Embezzlement

Sitting in the ground-floor hall of the villa, Li Chunfeng stared blankly at the employee handbook in his hands. Calling it a handbook was generous—it was just a single sheet of printed paper, headed: *Return of the Dead Technical Department Employee Handbook*. Listed on it were thirty guidelines, each more absurd than the last. For instance, Rule One: *Xiahou Aotian is the leader of the Technical Department, and the sole leader.* Or Rule Two: *Please keep firmly in mind that Xiahou Aotian is the wisest Scholar of all time. Please accord him the highest respect—greet him deferentially whenever you meet!!* Then Rule Six: *Within the Technical Department, remember that everything Xiahou Aotian says is correct. If you have an objection, you are without doubt in the wrong.* Or Rule Nineteen: *Xiahou Aotian cares deeply for his subordinates. Every Saturday, he will hold lectures to impart the profound mysteries of the Scholar class and his sea-like expanse of knowledge. Therefore, every Saturday henceforth, address him as: Principal!!* What was the meaning of this? Was this newly appointed head of the Technical Department trying to establish a personality cult? Rather than an employee handbook, it was more like brainwashing indoctrination. *I came here to work, not to sell myself...* Li Chunfeng almost wondered if he had stumbled into a pyramid scheme den. "Judging by your expression, you don't seem very satisfied with our Technical Department's rules and regulations," Xiahou Aotian said in a low, solemn voice, sitting straight and proper. He was a leader now, after all, commanding the guild's most critical department—the future titan of an enterprise worth hundreds of billions. A boss had to look and sound the part. *What kind of utter nonsense is this? Of course I'm not satisfied. I'm not taking this job,* Li Chunfeng thought. Just as he was about to decline the offer, his phone chimed. He picked it up and saw a message from Yuanshi Tianzun: "That guy isn't quite right in the head. Just ignore him going forward. Do good work; Elder Fu says he'll arrange a car and a driver for you." Li Chunfeng scrutinized the text for several seconds, then silently turned his phone to show the screen to Xiahou Aotian. "Yuanshi Tianzun sent me this. According to Rule Two of the employee handbook, we must accord the highest respect to Leader Xiahou. I am the first to object to Yuanshi Tianzun defaming our leader like this." Xiahou Aotian was filled with profound respect. He rose and extended a hand. "A fine comrade." Li Chunfeng: "A fine leader!" Delighted, Xiahou Aotian led Li Chunfeng on a tour of the workplace. All interior walls on the ground floor had been knocked down, leaving only the load-bearing pillars, and in their place stood cooling pools, a laboratory, CNC machine tools, 3D printers, and other equipment. These were merely the most basic gear. Crafting Spirit Realm items didn't require these, but for manufacturing mechanical weapons, modern industrial equipment was an absolute asset. The second floor was a tool room stocked with an exhaustive collection of tools. With sufficient materials, one could even build a sports car here. Yet Li Chunfeng had little interest in them; no matter how good the equipment was, it was still just products of modern industry. "Leader, Elder Fu sent me here to manufacture mechanical weapons, but walking through all this, everything in the workshop is entirely mundane," Li Chunfeng said, frowning. "Where is the furnace? I haven't seen the most essential piece: the furnace." Whether forging items or fabricating mechanical weapons, two core things were indispensable: First, blueprints; second, a furnace. He assumed blueprints weren't his problem to worry about, but he hadn't seen any furnace. This was a "workshop," yet it lacked a furnace. "I was waiting for you to say that." Xiahou Aotian snapped his fingers in imitation of Yuanshi Tianzun. "Follow me!" He led Li Chunfeng back down to the ground floor, stopping at an octagonal recess beside the cooling pool. Right before the Scholar's eyes, he produced a bronze furnace half the height of a man. Carved onto the body of the furnace was a vicious beast resembling a ram's head. "Check the attributes!" Xiahou Aotian tilted his chin up proudly. He looked forward to this junior Scholar inspecting the attributes, brimming with excitement, and holding him, the leader, in even greater reverence. Curious, Li Chunfeng reached out and placed his hand against the furnace. A few seconds later, surprise flashed across his face. "A fine piece of gear!" "A fine piece of gear?" Xiahou Aotian blinked in surprise, staring hard at Li Chunfeng. "That's it?" *It's Dominator-grade! A Dominator-grade item!* *If you don't drop to your knees before it, how can you do justice to its status?* *What else should I say?* Li Chunfeng pondered for a moment and added, "Oh, speaking of which, this furnace's attributes are quite similar to a rule-based item I once saw, called the 'Hundred Refining Furnace.'" The moment he finished, he saw Xiahou Aotian suddenly clutch his chest, propping his other hand against the top of the furnace. His handsome face twitched violently as though suffering a sudden heart attack. "Leader, what's wrong?" Li Chunfeng was alarmed. Xiahou Aotian gritted his teeth. "Nothing... just a sudden pang of angina." The next morning. Fu Qingyang summoned his trusted subordinate to his study and got straight to the point: "I have already sent emails to headquarters and the Jianghuai Branch stating that you lost the Yin-Yang Dial. Prepare yourself; before long, headquarters should be sending people over to question you." Zhang Yuanqing perked up and pondered. "What kind of attitude does Boss want me to take?" Fu Qingyang glanced at him and sneered. "If I told you to be gentle, respectful, frugal, and humble, to obey meekly, to excise your rebellious streak, and to think twice before mouthing off to the Ten Elders of headquarters, could you do it?" Zhang Yuanqing instantly felt rather embarrassed. Fu Qingyang let out a cold snort. "Just improvise as you see fit." *Boss, you sound just like disappointed parents frustrated that their kid won't amount to anything...* Zhang Yuanqing gave an "Oh," then took a seat in the reception area and began enjoying the snacks set out on the glass coffee table: black truffle cake, sliced ham, ice cream, and more. These items were standard fixtures of the reception area. Even if there were no guests and even if Money Prince didn't touch them, the bunny girls would replenish them daily. Money Prince wasn't afraid of waste; Money Prince needed to keep up appearances. Roughly two hours later, the study door was kicked open with a loud bang, and an older man with graying temples barged in. He wore a black formal suit and had a square jaw, a full beard, slightly downturned corners of his mouth, deep vertical furrows between his brows, and pronounced crow's feet around his eyes. His aura was unyielding and stern. He looked precisely like the meticulous, incorruptible police detective from a comic book. It was none other than the Jianghuai Branch's elder, Spirit Realm ID "Detective," former captain of the Jianghuai Public Security Bureau. Behind Elder Cold-Blooded Detective was a middle-aged man in formal wear, wearing gold-rimmed glasses and projecting a gentle demeanor. —The secretary to Headquarters' First Elder, Dihong. "Fu Qingyang, what the hell are you playing at?" The old detective strode forward, ignoring Zhang Yuanqing entirely, and glared at Fu Qingyang behind the desk, barking, "Where the fuck is my Yin-Yang Dial?!" Fu Qingyang sat upright like a mountain, his expression unchanged. "Elder Cold-Blooded Detective, I hear that in your youth, you were unyielding, upright, and incorruptible. Having served as an elder for so many years, it's about time you softened that temperament. It's merely a Saint-stage item. What does it amount to?" These words had the exact opposite effect. Veins bulged on Elder Cold-Blooded Detective's forehead as he glared murderously. "Merely a Saint-stage item? Fine! You, Fu Qingyang, have items in spades. If you don't hand over the Yin-Yang Dial today, then compensate us with an item of equal quality, or don't even think about resolving this peacefully!" The Yin-Yang Dial was a top-grade Saint-stage item, the Jianghuai Branch's cornerstone treasure. It was no exaggeration to say that against any enemy below Dominator grade, carrying this item was practically enough to handle them—a strategic godly artifact. Even at the Dominator grade, against Level 7 enemies, the Yin-Yang Dial provided formidable weakening effects. To pocket such a vital item with a simple "lost in a dungeon"? Fu Qingyang remained silent, only shooting a glance at Zhang Yuanqing. The latter caught the cue, swallowed his mouthful of cake, stood up, and spoke: "What does this have to do with Elder Fu? I'm the one who lost it, so I'll compensate you." Elder Cold-Blooded Detective fixed him with a piercing gaze and said coldly: "If you're willing to take responsibility, that's for the best. I know you have plenty of good stuff on you. As it happens, two things can compensate the Jianghuai Branch: one is the Heaven Worship Set, and the other is the Myriad Realms Firm voucher. Pick one to hand over." *Are you dreaming? With an appetite that big, aren't you afraid of bursting your gut?* Zhang Yuanqing scoffed inwardly. The Heaven Worship Set went without saying, while the Myriad Realms Firm voucher was a top-tier consumable capable of letting a demigod take on three opponents at once—a life-saving trump card even in the eyes of demigods. "Fine, I'll pay!" Zhang Yuanqing, having already prepared his script, declared loudly: "According to the agreement signed back then, I will return all rewards from the Jianghuai Branch: fifty million in cash, an ordinary-quality Saint-stage item, and Grade-B merit points. "However, ever since I rose to fame, I've indulged in extreme luxury, whoring, and gambling, and have long squandered all my savings. I cannot repay the fifty million in cash. Headquarters can blacklist my credit; once I scrape together enough money, I will definitely pay it back." Fu Qingyang placed a necklace on the desk and chimed in, "I will provide the item on his behalf. Headquarters can deduct the Grade-A and Grade-B merits. Elder Cold-Blooded Detective, take the item and see yourself out." Elder Cold-Blooded Detective swept his arm violently, slashing the coffee table in front of Zhang Yuanqing into pieces, incensed with fury. "Fu Qingyang, how dare you play me!" Fu Qingyang countered tit for tat, "You can't beat me." The auras between the two collided. Lethal strands of sword qi ricocheted like stray bullets, leaving slender punctured holes across the ceiling, carpet, and furniture. Zhang Yuanqing hastily pulled out his phone, opened the camera, and shouted: "Wonderful, simply wonderful! An elder of the Jianghuai Branch committing violence right here in Songhai, defying the law and knowingly breaking it! I've recorded it all! I'm going to file a complaint against you with my cousin!" "Your cousin?" Elder Cold-Blooded Detective grew even angrier. "My cousin is the Grand Marshal!" Zhang Yuanqing bellowed at the top of his lungs. The clashing sword qi abruptly weakened. Watching from the side, Secretary Li gave a heavy cough and finally spoke up: "Both of you are official elders; let us not make things too unsightly. I am here on behalf of the First Elder to mediate this matter." He stepped between their competing auras, and both domains of sword qi collapsed simultaneously, sweeping through the study like gusts of wind. Elder Cold-Blooded Detective snorted coldly. "Unless the Yin-Yang Dial is handed over today, no mediation will work!" "It was lost!" Fu Qingyang sat back down. Elder Cold-Blooded Detective narrowed his eyes. "Then compensate the Jianghuai Branch with the Heaven Worship Set." Fu Qingyang sneered. "Yuanshi Tianzun, are you still recording?" "Still recording, Boss!" "Very good." Fu Qingyang nodded and looked toward Secretary Li. "Secretary Li, Elder Cold-Blooded Detective of the Jianghuai Branch covets Yuanshi Tianzun's Heaven Worship Set, came to my Songhai to make unreasonable demands, and intends to plunder it by force. According to official regulations, how should this be handled?" Secretary Li chuckled, smoothing things over: "You overstate things, Elder Fu. That is an overstatement." Fu Qingyang ignored him and pressed, "Yuanshi Tianzun, how should it be handled?" Zhang Yuanqing announced loudly, "He should be dismissed from his post! Furthermore, Elder Fu, as head of the Songhai Branch's Patrol Department, bears the duty to maintain order and defend his jurisdiction. Should any Spirit Walker commit violence, official regulations dictate that regardless of status, they shall be executed without mercy!" The faces of Secretary Li and Elder Cold-Blooded Detective changed, though the latter's reaction was predominantly outrage. Ever since he ascended to Dominator and became an elder of the Jianghuai Branch, no one had dared go toe-to-toe with him like this. "Calm down, calm down," Secretary Li said, subduing Elder Cold-Blooded Detective with a firmer gaze. He strolled over to the desk and smiled amiably. "Fu Qingyang, let's not beat around the bush. You and I both know what's really going on here, so there is no need to put on a show. How about this: the eighty million that the Fu family sponsored to the Jianghuai Branch will be returned in full. "Not only that, the Jianghuai Branch will take an equal amount of money to invest in the Fu family." He looked at Fu Qingyang with a sincere expression. "How does that sound?" Money Prince furrowed his brows and asked irrelevantly, "Yuanshi, did I mention to you a few days ago that the Fu family gave the Jianghuai Branch a sponsorship? What was the exact amount? I seem to have forgotten." "I remember!" Zhang Yuanqing called out loudly. "Boss, it was eight hundred million." Fu Qingyang gave a slight nod and turned his gaze to Secretary Li. "You heard him?" The smile on Secretary Li's face slowly vanished. He sighed. "Isn't Prince Fu's appetite a bit too large?" Fu Qingyang asked coldly in return, "When you blocked the usage rights to the Dial back then, why didn't you reflect on whether your appetite was too large?" "So there's nothing to discuss, then?" "See yourself out!" Secretary Li gave him a deep look, then glanced at Zhang Yuanqing as if the young man wasn't even worth looking at directly. "Let's go," Secretary Li said, turning to leave. Leaving Fujia Bay Villa, the two entered their private car. Once the vehicle drove out of the Fujia Bay residential compound, Secretary Li pulled out a cigarette and rolled it between his fingers. "Did you get a clear read?" Elder Cold-Blooded Detective grunted an affirmative. "He was lying. The dial wasn't lost." Secretary Li nodded. "Fu Qingyang wants to rob the robbers." Elder Cold-Blooded Detective's anger had not subsided. He scoffed, "Refusing a toast only to drink a forfeit. Secretary Li, we can only go through you to the First Elder and have headquarters pressure him. Fu Qingyang isn't like Yuanshi Tianzun. That rebellious ingrate doesn't care about his future, but Fu Qingyang is different. He won't go against headquarters over a single Yin-Yang Dial." Secretary Li shook his head. "Report back to the First Elder? What do you expect me to say? That we accepted an eighty-million-yuan bribe?" Withholding the usage rights of the Yin-Yang Dial had been their private maneuver; First Elder Dihong knew nothing about it. Elder Cold-Blooded Detective raised an eyebrow. "The Jianghuai Branch won't swallow this grievance in silence. Even if I agreed, the other elders wouldn't." "Then kick up a fuss!" Secretary Li sneered. "The crying baby gets the milk. Since Yuanshi Tianzun won't even pay the fifty-million-yuan fine, have headquarters detain him. He can be released whenever he pays up." Elder Cold-Blooded Detective frowned. "Detaining him requires the signatures of the Ten Elders. Neither you nor I have the authority." Even though Yuanshi Tianzun's relationship with headquarters had turned severely strained, he was nonetheless a celebrity figure; ordinary elders had no authority to detain him. Secretary Li lit the cigarette and said casually, "You're skilled at investigating cases, but you're not suited for this kind of politics, are you? I can't go to the First Elder, but you can go to Elder Cai. I trust he'll be more than happy to sign an arrest warrant. "Once Yuanshi Tianzun is detained, tell Elder Cai that Yuanshi Tianzun falsely claimed the Yin-Yang Dial was lost in order to pocket the item for himself. The dial is an official asset. Do you know what kind of crime that is? "You won't need to worry about what comes next. Elder Cai will apply for the Tiger Tally on our behalf to interrogate Yuanshi Tianzun." Elder Cold-Blooded Detective's eyes brightened. Secretary Li continued, "During the interrogation, remember to ask Yuanshi Tianzun whether Fu Qingyang knew about it. Heh, slapping him with harboring a criminal or acting as an accomplice won't be difficult in the slightest. If that man named Fu refuses the face we offer him, he can't blame us for showing no mercy." Elder Cold-Blooded Detective immediately shook his head. "He's the Grand Marshal's younger brother. Leave him alone if at all possible." One had raged and bellowed in the study, while the other had smiled and mediated the entire time. Yet behind closed doors, it was the latter who was truly sinister. "The Grand Marshal won't interfere in such matters. Last time, the Sect Master already made an exception by stepping into Five Elements Alliance affairs. If she steps in again, the Ten Elders can protest and defy her with full justification, and the other three Alliance Chiefs won't tolerate her either." The Alliance Chiefs could tolerate it once, but they wouldn't tolerate it a second time; otherwise, the rules they established back then would exist in name only. Besides, this situation was different from the last. Yuanshi Tianzun had no moral or legal high ground here—he was indeed embezzling official assets. Back in the study. Fu Qingyang said, "Go home and lay low for a couple of days. Wait for my word. That man named Li is a sinister bastard; he won't let this go easily." Zhang Yuanqing calmly sipped his cola. "Boss, what do you think the enemy's next step will be?" "They'll seek help from that man named Cai." Fu Qingyang offered a cold smile. "Great minds think alike," Zhang Yuanqing said. Fu Qingyang ignored his flattery, giving him a sidelong glance. "Eight hundred million. You certainly don't lack an appetite." "What if they agreed?" "Keep dreaming!" "Well, you never planned on getting that eighty million back anyway, Boss." "That eighty million was the payment to buy the Yin-Yang Dial. Without that money, you really would be embezzling official assets. The Ten Elders wouldn't let it slide, and neither would the Alliance Chiefs." "As expected, Boss considers everything thoroughly. I'll be relying on you to outmaneuver them, Boss." Fu Qingyang remained silent. Zhang Yuanqing immediately bowed his head in mock homage. "I trouble you, Boss." Only then did Fu Qingyang nod. "A trivial matter!"