Chapter 75: Preparing for War

People would naturally believe more in what they directly felt.

So, Chen Fengshi felt that the future with Shen Ai was indeed very much worth looking forward to. As long as there was a chance to meet and interact, he could make her get to know him little by little.

In the hub of the villa acting as the Base, Little An asked about the situation of Little Huo and Alcohol.

After Little Huo and Alcohol stopped their actions in the early morning, Little Huo later went to the cleared areas to install cameras to monitor the situation in those places, and he only just finished installing them all now.

“Little Huo, you have worked hard. I’ll record a merit for you. Hurry back and rest, we still have to be busy tonight.”

“Got it.” Little Huo used the Power of Life to melt a small area of the wall, then put the monitoring equipment and battery inside. When restoring the wall surface, he added a disguise that looked exactly like the wall. From the outside, this lens looked the same as the wall’s pattern and texture, but the camera inside could film almost without any obstruction.

By relying on the Power of Life to carry out this kind of installation, it was almost impossible for anyone else to discover it.

Little Huo opened his portable Sophie Pod and confirmed that the last camera could also work normally, so he turned on the power-saving mode of the camera. When not awakened, the camera was in a dormant state. Relying on the battery hidden in the wall together with it, it was enough to ensure it could be used for a very long time.

In these cleared areas, there was still no sign that the target Fungal Demon had transferred Demon Generals from inside to re-occupy them. But the original number of Demon Generals could not increase in a short time. If the target Fungal Demon transferred Demon Generals out from inside, the inside would have to lose a corresponding amount of controlled area.

Little Huo sat in the car and said before starting it: “If there’s nothing else, I’ll go back to sleep. I’ll turn off my phone during this time.”

“Rest well.” Little An said with her mouth, while her hand swiped the screen, checking the latest news from various channels.

Regarding last night’s commotion, the target Fungal Demon had not done nothing. Now, the police system and the people surviving on the streets were all looking for Heiqi.

Yes, they were looking for them. The bounty price was directly five hundred thousand per person.

Alcohol had only woken up not long ago. When she received the mass-sent reminder message from Little An, she was choosing underwear in front of the mirror. “When we become more valuable, the President will probably sell us all. Anyway, Golden Blood can fight, and then lead Little Huo and me to break out of the siege, so the bounty will become a bonus.”

“…Very creative thinking.” Little An laughed and said: “But I think we should continue to wait. When Heiqi becomes the nightmare of all Fungal Demons in the future, the room for the bounty to increase will be very much worth looking forward to. Then I’ll sell you all together. Not only will the investment be fully recovered, but we’ll also make a big profit.”

Chen Fengshi was originally eating. Hearing their nonsense chat, he laughed so hard that he had to stop eating first.

“Little An’s foresight is simply terrifying. This is simply a super perfect investment. Not only does it save humanity and make her a hero, but there’s also a generous profit return. Gaining both fame and fortune, if I had money, I’d want to find a city and build a Demon Extermination Association too.”

Canyue said very happily: “Empress, is it still too late for me to buy in now?”

Little Huo, who was still driving, smiled and chimed in: “Maybe there really is this kind of possibility in the future. Actually, the situation of the Mutual Aid Association had already made me feel before that sooner or later it would go astray. Now that we know the power of the Power of Life can be upgraded, if this information is shared, ambitious people will definitely find ways to reform the Mutual Aid Association.”

The topic suddenly shifted from nonsense to the main issue. Chen Fengshi did not know if Little Huo was always like this, but he could hear that Little Huo did not agree with Little An’s plan to share information with companions in other cities.

Of course Little An could hear it too. Since a partner had thoughts, she certainly had to listen, so she asked: “Alcohol, Golden Blood, what do you think?”

“What does it have to do with Golden Blood? Hasn’t he officially joined the association yet?” Alcohol was obviously bringing this up on purpose, but what her intention was, Chen Fengshi still didn’t know, so he simply ate and listened.

He didn’t say anything, but Canyue took the initiative to jump out and say: “The Empress is in a difficult spot! Golden Blood demanded a monthly salary of one hundred thousand before he would join the association, and he also demanded unrestricted autonomy. But the Empress felt that the partners were all fighting with their lives, so giving him a big share alone was very unfair. So the matter is at a stalemate!”

Little Huo didn’t know the inside story, and being young, after hearing this, his impression of Chen Fengshi instantly dropped sharply. He said without any good mood: “Is Golden Blood that short of money?”

“No, actually it’s not about the money! Ugh, I can’t explain it clearly. Hmm… you could say that the Empress and Golden Blood are both being childish, stubbornly competing and dragging it out, insisting the other side gives in.” Canyue felt she must explain clearly, so she couldn’t ruin Chen Fengshi’s image.

However, both Chen Fengshi and Little An had dark lines on their faces, feeling that this wave smeared them even worse, and it smeared them both together.

Little Huo said two words very speechlessly: “Childish!”

“Haha… The Empress and Golden Blood are called childish by the eighteen-year-old Little Huo! So funny—” Canyue was simply unscrupulous. Was her brain really missing a string? Or was it that this was exactly the kind of life she pursued?

“Being eighteen is still more mature than you.” Little Huo was very dissatisfied with being laughed at for being young.

Alcohol had obviously just laughed too. In her speaking voice, there was that tone of having laughed fiercely for a while, then barely pretending to be serious but unable to hold it back. As soon as she opened her mouth, she couldn’t help but laugh a few more times. She muted the communication, and it was obvious she had controlled herself before speaking again: “What’s the big deal? Why doesn’t the President just raise all our treatment to one hundred thousand per month? We’re working so hard right now, adding some money is no big deal.”

“Yay! I agree!” Canyue immediately cheered to express her stance. Heiyang, who hadn’t made a sound all along, suddenly popped out at this time and said: “A perfect solution! I raise both my hands and feet to agree!”

Little Huo did not agree. He very seriously reminded: “Alcohol, don’t blindly join in the fuss! No matter how rich the President’s family is, the control over the money is ultimately in her parents’ hands. Right now, the Demon Extermination Association’s monthly expenses are hundreds of thousands, and I don’t know what methods she’s thinking of to cope with them. With your suggestion, the salary expenditure directly doubles. Have you considered her pressure?”

“You little brat! Step aside, does the President’s financial situation need you to worry about? If there’s a real problem, she will say it. Do you think she’s like you little brats? Still trying to save face and pretend to be fine? Now you’re standing on the opposite side, which means you’re going against all of us!” Alcohol very straightforwardly scolded Little Huo, taking a clear stand to protect their interests.

Little Huo had to stop talking, because what Alcohol said made sense. Under the circumstances that Little An hadn’t said anything herself, he was very likely worrying for nothing.

Little An was thinking. Actually, she had thought of this method herself, but she was originally angry in her heart, and felt unwilling when thinking of Chen Fengshi’s very happy appearance. But today, right now… she felt this method was really good. Especially since it was proposed by Alcohol, it simply gave both her and Chen Fengshi a way out together.

And at this time, as if fearing the atmosphere wasn’t enough, Alcohol took the lead and shouted in the communication device: “Raise! Raise! Raise! Partners, shout together! If you don’t shout, the President won’t hear it!”

Canyue and Heiyang magnificently joined in, without a moment of hesitation.

Little Huo did not join. He felt that having enough money to spend was fine, and whether it increased or not didn’t matter at all. What he valued were the things that money couldn’t buy, such as pure and sincere love, friendship, and so on.

Chen Fengshi ate his food and listened to them making a ruckus. Of course he didn’t speak, because he felt that Alcohol intentionally wanted to solve the competitive stalemate between him and Little An. Of course, she also took this opportunity to seek benefits for herself and everyone together.

“Alright, alright, quiet down!” Little An decided to go along and agree, but she also felt it couldn’t seem like she was forced to agree, as that would too much damage the President’s dignity. So she appeared very calm and continued to say: “Previously, the work in the association had always been in the preparation stage for battle. Now that we’ve transitioned into the battle stage, a salary raise was originally planned, but the scale was not this large. If you demand higher, then you have to take on more responsibilities and work.”

“…Empress, don’t tell me we still have to mop the floors?” Canyue couldn’t think of what else she could do.

Little An directly ignored her interruption and continued: “Canyue will serve as Minister of the Communications Department, concurrently Vice Minister of the Logistics Department; Heiyang will serve as Minister of the Logistics Department, concurrently Vice Minister of the Communications Department; Little Huo will serve as Vice President, concurrently heading the Minister of the Reconnaissance Department, concurrently Combat Team Captain, concurrently Vice Minister of the Coordination Department; Alcohol will serve as Vice President, concurrently heading the Minister of the Coordination Department, concurrently Reconnaissance Team Captain, concurrently Combat Team Captain; Golden Blood will serve as Vice President, concurrently Minister of the Combat Department.”

Thus, it made people feel that Little An seemed to have had a corresponding plan early on.

“President, I worship you so much! With just us few people, you came up with so many departments, and even made it so none of us are bare-bones commanders! With this level of leadership, please accept my knees!” But Alcohol noticed that the most relaxed one was Chen Fengshi, which was equivalent to satisfying his demand of not being restricted by others. He was Vice President and at the same time Minister of the Combat Department, but he did not concurrently head other departments’ work. In other words, besides Little An, in association matters, only he managed others, and no one else managed him.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah! The Empress is awesome, I want to give my knees too!” Canyue also did not hesitate at all.

“…Thank you for the raise.” What Heiyang cared about was the salary increase, because the actual work hadn’t changed at all; it was just adding titles.

“And Little Family Beauty, she is appointed as Vice Minister of the Combat Department of this association. Her family’s pension and subsequent care will all be handled according to the Vice Minister standard.” Little An added the last sentence. Little Family Beauty had joined the association for a long time. As a founding member, giving her this treatment fully reflected the President’s loyalty and affection.

“I will be responsible for handling Little Family Beauty’s matters properly.” Alcohol could guess that she would be responsible for this matter. Coordination, coordination, both internal and external work of the association could all be said to be within the scope of coordination. Was this her punishment for taking the lead in clamoring for a raise? She was purely the number one odd-job Minister!

Canyue, who would normally have a lot to say when happy, didn’t have the mood to ramble on now when she thought of Little Family Beauty. She and Little Family Beauty chatted often, because they were on night duty together from time to time, so they knew a lot about each other’s situations.

Little Family Beauty came from the countryside, shouldering the responsibility of being the eldest sister. She controlled her spending by strictly limiting her food and clothing for a long time, saved all the money she could, and kept it all for family backup, such as building a house, tuition fees for her younger siblings, and unavoidable long-term loans to relatives, all relying on her.

So, even though she was earning the income of the Demon Extermination Association, she still did not dare to waste the slightest bit.

Little An also felt very low when thinking of her lost partner, so she just said: “Alright, let’s leave it at this for now. Everyone is tired too, and we have to be busy tonight. Those who should rest, rest well.”

As for Little An herself, she took the previously prepared membership procedures and went to find Chen Fengshi.

Right at this time, Heiyang reported to her privately: “The location information of Qingfeng of the Mutual Aid Association has been found.”