Chapter 322 - 136: Making a Comeback, Dawn of a New Era! (Double-Length)

Night, eleven o’clock.

Happiness City, Inner City, Central Hall.

After nearly twelve hours of intense debate, most of the details of version 1.0 migration plan have been finalized. What remains is to continuously adjust and modify in practice.

The heavy wooden door slowly opens, and ministers file out with undeniable weariness, walking briskly.

The implementation of the plan is just the starting point; countless execution challenges await in the Buffer Zone.

Everyone is aware that beneath the seemingly smooth agreement lies multiplied execution resistance.

Yet, oddly enough, no one shows the usual defeated expression seen after previous meetings. Instead, they all wear relieved smiles, as if a thrilling game has ended. Even if exhausted, there’s a sense of "fulfillment" in their relaxation.

It’s strange, but true.

Previous meetings always ended in evasion and bickering, with everyone avoiding responsibility like the plague, fearing a sudden burden.

But in this meeting, everyone actively took responsibility. Since the duty is clearly shouldered, there’s less anxiety about possible gains and losses.

Just like Yuan Gang’s closing remark, as long as everyone tries their best, they can accept the outcome, no matter what it is.

Though nobody really believes this idealistic stance, it at least provides a comforting attitude, better than none.

People quickly leave, leaving behind the Extraordinary Faction, Technology Faction, Idealist Faction, and the Inspector Station, the Four Major Factions.

Yuan Gang thought for a moment, said nothing, and floated away, making space.

In an instant, only Liu Kun remains seated at the head.

Unfortunately, as people leave, the feeling of control once surrounded by others is entirely gone.

The Four Major Factions remain motionless for a moment of silence, then Hou Rui from the Technology Faction suddenly coughs lightly, breaking the deadlock.

"Station Chief Ding."

"Minister Hou." Ding Yishan nods slightly, wearing a perfectly harmonious expression.

Hou Rui adjusts his gold-framed glasses, sincere in tone: "The resources and personnel training facilities the Inspector Station applied for previously, after the Outer City plan concludes, the Institute will organize the available parts and try to meet the needs as best as possible. We ask for understanding, the past years haven’t been easy for the Institute, and indeed, the pressure is immense."

"Understandable." Ding Yishan smiles, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes forming a ravine, "With Minister Hou’s words, I feel much more at ease as Station Chief."

Their smiles are warm, like old friends chatting, completely devoid of the hostility usually seen when distributing interests.

But precisely because of this, Hou Rui can’t help cursing inwardly. Ding Yishan, that old fox, indeed only acts when he’s sure of what he’s getting.

He maintains a calm facade and continues to offer promises, "Here’s the deal, Inspectors will soon go out to execute resettlement tasks, and lacking sufficient protective gear won’t do. The Institute will support each Inspector with a standardized individual armor set, how about that?"

"That’s fantastic, Minister Hou is considerate!"

Ding Yishan is delighted, but in the end, he shakes his head regretfully, "It’s a pity that armor won’t be needed by the Inspectors. After all, they’re dealing with migrants, wearing armor daily would make them seem distant."

"Then..."

Hou Rui taps his knee with his fingertips, "How about granting each Inspector unlimited access to weapons and ammunition, with all costs covered by the Institute, no burden on the Inspector Station?"

"Minister Hou is joking." Ding Yishan waves his hand, "Inspectors are going to facilitate development with residents, not to clear infection tides, so why would they need so much ammunition?"

"Then substitute..." Hou Rui pauses, swallowing words that were about to come out.

Suddenly, he sighs, "Station Chief Ding, let’s be frank, whatever the Inspector Station needs, the Institute will provide."

In the 1.0 Outer City expansion plan, the Inspector Station is undoubtedly the execution body, and Inspectors are the core of the core.

The Technology Faction wants a share of power and future benefits, so they must be willing to make sacrifices.

But as a rookie, facing old hands like Ding Yishan, indirect tactics simply don’t work.

Might as well be straightforward.

After all, everyone belongs to Happiness City’s departments, flourishing together, failing together.

Past conflicts and subtle sabotage won’t be mentioned until the Outer City is built and migrants are properly resettled.

The "disaster" brought by the Wanderer acts like a potent adhesive, binding all factions together, everyone striving toward the same goal, vaguely reminiscent of the tacit cooperation during the grand pioneering era over a decade ago.

Ding Yishan observed Hou Rui’s sincere expression, remained silent for a moment, then suddenly laughed, "Minister Hou is straightforward, so I’ll be direct too. We need quite a few things, but I might not be able to give you a specific list right now..."

"Hmm?" Hou Rui raises an eyebrow, a reflective look flashes past his eyes behind the lens.

"It’s like this." Ding Yishan explains leisurely, "After all, it’s the Inspectors going out with teams. I can’t just decisively make all their efforts serve the development of the Inspector Station."

With that said, Liu Kun at the head suddenly looks up, his gaze revealing a hint of realization.

Is this still Old Ding?

When did he start prioritizing Inspectors’ personal interests above the Inspector Station’s development?

But Ding Yishan seems oblivious to that gaze, continuing on his own, "Here’s what I propose: when Inspectors go out and have any needs, they should first report to the Inspector Station. We will review if it’s reasonable. If it is, we’ll then provide a list to you for secondary review, to see what can be offered, how about it?"

This statement leaves space, neither completely closing off dialogue nor restricting room for negotiation between both sides.