58: Chapter 58: The Veteran Actor
58 -58: The Veteran Actor
âNot bad,â Li Ming sat upright with a solemn expression, âMinister, at this moment they should be at the Star Creation Companyâs Silver Grey Star branch.â
Li Ming was not sure about their exact location, but knowing the habits of the Bounty Hunters, their first move after completing the task would naturally be to claim their bounty.
Qin Xiaoâs eyes suddenly narrowed, his fists clenched subconsciously and then quickly released: âAre you certain?â
Li Ming nodded, âPretty sure.
When I killed that sniper, I vaguely heard the words âStar Creation Companyâ from their channel.
After going back and recalling repeatedly, I came to find you.â
Qin Xiao nodded slowly, but his expression didnât show much surprise.
He had always highly suspected the Star Creation Company.
The Star Creation Company should be contacting him soon.
With the item stolen, they would surely have demands.
Li Mingâs arrival confirmed this for him ahead of time, allowing him to be prepared psychologically and also sparked a certain idea in him.
He didnât speak.
Getting up, he walked to the window.
The efficiency of the city guardsâ logistics was high; the floor-to-ceiling window had already been replaced, with only the corners showing some scorch marks.
The night sky of Silver Grey City was brilliantly lit.
âHow do you feel about our Silver Grey City?â Qin Xiaoâs voice came through, very calm.
âProsperousâŠâ
âHa haâŠâ Qin Xiao turned and laughed heartily, pointing at Li Ming, his face suddenly turning grim, âWrong, utterly rotten to the core!â
âHow much bullying did you endure growing up, and did anyone ever stand up for you?
If it werenât for your fatherâs acquaintance with Yang Peng, I fear your student days would have been even more miserable!â
âDo you know how many people die each year from the grey sand disease?â
âHow much chaos do the three major gangs of the outer city cause?â
Li Ming kept silent.
Has this guy gone nuts?
The more Qin Xiao spoke, the more agitated he became, pacing back and forth: âIs this what you call prosperous?
Silver Grey Star is already terminally ill!
Utterly rotten!â
âWhat kind of role do you think I am?â Qin Xiao suddenly stood still, looking at Li Ming.
Li Ming thought for a moment, âA man of great virtue and reputationâŠâ
âYou donât think so,â Qin Xiao shook his head, âYou think Iâm a hypocrite, completely ineffectual, watching the decay of Silver Grey City without acting.â
Li Ming was confused.
What was he trying to say?
âActuallyâŠ
Iâve been searching for a solution,â Qin Xiao sighed, âAre the three major gangs that occupy the outer city strong?
Theyâre not strong; I can deal with them.â
âYet, thatâs merely a temporary solution, not a cure.
If I take them out, new ones will emerge.â
âTheyâre not the root cause,â Qin Xiaoâs graying hair was combed neatly, but now he looked like an old lion.
Bang!
He slammed his fists onto the table, âItâs the Star Creation Company!â
âIn the interstellar alliance, no fool would sign such an unrestricted mining contract, but somehow, we did,â Qin Xiao sneered:
âI donât care about the corruption at the top, but this time, the inspection team from the interstellar alliance is here, and they have the power to reject this contract.â
âBut they need solid evidence, a lot of solid evidenceâŠ
The Star Creation Company is clever, deeply versed in interstellar law.
On the surface, thereâs definitely nothing to find.â
âHowever, Iâve found a way to break through.â Qin Xiaoâs eyes were cold, then he turned somber, âOnly, now the items have been stolen.â
Li Ming was already beginning to grasp the implications; was this guy trying to brainwash me?
To mold himself intoâŠ
a good guy?
âThat wasâŠâ Li Ming began tentatively, and true to form, Qin Xiao continued with a startling revelation:
âThat is the evidence Iâve been collecting for years, evidence of the Star Creation Company supporting gangs on Silver Grey Star, bribing management, suppressing public opinion, involving several members of the management committee.â
It really was evidenceâŠ
Li Mingâs expression shifted, then suddenly he stood up, overturning the chair below him, and said with a grave voice, âMinister, what do you need me to do?â
He believed that was the reaction Qin Xiao needed.
Qin Xiao was very satisfied at that moment.
Which teenager, upon hearing about a mission to save their homeland from devastation, wouldnât be filled with high spirits?
He had specially investigated Li Ming.
His background was very clean; tormented in his youth, he underwent a drastic change in temperament due to his fatherâs death, surely suppressing some emotion within.
Resentment, anger, helplessnessâŠ
Because of his fatherâs connection, coupled with his prior deliberate publicity, the Bounty Hunters, Star Creation Company, and he naturally became enemies.
Now, with his guidance, all the sources of pain were shifted onto Star Creation Company.
A blade was already beginning to take shape.
âTo drive out Star Creation Company, we must retrieve that thing,â Qin Xiao said solemnly.
âIn about five days, the interstellar alliance inspection team, along with Blue Starâs accompanying personnel, will arrive.
They will definitely visit the Star Creation Company division, and that will be our opportunity.â
So they want me to steal it backâŠ
Li Ming realized and immediately responded.
âMinister, thereâs no problem on my end.â
Qin Xiao was pleased with his attitude, but also said, âRest assured, you wonât be acting alone in the operation.
With internal and external cooperation, many people will assist you.
You only need to carry out the final step.â
Tsk⊠Iâm not the only pawn, huh.
âWilling to go through fire and water!â Li Ming said earnestly, his gaze resolute.
Yet he hesitated and asked, âMinister, since they have it, wouldnât they just destroy it straight away?â
âThey wonât,â Qin Xiao shook his head.
âThey want to threaten those involved.
I used quantum encryption; they wonât be able to crack it anytime soon.â
âI understand,â Li Ming nodded solemnly.
Qin Xiao nodded in satisfaction and said, âYour information came very timely.
Let me seeâŠâ
He reviewed Li Mingâs records, âHmm, you killed five F-level Life Forms last time, Feng Xiao eliminated three on that occasion, and with the rookie badge converted to twenty times, plus these twentyâŠâ
After Feng Yueâs death, the incident involving Feng Xiao turned from one F-level event into three.
âThis fastâŠâ Qin Xiao was somewhat surprised but quickly collected himself.
He asked Li Ming to wait here for a moment and soon returned carrying a metal case, which he tossed onto the table.
âPurple Lightning Bear Gene Seed, your F-level gene seed should also be of the Thunder Element.
This one is well-suited for you.â
Li Ming looked astonished, âMinister, thisâŠ
I canât accept it.
The information I provided was only a conjecture, not confirmed.â
âNo!â Qin Xiao pressed on Li Mingâs shoulder, earnestly saying, âI believe in you, and Star Creation Company will soon contact me.
This is what you deserve; I wonât let down my own people.â
Li Mingâs expression was tense, his fists clenched silently as if he was deeply inspired.
His achievements, when converted, were only a few F-level Bounty Hunters short; Qin Xiao also realized this and thus rode the tide, giving a favor.
He could gain Li Mingâs favor, killing two birds with one stone.
Li Mingâs emotional reaction was within his expectations.
After all, he was the City Guard Minister, and Li Mingâs greatest backer was only a small team leader.
Before such a prominent figureâs enthusiasm, it was only right to be anxious and apprehensive.
Qin Xiao then added, âHowever, I wonât publicize this matter for now to avoid alerting the enemy prematurely.â
âUnderstood.â
This suited Li Ming just fine, as he also preferred not to draw attention.
He surmised that those who had killed Li Changhai would soon return.
âThe special training room is too crowded.
Go to the 265th floor, Iâll grant you access.
There are no other people there, and the training equipment is even better, with an unlimited supply of nutrition fluid.â Qin Xiao spoke earnestly.
The 265th floor housed the training rooms for section chiefs and ministers, rumored to be filled with expensive equipment.
Qin Xiao was very considerate.
If someone like his predecessor, who was never regarded highly, or a hot-blooded youth like Li Ning, were in this position, they would have probably been down on their knees in gratitude already.
UnfortunatelyâŠ