A figure leaped down from a high place and gracefully landed in front of Baiyu.
In the light from the Mutual Aid Association building behind him, he saw the newcomer’s face.
It was indeed Roxia, whom he had met once before.
Today, she was wearing the combat uniform of the Anomaly Bureau, clearly having been out on a mission, with traces of battle on her body.
And back at the hospital.
Baiyu had seen her in this outfit.
Perhaps she had just finished a mission or was in the middle of one when she heard the news of the chairman’s serious injury and hurried over.
Among the group from the Anomaly Bureau today.
He observed for a while.
Roxia stood near the front, but not in the most prominent position.
She should have a not insignificant status in the Anomaly Bureau, but not yet on par with the top one or two decision-makers.
And after everyone had left.
For her to stay and approach him alone, Baiyu had no idea what she wanted.
"What are you here for?"
Baiyu scrutinized her, afraid that this girl might have some strange intentions.
"Of course, I’ve come to settle the accounts.
Last time, I lent you my card, and afterwards, it cost me several thousand Contribution Points. What did you look at?"
Roxia put on a fierce expression, glaring at Baiyu, and revealed small tiger-like teeth.
"Of course, it was books."
Baiyu calmly replied, "I didn’t know at the time that even internal personnel need to pay Contribution Points to access information.
The Anomaly Bureau’s system is simply unreasonable, I suggest you talk to your superiors about it.
A few thousand Contribution Points shouldn’t be a big deal.
I only borrowed one or two books."
In the massive tree underground in Villiduo’s Anomaly Bureau, thousands of volumes are hidden.
It takes thousands of points just to read one.
If earning Contribution Points is difficult, isn’t this a trap, and a trap for your own people at that?
Seeing Roxia’s flushed face, Baiyu guessed he might have been wrong.
"You’re saying it lightly.
Several thousand Contribution Points could take a whole year of missions for a captain like me to accrue.
Selling them on the black market could fetch tens or even hundreds of thousands easily."
Roxia crossed her arms over her chest, enhancing her figure: "You’re quite something, aren’t you?"
Baiyu said: "I didn’t know at the time. And besides, didn’t you agree to it personally?"
She usually doesn’t seek him out, but chooses this moment to do so and bring up this matter, clearly with another agenda.
Baiyu was already on partial alert in his mind.
After several rounds of conversation.
Roxia finally revealed her true intentions.
"Do you remember when you agreed to help me deal with that follower of the Circumferential God?
Another murder has occurred.
And it happened in the busy district of Villiduo.
It seems the sacrificial ritual to the Circumferential God is nearing its completion and about to conclude, allowing him to ascend.
If he ascends successfully, trying to capture him again will be like searching for a needle in a haystack.
So we plan to take action this Saturday night.
I already have some intelligence in my hands, so I’ve come to invite you to join us."
So that’s what this is about.
"Would my joining be helpful?
Since you already have accurate intelligence, just go ahead and capture him."
Roxia gave him a sideways look, a hint of danger in her expression: "Baiyu, we agreed on this.
You were the first to come into contact with the scene of the previous sacrifice and know the situation well.
Your presence would greatly increase the chance of our success."
What she said was correct, yet it still gave him an uneasy feeling.
Baiyu couldn’t pinpoint what exactly seemed off.
"Alright. But this must wait until I handle the matters of the Veterans Mutual Aid Association.
The chairman is expected back in the coming days, and I might be very busy."
Roxia nodded, then asked: "How is the chairman doing? He is a pillar of strength in Villiduo, and many factions are concerned about his condition."
Baiyu replied: "He’s just suffered a minor injury, expected to recover after some rest."
"That’s good, then. I’ll head back now and come find you on Saturday night."
Roxia didn’t continue probing after sorting things with Baiyu, stretched and turned away, disappearing into the night.
Qiong Xue came out yawning from the dark corner nearby.
"It seems that the situation isn’t very optimistic right now. The affair with the Veterans Mutual Aid Association this time..."
Qiong Xue’s tone was somewhat worried.
She knew the general sequence and development of events.
Even someone as usually insensitive as her understood that the Veterans Mutual Aid Association was in a quagmire.
Just judging by the department heads who came to offer their condolences tonight.
Many were gleeful at the misfortune.
The Veterans Mutual Aid Association’s popularity wasn’t very good.
But Qiong Xue saw more of an impending political storm brewing.
The Qiong Family had already distanced itself from the noble circles of the East Prosperity Imperial.
Offering tangible help to Baiyu was challenging.
"Indeed, the chairman’s injury this time has had a considerable impact on the Veterans Mutual Aid Association.
I don’t even know what he was doing in the Spirit Realm."
Baiyu shook his head.
He was at a bottleneck in his development, wanting to move to a higher stage.
Such as the Ancient Mechanical Technique.
To understand this domain, he either joined the Machine Cult or became part of the imperial elite.
Otherwise, accessing the core of Ancient Mechanical Technique would be impossible.
The Veterans Mutual Aid Association was facing stormy weather.
As a semi-official organization, it could be abolished at any time.
During the chairman’s recovery, groups with past grievances, demons, and traitors within the Human Imperial will definitely add insult to injury.
Attacks from all sides would follow.
"But now that we have come this far.
Entering Villiduo’s aristocratic political circle is a crucial step.
Earlier, the family replied that they would fully support you."
Baiyu nodded: "Yes, let’s see what the chairman says tomorrow. If he made such a decision, he probably has his own ideas.
The Qiong Family during this period.
Should focus on peaceful development, preferably by quickly forming a business alliance with the Ning Family.
If I need help, I will say so any time.
How is the cooperation between the Qiong Family and the Ning Family recently?" Thɪs chapter is updated by novel•fire.net
The two families are already considering the establishment of a bounty hunter team.
After all, operating in the Shelter is more convenient with the bounty hunter identity.
Recently, the two families seem to have befriended a business magnate, though I’m not clear on the exact developments."
Qiong Xue wasn’t very attentive to these matters, preferring to spend most of her time sleeping.
"Then let’s head back for now, and leave the mess of the Veterans Mutual Aid Association until the chairman lays out a specific plan."
Baiyu was quite carefree.
Hurrying wouldn’t help with such matters.
The Veterans Mutual Aid Association is too big an entity to quickly collapse just because the chairman is injured.
We might as well let things be for a while.
In the East Prosperity Imperial, many forces and families have rapidly declined and vanished due to the fall or weakening of their strongest members.
When family elders seclude themselves or journey to the Spirit Realm for cultivation, etc.
Even upon confirming their demise.
They can only publicly declare that they are still cultivating.