Awakened Zhongli Template, Terra Retirement

If they were working together, with that special Originium Arts, they should have shown up right then and there to regroup and exfil together. But if not, how did he know about the Guard Department's operation?

Lin Yuxia couldn't figure it out, so she stopped trying. After getting home, she took a shower, changed into her pajamas, and got ready for bed.

Normally at this hour, she'd just close her eyes and drift off in no time. But tonight, for some reason, she tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep.

Every time she shut her eyes, Shi Lei's face involuntarily popped into her mind. Summoning those stone pillars was one thing, but the shield that blocked the Originium Particles was what really stuck with her.

If she could bring him under her command, it might be a huge boost to her father's work. With that kind of special Originium Arts, he'd be a hot commodity anywhere he went.

Wide awake now, Lin Yuxia stared at the ceiling for a long time. Finally, she rang a bell to summon a servant.

Before long, a Rat Girl in a maid outfit pushed open the door, bowed respectfully, and asked:

"Eldest Daughter, what are your orders?"

Lin Yuxia hesitated a moment, then described Shi Lei's clothes and physical features aloud before giving her instructions:

"Go find Xiao Wu and secretly look into this man's background. Remember, don't make direct contact with him under any circumstances. Report back if anything comes up. Also, don't let my father know about this—no need for him to start worrying."

"Understood, Eldest Daughter. I'll see to it right away."

The maid agreed readily and closed the door politely as she left. But instead of contacting Xiao Wu as Lin Yuxia had ordered, she went straight to report to her father, Lin Gerei.

"Master, the young miss asked me to investigate a man's background and specifically told me not to let you know."

"Oh?"

Lin Gerei leaned forward, clearly very interested in the topic. After hearing the maid's description, he dismissed her. Then he made a phone call and asked:

"Do you know where Yuxia went tonight?"

Lin Yuxia usually didn't like bringing bodyguards out or having anyone tail her, saying it made her uncomfortable. So he called her colleague to ask:

"Lin Boss, it's you. She went to District 25 around nine tonight, said she was delivering candy to a kid with crippled legs. After that, I don't know."

"Alright, that's all."

Lin Gerei hung up, his expression complicated as he stared at the flames in the fireplace for a while. A few minutes later, he grabbed his cane, walked to his daughter's bedroom door, and knocked lightly.

Knock knock knock.

"Who is it?"

"It's me."

Soon, Lin Yuxia opened the door a crack, just wide enough for three fingers, wearing her cheese-patterned pajamas. She looked at her father standing in the hallway, puzzled.

"What's the matter, coming to see me this late?"

"Yuxia, I just heard you were asking about some man's background, so I came to check."

Lin Yuxia frowned at that. She'd specifically said not to tell her father—how could that maid do this?

Lin Gerei saw the displeasure on her face and gave a kind smile, explaining:

"Don't blame her. I'm the one paying her wages after all. Even if she didn't say anything, the intelligence team would find out and report to me anyway. The result's the same. I'm just worried you might get hurt and want to make sure no one crosses you. Anyone who dares bully my daughter, Lin Gerei, will pay the price."

Hearing this, Lin Yuxia hurriedly explained, a bit flustered:

"No, Father, you'd better not get involved. He... he didn't bully me. He's not a bad person."

Lin Gerei probed a little and confirmed his suspicions, forcing a bitter smile:

"Alright, since there's no grudge, then why are you suddenly trying to dig up his info for no reason?"

"He..."

Lin Yuxia hesitated, looking very troubled.

She'd planned to investigate quietly, then approach Shi Lei and gradually convince him to work for them. But before that, she absolutely couldn't let her father know about her benefactor's Originium Arts.

Lin Yuxia's father was no ordinary figure—he was the emperor of the Slums, the King of this gray zone. If he found out, things would get very messy.

"Hm?"

"Sorry, Father, I really can't say. Just don't ask. He's not a bad person, I swear!"

"Fine. I'll have the intelligence team look into it tomorrow and let you know when there's news. It's late, get some rest."

With that, Lin Gerei turned and walked away with his cane.

Hearing the bedroom door close, he looked back with a complicated expression and let out a helpless sigh.

Sigh. A daughter grown is a daughter gone.

009 Where's My Money Pouch?

Year 1094, November 28, 7:52 a.m.

Shi Lei woke up at 7:30, feeling a soreness in his neck. He tilted his head back, rubbed his neck, and massaged it with one hand to ease the ache.

Ding.

As the elevator doors opened, Exusiai stepped out. She'd been planning to grab something from the Safe House, but she didn't expect to run into Shi Lei here. Her expression was one of surprise.

"Hey hey hey, what are you doing here? Did you stay here all night, right through till morning?"

"Yeah, I don't have a place to stay yet."

Exusiai clasped her hands together, her eyes full of apology:

"Oh, I'm so sorry. If I'd known, I'd have told you the Safe House code. You ended up sleeping outside all night."

Shi Lei didn't mind, though. He'd be confirmed soon, and everything would work out then:

"It's fine. It was my fault for not asking you for the Safe House code earlier. I'll just catch up on sleep at noon, and I'll be back to full form."

Exusiai gave him the code, then opened the door to grab something from the utility room. He took a few chocolate bars from the snack rack and washed them down with juice to stave off hunger.

"Shi Lei, are you free tonight?"

Shi Lei didn't get it and didn't answer directly:

"What's up?"

"Kong and Croissant are coming back early, so we're throwing a welcome party tonight. You have to come."

Two days without a party, without a rave—Exusiai found it dreadfully dull. Only by getting hyped to the music could she feel the meaning of life.

"No problem, what time does it start?"

"Seven o'clock, right here. You can wander around after work and just show up on time."

Seeing Shi Lei hand over the snacks, Exusiai didn't hold back. She tore open the wrapper and tossed it into her mouth.

With over an hour left until work, the two of them played some video games in the Safe House until nearly Nine O'Clock before leaving. They took the elevator straight to the top floor of the building.

Texas had already arrived early, but she wore that same aloof expression. Shi Lei didn't know her well, so he didn't dare greet her and quietly buried his head in a map.

Around ten in the morning, Emperor finally showed up, late. As soon as it entered, it yawned twice in a row and called out to everyone in the office area:

"Stayed up too late writing songs last night. Don't bother me while I catch up on sleep. Texas, take the new hire to Isu and have him show the ropes. We'll talk about the explosion at noon."

"Yes, Boss."

Once Emperor entered the office, Shi Lei folded the map and set it on the desk, then left with Texas. But just as the elevator doors were closing, Exusiai slipped in.

"Boss didn't tell you to escort the new hire."

Exusiai ignored her reminder, interlaced her fingers, raised them high, and stretched:

"Oh, what's the big deal? Nothing's going on anyway. I'll just tag along for the walk."

Texas figured there was nothing wrong with it, so she silently allowed it and raised no further objections.

Exusiai stood behind her, chin lifted toward Shi Lei with a smug look. That gaze seemed to say, See? I've got her wrapped around my finger.

Leaving the building, Texas called Isu on her phone, confirmed his location, and hung up. Without explaining, she headed straight for Warehouse No. 2 around the back.

Here, Shi Lei finally met the logistics manager who, according to Exusiai, oversaw all the company's affairs big and small.

Isu wore a sharp suit and a tech-styled mask. White, furry ears extended out from behind the mask, hiding his true face.

"Isu, Boss wants you to show the new hire the ropes."

Texas dropped that line and turned to leave.

In contrast to her cold attitude, Exusiai grinned as she followed behind, waving goodbye on her own.

Shi Lei waved back, then withdrew his gaze.

Isu held a checklist, cross-referencing the shelf numbers for inventory. After a couple of minutes, once he finished the task at hand, he spoke:

"I value efficiency and hate wasted effort. Are you an intern or a full employee?"

"Intern. Tomorrow's my last day."

A new hire not yet confirmed—teaching them the business now was pointless. If they got cut, wouldn't that be a waste of time?

Isu pulled out two thin sheets and assigned a simple, unskilled physical task:

"Follow these numbers and notes, and move the specified quantity of goods to the warehouse entrance. I'll check them later and hand them off to Fengchi Logistics."

Shi Lei was curious. Penguin Logistics was a Logistics Company, so why subcontract to a competitor?

Isu seemed to know what he was about to ask. He raised a hand to adjust his mask and preemptively explained:

"Our company charges high shipping fees, so some orders are outsourced to partner companies. Also, those goods are the Boss's records. Be careful when moving them."

"Mm, got it."

Shi Lei took the lists with both hands and started pulling items by the shelf numbers. He wished he could play the role of Rex Lapis more, but reality didn't allow it.

The real Rex Lapis could describe every day as refined. Eating the best, wearing the best, listening to the best music, tasting the best tea.

Best meant most expensive.

As the saying goes, everything is hard at the start. Until he found a suitable "money bag," Shi Lei had to live like a normal person, hustling day in and day out.

With a baseline of 3 Role-playing Points per day, even if he did nothing else, he'd reach the Quasi-god Realm in two months at most. Immortal-level strength meant he could do a lot more. Whether to stay or jump ship—he'd decide then.

"Hm?"

Staring at a piece of intel originating from the Slums, Isu grew interested. He glanced at Shi Lei, who was busy in the warehouse, and casually forwarded the contents to the Boss via email.

At this hour, Emperor was in his office. He should reply to him soon.

Isu waited two minutes. No response. He immediately dialed the Boss's personal number. Once the call connected, he reminded him to check his email, then hung up directly.

Emperor had been woken up, but he didn't lose his temper. An employee this hardworking, cheap, and easy to use—drawing three salaries while doing the work of over a dozen people—was far too rare.

For employees who generated massive profits for Penguin Logistics, Emperor never stinted on his tolerance.

So what if his rest was disturbed? Small problem.

"What email's so urgent?"

Emperor grumbled, opening his mouth to yawn. He rubbed his Sleepy Eyes, hopped over to the leather chair, and plopped down. He logged into his mailbox and opened the email.

After reading the intel, Emperor immediately cracked a grin:

"Hey, just what kind of background do you have, kid? Turns out you're that stinky rat's Distinguished Guest."

010 No Way

Penguin Logistics Warehouse, 11:50 a.m.

Isu notified him to go to the Boss's office—said there was something to discuss. But he didn't say what it was about, just turned around and went back to his own work.

Shi Lei didn't overthink it. After confirming nothing was missing from the list of goods, 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 arrived outside the office and lightly knocked on the open door.

"Knock, knock, knock."