Trafford's Trading Club

Chapter 1272: Chapter 113: Seedling

Twenty youths, dressed neatly and uniformly, stood in five rows, heads high, chests out, eyes focused.

In front of them, Liu Minghao felt a bit better—at last, the branch office had agreed to send some reinforcements.

Wei Zidao hurried to the branch office overnight, bringing back not only reinforcements but also a large batch of alcohol.

However, what puzzled Liu Minghao was that this morning, besides the overwhelming discussions about earthquake disasters online, there was nothing about the strange clouds.

Clearly, the Management Bureau hadn’t had time to cover it up in this space—yet no one brought it up.

Good or bad… Liu Minghao shook his head silently.

“Brother Hao, there’s something strange… All our equipment has malfunctioned.”

“What’s the matter?”

“Not sure, they were working fine but malfunctioned suddenly on the way back,” Wei Zidao frowned—he had just arrived, “The regular electronic devices work fine, but all the Taoist magic equipment is down. Also, the magic arts can’t be used, but the mana is still there.”

Liu Minghao was taken aback—he and Bu Bugao were busy handling the ones brought back from the laboratory last night, so he hadn’t noticed these things.

Indeed, his mana was intact, just he hadn’t used any magic—without using it, one wouldn’t notice the oddity within.

Liu Minghao instinctively tried a small Taoist spell…Mana output was normal, yet it had no effect; he was indeed shocked.

Wei Zidao quickly said, “It seems, it’s limited to this city. I called back, and everything was normal at the branch, and the surroundings outside the city are fine too.”

“A Transcendent vacuum zone?” Liu Minghao immediately thought of this term.

A Transcendent vacuum zone, it’s a subject that the Management Bureau has been researching, but it’s just a hypothetical existence—rumor has it that the grand array buried beneath the capital can release all its power momentarily, creating a short-lived vacuum area in the capital… Of course, this has never been tried, only rumored.

“What did the branch say?”

Wei Zidao replied, “A specialist will come soon to investigate, for now, I brought people to support you. Also, regarding the children and researchers from the lab, the branch intends to take them back. A team will split off to escort them back to the branch.”

“That’s all we can do,” Liu Minghao nodded.

What Wei Zidao brought back was just this sort of arrangement… there’s no further explanation, especially regarding the Zhong Family—though the time is very pressing, there’s no hint at all.

Are they planning to remain ambiguous with these revered families…or are there moves behind the scenes that I’m not privileged to know about?

Another matter is that the person in charge of the Transcendent lab, Zhong Luochen, has gone missing.

“Brother Hao, what should we do now?”

Liu Minghao thought for a while, “Since the vacuum zone is only a constraint here, we shouldn’t panic too much. What we need to do now is to thoroughly investigate whether anyone saw the strange clouds last night, or if they saw them but were afraid to speak up… This is a large workload, and even with support, it may not be enough, so we’ll do as much as we can.”

“The relief work?”

“Isn’t there still the local government?” Liu Minghao shook his head, “The dozen or so of us can’t help much anyway, we might as well investigate thoroughly what’s behind this… Oh right, later, apply to ensure no one touches Zhong’s building, or cleans it up. We can’t let ordinary people know what’s inside. I’m afraid the rescue team might inadvertently dig out the stuff in there!”

“Got it,” Wei Zidao nodded, “So, just leave that building there for now, and wait until our people arrive!”

Saying this, Wei Zidao pulled Liu Minghao aside and whispered, “Brother Hao, what about Wang Hu?”

Liu Minghao also whispered, “He’s with Bu Bugao, overseeing those researchers and children from the lab.”

Wei Zidao said, “Wang Hu’s power is too strong; you saw last night…but his background doesn’t match the records.”

Liu Minghao said, “Did you mention Wang Hu when you went back to the branch?”

Wei Zidao shook his head, “You told me not to mention Wang Hu, so I didn’t say anything about him. Just mentioned that two mysterious powerful monsters were fighting in the city.”

Liu Minghao lit a cigarette, exhaled, and slowly said, “The Management Bureau is very strict about monster records; even those about to work at the Bureau, despite just being logistics team, it’s unlikely they’d be this careless…you saw Wang Hu’s strength, can such a powerful monster really be under a hundred years old?”

“Brother Hao, do you mean…?”

“I suspect someone internally has forged Wang Hu’s records, or…altered them; he might already be on the list of powerful monsters.”

“But…why do that?”

“I don’t know,” Liu Minghao shook his head helplessly, “However, if it indeed becomes a Transcendent vacuum zone, Wang Hu won’t suddenly go out of control… I think it’s best we keep him here in this vacuum zone.”

…

In the capital, at the Management Bureau headquarters.

Inside the special operations department head’s office.

At a simple desk, Yan Xiaoxi lowered his head to read several documents. These documents were urgently sent back; not only does he have a copy, but several higher-ups at headquarters probably have them too.

“Human experimentation, Zhong Family…humph.”

Yan Xiaoxi frowned and muttered, “First the Zhao Family grew restless, then the Zhong Family…these four families are becoming increasingly active. But compared to these issues…”

This was another document’s content—clearly, Yan Xiaoxi was more concerned with what’s in this document.

“A Transcendent vacuum zone…does it really exist?” Yan Xiaoxi mused, “Is it man-made, or naturally formed…”

Suddenly, there was a knock on the office door, and a staff member walked in respectfully, “Director, the deputy director wants you to attend an emergency meeting.”

“Understood…” Yan Xiaoxi nodded, folded the documents on his desk, slipped them into his belt, turned off the light, and left.

…

…

They wore uniforms with the names of certain chambers of commerce, and shuttled through a few streets affected by the earthquake, helping to transport supplies, or distributing food, clothes, drinking water to disaster victims—many of these people volunteered, some were from neighborhood-organized volunteer groups, and of course, there were key personnel from the government.

In one corner of the disaster area, inside a black business vehicle.

Zhang Qingrui was discussing something with her family elders—the Zhang family’s matriarch spearheaded this rescue effort and being one of the leading circles of commerce in the south, under the matriarch’s call, the affluent readily displayed their charitable side—their wives too took the lead, forgoing originally planned salons or card games.

Zhang Qingrui looked through the car window at the busy ladies of the business association outside, neither particularly happy nor particularly displeased. “Zhong Luochen disappeared?”

“Yes, after the incident, we haven’t been able to contact him.” Shi Shijie nodded, “Zhong Luochen’s business building is at the center of the disaster area, half of it has already cracked. This morning, I contacted the entertainment company, but could only reach a few managers, none of whom know Zhong Luochen’s whereabouts, and neither does Mr. Cheng.”

“Could it be that he was inside the building when the incident happened…” Zhang Qingrui said in surprise, “If that’s the case…”

Zhang Qingrui did not continue with what could follow.

Families discussing families often only touch on the surface, leaving most to mutual speculation—they have the ability to gauge the general movements of influential families.

The Zhang Family has some concern here, because, for one, the old lady and Old Zhong are old acquaintances, and just last year, the two families almost formed an affinity through marriage… but the matter fell through in the end.

Even so, the two families had collaborated before, co-investing in an entertainment company… yet Zhang Qingrui rarely paid attention to the company’s business, leaving most of it to be handled by Shi Shijie.

Zhong Luochen might be in danger, otherwise he wouldn’t have gone missing without a trace… but Zhang Qingrui wasn’t too worried. After all, she didn’t have much affection for Zhong Luochen, nor did she feel any aversion. Essentially, it was just an acquaintance.

Shaking her head, Zhang Qingrui said, “Let the entertainment company run as usual. News about Zhong Luochen should come from the Zhong Family soon. Let’s see what Old Zhong decides to say… Grandma has been feeling much better these past few days, her spirits have lifted, so don’t bring this up with her for now, Uncle Shi. I’m afraid too many worries will tire her out.”

“I understand.” Shi Shijie smiled slightly, “Miss is getting more and more sensible. Whoever marries you in the future will indeed be very fortunate.”

He cared more about Zhang Qingrui finding someone she truly loved, rather than becoming a sacrificial pawn of a family marriage alliance—besides, with the Zhang Family’s assets, marriage alliances weren’t necessary. The old lady had been a bit stubborn about it last year, but thankfully, she had let it go now.

The matter of marriage felt far off for Zhang Qingrui, so she gave a slight dimpled smile and moved on, “Alright, I’ll go down to help out too. Look, even Song Ying has shown up.”

This business association action had Song Ying representing the Song Family, starting a new development in the south, so naturally, it was impossible for her not to show up—in this relief effort, Song Ying represented the Song Family by donating thirty million in funds and materials, and it’s said she plans to participate in the reconstruction activities… but the government should be organizing a bidding event by then.

Companies need a good name… Song Ying should be further involved by then… Thinking this, Zhang Qingrui put on her purpose-made clothes and went to Song Ying’s side.

Wearing sportswear and sneakers, she naturally looked different from those rich ladies still dressed in skirts and high heels… Song Ying found Zhang Qingrui’s appearance much more pleasing.

“When did you dye your hair this color?” she asked in surprise.

“Doesn’t it look good?” Song Ying shrugged, “I’ve always had this hair color, just dyed it black before.”

Curious, Zhang Qingrui asked, “What made you change suddenly?”

Song Ying casually responded, “I said I wanted to be a good girl, but later found I couldn’t pull it off, so I changed back. Do you believe that?”

Zhang Qingrui smiled slightly, made no comment, looked around, and asked casually, “How much of the materials have been distributed… huh?”

“What did you see?” Seeing Zhang Qingrui’s slightly surprised expression, Song Ying followed her gaze, “Huh…”

In the crowd… all sorts of people were there, disaster victims, volunteers, police, all busy with their roles—and amidst the crowd, Song Ying and Zhang Qingrui’s eyes were both drawn to a young man in casual clothes, wearing a volunteer team uniform for a certain street.

Luo Qiu.

Luo Qiu was sweeping up trash on the street.

Song Ying, being the more proactive of the two, instinctively took a step forward—then stopped.

A golden-haired girl walked over to Luo Qiu, handed him a bottle of mineral water, and then used a handkerchief to carefully wipe his face and such.

Miss Ying found herself unable to move, her expression fluctuating.

“Seen her again… his girlfriend,” Zhang Qingrui’s voice was barely audible behind her.

Song Ying turned her head, frowning, “You know her?”

Zhang Qingrui shook her head, “I don’t know her, just seen her once or twice… but she’s really stunning, probably the type men like.”

Song Ying peeked again through the crowd, muttering, “He tricked me… saying something about the beauty of a black tulip, but clearly it’s golden…”

“What?” Zhang Qingrui looked on, puzzled.

Miss Ying snorted, grabbed Ms. Ren’s arm, and pulled her along, “Come on, let’s go for a SPA!!”

“…Har? But the disaster relief?”

“Who cares! I already put thirty million of my money into it! Why am I the general manager anyway…”

Zhang Qingrui chuckled wryly and let her lead on… despite the wealth of the rich, not many can part with thirty million without blinking.

Most of them only donate a hundred thousand, fifty thousand, or several hundred thousand to get a good name in return.

…

The volunteer activities lasted for two days.

While volunteering, Luo Qiu ran into many people he had met before… those who were still happily living their lives.

During the disaster relief, he saw so many colors… it could broadly be described as a display of widespread kindness—something he kind of liked.

“Humans learn to help each other during difficult times.”

On the second day’s evening, Luo Qiu and the maid came to this city’s park, and in its deepest parts, they planted a small, sprouting sapling.

The seed was left by a guest with a sentient Spirit Vein, which had only just sprouted now.

After setting the soil and giving the sapling a stable place, Luo Qiu sat down, with You Ye by his side to the right.

Luo Qiu smiled, “You once nurtured the prosperity of this land, so let this land now give you a stable home…”

They didn’t leave until the sunset glow faded from the horizon and the moon rose.

The night moisture was still thick, leaving dewdrops shimmering on the sapling.

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PS:(2/27)