Full-Time Public Enemy-Chapter 584 - 471: Octoped Specter

"Number 21."

"What’s up?"

"I have a plan."

After Number 21 reviewed the plan, he rejected it. "Zero has already ordered us not to walk into a trap."

"Zero is our God! Our God sits high above and may not care about some upstart’s audacity. However, the followers of our God will not tolerate any desecration! To maintain the dignity of our God, some sacrifices are worth it!" the other person argued fervently.

Number 21 fell silent for half a second before swiftly altering the plan. "To uphold the glory of our God! It’s not yet certain who the prey is and who the hunter is."

"Excellent, assist me!"

"Of course."

During this period, every time Chen Gu won a competition, he seized the opportunity to promote his movie.

In the Beast League, he advanced triumphantly. However, because he had missed several matches, his point total was lower, and he was currently ranked third. But all his fans believed that once Chen Gu completed the missed matches, he would immediately return to the top of the leaderboard.

Director Yu Mozi’s casting was proceeding smoothly. After Man Suling joined, many fans on the Interstellar Network began speculating about the two of them as a couple—which was certainly good for promoting the movie, though Chen Gu always suspected Man Suling herself was fueling the speculation behind the scenes.

Those whom Chen Gu had sent packing weren’t going to give up so easily. Their families also tried through various channels to apply pressure to the film crew and Chen Gu.

For instance, many approached Ding Zhou.

Ding Zhou showed respect for and deference to Aviloya’s decision. However, the incident also made Ding Zhou, who previously had little ambition for power, feel a sting of "humiliation." Even though he was the highest-ranking deputy director, a mere special agent could overturn his decision on Aviloya’s word alone!

Something quietly took root in Ding Zhou’s heart. Whether it would flourish and grow strong in time remained to be seen.

Others, using the power they wielded, covertly investigated Chen Gu’s background, only to realize they had hit a steel plate. They swiftly retracted their encroaching hands.

If they hadn’t, those hands would surely have been cut off.

The Principal, Bai Yunpeng, the Qiao Family, the Shangguan Family, and even the Shang Family all turned out to have close ties to him. These behemoths, upon noticing someone prying into Chen Gu’s affairs, quickly and unanimously released a message: "Chen Gu is our close partner! To move against him is to make an enemy of us! You should carefully consider your own strength."

Not long after, the inside story of the An Family’s downfall was also unearthed. Though the details were vague, it was known that their utter annihilation was at the hands of a high Energy Level powerhouse acting on Chen Gu’s behalf.

These individuals became even more terrified, hastily instructing their children not to provoke that little demon. Some who didn’t listen were severely disciplined by their families.

Mao Yuanhui’s family had also learned of these developments.

The entire family was beaming with joy. Mao Yuanhui’s father had always felt his son wasn’t pursuing a proper career. Mao Yuanhui was his youngest son, with an older brother and two older sisters, and was pampered by the whole family, especially his two sisters. His father had hoped his youngest son would venture out and start his own business, offering his full support, but the son was set on becoming an actor. Although he had paid a hefty sum for his son to study acting, he deeply disapproved in his heart. Even in this era, in the eyes of these genuine magnates, actors were still considered "players"—a derogatory term.

Yet, the gap between "magnates" like the Mao family and the true "aristocratic families" or "powerful elite" was as vast as the gap they perceived between themselves and actors.

But unexpectedly, his son had latched onto Chen Gu’s coattails!

Old Master Mao immediately handed his son a card. "Go talk to Chen Gu tomorrow. The Mao family is willing to increase our investment. There’s forty million here, plus the ten million we originally invested. We can give it all to him."

Mao Yuanhui was taken aback. "Dad, this movie might flop..."

"Short-sighted!" Old Master Mao waved his hand dismissively. "Go tomorrow and tell him! You must do your utmost to get this done, to show Mr. Chen Gu the Mao family’s unwavering support!"

Mao Yuanhui, still puzzled, conveyed the offer to Chen Gu the next day, only to be unexpectedly and firmly refused.

This left Mao Yuanhui even more baffled. Who would turn down free money?

When he returned home and gave the bank card back to his father, Old Master Mao sighed to himself. Indeed, latching onto such a powerful connection isn’t easy; they clearly look down on us.

Feeling somewhat dejected, he patted his youngest son’s shoulder. "From now on, get along well with Mr. Chen Gu. Treat him as your own elder brother."

"Okay."

The team surveilling Bai Yunjing had been recalled. After several days of covert observation, the Bureau of Mystic Security had investigated Bai Yunjing thoroughly, from top to bottom, and confirmed he was not a suspect.

The Special Actions Squad held a meeting.

"Do you think the Digital Group will actually hold back and not make a move against the film crew?"

"That’s certainly a possibility," Chen Gu said thoughtfully. "We also need to be wary of them creating a diversion and attacking a different target instead."

Gong Shuxu nodded. "I’ll communicate this with Headquarters. We can’t afford to lower our guard in other areas either."