Chapter Thirty-Five: Do the Directors Think I’m At Their Beck and Call?
The Company used “P” plus a number to differentiate job levels. P1 to P3 were interns, and only those above P4 were considered official employees.
Those above P7 were considered management, and Li Shaoheng, Cen Xiangyun’s elder in Jiangcheng County, was a higher-level P8.
Lu Fangling, Lu Manqing’s mother and the head of the Wellington office in Victoria, was originally a P8, but after handling a High-Risk Grotesquery incident, she was promoted to P9, practically the pinnacle of the Company’s hierarchy.
Within the entire Company, there were only three, and could only be three, P10s. These were the Company’s founders, also the three directors of the board, the highest management level.
As the highest authority of the Company, and leaders of humanity’s Order-side forces, the directors were incredibly busy.
Even the High-Risk Grotesquery crisis in Jiangcheng County, due to the distance, hadn’t warranted their direct intervention. They had even chosen to abandon the rescue operation after weighing the pros and cons.
Therefore, even though Luo Ling and the others came from Jiangcheng County, and even though Luo Ling had demonstrated a unique constitution, compared to the Company’s overall operations… they were insignificant.
No one knew why the board of directors was so interested in Luo Ling, even requesting a meeting.
Although the funeral fiasco was embarrassing for the Company, it was ultimately just a matter of face, and a decision made by the Wellington office itself. It shouldn’t have warranted the directors’ precious attention.
Lu Fangling should have been the one to inform Luo Ling of the board’s summons, but after the funeral incident, she couldn’t bring herself to face Luo Ling, so she entrusted the task to Eve.
“The directors…”
Cen Xiangyun’s eyes widened. Besides Eve, she was the only one who truly understood the significance of this news.
When was the last time the board had summoned an Awakened One individually?
It had never happened in her time with the Company.
Eve also understood the rarity of this summons. A chance to meet the board was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. She wouldn’t miss it if she were in Luo Ling’s shoes.
However, due to the embarrassing incident earlier that day… she remained silent, respecting Luo Ling’s decision.
“No way!”
Elsa was the first to respond, her face puffed up in anger.
“What board of directors? Let them go to hell! They didn’t lift a finger when Miss Luo Ling was presumed dead, but now they’re scrambling to meet her? Do they think Miss Luo Ling is at their beck and call? We’re not going!”
Cen Xiangyun and Eve smiled wryly, hearing Elsa’s outburst.
Perhaps to little Elsa, Luo Ling was the most important person, but… to the Company, she was just a P4 specialist.
Even this unusually grand funeral was orchestrated by the Wellington office’s higher-ups to pressure the Fate Society.
Otherwise, even if Luo Ling had died during a Company commission, they would have simply paid the compensation stipulated in her contract, deleted her file, and moved on.
…This was standard procedure. Company specialists died every day. The board, let alone the office, rarely paid attention to such trivial matters, simply following protocol.
Elsa’s naivete was understandable. More importantly… how would Miss Luo Ling respond to this invitation?
They all looked at Luo Ling, Cen Xiangyun and Eve slightly nervous.
If Miss Luo Ling refused…
It would be even more shocking than the funeral fiasco.
No one had ever refused a summons from the Company’s board of directors.
Luo Ling’s expression remained unchanged, calm and indifferent.
She ruffled Elsa’s hair and said softly,
“Actually, it’s fine to meet them.”
Luo Ling had a rough idea why the three directors wanted to see her.
It wasn’t because of the funeral fiasco, nor Fiona, nor even her month and a half in the Realm of Nothingness.
Although the Company might be concerned about those matters, only one thing could have prompted the board’s summons.
—The Boundary collapse.
Luo Ling had spent a considerable amount of time in the Realm of Nothingness, at the epicenter of that Boundary collapse…
Regardless of the reason, the directors couldn’t afford not to inquire about her experience.
Even if she knew nothing and gained nothing from the void… it was still necessary.
And Luo Ling felt the same.
This was an opportunity to interact with the highest echelons of humanity’s Order-side forces. Besides, she had many questions for the Company. She couldn’t miss this chance.
“Miss Luo Ling…”
Elsa looked up, her expression slightly aggrieved.
She had just defended Miss Luo Ling, and now she was betraying her?
“Elsa, you’re still young, you don’t understand these things.”
Luo Ling said gently. “The adult world isn’t black and white. Besides… at least for now, the Company is still on the side of order.
“At least they sent a formal invitation, instead of kidnapping me.”
Luo Ling knew that regardless of her answer, the directors would find a way to learn what they wanted, though the methods might be less pleasant.
The Company was cautious about the past. Luo Ling’s Boundary annihilation caused by “Devour” must have left a lasting impression.
Therefore, even with Fiona’s daughter involved, the Company hadn’t dared to overstep, fearing that the previous Boundary collapse would escalate into annihilation, completely destroying Victoria.
“Adult…?” Elsa tilted her head. “But Miss Luo Ling, you’re also a minor.”
Miss Luo Ling, a young woman barely sixteen, had been a high school student preparing for college entrance exams just a while ago.
She was still a minor in modern society.
“…Just consider me an adult.” Luo Ling’s serious expression faltered slightly.
“Okay.”
Elsa nodded, seemingly understanding.
Since Miss Luo Ling had made her decision, she must have her reasons. Elsa knew she wasn’t smart enough, so she would simply follow Miss Luo Ling’s lead.
Eve sighed in relief. If Luo Ling had refused, she wouldn’t have known how to explain it to her superiors.
However…
“Miss Luo Ling, the directors don’t know about the funeral incident, at least not officially.”
Eve thought for a moment, then offered a suggestion. “You can subtly mention it. They’ll definitely react.”
At least she could extort something from them, perhaps even access to the Company vault.
Of course, that was unlikely with just this incident.
“Thank you for the reminder, Miss Eve. I understand.” Luo Ling nodded, a faint smile appearing on her lips. “We’ll see.”
Compared to the funeral, she possessed far more explosive information that the Company directors would be interested in.
The somber topic ended there. Eve was also happy about Luo Ling’s unexpected return.
To celebrate Luo Ling’s return after a month and a half lost in the Realm of Nothingness, Eve suggested a celebratory dinner.
But due to the previous incident, although her suggestion wasn’t rejected, she was banned from participating in the planning.
Sneaking into a banquet disguised as maids once was enough.
Luo Ling offered to cook, claiming that after reviewing her sister’s memories, her culinary skills had improved, only to be met with even more resolute refusals.
Compared to eating Miss Luo Ling’s cooking, they’d rather shamelessly gatecrash Eve’s family dinner, although incredibly embarrassing, at least the food was edible.
Weighing their options, Cen Xiangyun volunteered, claiming to know a few decent restaurants recommended by her elders. Her suggestion was approved, and the plan was set.
However, after seeing the restaurant’s menu filled with unidentifiable dishes, they ended up filling themselves with fish and chips, the celebratory dinner concluding rather pathetically.
“Finding a decent restaurant in Victoria is a fool’s errand.”
Cen Xiangyun made her mournful declaration. Victoria was a culinary wasteland.
Night had fallen, the daytime hustle and bustle fading away.
Luo Ling sat at the apartment table, Elsa fast asleep beside her, her biological clock ticking. The little red-haired girl was wrapped in a blanket, her sleeping face peaceful.
Perhaps because she knew Miss Luo Ling was beside her.
Luo Ling’s expression softened as she adjusted Elsa’s blanket.
Since Jiangcheng County, Elsa had been the one who trusted and relied on her the most.
Their relationship wasn’t just friendship, or that of a Grotesquery and its Apostle, but something more complex and indescribable.
Like… raising a daughter.
Suddenly, Luo Ling felt like she understood Fiona, who treated her like a daughter.
“I should examine the item Aunt Fiona gave me.”
Luo Ling exhaled, her expression turning serious.
Besides the Sacred Tool “Gloomlight,” which had been given as a down payment, Fiona had also paid her with something more valuable than an ordinary Sacred Tool.
—A favor from the Speakers.
The favor that couldn’t be used to find information on Linna.
Although the Speakers hadn’t revealed the concealed truth to Fiona, this favor was still incredibly valuable.
The reason the Speakers refused to tell Fiona the truth was because the Company had already paid them for their silence… The Company understood the Speakers’ nature all too well.
For the Speakers, anything could be traded, with anyone… as long as the price was right.
Therefore, when requesting the Speakers’ services, the Company had already paid for their confidentiality.
Simply put, as long as the price was high enough, the Speakers’ mouths were shut tight.
Business people valued credibility… as long as the reward for maintaining credibility was higher than breaking it.
Fiona had given Luo Ling a ring, woven from a thin vine, pulsating with life force.
“Is this… the Auspicious Timing premonition’s token?”
Luo Ling examined the ring. It wasn’t an ordinary item, nor a Sacred Tool.
It was likely a treasure crafted by a Myriad path Awakened One’s ability.
Auspicious Timing was one of the Speakers’ four high-order Awakened Ones, known as the Four Premonitions, the others being Auspicious Location, Harbinger of Disaster, and Harbinger of Calamity.
Currently, only Auspicious Timing was active, essentially the leader of the Speakers.
The other three were either elusive or completely unknown, only their titles remaining.
Among them, Luo Ling was most familiar with the Harbinger of Disaster, the Gypsy Woman.
Come to think of it, she had also received a token from the Gypsy Woman, the metal rings she wore on her wrists and ankles, though she had been in her White Witch form at the time.
For saving Wang Lili, the Gypsy Woman had promised Luo Ling a favor, claiming she would appear when the time was right to collect it.
However…
Luo Ling recalled her recent experience and the Gypsy Woman’s appearance.
She wondered if she could use this favor to ask the Gypsy Woman about the details of that incident.
Although Fiona had failed, perhaps it was because she had used Auspicious Timing’s favor, not the Gypsy Woman’s?
“I should learn what I wanted to know first.”
Luo Ling composed herself. She had to achieve something before the next tea party.
Although the leader’s attitude towards her was strange, at least she was reliable in transactions, especially the information on the Seventh Path, far more accurate than the Company’s.
Besides, Luo Ling was also curious about Philosopher’s Authority.
After all… it was crucial information regarding the Harbingers of Calamity.
Luo Ling took the vine ring and channeled her Inspiration into it, following Fiona’s instructions.
The vine began to grow, quickly forming a bonsai-like plant with several strange fruits hanging from its branches.
The fruits split open, revealing eyes and mouths.
The eyes rolled around, and the mouths opened and closed, speaking in a soft voice,
“Long time no see, Ms. Fiona… oh, it seems to be another lovely young lady. Let me see… you must be Miss Luo Ling, correct?”
“…Yes.”
Luo Ling looked at the strange plant, her expression calm, but inwardly, she was taken aback.
Didn’t Auspicious Timing consider the user’s tolerance for the grotesque?
The vine ring looked quite normal, but after this transformation… it was rather unsettling.
Fortunately, Luo Ling had witnessed far more disturbing scenes, maintaining her composure. The others in her team… might not have fared so well.
“Heh, as rumored, a remarkably calm young lady. It seems Ms. Fiona traded this opportunity to you… as payment for the recent mission?”
Auspicious Timing’s voice was soft and pleasant. If it weren’t coming from such a grotesque plant, the conversation would have been more enjoyable.
The commission from Fiona and the subsequent events orchestrated by the Company’s Wellington office were widely known. It wasn’t surprising that the Speakers knew about it.
“I assume trading this favor is allowed?” Luo Ling asked.
“Of course, if you deem my favor worthy of exchange, I wouldn’t mind.”
Auspicious Timing continued, “Ms. Fiona also obtained this ring from someone else… honestly, it’s changed hands quite a few times. If it weren’t for Ms. Fiona’s difficult request, I would have accepted it directly.”
“I hope my request won’t be too troublesome.” Luo Ling said.
“Let’s hope so,” Auspicious Timing chuckled. “Tell me, Miss Luo Ling, what do you want me to do for you?”
“I want to see the Taboo Slate. The original, with its true contents.” Luo Ling said directly.
“…”
Auspicious Timing remained silent.
“Is that considered troublesome?” Luo Ling asked.
“It’s quite a predicament, Miss Luo Ling.” Auspicious Timing sighed. “I have a rough idea what you’re planning.”
Unlike the others, she didn’t simply tell Luo Ling to examine the Company’s publicized version. She knew some of the secrets surrounding the Taboo Slate.
“So?”
Luo Ling raised an eyebrow.
“Heh, although a predicament, it’s not a taboo.” Auspicious Timing chuckled. “Very well, I’ll tell you directly.
“Indeed, the Company’s publicized version of the Taboo Slate is partially concealed and fabricated. Its contents… aren’t entirely true.”
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