"She’s not here."


    Tao Yu looked at his watch, feeling a bit disappointed. The young heiress must have returned to the Abyss.


    It’s strange, but he actually found himself missing her after such a long time apart.


    The cleanliness around his home was truly remarkable, obviously well-maintained, just like the roads leading towards the Inner City. Tao Yu promptly donned his partner’s outfit.


    Guess I’ll head to the mission hall first...


    "Hmm?"


    Tao Yu was somewhat surprised to see an increase in the number of security team members nearby, wondering whether Ze Chuan had arranged this intentionally, but it was a good thing...


    "Something’s not right."


    Tao Yu frowned slightly, suspecting that this was not merely because Ze Chuan wanted to improve the local security. With that, he approached three of the security team members nearby.


    The trio, who had already noticed Tao Yu in his partner’s cloak, could recognize what it symbolized given the average knowledge level of the security team.


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    They appeared somewhat reserved when Tao Yu approached, and as soon as they confirmed he wasing towards them, they straightened up considerably.


    "May I know what brings the partner sir here?"


    The leader among them took the initiative to ask.


    "Has something happened around here? Why are there so many of you in this area?"


    Tao Yu scanned the surroundings, spotting not only these three inly visible members but also some undercover ones, and he vaguely saw more in the neighboring street.


    "Er, sir, have you been away for a long time?"


    One of the security team members cautiously countered with a question.


    "Yes, just got back."


    Tao Yu didn’t deny it, suggesting that something indeed had urred recently.


    "Well, the Chaoyang Society has been quite activetely, but they haven’t done anything illegal, so we can only keep a closer eye on things to prevent any problems..."


    The security team member frankly outlined the situation without probing why a mid-tier partner like Tao Yu had just returned from the Outer City.


    This revtion took Tao Yu by surprise.


    The Chaoyang Society was always measured in their actions and indeed inclined to help people, regardless of any underlying thoughts or objectives they might have. Their reputation was quite good.


    Many desperate Outsiders often sought help from them, and they would lend a hand where they could.


    The Chaoyang Society didn’t simply dole out charity; they wouldn’t give away Yuan Force directly, instead spreading their philosophy and leading by example.


    Moreover, the president of the Chaoyang Society had made it to the Inner City and possessed considerable strength, reportedly a rare talent, which also contributed to their fame in the Outer City.


    In fact, the Chaoyang Society’s recent activities hadn’t deviated from their usual approach; they merely expanded somewhat due to the extraordinary deeds of their leader who had entered the Inner City.


    "He challenged the head of the Longxi n and won, securing an agreement to restrict the family members’ conduct..."


    After thanking the security members, Tao Yu continued towards the Inner City, mulling over the events they had mentioned.


    The president of the Chaoyang Society was a peculiar guy, always peddling inspirational quotes.


    Lin Chao, that kid, really admired their president, and so did Tao Shi, although Tao Yu had never met him.


    All he knew was that the man had gained some renown in the Inner City.


    But surprisingly, he had managed to defeat a n leader within the Inner City, which signified an impressive level of strength.


    "I have some recollection; when the Kirin asked for a duel, he mentioned his family name. If the members of the Longxi n are all of that nature, then indeed there might be many victims..."


    Tao Yu pondered to himself.


    Having been to the Inner City and seen variously modified street women, he could surmise that the character changes from hormone influences due to body modifications could be abnormal.


    Perhaps the Longxi n’s behavior is universally problematic.


    If that’s the case, it’s somewhat understandable why the Chaoyang Society’s president pressured them into making constraints.


    "However, unfortunately, he has probably attracted quite a bit of resistance from the forces within the Inner City."


    As Tao Yu thought this, he sighed.


    When there’s trouble, the society’s leader genuinely intervenes. Although Tao Yu couldn’t bring himself to do the same, it didn’t stop him from acknowledging the effort.


    Maybe the society’s president was strong enough to defeat a n leader, but he likely also provoked a joint opposition from the Inner City’s forces.


    The increased surveince by the security team in the Outer City, ostensibly for protection and maintenance of order, could also be seen as searching for a pretext to take action.


    But for now, the Chaoyang Society seemed to be operating honorably and without shady dealings, not fearing being watched like this.


    This probably served more to apply pressure, reminding the society’s president not to overstep his bounds.


    "Ah, not everyone in their society is like Lin Chao..."


    Tao Yu was a bit concerned about his ’little brother’, but then he remembered the boy wasn’t even eighteen yet and far from being a core member, just someone close enough to be considered for future involvement; at least for now, there was no immediate worry.


    Just as there are certain considerations for pregnant and nursing women, minors also receive a degree of protection.


    A boy doesn’t need to worry about getting the short end of the stick. He has his own thoughts, and Tao Yu can’t always act as his nanny. Being there to back him up in crucial moments is enough.


    "I need to be stronger."


    Tao Yu stopped dwelling on these matters and hastened into the Inner City.


    He tried to contact Wang Goudan but found that he wasn’t around either.


    However, this was quite normal; as a middle-rank partner, Wang Goudan didn’t just take on Inner City missions. He would also take Abyss missions if the pay was right, and he had to periodically visit the Abyss. Tao Yu didn’t think much of it.


    He went directly to the task hall nearest to the South City gate, which he frequented the most.


    "Miss Mag, still looking so beautiful~"


    Tao Yu greeted Miss Mag with a beaming smile.


    Having not seen her for several months, she seemed unchanged, still possessing a delicate face and vibrant actions brimming with Yuan Qi.


    "Ah ha, it’s you, is the shortcut money good?"


    Miss Mag teased Tao Yu a bit when she saw him.


    Last time Tao Yu had his clothes mended by her after damaging his suit.


    "Well, since it’s a shortcut, of course it’s good money."


    Tao Yu didn’t mind the teasing, and what he said was mostly true.


    "Are you here to take missions or to check messages?"


    "Let’s check the messages first."


    d in the garment of a middle-rank partner, Tao Yu monopolized Miss Mag’s exclusive service as soon as he arrived without causing any ripples among other partners nearby.


    It wasn’t morning, and there were quite a few people in the hall, but middle-rank partners were still a minority.


    "Let me see, you have seven messages, I’ll upload them to your wristband."


    "Thank you."


    After importing the messages, Tao Yu found a corner of the hall to check them.


    Three messages from Jack and four from Panda, almost one per month.


    ’Kid, you’re really a hands-off manager, huh? But nothing much has happened recently, yourpany has been doing really well. Park Ji-hyun has great ability, her Crow Squad is quite skilled, and Xiao Jian’s group has also started to band together. A lot of survivors havee from the neighboring world, and they’ve even cut a path through the Rainforest.


    I heard they’re preparing toy down a simple road so it might be reachable by vehicles in the future...’


    ’Tommy and Judy are in love now, bless them, it’s not bad that they can drive trucks together. Yourpany has started producing some consumables, but the quality is a little poor. Bullet manufacturing requires high craftsmanship, but I reckon there’ll be money to be made once all the stock is used up.’


    ’More people from the Floating City have arrived, and the base’s atmosphere feels a bit oppressive. Aside from the Suns siblings sitting back and reaping the benefits, the others seem to be forming factions, and some of them have even approached me actively. But I’ve stayed neutral all along, only ountable to the Suns siblings, haha~’


    Jack’s messages were just casual chat, with not much to report. However, the part about people from the Floating City beginning to form factions within the base caught Tao Yu’s attention.


    There was no doubt about the Suns siblings’ unique standing, not only possessing talent but also so many advantages from their head start.


    Now that the neers have begun to choose sides, the Inner City Pioneers in the base would probably have quite a headache.


    Remaining neutral often requires strength!


    Panda’s messages were of a simr vein, roughly discussing the factory’s progress and some sales conditions; Tai Yu estimated that without doing anything for six months, his dividends had already umted over two hundred thousand.


    Though Tao Yu had made some initial investments such as obtaining information about the Monster World and hiring An Zhijie the pilot, he had indeed been a hands-off manager afterward. Thanks to Sun Shiqing’s asional help, his dividends were quite stable!


    Steady returns wereing in, and moreover, they were expected to increase!


    ording to Panda’s words, if it wasn’t for Sun Shiqing’s support, he would have probably been forced to pick a side and even give up a lot of shares to avoid trouble.


    "This world really does respect strength, not all those from the Floating City are easy to talk to like the little richdies..."


    Tao Yu sighed, and then left a message himself, asking them to help him find the Suns siblings if they had the chance, just to say he wanted to get in touch with them.


    He remembered what Sun Shiqing saidst time, so he didn’t leave a message directly to the little richdies but rather took a more circuitous approach.


    It was like a more attentive subordinate making a report, so as to avoid unnecessary spection.


    The confidentiality of messages in this task hall might be reliable, but that depended on who you were dealing with.


    When it came to people from the Floating City, clearly there wasn’t much secrecy to be had.


    "One must always be cautious for now."


    However, just as Tao Yu had finished leaving his message, his watch received a transmission on a radio frequency.


    "Tao Brother, you’re back?"


    Upon hearing it, Tao Yu recognized it as Panda’s voice. It seemed Panda was also currently in this world. Perhaps having left a message caused the task hall to have a feedback mechanism, which informed him that someone had left a message.


    Then he tried to make contact through the radio frequency theymonly used.


    "Just happened to run into you, that’s quite a coincidence..."


    Tao Yu also felt somewhat emotional; it had been half a year since hest saw Panda. In the ten months since the new Development Zone was established, they’d only exchanged simplemunications, yet that was enough to maintain a stable rtionship.


    At the end of the day, a rtionship based on mutual interests was the most reliable.


    "Ha ha, that’s quite timely; I haven’t given you your dividend yet. Let’s have a meal together, I know a fun ce."


    "Sure, you’re the host; you make the arrangements."


    Jack could pass messages too, but the little richdies probably wouldn’t be back so soon.


    Having been on edge for so long, it wasn’t bad to rx a bit...


    ————