–Director-General, what’s the urgent mission?-
The formation of a special task force was a mission type activated only for top-secret events.
A girl with delicate features, who looked like the obedient girl next door, timidly stood up and asked, –Are all of us involved in this mission? Are we going out of the company?-
Huan Bao’er glanced at her, then inserted the –Team Leader Credential- into a device.
Instantly, a psionic field curtain manifested in the hall, as if reality itself had descended.
[Jiao Ma joined the Huanshi Special Task Force.]
[Yang Zicang joined the Huanshi Special Task Force.]
–Huh?- The dozen or so people were stunned for a moment. –Yang Zicang? Isn’t that the super workhorse? Does this mission have something to do with the Demon King Hall?-
Zorro’s hand clenched nervously.
A buzz of discussion rose among the group. They had all learned about the failed modification of the Green Lotus Crown. Another Director-General was already in negotiations with Executive Croft, who came from above the trajectory of fate, regarding the signing of the Demon King Hall purchase agreement.
Suddenly, an unfamiliar name echoed in the minds of the dozen or so people.
[Bobo Li joined the Huanshi Special Task Force.]
–Who’s that?- someone behind a workstation asked.
–He’s our Demon King Hall designer!-
–Designer? What does that mean?-
–So the mission really is about the Demon King Hall… I heard our own Demon King Hall is already gone…-
–Wasn’t the designer supposed to be Croft and Yuwen Haowen… Wait—’The Third Hidden Hand’ doesn’t mean—!-
Those who caught on were utterly stunned.
–Ah! No way? Could there be a third designer overseeing the design of the Mo Ying Hall?-
–That’s right!-
The office burst into uproar.
There was actually a third person besides Croft and Yuwen Haowen engaged in the design and construction of the Mo Ying Hall. No wonder it was called the Third Hidden Hand!
–Our Starlight Illusion has someone building a third Mo Ying Hall!-
Everyone was both amazed and thrilled. Director-General Huan Bao’er had actually set up such a hidden backup plan at some unknown time!
This was the Mo Ying Hall, after all!
Starlight Illusion was simultaneously conducting the designs of three Mo Ying Halls, both openly and covertly!
–Quiet!-
Huan Bao’er’s clear voice rang in their ears, but the people felt as if they were stirred by surging waves, unable to calm down at all.
This was an utterly unexpected piece of news.
–Well, does Lord Yao Shuling know about this action team?-
Huan Bao’er said solemnly, –She doesn’t know, and you must not leak it.-
–Holy moly, even Sister Yao doesn’t know. Looks like this is our Sister Huan’s secret ace in the hole. Are the odds good?-
Huan Bao’er glared at the girl who giggled and turned her head away.
–Hmph, don’t beat around the bush trying to fish for information here.-
She crossed her arms, swept her gaze across the people in the room, and spoke with authority:
–You all better behave yourselves. Before this Mo Ying Hall passes the review, Croft must not catch wind of anything. Otherwise, if our Starry Phantom Realm wants to secure long-term design rights for Mo Ying Hall, it’ll be who knows how many years from now. Remember: secrecy, secrecy, and more secrecy! Don’t try any tricks with me now, or I’ll skin him alive.-
–Yes, ma’am!- Everyone knew how serious this was.
–But I think at this point, even if Director Croft does catch on, there’s not much he can do to us.-
–Don’t be too sure.-
One person said, –At least I can’t imagine what means Croft would use to sabotage us, even if he finds out we’re designing and building a third Mo Ying Hall. It has nothing to do with him.-
Some nodded in agreement; others frowned, lost in thought.
Every single time, our hard work was shattered by Croft’s seemingly harmless little moves.
And the third designer has never shown up from start to finish—no one knows who he is. Naturally, Croft can’t cause any trouble for that existence, which is why we’ve held out until now.
–Anyway, just hearing that we still have a production team preparing a Mo Ying Hall is so encouraging. I thought that old geezer would definitely win.-
–Yeah!- The sweet, obedient-looking girl jumped up. –I knew Big Sis Huanhuan is invincible!-
Everyone was raring to go.
Zorro’s heart trembled uncontrollably. For the past month, he had barely asked Yang Zicang anything. And now, such a unique Demon Hero Hall actually appeared before his eyes!
This was simply incredible!
The man with the blindfold rose involuntarily and asked, –Chief Executive, what should we do? Stabilize the scene?-
–That’s right—I can work 25 hours a day, no slower than Yang Zicang!- one person shouted.
–Me too.-
The woman in the corridor crossed her arms, scanning the crowd whose emotions were rising after they saw the retro workstations before them.
–Why would we need you to stabilize the scene? Those three have already handled everything. All you have to do is, in this final stretch, speedily add various extra rewards meant to boost ordinary people’s fighting spirit!-
–Huh?-
……
–Heh, heh heh~-
Croft sat in the chair, in a very good mood.
At the other end of the table against the wall, Yao Shu Ling wore a cold expression.
–Didn’t we agree to only take three layers of Void Zero Chronos? What exactly does what you wrote here mean?-
She tossed the draft contract onto the table. On her face, carved like jade, a chill seeped from her pale black, ink-like pupils.
On the paper, the words –Subscription Application Contract and Supplementary Provisions for – were glaringly conspicuous.
–I’m just saying I take a thirty percent fee of Void Zero Chronos, but since the Construction Department sent me here, I still need to earn something, right? You know, every second of my time is extremely valuable. Having wasted far longer here than originally planned, I need to be compensated for that.-
–Was it us who caused this delay?-
Croft looked as if he had heard the most ridiculous joke in the world:
–Wasn’t it?-
–Sorry, there’s no way I’m signing this contract.-
–Your people have zero experience. I haven’t even mentioned my teaching fee, but you at least have to pay this construction design fee.-
Yao Shuling tossed another contract over.
It was the contract that the Illusion Company had drafted earlier based on the previous terms.
Croft turned around without even glancing at the papers, tapping his finger heavily twice on the table:
–You need to understand, the guests from the ‘Weijiu Association’ are dying for me to sell them the design drawings. The prices they offer won’t be as stingy as you people from outside this loop.-
–No matter how much Void Zero Chronos, it’s still just Void Zero Chronos.-
–Ha, haha, hahaha. How ridiculous. Anyway, forget about the other thirty percent, but you have to add at least another twenty percent. You have only seven days to hurry up and negotiate. Secretary Xiyun is still waiting for me to go back for a drink. I don’t have time to keep wasting here.-
–I will never agree to this last-minute take-it-or-leave-it contract!-
–Hmph, then you can just wait for the Fate Trajectory to bring down the Demon Elite Arena City, turning the entire city cluster into a living hell.-
Crofter jumped down from the chair with a snort, flicked his hand dismissively, and walked out the door with his hands clasped behind his back.
‘Director Crofter! Come back!’
A voice came from outside the door: ‘I advise you to send me the signed contract as soon as possible.’
The voice trailed off as he quickly turned the corner of the corridor.
Yao Shuling’s grip on the document tightened. Her chest heaved violently as a silver ring glowed. But after a moment’s thought, she ultimately refrained from linking with anyone.
She knew that for Huan Bao’er, this news would only make her emotions explode once more.
‘What to do…’
Above her beautiful eyes, her delicate brows, mist-like, were tightly furrowed.
‘If I contact the directors with this result, how disappointed they will be…’
Finally, she gritted her silver teeth. ‘Forget it. A lesson has to be learned sooner or later. I’ll be the one to take the blame.’
……
Over a dozen people busily moved through various settings that appeared almost identical on the outside, yet were entirely different inside.
In the room, beside the flickering black cube, baskets of ability spheres and weapons were stacked.
To avoid alerting Director Dwight Crofter, the Chronos extended state had been terminated. Now every second was precious.
The team was working around the clock, so much so that even Huan Bao’er had personally joined the effort.
She was formidable, matching the strength of several people combined. But she also knew she lacked experience, so even as the general director, she acted like the most ordinary employee—doing whatever Boboli, Yang Zicang, and Jiao Ma told her to do.
As for experienced members like Zorro, they were entrusted with major tasks.
The various extras that had appeared at Croft’s side were almost directly copied here, only with different appearances and shapes. After all, that Mo Ying Hall hadn’t been revealed to the public yet. As Huan Bao’er said, whoever unveils it first gets to claim it.
–Good work, you’ve made this lottery system so elaborate.-
An employee with a simple, honest face came over, looking at the big spinning wheel in front of Zorro.
–Hah, making this one thing alone killed a ton of brain cells.-
Zorro looked at him and chuckled,
–Since you’re here, got anything that’s tasteless to eat but a pity to toss? Hand it over!-
–Hey, I knew you’d be a freeloader.-
The guy’s hand fished around in his pocket for a while, pulled out, then dug again, and finally produced a little bouncing toy.
Zorro took it, and a quick mental sound flashed in his mind.
[Acquired: [Bouncy Bouncy Egg]]
Feeling its effect—spend Chronos and press it; there’s a chance your height will become shorter or taller for the next few hours. However, the effect can only be used once per day, and cannot be removed by yourself.
–……–
Zoro twitched the corner of his mouth. –Well, it’s truly something you can’t bear to throw away, yet it’s of no use to keep.-
–Cut the crap. It can still be very useful in critical moments—for example, when trapped in a place with only a low tunnel and need to escape.-
Then he could only pray that the lottery would make him shorter instead of taller.
Zoro quickly invested the psychic wave information of the Bouncing Bouncing Egg into the prize pool. Immediately, the prize was wrapped in a force-field-like energy frame—this was the ability of a few Demon Temple marking tools provided by the Holy Ring Council. These energy force fields acted like labels. Once marked, after passing the council’s review, they would be anchored by the Competition City, becoming official prizes.
Yang Zicang suddenly appeared beside him. –I’ve finished with my treasure chests too.-
–That was quick!- The two looked over in surprise.
Yang Zicang pursed his lips. In the distance, Huan Bao’er waved his hand, and batches of treasure chests appeared, all sorts and varieties.
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