Chapter 61: Chief Risk Control Officer, The First Hurdle!
She had prepared a whole bellyful of “upholding justice” speeches, but the other party didn’t come to complain at all—instead, he was... reciting the company’s regulations to her and asking for additional funding?
She froze on the spot, not knowing what to say for a moment.
This script... didn’t seem quite like what she had imagined?
Murong Xue felt her mind short-circuiting.
In her imagined script, the miner—oppressed to the brink of despair—would weep bitterly, denouncing the overseer’s cruelty and the Sect’s darkness. Then she, the righteous Saintess, would step forward, sword of justice in hand, shattering chains and purging evil for the people.
What a standard, righteous, and heroic plot that would have been!
But what was this situation before her now?
This miner didn’t look oppressed at all!
He was full of vigor, his logic clear, his eyes brimming with the righteous conviction of “doing things by the rules,” and the Employee Handbook in his hand was clutched tighter than his life-bound artifact.
He wasn’t pleading for her to uphold justice—he was demanding that she, the newly appointed “Chief Risk Control Officer,” fulfill her duty and handle a procedure strictly according to regulations!
“Ahem.”
Murong Xue cleared her throat, attempting to reclaim control. She looked at the miner and spoke in a voice that was as gentle as possible, yet carried authority.
“I understand what you said. Safety issues are of utmost importance. You can rest assured—I will investigate this matter thoroughly and will never tolerate negligence!”
After she finished speaking, she turned her sharp gaze toward Zhao Wuji, who had been standing to the side like a wooden post from beginning to end.
“Director Zhao!”
Her voice turned cold. “You are the person in charge of this mining area. Why has such a serious safety oversight occurred? The formation was in disrepair—why did you not report it? Why did you not take action? In your eyes, are the lives of these disciples mere weeds?”
Her string of questions was upright and righteous, radiating the oppressive authority of one in power.
Zhao Wuji was bitter beyond words.
I did report it! He had written an application just yesterday, stating that the formation in Mine No.3 was about to fail and requesting maintenance funds. But the application had been rejected by that miser Liu Changqing from the Finance Department, citing “budget overrun and poor cost-efficiency”!
What could I do?
Did he think I dared to slam the table at Liu Changqing?
He, a mere director, didn’t even have the authority to buy a new mining pick!
But could he say all this in front of so many people?
Wouldn’t that be tearing off the last shred of dignity he had as a “director”?
Zhao Wuji could only swallow his frustration. After holding it in for a long time, he finally squeezed out a line,
“The Chair’s reprimand is right. This matter... is indeed due to my negligence.”
“One sentence of ‘negligence’ and you think that settles it?”
Murong Xue pressed on relentlessly.
She had to establish her authority today—she had to make everyone understand that this Chief Risk Control Officer was no mere decoration!
“Then what do you suggest we do?”
Zhao Wuji also had his temper. Being publicly scolded by a young girl, his dignity as a Golden Core cultivator couldn’t take it, so his tone hardened as well.
“To repair the formation requires spirit stones and an array master. All of these cost money! I don’t have the authority to approve funding! How am I supposed to fix it?”
“You—!”
Murong Xue was momentarily choked by his words.
She suddenly remembered that this devil, Chu Feng, had designed the system in such a way that personnel authority and financial authority were separated.
Zhao Wuji, as “director,” was essentially just a glorified foreman.
It felt like she had punched cotton—no resistance at all.
Just then, the miner kneeling on the ground spoke up again, carefully reminding them,
“Um... Chair, Director Zhao. Actually, it’s also written in the Handbook.”
“If such emergencies occur, in order not to delay production, the highest on-site official—meaning you, Chair—may activate the ‘Emergency Plan’ to advance repair funds yourself, or directly order a suspension of work. You can then report it to the Finance Department afterward...”
At once, all eyes turned back to Murong Xue.
Her cheeks flushed slightly.
So, even this kind of situation was clearly written in the rules?
And she, the Chief Risk Control Officer, needed a miner to teach her how to use her own authority?
What an utter humiliation!
She felt as though she hadn’t come to supervise others—but to be supervised by this damnable system!
“I understand.”
Murong Xue took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down.
She couldn’t afford to remain passive any longer.
Looking at the pitch-dark Mine No.3, her eyes grew resolute.
She would exercise the authority Chu Feng had granted her!
“Transmit my order!”
Her voice wasn’t loud, but it carried clearly across the entire square.
“Effective immediately, Mine No.3 will be completely shut down! Until all safety hazards have been eliminated, no one is to enter!”
She paused for a moment before adding,
“As for the repairs, I will personally oversee them! Director Zhao, resubmit the repair application and budget report. This time, I will sign it myself—let’s see who dares reject it!”
Her words struck the ground like iron.
In her mind, this both solved the safety issue and demonstrated her authority, while also sending a warning to that bureaucrat in the Finance Department—a triple victory!
“Chair, wise as always!”
“Saintess, merciful as a bodhisattva!”
The miners erupted in thunderous cheers, their eyes filled with gratitude and admiration toward Murong Xue.
Hearing their shouts, Murong Xue felt a surge of satisfaction in her heart.
See, Chu Feng—your twisted logic could never defeat the true compassion of the Righteous Path!
However, just as she was basking in the joy of “upholding justice,” an ill-timed voice spoke up.
A steward in charge of production scheduling came forward with a bitter expression, speaking in a small voice,
“Um... Chair Murong... your order to halt Mine No.3—of course, it’s for our safety.”
“But...”
He pointed at a huge chart posted on the nearby bulletin board.
“Today’s production KPI is fixed. Mine No.3 is our highest-output mine. Once it’s shut down, our total production will drop by at least forty percent. This month’s bonuses... well... they might all go down the drain.”
He paused, then added in an even smaller voice,
“Of course, that also includes your one-thousand top-grade spirit stones ‘Supervisory Allowance’... it’s tied to the overall KPI as well...”
Murong Xue’s smile froze instantly.