Chapter 76: Insubordination

Chapter 76: Insubordination

As soon as Xu Qingran finished speaking, before Mu Ziyu, the third prince, could even react, another arrow grazed his cheek and embedded itself into the wooden board.

In the process, it accidentally nicked his ear, sending a sharp pain through him, making him shudder.

Just as he was about to complain, the person in the distance beat him to the punch: "Tsk, I told you not to move."

Mu Ziyu, the third prince: "..."

He hadn't moved at all!

Furious, another arrow struck dangerously close to his right cheek.

The long arrow, affected by the residual force of the impact, wobbled. Although it didn't graze his ear this time, the accompanying psychic shockwave from the shot still made his ear burn red with pain.

His heart skipped a beat in shock, and he angrily asked, "Xu Qingran, do you even know what you're doing?!"

Xu Qingran drew another new arrow, smiling nonchalantly: "Sorry, I guess I'm not very good at it."

Xu Qingran had mastered archery in his past life.

But it was only used to hunt high-speed, highly mobile, and flying beasts, with flawless precision. As for humans, he had never aimed at them before, so he figured his skill level was just average.

System: "..."

I can't take it, what kind of modest brag is this?

Mu Ziyu, unaware of Xu Qingran's past achievements, saw him raise his hand and aim at his head again, his posture with the bow appearing particularly casual, making his heart race.

Xu Qingran's smile faded as he asked, "Are you going to hand over the Shangnan Province resources?"

Only then did Mu Ziyu realize that Xu Qingran was threatening him in this manner.

Gritting his teeth, he replied, "The Silver Dragon organization recently lost several investors because of you, and even the Mo family has suspended their supply of military equipment. The whole organization is barely scraping by right now, where am I supposed to find resources for you?!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the arrow in Xu Qingran's hand embedded itself into the spot above his head.

He wasn't sure how close it was to his skull, but it felt way too close for comfort.

Xu Qingran picked up another arrow, saying nothing more: "Are you going to hand over the Shangnan Province resources?"

Mu Ziyu gradually realized that Xu Qingran's actions from the beginning until now had only been skirting around his body, without causing any real harm.

He was simply using this method to threaten and intimidate him, forcing him to comply.

So Mu Ziyu relaxed a bit and continued to stand his ground: "No! I won't give them!"

Yes, he was the third prince of the empire, Xu Qingran wouldn't dare harm him!

Just as he thought this, a searing pain shot through his left hand.

Xu Qingran had already released the bowstring, and the arrow shot out, piercing his palm and nailing it to the board.

Mu Ziyu gasped in pain and shouted at Xu Qingran, "What are you doing?! This is insubordination, a crime! Once I get out of here, I'll immediately strip you of your position and send you to the Tower of Evil!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a similar intense pain shot through his right hand, making his head spin and his hands go numb.

The slightest twitch felt like his flesh was being ripped from his bones.

Mu Ziyu was in no state to be intimidating.

Xu Qingran pretended not to hear, letting out a nonchalant "Ah," and said, "Sorry, my skills are a bit rusty. I slipped."

As soon as he finished speaking, another arrow found its mark in Mu Ziyu's knee.

Xu Qingran chuckled darkly, "By the way, when you send me to the Tower of Evil, make sure they don't hold back. It'd be best if they finish me off."

"Otherwise, not only can I kill you, but after I get out of the Tower of Evil, I can even kill your dear father."

Mu Ziyu first doubted his ears.

Then, looking at Xu Qingran's composed expression, he realized, too late, he had been played.

Unskilled? Hardly.

He was hitting every target dead-on!

Subsequently, Xu Qingran's arrows found new targets across Mu Ziyu's body.

Xu Qingran stopped repeating his question, instead continuing to shoot arrows, sometimes hitting his body, sometimes narrowly missing vital spots. Mu Ziyu never knew where the next arrow would land, whether it would avoid vital areas, leaving him more on edge than a rollercoaster.

Blood from his wounds seeped into Mu Ziyu's light-colored clothes.

Only when another arrow skimmed his neck, dangerously close to a vital artery, and embedded deeply into the board did Mu Ziyu see in Xu Qingran's calm eyes—Xu Qingran would kill anyone, no matter their status or relationship.

He relished toying with his prey.

...He had said it before, he regretted ever bringing Xu Qingran, this disaster, into Silver Dragon!

When he lost it, he was downright inhuman, with zero respect for his superiors! He was no different from those rebellious soldiers in Shangnan Province!

Xu Qingran's gaze lingered on Mu Ziyu's sweaty, panicked face, his eyes filled with anger, fear, and on the verge of tears, and a faint smirk played on his lips. The arrow's aim suddenly shifted to Mu Ziyu's crotch.

With a sharp whoosh, it struck the ground just below him.

Mu Ziyu instantly felt a chill down there.

Finally panicking, he shouted, "Xu Qingran, aim carefully! Don't hit where you shouldn't!"

As soon as he finished shouting, another arrow landed.

This time, it was dangerously close to his groin.

Mu Ziyu's face truly darkened now.

As the sky darkened and Xu Qingran grew more ruthless, he finally couldn't hold back and relented, "Alright, alright, I'll give! I'll send new resources to Shangnan Province, just stop!"

Xu Qingran, however, remained silent.

The arrows in his hand kept flying, each landing closer to that sensitive area.

Mu Ziyu was so startled he felt that part trembling. Seeing Xu Qingran unmoved, he could only grit his teeth and shout, "I'll give you what you asked for in the emails, just stop shooting!"

Xu Qingran sneered.

Sure enough, Mu Ziyu had seen all the emails he sent but chose not to reply to a single one.

"I gave you a chance earlier, but you refused. Now I've changed my mind," Xu Qingran said. "I want double."

Mu Ziyu: "?"

He was so mad he almost passed out: "You, you, why don't you just go rob someone?!"

Xu Qingran, hearing this, asked him: "Oh, really? Can I?"

"I thought it wasn't allowed, but since you're suggesting it, maybe I should just go rob someone?"

Mu Ziyu: "..."

Of course not!! That's illegal!!

The Silver Dragon might be having some internal issues lately, but given that the Silver Dragon's jurisdiction has natural energy resources almost double that of the Golden Wing, there's no way they can't afford such things.

Xu Qingran thought, and his hand loosened again.

The new arrow nearly grazed Mu Ziyu and slammed heavily into the board, even ripping the fabric of his outermost pants with a sharp tearing sound.

Mu Ziyu shook violently.

Seeing Xu Qingran draw another arrow without a hint of emotion, place it on the bowstring, and pull it back forcefully towards him, he finally let out a tear of humiliation and yelled: "I agree, I agree, okay!!"

Money can be made again, but you can't grow back important parts!

Xu Qingran raised an eyebrow, his fingers gripping the arrow, and lowered the heavy longbow.

He walked slowly to Mu Ziyu and asked: "Why do you have to be so hardheaded?"

You were so stubborn earlier, but in the end, you still had to give in.

And you ended up giving twice as much as you originally planned.

Mu Ziyu shot him a humiliated glare: "Hurry up and get me down!"

Xu Qingran didn't act immediately but pointed to the exquisite brooch on his chest and said: "Don't even think about backing out. I've got the whole thing recorded, audio and all."

"If you don't keep your word, I'll release it and let the whole empire see your most humiliating moment."

Mu Ziyu: "..."

He couldn't understand why, as the empire's most noble prince, he could be threatened by Xu Qingran like this.

After wrapping up their business, the two fell into a brief silence.

Xu Qingran glanced up at Mu Ziyu, who was hanging above, his head turned away, lips tightly pursed, eyes filled with resentment and defiance. His life always seemed to be like this—full of defiance and refusal to admit defeat, yet ultimately powerless.

Out of nowhere, he asked: "Why do you like archery?"

Mu Ziyu was stunned for a moment, then replied in a bad tone: "It's just a hobby, why all the questions?"

"Stop changing the subject!" Perhaps because he had lost a lot of blood, his face turned pale.

"I, Mu Ziyu, always keep my word. Since I've agreed to your request, I won't go back on it. Hurry up and let me down!"

Although Mu Ziyu's personality seems a bit problematic, straightforward and impulsive, doing whatever comes to mind, indecisive and always lacking determination. But one good thing is that once he promises something, as long as the preconditions he set are met, he basically won't go back on his word.

Xu Qingran ignored him and asked again: "Then why did you become the supreme commander of the Silver Dragon?"

"Is it also because you like it?"

Mu Ziyu was taken aback by his question.

In his nearly thirty years of life, this was the first time anyone had asked him this question.

The words to respond caught in his throat.

Since childhood, Mu Ziyu had been the kind of reckless playboy that others talked about.

He preferred fun over serious studies, especially thrilling outdoor activities. Horse riding, archery, paragliding, skydiving, or sports like soccer, basketball, and parkour. He had little interest and no clue about governance, military planning, or management.

Did he like it?

Looking back, he hadn’t felt happy a single day since taking on the responsibility.

If he didn’t like it, why was he so fixated on becoming commander?

Because, for as long as he could remember, it felt like a command programmed into his brain, telling him he had to strive for and achieve it.

He wanted to play and pursue his passions, but his mother would cry in front of him every night.

She said it was his duty as a royal. Only by achieving it could he secure their future, reminding him daily that, as a royal child, he had to strive.

And his father, who had many children.

Only those who took on great responsibilities earned his attention.

Thinking about the recent events in the Silver Dragon Battalion, his mother’s constant tears, and his father’s disappointment, he felt utterly exhausted.

He just didn’t want this stressful life.

In the silence, Xu Qingran cut in again: "Mu Ziyu, you're not cut out for this."

"You can’t handle this position."

Mu Ziyu was struck where it hurt most.

Feeling he’d already lost all dignity in front of Xu Qingran, he shouted in despair, "I know I can’t handle it! But what else can I do? If I give up, I’ll lose everything!"

He knew he wasn’t cut out for it.

Before, he’d barely held his position, relying on veterans like Wang Jian to manage the camp’s affairs and strategize.

Now they were gone, his situation was worsening, and his life was in shambles.

Sometimes he just wanted to quit.

"Lose what? Face? Praise? Flattery? Or attention you have to pay for?" Xu Qingran asked coolly.

Mu Ziyu was speechless again.

Xu Qingran sneered, "Besides these shallow things, you won’t even lose your royal status."

"So, what’s there to fear?"

Mu Ziyu was dumbfounded.

After thinking for a long time, he couldn’t come up with a single word of rebuttal.

Xu Qingran asked him coldly again, "Is the attention and affection that comes at the cost of your own pain worth it?" Without waiting for a reply, he drew his psychic knife and swiftly cut through Mu Ziyu’s shackles with a few precise strokes.

The person on the board unexpectedly took a faceplant into the mud.

Surprisingly, he didn’t get up in a rage as usual but stayed down, butt in the air, staring fixedly at the tiny blades of grass in front of him without saying a word.

As the sky darkened, the Class I and Class II devils around them started stirring back to life.

Xu Qingran wasn’t about to stick around and fight them. He turned and walked toward the direction where the aircraft was parked. Hearing his footsteps gradually fading away, Mu Ziyu jolted back to reality, remembering that he had been lured here by him. He could only try to endure the pain in his body and limped after him before he vanished.

When he got closer, he muttered, "You make it sound so simple."

"There aren’t many children left in the royal family now. My second sister is totally wrapped up in her research. If I just leave like this, what will happen to the Silver Dragon? Just hand over the Silver Dragon to the Golden Wing? That’s impossible!"

"If Mu Ziyue really becomes the new emperor, I might not get to live the way I want!"

Xu Qingran didn’t look back, saying, "Simple, just find someone solid to take over."

"Like someone as capable as me." He said it with a hint of modesty.

Mu Ziyu was nearly speechless, cursing, "...Damn, Xu Qingran, you’re really ambitious! You’ve been saying all this to me, and it turns out you’ve been eyeing my spot?!"

Xu Qingran chuckled, "Exactly."

Mu Ziyu: "..."

Sometimes, he couldn’t stand how Xu Qingran wouldn’t even bother lying. Now it felt like his sincerity had been thrown to the wolves.

Mu Ziyu winced with every painful step, gritting his teeth and saying, "It’s pointless to even think about it. You’re not from the royal family, so you can’t take over the position of the highest commander of the faction."

Xu Qingran wasn’t angry, just leisurely said, "To be honest, you really need to ditch that outdated thinking."

"If the royal family keeps churning out duds like you, and you have to pick the tallest among the short to govern the faction, how’s that any different from speeding up the empire’s downfall?"

Mu Ziyu: "..."

He’d lost count of how many times his heart had been stabbed today.

The conversation ended, and silence fell around them again.

Mu Ziyu was feeling depressed when suddenly, gunfire erupted ahead.

Hearing the sound, he looked up and saw Xu Qingran slowly lowering the hand that held the gun. Where his gaze was directed, a small puff of red mist burst.

The preoccupied Mu Ziyu then noticed that the devil hordes around them were starting to stir and close in.

He was a bit anxious, frantically patting himself down but found no weapons.

Injured, he could only limp slowly, staring in panic as the devils closed in from all sides.

The devil groups came in waves, swarming towards them like a tidal wave.

But each time, before they could even get within attack range, these sub-devils exploded, turning into countless small fragments falling to the ground. Startled, Mu Ziyu, who hadn’t even finished probing the sub-devil’s source energy, instinctively looked up and saw that Xu Qingran, walking ahead, had already pierced the source crystal of their mother body.

Even if a few got close, with just one glance, he could accurately stab the target’s source crystal with his knife.

The striking movements were both pleasing to the eye and filled with a sense of security.

For the first time, Mu Ziyu directly felt how outstanding the student who had shocked the entire military academy really was.

...Wang Jian was right, Xu Qingran’s perception talent was not only rare in the entire empire but also in the entire Glair star cluster. No wonder the old brass was pissed, letting a talent like that rot in some backwater system the empire forgot about.

He silently followed Xu Qingran and safely returned to the ship.

The entire journey passed in tense silence.

When he sat in the passenger seat, Xu Qingran spoke to him again.

The first sentence was straightforward and blunt: "Compared to you, I dislike Mu Ziyue even more."

"Since the Kayan Empire now only has the two of you eggs to choose from, before pulling you down from the commander's position, I can change the public opinion of the Silver Dragon Battalion and the dissatisfaction of the people."

"As long as you follow my lead, stop being foolish, and quit those unnecessary, childish, and time-wasting antics."

Mu Ziyu pursed his lips, ultimately deciding to refute the latter part first: "...Getting you sent to the Tianlong System isn't entirely my fault. Who told you to offend Aunt Ning Luo and the Feng family?"

Xu Qingran didn't even look at him: "That's exactly why you're useless—you lack any sense of initiative or critical thinking."

Mu Ziyu: "..."

He was fated to clash with Xu Qingran; every conversation left him fuming.

"Anyway, since I'm going to be under someone's thumb either way, it might as well be me."

Xu Qingran smiled: "After all, I'm that impressive. When word gets out, people will think it's justified."

Mu Ziyu: "..."

He really wanted to curse. But remembering how Xu Qingran had just casually walked through the demon horde that gave most soldiers a headache, he felt his anger was futile.

In the end, he could only grumble: "You make it sound so easy."

"At this point, the dissatisfaction of the Silver Dragon people and the online public opinion can't be completely reversed just by throwing your name around or transferring you back to a major mission system."

Xu Qingran started the ship and soared into the sky.

He pulled the joystick forcefully, his tone casual: "What if we could take back the old Silver Dragon City?"

Mu Ziyu was stunned at first.

Then he widened his eyes, looking at Xu Qingran with an expression of disbelief: "You? You want to take back Silver Dragon City??"

This was even more outlandish than trying to take his position as the Silver Dragon commander.

Mu Ziyu said: "Xu Qingran, the power to lead a large army in such a major mission isn't something I, as the commander, can decide alone. You need feats and accomplishments to convince the military to trust you. But you haven't even subdued Shangnan Continent yet, so how can you expect the entire Tianlong System's soldiers to obey you?"

Xu Qingran: "Stay in line. Give me what I need, and I can do it."

Mu Ziyu: "I'm the third prince of the empire—"

Xu Qingran glanced at him with a cold expression.

Mu Ziyu, under his gaze, felt his old wounds start to ache again. He could only swallow the rest of his words, muttering in frustration: "...These things need to be done step by step. At least show me some results first!"

Xu Qingran chuckled. "Piece of cake."

Mu Ziyu was dropped off at his residence by Xu Qingran.

The guards and servants who greeted him were taken aback by his disheveled appearance and couldn't help but glance at Xu Qingran beside him.

...This situation is strangely familiar.

Mu Ziyu blushed under their gaze but could only grit his teeth and help Xu Qingran cover up the truth: "...I was ambushed and captured while I was out practicing archery today. I happened to run into Colonel Xu Qingran on the way, and after he rescued me, he escorted me back."

"My injuries... they have nothing to do with him!"

This is so frustrating.

But he couldn't fight back, and now Xu Qingran had even offered him perks, making it even harder to refuse.

Xu Qingran was pleased with Mu Ziyu's attitude. Before leaving, he spoke to him in an unusually soft and polite tone: "Then I won't interrupt the Third Prince's rest and recovery. If there's anything you need help with, Your Highness can just send someone to notify me."

Mu Ziyu: "..."

He got goosebumps instantly.

After teasing Mu Ziyu, Xu Qingran returned to his aircraft feeling great.

He didn't take off immediately. Instead, he sat in the pilot's seat, pondering where to go next while casually scrolling through his phone to check out the latest hot news and topics online.

The hottest topic was clearly Shen Tingyu's return.

Before he even landed in the empire, news of his return had already spread, and a swarm of media had gathered to ambush him that day. Unable to avoid the interviews, he could only give short answers.

He didn't mention where he had been or what he had done during his disappearance, only telling everyone that he had taken some time off to clear his head.

He also responded to the Golden Wing Battalion's attempts to retain him with a more official tone. His words were so carefully worded that no one could tell he had never actually intended to resign. Instead, it seemed as though the Golden Wing Battalion had desperately tried to keep him, and he had returned to his post out of concern for the safety of the empire's citizens.

As expected, public opinion of him went up a level.

Some even felt that, given his importance to the Golden Wing Battalion and his achievements over the years, he should be promoted further, possibly taking over the recently vacated position of the battalion's top general.

The online discussions were heated.

Xu Qingran silently viewed the short clip of Shen Tingyu's interview in the car. Near the end, he heard the reporter ask: "Then, General Shen Tingyu, did anything interesting happen during your leave? Did you manage to find peace?"

Shen Tingyu looked into the camera, pausing to think.

Then he smiled gently: "Many interesting things happened, and they did a great job of lifting my spirits. Since it was a private trip, I won't go into specifics."

"Anyway, I'm very happy."

That last sentence was spoken while looking straight into the camera.

Xu Qingran was caught off guard by Shen Tingyu's smiling eyes, as if he was looking at him through the screen. His heart skipped a beat, and the intimate moments they had shared in Shangnanzhou played in his mind like scenes from a movie.

His ears turned a little red.

Tsk, that damn man.

Xu Qingran exited Shen Tingyu's interview clip and scrolled through some current news.

Amidst a sea of official news, he suddenly spotted the name of Mo Chengfei's Mo Group.

"Headline: The Empire's Fastest Land-Water High-Speed Rail—Crossing the Entire Planet in a Day Is No Longer a Dream!"

The article explained that Mo Chengfei's company, 'Miracle,' which specialized in high-speed rail production and technical operations, had recently completed the global high-speed rail project for Tianshe System's Shuilian Planet. They used their latest land-water dual-purpose high-speed rail, which was currently the fastest in the Kayan Empire and had successfully completed a full circumnavigation of the planet during testing.

Scrolling further down, there were plenty of news articles about the Mo family's achievements in various fields.

In addition to transportation technology, there are also advancements in housing construction, military equipment development, medical fields, and even close cooperation with the Empire's Second Princess, resulting in numerous life-saving drugs for both humans and animals. Other commercial sectors include food research and production, as well as collaborations with renowned companies in clothing and jewelry.

In short, the scope of his uncle's business is remarkably extensive.

However, this gave him new ideas and plans for his next steps.

Xu Qingran acted decisively and called Mo Chengfei.

After ringing for a while, Mo Chengfei finally answered: "Xu Qingran? What do you need?"

Xu Qingran got straight to the point and directly asked: "Mr. Mo, do you want to make a lot of money?"

·

Xu Qingran was invited to Mo Chengfei's headquarters.

Coincidentally, it was on the same planet as Mu Ziyu's residence, allowing him to arrive promptly.

The receptionist, having received prior notice from upstairs, immediately had someone escort him to the top-floor CEO office as soon as he entered.

Mo Chengfei wasn't inside, and the polite and professional receptionist brought him a cup of coffee, asking him to wait for a moment.

Only then did he learn that when he called Mo Chengfei, Mo Chengfei was in a meeting, which still hadn't ended.

"Alright, thank you," Xu Qingran acknowledged with a polite nod.

The receptionist smiled and stepped out, then immediately lowered her voice and excitedly chatted with a few colleagues who were secretly waiting outside: "Oh my god, Young Master Xu!!"

It's the long-lost Young Master! He's back!

And, how does he manage to know a big shot like their boss?!

Xu Qingran took some time to look up Mo Chengfei's business ventures online and was increasingly satisfied.

After waiting for about half an hour, Mo Chengfei finally came back from the meeting.

Leaning on his cane, he looked at Xu Qingran as if he were a problematic youngster, his expression still stern: "What is it? You, a kid who knows nothing about business, can help me make money?"

Xu Qingran smiled: "Incidentally, I've already received the special invitee commendation from the Silver Dragon Battalion."

"I heard that Mo Chengfei's company put a lot of effort into crafting the reward for me, thank you."

Mo Chengfei let out a cold snort and sat down in his spacious and comfortable CEO chair.

He asked: "So, what kind of business do you want to discuss with me?"

"It's not strictly business, but a great investment opportunity."

Xu Qingran leaned back leisurely on the sofa and said: "Here's the deal, I recently discovered a place with great development potential. It hasn't been claimed by other business tycoons yet. Uncle Mo, would you consider being the first to seize this big opportunity?"

"Think of it as a thank-you for overseeing the creation of such excellent travel and combat tools for me."

Mo Chengfei remained silent, staring at him.

Looking at his narrowed eyes and smiling mouth, it was as if he had a pair of fox ears and a fox tail wagging behind him. And that particularly affectionate 'Uncle Mo' term of address was a constant reminder that Xu Qingran might be setting a trap.

But after a moment of thought, Mo Chengfei still asked: "What place?"

Xu Qingran's smile deepened, and he replied with confidence: "Shangnan Continent, Taiyue Star... the Tianlong System."

Mo Chengfei: "..."

He gave a cold look: "Xu Qingran, do you think I'm a sucker with deep pockets?"

The Tianlong system is indeed untouched by the big players in the business world.

But not because they haven't discovered it, but because it has been quietly abandoned by the empire as a wasteland. The living conditions of the residents are also very poor, making it a notorious ghetto. Any well-known brand that sets up shop there is just asking to go bankrupt.

Mo Chengfei thought about it and suddenly laughed in anger: "What kind of promise can the Tianlong system deliver? Are you feeding me a line?"

Xu Qingran remained calm: "When I went there, besides Taiyue Star, I also took a look at the other two star systems."

"Majestic mountains and pristine waters, each continent boasts unique features and rich cultural diversity. Influenced by the environment, there are many animals and plants that can only be seen locally. Moreover, the area is vast and populous, making it an ideal workforce for your future business ventures, and it's also very suitable as a new base for biological and pharmaceutical research."

Even areas overrun by devil groups are rich in natural resources.

As long as you take control, it's a goldmine.

Xu Qingran said: "As far as I know, Tianlong was once the most prosperous among the star systems under the jurisdiction of the Silver Dragon. How bad could it possibly be? Moreover, its geographical location is special, and before its decline, it was once the most prosperous trading port. The current state is largely due to the devil groups' influence."

Xu Qingran turned to look at Mo Chengfei behind the desk and said to him: "Once this major issue is resolved and the old Silver Dragon City is reclaimed, there's potential for growth."

Mo Chengfei stayed quiet.

In earlier years, some bold business magnates also aimed to invest in the Tianlong system to bring it back to life. Ignoring the devil groups' havoc, Tianlong is actually a prime location. Whoever plants their flag there first can pretty much cement their reputation in the Tianlong system.

The first to expand and thrive there will be the most renowned.

Especially control over roads, public transport, and other daily necessities can all be secured. But due to the empire's indifference and the dwindling resource supply, the crisis there worsened, and investors ended up losing big.

Mo Chengfei knew that Xu Qingran was currently governing Shangnan Continent. After pondering for a while, he said: "You're young and brash, aren't you?"

"I heard that Shangnan Continent is the most difficult place to govern in Taiyue Star, with cities in disarray. If you want to take over the old Silver Dragon City, you will definitely need military help. So now you need to prove you can bring them together."

Just as Xu Qingran was about to speak, his communicator suddenly rang.

He glanced at Mo Chengfei, who gestured for him to answer and deal with the matter first.

After answering, Deputy Mao's worried voice came through: "Colonel Xu, how long will you be away this time?"

Xu Qingran smiled: "I don't know, I'll return when I've had enough fun. Ah, maybe I'll suddenly feel tired and not want to return."

Deputy Mao: "..."

He had never encountered such a relaxed yet effective colonel.

Xu Qingran: "What? Didn't I arrange everything? Is there a problem?"

Before Deputy Mao could speak, he added: "If there's a problem, solve it yourself. You can't put out a fire from afar, so good luck."

Deputy Mao: "..."

"There's no problem, the military guards in the camp are also following your task arrangements diligently. It's just that you've been gone for half a month, and the military guards from the South and West Cities keep asking about you."

When he finished speaking, he himself felt it was incredible.

In the past, he had served several colonels, each wanting the people of Shangnan Continent to listen to them, but none had the treatment Xu Qingran now enjoys. The military guards from the fragmented East, South, and West Cities, who were very resistant to the high-ranking officials of the Silver Dragon, actually took the initiative to ask about the colonel's whereabouts and missed him greatly.

The people from the upper half of the South City asked him this morning with special concern, wondering if Xu Qingran was upset by the West City's affairs, or if he was particularly dissatisfied with their current level and progress, so he just quit?

If that's the case, I hope he can try his best to persuade them to come back.

...The people of Shangnan Province are actually worried that their colonel might run away!

It's just surreal.

After hearing this, Xu Qingran glanced at Mo Chengfei, gave an ambiguous smile, and then raised his voice to repeat: "Oh, so my dear deputy, you're saying—the military guards of South City, West City, and East City are all eagerly waiting for me to return, and they're worried I might resign?"

Deputy Mao: "...Yes."

What's up with this tone?

Xu Qingran, his eyes smiling, asked again: "What about North City?"

Deputy Mao replied: "North City, as usual, couldn't care less."

"Oh," Xu Qingran drawled, and then said leisurely, "So now, it's only North City, where I haven't personally gone to discipline, that's still disobedient, right?"

Deputy Mao: "..."

Is their colonel acting out again?

Mo Chengfei: "..."

This deliberately showy tone is particularly grating.

After filling Mo Chengfei in, Xu Qingran then said to Deputy Mao: "I don't know, just let them wait it out. If it comes to that, just tell them I don't want to do it anymore; I've been feeling really tired lately."

Deputy Mao: "?"

Xu Qingran: "Hanging up."

Deputy Mao, back in Shangnan Province, fell into a long silence after the call ended: "..."

—So, is Xu Qingran coming back or not?

He wouldn't really run away, would he? He can't; if he does, Shangnan Province will definitely explode again!

Xu Qingran hung up, smiled without a word, and looked at Mo Chengfei.

Mo Chengfei was silent for a moment, then said to him: "You always have to give me a chance to see how things go."

Xu Qingran nodded: "Don't worry, Uncle Mo, you've helped me so much; I definitely won't screw you over. I'm not thinking of pushing you to immediately ramp up and directly reform Tianlong. I just want to use Shangnan Province as the starting point for reform, to lay some groundwork."

"If you're not convinced, I'll also bring in the Qi family industries that I currently control."

"If your investment in Shangnan Province doesn't pan out later, I'll cover you with all the funds I have."

Mo Chengfei's fingers lightly tapped on the cane he held.

He asked, "Alright, what do you need now?"

He expected Xu Qingran to propose some grand plans like urban development or major transportation projects.

But the man on the sofa thought for a moment and said to him: "First, get Shangnan Province online and set up some decent telecom stations."

"That crappy network makes it impossible for me to live-stream and vent my frustrations there."

Mo Chengfei: "...What?"

His face immediately turned dark, and he slammed the table heavily.

Xu Qingran hesitated, wondering if his request was too much.

Then he heard Mo Chengfei angrily ask him, "Xu Qingran, are you looking down on me or something?"

"After saying so much, all you want is for me to help you get internet access?!"

He was genuinely furious, his neck turning red: "How much could it possibly cost to get you online? This is a slap in the face!"

He was absolutely livid; he had never been asked for such a small request in his life!

Xu Qingran: "..."

Those damn capitalists—he couldn’t help but feel envious.