"Sadly, Tong Zhiwu paid a rare visit and even brought a contribution, asking for help... and it wasn't for hiring a killer?!"

Although here 'surprisingly' should be replaced with 'as expected', Ji Jue felt a sense of loss, thinking he had missed out on a lot of material.

Thankfully, when Tong Zhiwu wasn't acting like a plant, he was quite considerate and didn't spout any nonsense about borrowing one's head. Instead, he asked Ji Jue to take a good look at himself and refocus on his original profession.

Killing?

The department head of the Cliff City Security Bureau, acting head when the actual head isn't around—does one need to find you for killing?

You, an Ember, always have your mind on fighting and killing—why?

Hurry up and get back to producing, repairing, and creating!

I have a new batch of standard gear from the Artisan Association that's damaged, and I would like Brother Ji Jue to help fix it."

"No big deal."

Hearing this, Ji Jue slapped his thigh, "You're being so serious, I thought you were going to kill the Governor!"

"..."

Tong Shan's expression suddenly turned complicated.

Then, Ji Jue realized something was off.

As everyone knows, Department two of the Federation Security Bureau handles public safety, Department three logistics, and Department one secret operations or security for important figures and events...

In some sense, this Tong Shan before him could be considered the Governor's bodyguard, and even the chief of the bodyguards, a key figure who knew the Governor's whereabouts and confidential matters every day.

Damn, after all these years of blabbing, he had accidentally blabbed right in front of the person involved!

Tong Shan, helpless, looked at him for a long while, sighing deeply.

"...Already banned more than a dozen accounts, be a bit more careful," he said earnestly, "The last time the Governor had a meeting, he was asking around who was cursing him online every day."

Ji Jue shocked, "Not just me!"

"Right, your brother too."

Tong Shan's expression grew increasingly indescribable, "Just this year alone, you and your brother have been banned over forty accounts together! Keep this up, and we might have to block the ports and IP next.

It's only because Northern Mountain District has a good relationship with you, or they would have come knocking on your door for a 'chat' by now."

Ji Jue stared in disbelief, suddenly feeling wronged.

What's wrong with cursing the Governor?

Who in Cliff City hasn't been cursed? Who hasn't had a few accounts banned?

"It's like you've never been banned!"

"I haven't."

Tong Shan firmly replied, "I never curse people online."

Ji Jue gasped, shocked and admiringly looking at him.

"Not even to their face!"

Tong Shan felt like he was about to lose hair from high blood pressure.

You, Ji Jue, this damn foreigner along with Lu Feng, that military department's key dangerous figure, might be let off, but the Tong family in Cliff City has a large estate, and many are fed through it. Although they have always been low-key, never showing off muscles in public, their silent methods have covered all aspects of Cliff City—finance, industry, public utilities, electricity...before anyone realized it, they had become the most undeniable power through the gentlest means.

As a representative of the Tong family's generation, how could he publicly curse the Governor? Not to mention cursing, even a cold hum or a frown leaving the governor's mansion could be interpreted as a sign of a split between the two sides.

This was also incredibly troublesome.

Although there were times when indeed resistance hardened several times.

But even if he detested playing the dummy, he had to accept reality, embrace the rules, and integrate into them. The Tong family rose because of these rules, so they must maintain this order and could never waver in their stance.

Sadly, in a family filled with Ether gossips, only Tong Shan could muster the responsibility to bear these duties alone, enduring all while being sarcastically called 'Tong Zhiwu' by his sister.

Being a big brother is hard indeed.

"It's not easy."

Ji Jue sighed in sympathy, patting his shoulder to show his empathy.

Beside them, Lou Feng's eyes twitched—those were high-quality tailor-made uniforms from Central City, and now covered in grease from your unwashed hands? And left so many marks!

Aren't you going to teach him a lesson? Aren't you going to hit him?

But no.

Tong Shan didn't mind at all, sitting casually on the dirty chair, loosening his tie, sipping tea heartily while chatting about recent movements at the outpost.

This included teams from various Security Bureaus across Hai Province, disturbances in Spring City, traces left by the Evil Cult, and other potentially strange traces...

It wasn't until the sound of a rickety car approached from afar that he straightened up slightly and tightened his tie, reverting to that severe, dignified, and reserved captain.

Then a leaky, battered car chugged up, visibly damaged.

"Tong Team, I've brought the stuff."

The young woman driving poked her head out, excitedly waving at Tong Shan from afar. However, seeing the scene before her, she couldn't help but be astonished.

After all, following the previous attack, the Recovery Management Department could only be described as ruined, with walls knocked down by Ji Jue in several places, bricks and tiles everywhere, smoke still billowing from the workshops.

Ji Xue was shocked: Damn, did the Evil Cult attack?

But soon, seeing the craftsman introduced by Tong Shan, her expression changed: "Tong Team, the craftsman you found... um, looks really good."

Ji Jue smiled faintly, unbothered.

He could guess that she wasn't complimenting his appearance; what she probably meant to comment on was his age.

"He's too young, even younger than Tong Shan."

"With no experience, handling matters is unreliable, and moreover, Embers itself is a path that heavily depends on experience and operation, usually the older, the stronger."

Suddenly, there appeared a craftsman who seemed about the same age as himself, or even younger.

Is this reliable?

"Relax, if he says he can do it, he can do it."

Tong Shan instantly understood her concerns, waved his hand, no need for transportation, and the large boxes floated out from the battered truck bed one by one, landing in front of Ji Jue.

Many worn and damaged tools.

Among the most important, were the protective suits allocated to each member of the advance survey team, resembling coats, with high collars enough to cover a person from head to foot.

Inside, marked with the emblem of the Twelve Superior, incorporating numerous spiritual circuits and runes, it was like a mini protective shield, isolating Mutated Pollution and Erosion to the greatest extent.

Besides this, the protective capability was not low, resisting ordinary bullets goes without saying, and they were also easy to move in.

In addition, there were masks for exploring heavily polluted areas, similar to ordinary gas masks, only the consumables in the breathing valves had mostly been contaminated beyond use.

Temporary encampment devices used during temporary campsites were the monkey version disassembled by Ji Jue these days, only more portable, and likewise, faster in consumption.

Accompanying these were some mats or sleeping bags and other tools along with electronic devices that had been poorly operated due to contamination.

While Ji Jue understood, he also couldn't help but be slightly disappointed.

"It's not difficult at all."

It's a bit troublesome, but who could deny the incredible efficiency of Non-attack combined with Heavenly Skill?

Such a minor matter, even if Tong Shan didn't help, considering his relations with the simpleton Tong Hua in the Time Ruins, he wouldn't shirk or refuse this task.

"Are there no weapons?"

He curiously asked.

"Uh..." Ji Xue hesitated, "The weapons are with Alieu, they'll be delivered here in a moment."

Naturally.

In this era, when everyone is dealing for the first time, if ordinary items are damaged, just wait for the next batch to come. Weapons are life-saving treasures, how could they be handed over to a stranger for random handling?

Moreover, considering the reputation of Embers...

It can only be said that it's a progress compared to ancient times, not bad at all, already quite good.

Ji Jue didn't care.

However, Tong Shan suddenly reached out, his ring flashed slightly, and he produced a neatly constrained flag, handing it over: "If it's late, you'll have to wait in line, but how about working on this one first?"

"Wow!"

Before Ji Xue could stop him, Ji Jue had taken the item, his eyes lit up, clucking in appreciation, "What a great item!"

Rarely seen, such finely made Blessed Weapons.

Compared to the ransom Ji Jue previously extorted, this was definitely the finer work.

Strict structure, well-organized, harmoniously coordinated.

All four elements matched perfectly, flawless,

A true masterwork!

A weakened version of Dissociation Technique swept over it lightly, and after that, he could already sense the internal condition—the rare dual-blessed weapon!

"Awesome."

Ji Jue sighed, even if it looked unremarkable, the dual-blessed weapon tailored for Tong Shan would undoubtedly require significant effort and time, perhaps even half a year of work.

It is indeed the Tong family, extravagant without humanity.

Ji Jue couldn't even imagine how much it would cost; if it were up to him with such capability, even a friendly price would aim for a small target, where the majority of expenses are materials and the cost for the blessings, with not much left for labor expenses.

Tong Shan remained as calm as ever, but Ji Xue grew increasingly tense, subconsciously moving closer, "Little Master, can you handle it?"

"It's just renovation and maintenance, not at all difficult, it will be ready shortly."

Ji Jue hoisted the flag with one hand, waving the other, and mercury flowed out from the truck, standing erect and transforming into a small cart following behind him.

Just before entering the workshop, he suddenly turned back, "Brother Shan, is the consumables reimbursed?"

"Feel free to use."

Tong Shan nodded, "If it's not available here, write me a list, and I'll have someone bring it over."

"Then that's great!"

Ji Jue's smile grew more exuberant, like a wild dog off its leash.

The poor have their ways of fixing things, and the rich have theirs if you're willing to invest, then you could gain quite a bit, even if not asking for the sky, whatever is left still belongs to oneself.

However, such on-demand refurbishing opportunities are rare…

He pinched his chin, pondering, then suddenly asked:

"How about an upgrade?"

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