After the Yao Shu Ling clearly informed him of the situation regarding the Fate Trajectory side, Croft still responded with such a dismissive attitude.
Both directors were furious.
Gong Huanwu arrived at the small villa nestled in the garden.
–Director, may I ask when you will personally come to guide our team members?-
–Didn’t I give you all the materials already?-
Croft turned from the window, his gaze sharp and imposing.
–Those are all my precious notes, from my student days all the way to when I created my masterpiece. With so many of you, if you can’t even understand those, then how would they grasp the more advanced content if I lecture directly? It would be a waste of words.-
–We…- Gong Huanwu had completely given up on any illusions. He squared his shoulders solemnly.
–Director Croft, I hope your vacation is enjoyable.-
Gong Huanwu took a step back, preparing to close the door and leave.
–Hold on.-
Croft ambled over casually:
–Regarding that construction blueprint from last time, I asked my friend about it, and he said he could lower the price to 1.2 million. Two hundred thousand of that is the review fee. That means for just one million Virtual Zero Chronos, you can exchange it for the blueprint of a Demon-Hero grade arena.-
Gong Huanwu knew he was bluffing; that friend of his probably didn’t exist.
He said with a forced smile, –I’ll relay that.-
Croft smoothed down a curled corner of Gong Huanwu’s collar. –As a director, no matter where you go, you must always pay attention to your image.-
He looked at Gong Huanwu, who was struggling to keep an even expression, a smile surfacing on his cyan-tinted face:
–I’ll stay another twenty days. If the little ones can produce something decent, I’ll personally give them some guidance. But if they can’t, then I’m afraid I can’t stick around for you—let the next officer take over. Dismissed.-
Gong Huanwu nodded, pulled the door shut, and left.
Though both were cadres, Croft’s tone as he addressed the other was that of a master commanding a servant.
……
–Twenty days!-
–He’s only referring to the framework,- Officer Gong said in a low voice.
–Ha. I, Huan Bao’er, have been around for years, and no one has ever given me such a cold shoulder.-
The woman wore a sharp, figure-hugging jacket over her shoulders, her delicate curves rising and falling faintly, her face like frozen frost.
–Call a meeting of all team leaders. We need to draft a feasible plan tonight. Starting tomorrow, everyone works on executing it.-
–Isn’t that too rash?- Gong Huanwu said.
Drafting a plan for a whole arena city in one night—even copying it would break your hands.
–He wants to see a prototype in twenty days, doesn’t he? Well, I’ll give him a prototype. Even if we waste twenty days, we still have four months left!-
Gong Huanwu acknowledged the order and left.
Huan Bao’er turned around, leaning her lower back against the desk. A glowing ring appeared on her chest.
–Let’s pull some people and start modifying the Green Lotus Crown. We’ll work on both fronts at once.-
{I just paid some price to contact the Chief Steward. He informed me that the council seems to have conveyed to Croft: if he cannot design a lowest-level Magic-Elite class arena city here, they will replace him.}
–Is that the reason for his last-minute change of attitude?-
{He’s stalling for time, to see if we’ll compromise.}
……
–Director Gong, take a look at this plan.-
–No good.-
……
–Director Mengxi, what do you think of my plan? Is it feasible?-
–A bit too easy.-
……
–Director Yehe, our group’s proposal is like this.-
–Not bad. But something similar has been done before. Here it doesn’t matter, but on the Destiny Track it could be seen through at a glance and leak secrets, so it won’t pass the council’s review.-
……
Ten-odd days later, in Croft’s room.
A small statue was placed on the table. In the room appeared another phantom figure with an appearance similar to his, but taller.
{Croft, it’s been nearly a month. You still take the council’s admonition as a passing breeze. Do you really not intend to build a Magic-Elite Hall here?}
[Of course I’m going to build it. I’m just making them understand that blueprints are priceless, giving them a little pressure. Only then will they learn to cherish them.]
{If you think that place isn’t worthy of your talents, come back early.}
The figure disappeared.
Seeing him vanish, Croft instead smiled.
He sat down in the chair, crossed his legs, placed his hands on his stomach, rubbing his thumbs together alternately, and whistled.
Croft wasn’t afraid of anyone coming to hurry him—the more people who showed up, the more anxious they must be.
Anyway, for the same matter, only one person could come down at a time.
Just as he was in a good mood, a knock sounded at the door.
–Come in.–
The door was pushed open. A travel‑worn young man turned his head left and right. –Excuse me, is this the residence of the instructor of the Demon Hero Hall?–
Croft turned to look at him.
–I am. What can I do for you?–
–Oh, it’s right here—great, I didn’t get lost.–
With that, the young man swung the door wide open and shoved a large suitcase inside.
Croft lowered his feet from the edge of the table, planting them on the floor tiles, and eyed the young man suspiciously. –What are you doing?–
–Ah, my luggage. Which room is your bedroom?–
–Your luggage? What are you up to?–
–Making the bed.–
–Making the bed?–
Croft’s face twisted in disbelief.
–Where are you from? Is this your home? Making the bed! And in my bedroom, no less!–
–You’re Director Croft, right? Hello, I’m Yuwen Haowen from the Black Fish Phantom Realm. A month ago the Demon Hero Hall mental illusion I created was evaluated by the council—it’s an honor to meet a senior. I heard you’re leaving the day after tomorrow, so I thought…–
A chill shot down Croft’s spine.
A dark‑gold line flashed from his chest, but no one answered.
–Get out!–
He kicked the man’s luggage out the door, shoved him out, and slammed the door shut with a bang.
Bang, bang! Knocking from outside, but inside there was no reply.
……
In the office, everyone was walking around asking their own questions and exchanging materials to review.
–There’s probably nothing else to do today. Let’s head back.-
Yang Zicang stood up.
Zorro glanced at the scattered documents with no clear beginning or end, and at the spirit field phantom before him, then stood up and picked up his coat, saying:
–I’ll go to the reference library and look through some other materials.-
……
The next day, in the large meeting room.
–Allow me to announce some good news.-
Officer Gong walked into this old-fashioned office that seemed from the late 19th century.
–We have invited someone from the Black Fish Illusion Realm—Team Leader Yuwen Haowen, a competition city designer who has already submitted a Magic Hero Hall review application to the parliament. Everyone, please welcome him.-
Today, an unexpected turning point appeared right at the start of the workday.
–Whoa.- The crowd buzzed with excitement.
A smiling young man walked in from the meeting room door with steady steps, but still looking a bit shy.
The hearts of everyone, which had sunk to rock bottom, instantly ignited with new drive.
Because the twenty-day deadline set by Director Croft was fast approaching, and although the team had gathered a hodgepodge of venues and routes, when they tried to piece them together in a twisted way, it looked no better than an ant nest.
Some routes, after being connected with others, would inadvertently lead back to the starting point following someone else’s path. And certain entrances were cleverly designed to allow a quick reach to the finish.
What everyone had in hand could be described as an excellent Magic Hero Hall for training people who get lost. Other than that, it was utterly useless.
But now, at last, a mentor is willing to show up in person to provide guidance.
–Good morning, colleagues of the Starlight Phantom Realm. I am Yuwen Haowen. Starting today, I’ll share some of my personal insights on designing Magic Elite-level competition cities.–
He raised his index finger and thumb, pinching them together as he said,
–Though my Magic Elite Hall is still under review, I believe I’ve accumulated a bit of experience that might spark some ideas for you.–
With a newcomer on board, the entire team instantly radiated a blazing brilliance.
Everyone confidently began to overhaul the competition city plan, charging ahead with Yuwen Haowen’s design philosophy.
……
–Tomorrow is day twenty. What does Croft say?–
In the office belonging to Huan Bao’er, she sat on a soft leather chair made of vintage curly elm, one wrist resting on the table, her gaze fixed on Gong Huanwu across from her.
–Director General, although Yuwen Haowen has breathed new life into the chaotic team, he’s still someone who hasn’t even passed the review.–
Gong Huanwu paused, then said,
–Croft contacted me this morning. He said he can give us another ten days. He’ll judge the framework we produce. If it doesn’t meet his minimum standards, he’ll still walk away.–
–Another ten days? A whole month wasted. This guy’s been sitting on the pot without…–
–Ahem.–
Huan Bao’er shot him a glance. –He brought up his design plan again, didn’t he?–
–Yes, but I turned it down on your behalf directly.–
Dong dong dong!
The sound of fist-pounding echoed from the door.
–I’m Croft!-
–Please come in.-
Croft pushed the door open, swaggered inside, and after a few casual remarks, said:
–I’m truly grieved that you’d invite someone whose review hasn’t even been finalized to guide your Magic Hero Hall design. Do you really think an arena city is something just anyone can pull off?-
–Isn’t it you who’s done nothing?- Huan Bao’er sneered inwardly, but responded politely:
–We still need to give young people a stage to showcase themselves. That’s always been our mission at the Lost Illusion Company.-
–Hah—the collision of tens of thousands, the fleeting sparks of life, breakthroughs forged at the edge of limits—to you, it’s just a flippant ‘give the young a stage’.-
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