421: Chapter 401: First Encounter at the State House 421: Chapter 401: First Encounter at the State House Spacious streets, not-so-tall buildings, and hurried passersby.
Except for the residents here wearing more colorful clothes, more letters on their T-shirts, and the unique vibrancy of this era, it doesn’t seem much different from the ancient city.
“…Our ancient city isn’t that bad either.
At its peak, the population exceeded two million.
Originally, when the state reforms took place, the ancient city was the priority for the state governnt.
It’s just that our base industries were a little weak, and the old industrial district was on the verge of bankruptcy, so Changping took over in the end…”
Xia Qin casually said a few words, seemingly unimpressed with the state governnt.
This was the small pride of the ancient city residents.
As inhabitants of an old city with a glorious past, they don’t care much about the capital of a state.
The group arrived by bus, departing at midnight, and it wasn’t until morning after a long and bumpy ride that they arrived…
At this point, Lu Ping’an longed for the high-speed trains he wasn’t sure existed in this world.
“…
It’s quite strange.
I thought having few tall buildings was unique to the ancient city, but it’s the sa here…”
In contrast to mories of countless high-rises of ten or more stories, looking down the busiest streets here, there were often only four or five stories.
And regular residential buildings were mainly three or four stories high.
Although each floor was noticeably taller than usual, the result was that there were hardly any tall buildings in sight.
“…
It would be quite troubleso if sothing were to happen.
It would be extrely difficult to evacuate, too.
Do you rember the lava maze in the mall?
Imagine if that was in a ten-story building…”
Fighting their way through three or four floors was already tough back then.
If there were ten or dozens of floors, they might as well just demolish the building.
In areas with frequent disasters, high-rise buildings naturally have an upper limit.
A 30- or 40-story building with a pollution incident could drag hundreds of people straight to hell.
Just because of this reason, there may never be outrageous landmark buildings in this world.
“…
So, what is that?
That giant monster building in front…”
Lu Ping’an pointed to a real skyscraper that was over fifty stories high.
It was a tower that had a circular shape, with the lower floors wider and gradually narrowing towards the top like a Tower of Babel.
It stood out, especially when it was surrounded by three- or four-story “little mushrooms.”
“…
If the address is correct, this is the Changping State Bureau of Anomaly Managent headquarters, our destination.”
“Captain Xia, have you been here before?
Is it that extre?”
“I ca once two years ago, and it was just an ordinary building…
Maybe it’s newly built.”
Upon entering, they realized that it was indeed new…
The walls still slled of paint, and there were construction teams working on the side.
After inquiring at the reception desk, they found out that construction had started two months ago and was completed half a month ago…
This construction speed was clearly not achieved through normal ans.
Inside the first floor lobby, Lu Ping’an saw several foreign area residents, many of whom were lining up to get numbers.
As a special service team, they took the express lane but still spent more than an hour processing paperwork for everyone.
Once they finished the paperwork, they sat together in the lobby to chat before dispersing…
There was no need for a group to take the exam.
This ti, not only did Lu Ping’an and a few core mbers of his club co, but also half of the special service team…
Who wouldn’t want a shot at success?
Even if that “license” might never be used in their lifeti, trying never hurts.
If it wasn’t for the special circumstances and the current stability in the ancient city, such a large-scale leave wouldn’t have been granted…
However, the upper managent of the Bureau of Anomaly Managent encouraged young captains like Xia Qin, hoping that they would pass the exam.
After wandering around for a bit, buying so daily necessities, and deliberately wasting so more ti, Lu Ping’an, Xia Qin, and ow regrouped and went to the agreed-upon hotel.
They chose not to stay with the other team mbers so they could easily access the courtyard for final practice and preparation.
“…
It’s really exaggerated.
Most of our team mbers are young, and about 70% or 80% of them are here.
Many of them don’t even have the Secret Keeper qualification and plan to take both exams.”
As soon as he walked in, Lu Ping’an heard Guan Xinxian’s voice.
He was chatting with two female students…
Miss Lululu was tinkering with her potions, and Hua senior sister was eagerly asking her senior brother about the exam.
They were also here to take the exam, aiming for the Secret Keeper qualification.
All of their efforts were now devoted to finding jobs while their small private companies needed the qualification.
The two were also employees of a “subcontracted security company” under the Trading Land.
However, the company was not officially listed yet and focused on internal operations, training, and recruitnt.
“Where are your people?”
“At Jiuan Hotel, not far away, just a few streets down.
We’re going there after saying hello to you.
Would you like to have dinner together tonight and let them et their future big boss?”
Miss Lo’s words were partly joking, but also quite serious.
In a way, Lu Ping’an was indeed going to be their future employer…
but only in the future because the security company had not yet been officially established.
They had already signed a cooperation agreent with the Trading Land and beca the long-term employed security force.
Miss Lo and her group were not alone; several other senior and junior mbers from their society also ca along, so for getting certifications, others for sightseeing and experiencing the event.
Lu Ping’an was quite literally their big boss, except the company hadn’t been established yet, so there was no need for paynt.
For now, he was only providing resources for cultivation…
Hua senior sister and Baman Zhen also got the rights to use the stadium, but they used it less frequently.
It wasn’t that Hua senior sister didn’t want to improve herself, or that the cultivation efficiency here wasn’t good, but rather she was too busy trying to recruit new mbers for her society.
As the society’s top representative and leader, as well as having the “warm and approachable senior sister” BUFF, she always went on stage personally for various recruitnt events.
“No need, let’s wait until that day really cos.
Besides, it’s hard to say how many of them will stay at your company after they graduate and beco working people.”
Although it was true, Lu Ping’an’s remark made Miss Lululu close her mouth in annoyance, which is quite a talent in itself.
“…Lu Ping’an, I found the person you wanted and contacted her.
She’s indeed interested in joining a society and exploring the Exotic Realm, but her standards are high.
Whether you can persuade her or not depends on your ability…”
“Her?”
“Rou Lailei, a second-year senior, already confird to stay at school, a treasure of the Magic Potion faculty, and hailed as once-in-a-decade alchemy magic dicine genius.
She’s here too, and here’s her contact thod.”
Lu Ping’an took the Na Card and nodded.
This was evidently the private effort of Miss Lululu and her group.
He had entrusted many people to help him look out for outstanding alchemy magic dicine talents for long-term private cooperation.
However, talented Magic Alchemists were never short of opportunities.
On the contrary, the entry threshold for Gardeners in the production field was rather low, and their numbers were relatively excessive.
Many Alchemists and Magic Alchemists complented each other, of course, only if they were “from the sa social background.”
As a Gardener, Lu Ping’an wasn’t particularly well-known or highly skilled.
It wasn’t difficult to find long-term partners, but finding a top-notch talent or at least soone with the potential to be one, was rather challenging.
“How did you persuade her?” Lu Ping’an’s current resources were abundant, but not suitable for sharing with outsiders, which made recruitnt troubleso.
Signing a confidentiality agreent?
There were too many contract scams these days, and it wasn’t easy to make a Magic Alchemist sign one.
Lu Ping’an couldn’t possibly get every excellent Alchemist he t to sign a contract and then take them into the Trading Land…
No matter how strict the contract was, it would always be a security risk.
“Little Xue vouched for us personally, saying she wouldn’t disappoint them.” Miss Lululu said grumpily.
So, it was personal connections, after all?
Lu Ping’an nodded, taking note of this favor.
However, the top priority was not the senior sister but the two outsourced employees…
“Actually, even if you didn’t co, I was planning to talk to you.”
Lu Ping’an paused for a mont, organizing his thoughts.
“You probably noticed that after this, both the Trading Land and Rebirth Chamber of Comrce will start operating in the Exotic Realm.
This seems to conflict with your security company’s dostic developnt trend…
May I ask why you’re so insistent on sticking to the dostic market, and why you want to go solo?”
Although discussing life plans might seem premature, it’s still better to address these issues earlier for the sake of future long-term cooperation.
When the developnt direction of both societies diverges, they either part ways or one of them compromises…
Lu Ping’an needed to know why they were so determined to take the private route.
The two won looked at each other and finally nodded, opening up.
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