The Alliance's top brass, people like Wei Kaitai, couldn't help but smile crookedly when they saw this situation. A player like Chen Gu was simply a gift from heaven to the Alliance. Just look at him—he'd only been with the Alliance for a few days, and almost every match he was involved in managed to bring in a huge wave of attention!

As for whether it was real or fake, who cared?

The difference in vision between the executives and the grassroots on-site managers was immediately apparent.

It was only now that Gao Mengjiu, still groggy, called Chen Gu. "I drank too much last night and was sleeping soundly until Man Suling dragged me out of bed. My beard, oh my! It's true what they say, a daughter's heart eventually belongs elsewhere. What mess have you gotten yourself into again, you idiot?"

Chen Gu cursed, "How did someone as lazy as you become a top-tier agent?"

He detailed the situation to the "gorilla." As a close friend who loved to tease him, and had for decades, the gorilla naturally didn't miss any opportunity to take a jab at him. "Look at you, still so green. This kind of thing is just a small scene. Chill out. I, Ninth Master, have seen bigger storms than this. You think I'd be afraid of this little creek?"

Chen Gu snarled, "I'm still chewing Green Arrow!"

Gao Mengjiu asked, "What did you say?"

"Nothing." People in this era simply didn't get the reference. Chen Gu then asked, "So what should I do now?"

"You're doing well," said Gao Mengjiu. "However, if I were managing this, I'd have you push back the deadline for revealing the answer. Give public opinion enough time to ferment—whether people believe it or not, everyone is most interested before they get the final answer. During this time, you can maintain a very high level of hype."

"During tonight's match, you'll still use the 'Ancient Martial Nine Forms.' All sorts of speculation about the match will push this hype to a climax. After that will be the best time for you to reveal the answer."

Gao Mengjiu added, "But your approach is a safe choice. The scenario I mentioned, although it maximizes gains, is predicated on you being able to defeat Aodora."

"With your approach—admitting it suddenly before the match and demonstrating the 'Ancient Martial Nine Forms' right in front of him—even Aodora will be thrown off balance. Your chances of beating him will greatly increase. After all, he is the Alliance's second-best; defeating him would also count as a great achievement."

Chen Gu was stunned, realizing all the twists and turns involved. Then, with a serious expression, he said solemnly to Gao Mengjiu, "Exactly! That's what your old man here planned all along."

Gao Mengjiu cursed, "Get lost! I'll wash up now, and we'll go to the match site in a bit. Keep your private box reserved for me."

After hanging up, Gao Mengjiu, his hair a mess and his face showing hangover fatigue, looked helplessly at Man Suling. "Happy now?"

"Sigh, I spent the whole night entertaining clients, getting drunk for whose sake? Wasn't it all to pull in resources for you guys? And you, you can't even let me sleep peacefully..."

But Man Suling looked at him with disdain. "Last night, President Yao of Kailai Media left at 8:30 p.m. to go home. I'm good friends with President Yao's wife, you know. Then, on the social media platforms of seven or eight new singers, I saw they posted 'party all night' pictures. And guess what? I think I spotted you in them, my oh-so-hardworking and dedicated President Gao!"

Gao Mengjiu's heart tightened. It felt as if his own daughter had caught him red-handed, and his grand, illustrious fatherly image had instantly crumbled...

"HMPH!" Man Suling turned away haughtily, sending him a series of links from the interstellar net. "Besides, as for Chen Gu's latest incident, whether it's a 'little creek' or not, see for yourself."

Gao Mengjiu casually opened the links. He immediately shivered, his gaze turning blank. "My God... I, Ninth Master, have never dealt with an event this big in my entire life!"

But he quickly adapted. I absolutely can't show weakness in front of that idiot Chen Gu! Time for some self-hypnosis: It's just a small event, a tiny creek. I, Ninth Master, can wade through it with my eyes closed!

Can I really wade through it?

Yes, I can. I definitely can. I absolutely can.

I definitely can...

The players from the first six matches had gloomy faces, feeling like they had been thoroughly screwed over.

In the future, before entering any matches, I'll need to make sure I'm not grouped with that guy Chen Gu, they thought. They had fought with all their might for a victory, only to seem "dispensable" in the eyes of the audience.

At this time, the entire audience was already stirred up by that kid. They felt the first six matches were a complete waste of time and were nearly ready to wave their hands and tell the players, "Just finish up and get off the stage!"

After the matches finally ended, they went online only to find no one discussing the contests that had just concluded. Everyone was anticipating the upcoming "Beastly Martial Exhibition."

They were so angry they smashed their personal terminal devices.

Gao Mengjiu, with Man Suling in tow, was late despite rushing. Because of this, the "gorilla" hadn't stopped being nagged by "his little padded jacket" the entire way.

The old man felt utterly miserable. Had his little padded jacket been soaked through with cold water?

As soon as he entered the private box, Marshal Bai challenged him, "You're late for such an important match? You are not a true fan of the Alliance, nor a genuine friend of Chen Gu!"

Gao Mengjiu was rendered speechless.

Alright, this was a real big shot. None of my identities matter in front of him, Gao Mengjiu thought. He slumped sullenly to one side, poured himself a cup of "revival liquor," and drank quietly.