Forming a Team

Liu Jinsen answered the call. Under the effect of the Level 6 item "Mysterious CEO Call," the scene around Liu Jinsen also appeared in the projection.

Liu Jinsen was still his usual self, his expression cold and meticulous.

Beside him, Sha Ruijing, as before, wore a smile with a hint of fawning and obsequiousness.

"Wen Xishu, I'm here to tell you that you need to log into the Tower of Deception before 4 PM today."

Liu Jinsen got straight to the point.

Wen Xishu said:

"How can my sins be redeemed? I have already completed the task of exploring the Tower of Deception beyond what you asked.

"By rights, my merits and demerits should have balanced out by now, right? I also saved countless lives. It's one thing that the Bunker Security Bureau isn't rewarding me, but they actually want me to take risks?"

Liu Jinsen showed a look of shame, which surprised Wen Xishu.

"I'm sorry, I underestimated how much the higher-ups desire you... or rather, the secret you possess."

"Currently, within the Security Bureau, besides the First Bureau and the Sixth Bureau, the other four bureaus wish to interrogate you. Including the five bureaus in the Administration Department, they all want to apprehend you."

"With the Old Principal's intervention and the efforts of the directors of the First and Sixth Bureaus, you are currently safe for the time being."

"You can study at the Three Towers Academy, or move around the Bunker as a free person."

"Currently, no department is allowed to apply for your arrest warrant, nor do they have the authority to arrest you."

"All of this is thanks to your contributions to the lower levels. Sha Ruijing also put in a lot of effort on this matter. The name Wen Xishu is extremely sacred among the lower levels now."

Liu Jinsen looked at Sha Ruijing as he said this.

Wen Xishu hadn't expected Sha Ruijing to pull off such a significant move.

Although he didn't know how famous he was among the lower levels, or how Sha Ruijing had managed it...

But since Liu Jinsen specifically mentioned it, and brought Sha Ruijing along for this call, it was likely to let him know that Sha Ruijing was indispensable.

Wen Xishu said:

"Please thank Comrade Sha... oh no, Sha Ruijing for me. If there's a chance in the future, I will repay him."

Sha Ruijing seemed to know that Wen Xishu on the other end of the phone could see them, so he waved at Wen Xishu, his face beaming.

Wen Xishu returned to the main topic:

"But I guess no matter what I or Sha Ruijing did, it's still not enough, right?"

Liu Jinsen nodded:

"Sorry... it's indeed not enough."

"There are many complex things involved here, Wen Xishu. I can only tell you that you are currently a pawn in a multi-party game."

Anyone being called a pawn would likely not be happy. But Wen Xishu was not angry.

"Alright, Officer Liu, tell me, what else do I need to do?"

Liu Jinsen said:

"Get stronger."

Wen Xishu was stunned for a moment, then he understood. This was truly a high-EQ way of putting it.

Liu Jinsen continued:

"From now on, you need to continuously get stronger, but you should know the way to do it."

"The Bunker Security Bureau hopes that you will explore the Tower of Deception within fixed time cycles. The precise interval is seven days."

"After each exploration of the Tower of Deception, you will have seven days to rest and adjust. Seven days later, you will explore the Tower of Deception again."

"Wen Xishu, I personally detest Wen Chaohua. The crimes he committed are too numerous to list. But I don't dislike you. Especially since you saved the lives of countless people in the lower levels not long ago."

"If I could, I would use my career to protect you, but I am insignificant and cannot do that."

"Even if I risked everything, I couldn't change the decisions of those in the upper echelons."

"Seven days, then another seven days. It is foreseeable that you will be constantly in danger."

"But I believe, based on your performance the first time, you are definitely not someone to be underestimated. Perhaps in the future, solely in terms of achievements in tower climbing... you will surpass Wen Chaohua."

"I think, at that time, some of the Security Bureau's decisions will become more cautious."

"May you become a legend of the Bunker."

At this moment, Wen Xishu glanced at the old, crazy Albert behind him, who was drinking red wine and swaying his head.

Wen Xishu was silent for a moment, then said:

"Can you tell me what Wen Chaohua actually did?"

Although Albert had refused to answer Wen Xishu's question not long ago, he did not stop Wen Xishu from asking Liu Jinsen now.

The Old Principal still had that leisurely expression.

Liu Jinsen was also silent for a moment, then said:

"Countless people... tower climbers in the Bunker, including many on the Ladder Ranking, died because of him. He also caused some almost irreversible damage in the exploration of the Three Towers."

"There are more things I promised the Old Principal that I cannot tell you."

Wen Xishu glanced at Albert, who smiled and waved at him.

Wen Xishu said helplessly:

"Alright, I understand. Do you have anything else to add about the tower climbing this afternoon?"

Liu Jinsen hummed:

"Yes. You've been to the Three Towers once before, so this time, after you activate the Login Device... you will go to the Rest Area."

"The function of the Rest Area..."

Wen Xishu interrupted him:

"I know the function of the Rest Area. It's a place to buy information, prepare for battle, and form teams."

Liu Jinsen said:

"Good. What I want to say is that in the Rest Area of the Tower of Deception this time... there will be quite a few people."

"Most of these people are death row inmates or exiles. There are also some... well, some 'our own people'."

"You should know that people on the same level and with the same mission can team up in the Rest Area."

Wen Xishu let out a soft scoff, guessing what was going on.

Liu Jinsen said:

"If you don't meet the conditions for teaming up, that's fine. But if you do... the higher-ups hope you will accept team requests."

Wen Xishu asked curiously:

"If I meet the conditions but refuse to team up... will the higher-ups know? They aren't in the Rest Area."

Liu Jinsen's tone became serious:

"They will. There are many special items in this world, like the phone you are using now, which belongs to the Old Principal."

"There are also some items that can deconstruct parts of the Login Device's data, and I've even heard that in the highest functional level of the Bunker, there are rooms that can display various indicators."

"So, don't choose to disobey. Wen Xishu, I know you're definitely unwilling, but I'm not advising you from the perspective of the Security Bureau. When you're not strong enough, it's best to adapt to the environment first."

Wen Xishu understood.

Exploring the Three Towers, going to which level or which area, was all unknown.

To team up in the Tower of Desire and the Tower of Deception, one must be in the same area and on the same mission.

In other words, if he was the only one who received a certain mission during a certain period, he wouldn't be able to team up with anyone.

And even if teaming up was possible, the teammates might not necessarily be the "monitors" arranged by the higher-ups.

But there was always that possibility.

As long as the higher-ups arranged enough people, and as long as he explored the Tower of Deception enough times...

Then, there would always be a time when he might team up with the people arranged by the higher-ups.

Once they teamed up and became teammates, his process of exploring the Tower of Deception could be recorded.

The higher-ups were going all out to obtain the secrets of Wen Chaohua.

Even if it was just a tiny probability, they were willing to arrange many exiles, death row inmates... and even suicide squads to take a gamble.

Wen Xishu increasingly believed that Wen Chaohua possessed something that the higher-ups desperately desired.

Wen Xishu said:

"If I happen to be able to team up, but I kill all my teammates in the Tower of Deception, what will happen?"

His words were direct and frank. The casual attitude with which he spoke of killing teammates even stunned Liu Jinsen.

Liu Jinsen suddenly had the thought that perhaps both Wen brothers harbored demons within them.

Albert also narrowed his eyes, appraising Wen Xishu.

Liu Jinsen still answered truthfully:

"Please don't do that. Most people who explore the Tower of Deception are criminals, but there are also a few who choose to fight to the death to change their fate. Just like you."

"Some people are innocent. Even if they are criminals, the moment they choose to enter the Tower of Deception, they are already atoning."

"You cannot know whether these people who team up with you are coming for you, or for freedom and wealth."

"If it's the latter, then they can die by the monsters in the Tower of Deception; they should not die by the hands of their own people."

Wen Xishu did not refute this statement.

In fact, when Liu Jinsen said "Please don't do that," the answer to his question had already been implied.

Wen Xishu certainly knew that some lives were not meant to end, but if he were in a situation where if they didn't die, he would die, he knew he would show no mercy.

"Okay, Officer Liu, I am a person without any violent tendencies. I won't do such things. I haven't even used violence in the Tower of Deception."

At least the latter half of that statement was true. He had indeed not used violence in the Tower of Deception.

He had only used it in the Tower of Desire.

(I'm in Xi'an these past two days, so I'm just managing with two updates.)