“Panshi Company’s influence in Panshi City is deeply entrenched. Their boss has a close personal relationship with Zhao Wuji, and the two of them meet often.”
“If the Boss of Panshi Company also agrees to host him, Zhao Wuji will definitely show up.”
The Director of the Deep Blue Research Institute, the Boss of Panshi Company, and Pei Su, the Commander of the City Defense Force...
With the three major figures of Panshi City gathering together, this grand lineup would be more than enough to make Zhao Wuji let down his guard.
After listening, Su Wan felt that this Zhao Wuji really put on quite an air.
The guy lived a pretty comfortable life. He didn't have to worry about a thing, yet he enjoyed the best resources in all of Panshi City.
Su Wan turned to look at Han Meng and the other two. With a flick of her wrist, two pitch-black metal rings appeared in her palm.
“You three, go handle two things for me right now.”
Han Meng took a step forward. “Please give us your orders, Master.”
“First, find the Director of the Deep Blue Research Institute and put this...” She tossed a Slavery Collar to Han Meng.
“...around his neck.”
“Second, find the Boss of Panshi Company and do the same.”
“Once they are under control, bring them to the City Defense Force Headquarters to see me.”
“Remember, you must keep a low profile. Do not draw anyone's attention.”
Han Meng caught the collar and carefully tucked it away. “Understood.”
Liu Ying and Bai Shumo nodded in unison. The three figures silently vanished from the office doorway.
Su Wan sat back down in her chair and closed her eyes to rest.
About two hours later, the office door was pushed open once again.
Han Meng walked in first, followed by two people.
The first was in his fifties, with a thin build and a lean, scholarly face. He wore a neat, dark gray formal suit with the badge of the Deep Blue Research Institute pinned to his chest.
The second was in his forties, slightly chubby, and dressed in a well-tailored dark blue suit. A massive jade ring adorned his ring finger.
The expressions on both of their faces were solemn, just like everyone else's.
Everyone in this room was now a subordinate with absolute loyalty to Su Wan.
Su Wan sighed inwardly. The Slavery Collars provided by the system were truly magnificent.
However, as she exchanged for more and more of them, the price had steadily increased.
At first, a single Slavery Collar cost only fifteen thousand Points, but now, the price had risen to one hundred thousand Points each.
And it was still climbing.
It seemed she couldn't use these collars recklessly anymore. She had to budget them and save them for key figures.
Su Wan's gaze swept over the two of them, and she nodded in satisfaction.
It could be said that from this moment on, the entirety of Panshi City was in her grasp!
She only needed to take down Zhao Wuji, and Panshi City would truly belong to her.
This place would be the starting point of her conquest of the world, her most steadfast stronghold!
Pei Su sent a formal visit request to the City Lord's Mansion, and the butler of the mansion delivered it to Zhao Wuji's study.
Zhao Wuji was sitting by the window, holding a yellowed historical document from the Old Era.
It was a rare, one-of-a-kind volume he had recently acquired from the black market, which detailed the organizational structure of a certain research institution from the end of the Old Era.
He was deeply absorbed in it and only slowly raised his head when the butler gently placed the request on the desk beside his hand.
“Pei Su?” Zhao Wuji put down the book, picked up the request with its gold-embossed cover, and flipped it open to scan the contents.
Pei Su's wording was very polite. He wrote that a matter of great importance had recently arisen in Panshi City that required a face-to-face report, and requested an audience with the City Lord.
Zhao Wuji closed the request and did not give an immediate response.
The City Lord's Mansion kept a very low profile, and he, as the City Lord, seemed like a mere figurehead who paid no heed to worldly affairs.
But he had been the City Lord of Panshi City for over twenty years. No matter how low of a profile he kept, it was more than enough for him to maintain absolute control over everything in the city.
In truth, not a single event, major or minor, that occurred in this city could escape his eyes.
The appearance of Terminal Station, the annihilation of the 3rd Mobile Brigade, the newly appointed Vice Commander Su Wan, and her identity as the owner of Terminal Station...
He knew about all of it.
Now, the Death Tide had just receded, and the lingering effects of the Cold Wave were still present. The entirety of Panshi City was busy dealing with the aftermath.
Resettling the vagrants in the Outer City, inspecting and repairing public facilities, and tallying and replenishing depleted supplies—all of these were expensive and exhausting tasks.
He certainly didn't believe that Pei Su was submitting a request at a time like this just to report on the City Defense Force's work.
Zhao Wuji's brow furrowed slightly.
Pei Su was no fool. Anyone who could rise to the position of Commander of the City Defense Force, even if their abilities were limited, would not have a simple mind.
Why had he chosen this exact moment to request an audience? What was he really trying to do?
But on second thought, no matter what Pei Su wanted to do, it shouldn't pose any threat to him as the City Lord.
After all, he had the Dawn Federation backing him, and he himself possessed Level 5 strength. In the entirety of Panshi City, no one had the ability or the courage to do anything to him.
Everyone could only revere him and kneel at his feet.
Once he realized this, Zhao Wuji hesitated no longer.
He picked up a pen and wrote a line on the reply section of the request:
“Come tomorrow at ten o'clock...”
The butler took the request back, bowed, and withdrew.
Zhao Wuji picked up the yellowed historical document once again and resumed reading.
Early the next morning, Pei Su changed into the full dress uniform of the City Defense Force Commander.
His dark green military uniform was crisp and straight, the silver insignia on his epaulets were polished to a bright shine, and his belt was fastened meticulously.
Behind him stood the Director of the Deep Blue Research Institute and the Boss of Panshi Company, both similarly dressed in formal attire, presenting an air of absolute respect.
Right at the agreed time, the three of them appeared at the entrance of the City Lord's Mansion.
The grand doors of the City Lord's Mansion slowly opened, and a man who looked like a butler dressed in a black uniform stepped out, bowing slightly to Pei Su.
“Commander Pei, the City Lord requests your presence inside.”
Pei Su nodded and crossed the threshold together with the other two.
The interior of the City Lord's Mansion was far more spacious than it appeared from the outside.
Passing through a long corridor, they saw several yellowed oil paintings from the Old Era hanging on the walls on both sides, their frames ancient and heavy.
At the end of the corridor was a carved wooden door. The butler pushed it open and stepped aside to let them through.
Inside the door was a spacious meeting room, with a set of dark, solid wood tables and chairs arranged near the window.
Zhao Wuji sat in the main seat, holding a teacup and slowly blowing the tea leaves floating on the surface.
He looked to be about sixty years old. He was not tall and was slightly stout, but his back was perfectly straight. His eyes were half-closed, revealing no emotion.
Pei Su took a step forward and bowed. “Lord City Lord.”
Zhao Wuji set down his teacup. His gaze swept across Pei Su's face before lingering on the two men behind him. He spoke in a flat tone:
“Commander Pei, what brings you to my quarters today?”
Pei Su straightened up, a perfectly measured smile on his face.
“Lord City Lord, your subordinate has come today to report a matter of great importance.”
Zhao Wuji raised an eyebrow slightly and gestured with his hand for him to continue.
“Two months ago, your subordinate, in collaboration with the Deep Blue Research Institute and Panshi Company, discovered a vagrant shelter in the Ruin Zone...”
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