Chapter 125: Cold and Merciless

"How was it? They didn't give you a hard time, did they?"

Cao Fusheng looked at the two, whose expressions seemed normal. That Minister Xun didn't strike him as a shameless man, and given the special instruction he had given at the entrance earlier, he likely wouldn't have made things difficult for them.

Han Shuqing shook her head, her mood somewhat dampened. Having just experienced so much—losing two friends in succession, thinking they were out of the woods only to be locked up like criminals upon entering—anyone would be unhappy.

Gao Yi was the most distraught. First, Shen Dong, the person he was closest to, had passed away, and Chu Wei, for whom he held feelings, was left in a life-or-death limbo. When Li Yuan from the Inspection and Enforcement Department had questioned him moments ago, he hadn't said a word.

The two had even nearly come to blows; had it not been for Xun Xin shouting from outside, blood might have been spilled.

"Someone will be here shortly to invite us out quite politely," Cao Fusheng said calmly.

***

In the upper reaches of the Celestial Pillar.

Xun Xin was recounting what he had just seen and heard to Bai Qingchu, the Minister of the Research Department, whom he had bumped into.

"I don't know if what that man said is true or false," Xun Xin said, his expression grave. "But he didn't seem to be faking it. I truly couldn't make this decision alone. After all, the energy reactor is in the central core area; even I don't have the clearance to enter. Old Bai, do you think we should report this, or should we hold a meeting to discuss it?"

Bai Qingchu pondered for a moment. "A meeting won't help. If you don't have the clearance, why would a meeting among us ministers grant it? Usually, only relevant personnel from the Coordination Department can get near it, and every entry requires dual approval from the Boss and Minister Lu. If it's truly as you say... come, let's go to the top floor. Bian Qiu hasn't finished yet; we can report this situation to him while we're at it. We should also bring Old Lu along. He’s the Minister of the Coordination Department and responsible for overseeing the energy reactor; he must know about this."

"Agreed! You head to the conference room; I’ll go get him."

Xun Xin replied, hurrying off to notify Lu Yuan. Though he was usually lackadaisical and disliked managing affairs, he never shirked his duties when a serious matter arose.

Inside the 699th-floor conference room.

"There are many strange aspects to this. I still haven't figured out why that man shot and killed the squad leader named Chu Wei. I can only guess that she held some important information and couldn't be allowed to return alive, but I'm at a loss—we don't have enough information."

"However... it is very likely that a breach occurred within our own ranks. Chu Wei happened to be outside for a long time and must have learned some inside secrets, but she had no opportunity to pass them on. Someone outside must have used some method to contact a mole and ordered him to eliminate her."

Bian Qiu frowned as he spoke, lighting one cigarette after another. There was really nothing to examine here; everything was still in the realm of speculation, and everyone was in the dark.

Was it a vendetta or a crime of passion?

Of course, either a vendetta or a crime of passion would be within the range of what could be managed. As long as it was a private grudge, the harm would be limited—it would be nothing more than the loss of a few lives.

But if they dug deeper, the implications could be terrifying.

"This is urgent, which is why I had to come and report it to you personally. Now the problem is in your hands; I trust your brilliance will allow you to figure out where the issue lies," Bian Qiu said, looking at the projection sitting at the head of the table.

His tone lacked any sign of respect; it sounded as if the two were old acquaintances.

"There's a saying: even the cleverest housewife cannot cook without rice. No matter how smart one is, what is the use without intelligence? Blind guessing won't reveal the cause and effect. The most important thing is information. Therefore, we must do everything possible to save Chu Wei—at least long enough for her to have a final moment of clarity and speak a few complete sentences before she dies." The Celestial Pillar Boss’s tone was devoid of emotion; he spoke purely as a matter of fact.

It was as if the life of a squad leader like Chu Wei was not worth mentioning in his eyes.

In fact, were it not for the special circumstances of this incident, according to the survival laws and life-formula definitions of the Celestial Pillar, Chu Wei would have been abandoned.

Because injuries of her severity were simply not worth the cost of medical supplies.

Bian Qiu nodded. "Alright, I've said what I needed to say. I can't rest easy being away from the scene; after all, that is the most pressing priority. If we don't make it through this crisis today, then all this talk of breaches and intelligence will be for nothing—we will all die."

The virtual figure nodded and turned to gaze outside. From here, one could overlook the entire city and even further, though unfortunately, the outside was pitch black, offering no scenery to speak of.

As Bian Qiu stepped out of the conference room, he collided with the rushing Bai Qingchu. The latter looked anxious and was gasping for air; it seemed he truly had an urgent matter.

"Minister Bian, are you leaving?"

"Yes."

"Wait a moment! It's a major event! The Boss is still inside, right? We have something to report! It has a great deal to do with whether the Celestial Pillar can survive this crisis!"

Bai Qingchu caught his breath; he had nearly lost it just now.

The transport devices within the Celestial Pillar were not interconnected between levels. The lower-class citizens could only stay in the lower hundreds of floors, while the upper-class could only stay in the upper hundreds—two worlds within a single building.

Excluding staff with official duties—and even then, only those on shift or conducting business—no one else had the authority to use the transport devices.

Of course, these high-ranking officials possessed full clearance.

"What is so urgent?" Bian Qiu asked, puzzled.

"Wait for Xun Xin to arrive and let him explain; you'll know soon enough."

He rarely saw Bai Qingchu, the Minister of the Research Department, lose his composure. Most of the time, this man of science was calm and steady.

Unless, of course, it was truly a matter of life and death.

After a while, Lu Yuan was also pulled along by Xun Xin. The group looked at one another and entered the conference room together.

The Boss's virtual figure had not disappeared. He had his arms folded, seemingly deep in thought.

Even his static facial features had shifted into a frown.

"Boss, I have a report. Some incidents occurred today, and we brought a few people back from outside. The leader, a man named Cao Fusheng, he..."

...

The sound of the door opening echoed. A stranger entered, smiling. "May I ask who Mr. Cao Fusheng is? Let me introduce myself first: I am Lu Yuan, Minister of the Coordination Department of the Celestial Pillar."

"Have you figured it out?" Cao Fusheng opened his eyes and smiled faintly.

"If Mr. Cao truly has a way to help the Celestial Pillar, then you are naturally our guest," Lu Yuan said sternly. "Please, Mr. Cao, come with me."

Cao Fusheng did not move immediately. Instead, he looked at his companions, his intent clear.

He could leave, but what about his brothers?

"Oh, it's like this: as long as Mr. Cao can show sufficient sincerity, we will certainly not mistreat your people. Once you decide to reside here permanently, we will naturally arrange a place for them," Lu Yuan explained softly.

Cao Fusheng sneered. "Then I'm sorry, but unless they leave with me, I would rather watch you all meet your own destruction!"