"Levi... a job transfer application?"
Jing Yuan was utterly confused when he saw the message Levi had sent him.
However, he quickly figured out the deeper meaning behind what Levi was trying to express.
Someone who genuinely wanted to change jobs wouldn't send in an application like this. They would switch jobs first and then inform their superior and submit their resignation.
Most people who submitted this kind of application probably had no intention of actually leaving their jobs.
Someone had simply contacted them, hoping to poach them, and they were taking advantage of the opportunity to increase their income.
However...
Levi didn't even receive a salary from him. How the hell was he supposed to increase his income this way?
The person responsible for managing his compensation was Fu Xuan. If he wanted to submit a "job transfer application," he should have sent it to her instead.
Jing Yuan pondered for a while. With the principle that he couldn't just ignore one of his subordinates wanting to change jobs in mind, he took the initiative to contact Levi and ask about the specific reasons and circumstances.
After learning that the company had just contacted Levi and hearing about the benefits it had offered, Jing Yuan felt like changing jobs himself.
If the company would take him, that was.
He would only hold an honorary position and wouldn't need to go to work at all under normal circumstances. He would only have to step in and help when the company encountered a major crisis.
Afterward, he would still receive the corresponding compensation.
Furthermore, although it was merely an honorary position, he would enjoy the same level of benefits within the company as Topaz.
Who was Topaz?
Just her status as one of the Ten Stonehearts was enough to make the entire galaxy take her seriously.
The same benefits as her, without even having to do any work.
Even Jing Yuan was tempted by the offer just hearing about it.
Unfortunately, he was the general of the Luofu. Even if he retired and wanted to work for the company afterward, the company might not even dare to hire him.
"Sounds good."
"?" A question mark appeared on Levi's forehead. "Aren't you going to say anything?"
Like improving his benefits or something.
That way, Jing Yuan could convince him to stay on the Luofu instead of going to the company.
Jing Yuan spread his hands. "The Interastral Peace Corporation has a vast business empire and abundant resources. Our Luofu can't provide benefits on par with theirs for the time being, so all I can do is wish you a bright future."
The company was in the business of making money, while the Luofu Xianzhou, along with the Xianzhou Alliance, was all about fighting.
When it came to the economy and employee benefits, they certainly couldn't compete with the company.
And people naturally gravitated toward places that offered better benefits.
As an outsider, Levi hadn't been immersed in Xianzhou culture for a long time, nor did he hate the Abundance with every fiber of his being. Jing Yuan had expected him to choose to work for the company.
"Wait." Qingque's eyes widened beside him. "You're really going to work for the company?"
She had originally thought Levi was just joking. But then he actually contacted Jing Yuan, and Jing Yuan had even agreed to let him leave.
This was ridiculous.
With Levi's formidable combat strength, not to mention his ability to wield fire, he would pose an enormous threat to the Abundance if he stayed on the Xianzhou.
In the future, when the Xianzhou set sail again and followed the path of the Reignbow, he would also be a powerful weapon against the Abundance.
Letting him go so easily was... a little too hasty, wasn't it?
"Like hell I am.", Levi spoke quietly.
If he really went, he would go with a specific goal in mind.
For example, he could show up on the first day, resign on the second, and then casually take one of the company's planet-destroying battleships back with him as his personal ride.
"Heh. Brother Levi, if you're willing to stay on the Luofu, that would naturally be the best possible outcome."
Jing Yuan had already anticipated an answer like this.
He chuckled twice.
Then he looked at the documents on the desk and spoke to the two people on the other end of the Jade Abacus.
"Since you've contacted me, there's something I need you two to take care of."
Hearing that they were being called upon to handle something, Levi and Qingque's expressions changed.
"Hello? Hello? Why did the other side go silent?"
Levi tapped the Jade Abacus, while Qingque offered an explanation beside him.
"Maybe the signal's bad? The communication facilities that the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus destroyed a while ago haven't been repaired yet?"
Levi glanced at the full signal bars on the Jade Abacus, then nodded with a serious expression. "Must be... Looks like we'll have no choice but to hang up on the general."
Qingque nodded with the same expression as Levi. "Mm! No choice but to hang up!"
"..."
"This concerns your Diviner."
Jing Yuan's voice came through the Jade Abacus, tinged with helplessness.
These two really hadn't changed at all...
He had thought that after Levi revealed his strength, he might at least develop a bit of a powerful expert's bearing. But he was still exactly the same as before.
"You should've said so earlier!" Levi immediately changed his tune, and the lost signal miraculously returned.
As an important member of the Divination Commission, anything concerning the Diviner was his business too.
"What could possibly have happened to the old lady, the Diviner?"
Qingque leaned toward the Jade Abacus in Levi's hand and asked Jing Yuan on the other end.
"According to reports from the diviners in your Divination Commission, your Diviner's temperament has changed drastically recently. She's been spending all day performing divinations at the Matrix of Prescience..."
"Wasn't she spending all day performing divinations at the Matrix of Prescience even before her temperament changed?"
"This time is different."
In response to Qingque's remark, Jing Yuan's voice turned serious. "Considering that the recent supernatural incidents breaking out across the Luofu have all been caused by escaped Heliobi, I suspect that Fu Xuan may have been possessed by a Heliobus."
"If she's possessed by a Heliobus, shouldn't you be looking for the Ghostbusters?"
Why come to him, a brute who only knew how to solve problems with physical attacks?
The people of the Ten-Lords Commission were the real professionals.
"Do you think I don't know that?" Jing Yuan's voice lost its earlier seriousness and carried a hint of amusement. "That longsword you have is capable of directly slashing a possessing Heliobus out of its host."
To protect the physical safety of those who had been possessed, the Ten-Lords Commission generally tried to get the Heliobi to leave their hosts voluntarily when dealing with them.
This often required a lengthy period of investigation.
But when Levi stepped in with that longsword of his, he only needed to swing it lightly a couple of times.
Anyone with eyes could tell who they should be asking for help, couldn't they?
Levi fell silent for a while.
"My sword has side effects."
"That's fine. Fu Xuan is strong and healthy. She can take it."
"I can't take it.", Levi spoke up.
Before Jing Yuan could ask why, he proactively explained.
"Jizo Mitama is still an unfinished product. There's a very evil consciousness inside it."
One that spent all day thinking about groping him. Truly, very evil.
"Using it could affect me."
For example, some of the credits in his wallet might disappear.
"Achoo!"
Rin, who was still asleep in bed and hadn't woken up yet, suddenly sat up. After sneezing, she swished her tail twice.
Upon discovering that nobody was home, she lay back down and continued sleeping.
———
Jing Yuan frowned after hearing this on the other end of the Jade Abacus. A weapon that could affect its user... In that case, he really shouldn't ask Levi to step in.
"All right, then. I'll contact the Ten-Lords Commission and have them handle it."
Fu Xuan's predicament concerned whether the Matrix of Prescience could continue operating normally, which in turn affected the future safety of the Luofu. Her problem therefore had to be dealt with as soon as possible.
"No! I'll handle it!"
"?"
Wouldn't it affect his body?
And he still wanted to go?
"What I mean is..."
"You'll have to pay extra."
"..."
The air around them suddenly fell silent. Even the little bird perched on a nearby branch seemed affected by the atmosphere and flapped its wings as it flew away.
"Talk to Yanqing afterward."
With that, Jing Yuan hung up.
Levi put away the Jade Abacus and headed toward the Divination Commission with Qingque.
"..."