Outside the main gates of the Rongcheng Nightmare Affairs Bureau.

As soon as Lin Feng stepped off the hovercar, he saw a familiar figure standing by the entrance, looking around.

Lin Xiaoyu was dressed in a sharp, light-gray professional suit today, her long hair tied back in a high ponytail, radiating youthful energy.

Seeing Lin Feng step out of the car, her eyes lit up, and she trotted over to meet him.

"Lord Lin! You're here!" Lin Xiaoyu's smile was as infectious as ever.

"Director Chen is already waiting for you in the conference room. Let me take you there!"

Lin Feng nodded and followed her into the Affairs Bureau building.

Along the way, many staff members cast curious glances as they saw Lin Xiaoyu leading a young man past them.

Lin Feng looked straight ahead, his steps steady, while his mind raced, pondering why Chen Weiguo had sent for him.

Something important... what could it be?

Lin Xiaoyu led him through several metal doors requiring identity verification, finally stopping before a heavy door with no markings.

Beside the door was a fingerprint scanner, and a faint blue light curtain swept over both of them.

【Identity Verification Passed】

【Lin Feng, Lord of Beacon Fire Town, Clearance Level: B-High】

A mechanical electronic voice sounded, and the door slid open silently.

Lin Xiaoyu stepped aside: "Lord Lin, please go in. I'll wait for you out here."

Lin Feng nodded and stepped into the conference room.

The door closed silently behind him.

The conference room wasn't large, about fifty or sixty square meters, with a simple layout.

There was a long table, a few chairs, and a massive holographic projection screen on the wall currently displaying a map of Great Xia. Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, the Rongcheng skyline was clearly visible under the sunlight.

Chen Weiguo was already waiting at one side of the long table.

He wasn't wearing his military uniform today, but a deep blue Mao suit, making him appear a bit more approachable than during their last meeting at the school's Awakening Hall. Seeing Lin Feng enter, he stood up and reached out with a smile:

"Lord Lin, we meet again."

Lin Feng stepped forward quickly and shook his hand: "Director Chen, sorry to keep you waiting."

"Not at all, I just arrived myself." Chen Weiguo motioned for him to sit. "Sit, don't be formal. This isn't an official occasion; let's just chat."

The two took their seats.

Lin Feng got straight to the point: "Director Chen, Lin Xiaoyu said you have something important to discuss with me. What is it?"

Chen Weiguo didn't answer immediately. He poured Lin Feng a cup of tea first before slowly speaking:

"Lord Lin, have you heard of 'future prediction' type high-level talents?"

Lin Feng's brows twitched slightly. He had seen the 'High-Level Talent Awakening Stone' on the Blue Star list, but he wasn't clear on the specifics.

"I've heard a bit, but I don't know much."

Chen Weiguo nodded, his expression becoming solemn:

"Great Xia has an Awakened who possesses this talent. Her level isn't high, and her combat strength is average, but her predictions have had an accuracy rate of over eighty percent so far."

"A day ago, she made a new prediction."

Chen Weiguo paused, emphasizing each word:

"In ten years or less, an unprecedented great horror will descend upon the Nightmare World.

Territories below the county-level will not even be able to protect themselves in this catastrophe."

"And... she has a vague feeling that this is far from the end. It might just be the beginning."

Lin Feng remained impassive on the surface, but his heart skipped a beat.

A great horror. Below county-level, self-preservation would be impossible.

If it really happened in ten years, he would likely already have a main city. What would he have to fear from some great horror?

But soon, another thought surged in his mind: what if it wasn't ten years, but just a few months?

He recalled his plan from last night to spend six months developing slowly, gathering six Intermediate Promotion Books before pushing for county-level.

If the catastrophe really descended within a few months...

Would the time he had be enough?

Lin Feng remained calm, only nodding slightly: "Thank you for informing me, Director Chen. I will be prepared."

Chen Weiguo secretly nodded at the young man's steady reaction. Most people would show some panic hearing such news, but this Lin Feng didn't even show a ripple on his face.

Truly a ruthless character capable of building a town in a dozen days.

He continued: "The General Bureau has issued a document requiring all branch bureaus to concentrate resources to support a group of promising town-level territories and make an all-out sprint for county-level."

"Our Rongcheng branch has been allocated one slot."

He looked at Lin Feng, his gaze carrying a hint of scrutiny and expectation:

"After discussion, we have decided to give this slot to you—to Beacon Fire Town."

Lin Feng was slightly stunned.

He really hadn't expected that Chen Weiguo had called him for this.

A slot to sprint for county-level meant the state's resources would be tilted in his favor. For any town-level lord, this was a rare opportunity that could only be hoped for.

He stood up and said solemnly: "Director Chen, thank you and the country for your trust in Beacon Fire Town. I will certainly not fail this trust and will upgrade Beacon Fire Town to county-level as soon as possible."

Chen Weiguo laughed and waved him down: "Sit, sit, no need to be so formal. We chose you because you have the potential. If it were anyone else, we wouldn't be so willing to give it away."

He paused and asked: "Tell me, what kind of support do you need most right now? Don't be polite, just ask."

Lin Feng thought for a moment and sat back down.

Since Chen Weiguo told him to ask, he wouldn't be modest.

"Director Chen, then I won't be polite."

Chen Weiguo picked up his teacup, looking ready to listen attentively.

"First, copper ore, tin ore, and food." Lin Feng held up one finger. "I need a thousand units of copper, a thousand units of tin, and a thousand units of food. The sooner the better. I can trade iron ore and pay for the transport fees."

Chen Weiguo's hand holding the teacup stiffened slightly.

A thousand copper, a thousand tin, and a thousand food?

That was no small amount.

"Second, gray energy crystals, two thousand units." Lin Feng held up a second finger.

Chen Weiguo's brow twitched.

Two thousand gray crystals... this kid really dared to open his mouth.

"Third, the intermediate life-professionals needed to upgrade to county-level. I need six: an Intermediate Farmer, Intermediate Blacksmith, Intermediate Tailor, Intermediate Physician, Intermediate Brewer, and Intermediate Carpenter. I need all six types."

"Director Chen, give what you can; however many you can scrape together is fine."

Chen Weiguo, teacup in hand, had forgotten to drink.

Six intermediates?

Does this kid think this is a wholesale market?

"Fourth, I have two core members, Scarface Liu and A Wang, who haven't changed classes yet. If the state has extra Warrior Class Change Books, I'd like to apply for two."

The corner of Chen Weiguo's mouth twitched slightly.

Class Change Books? And two of them?

"Fifth, for my professional soldier source, I plan to use Nightmare World natives. But the territory is currently short on labor for chores—farming, mining, hauling, and construction all need hands."

"I want to ask if you can coordinate a few thousand Awakened workers to come and help?"

Chen Weiguo finally put his teacup back [N O V E L I G H T] on the table.

A few thousand Awakened workers?

"Sixth, I'm temporarily out of money. I hope the state can advance the wages for these thousands of people."

"In return, I can hand over thirty percent of the minerals they mine and the food they harvest from the territory to the state."

Chen Weiguo rubbed his temples.

This kid really doesn't treat himself like an outsider.

"Seventh..."