's face stiffened. He grimaced and lowered his head again.

What Xu Ke said was perfectly reasonable and by the book; there were no flaws.

Peng Hetong shook his head. The Ye Family is really taking a beating!

As for Chen Xiong, he shot a sideways glance at Ye Yunfeng. The haughtiness on Ye Yunfeng's face had frozen, replaced by a blank expression. But under the table, his hands were clenched into fists, knuckles white from the force of his grip. He was furious!

Ye Fan saw his father's clenched fists and wanted to say something, but ultimately kept his mouth shut. It wasn't the first time Xu Ke had humiliated him. If he spoke up now when he had no grounds to stand on, it would only lead to even greater humiliation.

After a tense silence that lasted for more than ten seconds, Ye Yunfeng finally straightened his shoulders slightly. His face was expressionless as he said, "You spoke well. But if we have to pay you everything we earn, doesn't that just make us employees of the Wang Family? What would we need this land for then? Because we had nothing better to do?"

He had shifted the focus, avoiding an argument with Xu Ke over the amount of profit.

But Xu Ke sneered, "Isn't that exactly why you took the land? Because you had nothing better to do?"

"You…" Ye Fan exploded. "Are you insulting my father?"

Xu Ke raised an eyebrow. "Is it wrong for me to agree with and affirm your father's own astute assessment of the Ye Family?"

Ye Fan nearly choked with rage.

Seeing this, Ye Yunfeng bellowed, "Sit down!"

Ye Fan timidly shrank back into his seat.

Upon seeing this, Chen Xiong and Yuan Shang exchanged a look. They knew Ye Yunfeng was infuriated. The scolding was ostensibly for Ye Fan, but it was really an outlet for Ye Yunfeng's helpless fury toward Xu Ke.

"It's very simple now," Ye Yunfeng said, turning to Xu Ke after venting his anger. "Your demand for all of our profits is simply impossible."

"Then what do you propose?" Xu Ke asked calmly.

Ye Yunfeng said, "A profit split, with a time limit. You have no costs at all. It's impossible for us to be locked into a joint development project with you indefinitely."

Xu Ke smiled. "Excellent. Then you must guarantee transparency. The Wang Family Corporation doesn't mind incurring some costs. We can send a team of professional accountants or supervisors. Either will do."

"That won't be necessary. The Ye Family isn't so shameless as to commit fraud over this." Ye Yunfeng snorted, seething with internal rage. I'd love to slap him dead right here… You call sending people to watch over us 'incurring a cost'?!

Xu Ke raised his eyebrows. "Are you saying you're incapable of such a thing? If you were, we wouldn't need to be having this meeting."

Ye Yunfeng's face darkened.

Xu Ke turned to Chen Xiong. "Alliance Leader Chen, I don't fully understand the specifics of the profit split and the matter of supervisors. What do you believe is the appropriate way to handle this?"

Xu Ke had been merciless with Ye Yunfeng, but he adopted a very humble posture when addressing Chen Xiong. Although Chen Xiong's expression remained neutral, he felt a sense of satisfaction inwardly. As the Martial Alliance Leader, his status was elevated when acting as an arbiter. Ordinarily, however, he was just the Head of the Chen Family, on equal footing with Ye Yunfeng. But now that Xu Ke was showing him such deference, it felt completely different…

Chen Xiong was silent for a moment before speaking slowly. "How about this: we'll set a ten-year term with an annual fifty-fifty profit split. The Wang Family may send supervisory personnel to participate in the financial work to ensure the data is reliable, but they must not interfere in the Ye Family's business operations.

"Meanwhile, for the first year, the Ye Family will pay the Wang Family twice their profits as a penalty.

"Furthermore, for the first three years, the Ye Family must pay the Martial Alliance half of their share of the profits after the split with the Wang Family. This will serve as forfeiture of their illicit gains."

The moment he finished, Ye Fan's face turned deathly pale.

He had done so much last year—partnering with the Huang Family, pulling so many strings… And in the end, it was all for nothing! If word of this got back to the family, his future would be completely ruined. He'd never get another chance.

At the same time, Peng Hetong's face turned a mottled purple with rage.

He was from the Law Enforcement Hall. Yet he had to stand by and watch the Ye Family lose so much profit and pay such massive compensation, all while being utterly powerless to help… How was he supposed to retire into the Ye Family's care now? What kind of retirement would that be! It was all ruined, completely ruined by Xu Ke!

A tightness constricted his chest, and his heart clenched in a painful spasm.

Ye Yunfeng's face instantly turned livid.

A ten-year, fifty-fifty split. Based on their project assessments, that was over two billion evaporated in an instant… Double profits for the first year as a penalty—that's another five or six hundred million gone… And the forfeiture of illicit gains… another three or four hundred million lost… All told, the Ye Family stood to lose around four billion over the next ten years… Four billion! Gone! Gone, just like that, with a few simple sentences!

Ye Yunfeng could no longer maintain his composure. His features began to twist into a grimace.

All because of that infuriating Xu Ke!

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