Chapter 68 You Can’t Catch a Wolf Without Sacrificing a Child

Chapter 68: Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained

The meeting room buzzed with boisterous chatter, yet the elderly man at the head of the table remained perfectly serene.

He sat there, an embodiment of calm, picking up the water cup on the table and taking a measured, almost reverent sip. Then, he beckoned to Zhao Xu, who was still standing by the door, looking utterly bewildered.

Zhao Xu, scratching his head in confusion, walked over and, at the old man’s gesture, took the first chair to his left.

With a hint of hesitation on his handsome face, he asked, "Director Zhang, is there anything else? I’ve already relayed Dr. Hang’s message, and I was about to head back."

Director Zhang shot him an exasperated look. "What’s the rush? You’re not married yet—no wife, no kids, no warm bed waiting for you. Stay and chat with me for a while."

Zhao Xu: "......" *Tch, that cuts deep, Director!*

*Being single all these years hasn’t been easy for him!*

But he didn’t dare voice his thoughts, only managed a dry chuckle. "Then, Director, what would you like to talk about?"

Director Zhang gave him a satisfied look. *This young man is straightforward—much more reliable than that slippery character, Lin Xiaobao.*

With a benevolent, almost grandfatherly smile, Director Zhang began to probe. "You went to Lakeside Boulevard this afternoon, didn’t you? Did you see the girl who used the Lightning Scroll?"

Zhao Xu awkwardly scratched his head. "No, I only went because I heard backup was needed. I arrived late and didn’t run into her. I only heard about it later from the Lin brothers."

Director Zhang frowned. *That Lin Xiaobao was keeping things very close to his chest.*

Unwilling to give up, he fixed his gaze on Zhao Xu’s face, scrutinizing his every expression as he pressed further. "Really didn’t see her? Then did you notice anyone suspicious around Lakeside Boulevard? Don’t be like Lin Xiaobao, holding out on me. I’m not some monster—I won’t do anything to the girl. I just want to collaborate with her."

Zhao Xu could only shake his head helplessly. "Director, I truly didn’t see anyone."

"Fine." Director Zhang finally accepted that the young man wasn’t lying. He even shot him a disdainful glance. *Useless—the girl was right there, and he didn’t even think to investigate further. Didn’t even catch a glimpse of her.*

"You’re on duty with Lin Xiaobao tomorrow, aren’t you?"

Mentioning his trusted subordinate, Director Zhang felt a mix of love and hate. Lin Xiaobao was clever and quick-witted, making him reliable and efficient to work with. But when it came to this matter, there was simply no way to pry a word out of him. If the kid didn’t want to talk, he wouldn’t spill a single secret.

With a headache, he said to Zhao Xu, "Pass a message to him tomorrow. Tell him to contact that girl—I want to collaborate with her. Since she happened to use a Lightning Scroll in the old district today under such perfect conditions, her Luck Stat must be high. Our bureau happens to have three Lightning Scrolls. If she’s willing to join the bureau, all three scrolls will be for her use, and she can keep half of the chest loot."

"If she doesn’t want to join, we can still collaborate. I’ll authorize her to use two Lightning Scrolls, and our Special Operations Bureau can help lure monsters within a five-kilometer radius. She can keep one-third of the chest loot."

"Whoa—" Zhao Xu stared at the director in shock. That was an incredibly generous offer!

Especially the first option—half the loot from three Lightning Scrolls? He wouldn’t even dare imagine that. Just how much would that be? Was the girl really worth it?

Director Zhang snorted. *What did this kid know? This was called playing the long game—nothing ventured, nothing gained.*

Compared to these resources, he cared more about long-term benefits.

From Lin Xiaobao’s few words, he could guess that the girl was extraordinary—her Luck Stat must be sky-high. If they could recruit her into the bureau with half the loot, then her luck would become the bureau’s luck.

If she refused and opted for the second collaboration option, that was fine too. At least they’d get her out in the open and learn who she was.

With the first collaboration, there would naturally be a second, third, fourth...

Completely unaware that she had caught the attention of a scheming old fox, Hua Diao climbed out of the bathtub, changed into a fresh Elf Flower Robe, and stumbled drowsily into bed, too exhausted to even check her account deposits.

After finishing this matter, Director Zhang still didn’t let Zhao Xu leave. Instead, he brought up another topic. "You’re close with Hang Jingbai, right? Do you know who he’s met these past couple of days?"

"Huh?" Zhao Xu looked completely lost. "Probably just hung out with his old buddies. Why?"

Director Zhang’s expression turned grave. "I think there’s something off about him. Sure, he’s smart—a genius since childhood, excelling in studies, entering the research institute at a young age, even leading independent projects. But he’s stubborn, focused solely on research. It’s normal for him to take an interest in game materials, but proposing that clean water is the priority and suggesting loosening public security measures—that’s not like him. Did someone put him up to this?"

"Really?" Zhao Xu frowned, utterly confused. "Dr. Hang may not usually pay attention to current affairs, but this is the apocalypse now. The situation’s different—he’d have to take the bigger picture into account. It’s not that strange, is it?"

Director Zhang gave him a disdainful look. Knowing this blockhead wouldn’t get it, he dropped the topic and switched to another question. "Tell me, who are his old buddies?"

Though puzzled, Zhao Xu didn’t ask further, racking his brain instead. "I don’t know the details, but probably those trust fund kids from Qingcheng—He Yongxin, Yao Hui, Song Yan, Zhu Bin, Lu Feiying. Those are the ones I remember. If you want more details, I can ask Dr. Hang."

Director Zhang rolled these names around in his mind, his eyes gleaming shrewdly, then waved a hand. "No need. Don’t mention this to him."

He weighed the matter in his mind. There was no need to dig out the person behind this.

But he still needed to investigate—just to confirm there was no ill intent.

After all, in these times, the Special Operations Bureau couldn’t afford to be schemed against.

Glancing at his subordinate, who wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed, he sighed inwardly. *If he didn’t keep an eye out, this simple-minded kid—despite his strength—wouldn’t last long.*

"Oh, right." Director Zhang suddenly remembered something. "That young leader who fought monsters right at our bureau’s entrance today—wasn’t that your brother? Zhao Gui? I noticed the kid’s got a quick tongue and a quick mind. The team he organized was greenhorns, but his positioning and tactics were excellent. Under his command, not a single person was injured, and he even lightened the load for our bureau’s team. He’s promising material as a strategist. If he’s interested in joining the bureau, you can fast-track him. Whip him into shape—he might even surpass you someday."

Now Zhao Xu was genuinely surprised—and conflicted. "Zhao Gui? That kid’s really capable?"

*How had he never noticed that his good-for-nothing brother, who was always glued to MMOs, had such talent?*

But he didn’t doubt the director’s judgment. With a bright smile, he agreed, already planning to share the good news with his brother when he got back.