God Race, Fig Corporation, Research Institute 137.
The two days when Xia Fei was gone had been very peaceful. Ex-director Kalu had been demoted to the parks department, and the newly instated director was an old researcher who wore a high-grade monocle. He had a wooden personality and was not particularly good with his words.
It was said that this old researcher would soon be replaced, since the director position needed not just experience but also plenty of administrative skills. The company very evidently understood that the old researcher with his wooden personality was not the best choice.
Xia Fei had heard all this from his three colleagues at the maintenance team. Having finished off the proud Zack in front of the entire company, he of course formed quite the stir in their small maintenance team.
However, Xia Fei acted as if nothing had happened, doing his work as per usual, ten items every day. No more, no less. After accompanying the three for a tea-drinking session, he retired to his room to receive the teachings of Alpha. He was fairly unconcerned with regard to matters like who replaced whom.
“Hoooo!”
Inside his room, Xia Fei heaved a long sigh of relief and proceeded to study for ten hours straight. He was both very excited and tired. No one enjoyed such drab studies, but this fast-learning method Alpha had taught him left Xia Fei quite amazed.
There were still plenty of topics that Xia Fei wanted to cover regarding the Hidden Realm, such as those parts of the Titan superwarship that he could not make sense of and if Phantom could merge with a mechanical body and be reborn. The only way for him to solve them would be to keep studying.
Alpha was powerful yet also very mysterious. The curriculum he had set for Xia Fei went from rudimentary to profound, going from simple to complex; finally, it ventured to the inconceivable Cosmic Energy.
Three days passed in the blink of an eye. Though no one had forgotten about the bloodless fight between Xia Fei and Zack, it did not seem like Fig Corporation cared that it had even transpired. The examination for new members that would directly influence their posts in the company somehow got postponed for no apparent reason, and the ever-courteous Director Muzen of Division 4 had not rung Xia Fei up even once.
Of course, Xia Fei still managed to do plenty of things in these three days; he had even digested that energy he got from the Dark lifeforms—very easily at that, swiftly letting him become a level 5 Law Overlord! The next step would allow him to reach the Superior Law Overlord tier!
His rocket-like rise appeared once more, and as reality proved, while the Dark lifeforms were someone else’s nightmare, they were no more than delicacies to Xia Fei.
Xia Fei very much enjoyed the pure and stable energy he gain from them, and though this type of energy radiated with frigidness, Xia Fei quickly realized that it was exactly this quality of the dark energy that made it easier for him to absorb it.
This seemed to be very illogical, and Xia Fei could truly not make sense of it. Why did he happen to enjoy this sort of energy so much?
…
Fig Corporation, joint meeting of the four major research divisions.
“I wonder… Why is it that I, the director of Division 4, don’t even have the authority to transfer a subordinate to my division? Is this truly how the company wants to treat us in Division 4?” Director Muzen protested with a frown.
Unexpectedly, Muzen’s request to transfer Xia Fei to his headquarters had actually been denied! It must be stated that it was just an internal transfer to a research division, yet the company had directly vetoed it. This was completely against the rules; in fact, there had never been precedence of such an intervention.
Alas, Muzen had no choice but to bite the bullet and request a joint meeting of the four major research divisions, not for Xia Fei’s or Zack’s sake but for his own face. As a distinguished director, if word of his personnel appointment being denied got out, it would greatly affect his prestige within the division.
“That’s right! Old Muzen here didn’t do anything wrong, so there’s no reason for the company to intervene with regard to any internal transfers of the various research divisions.” The one who had just spoken was Hu Qingfeng, an emaciated and dark-skinned elderly gentleman. He was the director of Research Division 3.
Hu Qingfeng was a very earnest man. He hated Muzen’s smooth and evasive personality, but he had decided to stand on the latter’s side for this matter. If the company could arbitrarily interfere with the personnel deployment within the various divisions, all the three divisions aside from Division 1 would lose their autonomy, and being a director would be no more than a figurehead appointment.
Division 2’s female director, Shayjoo, slightly nodded in agreement. It was a very rare sight; the four divisions had always fought with one another, both out in the open and in the dark, yet this was the first time the three directors actually agreed on a matter.
Seated in the second position at the table was the director of Division 1, Jinkowu, who had maintained his silence this entire time, a haughty look of indifference evident on his face. Division 1 held the highest position in Fig Corporation; it was this transcendental status that gave him the qualifications to be so nonchalant. He knew very well that, no matter what the other divisions were quarrelling about, it would never affect him, for he was not on the same level as them.
“*Cough cough*!”
The head, Browning, who had a dark expression on his face, intentionally coughed twice. Browning was the director of the Science and Technology Arbitration Bureau, which was above the four major research divisions, and answered directly to the company’s board members.
In Fig Corporation’s corporate structure, the Science and Technology Arbitration Bureau oversaw all works related to research and development; the Star Academy Education Bureau managed the Fig Star Academy; finally, the Manufacturing and Fabrication Bureau dealt with the construction according to the blueprints provided by the Science and Technology Arbitration Bureau. Of course, the purchasing of materials and stores was also under the purview of the Manufacturing and Fabrication Bureau.
It could not be helped. Fig Corporation was truly too big of an organization, meaning that there were naturally countless lower branches, with all sorts of power struggles playing out in the open and in the dark.
Bureau Director Browning intentionally paused before saying, “I didn’t intentionally interfere with the personnel transfer of Division 4; rather, someone forced me to do it.”
With that said, Browning turned on the screen with a light tap of a button and a formal document from the Star Academy Education Bureau was displayed.
After the four directors read it, even the most composed Research Division 1 Director Jinkowu furrowed his brows slightly, while Muzen had an utterly ugly look on his face.
It was the ever-earnest Hu Qingfeng who solemnly voiced, “Director, those people from Fig Star Academy aren’t targeting the young man known as Yin Fei but rather his tutor Flynn, are they? They’re claiming that Flynn hasn’t participated in the academy’s monthly and annual meetings after joining Star Academy, so the’re refusing to recognize him as a Star Academy tutor. This is simply nonsense.
“Everyone knows that the reason the company established Independent College is to prevent Star Academy from monopolizing power, suppressing potential students for personal gains. Not only do the students that Independent College recruit need to report to Star Academy, they’re even more than qualified to issue grade certifications, sending their students over to the company without getting the Star Academy’s approval at all.”
Even Shayjoo spoke. “That’s right. I’m afraid that this is part of the internal conflict between Star Academy and Independent College. Everyone here knows that Star Academy values Eternity Branch more than their lives. Since Yin Fei from Independent College won against Zack from Eternity Branch, it’s a heavy slap in Star Academy’s face. I’m afraid that Fig Star Academy is using this chance to get rid of Independent College in one fell swoop, which has been a thorny flesh in their eye this entire time.
“Honestly speaking, even though Independent College always churns out freaks, their abilities are there for all to see. Just take this instance for example; the first genius in fifteen decades, Zack, ended up losing to Yin Fei. I personally constructed the question he solved, and he answered it perfectly. I believe that even Zack would be unable to solve it even if he were given the chance to do so.”
Browning stated with a frown, “I know exactly what all of you meant, but the issue is that Fig Star Academy is looking to deprive both Yin Fei and his tutor Flynn of their status! All of you should know that the company has never once accepted a talent from outside Star Academy, and we rely entirely on them to supply us with fresh blood.
“Right now, Star Academy is denying Yin Fei of his status, so forget transferring him internally between the four divisions, we can’t even get him to fill a janitorial post! Is anyone among you aware that Zack is the direct disciple of the three giants of Star Academy? They’re more than willing to do anything to save face! Old Muzen, you’d better go back and quietly persuade Xia Fei to leave. I cherish the fact that he’s a talent, so let him save some face and get him to voluntarily leave the company.”
Muzen’s expression turned pale instantly. Not only did he fail to get Yin Fei in his division, he even had to chase him away personally?! How could Muzen feel good about it?
Nodding, Muzen shakily mumbled, “I know very well what methods the three giants of the Star Academy can resort to. I’ll go right away and get Yin Fei to leave the company.”
…
In his living quarters, Xia Fei was as focused as he usually was. The discordant atmosphere in the company did not affect his study or cultivation at all, and he was still learning at the superspeed pace like before.
Suddenly, Alpha halted their lesson to display a row of words on the screen.
“There’s trouble?” Xia Fei read the words, puzzled.
Xia Fei was just about to ask what trouble when a knock was heard from outside his door.
Opening it and looking, he saw Director Muzen of Division 4. He had come alone this time, without any subordinate in tow.
Xia Fei smiled and greeted Muzen before inviting him in.
Muzen quickly waved his hand repeatedly. “No need. It’s just a minor thing, and I’ll be returning after I’m done.”
Xia Fei got curious. “You’re the director, so you can just inform me if there’s anything. Why make the trip here yourself?”
Muzen looked somewhat awkward as he whispered, “The fewer people who know about this, the better.”
Xia Fei frowned and did not say a word. He patiently waited for Muzen to explain himself, while he pondered on Alpha’s words. This mysterious person seemed to be like a clairvoyant, what with Muzen arriving just as he said that there was trouble. Who knew what his background was?
“It’s like this… There’s been a bit of an issue with your certifications, and I feel that it is best if you take the initiative to leave the company.” Muzen wiped sweat off his forehead while he spoke.
Xia Fei was stunned as he exclaimed, “Director, could you explain the meaning of this?! I don’t quite understand what you’re implying.”
Muzen somewhat urgently replied, “I can’t explain things to you. In any case, it’s best if you leave the company as soon as possible, or else I’ll be in trouble, too.”
A vague flash of anger appeared on Xia Fei’s face as he asked firmly, “Are you chasing me out?!”
Muzen was in a fix. The three giants of the Star Academy were not people whom he wanted to provoke, and also he had difficulties finding the right words to explain the clash between the three giants and Independent College. As such, all he could do was hem and haw for a bit, coaxing Xia Fei to pack up and leave as soon as the young man could.
This was when an old voice echoed from deep in the corridor. “Leave? It’s too late for that!”
The moment this voice was heard, Muzen turned as white as a sheet. He immediately took three steps backward and bowed deeply.
Xia Fei looked at the source of the voice, only to come face to face with three elderly individuals. All three, who were wearing Cold Star Robes unique to Fig Star Academy, made their way to him.
“Are you Yin Fei?”
Xia Fei nodded with his hands behind his back.
“I heard that you had said something about killing our student.” The elder on the left spoke enigmatically.
From Muzen’s expression, it was not hard to figure that he was quite afraid of these three elders. They must be men of quite significance, no doubt!
Unexpectedly, Xia Fei merely chuckled. His lips even curled into his signature smirk. “Heh… I’ve killed plenty of people in my life, so I wonder who you three might be referring to?”
