Chapter 394

Chapter 394: Just an Old Bone

“This is my identification.”

Yan Ming was clearly a rule-abiding person. Although his credentials had been verified during the downstairs registration, he still chose to present them again to gain the other party’s full trust.

After all, the identification documents sent by Arthur were indeed genuine, just relatively new.

When the identification documents and mission information arrived, Yan Ming was in the middle of strength training in the training room.

Upon receiving the documents, he quickly returned home to tidy up his appearance and then arrived here in his capacity as the Speaker’s Commissioner.

Zhuang Mian checked the seal and the common anti-counterfeiting marks. After confirming the man’s identity, she looked at the seemingly excited man and asked:

“What is the task? How do we need to cooperate?”

Yan Ming, sitting across the desk, replied seriously:

“Mr. Speaker returned just over a week ago, but I have already heard numerous reports of oppression and abuses from the factory.

“If such incidents occurred only once or twice, it would be difficult for them to reach the higher-ups. It’s easy to imagine what kind of state the factory has fallen into.”

As he spoke, Yan Ming seemed somewhat agitated, but he quickly composed himself and continued:

“Having said that, what I need you to do is deploy your Clean-up Team to conduct surveillance on the logistics and certain individuals at the factories.”

Zhuang Mian nodded:

“Should we arrest those problematic individuals immediately?”

“Document their actions first.”

A wicked smile appeared on Yan Ming’s face:

“Let them enjoy their final frenzy.”

—

In the dark room, the two men sat on the lower benches with their heads bowed.

“Do you understand what I just said?”

“Yes, we will definitely keep a low profile.”

“It’s not that simple.”

The man sitting in the chair spoke:

“Make sure the past has been dealt with thoroughly, and don’t harbor any false hopes recently.”

“Think it through and return. The sooner you finish, the sooner it will be over. Just wait for this storm to pass.”

“Understood.”

The two left upon receiving their orders, lowering their heads as they faced the metallic sheen of the spire’s interior.

They verified their identities with special access passes and then entered the elevator, walking down the long corridor to leave the spire’s confines.

The golden sunlight of the afternoon poured down, and as they stepped out through the Hidden Door, they couldn’t help but let out a sigh of relief.

Hearing a sigh that matched his own so well, the two exchanged glances and then smiled simultaneously.

Yes, they smiled.

This was the first time the two factory managers had met the council members after the medal ceremony.

Though the dim surroundings made Yang Suyan seem distant and untouchable, anyone who had watched the live broadcast that day knew that those council members were, in truth, nothing more than old relics.

For individuals of their standing, meeting a council member was an immense honor, so how could they dare to look them directly in the eye?

Yet, as factory managers who had access to the high-definition live stream ahead of others, their awe of the council members had already begun to wane.

This "disillusionment" was like a domino effect—once the first piece fell, there was no turning back.

Just moments ago, in the presence of the council member, though they had maintained their usual subservient demeanor, a seed of disdain had already taken root within them.

If not for the fact that every action within the spire was meticulously recorded, they would have walked out without bowing their heads or uttering a word.

As they stepped into the sunlight outside, they realized they had left the spire’s domain, and they laughed freely, unrestrained.

The reason Yang Suyan had summoned the two of them privately was straightforward.

According to the council member, the newly appointed Speaker intended to make an example of the factory to assert his authority.

While such a move was plausible, the two factory managers remained skeptical.

The reason was simple: this wasn’t something that could be achieved by merely ousting a couple of factory managers. Most of their connections had been inherited from the previous factory manager.

In other words, since the factory’s inception, a dense network of relationships had been quietly growing in the shadows, much like mold in a sewer—no matter how clean the surface appeared, it wouldn’t affect their survival.

Who would bother cleaning the surface and the sewer at the same time? It was unthinkable.

Even if the Speaker genuinely intended to take action, this was the council members’ own turf. Could he really afford to alienate everyone to achieve his goal?

As they walked back to the factory office, their conversation grew more animated.

To them, this whole affair was nothing more than a theatrical performance between the Speaker and the council members, hardly worth their concern.

Everyone knew that when it came to making someone relinquish their interests, a show of force was far more effective than reasoned argument.

The Speaker would issue symbolic threats, and the council members would respond with symbolic resistance to minimize their losses—that was the essence of the matter.

As for the idea of keeping a low profile?

Before the medal ceremony, they might have paid some heed to such advice, but now, with the council member’s authority slowly eroding, such talk went in one ear and out the other.

“So, what’s the plan? Are we still sending that batch of goods from the black market?”

One asked his companion, though his tone suggested he was less seeking an answer and more looking for affirmation.

“Why wouldn’t we?”

The other replied with a grin:

“The factory belongs to the council members, and so does the black market. If we start acting timid, the black market would have nothing to sell. I’m too kind-hearted to let that happen.”

“Ha! Kind-hearted indeed.”

The two shared another laugh before stepping into the factory office, where surveillance and recording devices awaited.

—

South of Hope City, thirty kilometers away.

A brutal battle raged across the marshes and nearby wetlands.

Grayish-black water, mingled with blood and other bodily fluids, splattered in all directions, as if a violent storm had descended upon the wetlands.

Fulan and her Holy Fire Meow Meow Cult army had encountered a group of extraordinary beasts while carrying out a terrain exploration mission assigned by Lin Qingliu.

The task was originally meant to be a joint effort between Fulan and Lin Qingliu, but plans quickly went awry when Lin Qingliu inadvertently ignited a powder keg.

The ensuing beast tide and the defense battle at the city walls thrust Lin Qingliu into the spotlight.

Now, the mission had fallen squarely on Fulan’s shoulders, and this time, she was no longer in a supporting role but the leader, guiding her surviving followers and new recruits along the coastline.

Starting from the intersection of the eastern Sea, the city walls, and the wasteland of Hope City, Fulan and her extraordinary beast team began their slow journey southward.

Since their task involved mapping the terrain of a specific area, the extraordinary beast exploration team moved at a deliberate pace.

As for supplies, the massive extraordinary beasts carried loading devices on their backs, filled with the blessings that “Master” Fulan had obtained through the summoning ritual from the human side.