The four youngsters had only half a year left before graduating high school and heading off to university. Since they'd be transferring schools, it was best for Felix to give Wei Yenwu a heads-up.
When he finally found Wei Yenwu, the man was lounging outside his office, one leg crossed over the other, gazing absently out the floor-to-ceiling window.
"Master Wei, what brings you out here?"
"Just stepping out for so air."
Felix wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead. "Just stepping out," huh? That was hardly "out."
He sat beside Wei Yenwu on the long bench, feeling an odd sense of déjà vu—as if soone else was missing from the picture. After spending so much ti in Kazimierz, he'd grown used to seeing three people sharing a bench.
Up close, Felix caught a faint scent of rice wine and imdiately understood. In Emperor's words, Wei Yenwu was "a henpecked husband through and through"—hardly worth ntioning. Felix could still recall Emperor's bird-like laughter when he'd said it. Now, seeing Wei Yenwu effectively "exiled" from ho, Felix suppressed the urge to laugh out loud.
"Sothing bothering you, Master Wei?"
"There's always sothing to worry about."
Wei Yenwu leaned back against the bench, sighing.
"The Yan's New Year is approaching—that ans an endless flood of invitations, tedious governnt routines, and the constant politicking that wears a man down."
"Your phrasing is truly refined, Master Wei."
"…"
Wei Yenwu's beard twitched slightly in irritation. The tone felt like he was being humored by a child, and it took so effort not to clench his fists. Still, he continued:
"The biggest headache is the annual Mobile City Report. As the na implies, we have to compile a year's worth of data—operations, economy, trade routes—and present it to the higher-ups."
"Can't you just send a ssenger for that?"
"Do that, and you'll probably be executed for 'disrespect.'"
"Ah… the 'Execution of Nine Relations' technique?"
"I was joking."
Wei Yenwu sighed and rubbed his chin.
"Anyway, I'm trying to decide who should attend this year's conference."
"You're not going yourself?"
"The City Lord has plenty on his plate. Sending a trusted representative is more practical."
Wei Yenwu stroked his beard again before changing the subject.
"Right, what did you co to see about?"
Felix explained his reason for visiting. Wei Yenwu nodded slightly—it wasn't a difficult favor, and he approved of Felix's decision. Wei Yenwu didn't know much about those "younger sisters" of his, but under Felix's guidance, each had turned into capable talent. Soday, they might even shine brightly within Lungn.
Talents.
Wei Yenwu valued them deeply—especially because Lungn's Guard Bureau was perpetually understaffed. He had long hoped to recruit the undead into the bureau's ranks, even adjusting benefits and regulations to accommodate them. But despite his efforts, very few undead joined.
He knew why: most chose to work under Felix's company, Tomorrow's Developnt. The jobs there were plentiful, flexible, and—perhaps most importantly—ca with benefits so generous they were almost unbelievable.
Wei Yenwu had no desire to fall out with Felix. After all, Tomorrow's Developnt offered better pay and conditions than even the Guard Bureau. Another official in his position might have already tried to strong-arm Felix into handing over his company's assets "for the good of the state." Such tactics weren't rare, though they were hardly honorable.
But Wei Yenwu admired Felix. For soone so young to build such an empire was remarkable. His integrity, too, was admirable—never arrogant, never scandalous, always paying his dues in full. Not once had he broken the law.
What's more, Felix even directed his undead employees to help capture rogue undead criminals—fulfilling the promise he'd once made.
Wei Yenwu's brows furrowed slightly as he asked,
"I'm considering sending Ch'en Hui-chieh as Lungn's representative to Shangshu. What do you think?"
"Master Wei, I'm rely an outsider. In Yan terms, I'm just a common rchant. Politics isn't really my field."
"Co now," Wei Yenwu chuckled, twirling his beard, "your contributions to Lungn far exceed that of most officials. Any man in power would acknowledge that."
"Then tell , Master Wei—how do the Yan's honors compare to Victoria's noble titles?"
At that, Wei Yenwu fell silent. He seed to want to say sothing, but after a mont, rely let out a low laugh.
"That's exactly why I refused to move my operations to Victoria," Felix said calmly. Then, turning toward him, he added, "And it's why I chose Lungn instead."
"A pond too pure breeds no fish," Wei Yenwu murmured. "Yan's prosperity cos from embracing differences, not erasing them."
"I understand that principle," Felix replied, "but that doesn't an I'll hand over Tomorrow's Developnt to anyone."
He did understand the logic—everyone did. But when soone tried to use "reason" as a cover for greed, that was sothing Felix could never accept.
Unfortunately, officials like that were far from rare in the Yan.
Felix had always made a deliberate effort to stay clear of those bureaucratic circles—that was precisely why he chose Lungn. Still, Tomorrow's Developnt, the company known for hiring large numbers of undead, had likely already appeared as a neatly stamped dossier sitting on their desks.
"Felix," Wei Yenwu began, "I'd like to commission you to travel to Shangshu as one of Lungn's distinguished entrepreneurs, alongside Ch'en Hui-chieh."
He paused, studying Felix's reaction.
"As for the commission's fee… I've heard that the Simon family has co all the way from Columbia. They'll inevitably face so resistance and trouble in Lungn's corporate circles. Helping them might prove mutually beneficial."
"That's quite a tempting offer," Felix admitted, "but tell , Master Wei—why ?"
The offer was indeed attractive. Felix's reach extended across countless industries, and though he'd faced fierce competition, he had managed to outpace them all by playing his trump card—the players. With their massive transaction volu and workforce, Tomorrow's Developnt had risen seemingly overnight.
The Simon family, however, had no such advantage. Originally a construction conglorate, their attempt to enter Lungn's market placed them head-to-head with local construction giants. Even players who had mastered engineering or architecture wouldn't flock to a bland, ordinary firm.
"Because you're young—and your na carries weight," Wei Yenwu replied simply.
"Your company has already drawn the eyes of several bureaucrats and officials. I want them to understand sothing very clearly: you're my person. Is that reason enough?"
At present, Felix's cooperation wasn't with the Yan governnt as a whole—it was specifically with Lungn and Wei Yenwu himself. That was precisely why Wei valued him and wanted to protect his standing.
"Understood," Felix nodded. "So it'll just be the two of us, then?"
"Not quite," Wei Yenwu said, standing up. "There's one more person I'll need to speak with first. We depart in early February. Be ready."
"Got it."
After bidding Wei Yenwu farewell, Felix entered the elevator—only to stop midway and turn back.
Wei Yenwu glanced up as Felix returned, his sharp eyes locking on him in silent curiosity.
"Master Wei," Felix said lightly, "interested in making another deal?"
---
Yui, a newcor who had joined Tomorrow's Developnt less than half a year ago, had quickly adapted to life in Lungn.
Each morning, she'd head downstairs to have breakfast with the locals—stead soup buns, pan-fried dumplings, and sotis a cup of warm soybean milk. Afterward, she'd take the tram to the Tomorrow's Developnt headquarters to check for any new commissions available to players. Lunch was usually eaten on the go during missions, and in the evening, she often dined in Lungn's central district with her fellow players before heading ho for the night.
Life in Lungn wasn't cheap. Players tended to spend freely—after all, anyone who could afford to eat out for every al was far from poor. Realizing this, Yui decided to learn how to cook, investing so of her experience points into her Cooking skill.
She wasn't a front-line fighter—just an ordinary dical support player—so she didn't have to worry much about skill optimization.
When Yui arrived at the reception hall that day, she noticed a large number of new notices posted on the board.
"Tomorrow's Developnt… has ford a partnership with the Guard Bureau?"
She leaned in and continued reading.
"To maintain the safety and harmony of Lungn City, the Guard Bureau is officially inviting Tomorrow's Developnt operatives to sign a cooperative contract. Compensation will be paid at the daily rate of an active Guard Bureau officer."
"So basically, the Guard Bureau wants to recruit talent and made a deal with Tomorrow's Developnt?" she murmured.
"Pretty much," soone nearby replied. "It's technically a commission, though—listed under the 'Employnt Contracts' category. So yeah, it's a paid job."
"So you're telling we can beco police officers now? Damn, I've always wanted to shout, 'FBI, open the door!'"
"There's no shortage of outlaws in Lungn," another player chid in. "At least ten thousand by last count. Looks like we're about to get so urban PVP!"
"Sounds like a solid reason to start busting heads! I'm hyped already!"
Yui watched with mild amusent as groups of excited players sprinted toward the Guard Bureau building across the street. She checked the contract details—daily pay was decent, plus a bounty bonus for capturing criminals. For ordinary players who often failed to complete long-term commissions due to their difficulty, this was an excellent opportunity.
She took a deep breath and stepped toward the Bureau. The plaza out front was already swarming with hundreds of lively players. Standing off to the side, Yui suddenly felt rather alone.
A few male players noticed her—an unaccompanied, attractive girl—and imdiately tried to strike up a conversation.
"Ah, excuse ," a bright voice called out beside her. "She's with us."
Turning her head, Yui saw Qiu Muyu and Xiao Xuegao standing next to her, smiling politely at the would-be flirts. The n quickly backed off; after all, those two were well-known figures in Tomorrow's Developnt—players who had triggered key Pioneer Storyline quests.
Yui exhaled softly, grateful for the tily rescue.
Once the male players had finally wandered off, Yui bowed her head shyly.
"Th-thank you… for earlier."
"No need to thank us," Qiu Muyu said with a bright smile. She quickly noticed Yui's embarrassnt and tactfully changed the subject. "So, Yui—are you here to take the new Guard Bureau contract too?"
"Eh? Ah—yes, that's right."
"Hmm… then how about we form a three-person squad?"
"Eh?"
Yui blinked, startled by how quickly things were moving.
Qiu Muyu gave a helpless shrug.
"Magic ZX's been off near Kawalerielki for weeks, taking commissions and barely coming back once a month. Dandao's busy training for the All-Star Tournant, and Yangyan XF's in Kazdel. Everyone I know's gone from Lungn."
"I just checked the recruitnt notice," said Xiao Xuegao, holding up a form. "It says adventurers can form squads of up to three mbers for joint training and operations. We're one short—so, Yui, what do you say?"
Yui hesitated for a mont, then nodded. Her usual friends had been busy lately—Itō Ritsu was working as a rcenary, always running around with his greatsword; the others were caught up with production tasks, holed up at ho or hanging out in cafés near the factories. Yui wasn't a production player herself, and lately her days in Lungn had beco quiet again—back to the solitary rhythm she'd started with.
"Great! Then I'll start with introductions." Qiu Muyu straightened up, giving a confident smile. "I'm Qiu Muyu—support class, with a sub-profession in chanical engineering."
As she spoke, Yui caught a glimpse of the tallic chestplate hidden beneath her Tomorrow's Developnt uniform coat—a craftsman's armor, clearly custom-made.
"I'm Xiao Xuegao," the other girl chid in cheerfully. "Main class: Vanguard. Sub-classes: Assault Specialist and Scribe."
Yui smiled faintly and replied,
"I'm Yui. Main class: dic. Sub-classes… Group Healer and, um… Chef."
"Wait—Chef?!"
Qiu Muyu and Xiao Xuegao's eyes lit up in unison. Yui instinctively took a small step back.
"Do you know how rare that is? Food made by a real chef is way better than the stuff we cobble together!" Qiu Muyu exclaid, grabbing Yui's hands with unrestrained excitent. "eting you is pure luck!"
"You're totally our Asuna!" Xiao Xuegao added, imdiately outing herself as an unapologetic ani geek. She clasped Yui's other hand eagerly. "So if we ever find so rare ingredients, can we bring them to you?"
"I–Ingredients?"
"Yep! Like this one!
Xiao Xuegao dug into her travel pack, rummaged around, and pulled out a soft, gelatinous lump of… at? It jiggled three tis when she patted it.
"Th–That's—!"
"Hehe~ It's the flesh of a giant Originium slug! We stumbled on a rare spawn on our way back to Lungn—blue-quality material! We were gonna sell it, but now that we've t you…"
"E–Eh…"
Yui's expression twitched. She usually cooked simple als—stir-fried pork, tomato eggs, ho-style dishes. And now they wanted her to prepare this?
Sure, she'd maxed out her cooking skill, so technically she could turn it into sothing edible… maybe even delicious. But how exactly to cook it—and what to make—was another matter entirely.
The noisy plaza gradually quieted. Around them, nearly a thousand players had gathered, all eyes fixed on the Guard Bureau building.
From the entrance, a figure stepped out—a tall woman with long crimson hair, her lean yet toned body moving with effortless grace. Her sharp, trained eyes swept across the crowd, freezing the players where they stood.
"My codena is Nine."
Her voice carried across the plaza as she clasped her hands behind her back.
"From this mont on, I'll serve as your instructor—your commander during training and operations."
"You will protect the peace and safety of Lungn, fighting alongside us on the front lines. I hope you're ready."
Nine turned slightly, a faint smirk curving her lips.
"Now then… Adventurers—follow my lead!"
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