Chapter 358: Praising Zi

"Ok. I got it," Hao Ren answered.

"Where are you? How come it sounds so windy through the phone?" Hao Zhonghua asked.

"I'm behind the library, and there's a vent nearby," Hao Ren hurried to explain.

They were on the top of First Heaven which was almost 2,000 meters above the ground. With planes coming and going, it was undoubtedly quite windy.

"Anyway, your mom and I won't come back for dinner tonight." Hao Zhonghua hung up.

Hao Ren put away his cell phone and put up a red energy sphere around him before riding Little White toward the East Ocean University.

When Qin Shaoyang climbed out from the crater with a black face, Zhao Haoran who was in a suit was sitting in the armchair in the CEO's Office on the top floor of the headquarter of the Mingri Group with a cup of coffee in his hand, glancing at the news on Wallstreet Journal.

The Mingri Group's funds were behind some of the recent international financial activities. Since the group went abroad, it had become one of the main force behind the curtain of the global financial market. Since Zhao Haoran was leading that group, Zhao Guang didn't even know about it since he was only in charge of the domestic businesses.

It was ridiculous and suicidal for the West Ocean Dragon Palace to attack the business of the East Ocean Dragon Palace!

After finishing the last page of the paper, Zhao Haoran tossed it onto the desk and turned to Zhao Guang who was sitting on the couch by the wall. "You've contacted them all?"

"Yes, we have," Zhao Guang answered.

Zhao Haoran didn't reply; he picked up another newspaper, Financial Times, and began reading.

The elders had personally gone abroad to buy the papers for him since Zhao Haoran was used to reading newspapers while drinking coffee each morning.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

The measured knocking came from the door, showing that the person on the other side of the door was afraid to disturb Zhao Haoran.

"Come in!" Zhao Haoran said without looking up.

Elder Lu and Elder Sun walked in.

Zhao Haoran put the newspaper on his lap and sipped his coffee. "Speak."

"Your Majesty, the South Ocean Dragon Clan took the notice of war and didn't give an answer," Elder Lu said.

"Your majesty, the North Ocean Dragon Clan also took the notice of war and didn't give an answer," Elder Sun reported.

"Ok." Zhao Haoran nodded with no expression.

Elder Lu and Elder Sun exchanged a look while Zhao Guang who was sitting on the couch had a grim expression on his face.

Accepting the notices of war meant that they had taken the challenge issued by the East Ocean Dragon Clan. If they sent acceptances of war back to the East Ocean Dagon Clan in a day or so, the war would begin.

However, the notices of war had been issued, and it was impossible to withdraw them.

Despite all this, Zhao Haoran sipped his coffee before lowering his head to continue reading the newspaper.

Without further instructions, Elder Lu and Elder Sun stood still. They looked like they were in their fifties and sixties, but their physical strengths were more exceptional than athletes and could stand there all day long. However, the situation...

After more than ten minutes passed, Zhao Haoran was still reading the newspaper.

In the spacious office, the only sound was the rustling of the newspaper.

Hua!

Zhao Guang stood up from the couch abruptly and hurried toward the door.

"Where are you going?" Zhao Haoran looked up at Zhao Guang and asked.

"Father, I need to make arrangements. Since Brother Kuo is not in the dragon palace, I'll lead the generals," Zhao Guang answered.

He sounded a little displeased. He wasn't happy with Zhao Haoran's iron-handedness and the current attitude.

"When did I tell you to leave?" Zhao Haoran looked at Zhao Guang casually and said.

"I..." Zhao Guang refrained from retorting.

"Elder Lu, Elder Sun, sit down!' Zhao Haoran said to them.

The two elders walked to the chairs in the office and sat down uneasily.

In fact, they wanted to hurry back to the dragon palace to inform people of the situation and get prepared.

Zhao Guang stood where he was, not knowing what to do.

"You deserve to be punished for your failure in disciplining Zi!" Zhao Haoran looked at Zhao Guang sternly. "Stand! You're not allowed to sit!"

With that, he lowered his head and sipped the coffee before him while continuing reading the newspaper.

Sitting in the chairs, Elder Lu and Elder Sun looked at Zhao Guang who stood in the middle of the office and felt a little embarrassed for him. However, it was the old dragon king's order.

While time ticked on, Zhao Guang was burning with impatience, and the two elders were also fidgeting with unease. Meanwhile, Zhao Haoran flipped through the newspapers and poured himself another cup of coffee.

The sun rose to the top of the sky above the Mingri Group's headquarter before descending in the west.

Zhao Guang didn't move a muscle while standing in the office for a whole day, and Elder Lu and Elder Sun sat stiffly in their chairs.

Zhao Haoran began to doze off at noon as if nothing was happening.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

Cautious knocking sounded at the door.

"Come in," Zhao Haoran opened his eyes and said.

A secretary walked in. "Mr. Chairman, the Black Tortoise Group called us today. They will resume the oil development project that had been paused last week. They said the funds have arrived, and the project can continue. The Vermilion Bird Group called us around the same time and said they would make plans for the new port project that had been put on hold."

Zhao Guang turned to look at the secretary at the door. "Did they call us on the phone?"

"Yes, Mr. Chairman. They called almost at the same time, and I came here to report as soon as I confirmed the information," the secretary answered respectfully.

The Black Tortoise Group and the Vermilion Bird Group respectively represented the on-land businesses of the North Ocean Dragon Clan and the South Ocean Dragon Clan. People in the business circle knew that these two groups were close allies and did things together. In fact, besides their alliance in business, they were also allies in the Dragon Tribe.

Different from the East Ocean Dragon Clan and the West Ocean Dragon Clan, the South Ocean Dragon Clan and the North Ocean Dragon Clan were comparatively weak in strength and wealth, which was why they had allied with each other. Obviously, before the calls, they had consulted with each other.

The softening in business showed their weakening in strategy regarding their attitude toward the East Ocean Dragon Clan!

Through their actions, they expressed their unwillingness to be rivals of the East Ocean Dragon Clan!

In other words, they didn't want to get involved in the conflict between East Ocean and West Ocean and suffer loses.

In the last two days, the overseas funds of Mingri Group surged in and began acquiring the businesses and companies under Conqueror Group which were controlled by the West Ocean Dragon Clan. If the South Ocean Dragon Clan and the North Ocean Dragon Clan continued supporting the West Ocean Dragon Clan, the fire would soon spread to their territories.

The West Ocean Dragon Clan was declining while the East Ocean Dragon Clan suddenly became tough, willing to wage an official war. In this crucial moment, South Ocean and North Ocean had finally understood the situation.

"Ok. "Zhao Guang waved his hand.

The secretary silently backed out of the office.

"Elder Lu, Elder Sun," Zhao Haoran called out.

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Elder Lu and Elder Sun stood up in high spirit.

"The two of you go to the West Ocean Dragon Clan immediately," Zhao Haoran said.

The two elders froze and waited for Zhao Haoran to continue.

"Send the notice of war to Zeng Xin," Zhao Haoran continued.

Zeng Xin was the real name of Oldman Zeng who was just a junior in front of Zhao Haoran.

When Zhao Haoran was sweeping over the world, Zeng Xin was only an errand boy!

Oldman Zeng was proud because he was a powerful senior member of the Dragon Tribe. However, before Zhao Haoran, the leader of the Dragon Tribe in the great war several hundred years ago, he was nothing!

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Elder Lu and Elder Sun took the order.

In fact, they were surprised that Zhao Haoran wouldn't stop even though the crisis had ended. He planned to give a heavy blow to the West Ocean Dragon Clan!

With this casual order from Zhao Haoran, the East Ocean Dragon Clan and the West Ocean Dragon Clan had now become official enemies.

However, the situation had changed, and Elder Lu and Elder Sun were now confident.

They walked out of the office with energy.

"Well, if Zhao Kuo is here, the situation wouldn't have come to this state," Zhao Haoran said with a little sigh.

Zhao Guang stood where he was and remained silent. Although his temperament was different from Zhao Kuo's, they were brothers, and he missed Zhao Kuo very much. He wondered where his brother was.

Meanwhile, in Class Two of Grade Eight at LingZhao Middle School, the Class Advisor, Luo Ying, was standing on the teaching platform and lecturing the students about the upcoming final exams.

"It's only half a month away from the final exams, and you must all work harder. Those who did well in the mid-term exams shouldn't slack, and those who lagged behind in the mid-term exams must put in more effort to raise your rankings. Don't think that you can relax and play after the final exams. After all, after this summer break, you will be in Grade Nine, facing high school entrance exams..."

The students in the classroom sat up straight, not daring to show any inattention while Luo Ying was giving a lecture.

Just released from the dragon palace, Zhao Yanzi had finally returned to school. With her hands behind her back, she sat very straight as well.

After Luo Ying's lengthy lecture, all the students relaxed and began packing up their bags when Luo Ying suddenly said, "One more thing. I want to give special recognition to Zhao Yanzi."

The students were surprised since they knew that in Luo Ying's eyes, Zhao Yanzi was a poor student who always caused trouble.

Zhao Yanzi's eyes widened in surprise as well.

"Zhao Yanzi had taken sick leave for a few days and just returned to school. However, the day before she was sick, she was on cleaning duty, and she did an excellent job!"

Luo Ying said with sincere appreciation and clapped her hands.

The students followed suit and applauded. Zhao Yanzi blushed, remembering that Hao Ren had helped her to do the cleaning. "I hope you will all stay for a while and watch how Zhao Yanzi cleans the classroom. We must all learn from her!" Luo Ying continued.

Clap... Another wave of applause sounded.

Zhao Yanzi's face turned from pink to white.

"Hao Ren, you jerk..." Zhao Yanzi gritted her teeth in frustration.