At the IPC headquarters in Pier Point, Wen Liang slowly opened his eyes once more.
"Director Wen Liang, is something wrong?"The subordinate standing across from him was still there, as ever, reminding him in a careful voice.
"...You can go now. I'm a little tired today," Wen Liang said flatly.
The subordinate froze for a moment, concern flashing through his eyes, but he still bowed respectfully. "Understood. Please get some rest."
The footsteps receded, and the office door closed softly behind him.
Leaning back in his chair, Wen Liang shut his eyes and furrowed his brow.
Damn, he really was exhausted lately.
Handling two accounts at once was still a bit too much for him.
Even though both Cecilia and Kiana were already beginning to show signs of being absurdly overpowered, the number of troublesome matters piling up around them had only grown.
He really was going to have to grind even harder.
The office had been quiet for less than three minutes when an encrypted communication alert suddenly rang out, shrill in the empty room.
Wen Liang opened his eyes and glanced at the identification code flashing on the terminal.
Oswaldo Schneider.
His brows twitched almost imperceptibly.
The head of the Market Development Department, the most aggressive and unscrupulous workaholic maniac in the company—what did he want at a time like this?
Did the man not know how much Wen Liang disliked him?
After a moment's silence, Wen Liang lifted a hand and accepted the call.
A holographic projection unfolded above his desk, revealing a lean, sharp-eyed man.
He wore an impeccably tailored company uniform, and the badge on his chest made his identity unmistakable—Oswaldo Schneider, supreme head of the IPC's Market Development Department.
"Director Wen Liang," Oswaldo said without bothering with pleasantries, getting straight to the point.
"I hear you've been busy with Penacony lately?"
Wen Liang's expression did not change in the slightest.
"Your information network is quite impressive, Director Oswaldo," he replied coolly.
"But matters concerning Penacony don't seem to fall within your jurisdiction, do they?"
A smile tugged at Oswaldo's lips, one that carried a meaning difficult to pin down.
"Of course not. That's Strategic Investment's business—Diamond's people are handling it. I'm not interested in sticking my hand into that."
He paused, then changed tack.
"But I've heard they've recently been investigating the whereabouts of that Emanator of Preservation?"
A faint sharpness entered Wen Liang's gaze.
He said nothing, only watched the projected man in silence.
Oswaldo, unbothered by that silence, continued anyway.
"My people noticed that Jade visited Herta Space Station before, asking about that Emanator."
"And Herta herself has been making quite a few moves lately—her Simulated Universe, the people she's been in frequent contact with..."
"Even the Xianzhou Alliance has had a lot going on recently."
"What are you trying to say?" Wen Liang asked.
Oswaldo leaned forward a little, his face enlarging in the projection.
"I'm saying... perhaps we can cooperate."
Wen Liang arched a brow.
"Oswaldo, let me get this straight. We both belong to Market Development. You just spent all that time talking about Strategic Investment's intelligence, and this ends with you asking me to cooperate?"
"Besides, Market Development and Strategic Investment have always minded their own business. Are you planning to cross the line?"
"Cross the line?" Oswaldo chuckled, and there was something chilly in that laugh.
"Director Wen Liang, after all your years in the company, do you still not understand? Departmental boundaries are nothing but surface-level formalities. Real利益 never stays neatly divided just because someone drafted a chart."
His smile faded. His eyes sharpened.
"My people found something interesting on the Luofu Xianzhou. You know how turbulent things have been there recently. The Luofu's internal divisions, the Lord Ravagers stirring trouble..."
"In circumstances like that, one tends to uncover unexpected gains."
"What kind of gains?" Wen Liang asked.
Oswaldo fell silent for two seconds, as though weighing his words.
"A name," he said at last. "A name that shouldn't even exist in the IPC's archives."
Wen Liang felt a flicker of amusement.
What exactly was this old dog trying to do, playing riddles with him now?
"Say it first," Wen Liang said.
Oswaldo's lips curved again into that same unreadable smile.
"Director Wen Liang, if this is going to be a cooperation, you should at least show some sincerity in return."
"I can tell you the name. In exchange, I want to know what exactly you discovered at Herta Space Station."
The line fell silent.
Wen Liang regarded Oswaldo with the detached scrutiny one might reserve for a clown performing on a stage.
He had no idea what name Oswaldo intended to reveal, but one thing was certain—it would be useless to him.
Judging by Oswaldo's recent movements, anything major the man had managed to dig up was either something Wen Liang already knew or something directly related to Wen Liang himself.
Which meant there was no reason at all for him to cooperate.
Yes, Oswaldo was technically his superior as head of Market Development.
But Wen Liang's position inside the company was unusual enough that he had no fear of either threats or inducements.
And besides—with the amount of strength his current identities had accumulated, if things really turned hostile, Oswaldo would be the one begging for mercy.
So Wen Liang gave his answer.
"My apologies. I refuse."
The projection on the desk froze ever so slightly.
That fleeting look of surprise disappeared at once, but it didn't escape Wen Liang's notice.
"Refuse?"
"Director Wen Liang, are you sure you want to refuse me?"
Wen Liang leaned lazily into the back of his chair.
"I'm sure."
Oswaldo's gaze darkened.
He had climbed to his current position in the IPC by following one simple rule:
Either become one of his people, or become his enemy.
And Wen Liang—this so-called nice guy from Market Development who had always kept his head down and refused to take sides—was now daring to reject him outright?
"Director Wen Liang," Oswaldo said, his voice lowering, "what exactly are you worried about? That Diamond's people might discover you've been in contact with me?"
He paused, then smiled in a way that was somehow even sharper than before.
"Do you know something? Something you don't want to share with me?"
"Or is it that—"
Wen Liang smiled.
It was a faint smile, but it made Oswaldo feel distinctly uneasy.
"Director Oswaldo," Wen Liang said slowly, "do you know what I've always admired about you?"
"What?"
"You're exceptionally good at dressing up your ambition as cooperation, and treating other people's refusal as 'betrayal.'"
Oswaldo's face turned cold.
Truth be told, if anyone else had dared say that to him, he would have made them regret ever being born into this world.
But this was Wen Liang.
The man's position in the company might be lower on paper, but even so, Oswaldo did not dare truly tear the mask off between them.
Thinking of what he wanted in the end, Oswaldo chose to compromise.
"Just a joke, Director Wen Liang. No need to take it to heart."
The darkness vanished from his face, replaced by the professional smile of a corporate shark.
The speed of that shift was almost admirable.
Wen Liang said nothing. He only watched him.
That silence unsettled Oswaldo again. He cleared his throat and finally tossed out his bargaining chip.
"Fine. Since you're unwilling to talk about Herta Space Station, I don't mind telling you what I found. Consider it... a gesture of friendship."
He leaned closer and lowered his voice, as though even an encrypted channel might be overheard.
"My people on the Luofu discovered a name. A name that should only exist in the most classified files."
"Cecilia."
Heh.
Wen Liang suddenly wanted to end the call.
But Oswaldo seemed to notice nothing.
He studied Wen Liang's reaction closely, clearly hoping to catch some hint on that placid face.
He failed.
"So Director Wen Liang really didn't know," Oswaldo said, generously deciding to assume ignorance.
"That's only natural. The access level on that file is high enough that only a handful inside the company can touch it."
Wen Liang lifted his teacup and took a small sip.
"So what exactly are you trying to tell me?"
Oswaldo continued, "This woman named Cecilia is the mother of that Lord Ravager on Herta Space Station. But actually, she isn't the core of what I want to discuss."
"The important thing is this: what she did on the Luofu attracted the attention of Nous."
"And then Nous uncovered an enormous secret for us."
"Well, Director Wen Liang? Are you willing to cooperate now?"
Heh.
Under Oswaldo's expectant gaze, Wen Liang hung up.
That old dog's channels really were impressive.
Too bad what he knew was far too little.
Trying to whet Wen Liang's appetite by dangling Wen Liang's own identities in front of him—Wen Liang couldn't even be bothered to entertain it.
Still, Oswaldo had reminded him of something important.
The Charmony Festival in Penacony was about to begin.
Which meant it was finally time for him to make a move there as well—and choose which identity would represent him.
Join here to read ahead.
In Star Rail, Ultra-Beast Armored — Have I Caught "Equilibrium"? l (Chapter 80)
Uma Musume, But I Only Have Five Years Left to Live (Chapter 178)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 147)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League ( 126 )
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter110)
Yu-Gi-Oh! — Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl (Chapter185)
"Is this chat group even serious?" (Chapter105)
I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (Chapter215)
Can Playing Games Save the World? 65
Crossover Anime Multiverse: The Demon Hunter of an Unnatural World 77
From Junkman to Wasteland 66
Weekly Refresh of Overpowered 31
I'm Grinding Proficiency Like 46
From Kiana, Lord Ravager, Onwa 185
Honkai: Is This Still the Prev 42
Elf: My Starter Pokémon Is Inc 65
Warhammer: My Primarch Is Remi 170
From Demon Slayer to Grand Ass Volume2/1
The Way the Umamusume Look at 68
Uma Musume, but My Cheat Power 206
Naruto: Weaving the Future, Be 65
Zenless Zone Zero, but Kamen R 76
Multiverse Crossover: The Perf 66
My Cyberpsycho Girlfriend 65
Uma Musume: The Dark Trainer 190
Uma Musume: A Calamity Born fr 154
I, a Reincarnation-Loop Player Volume4/23
The Violent Girl Group Is Beat 106
Uma Musume: The Horse Girl Who 67
Uma Musume: From Beginner 125
Becoming a Horse Girl, I Will 85
Uma Musume: I Want All 105
I Can Copy Unique Skills 90
Summoning an Evil God, but the 70
Supernatural Multiverse 90
My Harem Is Indescribable 80
Jujutsu Kaisen: Heroic Spirit 86
"I'm just a Valkyrie passing through." 68
Uma Musume: Today Is Another Romantic Battlefield 81
Still playing traditional Honk 65
The Most Filial Son Under Heav 65
What Should I Do After Switchi - Volume2/3
Reincarnated as a Demon, Skill 57
Hell-Difficulty Dungeon? 45
Transmigrated as Sukuna 59
Checking In in Demon Slayer 59
The Reincarnating Trainer of Tracen Academy 73
I Refuse to Become a Heroic 45
My Best Friend Into a Slime? 36
A Saiyan Stands Above Marvel 40
What Do You Mean by Using a Lab Mod to Be the Hero? 60
Tanya Starts from Re:Zero 30
Why did they assign me to Uma 35
MYGO Beauties 43
DanMachi: Emiya the Giant Hero 30
The Gacha Merchant Who Started 31
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