Reward for a Successful Performance, Ilis's Mission

After a brief silence, the middle-aged female reporter with immaculate makeup pressed him.

"May I ask who you are, sir?"

Su Yi answered honestly. "An employee of Strongarm Finance Company."

Seeing that Su Yi had taken the bait, the reporter asked, "Then why did you come here to save these children?"

Her aim was simple: tie Su Yi to Iris Barrett and imply that what he had just done was a staged act she had ordered.

Su Yi said, "We came to help as volunteers."

"Our boss at Strongarm Company, Aolong, is a kindhearted man."

"He was also inspired by Miss Iris Barrett's kindness and greatness."

"Every week, he shows us Miss Barrett's charitable principles and examples of her selfless deeds."

"He urges us to help the vulnerable however we can."

"What I did just now was only what I could."

"When we heard Miss Barrett was coming, we got up early to volunteer."

Standing in the crowd below, Aolong nearly burst into tears when he heard that.

"Su Yi! You...!"

He was overwhelmed with emotion. He had never expected Su Yi to remember him at a moment when the spotlight was on Su Yi himself!

His colleagues turned to stare at him, shocked and envious.

"Where did you find talent like that?"

The colleague beside him could not hide the envy in his voice.

Aolong puffed out his chest, basking in it. "You have to know how to spot it!"

The reporters on the Flag Platform heard his airtight answer. A male reporter pressed on. "What are you responsible for?"

Su Yi pointed to the colorful flags behind him. "We're in charge of raising the flags here."

"And being stationed here gave us the chance to save those children."

Thoroughly satisfied, Ilis immediately said, "All right. Medical team, step in!"

More than a dozen doctors hurried over. "This gentleman has lost a lot of blood. Please make room!"

Before the reporters could react, the doctors whisked away Su Yi, Alton and the other two, along with the injured children.

The five reporters kept calling after them. "What's your name, sir? You're a hero!"

Su Yi simply pretended to faint and said nothing.

Some credit could not be claimed lightly.

Giving his name would certainly make him famous, but it would bring serious problems.

For one thing, Su Yi's background was a liability. He came from humble origins, had worked as a thug collecting debts, and had plenty of stains on his record.

If the reporters got his name and dug all that up, his heroic image would collapse!

Besides, he was unsure how Ilis felt about him.

Given his background, he could not be promoted too quickly.

If, in a few days, Ilis needed someone with a clean record to stand in as the hero who had saved the children and attend a charity gala, leaving his name out would give her room to maneuver.

Su Yi trusted that Ilis was smart enough to understand what he was doing.

If she understood, this calculated step back could earn him even more of her appreciation.

A doctor promptly played along, calling out, "He's gone into shock from blood loss! Stop asking questions!"

As Su Yi and the others were taken away, the charity show carried on.

After handing out a few more token supplies to the poor, Ilis rejoined Rick.

Ilis wore rimless glasses. Detailed information on Su Yi appeared across the lenses.

"Have I seen this man somewhere before?" Ilis frowned slightly.

Rick said quietly, "He's the one who rescued you from the Void Abyss Mountains."

Ilis nodded. "He rescued me and became Gifted. It seems the goddess arranged all this."

"His performance just now was flawless," Rick said admiringly.

"Yes," Ilis said. "And at the end, he had the sense to pretend to faint rather than give his name."

"He understands the bigger picture and knows his place."

Ilis looked over Su Yi's record. "Unfortunately, his background is too problematic. I can't use him directly."

After a moment's silence, Rick said, "But he does have talent."

"Shall I speak with him in a bit?"

"Miss, you need a capable operative who knows how things work on the streets and has connections there."

"What happened today made it clear that Nigel, that fool, and the Wolf Fang Gang can't be relied on."

"And the people above them answer to Manco Follet. It wouldn't be safe to use them."

Rick paused. "Give him a few benefits. If he really manages to rise, he could be a great help to our plans."

"Especially since the Marketing Department is preparing to reclaim the Underground Ruins in Lase City. Someone with gang ties could be very useful there."

A gleam appeared in Ilis's amethyst eyes. "That makes sense. I do need an operative I can count on."

After a pause, she looked at Rick. "You seem to think highly of him. Does he remind you of yourself when you were young?"

Rick sighed and nodded. "Yes. A little."

Ilis gave a slight nod. "Then go see him. Offer him something, and give him a test."

"Within a month, he's to eliminate the Wolf Fang Gang and take its place."

Rick nodded. "All right!"

In a temporary ward on the square.

Su Yi, Alton and the other two had been settled there.

The wound on Su Yi's face had already been stitched up.

Thanks to the powerful Mobile Cell Suturing Clamp, it had already begun to heal.

Su Yi had carefully chosen where to make those two wounds himself.

They were conspicuous and bled heavily, but they were not serious.

The blood on Alton and the others had been smeared on. They had only a few bruises on their arms.

Everything that had just happened felt like a dream. Afraid they might say the wrong thing, the three of them sat as silent as mutes.

As Su Yi waited for an invitation from Ilis, he planned how he would conduct himself when it came.

I can't reveal the Ember Branch yet. My background is a liability, and I haven't established myself.

If I get promoted without a solid base, I'll only be hemmed in from every side and made a fool of.

Results are everything at Black Sun Group, and it's riddled with factions. I absolutely cannot become a leader parachuted in from above!

Su Yi knew from experience how hard it was to lead a team when you had been brought in from outside.

The bigger the company, the more precarious the position.

With that in mind, Su Yi decided to build his strength one step at a time.

Just then, the ward door opened. A lean, short-haired middle-aged man entered, his back straight, his temples graying, and his bearing as rigid as a spear.

The staff quickly ushered Alton and the other two out, then closed the door.

[Name: Rick Salt]

[Affiliation: Black Sun Group]

[Rank: Planetary Defense Force Captain]

[Void Abyss Projection: Rock Golem LV3]

[Level: 25]

[Health: 3800]

[Void Spirit Bandwidth: 4200]

[Skills: ??]

(He is highly satisfied with your performance just now. You remind him of his younger self.)

Rick approached, his expression still stern, and looked down at him. "Do you remember me?"

Su Yi immediately hopped off the bed and bowed. "Greetings, sir!"

"Thank you and Miss Barrett for the gift you granted me last time."

Seeing Su Yi so lively, Rick raised an eyebrow. "Lift your head and look at me."

Su Yi obediently looked up into Rick's sharp, intimidating brown eyes.

"Who taught you to do that?"

Su Yi said, "No one. I thought of it myself."

"Why?"

"To show what I'm capable of. I hoped to catch Miss Barrett's attention."

Rick watched Su Yi's eyes and listened to his heartbeat. Years of interrogation experience told him Su Yi was not lying.

"You haven't earned Miss Barrett's attention yet. You need to prove your worth."

Su Yi answered earnestly, "Tell me what to do."

Rick said, "Within a month, deal with the Wolf Fang Gang and bring every gang in Rootvine District under your control."

"Do that, and you'll have earned the right to be Miss Barrett's hound."

The weight on Su Yi's heart lifted. He nodded firmly. "All right!"

"Please tell Miss Barrett to expect good news from me."

He had secured the backing he needed.