All Crows Under Heaven Are Equally Black
"Qiongfang City has stood for five hundred years, yet enemies managed to infiltrate within its walls. How could this have happened?"
"This is an absolute disgrace! Which demons were on night watch that evening?"
"Large numbers of outsiders have flooded in recently. Eight times out of ten, they're the problem!"
"Investigate! We must conduct a full security review!"
"Order!"
The sound of a wooden gavel striking rang out, silencing the increasingly noisy assembly.
The assembly was being held in an elegantly decorated, luxurious conference hall inside a lavish estate somewhere in the center of Qiongfang City. It was now packed with demons of all kinds.
The tiered conference hall was extremely spacious, oval in shape like an egg. The closer the rows were to the dais at the very front, the fewer seats they had.
Unlike the Human Race, the Demon Race couldn't even be bothered to maintain a pretense of equality.
This deliberate emphasis on hierarchy clearly distinguished the rank and status of everyone present. It was one of the symbols demon nobles used to highlight their own standing.
Now, those nobles finally quieted down and turned their eyes to the dais at the center of the front of the hall.
A tiger-eared demon sat there, the aura of his Second Realm cultivation in the Heaven Realm emanating from his body and intimidating the nobles present.
"Please remain quiet and maintain order during the meeting."
"Next, we will continue our discussion on investigating security issues in Qiongfang City."
"For the sake of our race's plans in Huaihuang Continent, the higher-ups have made it clear that we must resolve this problem before the conference. I trust you all understand what that means!"
Shisui strolled along carrying the day's goods, quite relaxed and in no hurry to deliver them.
After all, he had been in Qiongfang City for nearly a month. The lower-ranking nobles had long since become riddled with holes, with seventy percent under his control.
Take the goods he was carrying, for example. Today, he actually only needed to deliver to one noble household.
The other orders had all been placed as a cover.
At this stage, it was difficult to use the trading company to spread Radiant Feathers any further.
He could only wait and see whether his puppets had opportunities to come into contact with more higher-ranking nobles.
Shisui passed a demon commoner's home and casually swiped the newspaper sitting outside the door.
Today's paper carried the latest administrative regulations, which Qiongfang City's demon leadership had spent a long time discussing.
The regulations stipulated that, starting November 10, anyone passing through the city gates would have to register their identity and undergo a security check, in order to prevent security risks arising from the large movement of people.
In addition, to prepare for the Three Races Friendship and Exchange Conference, a census of residents would begin in the city effective immediately. Qiongfang City reserved the right to expel anyone who refused to take part.
Shisui skimmed through it and confirmed that its contents were much the same as what he had learned through his inquiries.
It seemed his painstaking efforts to scatter Radiant Feathers everywhere hadn't been in vain. One or two lucky flakes had indeed landed on higher-ranking nobles.
There was even less reason to remain at the trading company now.
Today was November 9. By his reckoning, Shisui had been with the Youhe Trading Company for a month.
"It's been a whole month. Time to muddy the waters."
He passed a trash can and stuffed the newspaper into it, along with the packaging for the goods.
As for the goods?
Naturally, he had kept them for himself and put them in his ring.
Why turn down free stuff?
Once that was done, Shisui pretended he had completed his deliveries and decided to take another route back to the Youhe Trading Company's Qiongfang branch.
He had no intention of letting such a juicy piece of meat as the trading company go.
"Yue Jian? You finished your deliveries already?"
As he approached the trading company, a lively voice rang out behind him. The somewhat unfamiliar name nearly failed to register with Shisui.
"Remember me? I helped drive your carriage on the way here."
"Mm, good morning."
Shisui offered a polite greeting, then continued toward the trading company.
"Ah, um, good morning."
Sensing Shisui's coldness, Yan Xu scratched his head awkwardly.
This guy Yue Jian sure is a loner.
Yan Xu grumbled to himself, but kept a radiant smile on his face as he caught up with Shisui and entered the trading company alongside him.
"Need something?"
Shisui needed only a glance to guess that he probably wanted a favor.
Honestly, he barely knew Yan Xu. They had only shared a carriage on the way to Qiongfang City.
If Yan Xu had really wanted to maintain any sort of friendship with a coworker, he would have taken the initiative to say hello before now.
There was no need to pop up a month later and say, "I helped you."
"Uh, it's nothing really. I just wanted to have lunch with you."
"I'm a little sleepy, so I'm skipping lunch. Maybe next time."
The corners of Yan Xu's mouth twitched, and his expression nearly froze.
Fuck, this guy has no social skills. Does he think acting like a loner makes him look cool?
If you weren't so strong, I wouldn't even bother with you!
Seeing that Shisui really couldn't take a hint at all, Yan Xu decided to stop beating around the bush.
He quickly stepped forward and stopped Shisui, his expression instantly mixing with a jumble of emotions like a painter's palette.
Distress, sadness, anger, and pleading.
Well, well, what a model actor.
It's such a waste of talent for him to stay at the trading company as a carriage driver!
"Yue Jian, I actually have an imposition to ask of you. Could you hear me out?"
Yan Xu's voice took on a somewhat humble tone, and he carried himself with great deference. His whole performance was flawless.
But Shisui's keen instincts still detected a trace of malice.
Oh, this is getting interesting. Am I about to get bullied at work?
That's new!
"Mm."
Although his interest had been piqued, Shisui maintained a distinctly cold manner.
"Mm, are you going to say it here?"
"Is it something you can't say in public?"
"No, no, no, let's talk right here."
By now, Shisui had seized complete control of the conversation.
"It's nothing major. I just heard that the boss plans to delay our pay and lower it next month as well."
"You're stronger and more important to the trading company. I was hoping you could talk to the boss and convince him to drop the idea."
"We all work for a living, and we all depend on that pay to get by. Consider it doing your part for yourself and everyone else. What do you say?"
Shisui nearly burst out laughing.
Is he going to start preaching at me next?
He probably thinks I don't know what's going on because I keep to myself, and wants to trick me into sticking my neck out, right?
I thought he had some kind of scheme up his sleeve, but this is it? I really gave you too much credit.
Shisui instantly lost interest in playing along.
"No. Find someone else."
He went around Yan Xu and headed straight for the boss's office.
"Fuck! Who the fuck do you think you are?"
I'll have to find another sucker. Fuck, you'd better hope you never need a favor from me.
Yan Xu muttered a couple of curses, then went straight out the trading company's front door.
An inconspicuous speck of feather dust had landed on his trouser leg.
Shisui glanced back at the ant who was about to die, undisguised, icy malice in his eyes.
No matter the world or the race, and whether they were among the upper ranks or commoners, the vast majority of those who made up a group were no different from one another.
Selfish and insatiably greedy, arrogant and utterly lacking in self-awareness.
He gave a derisive laugh, then turned back and continued toward his original destination.
That's exactly how it should be!
Only because they were like this did he have a chance to come from behind and surpass them, wasn't that right?