CHAPTER 312: CHAPTER 309 [LOYALTY AWARD]

Chapter 309: Loyalty Award

The hooked-nose man’s face grew gradually more solemn.

After pondering for a moment, he met the old lady’s eyes and said in a deep voice, "I need a more serious reason—Vanel was my selection, and I was involved in the entire screening process."

Bai Jing didn’t speak, just looked at the hooked-nose man.

The hooked-nose man sighed. "Do you still have doubts about him?"

As if mulling it over, the hooked-nose man casually poured himself a cup of coffee, took a sip, and then said softly, "There were indeed questionable aspects about the mission in Brazil, which I do not deny. All the participants in the mission were annihilated, Ability Users were wiped out, and even the accompanying Mercenary Corps was completely destroyed. The only survivor who escaped was Vanel—one person. If it had been me, I would have had doubts too. I know that the Company’s top brass are very dissatisfied with the Brazil mission and have doubts about the choice of Vanel. But this... this concerns the Mother! Isn’t that so, esteemed madam? We should all have reached a consensus long ago: Anything involving the Mother cannot be measured by ordinary standards. The most inconceivable and absurd things are possible."

Finally, Bai Jing too let out a light sigh. "So, after being fully involved in Vanel’s vetting, you decided to bring Vanel into your action group? We’ve never talked about this issue—why him? Why would you actively choose someone with doubts, even though he had passed an internal review?"

"Because even though the mission in Brazil failed, he is the only one I could find who might have been in close contact with the Mother," the hooked-nose man said coldly, looking at Bai Jing. "Is that reason sufficient? I did it for the sake of the mission."

"I’ll accept that reason," Bai Jing nodded. "But killing him after the mission does not conflict with this, does it?"

The old lady sipped her coffee and said indifferently, "I suspect he’s one of the Ark’s people."

The hooked-nose man fell silent.

"If he isn’t, then dying as a not-so-important minor character is no big deal, right?" Bai Jing’s tone seemed quite casual, but then her voice suddenly turned cold. "But what if he is? If he is, I want you to get rid of him. So after the mission, if he’s still alive... you’ve got a problem too! In that case, you can also die."

Her words were direct, without any attempt to disguise or beat around the bush—a straight pitch.

The hooked-nose man’s expression didn’t change much. He sighed, shook his head, and said, "I thought we could always trust each other, distinguished madam."

A complex smile appeared on Bai Jing’s wrinkled, aged face.

Gently, she set down her coffee cup.

"You little rascal, how many years have we known each other?"

"Uh..."

With a sigh, Bai Jing said softly, "I’ve stayed in that godforsaken place, Iceland, for too long, you understand?"

The hooked-nose man remained silent.

"This mission in Antarctica was something I pushed for single-handedly. Within the Company’s senior management, opinions are not unified, do you understand what I’m saying?"

The hooked-nose man still remained silent.

Bai Jing continued, her voice somber, "The loss from the mission in Brazil was not minor. All the resources of a Level C action group were poured into it, and then... it ended in total disaster. The key point is, we didn’t gain any profit—none at all. The return is Zero, do you understand? Zero!

"How many times has it been now, hmm? We have invested far too much Time and resources into this matter concerning the Mother! But often, the final result is not good... No, it’s not just not good, it’s very bad! We keep investing, investing, and investing continuously in this project... However, so far, what we’ve garnered from this project is negative 2,600,000,000! And many people have died. Do you understand?"

The hooked-nose man whispered, "But, that’s the core aim of the BOSS, to find the Mother..."

"Yes, it is the core aim of the BOSS. The BOSS is our supreme leader, our Leader!" At this point, Bai Jing lowered her voice and said coldly, "But don’t forget, our BOSS’s eyes aren’t always on the Company. The frequency and duration of the BOSS’s appearances are too few and too short. The Company is getting bigger and bigger, and every executive has their own ideas and propositions. Everyone’s pursuit is different. Although everyone still shows absolute obedience to the BOSS, when it comes to actually handling matters... you know what I mean."

"No, I don’t understand," the hooked-nose man’s tone was serious. "Honorable lady, if you are hinting at something and expect my one hundred percent cooperation... I need you to speak more clearly and explicitly!"

Clearly, the hooked-nose man’s words did not satisfy Bai Jing. A hint of annoyance appeared in the old woman’s eyes. She took a deep breath, suppressing her displeased gaze. "Are you sure? Our trust..."

"It’s not about trust. You are suggesting I do something that might have severe consequences. I need to understand this clearly. You have to realize, with the Company’s current complex situation, if I completely side with you, I might face suppression from other executives. It’s a matter of life and death, so I have to ask clearly," the hooked-nose man replied calmly.

"Alright," Bai Jing chose to concede. "Although we are ’the Company,’ we are not a company in the conventional human civilization sense, do you understand?"

The hooked-nose man pondered for a moment.

"In the conventional sense, what does a boss rely on to control a company? Shares, wealth. The basis is... legal rights! These are the rules of the ordinary human world. Even a weak person, by relying on legal rights and owning company shares, can be the boss who has the final say. Maybe this person is crippled; maybe this person needs assistance to walk. But human legal rights give him enough authority to support his position. But... we are not!"

The hooked-nose man understood.

In the Underground World, the only factor supporting authority is... strength. To be more precise, it’s force!

To put it plainly, why is ’I’ the boss of an Underground organization? Sorry, it’s not through election, nor is it determined by legal rights or wealth. ’I’ am the boss for one reason only: I have the power to kill anyone who disobeys me or challenges my position at any time! So, everyone has to listen to me. It’s that simple and brutal.

"The BOSS hasn’t demonstrated strength for too long. It’s been too long since our BOSS last showed strength; I recall that back then, I was still a little girl. So many years have passed, and the blood from those days has long since dried. Many people have forgotten the terror of the BOSS. No, many within the Company have never even witnessed the terror of the BOSS. Yet, our Company happens to possess such massive resources, wealth, and power... It’s been too long. So long that quite a few are already stirring restlessly in the darkness."

"And what about you?" the hooked-nose man said bluntly. "Do you include yourself among these restless people, Respected Madam?"

Bai Jing glanced at the hooked-nose man and smiled faintly before slowly saying, "Although I am very, very old, I still occasionally dream, recalling the past... So, I can tell you clearly: in this Company, no matter what I do or think, perhaps I occasionally have my own selfish desires. But I will never, absolutely never, betray the BOSS! Was I clear enough?"

The hooked-nose man’s expression and tone were playful. "Very clear, but not clear enough... there’s still something missing."

Bai Jing looked into the hooked-nose man’s eyes. "Well then... let me put it this way. If what the BOSS wants to do aligns with my interests, I will devote two hundred percent of my effort to it! Because even if I fail, the BOSS will provide me with a certain level of compensation and reward. If what the BOSS wants to do does not align with my interests, I will still work my hardest—because as one of the few who personally experienced... as one of the few living witnesses from decades ago, I know very well that it is best not to defy the BOSS’s will, not even to think about mere lip service. Now, you little rascal, I need your stance. If you continue to be glib with me, my patience will run out."

After thinking for a moment, the hooked-nose man nodded. "Alright, honorable Madam, I, on behalf of the B3 Action Group, am willing to stand on your side. Even if... other elders in the committee pressure me, I will stand firmly by you."

Bai Jing savored the hooked-nose man’s words, then frowned. "What do you mean... someone has been putting pressure on you?"

"Of course. I am the leader of a Level B Action Group. I am worth being courted, am I not?" the hooked-nose man said with a smile.

"Is it those guys from the Emerging Faction?" Bai Jing responded immediately. "Don’t mind those idiots. They are younger, with more ideas, and sometimes the concepts they instill can indeed blind people. I even agree with some of their propositions. But they have a major flaw. These people all joined the Company after... that period. They have not witnessed the terror of the BOSS. In their eyes, an elder of my age represents senility, corruption, and obsolescence. Possibly... even the BOSS is the same in their eyes." Bai Jing’s tone was very disdainful.

The hooked-nose man was struck by a thought. "So... is the BOSS finally going to show his authority? To clean up those in the Company’s committee, those from the Emerging Faction who are not to the BOSS’s liking?"

Bai Jing glanced at the hooked-nose man and said coldly, "Don’t try to fish for information, you little rascal. I have not received any orders or hints from the BOSS. But believe me, in this world, in this Company, the fundamental way to survive is to maintain absolute loyalty and alignment with the BOSS. If you’ve been suppressed by the Emerging Faction, the harsher your suppression, the more miserably you’re bullied... it will only earn you more points in the BOSS’s eyes! When the BOSS decides to clean house one day, you will also receive a generous reward for the grievances you suffered."

"A loyalty reward?" the hooked-nose man chuckled.

"You could say that."

"So, Respected Madam, that’s why you’ve been staying in that small fishing port in Iceland, seemingly exiled, for so many years? Even going to the harbor to buy groceries every day, living like an ordinary old woman, far from the Company’s core power struggles?"

Bai Jing smiled. "The child who suffers gets the candy."

The hooked-nose man whistled.

He then continued, "So, about this mission..."

"I told you, I pushed for it single-handedly! Otherwise, do you think that after the recent failure in Brazil, with the Company suffering huge losses... it would suddenly launch a higher-level, top-tier mission in Antarctica, one requiring even more resources?

"For this mission, I left Iceland and made enough concessions in the committee to get those fools to compromise. An aging old elder, away from the center of power for many years, suddenly wanting to make her presence felt, to show she still exists before completely retiring. I think many people could tolerate that temporarily, so this time I gained their acquiescence.

"Moreover, some have even tried to make covert deals with me, waiting for my complete retirement, even eyeing the elder position I’ll leave behind.

"To many, they’re just waiting to see me make a fool of myself. After all, no one takes an old woman about to retire seriously. All sorts of compromises finally led to this mission.

"Little rascal... I’ve given you all the resources I can muster. Do you understand?"

"I will do my best to complete this mission," the hooked-nose man immediately assured her.

The hooked-nose man’s promise was straightforward, without any hesitation.

Bai Jing was satisfied with his attitude.

"So, Madam... I have a personal, curious question. This mission... from a broader perspective, searching for the Mother aligns with the BOSS’s philosophy. But does it align with your personal interests? What I mean is, since I’ve chosen to side with you, you should at least tell me your personal stance."

Bai Jing fell silent for a while, then suddenly reached out and placed her hand on the hooked-nose man’s shoulder.

"My dear little rascal, I am old. Very, very old. I remember when I first saw you join the Company; you were just a young lad. Now, even your hair is turning a bit white. And me... my teeth are loosening.

"I feel it now—not every day, but every moment, every minute, every second—my Life Force slipping away. That vigorous, wonderful Life Force is leaving my body, bit by bit, every single moment!

"So, pushing for this mission aligns with the BOSS’s philosophy, and it’s also in my personal interest. I sure as hell don’t want to die!

"But my only chance of survival is... either complete the mission, and the profound power the Mother might bring could extend my life—just as the BOSS has always told us: the Mother can bring eternity.

"Or, the mission fails. Fails spectacularly despite putting in two hundred percent effort, with devastating losses. Then I’m utterly suppressed. There are hardly any of my old faction left in the committee. I’m pushed down, forced to retire in disgrace, and those restless fools in the Company’s upper echelons take another big leap forward... That might compel the BOSS to act again.

"Then, I receive a generous loyalty reward! In that prize package, there might just be something from the BOSS to extend my life... Little rascal, give it your all. This time, don’t hold back!"

The hooked-nose man thought seriously for a moment. "Okay, I’ll go all out this time. But... Vanel..."

"He must die," Bai Jing said coldly. "Only with his death can you completely prove you’re clean."

After holding Bai Jing’s gaze for a few seconds, the hooked-nose man voluntarily looked away.