Before the Wind Rises

Overnight, Luo Island completely changed hands. A brand-new horror story was unfolding across the Seven Cities. In less than half a month, the entire world seemed to have transformed beyond recognition. For the upper echelon of the Seven Cities, an event this bizarre was indistinguishable from a nightmare. People died in droves, crises erupted in swarms, and troubles were dumped by the basketload. Stirred by an invisible troublemaker, the muddy mire of the entire Seven Cities was churned to a boil. Amid dizzying confusion, blackouts followed blackouts for everyone, and by the time they came to their senses, everything had assumed an unrecognizable guise. Within three days, Chopra was taken; within a week, Sukarno fell. In the mere blink of an eye, two of the Seven Cities had fallen into Ji Jue's hands. Without prolonged struggle or friction, he had swept in like flowing water, effortlessly taking command of Xiangzhou and Luo Island and establishing himself as the Seven Cities' sternest father! Who wouldn't be terrified? Just yesterday, everyone was sharing hotpot and singing songs together; today, out of nowhere, the person across the table had changed—and acted like an old friend, raising a glass, baring teeth in a grin, and eyeing you like a sculptor assessing fine jade. Back in Xiangzhou, that bastard Ji Jue had at least put Minkler up front to put on a show. But once he arrived in Luocheng, he didn't even bother pretending—he just rolled up his sleeves and went straight to work! Why put on a show? This Luo Island was just something he'd picked up along the way! In less than a single day, from top to bottom, heads rolled and rivers of blood flowed. As if he had come to sack the city, he practically executed every key figure among Luo Island's upper, middle, and lower ranks! Human trafficking? Death! Forcing women into prostitution? Death! Selling illicit drugs? Death! Corruption and malfeasance? Death! Inciting riots? Death! Gunfire on the shooting range rang out like New Year firecrackers, popping from morning until dawn and right into the next morning, never stopping for a breath. Compromise? Negotiation? Haggling? None! I compromised in Tacheng, negotiated in Yacheng, and haggled in Haizhou. If I have to do that in your goddamn Luocheng too, wouldn't my trip be for nothing? Either kneel, or die! In truth, by the time one-third had died, the rest already knew to kneel. Unfortunately, it was too late, so another third died anyway. Fortunately, the final third was spared, left to use their remaining insignificant lives as beasts of burden to testify to Mr. Ji's magnanimity and boundless mercy. Because of this, the other five families were completely dumbfounded! Big bro, are you Embers or Swarm? Even the Swarm wasn't this unhinged—how could anyone be crazy enough to slaughter their own lackeys and tools too! Wait, what kind of leader does things like this? An entire vested interest group deeply entwined with Luo Island was wiped out entirely—gone just like that. Now that you've killed everyone off, who's going to run things for you? Who's going to keep Luo Island operating? Who's going to manage all that messy business? That's not how management games work, et cetera, et cetera. In fact, early on, the other factions were preparing to enjoy the spectacle. They wanted to watch Ji Jue, after butchering everyone like a madman and leaving behind a chaotic, turbulent Luo Island, come begging for help with head bowed. Then they could join hands and knock him down a peg or two. Instead, something far more terrifying happened! —Luo Island operated as smoothly as ever! There was no sign whatsoever of total collapse or anarchy. On the surface at least, the waters were calm. Occasional hiccups and minor issues were merely transitional mistakes magnified by a temporary shortage of personnel. In fact, tallying up overall metrics, efficiency had actually increased! Water supply, the power grid, logistics, and daily commerce went on uninterrupted. Even the massive rush-hour gridlock had all but vanished. The system known as Paradise took over all public spheres, bringing everything from traffic to public security under its complete control. Relying on irresistible force alongside ubiquitous monitoring and performance metrics at every link, Ji Jue bluntly reshaped the entire civil service into a nimble, efficient, energy-saving machine. Metrics and quotas were tailored down to each individual, surveillance blanketed every public space, processes were drastically streamlined, and approvals were measured in seconds. More importantly, a growing cadre of fanatical 'lackeys'... Facts proved that talent existed everywhere, and ambition sprouted on every corner. As the innate nature of sentient beings, the desire for Ascension resided in every heart—who didn't dream of moving up in the world? Fresh and transparent channels for upward mobility, evaluations and promotions based strictly on competence and results, and a vast number of vacant upper-level positions made the previously trembling grunts forget the terror of their missing superiors, completely captivated by the grand vision Mr. Ji painted for them. The kicker was, they could actually eat this pie! And the money? He actually paid it out! Under Paradise's oversight, civil servants worked until they foamed at the mouth. But when they finally dragged themselves off shift and walked into the parking lot, their phones would buzz. Glancing at the text notification showing a subsidy equal to several months of their former salary, they wiped away the foam and tears, turned right around, and marched boldly back to their desks. Fuck yeah, overtime! I'm working myself to the bone! Especially after hearing that the bonus wasn't temporary—that it was paid every single day as long as they were on duty, with year-end dividend payouts once tax accounting was finished—people began bringing their own stimulants to work, dead set on dying at their workstations! What the fuck is a Sukarno? Never heard of them! I am Mr. Ji's dog for life! No need to request approval from bosses, no bloated and tedious bureaucracy; assisted and regulated by the Paradise system, the vast majority of routine matters were resolved at near lightspeed. As for uncommon matters... since they were rare anyway, a dedicated team was assigned to handle them, and over time, procedures and standards naturally formed. With managerial posts cut by more than ninety percent and parasites and deadweights completely weeded out, Luo Island's administrative structure achieved unprecedented flatness and transparency. In less than three days, Luo Island weathered its initial turbulence and disorder, returning to an order that was night and day compared to the past. Renovation and maintenance of the old city's electrical grid had commenced, upgrades to public hospitals entered preparation, and Luo Island's water filter industry suffered an overnight collapse. Residents discovered that when they returned home and turned on the tap, crystal-clear purified water came pouring out, sweet and crisp like a dream. The intermittent power supply gradually stabilized, and vigorous road construction broke ground simultaneously. More importantly, public security. Alleys that used to make hearts race in terror after nightfall were now brightly lit. Under street surveillance cameras, the moment any violent offense was detected, nearby standby Riot Cats arrived on scene within three minutes. Within ten minutes, after human-plus-Paradise review, processing and sentencing were complete. Half an hour later, the overcrowded prisons welcomed fresh blood alongside hardened recidivists... and two days later, the inmates were cleared out entirely. Because the Seven Cities' largest 'online entertainment center' was officially open for business! Who said an assembly line wasn't online? Who said driving screws wasn't entertainment? Look how much fun everyone was having wearing shock collars! They were already forgetting to eat and sleep... After the Seat of the Crown, which was still in the middle of reconstruction, was completely razed, brand-new factory buildings rose from the earth. Following a low-key ribbon-cutting ceremony, the Haian Industries Luo Island Plant officially launched operations! Naturally, after absorbing and restructuring Luo Island's shipyards and related repair industries, Haian Industries—whose tax contribution still stood at zero—finally completed offshore registration, becoming a bona fide company at last. Under the leadership of the Sukarno family, the former vermin and deadweights were granted a chance at transformation, remade as new creations. Shedding tears of remorse alongside the spasms of electric shocks, they toiled passionately on the assembly lines, marching hand in hand toward a brighter tomorrow! "Off to enjoy their blessings," commented Director Ji. Through labor, they had found a new life, created more value for the world, and truly become useful material—and they had all the authority and wealth they could ever want! Such blessings simply never ended! Faced with former enemies, he hadn't killed the donkey once the grinding was done, nor turned cold and hostile. Instead, he honored contracts to the letter, entrusting the Sukarno family with heavy responsibilities and total faith. Such noble integrity took everyone completely by surprise. Yet whenever anyone caught wind of the news and saw photos of those hunched figures weeping tears and snot on the assembly line, they still couldn't help shuddering. Big bro, being this kind really isn't necessary! Why don't you just kill them instead? It scares people—not me, of course, but a friend of mine can't stomach this... please, have mercy! Ji Jue didn't care in the slightest what others thought. After dumping the negotiations with the Seven Cities Council onto Minkler and his convenient grandpa, he threw himself headlong into reorganizing Luo Island, entirely absorbed in the work. When everything quickly settled onto the right track, all problems were preliminarily resolved, and the thorniest hurdles cleared, an eager Ji Jue decided to overhaul all of Luo Island's public infrastructure. Yet even counting every expense, he had spent less than half of the assets confiscated over the past few days. "Something's off!" Ji Jue sat in his office scratching his head. "This wasn't nearly as hard as I thought!" He had braced himself for building order from scratch and banging his head against a bloody wall, yet the greatest exertion across the entire ordeal had been taking apart half of the House God to serve as a server room for Luo Island's Paradise system! Just clicking away at the Paradise system's interface—clicking wherever an icon lit up, tossing some cash, killing a few people—and somehow he'd cleared the level? Wait, is the Lord of the Flies really that overpowered? No matter how thorough Paradise's round-the-clock, ubiquitous surveillance was, it was ultimately confined to observation and analysis; many tasks still required humans to carry out. It wasn't truly omnipotent. Yet with less than half the original funding, less than a third of the personnel, and under a week's time, so many troublesome issues had already been solved. At the end of the day, Luo Island was just a small place with a permanent population of a little over eight million, not even matching a single district of Central City. To let a place like this descend into complete pandemonium, just how useless was the Sukarno family? A knock sounded at the door, soft and deferential. "Come in." Ji Jue turned to look. Behind the opening door, two figures entered, standing respectfully before the desk with obediently bowed heads. One was Ling Shuo from Grey Harbor; the other was Jinmao from Yacheng. Both familiar faces. "Mr. Ji, everything you instructed has been arranged," Ling Shuo reported with head bowed. His suit still carried the scent of blood, and flecks of concrete mud dotted his leather shoes. "The local peers all found your words quite reasonable and are willing to obey your commands." "That's wonderful," Ji Jue smiled. "Thank them on my behalf." "Understood." Ling Shuo nodded. "M-Me too!" Jinmao Zai blurted out loudly after being dazed for a long moment. "From now on, I'll be leaving many of Luo Island's matters in both your hands." Ji Jue gestured for them to sit. He walked over to the tea counter, poured two cups, handed them over, and returned to his seat before speaking bluntly: "I understand the rules of the Wilderness Market. What goes on between you two is none of my business. There is only one thing: keep whatever happens behind the scenes from spilling out and looking ugly on the surface." "Understood, fully understood." Ling Shuo nodded like a pounding pestle, entirely unbothered that Ji Jue spoke as if training dogs. He'd been handed half of Luo Island's underworld business on a silver platter; forget talking down to him, he would gladly bark like a dog if asked! Ji Jue nodded and turned to Jinmao Zai, who was blushing red trying to find words. With a warm smile, Ji Jue asked, "Jinmao Zai, settling in all right?" "Very well, yeah, just a bit humid." Jinmao Zai nodded foolishly. Mid-sentence, he slapped his forehead, lifted the plastic bag he had brought in, and set it on the desk. "My mom told me to bring over a few packs of herbal tea. When you brew this bansha, it comes out real great! Make sure to try it, Mr. Ji!" "Sure." Ji Jue took it and sniffed. "Smells nice. Did your auntie blend it herself?" "Nah, she bought it. It's an old brand from Lihua District. I grew up drinking it—you can't find this flavor anywhere else!" "The one where the owner always looks grumpy?" Ji Jue chuckled. "I remember that place." "Right, right! That old guy, honestly—doing business without cracking a single smile. Ah, if it weren't..." Jinmao Zai rambled on by habit, only remembering where he was halfway through. He froze awkwardly, sat bolt upright, and lowered his head. "Relax. Never mind, saying that probably makes you even more tense." Ji Jue laughed helplessly, shook his head, and patted his shoulder. "Work hard. Mr. Chen thinks highly of you, and so do I." "Yes, sir!" Jinmao Zai answered decisively at the top of his lungs, startling Ling Shuo beside him so hard he nearly choked on his tea. "All right, go do your work. I won't keep you." Ji Jue waved them off. With nods, the two took their leave. Walking down the corridor, Jinmao Zai habitually took out a cigarette. Remembering where he was, he hurriedly plucked it from his mouth, quickened his pace, and walked all the way outside the Public Administration Center to a trash can before sticking it back between his lips. Before he could fish out a lighter, a flame was offered from beside him. "Oh, thanks." Ling Shuo smiled warmly, lighting one for himself as if making casual conversation. "So Brother Jinmao works for Boss Ji?" "Ah, nah. I don't have much schooling," Jinmao Zai shook his head. "I work for Mr. Chen, but Mr. Ji and the Second Young Master are good friends, so he looks out for me too... When the Second Young Master sent people over here, Mr. Chen tossed me along for the ride. Handing so much business to me, I don't even know how to run it. If I mess up, I'll embarrass Mr. Ji. Makes me nervous as hell." "With Mr. Ji's backing, what could possibly be difficult?" Ling Shuo's smile grew even warmer. "Going forward, I'll be counting on you, Brother Jinmao, to help look after things between our two sides." "Hey, we're all friends. We help each other out." "Hahaha, Brother Jinmao is truly straightforward! How about dinner on me tonight?" Ling Shuo bantered enthusiastically. Inside, however, his heart was swimming in lemon juice. Looking up at the sky, his eyes nearly wept tears of blood from sheer envy. Friction between the two Wilderness Markets? Friction my ass. If friction ever broke out, he knew with his ass which side Ji Jue would take... How the hell did this dim-witted blond fool have such ridiculous luck! On the bright side, at least he was easy to talk to. If they'd sent some scheming, ruthless snake, Ling Shuo would be the one suffering with nowhere to cry! Cooperation it is, then. Besides, when people go into business, isn't it all about making money? Though he couldn't compare to Jinmao, he had caught Mr. Ji's eye and was on his way up! Luo Island was such a lucrative turf. If he could build himself up here, then if the Godfather ever got hit by a car, lost at sea, or plummeted from the sky in an airship, Ling Shuo might just have a shot at contending for the position of Grey Harbor's Dragon Head! Now, beholding Luo Island's fresh new horizon, Ling Shuo was already rolling up his sleeves, ready to make a killing! With the major cleanup complete, Ji Jue had no intention of micromanaging any longer. Under the Paradise system's rule, everything gradually fell into place. Apart from keeping a firm grip on infrastructure and public utilities, Ji Jue cast aside everything else deemed nonessential, leaving it to professionals. He barely had time for his own research—where would he find the leisure to oversee every trivial detail? Come on, he was a craftsman who came to make money and round up draft horses, not a savior running a charity. What others thought was their own business; Ji Jue only needed to ensure everything remained under control. Most of his thoughts were poured into his own research: perfecting and upgrading Project Juque. Unfortunately, just as Luocheng had been whipped into decent shape, new trouble arrived at the doorstep. "Crunch... crunch... crunch..." In the shipyard's repair workshop, right before Ji Jue, continuous crisp scraping sounds issued from the hull of a small suspended fishing boat. Dense clusters of holes, like a sieve, riddled the hull and keel. Watertight bulkheads had been reduced to honeycombs, and worse, segmented, squirming tentacles peeked in and out of the perforations, sending shivers down anyone's spine. "What's the situation?" Ji Jue asked. "A fishing boat belonging to a local Luo Island fishery. Usually operates offshore around the island. The captain racked up too many gambling debts, so he took a side gig delivering cargo..." The supervisor who had looked into the matter paused, wearing a knowing look. Deliveries like that were rarely clean. "He deviated from the shipping lane and went all the way out southeast to Widow Reef. On the return trip, things felt wrong. By the time rescue arrived, the boat was already half-submerged." Amid eerie rustling noises, the workshop supervisor's face twitched as he pointed at the riddled hull. "After bringing it back, it ended up like this." Plop. A chunk of gnawed, mangled hull plating fell to the floor, along with a mass of slimy, squirming worms, slapping against the ground in a series of wet thuds. Bystanders recoiled in panic, crying out in alarm. Only Ji Jue looked down, frowning at the worms as they took bites out of the concrete floor. Paradise's automated analysis had just reported: based on cross-referencing with the database, there was over an eighty percent probability that these creatures were shipworms. Yet where on earth were there shipworms as thick as an arm that could chew right through steel plate? Beside it hung another vessel. A shocking depression dented its keel, jagged and savage as if it had rammed into a hidden reef. Yet wedged in the fissure was a jagged scale the size of a washbasin, with razor-sharp edges. And while Ji Jue was examining it, another yacht was brought in. A gaping bite mark scarred its hull, as if some colossal behemoth had suddenly taken a chomp out of it. As he pondered, Ji Jue felt his phone vibrate. It was a notice issued by the Federal Maritime Bureau to Yacheng: Southern Endless Sea: Suspected large-scale biohazard in certain sectors. All shipping enterprises are advised to suspend operations along relevant sea lanes as soon as possible to mitigate risk... "..." Ji Jue rubbed his temples with a soft sigh. "Not sooner, not later—it really knows how to pick its moment." What else could cause such massive biological aberration and mutation? The Pestilent Wind... The Pestilent Wind had finally begun to blow across the Endless Sea!