Pretending To Be A Boss
Chapter 848 - 37: The Mantis and Yellow Sparrow in Baichuan City_2

Qi Xun? He seems to be a scoundrel.

Despite the Qi Family's young master having fallen from grace, Qi Xun used to have decent connections and was generous with money. As a true prodigal, many people flocked to him.

Especially since the Song Family and the Li family no longer held power, Song Que and Li Xiaoyu were still the two most influential people in Baichuan City.

Nobody underestimated the Qi family's son, but in reality, after losing power, Qi Xun could still feel a significant change in people's attitudes.

In the past, when Qi Xun asked for favors, it was seen as granting face to others.

Now, though everyone is still polite on the surface when Qi Xun asks for a favor, he must offer something in return, namely money.

Once, his connections and reputation were his currency; now, without these, he has to pay with real money.

With millions of people flooding into Baichuan City, the talent pool has increased. In today's mass construction climate, Baichuan City changes every day.

In just a few months, most of the social and corporate ecosystems found in the Pyramid are now established in Baichuan City.

However, the status of the Qi family deteriorates day by day, and those savvy in Baichuan City gradually understand Qi Xun's situation. Within a few months, Qi Xun nearly transformed from acting like a scoundrel to becoming a real one.

There were a few times Song Que wanted to help and support Qi Xun, and Li Zheng agreed, after all, they all had a connection.

But this request was vetoed by Li Xiaoyu.

Li Xiaoyu's reasoning was simple: the brutal rules of the lower echelons are quite applicable to Baichuan City now—more work, more gain.

If Qi Xun wants to regain his status, he must demonstrate his capabilities and earn everyone's respect.

"Even ancient kings only began granting fiefdoms after securing their realm stable. Today's Baichuan City is far from being able to support idle people; during the conquest, everyone is equal," said Li Xiaoyu straightforwardly.

Song Que did not object, he respected and acknowledged Li Xiaoyu, so he dropped the matter.

What comforted him was that Qi Xun also had a lot of pride; he never sought help from him or Li Zheng.

...

...

Qi Xun aimlessly wandered the streets, amidst the hustle and bustle, only his expression looked peculiar.

He seemed intent on doing something but was continuously restraining himself.

Eventually, he left Baichuan City and headed to the sparsely visited western suburbs. Checking several times along the way to ensure no one noticed him, he proceeded slowly.

After more than an hour of such wavering, he arrived at the western suburbs and Qi Xun didn't do anything special; he simply went to the lakeside.

Winter was almost over, the ice on the lake had cracked, but the water was still bitterly cold.

Qi Xun looked at his reflection in the lake, a face with a complex expression.

Fear, anger, resentment. Coupled with his perennial unruly prodigal appearance, even under these expressions, a trace of cynical detachment was still evident.

This is the kind of person he was; in the eyes of the world, he's just a prodigal son, but the Qi family, though not as prominent as the Song Li families, had always maintained its standing as the third family.

Only those who truly understood Qi Xun knew his capabilities.

After a long while, Qi Xun's expression became calm, reverting to his carefree, heartless demeanor, with a somewhat handsome roguish smirk, then he pulled out an object resembling a hand.

The communication network in Baichuan City had already been established, but it used a signal structure different from inside the Pyramid. Several experts in this field were highly paid by Li Xiaoyu and Song Que.

Communication devices quickly became widespread, such as mobile phones, which are now used in the styles that were mainstream before humans entered the Pyramid Era.

These design plans are available in the Baichuan City's main library, and relevant industry technicians soon began production.

As for the original mobile phones, based on Lin Sen and Yu Xiaozhe's suggestions—though signals from the Pyramid can't be received here, they still recommended their destruction.

Qi Xun's original mobile phone was not destroyed.

It wasn't that he couldn't bear to part with it, but a few months before the massive influx to Baichuan City, he had received a chilling message.

He had been ignoring that message, and the Qi Family had not yet evacuated the Pyramid.

It was not until suddenly, Li Zheng and Li Xiaonian announced their break with Li Wanye, and all the residents of the Pyramid started fleeing to the mining area and heading to Baichuan City like mad.

Qi Xun still hoped everything was false, wanting people to understand that the world outside was dangerous, and only the Pyramid was safe.

But the situation was such, people began to continuously flee from the Pyramid; the channels established by Song Que and others in the mining area were like God's ark.

The Qi Family had almost all gone except Qi Xun, who still insisted on staying in the barely populated fortress.

On that day, Qi Xun suddenly felt that this world should not have heroes, for they destroyed everything their ancestors had built in an instant.

Qi Xun decided to follow the instructions of the message and head to a place—the eighth level of the Pyramid.

The third fortress had not developed the eighth level.

On that day, Qi Xun, as if witnessing a miracle, went to the eighth level, and its bronze door opened.

He continued upward to the ninth level; the bronze door of the ninth level also opened without obstruction, as if the true master of the Pyramid was welcoming a guest, barriers that blocked humans for hundreds of years vanished before Qi Xun.

At the end of the Pyramid, Qi Xun did not meet a god, but he heard a voice.

...

...

"I have fully grasped the situation in Baichuan City,"

Qi Xun's voice carried sincerity.

"Yes, I handled it as you instructed, but the attempt failed. The relationship between Song Que and Li Xiaoyu is very solid, as is the camaraderie among the upper echelons of Baichuan City."

"Hmm… I think there's no need to consider that anymore. With Tang Xian holding military power enough to destroy the city and such strength to suppress them, how could they possibly rebel?"

"Moreover… more and more people are starting to like this city."

"Hmm? Suspicions… Although I didn't handle that matter well, Ju Mang didn't suspect me, and the Sons of Order really eliminated all potential hidden dangers. But the permissions you gave, made all the information about me they observed fake. I have been cautious in my actions, not exposing my identity, you can be assured of that. Who would suspect that I, a fallen debauchee already past his prime, would be your servant?"

"Indeed, it's clear, Tang Xian is very cunning. He only tells each person what to do and demands mutual secrecy, turning the complete plan into a shattered puzzle. Though I haven't pieced it together fully, I can see the essentials."

"Attacking indeed proved futile. There's a mystical myriad of beasts in the eastern suburbs that can relocate the entire city. However, it's likely that this large-scale relocation cannot be used continuously, which is what Tang Xian fears. I have received news about the relocation site of Baichuan City."

"Besides, if I were Tang Xian, I would not wait to make an honest deal after ninety days. During these ninety days, Tang Xian might be searching for leverage sufficient to oppose you."

The conversation from Qi Xun wasn't lengthy. It simply detailed some arrangements in Baichuan City. The most important was regarding the information about Baichuan City's relocation.

After ending the call, Qi Xun scanned his surroundings, making sure there was no living being in perception, then rearranged his expression and returned to Baichuan City.

Not long after Qi Xun left, from the far western end of the west suburbs, a figure slowly approached.

He, like Qi Xun, also came to the lakeside, only his face did not carry the complex emotions like Qi Xun's.

As a top-tier Werewolf player, Tang Jing's expressive face usually only appeared in front of Tang Xian and Ju Mang.

Most of the time, he wore a poker face.

Tang Jing, looking at the lakeside devoid of even footprints, remained silent, then shook his head, and did not head back directly via the western suburb entrance of Baichuan City; instead, he walked along a northern path.

Simultaneously, Tang Jing dialed Ju Mang's number:

"I need you to help me keep an eye on someone."

"Found him?"

"Yes, found him, confirmed it's him. This matter cannot be known to others, especially Song Que and Li Xiaoyu, because this person is clever, any change might alert him, and just like us, he's no longer merely human."

"Who."

"Qi Xun."