144: Chapter 144 Unbridled Army

The argument between Wu Xuhang and Jiang Ruowei continued.

Zhao Junshan and Director Zhou also chimed in from time to time, each adding more weight to their own proposals.

The back-and-forth in the meeting room was as lively as a wet market.

Qin Ce sat there with a calm expression, but his mind was on something else.

Next, there was another major issue: his position!

While concessions were important, his official position was equally crucial.

Especially since he had already decided to choose the military path.

According to the rules, he would have to start from the grassroots level.

Squad leader, company commander, battalion commander—climbing the ladder step by step.

Every step required time, and every step was subject to the constraints of superiors.

Yet, in three months, he had to go to the North to explore a mythic-grade ruin.

When the time came, what would he do if his superiors didn't approve his leave?

Leaving his post without permission?

That would make him a deserter.

He knew all too well what happened to deserters on the battlefield.

So, how could he gain freedom within the military?

Qin Ce's gaze fell upon Wu Xuhang.

The Wang Family had offered so much to get him to choose their proposal.

Regardless of whatever traps might be hidden in that plan, their goal was actually quite clear.

They wanted to keep Qin Ce under their control.

Qin Ce had known this for a long time.

The North was the Wang Family's territory; with his industries within their sphere of influence, he wouldn't be able to do anything without going through them.

But there was another way to control someone that was even more ideal than controlling their assets directly.

That was to have Qin Ce stationed in the North.

If Qin Ce took the initiative to bring up the topic of his position...

Would Wu Xuhang pay an even higher price just to keep him in the North?

For example, granting Qin Ce the absolute freedom he had always craved after taking office?

He would!

He definitely would!

Because to the Wang Family, tethering him to the North was more important than giving him a mountain of gold.

They could swallow up his industries slowly, but if the person fled, they would lose everything.

As long as he was in the North, no matter what Qin Ce did or what position he held...

The Wang Family would have countless ways to manipulate him.

But what the Wang Family didn't know was that Qin Ce only needed three months.

During these brief three months, the Wang Family wouldn't be in a hurry to act.

Therefore, this was an opportunity.

So, how should he set a trap for the Wang Family? How should he start the conversation?

While Qin Ce was calculating, Jiang Ruowei was already prepared to drop all pretenses.

"Director Wu," her voice turned cold, "who here doesn't know the Wang Family's attitude towards Qin Ce? Wang Zhuo's performance on the battlefield, his original goal, your plans..."

Wu Xuhang's smile stiffened slightly.

At that moment.

"Ruowei."

Qin Ce suddenly spoke up, cutting her off.

Qin Ce knew that if he let her continue, the situation would become truly irredeemable.

He stopped Jiang Ruowei, his voice not loud but very clear: "Senior Jiang, I know you mean well, and I know you're looking out for me. But I cannot agree."

Jiang Ruowei was stunned.

"Why?"

Qin Ce met her gaze, his tone calm yet serious: "If I build those industries relying on your resources, how will others see me? They'll say Qin Ce only rose up because of the Jiang Family. They'll say those things aren't his, but the Jiang Family's. I don't want people to look down on me. Even more, I don't want you to be seen as inferior."

He paused, his voice dropping slightly as if sharing a secret buried deep in his heart: "I must rise up on my own, by my own ability. Only then can I truly be worthy of..."

He didn't finish. But that pause and his hesitant tone allowed everyone present to hear the unspoken meaning.

The tips of Jiang Ruowei's ears turned slightly red; her lips moved, but in the end, she didn't speak again.

Qin Ce felt a sigh of relief in his heart.

These words were high-sounding, effectively silencing Jiang Ruowei while giving her a way out.

He was saying it wasn't that he was ungrateful, but that he wanted to prove himself.

In this way, he had temporarily managed to untie himself from the City Lord's faction.

"So, not just the privileges, but even for my position, I plan to start from the grassroots. Ideally, something on the border—a job that is free and dangerous."

Hearing this, Wu Xuhang's eyes suddenly lit up.

He set down his teacup and leaned forward slightly, his voice carrying a well-timed concern: "Comrade Qin Ce, I wonder if you have any specific thoughts regarding your position?"

Qin Ce pretended to ponder: "This... I haven't decided yet. I spoke with Colonel Mike earlier, and he said he could arrange a Pioneer Team for me in the South, letting me act freely. I think that sounds quite good—no constraints."

No constraints.

Those words caused a sharp glint to flash in Wu Xuhang's eyes.

He fell silent for a moment, as if weighing his words, then slowly spoke: "I wonder if my young friend has heard of the Wuji Army?"

Qin Ce was slightly taken aback. "The Wuji Army?"

"Correct," Wu Xuhang nodded. "The most unique army in the entire Federation. Its composition is very mixed—there are those sent there for breaking military discipline, those serving to atone for crimes, those who joined voluntarily for resources, and some undocumented individuals. They don't ask about the past, no one constrains you, and they only issue missions."

"Missions?" Qin Ce became interested.

"You gain military merit by completing missions, and you can exchange that merit for anything." Wu Xuhang's voice carried a hint of temptation. "Supplies that don't appear on the market, Federal pardons, a single move from certain big shots—as long as you can pay the military merit, anything is possible. With the 500,000 military merit points you have, the things you can exchange for there are far more than what you'd get through normal military channels."

Qin Ce's breathing quickened slightly.

No questions asked about the past, no constraints, only missions. Wasn't this exactly what he wanted?

Wu Xuhang saw his interest and upped the ante: "If Comrade Qin Ce is willing to choose the fifth reward, the Wang Family can use all its influence to secure the position of the top commander of the Fengling City Wuji Army for you."

He paused and added, "Of course, the process still needs to be followed. Not a single necessary step will be skipped. But within three years, you will definitely become the top commander of the Wuji Army. Although this position carries the rank of Division Commander, there is no upper limit to the number of personnel in the Wuji Army."

Qin Ce fell silent.

He lowered his head, appearing to be deep in thought. Everyone in the meeting room watched him, waiting for his answer.

A few seconds later, he looked up and picked up the pen on the table.

"I choose the fifth one."

His voice was very calm, as if he were stating something perfectly ordinary. Then he opened the fifth proposal, flipped to the last page, and wrote his name stroke by stroke in the blank space.

The sound of the pen tip moving across the paper was exceptionally clear in the quiet meeting room.

After signing, he closed the file and pushed it back to the center of the table.

Zhao Junshan glanced at the signed proposal, then at Wu Xuhang, and said nothing. Director Zhou adjusted his glasses, his smile remaining, but there was a hint of disappointment in his eyes. Jiang Ruowei stood beside Qin Ce, her lips pressed tightly together as if she wanted to say something, but in the end, she said nothing.

Wu Xuhang took the document, carefully verified the signature, and then looked up at Qin Ce, his smile much more sincere than before.

"Good, good, good." He said the word three times and then stood up. "Comrade Qin Ce, rest assured. Regarding the position, the Wang Family will certainly get it sorted for you."

Qin Ce nodded, not saying much.

He thought this matter would take at least a few days, if not weeks.

After all, the appointment of the top commander of the Wuji Army wasn't something the Wang Family could decide with a single word.

But in less than fifteen minutes...

Wu Xuhang's communicator rang. He picked up, listened for a few moments, and the smile on his face deepened. Then he hung up and looked at Qin Ce: "Comrade Qin Ce, the appointment has come through."

Qin Ce was momentarily stunned. That fast?

"Acting Division Commander of the Fengling City Wuji Army branch. Taking office immediately." Wu Xuhang turned his communicator screen toward Qin Ce, showing an appointment document stamped with a bright red official seal. "The station is in the North, only fifty li away from your privileged industries."

Qin Ce looked at the line of text on the screen and fell silent for a moment.

Fifty li.

They couldn't hold back and were showing their hand already?

Pointing it out so deliberately, were they trying to gloat?

A complex emotion welled up in his heart.

There was vigilance, the realization of his calculations being verified, and also a faint trace of unease.

The Wang Family was in too much of a hurry.

So hurried that the appointment arrived almost the moment he signed, so hurried they didn't even bother to hide it.

What exactly were they plotting?

But he didn't show any outward sign of it. He stood up and nodded to Wu Xuhang: "Thank you, Director Wu."

Wu Xuhang waved his hand, his smile kind: "No need for thanks. In the future, if you need any help in the North, don't hesitate to ask."

Qin Ce returned the smile, but his mind was as clear as a mirror.

Help? More like hindrance.

He turned and walked toward the meeting room door. Jiang Ruowei followed behind, only whispering once they were outside: "Are you sure?"

Qin Ce didn't look back, only giving a soft "Mhm."

Behind them, the meeting room door slowly closed.

Behind the long table, Wu Xuhang picked up his teacup, took a leisurely sip, and the smile at the corners of his mouth was finally no longer hidden.

...