36: Chapter 36 The World is Gray

"We've been disqualified? What's going on?" Yang Bai was a bit surprised and couldn't help but ask.

In his view, although the God War Rookie Tournament had been turned into a mess by various factions, it was still officially led in essence. His performance in the arena would, at most, result in being targeted by other official contestants.

You have to understand, those major factions only obtained the right to arrange the list of participating personnel.

Deciding who could participate was the right of the organizers.

Gu Sichao saw what Yang Bai was thinking and sighed, "It wasn't the organizers' doing; it was me who canceled it. The Black and White Bear Divine Realm Network Company has officially withdrawn from this God War Rookie Tournament."

"Is this thing… serious?" Yang Bai probed.

"Serious, too serious. It has already exceeded my expectations."

Gu Sichao nodded and continued:

"Before the tournament started, what I told you was meant to prepare you mentally in advance. Because at the time, I was thinking that regardless of how you contestants fared in battle, I would disband you all."

"Who would have thought, it ended up preparing me mentally instead."

The door to the private room opened, and several waiters carrying wine bottles and trays of food walked in.

Gu Sichao tapped his finger on the table. The waiters understood and left the private room after opening the wine bottles.

Gu Sichao picked up a wine bottle, poured a glass for Yang Bai, and said with lingering fear:

"To be honest, it's already extremely fortunate that we can sit here drinking and eating now. If it weren't for some big idiot taking the fall for us, we would likely be in the ICU drinking liquid food right now."

After finishing all this, Gu Sichao took out a pack of cigarettes, shook it towards Yang Bai, signaling him to take one.

Yang Bai waved his hand, refusing, "Sorry, I don't smoke."

Gu Sichao didn't take the cigarette back; instead, he threw the whole pack to Yang Bai. "If you don't know how, then learn. You're an 18-year-old adult now; I shouldn't have to remind you of some things."

Seeing this, Yang Bai couldn't say anything else, so he pulled out a cigarette, put it in his mouth, and lit it.

Gu Sichao said earnestly, "That's right. When you're out and about, cigarettes are a matter of face. If you don't accept a cigarette, it will always make people feel displeased. I don't mind, but you need to know that you won't be facing me in the future."

As the smoke entered his lungs, Yang Bai felt a wave of discomfort, but it quickly disappeared, replaced by a special sense of pleasure.

Before transmigrating, Yang Bai had smoked quite a bit due to the pressure of preparing for postgraduate and doctoral entrance exams, but since coming to this world, he hadn't touched the stuff.

The one Gu Sichao gave him was the first one he had smoked in this world.

"Yang Bai, you've also reviewed the first battle of the Rookie Tournament, right? Did you discover any problems?"

"You're referring to that Chen Yuhao, the one with the Phantasmal Beast followers and the Destruction Black Dragon."

"That's right. This God War Rookie Tournament is extraordinary. From the start, it was a scripted play. To ensure the first-place position, the higher-ups specifically brought in a monstrous genius like Chen Yuhao. At the same time, several other families also sent people to act as wingmen for Chen Yuhao to win the championship."

Gu Sichao paused, then continued, "One of the official contestants you killed was his wingman."

Yang Bai raised an eyebrow, set the cigarette aside, and said, "Which one are you talking about? I felt they were all about the same."

"Tsk, how would I know which one? The person has already been taken care of by you; me asking about it now would just be awkward."

Gu Sichao looked speechless, then cleared his throat and continued, "The script of those in power won't change because of your appearance. They will only eliminate you, the variable."

At this point, if Yang Bai still didn't understand, he would truly be an idiot.

Yang Bai picked up his wine glass and said earnestly, "Thank you, Class Leader Gu, for smoothing things over for me. I toast this glass to you."

The methods used by those in power to eliminate variables are definitely not gentle. The fact that he didn't end up being carried to Jinghai University to report was all thanks to Gu Sichao standing in front and taking the heat for him.

Gu Sichao picked up his glass, clinked it with Yang Bai's, and said, "Small matter. I'm a person of principle. Since you were my employee, it was only right that I protected you."

"By the way, who is that big idiot who took the fall?" Yang Bai continued to ask.

Seeing Yang Bai ask, Gu Sichao said directly, "That person is named Gu Siqian. In order to make me fail in this tournament, she tampered with things inside. You should be aware of that, right?"

Yang Bai immediately recalled that at that time, when the Cultivators followers were being teleported into the virtual Divine Domain, they were indeed split into two waves.

Originally, Yang Bai thought it was just a teleportation error, but now it seemed that it was that Gu Siqian who had caused it.

"Recordings and videos are very important. I sent the video of me lecturing you all to those who were holding me accountable, telling them that I had already given my subordinates a heads-up."

"The problem now is entirely due to Gu Siqian's reckless actions. My second brother also put in a good word for me, so those people didn't hold it against me, they just kicked my company out of this tournament."

At this point, Gu Sichao laughed gleefully:

"Come to think of it, I have to thank you. That bitch is my dad's illegitimate daughter from outside; she hooked up with a rich guy and returned to the Gu Family, and she really doesn't get along with me. After this incident, the rich guy behind her won't pay her any mind, and her leaving the Gu Family is just a matter of time."

After finishing, Gu Sichao took a card from his pocket and handed it over.

Yang Bai took the card and discovered that it was a high-quality resource card. At the same time, his deity account also had an extra 10,000 star coins.

Gu Sichao picked up his wine glass and said in a serious tone:

"Yang Bai, the payment for this job is 3,000 star coins. I've rounded it up for you, plus this fish resource card. After finishing this meal today, you will no longer be a person of the Black and White Bear Divine Realm Network Company. There won't be any relationship between you and me, and don't come looking for me again."

Yang Bai sighed, accepted the resource card, and said, "I understand. Thank you for your help this time, Class Leader Gu."

Gu Sichao making such a move was truly out of helplessness. Just because they didn't hold it against you didn't mean you shouldn't do anything at all.

Driving Yang Bai away and stopping any help to him was something Gu Sichao had to do.

As for the extra payment, Gu Sichao had already said it himself: he was a person of principle. Once Yang Bai walked out this door today, no one in the entire Linchuan City would provide him with any star coins.

Gu Sichao waved his hand, sighed, and said, "Yang Bai, don't blame me. This world is just like this. Before you become a Fifth-Order Deity, strength is only a bonus, not the deciding factor."

"I understand, Class Leader Gu. You're a good person."

Yang Bai smiled slightly. He understood that if Gu Sichao wanted to, he could have completely sold him out, and there would have been no need to give him extra payment.

The reason he did all this was entirely because Gu Sichao wanted to do so.