Absolutely legitimate Star Iron, I've awakened the Underworld System?

Page 40

　Within a few days, the official Luofu Immortal Boat issued a statement regarding this matter.

　After reading the announcement, Bai Qiong learned that the decadent and corrupt business in Jinren Alley had actually not lasted long, only about two weeks.

　If they had actually been operating for a long time and made money, they wouldn't be unable to pay the rent owed to the company.

　From the time Bai Qiong and his group discovered the problem with the Jinren Lane Chamber of Commerce to the time the matter was resolved, it took less than two days.

　As for why the Tianbo Company, which was in charge of commerce and foreign trade, did not discover the abnormality, it was because the staff stationed at Jinren Lane Wharf had long been corrupted by the Jinren Lane Chamber of Commerce.

　Not only the Tianbo Bureau, but also some public officials of the Diheng Bureau colluded with the Jinren Lane Chamber of Commerce...

　This resulted in the Tianbo Division's first investigation coming to nothing.

　In a sense, Scott also did a great job. If he hadn't stuffed a Cloud Toad into the cargo at the dock and happened to ingest the Golden Man Alley Chamber of Commerce's prohibited bubble, the mess in Golden Man Alley would probably have gone undiscovered for a long time.

　Flying Sky kept its promise to Scott and held a bidding ceremony at the Golden Man Lane Wharf Chamber of Commerce.

　The final result of the bidding was neither that the company group represented by Scott profited entirely, nor that the remaining shops in Golden Lane won the bid.

　After discussion and deliberation, they established an organization called the "Jinren Lane Commercial Cooperative" to check and balance each other.

　In addition, they jointly elected a man named Minghan as the leader of the cooperative to manage the Jinren Lane Wharf.

　Bai Qiong remembered this NPC named Ming Han. He was the young master of the "Tonggongfang" chamber of commerce, a local business association in Jinren Lane. He also had experience studying abroad and was one of the company's agents stationed in Jinren Lane.

　In the original storyline of Starry Sky Railway, he ultimately lost in the business competition with the main characters, but he also took on the important task of reviving Golden Man Alley.

　In the current global context, Minghan has devised a new development strategy that aims to leverage the port's role as a logistics hub while retaining most of the local shops.

　His continued management of the commercial operations in Jinren Alley seems to be consistent with the original storyline.

　Now, the embroidery workshop is preparing to reopen. Yu Kong personally participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony and solemnly promised, "From now on, the light here... belongs only to those who hold needle and thread!"

　Mingxi, the culprit, has received her due punishment; she will face imprisonment in the Dark Prison.

　The matter seemed to have come to an end, but Bai Qiong still felt that something was wrong...

　In the original storyline, although Mingxi was trying her best to ensure the continuation of local shops, she did not go to extremes and use such illegal means to make a profit and make up for the losses of traditional businesses.

　If one makes different choices when faced with various events, resulting in a deviation in the timeline, that is understandable.

　On March 7th, it's understandable that Topa and the others, having had too much contact with him and being at the center of the incident, underwent some changes.

　So what about Mingxi?

　The dirty business of the Golden Man Lane Chamber of Commerce only began two weeks ago.

　Two weeks ago...

　Wasn't that when I first obtained the Inner World System?

　Could it be that all of this, in the end, is still related to that treacherous system of his?!

Chapter 54 Approaching the Truth

　Thinking of this, Bai Qiong's heart trembled.

　He took out his phone and opened the group chat from before.

　Although Scott had contributed to the Golden Man Alley incident, Bai Qiong, considering that the questions she was about to ask might involve classified information, didn't hesitate to kick Scott out.

　Who isn't a lone wolf at heart?

　Bai Qiong sent a message to Yu Kong in the group chat to ask—

　[Bai Qiong: Lord Yu Kong, I'd like to ask you, did the Golden Man Alley Chamber of Commerce begin infiltrating public officials two weeks ago as well?]

　It took more than ten minutes for Yu Kong to reply.

　[Yu Kong: No, according to our investigation, the Jinren Lane Chamber of Commerce's corruption plan is long-term and premeditated. Mingxi has actually been planning this for a long time.]

　[Yu Kong: Thank goodness for Mr. Bai Qiong. He nipped this crime in the bud before it got too bad. Otherwise, if word got out, the reputation of the Immortal Ship would have been damaged.]

　Upon seeing the message from Yu Kong, Bai Qiong fell into a brief moment of contemplation.

　It's been planned for a long time... Novel Group 6*;4

　Is it related to my own system? (8457)

　If it's unrelated to your own system, then perhaps it involves something else unknown...

　This involves an even earlier plan! And the reasons behind it may be far more terrifying than one can imagine.

　Thinking of this, Bai Qiong asked Yu Kong again—

　[Bai Qiong: Lord Yu Kong, I also want to ask, is it really true that Ming Xi said the Qiong Guan Formation can't calculate anything right now?]

　[Soaring Through the Sky: Why are you asking this? {Alert}]

　[Bai Qiong: I feel like there are some things I don't understand right now, and I'd like to ask the Grand Diviner to do a divination for me.]

　[Yu Kong: I'm afraid we're in some trouble. Just two weeks ago, parts of the universe were indeed obscured by an energy body we'd never seen before. Many things are difficult to calculate, or rather, impossible to calculate at all. Now, even calculating the trajectory of the immortal ship is proving problematic.]

　[Yu Kong: Ming Xi only dared to act so recklessly because she knew this news.]

　[Su Chang: Oh! I understand now. That's why you, Lord Yu Kong, were unwilling to seek help from the Taibu Si. And after the first operation failed, you anticipated that there were spies planted within the Diheng Si and Tianbo Si, so you didn't want any large-scale operations.]

　[Soaring Through the Skies: {Thumbs up}]

　……

　Two weeks ago again?

　Why is it always that same crucial moment?!

　Bai Qiong felt a headache coming on.

　I really can't figure this out on my own.

　But now the abbot is in trouble again, so who can I turn to for help?

　I can't get in touch with Elio myself...

　This is difficult...

　Just as Bai Qiong was still struggling with his decision, he suddenly saw Su Chang tag him in the group chat.

　[Su Chang: Um... Mr. Bai Qiong, I still owe you a lesson in barking like a puppy...]

　Bai Qiong's lips twitched. Why did this have to be brought up when he was pondering a crucial issue?

　He replied with trembling hands—

　[Bai Qiong: You don't need to worry about that kind of thing. I didn't take the bet to heart either...]

　[Su Chang: No, no! I told my mother about this, and she already lectured me, saying, "A naive accomplice is often more dangerous than the villain." It seems I need to think more carefully before I act as a chivalrous hero in the future.]

　[Bai Qiong: That's good, isn't it? You've already learned your lesson, so there's no need for punishment.]

　[Su Chang: No, no! I always keep my promises! But let's not bark like dogs in Jinren Alley, shall we... find a less crowded place?]

　[Su Chang: Look, how about Lin Yuan Realm? There are plenty of small corals there used for cover, and not many people around.]

　[Bai Qiong: ?]

　[Bai Qiong: No, big sister, Lord Yu Kong is still in the group chat, please be mindful of the impact...]

　[Yu Kong: I don't mind. What, is it that Mr. Bai Qiong wants me to join him tonight? {laughs}]

　[White Dome: ???]

　[Bai Qiong: I didn't mean that, Lord Yu Kong, please don't come! One Li Da Zhentou is enough to give me a headache.]

　[Su Chang: Anyway, it's settled for tonight! Mr. Bai Qiong, don't be late!]

　……

　After the chat ended and Bai Qiong turned off his phone, he felt a headache coming on.

　There's just no way to deal with such a stubborn and clueless girl.

　……

　As evening fell, Bai Qiong arrived at the entrance to the Lin Yuan Realm precisely on time.

　There are usually not many people here...

　However, there are indeed many roaming monsters.

　Bai Qiong couldn't help but worry: would it really be alright to stay here?

　Soon after, Su Chang arrived. Surprisingly, she wasn't wearing her usual yellow and white top and black skirt today. Instead, she was only wearing a long trench coat, her hands in her pockets, and she was also wearing sunglasses and a mask.

　This outfit is all wrong!

　Bai Qiong originally thought that Su Chang would just lie down and call out a couple of times and that would be the end of it, but seeing Su Chang's appearance, Bai Qiong had a vague feeling that something was wrong.

　"Why are you dressed like that? It's not cold at all..." Bai Qiong asked, pointing at her long trench coat.

　"Hmm... the bet Scott mentioned, wasn't it supposed to make me strip naked... and crawl down like a puppy? I'll go ahead with it..."

　Su Chang blushed and began to unbutton her clothes.

　Bai Qiong saw what was under the trench coat and exclaimed that it was completely outrageous.

　"No...you...you don't have to do this, silly girl..."

　"No, I don't care! I will definitely do what I promised!" Su Chang tugged at the hem of her clothes, closed her eyes, and remained very determined.

　Bai Qiong rubbed his forehead, feeling a headache coming on.

　It's not just the big head that's getting bigger, but the small head too.

　"Then...then hurry up!"

　"Oh……"

　Su Chang took off her trench coat, handed the collar to Bai Qiong, and then squatted down.

　The hands are claw-like, and the tongue is sticking out...