If they were in the same group and possessed special Originium Arts, they should have shown themselves directly back then, met up, and evacuated the scene together. But if they were not, how had he learned about the Lungmen Guard Department's operation?
Lin Yuxia could not figure it out, so she simply stopped thinking about it. After returning home, she took a shower, changed into pajamas, and prepared to sleep.
Normally, at this time, she only needed to close her eyes for a moment before quickly drifting off. But for some reason today, she tossed and turned in bed, unable to fall asleep no matter what.
The moment she closed her eyes, Shi Lei's appearance involuntarily surfaced in her mind. Summoning the stone pillar had been one thing, but the shield that blocked the Originium Particles had left an even deeper impression.
If she could recruit him under her command, he might be of tremendous help to her father's enterprise. With such special Originium Arts, he would be in demand wherever he went.
Sleep completely gone, Lin Yuxia stared at the ceiling and pondered for a long time. Finally, she shook a bell and summoned a servant.
Before long, a Rat Girl in a maid outfit pushed open the bedroom door and bowed respectfully.
"Eldest Daughter, what are your orders?"
After hesitating for a moment, Lin Yuxia verbally described Shi Lei's clothing and physical features before giving her instructions.
"Go find Xiao Wu and discreetly investigate that man's identity and background. Remember, do not make direct contact with him under any circumstances. Inform me immediately if anything comes up. Also, do not let my father know about this, so he does not start overthinking things."
"Yes, Eldest Daughter. I will handle it right away."
The maid readily agreed and politely closed the bedroom door behind her as she left. But rather than contacting Xiao Wu as Lin Yuxia had requested, she reported directly to Lin Gerei, her father.
"Master, Miss asked me to investigate a man's background, and repeatedly warned me not to let you find out."
"Oh?"
Lin Gerei leaned forward, seemingly very concerned about the matter. After listening to the maid's description, he dismissed her. Then he made a call and asked:
"Do you know where Yuxia went tonight?"
Lin Yuxia normally disliked taking guards with her when she went out, nor did she want anyone following her in secret. She said it made her feel uncomfortable all over, so he called one of her colleagues to ask:
"Boss Lin, it's you. She went to District 25 around nine tonight. She said she was delivering candy to a child with disabled legs. After that, I have no idea."
"Alright, that's all."
Lin Gerei hung up and stared at the flames in the fireplace with a complicated expression for quite some time. A few minutes later, he made his way to his daughter's bedroom with his cane and lightly knocked on the door.
"Knock, knock, knock."
"Who is it?"
"It's me."
Before long, Lin Yuxia, dressed in cheese-patterned pajamas, opened the door only a crack three fingers wide. She looked at her father standing in the hallway with confusion.
"What is it? Why are you looking for me so late?"
"Yuxia, I just heard that you were asking around about a man's identity, so I came to ask."
Lin Yuxia frowned upon hearing that. She had clearly said not to tell her father. How could that maid do this?
Seeing the displeasure on his daughter's face, Lin Gerei gave a kindly smile and explained:
"Don't blame her. After all, I am the one paying her wages. Even if she did not tell me, the intelligence division would report it once they learned of it. The result would be the same. I am only worried that you have been harmed and want to punish whoever did it. Anyone who dares bully my daughter, Lin Gerei, will pay the price."
Hearing that, Lin Yuxia hurriedly explained:
"No, Father, you should not get involved. He... he did not bully me. He is not a bad person."
After a little probing, Lin Gerei's suspicions were confirmed, and he could not help but force out a bitter smile.
"Alright. If you have no grudge against him, why are you investigating him for no reason?"
"He..."
Lin Yuxia hesitated, looking extremely troubled.
She had originally planned to investigate in secret, then gradually persuade Shi Lei to work for her family after making contact with him. But before that, she absolutely could not let her father learn about her benefactor's Originium Arts.
Lin Yuxia's father was no ordinary man. He was the Emperor of the Slums, the king of this gray zone. If he found out, things would become very troublesome.
"Hmm?"
"Sorry, Father, I really cannot tell you. Please stop asking. He is not a bad person, I swear!"
"Fine."
"Tomorrow, I will send the intelligence division to investigate. I will let you know once there is news. It is late, so get some rest."
After saying that, Lin Gerei turned and left with his cane.
When he heard the bedroom door close, he looked back with a complicated expression and let out a helpless sigh.
Ah, daughters really do grow up and leave their fathers behind.
Where Was My Money Bag?
November 28, 1094, 7:52 a.m.
Shi Lei had woken up at seven thirty and found his neck somewhat sore. He tilted his head back, covered his neck with one hand, and kneaded it with the other to ease the discomfort.
"Ding."
As the elevator doors opened, Exusiai stepped out. She had originally intended to return to the Safe House to pick something up, but she had not expected to run into Shi Lei here. Her expression was quite surprised.
"Hey, hey, hey, why are you here? Were you here all night, all the way until morning?"
"Yes. I do not have a place to stay yet."
Exusiai clasped her hands together, her eyes full of apology.
"Ah, I am so sorry. If I had known, I would have told you the Safe House password. I even made you sleep outside for an entire night."
Shi Lei did not think it was a big deal. He would be made permanent soon, and things would get better by then.
"It is alright. It was my own fault for not asking you for the Safe House password beforehand. I can come over at noon and catch up on sleep. Then I will be back at full energy."
Exusiai told him the password, opened the door, and went to the utility room to retrieve something. Shi Lei took several boxes of chocolate sticks from the snack rack and washed them down with juice to fill his stomach.
"Shi Lei, are you free tonight?"
Not understanding why she asked, Shi Lei did not answer directly.
"What is it?"
"Kong and Croissant are coming back early. We are throwing a welcome party tonight, so you have to come."
Two consecutive days without parties or revelry had left Exusiai terribly bored. Only getting hyped up with music could make her feel the meaning of life.
"No problem. What time does it start?"
"Seven. We are having it here. After work, you can wander around nearby and come over when it is time."
When she saw Shi Lei offer her snacks, Exusiai did not stand on ceremony. She tore open the package and tossed one into her mouth.
There was still over an hour until work, so the two played video games in the Safe House for a while. They did not leave until nearly nine, taking the elevator directly to the top floor of the building.
Texas had already arrived, but she still wore that same cool, aloof expression. Shi Lei was not familiar with her and felt too embarrassed to greet her, so he quietly lowered his head and studied the map.
At around ten in the morning, Emperor finally arrived fashionably late. The moment he entered, he yawned twice in succession and called out to everyone in the office area.
"I stayed up too late writing songs last night, so do not disturb my makeup sleep. Texas, take the new employee to Isu and have him show him the ropes. We will discuss the explosion at noon."
"Yes, Boss."
After Emperor entered the office, Shi Lei folded up the map and put it on the table before leaving with Texas. Just before the elevator doors closed, Exusiai slipped inside.
"The boss did not tell you to take the new employee."
Exusiai ignored her reminder, interlaced her fingers, raised her arms, and stretched lazily.
"Oh, what does it matter? There is nothing to do right now anyway. I will just take a walk with you two."
Texas thought there truly was nothing to do, so she silently permitted it and raised no further objections.
Standing behind them, Exusiai lifted her chin toward Shi Lei with an especially smug expression. Her eyes seemed to say, See? I have got her wrapped around my finger.
After leaving the building, Texas called Isu on her phone. Once she confirmed his location, she hung up. Without explaining anything, she headed straight for Warehouse No. 2 at the rear.
Here, Shi Lei finally met the logistics manager Exusiai had described, the man who oversaw the company's affairs large and small.
Isu wore a crisp suit and a technological-looking mask over his face. White fluffy ears extended from behind the mask, concealing his true appearance.
"Isu, the boss asked you to show the new employee the ropes."
Texas dropped those words and turned to leave.
Unlike Texas's cold attitude, Exusiai followed behind with a cheerful grin, taking the initiative to wave goodbye.
Shi Lei waved as well, then withdrew his gaze.
Holding a list, Isu was checking inventory against the serial numbers on the shelves. Two or three minutes passed before he finished his work and spoke.
"I value efficiency and dislike pointless work. Are you still an intern, or are you a full employee?"
"An intern. Tomorrow is my last day."
There was no point teaching the job to a new employee who had yet to become permanent. If he was eliminated, would that not just be a waste of time?
Isu pulled out two thin lists and assigned him a physical task with little technical skill involved.
"Based on the serial numbers and notes on these, move the specified quantities of goods to the warehouse entrance. I will inspect them later and hand them over to Fengchi Logistics."
Shi Lei was somewhat curious. Was Penguin Logistics not a logistics company? Why were they handing shipments over to a competitor for transport?
As if he knew what Shi Lei wanted to ask, Isu raised a hand to adjust his mask and explained in advance.
"Our company charges expensive shipping fees, so some orders are outsourced to partner companies. Also, those goods are the boss's records, so handle them carefully."
"Uh, alright."
Shi Lei accepted the lists with both hands and retrieved the goods one by one according to the serial numbers on the shelves. He certainly hoped to play Rex Lapis more often, but reality did not permit it.
The real Rex Lapis lived exquisitely every day. He ate only the best food, wore only the best clothes, listened to the best music, and sampled the best tea.
And the best meant the most expensive.
As the saying went, beginnings were always difficult. Before finding a suitable "money bag," Shi Lei had to live like an ordinary person, working tirelessly each day just to make a living.
He was guaranteed three Role-playing Points every day. Even if he did nothing else afterward, he would reach the Quasi-god Realm within two months at the latest. Immortal-level strength meant he could do much more. As for whether he stayed or changed jobs, he would decide then.
Because Shi Lei had taken on part of the workload, Isu began gathering intelligence for the next task ahead of schedule. He had breached the networks of multiple channels throughout Lungmen, leaving enough crawlers and backdoors behind for surveillance at any time. The work of Penguin Logistics's intelligence division was basically all done by him alone.
"Hmm?"
As he stared at a piece of intelligence originating from the Slums, Isu became interested. He looked toward Shi Lei, who was busy in the warehouse, and casually forwarded the contents to the boss by email.
At this hour, Emperor should be in the office and would probably reply soon.
After waiting two minutes without a response, Isu immediately called the boss's private number. Once the call connected, he reminded Emperor to check the email, then directly ended the call.
Emperor was awakened, but it did not get angry. Employees like Isu, hardworking, cheap, useful, drawing three salaries while doing more than ten jobs' worth of work, were simply too rare.
Emperor had never been stingy with leniency toward employees who could bring Penguin Logistics enormous profits.
Being disturbed during a nap was a minor issue.
"What email could be so urgent?"
Emperor muttered as it opened its mouth in a yawn. Rubbing its sleepy eyes, it hopped onto the leather chair, logged into its inbox, and opened the email.
After reading the intelligence report, Emperor immediately laughed.
"Heh, what kind of background do you have, kid? You are actually that stinking rat's honored guest."
I Really Don't Know What to Do With You
Penguin Logistics Warehouse, 11:50 a.m.
Isu informed him to go to the boss's office, saying there was something to discuss. But he did not mention what exactly it was about, instead turning around to continue with his own work.
Shi Lei did not think much of it. After confirming that none of the goods on the lists had been missed, he took the elevator to the top floor.
Exusiai opened the door for him, then returned to her workstation to play a mobile game. Shi Lei walked to the office and raised his hand to lightly knock on the open door.
"Knock, knock, knock."
Before you continue