Apocalypse: My Tattoos are Ten Yama Kings-Chapter 113 - 111: The Conglomerate Masters Open Schemes
Peng City.
Underground bunker.
Yang Dingguo’s office.
The familiar sofa, the familiar scene.
Yang Dingguo sat at his desk, his expression somewhat grim.
Lin Yuan, meanwhile, lay sprawled in the sofa in a lazy pose, sinking into it.
"Seriously, Old Yang, you call me over every day!"
"I think to you, not seeing me for a day feels like three years!" Lin Yuan joked carelessly.
Having become quite familiar with Yang Dingguo, he called him Old Yang.
At this moment, Lin Yuan seemed to recall something and asked, "By the way, has there been any news about the Xu family’s research results?"
A few days ago, after Lin Yuan had slayed the Twelve Stars and rescued Xu Weili.
He handed Xu Weili over to Yang Dingguo, and to survive, this sole heir of the Xu family was very cooperative.
Xu Weili recounted the Xu family’s research results in full; after all, Peng City was the only place that could guarantee his safety at the moment.
Offending Peng City meant he truly had nowhere else to go.
The Xu family’s research results involve a special alloy made by mixing eight precious metals: gold, silver, platinum, rhodium, palladium, ruthenium, iridium, and osmium in specific proportions.
This alloy possesses a very special magnetic field whose emitted force has the ability to repel Deceitful Charm and Evil Spirits.
Lin Yuan was quite interested in this special alloy; however, he did not have any related laboratories or manufacturing capabilities.
So he could only wait until Yang Dingguo made progress, and then he could directly acquire it for free.
Yang Dingguo nodded and replied, "The research results have been confirmed. I have already reported to Emperor Dragon City, and they have asked us to conduct trial production first. If this metal proves effective, Emperor Dragon City will research and follow up on the entire project."
"I plan to build the production line at your place."
Upon hearing Yang Dingguo’s words, Lin Yuan shot up from the sofa in disbelief and asked, "What? The production line will be at my place?"
This metal that Deceitful Charm and Evil Spirits cannot penetrate could potentially hold the fate of humanity.
Building the production line at his place meant giving him control over this lifeline!
But....
Even if Yang Dingguo trusts him, can the rest of the officials trust him too?
However, before Lin Yuan could figure out what Yang Dingguo meant.
Yang Dingguo dropped another bombshell, saying, "Besides the production line, I also want to relocate Peng City’s entire research team and laboratory to your place."
This news left Lin Yuan completely stunned.
The end of science is metaphysics.
Even in a world post-deceitful invader, research teams remain extremely important.
The Xu family’s research team discovered the metal that Deceitful Evil Spirits cannot penetrate; as people’s understanding of deceitful invasions deepens.
These research teams will surely make similar discoveries.
Relocating the research team and laboratories to his territory, isn’t Old Yang worried he’ll pull something shady and seize them all?
"Old Yang, are you serious?"
"Do you really trust me that much?" Lin Yuan hesitated and asked.
Yang Dingguo furrowed his brow, his expression turning somewhat unpleasant, as he spoke heavily, "Apart from you, I have no better choice."
"I’m leaving, but before I go, I have to consider Peng City’s future."
"Placing the research team and lab into your hands is much better than having them fall into the hands of those with ulterior motives."
"You are a native of Peng City. I believe you will protect this land no matter what."
Lin Yuan: "?????"
Wait a minute!
Old Yang is leaving?
Lin Yuan recalled in his previous life, Yang Dingguo passed away due to illness in the latter half of the second year post-deceitful invasion.
Could it be, Yang Dingguo has some hidden illness?
In this lifetime, his hidden illness erupted earlier.
"Old Yang, have you been struck with a terminal disease?"
"How long did the doctor say you have left; have they issued a critical condition notice?"
"Can’t medical means save you? Have you tried consulting a Life Pattern Master, like those with tattoos of Hua Tuo and Zhang Zhongjing, to check on it?" Lin Yuan asked several questions in concern.
Yang Dingguo’s face darkened, thinking, your mouth is like it’s smeared with laxative!
With how worried you are, it seems like if I don’t die once, I wouldn’t be honoring your kindness.
Secretary Wang couldn’t hold back any longer and reminded, "Elder Yang is leaving Peng City; the official transfer order has come."
"Elder Yang has been reassigned to Demon Dragon City, serving as the Minister of Material Coordination, which is considered a promotion."
Secretary Wang chose his words carefully, saying "considered," it’s considered a promotion!
What does "considered" mean?
Because, from being the number one official in Peng City, the position of Minister of Material Coordination, though higher in rank.
But in reality, it’s a demotion in disguise.
The only benefit is that this position is quite a lucrative gig.
Demon Dragon City is the wealthiest place in Dragon Country, where one manages national materials to support cities facing challenges.
This is definitely a lucrative job, for some people, it’s a good position.
However, Yang Dingguo clearly isn’t someone who cares about material things.
"They transferred you?"
"What the hell is this nonsense?" Lin Yuan looked speechless.
Yang Dingguo is the stabilizing force of Peng City. If he leaves, Peng City will surely fall into chaos.
In the past, Yang Dingguo held the number one official position in Peng City until his death, without any of these little detours!
Could it be that it’s me, this little butterfly, flapping its wings and causing all this?
"Alas!" Yang Dingguo’s expression turned peculiar, and after a long time, he sighed heavily, "I suspect it’s the oligarchs secretly pulling strings."
"We hijacked Xu Weili and took what was supposed to be theirs, completely tearing faces with them."
"Their maneuver to transfer me is to make Peng City fall into chaos. I guess the new appointee should be one of their people."
"Their people took over my position, and in subtle ways, they’ll soon control Peng City. At worst, they can completely control the Five Dragon Mountain shelter."
"That’s why I want to move the most important production lines, research team, and shelter to your place."
"I’m leaving soon, and there’s not much I can do!"
"The things I’m entrusting to you are Peng City’s hope. No matter what, we can’t let these fall into the hands of the oligarchs."
Lin Yuan: "?????"
Lin Yuan couldn’t understand. Knowing it’s the oligarchs’ conspiracy, why still step into their trap?
Now, every city is fighting its own battles basically. If Yang Dingguo keeps his ground, this transfer order is nothing but a piece of scrap paper not even fit for wiping one’s ass.
"Old Yang, have you gone senile?"
"If they want you gone and you leave, wouldn’t you be playing right into their hands?" Lin Yuan asked puzzledly.
Yang Dingguo put away the transfer order, and with some helplessness, said, "It’s not that I want to leave, but I must leave."
"This is an open scheme."
"Once the transfer order is received, if I follow through, their plan succeeds."
"If I don’t follow it, they’ll label me as someone who hoards power and rules over a territory."
"Currently, although cities are fighting their own battles, nominal control still rests with Emperor Dragon City."
"Have you thought about what kind of chain reaction might occur if I’m slapped with such a big label? Perhaps the entire Dragon Country would plunge into military rule and chaos with local tyrants everywhere."
After listening to Yang Dingguo’s explanation, Lin Yuan was taken aback.
One could say, these oligarchs have watched the "large intestine sauce video"!
As everyone knows, one of the top open schemes includes the "Nine Rotation Intestine Scheme", a scheme to replace three sages.
Original flavor large intestine, feces sauce.
If you don’t eat it, you can’t eliminate me.
If you eat it, even if you eliminate me, it was worth it.
These oligarchs, they truly understand open schemes!
Once the transfer order was out, whether Yang Dingguo accepted it or not, the oligarchs’ goals were achieved.
A bit tricky indeed!
Although Lin Yuan is no fool, compared to the oligarchs’ top strategist teams, he’s still quite lacking.
This open scheme, he really can’t break it.
But Yang Dingguo truly can’t leave.
If Yang Dingguo leaves, Peng City is doomed.
"Isn’t there a compromise?" Lin Yuan tentatively asked Yang Dingguo.
Yang Dingguo looked at the documents on the desk, and carelessly replied, "I’ve already openly responded to the higher-ups, accepting their transfer order, and asked them to send someone over. Once the handover is complete, I’ll head to Demon Dragon City immediately."
"So, now I can only be considered a temporary agent for Peng City. As long as the handover isn’t completed, I can continue to act as the agent."
Lin Yuan: "?????"
Old Yang, you seem to be hinting at something, huh?
Lin Yuan understood Yang Dingguo’s implication. He really wanted to send Yang Dingguo a "well done" meme.
"I understand!"
"If the person coming to replace you gets stuck halfway."
"In this way, there’s nobody for the handover, and you can’t leave."
"Old Yang, is this what you mean?" Lin Yuan asked.
Yang Dingguo put down the document in his hands, gazing deeply at Lin Yuan, and seriously replied, "I don’t understand what you’re talking about."
"These days are very chaotic, and there are deceitful evil spirits everywhere. Encountering them halfway would be quite normal."
"Near Peng City, we can barely control the deceitful spirits. If it’s too far, there’s truly nothing we can do."
Lin Yuan thought, if you say it like this, then I completely get it.
This means, this person can be stuck, but preferably far away, better in some other place.
If stuck near Peng City, then it’s hard to argue.
Lin Yuan understood Yang Dingguo’s meaning and promptly said, "That’s true, the person coming to replace you will definitely be from the oligarchs."
"These shameless oligarchs deserve some retribution. I reckon their retribution might come soon, probably not reaching Peng City."
As for how quickly the retribution comes, let’s be honest, it’s purely up to when Lin Yuan decides to take action!
(ps: The genuine version of this book is only available on Qidian Reading and QQ Reading apps. Brothers reading the pirated versions can switch to the genuine for a better experience. Pirated updates are about a week slower and have many typos and omissions. Genuine versions aren’t pricey, just one dime per Chapter on Qidian Reading and eight bucks per month for all access on QQ Reading.)
