But Nan Yue's subtle action successfully pleased him; he only now realized he quite liked being cared for.
The elevator doors soon opened. Lan Jing Shui stood still inside, leaning against the elevator wall and nodding at Nan Yue.
"She's waiting for you two. Go on in."
Nan Yue stepped out of the elevator. Unlike the elaborate and refined style outside, the 112th floor's decor was very simple, dominated by minimalist black, white, and gray tones.
The floor wasn't quiet; many people were talking in the nearby offices, seemingly all assistants to Fu Xi Ming.
A woman in a suit with straight bangs and waist-length hair waited outside the office at the end. "Hello, Bai Yao and Nan Yue. Department Head Fu is waiting for you."
Nan Yue nodded and followed the woman in the suit into the office.
The office was large but extremely tidy, almost excessively so.
Everything was meticulously arranged in order, papers were neatly stacked on the desk, and there was a faint scent of tobacco in the room.
At a massive desk, a woman was engrossed in work. Her right hand rapidly tapped on a virtual screen, while her left held a burning lady's cigarette.
"Thanks, A-Xiu. There seems to have been a malicious murder in the Red City State. Arrange for someone to look into it."
The woman looked up, revealing a pair of intensely dark eyes. "You handle it personally."
A-Xiu nodded, closed the office door, and left.
Fu Xi Ming tapped a few times on the virtual screen, turned it off, and stood up. She was even a few centimeters taller than Nan Yue.
Her dark, curly hair cascaded loosely behind her. She also wore a suit, but her jacket was neatly hung on a hanger, her shirt buttons were fastened impeccably, and her tie was perfectly knotted.
"Hello, Fu Xi Ming."
Fu Xi Ming exuded immense presence. Unlike Nan Yue, whose intimidating aura stemmed from sheer overwhelming ability, Fu Xi Ming's power was cultivated from her long tenure at the pinnacle of authority.
The two women's auras clashed briefly in the air before settling into a truce.
Fu Xi Ming glanced at Jiang Siyan and chuckled, "I thought Bai Yao joined you to be the leader. It seems I was mistaken."
"Nan Yue, a newcomer who graduated seven months ago. You truly surpass your predecessors."
Fu Xi Ming scrutinized Nan Yue, her gaze sharp and piercing, yet Nan Yue felt neither aversion nor pressure.
She sat opposite Fu Xi Ming, back straight, allowing herself to be observed with a natural expression.
"You are indeed a formidable scavenger. We've been keeping an eye on you."
"However, I'm a little surprised. Based on the information we've gathered, you shouldn't be the one coming to me."
Fu Xi Ming smiled, "I thought you would try to avoid getting entangled in the conflicts of these large organizations."
It must be said that Fu Xi Ming was very perceptive; this was indeed Nan Yue's ideal scenario.
Unfortunately, things never go as one hopes.
"Indeed, I wish to make a deal with you."
Fu Xi Ming extinguished her cigarette and looked at Nan Yue. "I know."
Nan Yue's surprise was fleeting. She remembered that Fu Xi Ming's ability was foresight, the highest level of foresight.
Everything was almost transparent to her; it was perfectly normal for her to know Nan Yue's intentions.
Did Fu Xi Ming's willingness to meet her mean that...
Fu Xi Ming suddenly chuckled softly. "Are you thinking that since I already know your intentions and agreed to see you, it means I'm willing to cooperate?"
"You overestimate me."
Fu Xi Ming explained, "I merely foresaw that someone important would come to speak with me today. It wasn't hard to connect that to you."
"Zhu Xi Ning in your team has an ability similar to mine, so you should understand that foresight is divided into passive and active skills. Unless necessary, no one idly probes the future."
"However, passive skills aren't easily triggered. They usually activate only when something very important, something that might change my personal destiny, is about to happen, serving as a warning."
Fu Xi Ming leaned back, a rare hint of languor appearing in her demeanor.
"I rarely actively use my foresight ability."
Nan Yue understood. She wasn't important enough for Fu Xi Ming to use her ability to foresee what would happen.
The reason Fu Xi Ming had been so amenable thus far was likely due to passive perception.
Nan Yue took a deep breath. "I'm here to seek cooperation."
Fu Xi Ming smiled, her dark eyes fixed on Nan Yue. "The organization 'Sharp Blade' is half a marketplace; it deals in cooperation."
"However, cooperating with me comes at no small price."
Nan Yue offered a smile. "You'll be satisfied with my compensation."
"Pollution has entered our world."
The single sentence struck Fu Xi Ming like a thunderclap, without any warning.
Fu Xi Ming's expression hardened, a humorless smirk playing on her lips. "That's not something to joke about."
Nan Yue showed no fear of the superior's imposing aura Fu Xi Ming now exuded. "Have you encountered pollution before?"
Fu Xi Ming stared intently at Nan Yue, then said after a long moment, "I have. That's why I say what you're proposing is a fantasy..."
Fu Xi Ming's words trailed off, because Nan Yue, sitting opposite her, suddenly erupted with an incredibly terrifying oppressive aura.
The entire office instantly disconnected from the outside, becoming eerily silent—a stillness that symbolized death.
The next second, immense whispers echoed in Fu Xi Ming's ears. The entire room was enveloped by a terrifying aura, as if inside the body of some colossal creature, with the desperate stench of decay filling her nose and mouth.
Fu Xi Ming instinctively tried to resist but found she couldn't even move a finger. Her pupils dilated, and her eyes became even darker.
Just as Fu Xi Ming felt she was about to die there, everything instantly returned to normal.
Faint voices drifted from outside the room, and the sunlight streaming through the window made the room feel warm.
But Fu Xi Ming was utterly cold.
She glanced at the clock on the desk; everything that had just happened had occurred in a mere second.
Yet, she felt as if an hour had passed.
Fu Xi Ming silently unbuttoned her collar and loosened her tie.
She lit a cigarette, took several deep drags, then looked at Nan Yue.
"You are..."
Nan Yue looked at her coolly. "I am a scavenger. I've been corroded by pollution."
A hint of surprise appeared in Fu Xi Ming's eyes. "Is it that extreme mission..."
Her network of informants covered all city states, and Shang Xi had also come from Antswamp Village, so it wasn't difficult to learn what had happened.
However, the ability they previously knew Nan Yue to possess was large-scale offensive power, primarily manifesting as black mist.
Now it seems...
"No, this thing has been with me since birth."
Nan Yue didn't give Fu Xi Ming time to process, dropping bombshell after bombshell.
Rate on N.U.
