novelraw Chapter 1453 734: Before the Wind Rises (3)
Chapter 1453 734: Before the Wind Rises (3)
They're all acquaintances.
"Mr. Ji, the things you instructed have all been arranged."
Ling Shuo reported with his head down, his suit still carrying the scent of blood and concrete spots on his leather shoes, "The local colleagues all think what you said makes sense, and they're willing to follow your commands."
"That's great."
Ji Jue laughed, "Please thank everyone for me."
"Yes."
Ling Shuo nodded.
"Me... me too!" Gold Hair Boy, after being dumbstruck for a while, reported in a booming voice.
"Many things on Luo Island will be left to the two of you in the future."
Ji Jue motioned for them to sit down and went to the tea stand, poured two cups of tea, handed them over, and then returned to his seat, straightforwardly telling them, "I understand the rules of Desert Market. I won't interfere in your matters, just don't let internal affairs spill out and look bad."
"Understood, understood."
Ling Shuo nodded quickly, not caring if Ji Jue's tone was like training a dog.
Getting half of Luo Island's underground business to handle, even if he's really treated like a dog, he would be willing!
So, Ji Jue nodded and looked at Gold Hair Boy, who was red-faced and at a loss for words, giving a gentle smile, "Gold Hair Boy, are you adapting well here?"
"Very well, just the moisture is a bit heavy."
Gold Hair Boy nodded dumbly as he spoke, and halfway through, he slapped his forehead, lifted the plastic bag he'd brought in, and placed it on the table: "My mom made me bring some herbal tea. This herbal tea really turns out nice. Mr. Ji, remember to try it!"
"Sure."
Ji Jue took it and sniffed, "Smells good. Did your mother make this herself?"
"Oh, she bought it. It's an old brand in Lihua District. I've been drinking it since I was little. You can't get this taste anywhere else!"
"The boss always has a sour face at that place?"
Ji Jue laughed, "I remember that."
"Yeah, that old man, really, doing business like that without smiling. If it weren't for..." Gold Hair Boy habitually started, but caught himself, realizing where he was, and instantly stopped, sitting up straight and lowering his head awkwardly.
"Relax. Forget it, saying that might make you more nervous."
Ji Jue chuckled, shook his head, and patted his shoulder, "Work hard. Mr. Chen thinks highly of you, and so do I."
"Yes!"
Gold Hair Boy answered resolutely, his voice so loud that it startled Ling Shuo, who was sipping tea beside him, into a tremble.
"Alright, go and get busy. I won't keep you here any longer."
Ji Jue finally waved his hand.
So, the two nodded and left the office.
Walking down the corridor, Gold Hair Boy instinctively took out a cigarette, realized where he was, hurriedly removed it from his mouth, quickened his pace, and only after reaching outside the Public Administration Center did he stop by a trash can, pop the cigarette back in his mouth.
Even before he got his lighter out, a lit flame was offered up beside him.
"Oh, thanks."
Ling Shuo smiled warmly, joining him with a cigarette, engaging in casual chatter, "Brother Gold Hair, you're originally with Boss Ji?"
"Oh, no. I'm not educated."
Gold Hair Boy shook his head, "I'm with Mr. Chen, but Mr. Ji and the Second Young Master are good friends, so they think highly of me too... When the Second Young Master sent people over here, Mr. Chen happened to toss me along."
"So much business given to me, I don't even know how to do it. If I mess up, it brings shame to Mr. Ji, and I feel anxious."
"With Mr. Ji's face value, nothing is hard to handle, right?" Ling Shuo smiled even more enthusiastically, "In the future, about matters on both sides, I'll have to trouble Brother Gold Hair."
"Oh, we're all friends, we help each other out."
"Hahaha, Brother Gold Hair speaks straightforwardly. How about I treat you tonight?"
Ling Shuo said playfully, chatting heartily.
But inside, his heart had soured into a lemon grove, and when he looked up at the sky, tears of blood almost flowed from the corners of his eyes out of envy.
Desert Market conflicts on both sides?
What kind of conflict could there be? If there really was a conflict, even without thinking too hard, he knew Ji Jue would side with... How could this yellow-haired guy be so lucky, being both dim-witted and dumb!
On the bright side, at least he's easy to talk to. If it were someone devious or scheming, wouldn't he really have cause for grief? He wouldn't even have a place to cry.
Cooperate then, after all, isn't everyone out here just looking to make money?
Though he can't compare to Gold Hair, it seems he's caught Mr. Ji's eye, starting to rise rapidly!
If one's development on this lucrative land of Luo Island goes well, should Master ever have an accident or any mishap, there might be a chance to compete for the position of the Dragon Head of Gray Port!
At this moment, looking at the brand-new scenery of Luo Island, Ling Shuo was gearing up to give it his all!
.
.
After the cleanup was completed, Ji Jue didn't plan on doing much more.
Under the management of the Paradise System, everything was gradually getting on track. Except for focusing on infrastructure and public facilities, everything else unimportant to Ji Jue was thrown out to the professionals to handle.
His own research barely had time; where was the time to handle everything else? Please, he's a craftsman who came to earn money and tackle difficult problems, not to do charity or be a savior. Others' thoughts are theirs, as long as Ji Jue ensures everything is under control.
Most of his mind, still, was on his research—improving and upgrading the Giant Que project.
Unfortunately, just after getting Luo City into shape, new troubles have already arrived.
"Crunch... crunch... crunch..."
In the repair workshop of the shipyard, right in front of Ji Jue, a small fishing boat suspended in mid-air was making continuous crisp rubbing sounds.
As if it were a sieve, densely packed holes appeared on the hull and bottom of the boat, with the bilge having turned into a beehive. More than that, short, wriggling small tentacles kept emerging from the holes in the hull, sending shivers down the spine.
"What's the situation?" Ji Jue asked.
"This was one of the fishing company's boats from Luo Island, usually operating inshore, mostly around Luo Island. The captain gambled too much and was going to take a private job for someone..."
The informed person paused, showing an "everyone knows" expression. Such private jobs are seldom clean.
"Deviated from the course, went all the way to Widow Reef in the southeast. On the way back, something felt wrong, and by the time rescue arrived, the boat was already half submerged."
Amid a series of eerie rustling sounds, the person in charge of the workshop's expression twitched and pointed at the beehive-like vessel, "After it came back, it became like this."
Plop.
A piece of the mangled hull fell to the ground, dragging along a heap of damp, slimy, writhing worms, making a continuous plopping noise.
People around hastily retreated with exclamations.
Only Ji Jue leaned down, looking at the worms, which were even gnawing concrete bits off the ground, his brow furrowing.
The Paradise's intelligent analysis just informed him: Based on the database comparison, there's over an 80% chance this thing is a ship louse.
But where in the world are there ship lice as thick as arms, capable of gnawing through steel plates?
Besides, there was another boat hung beside it with a horrific dent at the bottom as if crashing into a reef, the crack ominous.
Yet, wedged into the crack was a jagged, palm-sized broken scale.
And as Ji Jue examined that, another yacht was brought in.
On the yacht's body, there was an enormous gap, as if something monstrous suddenly took a bite out of it.
During his ponder, Ji Jue felt a slight vibration from his phone.
It was a notification from the Federation Maritime Bureau to Cliff City: In the southern part of the Endless Sea, certain areas might be experiencing large-scale biological disasters. Maritime companies should suspend business in related routes as early as possible to avoid risks...
"..."
Ji Jue rubbed his temples, letting out a light sigh, "It comes neither too early nor too late, sure knows how to pick the time."
What else could such large-scale biological anomalies and transformations be?
Harming wind...
Harming wind has finally started to blow over the Endless Sea!