Chapter 104

Chapter 6: How Do You Want the Reward?

　It’s not entirely Bai Ling’s fault—her job was genuinely a bit dull.

　”Miss White, as you can see, for our Mobile Unit, we’ve selected spiritual energy manipulators best suited for rapid movement. For instance, speed and agility types from the foundation stone, or wind element users. This makes the Mobile Unit an all-purpose support team capable of swiftly reaching any battlefield.”

　Bai Ling: “Mm, faster is better.”

　Faster equals more excitement.

　”Additionally, Miss White, for the garrison units stationed in fixed areas, we chose power and endurance types from the foundation stone, or rock and iron elementalists. Naturally, they will be slower than the Mobile Unit…”

　Bai Ling: “Mm, slower is better.”

　Slower has rhythm and endurance.

　”Others will be allocated flexibly based on their abilities and applications, going wherever they’re needed, with personal preferences considered accordingly.”

　Bai Ling: “Mm, flexibility is good.”

　Flexibility creates variation, keeping things fresh and surprising.

　After reporting the work, Luo Zhou Cheng and Wu Bian walked out of the room together, exchanging glances.

　”I say, are these comments from Sister Bai really about evaluating our squad strategies?” Wu Bian whispered softly. As a mental-type spiritual energy manipulator, his intuition was rather sharp.

　”Whether they are or not, just focus on doing your own job,” Luo Zhou Cheng replied, “Talk less, ask fewer questions, and do more work.”

　Boss Luo wasn’t skilled at perception or overly sensitive but understood human relations well.

　In the evening, Yuan Xiaoling returned. As soon as she entered, she saw Bai Ling sitting there “diligently” working.

　”Good evening, Bai Ling. You wouldn’t believe what happened to me today. Oh, are you busy?”

　The Blonde-haired Maiden walked over and saw that it was a strategy document for dividing teams, filled with various circles and scribbles—

　【Rapid Mobility】had three circles, 【Heavy Rhythm】had five, and 【Flexible Variation】had four.

　”What’s all this? Why so many circles?”

　Bai Ling quickly pulled the paper aside with a tight expression: “Nothing, just doodling out of boredom. What were you saying earlier? Where did you go today?”

　Yuan Xiaoling didn’t suspect anything, pulling a small chair over to sit down: “I went to the department store; it’s a temporary office set up by the company above Tianhai Tower, like that old Yunhai Gaming Company!”

　Bai Ling slightly stiffened, her cold eyes revealing a dangerous gleam: “They’ve managed to survive this long, quite lucky, but it ends here.”

　”Hmm? How do you know it ends here? Did you see the video?” Yuan Xiaoling said, “What a coincidence, I was just about to have a word with him when suddenly someone else jumped in and crushed him instantly. Sigh, impressive.”

　…Dead?

　Bai Ling reluctantly retracted the crimson from her eyes.

　Finally found something maybe entertaining, and now it’s gone again, back to facing boring work.

　”But it’s not over yet.”

　Yuan Xiaoling pulled out a business card from her pocket: “Take a look at this.”

　”Countermeasures Group Office… government people?”

　”Yeah! They want me to have a chat,” Yuan Xiaoling said, “What do you think, good or bad?”

　Bai Ling thought carefully: “In the previous life, the government never got involved in matters between spiritual energy manipulators, maintaining a laissez-faire attitude towards everything… Are they dealing with some particularly troublesome issues now?”

　Yuan Xiaoling pondered for a moment; Tianhai City had definitely had plenty of trouble recently, with live streaming videos, vigilante justice, and the entire building’s insurance premiums…

　”Damn, they’re drafting people,” the Blonde-haired Maiden realized, “If they don’t offer me satisfactory conditions, I won’t work for free!”

　Bai Ling nodded in agreement.

　Like herself, after two days of hard work, she wouldn’t work for free either—there were rewards.

　”The first phase will be completed tomorrow,” she said.

　”So fast? Good then.” Yuan Xiaoling casually replied, “Once it’s done, I’ll reward you.”

　She thought the team was pretty easy to manage.

　…

　At night, in one of the rooms of the Four Squares Academy in Tianhai City, the lights were still brightly lit.

　A sign hung at the entrance of the courtyard, reading “Tianhai City Countermeasures Group Office.”

　This impromptu evening meeting saw Li Li seated further forward than usual.

　”Tianhai University second-year broadcasting major, Yuan Xiaoling, known for her striking appearance and abilities, is referred to within the circle as the ‘Water Goddess.'”

　Other members in the meeting exchanged glances, nodding. They had heard of Yuan Xiaoling these past few days, leaving quite an impression on some men.

　”According to the latest information, she has already mixed with the former bar crowd, and I confirmed today that she intends to consolidate the spiritual energy manipulators in Tianhai City.”

　Li Li placed the documents down and looked toward the middle-aged man at the head seat: “Director, I believe we should cancel the decision to seek external assistance; Tianhai City can handle it internally.”

　Director Dai Hengzhu, a middle-aged man in his forties with half his hair already gray, had proposed the decision to borrow external forces, introducing powerful families like the Yun family to enter Tianhai City and help end the chaos.

　Now, facing Li Li’s suggestion, under the watchful eyes of all members, Dai Hengzhu remained silent, merely wiping his sleeve.

　The young man beside him immediately understood.

　”Li Li, your proposal is too bold. Who knows if after consolidating the spiritual energy manipulators in Tianhai City, they might become tyrannical and act without restraint.”

　Li Li frowned: “I think Miss Yuan isn’t that kind of person…”

　”Still calling her ‘Miss Yuan’? She hasn’t even graduated yet,” the young man added, “She’s too young, not steady enough. If she encounters something and gets carried away with enthusiasm or gives up entirely, who knows what she might do.”

　”But…”

　”Enough.”

　With Director Dai’s words, the argument in the meeting immediately quieted down.

　”Her consolidation of local spiritual energy manipulators in Tianhai City is a good thing, but it doesn’t conflict with what we’re currently doing. In case of an accident, both sides can serve as checks on each other.”

　His statement defined the nature of the meeting—allowing Yuan Xiaoling to consolidate the spiritual energy manipulators in Tianhai City while not abandoning the plan to bring in external forces.

　”But,” Li Li tried to argue further, “After she consolidates them, the incoming powerful families and the local spiritual energy manipulators may clash due to interests.”

　”That would be internal strife among spiritual energy manipulators,” Dai Hengzhu said without looking up, dismissively dropping those words, “It has nothing to do with us.”

　”…” Li Li was speechless.

　After announcing the decision, Dai Hengzhu stood up and left, while others stayed behind to tidy up the documents and clean up.

　The young man who had been sitting next to the head seat was about to sneak away when he suddenly heard Li Li loudly call out:

　”Mr. Luo! Stop right there!”

　Luo Xing turned around to find all his colleagues staring at him, causing sweat to break out on his forehead.

　”How… how what?”

　”How what, you tell me!” Li Li approached him, “Why oppose my suggestion!”

　None of the people present were fools; once Yuan Xiaoling successfully consolidated everything, it could be resolved through negotiation. Her influence wouldn’t be worse than the Chamber of Commerce, after all, it couldn’t monopolize the local market like the Chamber, affecting ordinary people’s lives significantly.

　But if they brought in outsiders like the Yun family or Li family, it would drag on for who knows how long.

　”I… I didn’t mean to,” Luo Xing muttered, “She’s just a kid… well, a big kid, hasn’t even graduated from university, immature, prone to impulsiveness…”

　”Spare us,” another colleague rolled his eyes, “We’re all professionals, don’t give us that.”

　The art of language—it was dual-natured. Yuan Xiaoling being a university student meant she could be criticized for immaturity, impulsiveness, and lack of thorough consideration.

　But conversely, she could also be praised for having integrity, unyielding passion, steadfastness, and vigor.

　Anyway, it all depends on how you choose to frame it.

　Luo Xing couldn’t hold up anymore: “I can’t help it, you all saw Director’s stance, I had to follow his lead.”

　No more arguing, he gave up.

　”So why did the Director make this decision?” Li Li sat down on a chair, feeling powerless, “Doesn’t he know…”

　She didn’t finish her sentence because everyone knew the Director certainly understood the consequences. It implied that there was a possibility he intended for that result.

　For a moment, everyone in the room felt a chill run down their spines.

　”Actually…”

　In the quiet room, someone spoke softly, drawing everyone’s immediate attention. It turned out to be a junior clerk in the office who usually went unnoticed.

　The junior clerk handled meeting records and sometimes other tasks…

　”I remember you used to manage the Director’s office,” Li Li recalled her vaguely.

　The junior clerk nodded, cautiously looking around before whispering: “Actually, a year ago, someone from the Yun family came and met with the Director.”

　”A year ago?” Luo Xing was slightly startled, “Isn’t that…?”

　Everyone fell silent.

　A year ago, there was an armed skirmish in the compound of the office, involving many spiritual energy manipulators. Unfortunately, the Director’s wife perished during the chaos.

　”It was after that they met,” the junior clerk continued, “Later… I don’t know.”

　Everyone remained silent for a long time. Eventually, Luo Xing broke the tension with a laugh:

　”Ah, looks like it’s going to rain, I need to go home and collect my clothes.”

　”I need to wash clothes.”

　”I need to wash dishes.”

　”Let’s go eat barbecue tonight.”

　Well, hearing something with secrets behind it, they quickly pretended not to hear and decided to leave work.

　Li Li also gave the junior clerk a meaningful glance, indicating she appreciated the discretion and asking her not to say anything else, which could be frightening.

　After they left, the junior clerk tidied up the meeting records alone, sighing silently.

　She thought she hadn’t said much, yet it scared them all like that. There was actually a more secret piece of information she hadn’t revealed.

　A year ago, on the day the Director met with the Yun family, it was an official visit, and there were informal visitor records left that day. As the secretary at the time, she entered the office as usual in the evening to organize the records.

　She saw several terms written on it—mental-type rich products, emotional aggregates, shadows of the deceased’s past…

　Although she didn’t understand them, they seemed very intriguing.

　After that day, she was transferred from her position and never entered the Director’s office again.

　…

　”Miss Bai, this is the final list, please review it.”

　The next evening, after two days of strict supervision by Bai Ling, Luo Zhou Cheng and Wu Bian finally finished integrating the two teams and submitted the list.

　Bai Ling took the list and skimmed it casually. Hmm, Zhao Qian Sun Li Zhou Wu Zheng Wang, fine.

　”Alright,” she placed the list aside, “That’s settled.”

　It wasn’t laziness; in her eyes, anyone below fourth-tier was roughly the same—equally weak. Trying to categorize them specifically would just be difficult for her.

　Anyway, since you two said it’s done, consider it done. If there’s a problem, you two will answer for it.

　After putting away the list, tidying her clothing, and closing the door to the room, Bai Ling’s work was officially complete.

　”Where’s Yuan Xiaoling?” she asked Luo Zhou Cheng.

　Luo Zhou Cheng glanced at Wu Bian, who also looked back at him.

　”Miss Yuan Xiaoling didn’t mention where she was going today. But since she didn’t specify, ” Luo Zhou Cheng realized, “she’s probably inside.”

　He was right. When Bai Ling returned to the bedroom, she found Yuan Xiaoling indeed lying on the bed, propped up by her Dabeitù, arms resting on the pillow, leisurely playing on her mobile phone, her white legs swaying rhythmically.

　Swinging slowly like a swing indicated routine activities, neither happy nor sad.

　Suddenly lifting high, her feet tensed as if something was about to happen, indicating she was pulling cards, feeling tense.

　After the tension subsided, her feet dropped limply onto the bed, indicating poor results from pulling cards.

　Suddenly stomping her feet on the bed twice, indicating not only poor card pulls but also ruined relics.

　”Ah! So angry! Turn off!”

　Yuan Xiaoling angrily put down her phone, flipped over, and saw Bai Ling intently watching her.

　As if she’d been observing for quite a while, contemplating from what angle…

　”You’re back, finishing work so early today?”

　”Mm, because all the work is done.”

　Bai Ling sat on the edge of the bed, gently replying, then calmly looked at her.

　While secretly taking off her shoes.

　As for the black stockings, they didn’t need to come off; they were just knee-highs, not tights, covering nothing significant.

　Yuan Xiaoling sensed something was off, blinking her eyes: “What’s wrong? Is there something I need to do?”

　”Did you forget?” Bai Ling pouted unhappily, “You said once this phase of work was over, there would be… a reward.”

　”No, I haven’t forgotten.”

　Yuan Xiaoling sat up and asked her, “What reward do you want? Speak.”

　But Bai Ling pouted again: “What reward? A reward is a reward.”

　”…Huh?”

　Lingling didn’t understand.

　Bai Ling, however, seemed to grasp something, seriously stating: “I assumed the reward you mentioned was the event itself, not just a single verb.”

　Yuan Xiaoling’s little mouth twitched.

　So the reward she wanted was rewarding the reward, not some other form of reward.

　”…Alright.”

　The blonde busty girl adjusted into a squatting duck pose: “How do you want the reward given?”

　—————–Divider Line—————–

　PS: I woke up late today, overslept, and will definitely write more tomorrow. Waaaah.