CHAPTER 366: CHAPTER 363 [HIGH POSITION AND GREAT POWER]

Chapter 363 "High-Status and Powerful" (Combined Chapter)

I need to work even harder to save money... wait, no, I need to work even harder to amass money!

Xicheng Xun turned her head to look at the mirror in the room and made a gesture of encouragement to herself. The girl boosted her spirits with full vigor.

Then, Xicheng Xun took out a large bunch of USB drives, tossed them in front of her, closed her eyes, and randomly picked one to insert into her computer and log into an account she had robbed, followed by a clatter of keystrokes.

On the Octopus Monster’s website, a new bounty mission soon appeared.

Mission: Hunt and Kill.

Mission Location: Neon.

Mission Reward: 500,000 M-Units.

...

Xicheng Xun was careful to keep the difficulty of the mission manageable.

A bounty with a reward of 500,000 M-Units wouldn’t attract some famous experts, the kind she couldn’t handle herself.

This level of bounty would lure Black Iron-level ability users, all of whom Xicheng Xun could take down.

Chen Nuo would never imagine that she would use this kind of fake mission, lying in wait to turn the tables on unsuspecting bait – he once thought of it as a means of accumulating wealth but never implemented it for various reasons.

Now, in Tokyo, this Japanese girl had taken this plan and expanded upon it greatly.

The hunt-and-kill target was set as a minor leader of the Truth Society that Xicheng Xun had learned about.

That was also to avoid harming the innocent. After all, hunting down people from the Truth Society imposed no psychological pressure on Xicheng Xun.

The energetic good girl, dressed in a trendy Japanese JK style, was hurtling down an ominous path of corruption...

"It seems like there’s been a bit of data fluctuation with the missions posted by users recently?"

"Yes, a small fluctuation shouldn’t be a problem. I’ve looked at the specific data, and it seems that in the Neon region, over the past six months, there have been more than a dozen tasks involving assassination."

"Do we need to report this?"

"There’s no need... That place in Neon is very chaotic, with the syndicates being public. There might be some new power emerging recently. It should settle down in a few days."

Unbeknownst to anyone, somewhere in the world, administrators of the Octopus Monster’s website were having such a conversation.

Nolan walked into his new office.

Calling it new was a bit of a misnomer as he had been using it for over three months.

Contrary to what most people might imagine, for the largest, most mysterious, most powerful, and most prestigious organization of the underworld – the Octopus Monster – many might think its headquarters would be in some secret, remote, unknown location.

Perhaps at the bottom of the deep sea or in the center of a desert...

Essentially places that are rarely visited by ordinary people and nearly impossible to find.

However... that was not the case.

Nolan sat on his sofa and casually took off his coat, tossing it onto a coat rack.

The ventilation from the central air conditioning was releasing cool air, keeping the room’s temperature cool and comfortable.

Soon, a tall, red-haired female secretary entered, bringing a cup of hand-ground coffee to Nolan’s desk.

Nolan glanced at his female secretary in her black business suit, with her pencil skirt hugging her curves, creating a full and elastic visual effect, her thighs sturdy and robust, calves long and straight, wrapped in black stockings...

A smile tugged at the corner of Nolan’s mouth, and he pointed to a spot on the bookshelf behind his desk, "Help straighten that statue up there, it looks a bit crooked."

"Of course, BOSS!"

The stunning secretary smiled with her seductive, flaming red lips, not hesitating to walk over to the bookshelf, stretching as she stood on tiptoes, reaching up for the statue on the top shelf.

This position made her body tense up and straight, naturally causing her hips to protrude.

Nolan quickly bent down, his head close to the floor, his eyes glanced upward, then before the secretary noticed, he sat back up straight.

Hmm... T.

After the secretary finished her task, she turned around, slightly breathless, and asked in a low and respectful voice, "Is that alright, BOSS?"

Without even looking at the item on the bookshelf, Nolan waved his hand dismissively, "That’ll do, you can go."

"The latest job details have been sent to your email, which I’ve filtered. I’ve marked the projects that require your authorization for approval, and those marked with an asterisk are the ones you need to review today."

The secretary spoke meticulously of her work, a respectful smile on her face, as she moved to the office door.

Before exiting, she licked her lips and cast a seductive glance at Nolan, full of implication.

"If you’d like to see, I have an even more tantalizing outfit."

Nolan raised an eyebrow, looking at the secretary.

The secretary smiled coyly, "You’re now in charge here, with the highest authority. Everything here is under your direct control...

That includes me."

Nolan sighed, gesturing for the secretary to leave.

He rubbed his temples, then unbuttoned the top button of his shirt.

This was the busiest area of Manhattan in New York.

The office was sprawling and lavishly decorated, with an excellent location, elevation, and view.

Outside the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, the skyscrapers of Manhattan stood tall in the summer sun.

The rooftop of the building even had a helipad. Everything was top-tier. And this entire building belongs to Octopus Monster’s enterprise.

Nolan had been promoted. His current position could be considered part of the Octopus Monster’s high-level management tier.

He now controlled a gigantic sum of Octopus Monster’s financial assets in this world. The asset management company he worked for nominally had a capital of only several hundred million.

But through capital injections, equity participation, investments, and various other methods, he invisibly controlled assets worth over several hundred billion M-Units.

This included some financial industries, parts of high-tech industries, and so forth.

He even remotely controlled six military service contractors (mercenary companies) in this world through offshore means.

And nominally, he was the CEO of this company.

In actuality, he had essentially been granted the authority to manage these assets.

If Octopus Monster were an underground independent kingdom, then Nolan’s current position would roughly be equivalent to one of the finance ministers!

The reason for "one of" is that Nolan was well aware that under Octopus Monster’s control, there was more than one such consortium being managed presently.

According to what Nolan knew, aside from the New York company he managed, there were similar companies elsewhere in the world, in places like London, Dubai, Sydney, and Rio de Janeiro.

Yet, in terms of size, the company he managed was already the largest one.

From originally being a Level B leader in an external operations group, to now controlling approximately one-third of Octopus Monster organization’s finances, this was definitely a huge promotion.

This degree of promotion initially greatly puzzled Nolan.

Because the mission in Antarctica had actually been a complete failure.

Octopus Monster organization had invested over tens of billions of M-Units from the early Red Circle base to the subsequent investigative operations, spanning many years, and had consumed immense resources in terms of manpower and material.

In the end, with the failure of the mission in Antarctica, everything in the Red Circle area was completely destroyed and vanished...

Nolan had prepared for a demotion or even an internal investigation upon his return.

Moreover, he had heard that Bai Jing, the person who had once vehemently led and supported the Antarctic operation, had completely lost his last card and position in the Octopus Monster’s Elders’ Council due to the utter failure of the mission.

Bai Jing had been ordered to surrender all his power and retire completely. The Elders’ Council even resolved that Bai Jing’s sphere of influence be strictly limited to the small region of Iceland.

Furthermore, Nolan heard a rumor, although he wasn’t sure if it was true: Bai Jing had actually been placed under house arrest—the Elders’ Council had decided collectively that Bai Jing should never again set foot outside of Iceland for the rest of his life!

Iceland was to be the final cage where Bai Jing could spend his remaining days.

When Nolan received this news, he thought he might also be doomed following Bai Jing’s downfall.

However, to his surprise, something unexpected happened.

After Nolan had been brought back to Octopus Monster, he had already received notice to return for an internal review—the same type that Vanel had once gone through.

Just as the review officers had arrived and Nolan had been disarmed and formally detained, an urgent order with the highest authority from the Elders’ Council was transmitted at top speed.

It demanded the immediate release of Nolan, who had already been detained!

Subsequently, Nolan was given a new appointment, becoming a person within Octopus Monster who wielded significant financial authority.

This position held immense power and influence!

According to past practice, the person in charge of this asset management company in New York was often the most trusted lineage of one of the top giants in the Elders’ Council.

There had even been instances in history where some of the Octopus Monster’s elders directly took on the role.

And whose direct lineage was Nolan?

Strictly speaking, he could be considered Bai Jing’s man—though not exactly direct lineage.

And yet, Bai Jing had clearly fallen from power.

But strangely enough, that’s exactly what happened. Nolan, a man with no backers or connections, without a foundation in the Elders’ Council, was extraordinarily promoted to this position!

The power represented by this position was no small matter.

Let’s put it this way, he controlled one-third of Octopus Monster’s financial power!

Even some of the ordinary elders in the Elders’ Council didn’t have his level of power and position!

What Nolan didn’t know was that his appointment had also caused an uproar within the Elders’ Council.

During an emergency meeting of the Elders’ Council, a command carrying the highest authority of the Octopus Monster organization was delivered directly to the meeting.

This command pertained to the decision on Nolan’s disposition and appointment!

The wording of this order was very simple and clear, brooking no doubt or negotiation, and in the end, it was simply sealed with a golden Octopus stamp.

Then, all the elders of Octopus Monster went mad. Over this appointment, there was a heated debate, or rather, an argument for nearly an hour...

Finally, an elder suddenly spoke up during the meeting:

"What exactly are we arguing about now? Do you mean to suggest that we reject this appointment? To refuse a direct order from the BOSS? Is that what you intend to do?"

This statement caused the heated meeting to fall silent instantly.

A few seconds later, an elder spoke slowly, "We don’t intend to disobey, but such a decision is too absurd and unreasonable. The duty of the Elders’ Council is to maintain the organization..."

"The duty of the Elders’ Council is first and foremost to execute the BOSS’s orders without fail!" the elder who had interrupted the argument said coldly. "The Elders’ Council is here to manage the organization only when the BOSS has not given specific directives. It is not to meddle in matters where the BOSS has issued clear orders!"

That elder fell silent.

"Perhaps we have been here too long, so long that many have slowly begun to cross the dangerous line!

"The founding of the Elders’ Council was to assist the BOSS in managing our organization, nothing else.

"The BOSS is the BOSS, supreme above all else! That includes the interests of the organization!

"The interests of the organization are not what you think they are.

"The will of the BOSS is the interest of the organization!

"If some of you are planning to intervene, or to defy the will of the BOSS... then I’m sorry, count me out on something so ridiculous or dangerous!

"Here, I represent myself in making this decision, I unconditionally support and endorse the command issued by the BOSS today.

"I don’t know who this Nolan is!

"No matter who he is, even if he’s a dog, but if the BOSS’s will is to place him in that position, then he should be in that position!

"I reiterate one last time... Once the BOSS’s command is given, the only thing the Elders’ Council should do is to carry out that command to the letter!

"Carry out!!!

"Not to discuss or to debate—you do not have that power! Neither does the Elders’ Council!

"My God, what are you actually doing?

"There is a clear command from the BOSS, and you think you need to vote on this decision?

"Vote??

"You actually think you can collectively vote on the BOSS’s orders?!!

"Who the fuck gave you these wrong delusions?

"Who the fuck gave you such presumptuous cognition?

"Who the fuck gave you this power?

"Alright, I’ve made my stance very clear.

"Now, sorry, I won’t be part of this any longer, if there are those among you who wish to continue with this nonsense, suit yourself!"

After finishing speaking, the silhouette of a person projected on a high-backed chair in this conference room instantaneously vanished. In the meeting, it was eerily quiet. Five minutes later, the Elders’ Council issued the command, embracing Nolan’s appointment.

"Bai Jing, my dear... no, no, don’t misunderstand me. How many years has it been since we last met? I mean in reality, not those virtual meetings.

"Alright, I have made my decision. I unconditionally support everything of the BOSS.

"Yes, I’ve come to my senses.

"Just now, at the meeting, I suddenly realized how foolish those guys are!

"They are probably used to the times when the BOSS was silent, controlling the authority that the BOSS threw to them.

"Holding onto authority for too long, they’ve started to assume that they are the actual owners of power.

"You know, just now, the Elders’ Council received a command from the BOSS.

"And these idiots actually think they should hold a collective vote on the BOSS’s command?

"My God!!

"Can you imagine? On a matter where the BOSS has already issued a clear command, they plan to hold another collective vote?

"No, no, the outcome of this vote doesn’t matter!

"Even if the result of the vote is to support the BOSS’s command... it’s still wrong!

"The very act of collective voting is wrong in itself!

"The act of voting is equivalent to them believing they can approve or disapprove the BOSS’s orders.

"The BOSS’s orders do not need voting, what they need is uncompromising execution!

"Bai Jing, I’m sorry for my previous treatment of you, perhaps power also clouded my judgement.

"But now I’ve come to my senses, I will firmly remain loyal to the BOSS."

After hanging up the phone, looking at the old-fashioned telephone on the table in front of him, an elderly man slowly stood up. Gently gripping the smooth handle of his cane, the old man walked to the window.

Outside the window lay a stretch of farmland.

Cowboys were riding horses, herding the cattle...

"I want all the information on that Nolan guy, the sooner the better, the more detailed the better!"

The old man did not turn around, speaking in a deep voice.

"Yes, sir, I will get right on it." In the corner behind him, a figure nodded slowly and then gradually disappeared.

After reading the emails in the inbox, it was already evening.

Nolan casually lit a cigarette, propped his feet up on the table, holding the mouse in one hand, looking at the email inbox showing the number of read emails as "0".

The Octopus Monster’s organization actually has a very high work efficiency.

Nolan felt a bit bored.

He hadn’t quite gotten used to the role change from field operative to a person of high position and authority.

Thinking for a moment, Nolan pressed the intercom on his desk.

"BOSS?" The gentle and respectful voice of a female secretary came through.

"I’ve finished my tasks, I’m a little bored, find me some work, something interesting."

"BOSS, all the work that needs your direction is in the inbox..."

"I said, I am done with that, anything else? Get me something interesting to work on, big or small, either will do."

"Yes, I’ll arrange that immediately," the female secretary replied respectfully.

Soon, several new emails were sent to Nolan’s inbox.

These matters were not significant, and their importance was nowhere near the level that would require the attention and intervention of a big shot like Nolan. It was simply the female secretary faithfully executing Nolan’s orders, forwarding new incidents to him without sorting them by their importance.

Nolan casually browsed through three emails.

The first email was from a mercenary company applying for a new budget to purchase depleted weapons.

The second email was from an internal investigation firm that questioned the weapons depletion of the mercenary company, suspecting someone was making money off it, and provided a data comparison of weapon depletion over the years.

The third was a funding request for a new research project budget within a research department—an all too common occurrence within the Octopus Monster-controlled research institutions.

After reading them, Nolan directly opened the fourth email.

Then, he finally took a slight interest.

The fourth email was an intelligence report.

To be precise, it was a whistleblower report.

The report claimed that an organization in the underworld responsible for the resale and investigation of intelligence reported to the Octopus Monster that someone was investigating some of the Octopus Monster’s affairs and had spent a lot of money doing so.

Such things... well, not surprising.

They happen a lot every year.

The Octopus Monster was after all the largest organization of underworld ability holders, the largest platform, the biggest institution.

Many ability holders were accustomed to defying authority, and curiosity about the Octopus Monster was something every ability holder had. It was also common for people in the underworld to inquire and gossip about the Octopus Monster.

These things were unmanageable. And the Octopus Monster generally didn’t bother with them.

Since ancient times, the common people have always been fond of gossiping about emperors and national leaders.

So what about ability holders gossiping about the Octopus Monster?

That intelligence organization was, in fact, deeply connected to the Octopus Monster. After all, you couldn’t run an intelligence business in the underworld without dealing with such a colossal entity.

It was common practice to report such matters to the Octopus Monster.

Normally, these matters were handled by subordinate departments.

If it was a small issue, it was ignored.

If it was a big investigation, a warning was issued.

If it got even bigger... well, physical destruction was an option.

What alerted Nolan was the content of this reported or whistleblower email:

Someone was attempting to investigate whether the disappearance of ability holders in the underworld over the past eight months was related to a certain Octopus Monster commissioned operation!

And this operation was linked to Antarctica!

And Antarctica... was strictly classified within the Octopus Monster organization, known only to the core members.

Especially after the complete failure of the Antarctic mission, all information regarding the mission had been classified as top secret.

To put it mildly, most within the Octopus Monster didn’t even know about the Antarctic affairs.

And now, outsiders were investigating Antarctica?!

It was this email that ended up in Nolan’s hands!

If Nolan hadn’t on a whim decided to look for something to do, this email would have ended up in the hands of the department specifically responsible for handling such matters and might have been shrugged off.

But as it happened... Nolan was a firsthand participant in the Antarctic event!!

Nolan squinted his eyes and thought for a moment, then touched his hawk-like nose...

He pressed the communicator again.

"BOSS?"

"The fourth email you sent me, mark this matter as a high-priority task under my direct supervision, elevate the priority to the highest, and adjust the classification level to the highest within my authorization range!

"From now on, I will personally oversee this matter, and the relevant personnel should report directly to me.

"Also, send me the detailed information immediately."

"Of course, BOSS," the female secretary answered softly.

Nolan thought about it, then suddenly smiled, changing his tone, "You say... you have something more provocative?"

"...Yes."

"Put it on for me to see."

"...Right now?"

"Right now."

"...Okay, BOSS, give me ten minutes to prepare~" the female secretary said with a seductive tone.

Nolan released the communicator.

He put out the cigarette in his hand, stood up, and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window.

In the night, the floor-to-ceiling window reflected his figure like a mirror.

He made a face at his reflection and muttered to himself:

"High in status and power... Ha!!

"Quite thrilling, isn’t it..."