Chapter 404: Location

“Let’s go.”

A few minutes later, Boss Rat slowly opened his eyes. “We go with what we just discussed. We need to figure out the underlying principles of this mutation as quickly and thoroughly as possible today, then announce them tomorrow.”

He left one thing unsaid.

Taking the lead now meant keeping it. Only by constantly seizing the initiative in this farce could they expand Crocodile’s influence in a short amount of time.

Announce the protective measures tomorrow, and figure out the principles today.

By the time everyone else learned the protective measures tomorrow, they would already be positioned to announce the deeper principles the day after.

To the public, this was a disaster. But in Boss Rat’s eyes, it was a footrace. They had already taken an early lead off the starting line, which meant they had to seize this opportunity firmly.

“You’ve recovered already?”

Crocodile sighed. “What a pity. It’s rare enough to see an old bastard like you heartbroken. I wanted to enjoy the show a little longer.”

“There’s nothing to be heartbroken over.”

Boss Rat smiled. “This is a gift from my son to his uncle.”

“Take good care of it.”

“You seem upset.”

Zeng Qing looked at Yan Jing, who was resting on her shoulder with his eyes closed, and gently stroked his furry back.

“Am I? I don’t think so.” Yan Jing kept his eyes closed.

He had nothing to be upset about. The task was complete, and the mutation had already spread.

If they couldn’t even stop a mutation of this level, the destruction of this country was inevitable anyway. There was nothing worth regretting, and he would even gain a massive territory out of it.

He had already fulfilled the conditions to stop Tianxuan, meaning his original body could leave the dungeon at any time. Probably by tomorrow or the day after, once the dungeon was completed, he could advance to the Sixth Tier with a bit of luck.

If his luck was poor and the experience yielded wasn’t enough, he would just use a Double Experience Card to push into the Sixth Tier.

Once he reached the Sixth Tier, he would set out for the First Ring Domain.

It was hard to say whether his future dungeons would even take place in Peace Heavenly Kingdom.

At worst, he would just swap to a new dungeon and a new role. After all, Mao Si’s abilities were merely practical at best.

As for how to trigger a reset, that presented a bit of a challenge. Given his current strength combined with Mao Si’s, actually managing to die would require quite a commotion.

Still, there was always a way.

“If Fourth Master says he isn’t upset, then he isn’t upset.”

Zeng Qing gathered Yan Jing into the crook of her arm, gently patting his back.

Sometimes, she felt that she and Mao Si were quite alike, especially when it came to their families.

It made no sense on paper.

Mao Si’s father was a gang boss, and anyone could see that he loved his three children to death. For someone at his tier, people still willing to communicate with their children were pitifully few.

Her own father was the patriarch of a financial syndicate who despised cold-blooded creatures like her who didn’t know how to say the right things. Ever since she was a child, excluding formal meetings, the two had seen each other no more than five times.

Their backgrounds, experiences, and circumstances were completely different.

But from the moment she met Mao Si, she felt an inexplicable similarity between them.

Much like her, Mao Si seemed to have a barrier between himself and his father.

It was just that the barrier between her and her father was a wall overgrown with thorns—anyone who touched it would inevitably bleed.

The barrier between Mao Si and his father, however, was an abyss. The people on opposite sides could see each other, talk to each other, and even toss gifts across the gap. But whoever took the first step forward would fall into the depths, never to break free.

“Then let’s head back to the company first to deal with the aftermath of the pollution. We can figure out how to resolve this entire mess afterward. How does that sound?” Zeng Qing asked.

“Mm.” Yan Jing still kept his eyes closed.

“Did you find him?” Yaoguang asked Tianquan over the communicator.

“N-No,” Tianquan replied, his voice brimming with confusion. “Where the hell did that guy go? I monitored the accounts of several government officials tied to him, but I haven’t seen him contact any of them.”

“His last contact was with a high prosecutor. He asked the prosecutor about the government’s stance, and the prosecutor replied that they were still discussing it. There was nothing after that.”

—

The ominous premonition was correct.

Yaoguang rubbed his brow. “Is there any other news? For example, has anyone asked about his location?”

“No.” Tianquan let out a light breath. “He’s very cautious. He never reveals his location to anyone. Plus, in the last twenty-four hours, there’s been no mention of him arranging to meet with anyone.”

“I’d say you should go check the few places he frequents again. That guy only ever hangs around a handful of spots anyway.”

“Alright, I got it.” Yaoguang nodded. “Where are you right now?”

“Me?” Tianquan blanked for a moment. “You mean—”

“We need to regroup right now. This is extremely important.”

Yaoguang didn’t deny Tianquan’s guess. If Tianquan could have seen his face right now, he would have noticed how exceptionally grave his expression was.

“Name a place—” Tianquan paused. “Wait a second. Hold on.”

A few seconds later, he spoke again. “Okay, go ahead. I’ve set up the electromagnetic shielding.”

“Let’s go to the piano shop,” Yaoguang said softly. “We’ll meet at the piano shop.”

Peace District.

A white mansion surrounded by layers of towering skyscrapers.

Very few people knew the exact location of this building, and some had never even heard its name.

Peace Mansion.

This building bore that strange name.

That was because, when viewed from the sky, it looked like a white plain entirely encased in reinforced concrete, blanketed in pristine snow and reflecting a shimmering luster.

At this moment, a figure sat at the visitor’s table in the highest level of the mansion, exuding an imposing aura without a trace of anger.

He wore a white military uniform, his right shoulder covered in medals and so many silk ribbons that they resembled feathers.

Peace Heavenly Kingdom—Commander of the Strategic Command Department—Zhu Qiao.

Right now, he was looking toward the desk at the far end of the visitor’s table. Over there, a figure was bent over the desk, sketching and scribbling.

Sitting opposite Zhu Qiao was another figure dressed in a gray suit and black-rimmed glasses, wearing a stern expression.

Peace Heavenly Kingdom—Minister of the Central Intelligence Department—Ding Xunchun.

Seated further out from the two of them were two other people. One had thick eyebrows and large eyes, yet a single glance at his brow revealed a deeply sinister air.

Peace Heavenly Kingdom—Minister of the Security Department—Che Taizai.

The other person wore a sharply tailored suit, sitting rigidly upright and radiating righteousness.

Peace Heavenly Kingdom—Prime Minister—Liao Junliang.

“Mr. President, the current situation has become incredibly critical. The public is waiting for a statement. I believe it’s time.” The one who spoke was not Zhu Qiao or Ding Xunchun, who sat near the front, but Liao Junliang, who sat the furthest out.

He was the man who oversaw matters both great and small in Peace Heavenly Kingdom. Logically speaking, he should have been the one sitting closest to that desk.

But they had all climbed their way to their current positions step by step, so they naturally understood that these seats were never fixed.

Therefore, the seating order wasn’t fixed either.

Over the past fifteen years, his seat had shifted bit by bit from the innermost position all the way to the very edge of this visitor’s table.

Now, he was seated even further out than Che Taizai.

Even so, certain words still had to be spoken by him.

Because it would be inappropriate for the other three to say them.

Yet Quan Dazhong, still bent over the desk, did not speak.

In truth, an inquiry like that wasn’t the first of its kind today. Quan Dazhong had selectively ignored the previous few as well.

Just as Liao Junliang’s expression grew anxious and he prepared to speak again, Quan Dazhong suddenly stood up from the desk. He picked up a freshly drawn oil painting sketch and placed it in front of the group.

“Everyone, what do you think of this painting?”

Looking at the painting and hearing that question, Liao Junliang felt hot blood rush straight to his head.

It was yet another one of his classic trap questions designed to test their hearts.

He hadn’t expected that even with the fire practically singeing their eyebrows, Quan Dazhong would still be playing these kinds of games.

But before he could speak, Che Taizai suddenly broke into a fawning smile nearby. “Good painting! What a great painting! Mr. President, your painting skills have improved again recently! This flower is truly lifelike! Excellent! Excellent!!!”

Saying that, Che Taizai actually started clapping his hands on such a formal occasion.

Liao Junliang shot a glance at the painting. It was a single flower of an unrecognizable species growing in a pot, looking half-dead.

At that moment, the Commander of the Strategic Command Department, Zhu Qiao, also nodded. “It truly is a fine painting. Anyone can draw a flower in full bloom, but drawing a withered, dispirited flower like this is the hardest. Mr. President has clearly put immense effort into this.”

In truth, he disdained speaking such flattery, but since Che Taizai had already set the precedent, he was forced to follow suit.

Unlike Ding Xunchun beside him, he had been sitting in his current seat from the very beginning.

It was just that the person sitting next to him back then was Liao Junliang, and now it had been swapped to Ding Xunchun.

Because of this, he looked down on Che Taizai from the bottom of his heart. However, he was also wary of how rapidly Che Taizai had risen over the past few years, so he had to offer a compliment no matter what.

And he couldn’t just praise it; he had to be original and praise it in a completely different way from Che Taizai.

Faced with their flattery, Quan Dazhong said nothing.

Thus, Ding Xunchun spoke up.

He said in a deep voice, “Mr. President is likely using this painting to describe your current state of mind. Xunchun can understand. In fact, Xunchun feels the exact same way.”

“Nowadays, the other Heavenly Kingdoms outside are constantly itching to make a move. To think that such a mess would erupt internally for us. Mr. President, please give us your orders to guide our Peace Heavenly Kingdom onto the right path.”

Listening to Ding Xunchun’s words, Liao Junliang’s expression softened quite a bit.

He knew that Ding Xunchun was someone who still did actual, practical work. In fact, he got more done than even Zhu Qiao, who sat next to him.

So, he had absolutely no complaints about Ding Xunchun taking his old seat.

As long as it wasn’t Che Taizai sitting there, it was fine.

Yet, speak of the devil—

“Zhu Qiao, switch seats with Taizai,” Quan Dazhong’s voice rang out from behind the desk.

Zhu Qiao was startled, his eyes widening. “Me?”

“Are you unwilling?” Quan Dazhong’s voice sounded like a freshly washed rag left out in the sun. You couldn’t say it was dirty or foul-smelling, but it was undeniably damp.

Unexpectedly, faced with Quan Dazhong’s questioning, Zhu Qiao didn’t move from his seat immediately. Instead, he spoke in a heavy voice, “Please speak plainly, Mr. President.”

Silence.

A long silence swept through the room.

After an unknown amount of time had passed, Quan Dazhong chuckled from behind his desk. “Forget it. If you don’t want to switch, then don’t switch. It seems our Zhu Qiao still wants to sit next to me after all.”

“Thank you, Mr. President.” Zhu Qiao let out a sigh of relief.

Che Taizai didn’t seem overly dismayed either, merely shooting Zhu Qiao a gloomy glance.

“Alright, Xunchun, you stay behind for a moment,” Quan Dazhong said. “As for what you all just mentioned, I will give it careful consideration.”

Hearing this, Liao Junliang and Zhu Qiao stood up, bowing slightly toward Quan Dazhong. “Thank you for your magnanimity, Mr. President.”

Soon after, the two of them walked out the door.

Once outside, they stepped into a retro-style elevator. Neither of them spoke a single word until the elevator had descended halfway.

The relationship between the two wasn’t particularly good—it could even be considered rather poor. This dynamic had started years ago when both of them had still occupied the seats closest to Quan Dazhong.

After a moment of thought, Liao Junliang finally spoke up. “Mr. President has likely thought of a solution.”

Even though he wasn’t particularly skilled at worldly interactions, Liao Junliang still chose to take the initiative to break the ice.

It wasn’t just because he felt Zhu Qiao was tolerable, but also because he recognized his own situation wasn’t optimistic. If things kept playing out like this, he might not even be able to keep his current position.

True, he and Quan Dazhong were brothers-in-arms who had fought together side-by-side ever since Quan Dazhong first took office, and they both hailed from the Peace Party.

But precisely because of that, he had absolutely no ability to contend against Quan Dazhong. None whatsoever.

The Peace Party had long since been completely infiltrated by Quan Dazhong. The only thing he could do now was offer slight admonishments when Quan Dazhong stubbornly insisted on having his own way.

And that ‘slight’ was truly, incredibly slight.

It was for this exact reason that he wanted to win over Zhu Qiao from the Reform Faction.

After all, Zhu Qiao’s position was highly unique. He controlled the military forces. Hadn’t he just seen it? Even Quan Dazhong had to give him a bit of face.

“Perhaps.” Faced with Liao Junliang’s initiative to strike up a conversation, Zhu Qiao didn’t show much of a favorable expression, merely replying indifferently.

Soon, the elevator doors opened, and he quickly stepped out.

As Zhu Qiao left, Liao Junliang vaguely heard a low curse. By the time he snapped back to his senses, Zhu Qiao had already vanished from sight.

Liao Junliang furrowed his brows.

This Zhu Qiao was not someone to be trifled with either—he needed to keep a close eye on him.

Che Taizai brought over some tea and placed it on Quan Dazhong’s desk.

As the Minister of the Security Department, he didn’t need to leave without a direct order from Quan Dazhong.

Therefore, even though Quan Dazhong hadn’t mentioned his name, he had stayed behind anyway.

“Xunchun, your insights on my painting just now were spot on,” Quan Dazhong said softly.

“It is my honor.” Ding Xunchun bowed his head deeply in a show of respect.

—

—

His respect for Quan Dazhong was genuine. After all, the president prior to Quan Dazhong had been an absolute disaster. In his eyes, Quan Dazhong taking office back then had been the salvation of Peace Heavenly Kingdom.

Over the years, he had blocked quite a few knives for Quan Dazhong.

“But—it wasn’t the whole picture—” Quan Dazhong said softly. “Raise your head and look at this painting.”

“Look at the rose in here. Why do you think it’s not growing well?”

Ding Xunchun stared at the painting. Finally, he spoke softly, “Is it because it lacks sunlight?”

“Wrong!” Quan Dazhong suddenly jerked his head up.

What kind of face was that? It was practically nothing but skin and bone, with a pointed mouth and sunken cheeks. It possessed absolutely none of a grand or majestic appearance.

“It’s nutrition!!!”

“It’s nutrients!!!!!”

“There aren’t enough nutrients! The nutrition isn’t enough! So what must be done?”

“We need to—supplement the nutrition,” Ding Xunchun replied tentatively.

“Where will the nutrition come from now?” Quan Dazhong asked in return.

Ding Xunchun pondered for a long time but couldn’t come up with an answer.

The state of Peace Heavenly Kingdom was not optimistic.

Ding Xunchun failed to answer, but Quan Dazhong didn’t blame him. He merely reached out and tore a few petals off the flower in the painting.

Looking at the painting, Ding Xunchun widened his eyes in shock.

...

“You mean to say—”

He found it hard to believe.

Quan Dazhong nodded.