Then, Let Them Offer Their Loyalty! Chapter 1974 - 780: Zhao Ji: Qiu Tu Is a Pineapple (Seeking Monthly Ticket)

Hearing what the Heavy Stone God King said, the Hanhai God King's face very clearly showed a trace of hesitation.

He weighed his words for a moment, then bent at the waist and said cautiously, "My lord, Qiu Tu doesn't seem like someone who will easily knuckle under."

"If we use our momentum to crush him and instead stir up his backlash, what then?"

The Hanhai God King had obviously observed and studied Qiu Tu, which was why he voiced this concern.

However, the Heavy Stone God King clearly had his own reasons as well.

He didn't get angry because of the Hanhai God King's objection, but instead spoke in a deep voice,

"Hanhai, I understand what you mean: since we're already thinking of easing relations with Qiu Tu, then we should go all the way—don't pressure him, and don't keep clashing with him, right?"

Seeing the Hanhai God King nod, the Heavy Stone God King slowly said, "But Hanhai... how could things be that simple."

The Heavy Stone God King's ashen face was full of gravity and authority as he said, "Behind Qiu Tu stands Elina. His coming to the 'Execution Department' was arranged by Elina."

Seeing that the Hanhai God King wanted to open his mouth and analyze, the Heavy Stone God King instead waved his hand and said, "I know what you want to say."

"You want to say that Qiu Tu being Elina's man is only speculation, nothing we can treat as certain, and it hasn't been verified."

"But... Hanhai, what I want to tell you is: whether Qiu Tu is actually Elina's man or not no longer matters now."

"Because as long as everyone in the 'Execution Department' believes he is, then he is."

"In everyone else's eyes, Qiu Tu was sent by Elina to spar with us. So in their eyes he represents Elina."

"The reason we've been able to maintain our rule over the 'Execution Department,' to run the 'Execution Department' like a solid iron plate, is because everyone thinks I'm strong!"

"They think I am a Fourth-level God King second only to Elina, powerful, only one level below her. Once I break through, my potential will be limitless."

"Moreover, they also think I was sent by the High Order God Kings to counterbalance Elina, that I represent the 'temple' upper echelon's Will. That I have backing."

"On top of that, I am the highest person in charge of the 'Execution Department,' the one they come into direct contact with, not Elina."

"So that is why they chose to throw in with me."

The Heavy Stone God King clearly looked like a rough man, but when he spoke he laid things out steadily and methodically; he was obviously coarse on the outside but meticulous within.

He said, "Previously, in order to make trouble for Qiu Tu, we intentionally spread the word so that everyone in the 'Execution Department' knew Qiu Tu was on his own, with no backing, no Faction."

"In the end, that actually gave Qiu Tu an opening, letting him declare his background in front of everyone."

"Whether he was just borrowing a tiger's skin, or really acting on Elina's orders, right now everyone believes he is Elina's man."

"This also makes everyone believe that this is the first time in a hundred years that Elina has tested the 'Execution Department,' intending to take back the Power of the Execution Department."

"So now the entire 'Execution Department' has shifted its wind direction; everyone is watching and waiting."

"In this situation, we must suppress him, so that the others in the 'Execution Department' understand that we are still strong enough. Only then will they continue to cling to our side."

Speaking up to here, the Heavy Stone God King's gaze was faint, tinged with a bit of fatigue. "And once we show signs of weakness, then the sky over the entire 'Execution Department' will truly change..."

"So..." The Heavy Stone God King gave the Hanhai God King a faint look and said, "In fact, I actually hope our earlier guess is wrong."

"That Qiu Tu wasn't sent here by Elina at all, but is just borrowing the tiger's skin."

"If that's the case, then everything will be much simpler when the time comes..."

Hearing the Heavy Stone God King's words, the Hanhai God King thought for a moment, then nodded slightly to show he understood.

That is indeed how it was. If Qiu Tu was not sent by Elina, then he would lack confidence inside.

As long as the Heavy Stone God King applied extreme pressure, there was a good chance he could crush Qiu Tu into submission.

By then, the Heavy Stone God King would regain his prestige, and Elina would not suffer any loss; no resentment would arise between the two of them either.

Only Qiu Tu might have to swallow some grievance, but... who would care?

After all, he was just an ordinary God King.

As for this "must not retreat" the Heavy Stone God King spoke of, the Hanhai God King wholeheartedly agreed.

No matter which World, no matter which dynasty, political struggle is always like this. Haven't you seen how many corrupt officials, in the days just before their downfall, were still taking bribes, or still handling state affairs?

Did they really fail to Detect that something was wrong, or that things were about to blow up?

Of course they could feel it. But they had no other choice.

Keep holding on and there might still be a turnaround. If they dared to show fear, then immediately rumors would erupt everywhere, or the monkeys would scatter when the tree fell.

Now the Heavy Stone God King was in exactly the same situation.

The 'Execution Department' is his own little plot of land precisely because of his forcefulness and Elina's hands-off attitude.

The people below follow him because they think he is strong enough. Once he himself shows fear and others see that he is not that strong, then those below will instantly and secretly keep their own escape routes; by then the entire 'Execution Department' will be even harder to control.

After figuring all this out, the Hanhai God King let out a quiet sigh in his heart.

To be honest, he didn't hold much hope for the Heavy Stone God King's extreme-pressure tactic, but right now there really didn't seem to be any better option...

So he could only give the Heavy Stone God King a slight formal bow, indicating that he would obey...