139: Chapter 139 Praise to Death?

Five items.

When the high-level officials were discussing it earlier, they had indeed agreed that each family would contribute five items of privilege.

However, even Second Elder Wang Chong hadn't expected that the City Lord would directly bring out all five privileges.

What did this mean?

It meant that the City Lord's Mansion intended to elevate this young man to an unprecedented height.

Qin Ce himself was stunned.

Five items?

He had originally thought there would be three at most; even when Mike spoke of it, he had said three.

But in reality, five items were being promulgated.

From raw materials to commercial checkpoints, everything was included.

This was an entire industrial chain.

It was something that no single entity in Fengling City, outside of the five major powers, had ever possessed.

Jiang Tianzong scanned the audience, his voice calm: "The specific selection of combinations can be processed at the Military Department after the commendation assembly concludes."

Then, he continued:

"Fifth, Comrade Qin Ce is granted an administrative position at the Director level. If he chooses the military, he may select a corresponding core regiment-level or external brigade-level military position. The specific post can be chosen from the options provided by the Military Department."

This time, the people below weren't as shocked.

Because the first four rewards had already left them numb.

Whether it was Director level or Regiment Commander level, it all seemed less important in the face of the five special privileges.

But Qin Ce knew that this position was equally important.

Because the privileges were the foundation, while the position was the power.

Having a foundation without power meant one couldn't protect it.

Having power without a foundation meant one couldn't stand firm.

Possessing both was what made a true noble.

"The reading of rewards is complete." Jiang Tianzong turned around and looked at Qin Ce. "Comrade Qin Ce, please come onto the stage to receive your awards."

Qin Ce took a deep breath and walked onto the reviewing stand.

As he accepted the golden medal from the City Lord's hands, he felt Jiang Tianzong's hand grip his own with a slight force.

The pressure was light and brief.

But Qin Ce felt it.

Within it was encouragement, expectation, and a kind of entrustment.

It was as if he were saying: Kid, I've given you these things; don't let me down.

Qin Ce looked up and met Jiang Tianzong's gaze.

He nodded.

He didn't speak, but the gesture was enough.

Below the stage, applause rang out once more.

This time, it was more fervent and more lasting than before.

...

The subsequent proceedings continued in a strange atmosphere.

The City Lord's speech, the generals' addresses, the awarding of medals... everything went according to plan, but no one's mind was on it anymore.

They were thinking about Qin Ce.

They were thinking about those five special privileges.

They were thinking about those twelve slots for retainers.

They were thinking about how to establish a connection with this newly-risen noble.

Standing on the stage, Qin Ce felt the gazes being cast from all directions.

In those gazes were envy, jealousy, calculation, solicitation, and probing.

His expression remained normal, but his heart was as clear as a mirror.

Those who had crossed paths with him in the past were now feeling various emotions.

Wang Xuan stood in the crowd, looking at the familiar figure on the stage with complex eyes.

She remembered the first day of school, that commoner youth sitting in the corner of the classroom, ignored by everyone.

She remembered the scene in the training base where he dragged back a whole cart of prey by himself.

She remembered the ferocious beast meat she had eaten in the room he rented that night.

And the figure that descended from the sky during the battle with the Wolf Spider King.

She thought they would have a future, but now...

Zhao Rui stood in the military formation, looking up at Qin Ce on the stage, his lips trembling slightly.

He remembered his past mission disputes with Qin Ce and his extreme refusal to submit to him.

And now, Qin Ce was standing on the stage while he stood below.

That distance was no longer just the height of the stage.

It was the distance from one social class to another.

He lowered his head and spoke no more.

On the other side, Jiang Ruowei, who had previously made a bet with Qin Ce, smiled mysteriously in the family area; this was just an appetizer, she still had a grand gift to deliver.

Meanwhile, those who had never had any contact with Qin Ce were now frantically trying to contact him.

All for those twelve retainer slots.

This wasn't just a simple matter of so-called subordinate retainers.

It was another path of promotion within the Federation.

If an analogy had to be made.

It was similar to the 'Recommending the Filial and Incorruptible' system from Qin Ce's original world.

City Lord Jiang Tianzong had been able to be parachuted in as the City Lord of Fengling City.

Back then, he had used a retainer slot from the Jiang Family to directly secure this position from the Federation.

If Qin Ce could reach the height of the Jiang Family in the future.

Then the current twelve retainers would represent twelve future City Lord slots.

Precisely because of this, everyone was so crazed to attach themselves to him.

At this moment, Qin Ce had truly become a hot commodity.

...

Soon.

The commendation assembly ended amidst the clamor.

Before Qin Ce could even walk down from the stage, he was surrounded by a group of officials.

"Comrade Qin Ce, I'm from the Urban Construction Bureau. Regarding the handover procedures for the Heaven-tier Villa, when would it be convenient for you..."

"Comrade Qin Ce, I'm from the Social Security Bureau. These ten slots require your personal signature for confirmation..."

"Comrade Qin Ce, I'm from the Military Affairs Office. Regarding the choice of position..."

Qin Ce dealt with them one by one with a steady expression, but in his heart, he knew these people had ulterior motives; they all wanted to get on familiar terms to pave the way for their attachment.

Just then, a middle-aged man in military uniform squeezed through the crowd and gave him a salute: "Comrade Qin Ce, the Chief of General Staff invites you to the Military Department. The matter of the special privileges requires your personal confirmation."

The crowd instantly went silent.

Special privileges.

This was also what everyone cared about most.

Qin Ce nodded and followed the officer out of the crowd.

Behind him, countless gazes followed his back until he disappeared at the end of Triumph Square.

...

The Military Headquarters was a grayish-white building located in the core area of the Inner City, right next to the City Lord's Mansion. The building wasn't tall, only five stories, but every floor was covered by an energy shield, and guards with live ammunition stood at the entrance.

Qin Ce was led into a solemn meeting room.

The layout of the meeting room was simple.

A long table, a few chairs, and a military map of Fengling City hanging on the wall.

But every person sitting behind the long table was anything but simple.

In the very center was a white-haired old general. His face had a gruesome scar slashing from his brow bone to his jaw, but those eyes were still as sharp as an eagle's.

Chief of General Staff, Zhao Junshan.

The number three figure in the Fengling City military and the pillar of the Garrison Army's Zhao Family.

To his left was a lean middle-aged man wearing gold-rimmed glasses, looking refined and scholarly. However, his eyes held a restrained brilliance, marking him as someone who dealt with numbers year-round.

Logistics Director, Director Zhou. A core figure of the Zhou Family in the Chamber of Commerce Alliance.

To Zhao Junshan's right was a burly, resolute middle-aged man. He sat as straight as a pine, his gaze like a blade, and his whole body radiated the iron-blooded aura of a soldier.

Supervisory Director, Wu Xuhang.

Wu Zhou's father.

Qin Ce's gaze lingered on him for a moment before moving away.

Wu Xuhang wore a smile and nodded to him, his attitude unexpectedly kind.

Qin Ce returned the smile, but wariness rose in his heart.

"Comrade Qin Ce, please sit," Zhao Junshan spoke, his voice raspy but powerful.

Qin Ce sat down across the long table.

Zhao Junshan looked him up and down, then slowly nodded: "Not bad. You look more spirited than in the photos. That battle with the Raven King was well done."

Qin Ce bowed slightly: "The Chief of General Staff overpraises me."

"It's not overpraising, it's the truth." Zhao Junshan waved his hand. "Without you killing the Raven King, the Inner City's defensive line might have collapsed long ago. This merit concerns the lives of thousands; no reward is too great."

He paused and gestured to the staff officer beside him: "Alright, let's get to the point. Bring the items up."

...