Shadow

How to survive in this prison overrun by steel beasts?

Qing Chen couldn't rely on Lu Guangyi, whose origins were unknown, because he feared his own identity might be exposed if he replaced the original owner.

He also couldn't rely on his fellow townsfolk from the same era, as they were in a far worse situation than him.

Therefore, Qing Chen candidly revealed his abilities to Li Shutong to prove he was a useful person.

Undoubtedly, Li Shutong was the most transcendent figure in this prison. While it was risky, this was the best way out.

Li Shutong left leisurely with his hands behind his back, Ye Wan and Big Cat following him, while Lin Xiaoxiao, grinning cheekily, had wandered off somewhere.

Before noon, the mealtime, the serving window was opened early for Li Shutong.

Ye Wan went to get two portions of food for Li Shutong and Big Cat. Big Cat picked at his food.

At this moment, Lin Xiaoxiao emerged from somewhere, kicked off his shoes, and squatted barefoot on the chair opposite Li Shutong's dining table.

Big Cat glanced at him, while Ye Wan frowned and said, "Be respectful in front of the boss."

Lin Xiaoxiao rolled his eyes, "The boss hasn't said anything, Auntie Ye, you're meddling too much."

Li Shutong chuckled and said, "It seems you've made some progress?"

"Yes," Lin Xiaoxiao said excitedly, "A lot of progress. Do you know, this Qing Chen is completely clean on the outside, no abnormal clues can be found. But that makes me even more interested."

"Because he's too clean?" Li Shutong asked.

"Yes, he's just too clean. His records show he's a high school student from City 18, his parents died in a car accident, he inherited a sum of money, has no prior offenses, no criminal record, no relatives," Lin Xiaoxiao said.

"What was his crime?" Li Shutong asked.

"Theft. The case file shows he stole a liquid crystal phone, just enough to warrant sentencing," Lin Xiaoxiao said. "As you know, more than half of the inmates in Prison 18 are repeat offenders, usually those with extensive criminal histories or caught by tax authorities. Him, a thief, shouldn't be in a place like this at all."

In just this short while, Lin Xiaoxiao had already reviewed Qing Chen's case file. To ordinary people, he would seem like someone with connections everywhere.

Lin Xiaoxiao continued, "Moreover, I asked people outside, and his case is controversial. Apparently, he claimed he bought the liquid crystal phone normally and paid for it, but the seller inexplicably didn't record the payment, and the surveillance camera suddenly malfunctioned, preventing him from proving his innocence. So, if the phone salesman changed his testimony to support him, or if the video of him paying appeared, he could be released immediately. You see, this is such a familiar method. Most people who come to prison to 'handle things' follow this pattern."

Li Shutong pondered, "How long was he sentenced?"

"Six months," Lin Xiaoxiao replied. "This is probably the shortest sentence in Prison 18's history. Boss, don't you think this is very problematic... and he's surnamed Qing!"

The surname Qing was too special in this era. The Five Great Companies monopolized almost all economic lifelines, and one of them bore the surname Qing.

Qing was also a rare surname. So, if you suddenly met someone surnamed Qing on the street, you'd wonder if they were from the Qing Clan.

"Continue," Li Shutong said with a smile.

"You also know that the Qing Corporation arranged for Lu Guangyi to be sent in before," Lin Xiaoxiao said. "This kind of thing is easy to check. At the time, I just couldn't understand why they would send such a minor character. What were they trying to do?"

"I remember that Lu Guangyi," Ye Wan said from the side, "He's been gathering people."

"Exactly," Lin Xiaoxiao said with a smile. "After Lu Guangyi entered, he relied on his superior mechanical limbs to suppress the indigenous forces in the prison. Within a month, he created a three-way standoff with the other two factions. I was wondering then, was the Qing Corporation sending him to unify Prison 18?"

"The Qing Corporation knows the boss is here," Ye Wan implied that with Li Shutong present, no one could unify the place.

Lin Xiaoxiao narrowed his eyes, getting excited and wanting to scratch his feet. "So, I was thinking if the Qing Corporation had gone mad, sending a nobody to cause trouble in Prison 18. Only today did I realize, Lu Guangyi was paving the way for this Qing Chen kid. No matter what the Qing Corporation wants to do, Qing Chen is the main player, and Lu Guangyi is just a errand boy."

At this point, Lin Xiaoxiao mused again, "But what are they after in Prison 18? If this Qing Chen kid is truly a direct descendant of the Qing Clan, why would he be willing to come here?"

Li Shutong suddenly said, "The Qing Corporation might be selecting the next Shadow."

Ye Wan and Lin Xiaoxiao were stunned simultaneously. "The next Shadow? Qing Chen is one of the candidates? So he came here with a mission."

A large conglomerate needs both face and substance.

The head of the Qing Clan represents the face, while the Shadow represents the substance.

The Shadow handles the dirty work, wields immense power, and is the chief sovereign of the Qing Corporation's underworld. No one can control it except the head of the clan.

However, the selection process for each generation of Shadow is exceptionally brutal, akin to raising poisonous insects.

"It seems the Qing Corporation is about to stir up trouble for everyone again," Li Shutong sighed.

As they spoke, a prisoner walked by unintentionally. From more than five meters away, Ye Wan suddenly turned to look at him.

The prisoner, under that soul-stirring gaze, involuntarily turned and walked in another direction.

Li Shutong and the other two stopped discussing the topic. Lin Xiaoxiao then asked, "Boss, even if he's a candidate for Shadow, there's no need to make his background so clean, as if he has no connection to the Qing Clan."

By now, everyone was convinced that Qing Chen was indeed from the Qing Clan.

At their level, the last thing they believed in was coincidence.

"Unless there's a bigger secret hidden in Qing Chen's background," Li Shutong said.

"Boss, what have you guessed?" Lin Xiaoxiao asked curiously.

Li Shutong shook his head, "Just hearing you say it, I suddenly feel he looks a bit like someone."

"An enemy? Or a friend? Have Ye Mama and I met him?" Lin Xiaoxiao asked curiously.

Li Shutong said, "You haven't met him, but you will eventually. Xiaoxiao, if relationships in this world could be simply divided into enemies and friends, that would be wonderful."

As he spoke, Li Shutong pulled the gray Big Cat on the table into his arms and gently rubbed its chin.

Big Cat closed its eyes comfortably and lay lazily on Li Shutong's lap.

He said to Lin Xiaoxiao, "I'm even more interested in this Qing Chen. Go and test his personality."

Lin Xiaoxiao was shocked. "Boss, you think highly of him? He's from the Qing Clan!"

"I just asked you to test him out, not to do anything else," Li Shutong chuckled. "Besides, isn't it more interesting to poach someone from the Qing Clan?"

"But I feel like he's not one of us," Lin Xiaoxiao muttered, staring at his own feet.

Li Shutong smiled. "An organization needs all kinds of people. There are tigers that guard the mountain, eagles with foresight, wolves skilled in battle, leopards that are agile, and loyal dogs. Each has their own responsibilities."

Lin Xiaoxiao's eyes lit up. "Boss, then what am I in the organization?"

Li Shutong thought for a moment. "A fish that just floats along."

Ye Wan said calmly from the side, "The shit that stirs the pot."

Lin Xiaoxiao: "???"

Thanks to:

Kanshukanwanbei, BaraRay, Xiaomiaoliugezhua, Chenyingleiangmiao, Chiroujiubianpang, Sanshengyuanqingbaobao, Tiangoubilang, Quan Zhilong_, Reader1383594256452726784, Shangshanbuyuqu, Lanlanxiao Jiuquan, WDDDJ, Liquanshi Tuonidashui, Shuyou20171130004559159, Xing丨zhiJaua, Ekalie, Lyhae, Jiandaodao Zhenjie

To become the alliance leader of this book!

Bosses are generous! May bosses live as long as heaven!