This morning, the Duke's factory officially ceased operations. Tonight, the Duke invited Yevgeny and Sergei to visit his manor.
The speed of this compromise was beyond Sergei's imagination; he thought the Duke would take harsh revenge and make those striking workers pay a heavy price.
Perhaps the escape of Tretov, the strongest enforcer, deprived the Duke of his ability to attack, like a hound without fangs.
Sergei and Yevgeny stood together at the entrance of the manor, sizing each other up – this was their only opportunity for cooperation.
The Duke was aware that Yevgeny and Tretov wanted to replace his partner, but for stability, the two had to team up.
Yevgeny chose Sergei not only for better control but more importantly, for their mutual interests.
Sergei chose Yevgeny because he had lost the support of Jiuding Bank; clinging to the Duke would mean having a powerful backing again.
