“It looks like it’s necessary to go deep into Raging Waves Mountain Range and trace the source.”
Meng Chao contemplated for a moment and said to Ai Lei, “If Horizon really has the ability to build a secret base in the depths of Raging Waves Mountain Range without anyone noticing, their influence must be even greater than we imagined.
“Even the security supervisor who was sent out to scout for information on the surface has the strength of a peak Earth Realm warrior. The hidden force in the secret base is even more important.
“Therefore, you don’t have to sneak into Horizon with me. Networking in Dragon City is more suitable for you to display your talent.
“I need you to do a few things.”
Ai Lei had been a little nervous when she heard that Meng Chao was going to sneak in alone. She thought that this golden thigh that she had finally latched onto was going to leave her and work alone.
However, once she heard that Meng Chao wanted her to do something, she quickly nodded. “Please tell me about it, Senior. I’ll do anything!”
“There’s no need to put yourself in danger. Just do what you do and help me investigate some things.”
Meng Chao pondered for a moment and said, “First of all, of course, pay close attention to the battle between the Azure Alliance and the nine corporations, which revolves around the National Training Act and North Advancement Plan.
“I want you to collect all the news. Don’t let any information slip by. Don’t worry about the information collected being too complicated. Most of the time, the truth is hidden in the details.”
Ai Lei nodded.
The argument regarding the National Training Act and the North Advancement Plan had been the hottest topic in Dragon City recently. Even if they did not deliberately collect information on it, there would still be an overwhelming amount of pop-up information that would bombard every citizen’s cerebral cortex without restraint.
After their victory in the Monster War and the opening of the gate between worlds, all the citizens obviously had their own ideas about Dragon City’s future. They could not wait to tell it to anyone who would be willing to listen patiently.
It was overkill to ask Ai Lei to collect that information.
“Second of all, I want you to investigate a group of people.”
Meng Chao said, “I don’t know their names at the moment. I’m not even sure of their scope. All I can do is point out a few rough criteria.
“For one, these people have a certain level of authority in the nine corporations and relevant departments of the Supernatural Tower, or they’re fighting on the front lines. Their positions aren’t high, and they don’t even have much authority, but they are the people by the side of important figures—drivers, secretaries, private doctors, and cultivation assistants.
“Also, their cultivation has been stuck at a certain stage for a long period of time. It might seem like their potential has been fully tapped, but in the past few years, they have rekindled a second spring in their cultivation. Their combat strength has soared, and they have broken through bottlenecks and ceilings.
“Next, these people also seem to have God’s help in their careers. They’re able to turn misfortune into luck. In a very short period of time, they have grasped authority that they did not even dare to think of in the past.
“Basically, it’s just those three things. Find them using available public information. Don’t be afraid of errors in the specifics, and don’t be afraid of finding too many people. Can you do it?”
Ai Lei’s mind raced.
“So, you’re saying, people like Shen Yulin?” she asked with bright eyes.
Meng Chao looked at her in surprise.
The more he thought about it, the more he felt that she was a promising talent.
“Yes, people like Shen Yulin.”
Meng Chao said, “However, don’t fall into the wrong mindset. The nine corporations are not the only ones that can produce someone like Shen Yulin. The rising Azure Alliance might also have a similar hidden role.”
Ai Lei blinked.
She hesitantly asked, “Senior, are you talking about Lu Siya?”
“No, you can investigate anyone but not Lu Siya.”
Meng Chao said, “This woman is very dangerous. You can’t win against her. If you act rashly, there’s a high chance that she’ll find out.
“When that happens, not only will your safety be compromised, but you might also be led by her nose and be confused. If you’re not careful, you’ll lose the whole game.”
“Understood.”
In the later stage of her career as a monster hunter, she had been seriously injured and her cultivation had plummeted. That made Ai Lei respect those she could not afford to offend in her pursuit of profit.
She nodded obediently and said, “I’ll find those who have similar experiences with Shen Yulin in Dragon City, except for Lu Siya. I’ll leave her to you, Senior.”
“There’s one more thing.”
Meng Chao said, “It’s the information age now. Those who can control the channel of information delivery will have the advantage. I want to know how much power you can mobilize in this regard?
“What I mean is, if I want to make as many citizens of Dragon City, low-level and middle-level superhumans personages, and even the nine mega corporations as unsatisfied with the current situation and worried about the future as possible. Can you do it?”
“About that…”
Ai Lei hesitated.
Hesitation was not denial.
“You can do it, but there’s a problem?” Meng Chao asked.
“There’s not much of a problem, but…”Ai Lei continued to hesitate.
Meng Chao understood what she meant.
He took out a stack of crystal-clear cards from his pocket.
They were anonymous bills of lading distributed in more than ten large warehouses in the north, south, east, and west of Dragon City.
With these bills of lading, it had been easy to extract the crystals and monster materials that were stored in the warehouse in the beginning.
Now that cultivation resources were scarce and the price of the black market skyrocketed, one might not be able to buy high-level crystals and top-grade materials even with real gold and silver.
These anonymous bills of lading were hard currency, so hard that it clanged…
Meng Chao had stolen this hard currency from Gao Chuang or Giant-toothed Crocodile’s office.
As one of the most powerful black market businessmen in Dragon City, Gao Chuang’s wealth was far less than that of the big figures from the nine cultivation families.
The wealth accumulated by taking risks was not something that ordinary folks could imagine.
Gao Chuang knew the risks he had taken.
He was ready to run away at any time.
The anonymous bills of lading were his life-saving talismans.
Unfortunately, Giant-toothed Crocodile’s life-saving talismans turned into Meng Chao’s campaign funds.
Each bearer ticket was made of a composite material between metal and crystal.
At first glance, it was as thin as a cicada’s wing. When placed in the hand, one could clearly see the lines on his palm through the bearer ticket.
However, when facing the sunlight, one could also see that there were carvings of beasts that bared their fangs and brandished their claws within the bearer ticket. They were vivid and lifelike.
Ai Lei was knowledgeable.
She knew that the value of these bills of lading was astronomical.
There was no need to go to the warehouse to pick up the goods. Through various channels, she could exchange them for real gold and silver, cultivation resources, and anyone who was willing to do anything.
Meng Chao understood the principle of “an emperor not needing hungry soldiers.” He did not even count the bills of lading and stuffed a stack of them into Ai Lei’s arms.
Ai Lei was so excited that her hands were trembling and her breathing was rapid. She had always been sharp-tongued, but she was stuttering at that moment. “Senior, this… this is too much, too much.”
“What? You don’t think you can spend them all?” Meng Chao frowned.
Ai Lei shuddered and nodded heavily. “I can spend them all. In this day and age, why would I be afraid of not spending money?”?
“Don’t worry, Senior. As long as money is not a problem, there won’t be any other problems. I promise to spend this money beautifully and give you a thousand extra eyes, a thousand pairs of ears, and a thousand mouths in Dragon City!”
“That’s good. This is only the first budget for the event. Money is definitely not a problem. The main concerns are safety and confidentiality.”
Meng Chao said, “During this period of time, it’s best that you keep your fake identity and mask. Don’t let anyone find out that you’re still alive, including the friends you want to contact. Will that be difficult?”
“It won’t be difficult.”
“My friends recognize money but don’t recognize people,” Ai Lei said bluntly.
“What about their guts?” Meng Chao asked again.
“Are they bold enough to risk the world’s condemnation?”
“If they can have a lot of money, they’ll be bold.”
Ai Lei said, “As long as they have enough money, my friends will be bold enough to expose the stories that the Deity Realm warriors and the seventy-two concubines have to tell!”
“…What about their safety?”
Meng Chao continued to ask, “Do your friends know how to change their names, conceal themselves, and ensure their own safety?”
“Of course.”
Ai Lei said, “My friends are still alive and kicking after exposing the stories that the Deity Realm warriors and the seventy-two concubines of the three palaces and six courtyards had to tell. No one can find anything on them, not even their real identities. Even I might not know their real identities and appearances, just as they don’t know my real identity and appearances. We are all professionals in this field.
“In short, don’t worry, Senior.Although my friends and I don’t have any great skills, we can easily use sensational, shameless, and groundbreaking topics to attract as much attention as possible with the right amount of funds.
“Isn’t there a saying that in the information age, anyone can have their five minutes of fame?
“With our full support and your absolute strength, you can at least be Dragon City’s absolute protagonist for twenty-four hours!”
“That’s good.”
Meng Chao muttered to himself, “When necessary, twenty-four hours is enough to make a final decision and seal someone’s throat with a sword!”
