The Bottom Line

Zhang ZiLiang warmly shook Wen Hua's fat hand, as if they were the best of friends.

Wen Hua also had a beaming smile. The two of them ignored Su Changqing nearby and sat down on the sofa.

Zhang ZiLiang: Brother Wen, what's with the formalities between us?

Wen Hua laughed: Brother, if you say that, you don't give me any face. How could I let your man come here for nothing? He deserves to be compensated for his efforts.

Zhang ZiLiang sighed: You're right. After all, Wang Ye just took out two teams from the Operations Division. He must be tired.

Su Changqing's forehead was covered in black lines.

Wen Hua's smile grew wider: That's why I think outstanding talents like Wang Ye need more investment! So brother, I'll pay 3,000 points from my own pocket. What do you think?

Zhang ZiLiang was touched: Brother Wen, what are you doing? Don't be so polite! We're all working for Tian Group and humanity. Besides, Wang Ye already got 10,000 points as a reward from that mission in Lin'an City. He doesn't need so many points.

Wen Hua was stunned for a moment: No, since Wang Ye has no use for these points, how about... the resource allocation for Squad A for three months?

Zhang ZiLiang sighed: You're too kind. I don't even know if Wang Ye is back yet. He hurt some brothers from the intelligence department, which is a shame.

Wen Hua's smile didn't change, though the corners of his mouth twitched slightly: Five months.

Zhang ZiLiang touched his phone: That guy usually doesn't obey orders well. If he hurts the brothers from the intelligence department too badly and they have to stay in the hospital for eight months, that would be bad.

Wen Hua's smile disappeared: Eight months, deal.

Wang Ye, Minister Wen understands your hard work recently and has specially rewarded you with the resource allocation for Squad A for five months. Yes, go back now. As for the Operations Division...

Zhang ZiLiang casually glanced at Su Changqing.

I want eight months too! Su Changqing's face was as black as ink as he coldly looked at Zhang ZiLiang and said.

Zhang ZiLiang covered his phone's mouthpiece: Operations Division, you might as well disband. Minister Su is unwilling to bid.

You!

Su Changqing angrily looked at Zhang ZiLiang, forcibly suppressing his anger: Ten months! Zhang, don't go too far!

As Zhang ZiLiang spoke into the phone, Minister Su has offered five months of resource allocation. Zhang ZiLiang smiled gleefully.

What? Can't let Su Wenqian and King Kong go? Zhang ZiLiang was stunned for a moment, frowning slightly.

Beside him, Su Changqing's face darkened again.

Alright...I understand, you just go ahead boldly, leave the rest to me. Zhang ZiLiang listened carefully to Wang Ye's words for a long time before glancing at Su Changqing indifferently and hanging up the phone.

Su Changqing's face was gloomy. He looked at Zhang ZiLiang solemnly and said, Zhang, don't you owe me an explanation?

Zhang ZiLiang feigned innocence: What explanation?

You offered the resources, so why didn't he let my son go? Su Changqing enunciated each word.

Zhang ZiLiang glanced at Su Changqing, smiling ambiguously: King Kong is your son's man, and he's from the Buddhist Clan.

As Zhang ZiLiang's voice fell, Li Xinghe, who had been as still as a mountain, opened his muddy eyes. A glint of brilliance flashed through them.

Are you sure?

Li Xinghe spoke for the first time.

Zhang ZiLiang nodded without any hesitation: I believe Wang Ye.

Su Changqing's eyes flickered and a bead of cold sweat rolled down his forehead: That's impossible. How could Wenqian be involved with the Buddhist Clan?

He must not know King Kong's identity.

Oh? Zhang ZiLiang was quite interested as he raised his eyelids and glanced at Su Changqing: You just believe what I said? Or...did you already know King Kong was from the Buddhist Clan?

Li Xinghe's aged face silently looked towards Su Changqing.

Su Changqing immediately blew up: Zhang ZiLiang, damn you! One can eat carelessly, but cannot speak carelessly! I, Su Changqing, have shed blood and sweat for Tian Group, and won great merits to become the Operations Division Chief!

You mean Minister Wen and I just lay in the books of merit?

Zhang ZiLiang was equally unwilling to back down as they stared at each other.

Wen Hua silently glanced at Li Xinghe, silently taking a step back to remain uninvolved.

Alright, let that Wang Ye kid bring out evidence. We will investigate this thoroughly!

Li Xinghe calmly said a sentence before closing his eyes again.

At the same time, Zhang ZiLiang and Su Changqing tacitly shut their mouths.

In the corner, Wen Hua's eyes flickered. He bowed slightly towards Li Xinghe's direction: Leader, I'll take my leave if there's nothing else.

Although this seemed merely a conflict between Zhang ZiLiang and Su Changqing, Wen Hua quickly realized the crux of the problem.

It would be fine if King Kong wasn't from the Buddhist Clan.

But if it was as Zhang ZiLiang said, then it was a serious failure on the part of their intelligence department, an extremely serious failure!

They might even be able to dig out more and more members of the Buddhist Clan through King Kong. And the more people they dug out, the greater the responsibility and mistakes of the intelligence department!

If things got serious enough, his position as Intelligence Chief might not even be safe.

He really didn't know what those useless subordinates of his ate!

At that moment, Wen Hua's face was gloomy as wisps of killing intent emanated from him.

In the office, Su Changqing huffed and turned to leave. Zhang ZiLiang silently laughed, unhurriedly walking behind Su Changqing with his hands behind his back.

The restroom...

The anger on Su Changqing's face disappeared. He no longer had the furious look from before, instead handing Zhang ZiLiang a cigarette and lighting one himself.

Blowing clouds and spewing mist.

The atmosphere between them was nothing like the tense confrontation in front of Li Xinghe.

You won this time. Su Changqing glanced at Zhang ZiLiang and said plainly: But I really didn't know King Kong was from the Buddhist Clan. If my son really has ties with them...

I'll take action personally and wipe out these beasts.

Hearing Su Changqing's words, Zhang ZiLiang was somewhat surprised. He looked at Su Changqing, patted him on the shoulder, and said: In chaotic times, to survive, one must compete. Compete for resources, power, everything...

So you and I compete, and your son competes with Wang Ye.

This is only natural.

But there are bottom lines that cannot be crossed. When humanity was in grave danger, the Buddhist Clan stood by, causing great damage to humanity. If not for the Taoism Sect's actions, I reckon...we wouldn't even have five cities left now, let alone ten.

We still can't figure out the Buddhist Clan's attitude. Aside from killing ghosts, they're the second enemy.

This is the last bottom line we must defend. If we touch it...we'll really die.

After forcefully taking a drag from his cigarette and flicking the butt into the toilet, he patted Su Changqing's shoulder and left.

In the swirling smoke, Su Changqing watched Zhang ZiLiang's departing back. The corners of his mouth imperceptibly curved up in a smile.

--

Author's note:

Diary of a simp: 4/16, sunny. I added my goddess on WeChat a year ago and she finally spoke to me. Darling, I've prepared the room, why haven't you come yet? But my goddess quickly retracted her message. Turns out my goddess also likes playing Fight the Landlord. (Please send tips~ Don't say next time for sure)