In the main god space, two Games were in a fierce clash, and at this moment, all the people Lu Qingjia needed to summon had gathered.
As a member of the hero idol capital system, Xingxing Company was neither too big nor too small, ranking in the mid to upper tier of the industry. Recently, several heroes, including Bullethead, had been gaining momentum, leading to a favorable valuation in the industry.
Suddenly, within an hour, two scandals broke out: one involved malicious packaging, turning a clearly promising hero into a clown, and the other involved serious criminal suspicions against the CEO.
If the first incident was limited to the heated discussions within the fan circles, the second was destined for the front page of social news.
In just half an hour, the top three trending topics on various media platforms were dominated by discussions about Xingxing Company.
As Lu Qingjia called back the relevant personnel, the public relations department had already issued a statement in the company’s name.
The wording was quite cautious, first apologizing for the unjust treatment suffered by the heroes, announcing the dismissal of the relevant agent, and stating that the company would undergo a large-scale restructuring, welcoming public supervision.
It also clarified the company’s relationship with President Zou, declaring that he was no longer a shareholder of Xingxing Company and had been removed from his position. His shares had been acquired by Mudslide Lu Qingjia, who was now the head of Xingxing Company—
Following this, it hinted that Mudslide, a person who had once suffered unjust treatment, would undoubtedly stand on the side of protecting the legitimate interests of heroes after taking up the banner.
Finally, the statement condemned the entire incident, announcing that the company would fund heroes who had suffered unjust treatment to sue the relevant parties. Once verified, Xingxing Company would not cover up and would actively cooperate with the police investigation regarding the incident involving President Zou and the affected children.
With this statement, Xingxing Company didn’t even need to spend money; it immediately topped the trending topics.
Netizens, who had been overwhelmed by the earlier gossip, were left dumbfounded—
“Shocked my mom, this statement is so packed with information it’s making me feel like an idiot.”
“I’ve never seen a comeback script unfold so quickly.”
“Just half an hour ago, everyone was feeling sorry for the poor thing, and now he’s transformed into the company’s head.”
“I’m a fan now, I love this kind of vibe as a career supporter.”
“Oh my god, I thought Mudslide would have to struggle step by step to turn things around, even if luck was on his side, it would take at least half a year to rise to the top.”
“Yet in less than half a day, he’s directly flipped the script and become the capital daddy? This plot twist is not what I expected.”
“Report cheating!”
“Since Mudslide is so rich, why did he work as a lowly intern at Xingxing Company for two or three years? Why would he agree to that?”
“Could it be that a rich woman sponsored him? With that face, there are plenty of people willing to pay.”
“Did your mom forget to give birth to your brain along with you? Xingxing’s valuation is in the tens of billions. Even if Zou is busy fleeing and cashing out, his 60% shares are not a small amount. Which rich woman would casually throw over a billion to support a pretty boy? I’d line up to get my butt cleaned with a steel wool ball.”
“Upstairs is right. Don’t think all rich women are fools. They might support a pretty boy, but giving away hundreds of millions or even billions? How could they put that under a pretty boy’s name? They’d have to sign a prenuptial agreement to protect themselves. Just giving away a few billion? What if the pretty boy runs away?”
“Could it be that Mudslide comes from a wealthy family, hiding his identity, enduring humiliation while working at Xingxing to gather weaknesses for today’s strike?”
“What a dragon-slaying script!”
“Isn’t it just satisfying?”
“Keep blowing, and soon you’ll be saying Mudslide is the heir of some country.”
“But to be fair, his aura when he wears casual clothes is indeed extraordinary. It’s not just about being handsome; you wouldn’t doubt his background just by looking at him.”
Perhaps due to the previous image gap being too great, or perhaps the freshness brought by his looks was at its peak, Mudslide’s online evaluation was predominantly positive for the time being.
Once all the heroes who were either out on duty or idling at home had arrived, the huge conference room was filled to capacity.
Lu Qingjia sat at the head of the table, without any pretense.
“Let’s get straight to the point. Perhaps everyone here has already understood the company’s current situation through various channels.”
“The change in leadership and the potential reshuffling of the management team will indeed make everyone feel uneasy. I can sense the internal unrest within the company.”
“However, I want to assure you all that my takeover of the company is not for a momentary thrill, but to elevate Xingxing to a higher level.”
The crowd listened without feeling much comfort; after all, Mudslide was just a low-level figure in the company. Most of the higher-ups felt uneasy about his managerial abilities and the treatment he had received, wondering if he would make extreme decisions, especially since he had just acknowledged the significant changes in the upper management.
On the other hand, many lower-level heroes were somewhat hopeful; after all, their situation couldn’t get any worse.
Lu Qingjia continued, “So, to stabilize morale, let’s start with internal adjustments. Everyone is to cancel their work today and only participate in the company’s structural reorganization. Once we leave this office, the decisions will be final.”
“I guarantee that there will be no personnel changes during this extraordinary period.”
This statement relieved many, as they preferred a swift resolution to what the other party intended to do. If they couldn’t continue working at the company, they could find a way out without dragging out the work rhythm.
However, some seasoned professionals knew that many things couldn’t be resolved so simply, and they lacked confidence in Mudslide’s managerial abilities.
But soon, everyone began to think differently.
Initially, some believed Mudslide would let the lower-level heroes voice their grievances about the company’s inequalities and expose the high-level figures who were merely occupying positions without contributing. They assumed that since Mudslide came from the bottom, he would act impulsively like a newly rich person venting his frustrations.
But to their surprise, he didn’t ask for anyone’s opinions; instead, he slammed a stack of documents onto the table.
The former CEO’s assistant quickly projected the documents onto the large round table in the conference room.
“These are the operational data I gathered during the time everyone was away, especially regarding several major decision-making events that require the mobilization of various departmental functions.”
“To be fair, everyone’s work capabilities are quite impressive,” Lu Qingjia nodded at the executives present.
Many people sighed in relief, not only because of the new boss’s acknowledgment but also due to the clear data on the table, which indicated that the new boss had professional competence, even surpassing the former President Zou.
Lu Qingjia continued, “However, from the long-term career planning for heroes, it also exposed the narrow vision of some decision-makers, lacking concern for the heroes’ career longevity.”
“Even so, they failed to manage the influx of fresh talent, leading to many heroes being overlooked.”
“For example—” Lu Qingjia opened several documents, raised an eyebrow, and looked at the management team present, “the data clearly shows that these heroes have great potential, yet the company not only failed to tap into their strengths but even packaged them poorly, relegating them to the role of clowns in the shadow of a few heroes.”
“I noticed that the heroes they were paired with, in terms of strength, looks, and combat intelligence, were not impressive. Even with resource allocation, they have yet to achieve anything significant. At this point, hasn’t the company adjusted its strategies?”
A management team member quickly replied, “This is all Lei Yunzhen’s doing—she was a top agent brought in at a high price by President Zou, and her suggestions carry a lot of weight.”
“Is that so? An agent can directly dictate the strategies of the planning department and point fingers at professionals like you? If you can’t uphold your own principles, it means you lack confidence in your professionalism, doesn’t it?”
“Then you can pack your things and leave,” Lu Qingjia said. “Calculate his severance pay.”
“Lu, are you questioning my capabilities?” The other party stood up in shock. “The packaging of the popular Bullethead was all my doing.”
Lu Qingjia nodded, “That’s the credit of your department’s employees.”
As he spoke, he pointed to a chubby girl behind the planning supervisor. “You can take his position.”
The chubby girl was taken aback, and the planning supervisor turned pale, but Lu Qingjia said, “I just looked at your planning department’s office.”
“Your desk is too clean; the surface is neat, the documents are wrinkle-free, and the logo on the mouse is as clear as new.”
“In contrast, her desk is a chaotic mess, piled high with design drafts, reference materials, images of the heroes currently being promoted, their abilities, physical flaws, and market research.”
“Bullethead told me that while you were the one liaising for all aspects of uniform design, image training, camera presence, and signature features, whenever it came to actual work or professionalism, it was this lady who was busy.”
“While it’s true that a team leader doesn’t need to be hands-on with everything, you didn’t even bother to understand the details of your own essential work.”
“What is the company paying you for?”
In an instant, the entire office fell silent. The person was directly asked to leave, and the chubby girl, stunned, took the supervisor’s position at Lu Qingjia’s gesture.
At this moment, no one dared to question his managerial abilities.
After all, who could take over President Zou’s business at a low price? In just a short time, he had identified so many issues, and no one dared to doubt that Mudslide had been clear-headed during his two years here.
After the meeting, Lu Qingjia dismissed several people; some were not only fired but also faced lawsuits. However, he appointed many new people to take over the original positions and made several functional adjustments.
While sitting upright, the remaining executives didn’t feel any changes or short-term functional vacancies after losing those people. As he eliminated personnel, Lu Qingjia had already presented a plan to fill the gaps and solidify the company structure.
When he finally said, “This is the basic arrangement,” the remaining executives in the office let out a sigh of relief.
After wielding the big stick, Lu Qingjia naturally had to distribute some dates, saying, “This year, prices have risen significantly, and I believe everyone has felt varying degrees of economic pressure.”
“So I’ve decided to increase the base salary for employees by 20% from the previous level. We will replan the treatment details for lower-level employees, removing some rigid and harsh regulations. A new plan for the career development of heroes will also be introduced, so please look forward to it.”
“And regarding the upcoming Hero King Cup, I hope the company’s heroes will actively sign up to participate. The company will set up participation awards and provide varying degrees of rewards based on rankings, with generous rewards to be announced later.”
“That’s all for today’s meeting. Dismissed!”
Thunderous applause erupted around the room. Given the poor economic situation this year, there had been rumors that the higher-ups planned to cut salaries or even cancel the basic guarantees for heroes without business activities.
Now that the dust had settled, even those who remained were getting a raise, indirectly indicating that the new boss had ample funds and was injecting fresh blood into the company.
In a short afternoon, the impact of the CEO’s scandal being exposed and arrested had dissipated without a trace.
As people left the conference room, they were all in high spirits. The lower-level employees outside, seeing this, began to inquire among themselves. Upon hearing about the salary increase, they felt reassured.
Finally, Bullethead stayed behind in the conference room and gave Lu Qingjia a thumbs up. “You’re awesome; I admit I misjudged you.”
Lu Qingjia replied, “You don’t need to participate in business for the next couple of days. First, to cool down the impact of today’s task failure, and second, to prepare for the upcoming Hero King Cup.”
He stood up and said bluntly, “You have great abilities, but you’re heading in the wrong direction. Even if someone is not as strong as you, as long as they have a solid plan and control the conditions that restrain you, they can easily defeat you.”
“The strength of a hero is not for show,” Lu Qingjia said this, and Bullethead saw the look in his eyes.
In that casual demeanor, there was a bloodthirsty sense of hunting: “Surviving in a life-and-death struggle, amidst real blades and blood, schemes and calculations, and looking down on the world—that is true strength.”
Bullethead was taken aback, suddenly feeling a chill run down his spine, mixed with an exhilarating rush of adrenaline.
He was still young, not yet twenty, and had grown accustomed to the current hero idol model since he could remember. Having been excellent since childhood, he was well aware that he could enjoy an easy life filled with admiration.
But in Lu Qingjia’s attitude, he felt lost yet instinctively sensed a looming crisis.
And this sense of crisis surprisingly excited him.
After leaving the company, Lu Qingjia returned to his rented apartment.
He had previously asked his assistant to help him rent a place with decent living conditions, but he was uncertain whether Mudslide would encounter any other troubles.
So he planned to go back and tidy up the rental, wrapping up any loose ends.
As soon as he opened the door, he saw a shadow leap in from the balcony, landing on the floor of the apartment and calling out to him—
“Meow~~~”
It was a black cat, looking quite beautiful, with soft, shiny black fur and a graceful, smooth body. It moved with agility and strength, and as it sat there, its pair of emerald green eyes fixed on him, it looked both adorable and demanding.
The black cat walked up to Lu Qingjia, rubbed against his feet, and let out a soft, “Meow~~~”
It seemed to be both acting cute and urging him to feed it.
Lu Qingjia looked around the apartment and indeed saw a few bowls with leftover cat food, along with a bag of cat food, cat litter, and some small cat toys.
He had noticed this when he left earlier but hadn’t thought much of it since he hadn’t seen the pet.
Lu Qingjia gently kicked the cat, trying to push it away, but it simply curled up at his feet, being particularly clingy.
Just then, a neighbor happened to come out to take out the trash. Seeing the transformed Lu Qingjia, the neighbor was taken aback but probably had already seen the gossip online, so their attitude towards Lu Qingjia was somewhat awkward.
They greeted him, “Your cat has grown so big! It’s quite clever, running out to play every day but knowing to come back. I used to have one, but it ran away as soon as I opened the door.”
Lu Qingjia nodded, exchanged a few pleasantries, then picked up the cat and closed the door behind him.
He poured some cat food into the bowl and watched as the little cat rushed over to eat, feeling a bit puzzled.
Perhaps due to the PTSD caused by that idiot Zhong Ye, he felt a sense of vigilance towards unnecessary creatures appearing in the Game.
The cat seemed perfectly normal, and while the cat was eating, Lu Qingjia checked the apartment, packing away anything inconvenient to leave behind into his backpack.
Then he picked up the black cat, which had finished eating and was now clinging to his feet.
He lifted its hind leg to check, “Oh, it’s a male cat?”
Lu Qingjia reached out to touch the cat’s genitals, and the cat’s body stiffened, instantly becoming rigid.
Lu Qingjia narrowed his eyes, seeing that the cat seemed to want to cling to him even more, and said, “Let’s get you neutered.”
Then he took the cat out the door. Although the black cat showed no signs of distress, if one looked closely at its face, it appeared confused.
The nearest pet hospital was quite a distance away, so Lu Qingjia took a taxi, placing the cat on his lap. One hand was busy searching for something on his terminal, while the other absentmindedly petted the cat.
To be honest, it was quite comfortable; the cat’s fur was soft and delicate, and when it lay down, it felt as light as a feather. Its little paws were adorable, and when he pressed on its paw pads, they popped out.
At this moment, the cat seemed blissfully unaware of its fate, purring contentedly as Lu Qingjia stroked its fur, even rolling over to let him pet its belly.
Lu Qingjia glanced at it, feeling a bit uncertain.
So he couldn’t help but ask the Game, “The administrator shouldn’t have the authority to enter other Games, right?”
The Game remained silent, and Lu Qingjia sorted through the rules he had learned earlier.
Confirming that the culprit was most likely a player from another Game, he sought verification from Ouyang Bai, who responded that unless it was an extraordinary period when the Game relaxed its permissions, like during that extreme Game ambush, it was equivalent to declaring war on the horror Game.
Then the horror Game relaxed its permissions, allowing three administrators to harvest many advanced players from the extreme Game and several high-level worlds.
Outside of that situation, administrator-level players were not allowed to enter other Games without an invitation, as their power was too great. If they intruded without permission, it would be tantamount to declaring war.
Logically, the possibility of that idiot Zhong Ye following him was slim.
Lu Qingjia got out of the car, looking at the pet hospital in front of him. “Well, since I’m here, I might as well go in.”
The black cat had instinctively simulated feline behavior, preventing any signs of distress from showing.
Lu Qingjia handed the cat to the veterinarian. “Neuter it.”
The doctor quickly completed the examination, put a cone on the cat, administered anesthesia, hooked it up to an IV, and began the procedure.
The black cat was surprisingly well-behaved throughout, not making a sound during the injection. However, when it was fixed in position, it seemed to sense what was about to happen and began to fidget.
Fortunately, Lu Qingjia wasn’t skilled enough to read the cat’s mind through its face.
Now fixed in place, the cat watched as the doctor approached with tools, and Zhong Liyu’s mind was filled with ‘Oh no.’
With the knife only a few centimeters away, Lu Qingjia was watching closely.
At this critical moment, what decision should he make?
Should he risk being completely kicked out of the farm stay by transforming back? Or should he let this humiliating scene continue?
To be honest, administrator-level players, in a sense, were considered immortal. Losing an arm or a leg was trivial; even losing a third leg would grow back.
But this was too cruel. If he ever got married, he would definitely not dare to hide any secret money, just based on Lu Qingjia’s sharpness. He wouldn’t dare to do anything to betray him.
However, what was being tested now was his dignity. Although no one knew, he knew.
He couldn’t give up—
Suddenly, Lu Qingjia turned sharply, and the Sludge wrapped around the bullet that was shot at him from behind.
The bullet hit the Sludge, failing to penetrate the barrier and instead being absorbed, losing its sense.
There was no one around; even the doctor was focused on the surgery and hadn’t noticed this side at all.
But Lu Qingjia still saw the trajectory of the bullet and, with his X-ray vision, noticed the shiny distortion in the air and the unnatural dust in the sunlight.
He instantly launched an attack.
At the moment his attention was diverted, the black cat’s eyes met the doctor’s. The doctor’s hands continued their movements, but if one looked closely, his eyes were like those of a puppet.
A silent battle unfolded within the pet hospital.
A puddle of sludge shot out, covering one direction, but it yielded no results. The opponent reacted swiftly, moving quickly, and Lu Qingjia couldn’t lock onto him precisely; after all, observing details required time.
However, a smile crept onto Lu Qingjia’s lips as a figure gradually took shape in the air.
He stared in shock at Lu Qingjia, his whole body pinned to the ground, unable to move. Looking down, he realized he was entangled by his own shadow.
Four surgical knives appeared in Lu Qingjia’s hands, one between each of his fingers. He flung them out, piercing the opponent’s wrists and both knees without hesitation.
Lu Qingjia chuckled, “Your judgment of the situation is commendable. You’ve become a Player with capital, gaining an advantage in the upcoming Hero King Cup. Eliminating you first means one less strong competitor.”
“Too bad your strength can’t support your ambition; you’re the one out first.”
With that, he sliced with the surgical knife, and amidst the cover of sludge, the duel between Players came to an unnoticeable end, leaving no trace behind.
The opponent’s body sank into the sludge, collected by Lu Qingjia into his space, causing no disturbance.
A reward notification echoed in his mind: “One Player killed, reward of one thousand Points.”
This Game encouraged mutual slaughter.
After tidying up, Lu Qingjia turned around. The cat’s surgery was complete; the black cat lay on the operating table, looking utterly dejected.
Lu Qingjia dismissed his doubts; even Zhong Ye wasn’t foolish enough to stage something to this extent.
He walked over and patted the cat’s back, but the cat clearly resisted him.
It turned its body away, curling up in the corner, looking pitiful.
The Doctor smiled, “Is this your cat? You should have had a friend bring it; right now, it’s holding a grudge against you.”
Lu Qingjia chuckled, “I didn’t notice.”
He then held the cat tightly in his arms, showing rare patience as he began to coax it, petting and kissing it to express his affection.
After a while of sulking, the black cat seemed to soften, finally relaxing in Lu Qingjia’s embrace, leaning in to lick his face, then trailing down to lick his chin.
The small, delicate cat tongue was slightly moist, and the sensation was quite pleasant.
Lu Qingjia had been licked by the village cats and dogs before, but the black cat’s licks felt particularly awkward.
He pulled back the black cat’s neck, “Did you brush your teeth?”
The black cat, suddenly pushed away, displayed a near-crying expression, as if to say, “How could you push me away like this?” Lu Qingjia felt helpless.
“Alright, today you’re the ancestor.”
The black cat, with a certain intelligence, burrowed into his neck, nuzzling and sucking incessantly.
Lu Qingjia didn’t take it too seriously, grabbing the medication and instructions from the Doctor, then left the pet hospital, heading straight to a nearby cemetery.
Standing before a grave, he stroked the cat while waiting for something.
Before long, a figure clad in heavy clothing, even wearing a hood and a mask, approached.
Lu Qingjia said, “This world isn’t devoid of people with mutated appearances due to their Abilities; you really don’t need to.”
The other person’s voice was somewhat hoarse, “Forget it, that’s still a minority, and mostly when their Abilities are activated. If I show my face, you two Game Players will easily take me out for Points, right?”
“Then why do you dare to meet me?”
The other person chuckled, “Your skills are too great. When I read about you online, I was practically on my knees. With your wealth, sharpness, and cleverness in breaking situations, I imagine you wouldn’t care for my measly one thousand Points.”
Then he asked Lu Qingjia, “What do you mean by cooperation? If I’m not mistaken, our Extreme Game Players and your two Game Players have conflicting missions. Although your two Game Players will also kill each other, there’s no talk of mutual benefit with us.”
Lu Qingjia replied, “Of course there is, because after winning the Hero King Cup, my goal is the same as yours: to destroy it.”
The other person was taken aback, “What did you say?”
The author has something to say:
Horror Game and Infinite Game: Hahahahahahahahaha
Green Bro: Damn you two keep laughing, I’m just using sleight of hand. Do you believe I’ll personally operate on you two?
