Pretending To Be A Boss

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But Li, many people who went to the eighth level never returned. Many from the bottom layers are reporting a large number of temporary workers gone missing, could this be related to the Trial Knights? Will these missing temporary workers be able to come back?"

Li Wanye looked at Song Que warily, but then smiled and said:

"I don't know where you got your news from, but those are all rumors. Nephew, this is my thirty-ninth fortress, not the first one. Don't you think the question you're asking is too presumptuous?"

Song Que did not flinch, and continued to look directly at Li Wanye.

"Uncle Li, as my father's competitor and friend, I've always admired you and hope to manage the first fortress as well as you do the thirty-ninth fortress someday.

The people from the bottom layer are our citizens too. Their role may not be as significant as that of the gifted, but they are the foundation. If you choose to sacrifice them for something, it would be disheartening!"

A flicker of malevolence passed through his eyes, but then Li Wanye smiled again and spoke:

"You are indeed a kind person, nephew. But I can only tell you that you are worrying too much. As for Liu Lang, the man has some skills, and going to the eighth level could mean better development for him. He can refuse to go, as long as he reveals the whereabouts of the man in the mask."

Song Que didn't really expect to anger Li Wanye enough for him to reveal the truth.

This man was far more cunning than Li Zheng and Li Xiaoyu.

He nodded and replied:

"Just now I was presumptuous, Uncle Li, I'm sorry, I apologize to you."

"It's fine, you meant well. But I can't help you this time. I have to find my daughter. I hope you understand, nephew, that even if I execute Liu Lang, I have the authority to do so, I've given him enough time."

Song Que nodded, certain he couldn't persuade Li Wanye, then after making some small talk, he left.

It wasn't until Song Que was far away that Li Wanye's smile completely disappeared and his demeanour turned grim.

Not long after the council meeting ended, the high-level officials from each fortress would return to their own fortresses.

After the federation's war has ended, they all have a pile of work to deal with.

In the next few days, Song Que also had to figure out a way to quickly access the eighth level of the first fortress.

Since he couldn't get what he wanted from Li Wanye's words, he'd have to investigate it himself.

After his conversation with Li Wanye ended, he returned to his lodgings. Soon after, Song Que's mobile phone vibrated.

It was a message from Lin Sen.

[Meet me, I'm at the bottom level.]

Song Que frowned, the message seemed quite abrupt.

Lin Sen and Yu Xiaozhe should have already left the thirty-ninth fortress.

After all, this place is currently the most heavily guarded fortress.

Song Que had a vague idea of something, which suddenly excited him, and he replied:

[Tang Xian?]

[It's me.]

Without any further delay, Song Que immediately headed for the bottom level.

He had been worried about Liu Lang, but now he suddenly felt at ease.

...

...

There was no longer a safe place on the bottom level of the thirty-ninth fortress.

All of Tang Xian's acquaintances from his past were implicated.

In the end, Tang Xian chose a place of pleasure.

The girls here had a lot of gossip, but unlike certain organizations of ancient times, they did not establish a massive network of information.

To survive at the bottom level, a few things were critical: not listening to what you shouldn't listen to and not looking at what you shouldn't see.

If you accidentally heard or saw something, that wasn't a big deal either, as long as you forgot what you ought to forget.

And for those who come to these places, as long as they have ore, they are the most glamorous guys on Decay Street.

When Song Que arrived, his face turned red.

Because the girls inside were dressed very scantily.

Especially with his handsome looks and opulent attire, the girls seeing him practically couldn't wait to cling to him.

Just leading him to Tang Xian's private room, several girls volunteered to follow along.

Each of them looked at Song Que's innocent appearance and revealed a strange smile.

"What are you laughing at?" Song Que really didn't understand.

"They say some men look decent on the surface but play big behind the scenes. Young master, you must be one of those guys, right?"

Song Que was shocked; he never considered that possibility.

Confused, he wondered, how did these women figure out that he played big behind the scenes?

As someone with a dual personality, Song Que indeed felt that his other side played quite a big game.

Seeing Song Que's reaction, the girls laughed even louder.

"Others might have one guy with several girls in a room, but you, young master, and the gentleman inside are two men."

Song Que suddenly realized that's what they meant by playing big. He said with a wry smile:

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"It's not what you guys think,"

he said without much explanation, because the place wasn't big, and they soon arrived.

Rows of girls stood before them. When Tang Xian saw this, he was suddenly reminded of some pictures he had seen on Weibo before and couldn't help but sigh:

"Beautiful appearances can't survive the crackdown, and interesting souls are suspected of account violations."

Seeing Song Que's embarrassed face, Tang Xian took out a standard-sized purple organic ore and said:

"Disperse, I want to spend some time alone with my friend."

They had thought it was a venture of two men with multiple women.

Turned out it was a one-on-one with two men.

The girls' eyes widened instantly, as they had never encountered someone coming to this place for such a reason.

But since the other party was willing to pay, they took the money and were happy to have some leisure, dispersing cheerfully.

Song Que wiped away the sweat from his brow and said with a wry smile:

"Why choose such a place, Tang, you're really..."

"This place is suitable for talking. Don't be so tense, you're here as a guest, not to serve clients."

Song Que was just about to take a sip of his tea and nearly spit it out.

Tang Xian said:

"I'm here to ask you for some people."

"Some people?"

"Song Que, I consider you one of our own, so I won't hide this from you. I've been to the outside of the Pyramid."

"I know that."

"Yu, Dong Ran, Qiao Shanshan, and others are also out there."

Song Que was shocked.

In fact, after seeing Tang Xian at the Saint Dena Highlands, he speculated that maybe it was possible to survive outside.

But that was Tang Xian. His survival didn't mean others could survive as well.

Not until this moment did he truly believe it.

Song Que was silent for a long time, even briefly doubting Tang Xian.

Because this implied that centuries of human knowledge were wrong.

Yet in the end, he believed Tang Xian, and said in amazement:

"So it's all been a lie?"

"Can't say it's all a lie, but at least the descriptions of the outside world are," Tang Xian calmly replied.

"You want to bring some people into that world?"

"Yes, to rebuild the city, I need craftsmen of various trades. Relying solely on my team is too inefficient."

Song Que looked at Tang Xian and said:

"Doesn't this amount to...betraying this world?"

"How short is the life of a human? Decades from now you and I will both be dead. But the legacy of humanity is another form of life's continuation. Do you wish for your descendants to continue living in this place after your death, or to return to the world that nurtured them for tens of thousands of years?"

Tang Xian believed it wouldn't be difficult to persuade Song Que.

Because Song Que was a truly intelligent person.

After pondering for a long time, Song Que said:
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"I can't bring you some people. You can only take away those who believe in you for now. The time isn't right yet; I still need some time to help you."

Song Que left his words unfinished.

But Tang Xian understood.

"Waiting until you become the Lord of the First Fortress?"

"Yes, once I officially take over my father's position, then I can better coordinate with you. Even if I wanted to help now, and even if I were able to assist you, it would certainly leave traces, and those traces wouldn't be good for you, me, or that world."

"Makes sense."

"But you've come at just the right time today."

"How so?"

"The day after tomorrow, Liu Lang is going to be executed. I can't save him right now; I can't exert my power here. But you can,"

Song Que revealed a smile and continued:

"I hope this impostor can give this genuine article some promotion."

"A jailbreak? I'm adept at that."

"When do you plan to start?" asked Song Que.

"No time like the present, today."