Ji Jue suddenly said, "This thing, actually, can also, not exist, right?"

The supervisor stood there, stunned.

"This..."

To be fair, for everyone, this was indeed the best approach.

Make a big issue small, and a small issue dissolve.

A major mutant leak accident turned into an alarm triggered by a minor pollution error. Such minor leaks were inevitable in this kind of work environment and caused no severe consequences—at most, one would receive a few reprimands, which hardly mattered.

If anything, just some wages might be docked,

So what?

Who cares about that measly sum of eighteen hundred yuan a month?

And the only ones who suffered any loss were Ji Jue and Lou Feng, who might have earned commendation for their work. Yet, Lou Feng glanced at Ji Jue and said nothing.

As for Ji Jue, he really didn't care about that bit of credit.

With his teacher around, was he afraid of going hungry?

For a moment, not just the supervisor, but also the apprentice who had been forcing a smile to hide his sorrow, stood frozen.

"Why, why..." the injured apprentice spoke incoherently, almost unable to stand steadily, unable to believe it.

"Weren't you the one who taught me the procedure when I first arrived?"

Ji Jue looked puzzled, "From protection to operation, you guided me for a long time, afraid that I wouldn't understand, taking up quite a bit of your time, right?

If this were a factory assembly line, I'd have to offer you a cigarette and call you 'master.'"

Saying this, he laughed indifferently, patted him on the shoulder:

"Don't make a big deal out of it, it was just a helping hand."

The Recovery Management Department was a place where one traded their lifespan for future prospects.

Those without talent, without money, or not favored by their mentors, in order to strive for that tiny bit of insignificant credit, would hone skills others had long mastered, or unable to refuse the workshop's distribution and nomination, had to come here to be beasts of burden, toiling away in the hopes of a better tomorrow.

That's why the beasts of burden would cherish each other.

Even facing an 'aristocrat' who'd parachuted in like himself, there were those who spared no effort to repeatedly emphasize safety and protection, carefully guiding through every step of the process to prevent any harm to him.

Times had changed, Ji Jue had already escaped the torment, but compared to the nobles who boasted in the lounge, he still preferred those who worked hard with him in the workspace.

Even if he could do without, what seemed trivial to him, weighed against on the other side of the scale, could represent the potential future that several others were hoping for.

After all, if he didn't suffer any losses, why not do it?

"I...I..."

The apprentice stood dumbfounded, wanting to speak but was already choking back sobs, tears welling up in his eyes.

But Ji Jue didn't wait for him to speak.

"Hey! Did everyone hear that? Old Zhao is treating us to dinner!" He turned around, raising his voice: "One dish per person, pick whatever you want from the canteen."

"Damn it? For real?"

"That's so generous! Count me in!"

"Can I take away?"

In the relief and ease of having survived great difficulty, many apprentices chimed in, Zhao Yan choked up a bit, offered a grateful smile, wiped his face, and raised his voice:

"Let's go! Let's go! My treat!"

Within the relaxed atmosphere, the workspace's repairs and sorting also picked up speed. One could expect that normal operations would resume in a few hours.

The only thing to wait for was the arrival of a new batch of storage containers.

As the crowd began to disperse, Ji Jue heard a familiar voice behind him carrying its usual sternness, "Concealing a major safety incident is a serious responsibility, you know that, right?"

Ji Jue turned around, frowning in surprise. Upon seeing Tong Shan's face, he cracked a smile.

"Hey, Minister Tong, long time no see. You're here too?"

"Security Bureaus from all over Hai Province have already arrived one after another. I can't just keep sitting in my office enjoying the air conditioning," Tong Shan's lips seemed to curl into a slight smile, "Otherwise, how could I catch you in the act of concealing the situation?"

"Accident? What accident?"

Ji Jue was puzzled, "I haven't seen any."

"Even if you don't tell me, you can't hide it for long. After all, the alarm has been triggered, and with such a big scene, the investigation will be easy." Tong Shan said as he slightly raised an eyebrow, as if looking to the sky, "Don't forget where we are."

Ji Jue sighed helplessly.

Under the watchful Heavenly Eye.

Right under the eyelids of the Heavenly People, it's really not easy to tell lies.

And then, he slowly heard the latter half of the sentence: "However, how the report is written, that's another matter altogether."

"Hm?"

Ji Jue sensed something was off.

And Tong Shan continued speaking: "Facing the sinister attack of the Evil Cult, the Recovery Management Department under the lead of apprentice Ji Jue and Lou Feng bravely fought against a Mutated A-grade mutant, not only successfully neutralizing it but also defending the workshop and department, ensuring the progress and efficiency of work...

Do you think this report is inspiring enough?"

Ji Jue was speechless with shock, his eyes wide open.

Damn, is this the professional level of Federation civil servants? No, is this the gap between a commoner and a director of Cliff City Security Bureau who's also the assistant to the bureau chief?

This, this turns a disaster into a triumph!

At most, I could think about downplaying the incident and keeping it quiet, but with just a word from Tong Zhiwu, the blame is shifted beyond reach, and when it falls, it lands right on the Evil Cult's head!

I've been at the outpost for so long, and haven't even seen a live member of the Evil Cult, damn it!

"Mutants don't spawn without reason. An inspection of the recovery team is definitely necessary. Besides, making some noise is good to tighten up the recent lax atmosphere so that those fellows won't all feel too pleased with themselves.

Those lunatics curled up in Spring City won't just sit and wait for death. Who knows what kind of counterattack they'll plan in a few days."

Tong Shan glanced at Ji Jue, "Don't worry, I'll push it forward on behalf of Cliff City Security Bureau."

This was the most important part.

Sometimes the same report, with one more seal or one less, can have a completely different effect. In such matters, Ji Jue, a mere apprentice, had little influence; his words were like silent farts. On the other hand, Tong Shan, representing the Cliff City Security Bureau, had words that rang with authority.

Moreover, this unexpected collective honor fell from the sky...

Who would refuse it?

"Whoa, isn't that my brother Shan?!"

In the brief silence, Ji Jue slapped his thigh, exuberant: "Come, have a seat, the place of honor! That Old Building, pour some tea, quick!

Get that precious Dahongpao from the bottom of my chest!"

Lou Feng rolled his eyes at the side, not wanting to say a word.

Your damn chest has nothing but wrenches and drills, no damned Dahongpao! Pouring tea is always just tossing leaves into a big pot no matter what, brew it for two liters, let it steep overnight, and that's it, didn't you even bum off my tea leaves?!

"You youngster..."

It was only after sitting down on the chair that Ji Jue brought out that a semblance of a smile seemed to form on Tong Shan's solemn face as he suddenly asked, "Help me out?"

"Who do we kill?"

Ji Jue's eyes lit up.

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