Professional Repairs

What a pity. Tong the Plant had made a rare visit, handed over an easy achievement on a silver platter, and asked for his help... yet it actually wasn't to hire a hitman?! Although "yet" ought to be replaced by "as expected" here, in his disappointment, Ji Jue felt like he had missed out on a lot of good material. Fortunately, when Tong the Plant wasn't living up to his nickname, he was actually quite considerate. He didn't drop any nonsense about "lending me your head for a moment," but rather asked Ji Jue to take a good look in the mirror and refocus on his old trade. Assassination? The man was the dignified head of the Yacheng Security Bureau's First Department, acting director whenever the director was away. He could kill someone without lifting a blade; why would he need you? You're an Embers artisan—why is your head filled with killing day in and day out? Hurry up and get to producing, repairing, and creating! "I recently received a batch of standard-issue equipment from the Artisans Association. It's suffered some damage, so I'd like to ask Brother Ji Jue to help us out and do some repairs." "Is that all?" Hearing this, Ji Jue slapped his thigh. "You were acting so solemn, I thought you wanted to assassinate the Governor!" "..." Tong Shan's expression instantly turned complicated. Only then did Ji Jue realize something was off. As everyone knew, the Federation Security Bureau's Second Department handled public order, the Third Department handled logistics, while the First Department oversaw classified operations and security for important figures and venues... To some degree, Tong Shan standing right before him counted as the Governor's bodyguard—and the chief bodyguard at that, a key figure who knew the Governor's daily movements and classified affairs. Damn it. He'd been shooting his mouth off for years, and now he'd run his mouth right in front of the guy guarding the target! Helpless, Tong Shan stared at him for a long while before letting out a sigh. "...You've already had over a dozen accounts banned. Show some restraint, will you?" he said with deep earnestness. "At the last meeting, the Governor even asked around, wondering who the hell was flaming him online every single day." Ji Jue paled in shock. "I'm not the only one, you know!" "Yeah, there's your brother too." Tong Shan's expression grew even more difficult to describe. "Just this year, the two of you combined have had over forty accounts banned! If this keeps up, they might end up banning your ports and IPs. It's only because the Beishan District has good ties with you guys; otherwise, someone would've come knocking to invite you for 'tea' ages ago." Ji Jue's eyes widened, overcome with tragic indignation. He felt completely innocent. What was wrong with cussing out the Governor? Who in Yacheng hadn't done it? Whose accounts hadn't been banned a few times? "You talk like you've never been banned yourself!" "I haven't," Tong Shan replied flatly. "I never insult people online." Ji Jue sucked in a breath of cold air, staring at him in shock, incredulous and filled with admiration. "Nor to their faces!" Tong Shan felt like he was losing hair; his blood pressure spiked. It was one thing for an outsider like Ji Jue and a dangerous target under heavy Military Department surveillance like Lu Feng. But the Tong family had deep roots and vast enterprises in Yacheng; countless family members relied on this to make a living. Though they had always kept a low profile and never flexed their muscles in the open, their subtle, pervasive influence had already seeped into every aspect of Yacheng. Finance, manufacturing, public livelihood, utilities... Without anyone realizing it, through the gentlest means, they had become a force impossible to ignore. As the prominent public face of this generation of the Tong family, how could he possibly badmouth the Governor? Never mind insults—if he stepped out of the Governor's Mansion and so much as let out a cold snort or knitted his brows, it could be interpreted as a sign of an impending rift between the two sides. It was an utter headache. Even if his fists did itch three, four, five, six, seven, eight times on certain occasions. Yet no matter how much he despised carrying himself like a clay doll or wooden marionette, he had to accept reality, accept the rules, and integrate into them. The Tong family had been made by the rules, so they had to uphold this order; their stance could never waver. Pity that in a family full of Aether gossipmongers and drama-chasers, only Tong Shan possessed the sense of responsibility to shoulder their obligations. He endured it all in silence, only to be snidely called "Tong the Plant" by his younger sister. Being the eldest brother was truly bitter. "Not easy at all," Ji Jue sighed in sympathy, patting his shoulder to show solidarity. Beside them, Lou Feng's eyelid twitched violently. That was a bespoke uniform tailored from Midtown fabrics! Wash your damn hands first! You're just wiping grease all over it like that? Look at all those smudges! Tong Shan, aren't you going to teach him a lesson? Aren't you going to punch him twice? He really didn't. Tong Shan couldn't have cared less. Sitting in the filthy chair, he even loosened his tie, unbuttoned his collar, and savored Ji Jue's bowl of tea, casually sharing recent developments at the outpost. That included teams from Security Bureaus across Haizhou, anomalous movements in Quancheng, remnants of the Evil Transmutation Cult, and other suspicious, strange traces that might exist... Not until the rumbling of wheels came from the distance did he straighten up slightly, retighten his tie, and turn back into that solemn, dignified, humorless captain. Then, a beat-up, drafty car chugged over, riddled with dents and damage. "Captain Tong, I brought the stuff!" The girl driving poked her head out and waved excitedly at Tong Shan from afar. But seeing the scene before her, she couldn't help freezing in bewilderment. After all, following the earlier attack, the Recycling and Disposal Department was currently littered with wreckage. Ji Jue had smashed down several sections of wall, leaving broken bricks and shattered tiles everywhere, while thick smoke was still billowing out of the workshop. Ji Xue was instantly stunned: Holy shit, did the Evil Transmutation Cult attack? Yet soon, when she saw the artisan Tong Shan introduced, her expression shifted. "Captain Tong, this craftsman you found... um, he looks really good." Ji Jue smiled faintly, unbothered. He could guess that she hadn't meant to praise his looks; what she had originally intended to comment on was probably his age. He was too young—even younger than Tong Shan. A hairless lip meant unsteady hands. Moreover, Embers was a path heavily reliant on experience and technique; generally, the older one got, the stronger they became. Now, an artisan who looked about her own age—perhaps even slightly younger—had suddenly spawned before her. Was he reliable? "Don't worry. If he says it works, it works." Tong Shan understood her concern at a glance. With a wave of his hand, large crates floated out of the battered truck bed without any need for lifting, settling down in front of Ji Jue. Inside were various worn and damaged tools. The most important among them were the advance investigation team's protective suits—two allocated to each member. Resembling overcoats with high-standing collars, they were sufficient to cover a person from head to toe. Their interiors were formed from the insignias of the Twelve Virtues alongside numerous spiritus circuits and runes, acting like miniature protective barriers to isolate corruption pollution and erosion to the greatest extent possible. Aside from that, their defensive capabilities were substantial, easily stopping ordinary bullets while remaining easy to move in. There were also masks used for exploring heavily polluted areas, styled like common gas masks, though the consumables inside the breathing valves were mostly contaminated and unfit for use. The small containment units used when setting up temporary camps were basically stripped-down versions of what Ji Jue had been dismantling these past days, only more portable and consumed just as quickly. Accompanying them were tools like ground pads and sleeping bags, as well as electronic devices that were malfunctioning from contamination. Understanding their nature, Ji Jue couldn't help feeling a bit disappointed. "Not much challenge here." It was somewhat tedious, but who could blame Non-Offensive combined with Masterwork Nature for being absurdly efficient? For such a minor task, even if Tong Shan hadn't helped him out, Ji Jue would never shirk or refuse out of consideration for the bond he forged with that silly girl Tong Hua in the Chrono Ruin. "No weapons?" he asked curiously. "Uh..." Ji Xue hesitated. "The weapons are with Ah Liu. They'll be brought over in a bit." Naturally. This was their first time dealing with one another. If ordinary items were ruined, at worst they could wait for the next batch to be issued. But weapons were life-preserving treasures; how could they be casually handed over to a stranger for maintenance? Besides, the reputation of Embers... Suffice it to say, compared to ancient times, it had already improved. Not bad, not bad at all. Ji Jue paid it no mind. Tong Shan, however, suddenly reached out. His ring flashed faintly, and a neatly furled banner appeared in his hand. He held it out. "If they're late, they can wait in line. How about starting with mine?" "Whoa!" Before Ji Xue could stop him, Ji Jue had taken the banner. His eyes lit up, and he clicked his tongue in admiration. "Fine piece of work!" Rarely had he seen such an exquisite blessed armament. Compared to this, the ransom items Ji Jue had previously swindled were practically scraps. Rigorous structure, orderly composition, harmonious balance. The Four Phases worked in flawless harmony—an undeniable masterwork through and through! Like a probe, a weakened version of Dissociation Art swept lightly across it, mapping its internal state into his consciousness—a rare doubly blessed armament! The Tianyuan branch's "All Things at Hand" and the Aether branch's "Heaven's Discerning Mirror." The effect of All Things at Hand was to maximize the utilization of the surrounding environment, allowing the Celestial Chosen to intervene and manipulate with seamless ease, bringing all things tangible and intangible within range of influence. As for Heaven's Discerning Mirror, it elevated one's consciousness and perspective beyond the physical body, forming an omnidirectional, three-hundred-and-sixty-degree aerial view within the bounds of mental influence, seeing through the finest details. Paired with Tong Shan's Tianyuan matrix and Tianyuan's signature telekinesis, it not only enhanced their efficacy but also greatly expanded their range. This was clearly a weapon tailor-made for Tong Shan by a master artisan! "Impressive," Ji Jue marveled. Even though it looked unadorned, crafting a doubly blessed armament tailored to Tong Shan must have demanded immense effort. It likely took over half a year of dedicated labor. The Tong family was truly filthy, inhumanly rich. Ji Jue couldn't even fathom the cost. If he had that kind of skill, even a "friends and family" discount would cost a cool hundred million. The lion's share went into the materials and blessings; labor barely accounted for anything. Tong Shan remained as calm as ever, but Ji Xue grew increasingly nervous, subconsciously leaning in. "Little Master, can you handle it?" "It's just refurbishment and maintenance, nothing difficult. It'll be done in a bit." Ji Jue shouldered the banner with one hand and waved the other. Quicksilver flowed out from the truck bed, propping itself up into a small cart that followed behind him. Only before stepping into the workshop, he suddenly turned back. "Brother Shan, are consumables reimbursable?" "Use whatever you need," Tong Shan nodded. "If you don't have it here, write me a requisition list and I'll have someone deliver it." "Now we're talking!" Ji Jue's smile grew wildly uninhibited, like a stray dog slipping its leash. There was a cheap way to repair things, and an expensive way. If someone was truly willing to invest, he could reap plenty of benefits. Even without exorbitant markups, whatever was left over would be his, wouldn't it? Besides, a practice opportunity delivered right to his doorstep was rare... Stroking his chin in thought, he suddenly asked: "Want an upgrade?"