122: The ability improvement brought by the crystal core.

“I’ve witnessed all the changes you’ve brought to the Shelter during this period. However, there’s one thing: I feel like the Shelter is about to be taken over by the Hua Xin Group. I gave you power second only to mine, and you’ve handled things beautifully, but why does Qiu Wuhui hate you so much?”

Tian Ming’s tone, though without blame, was calm as he asked his questions, which paradoxically sent a chill down Meng Xian’s spine.

“Boss, I…” Meng Xian didn’t know how to answer.

“Personally, I’m very satisfied with you. You understand how to manage an Apocalypse Shelter better than anyone else under me. But, you’re managing the Shelter like a company; do you really think that’s right?” Tian Ming asked.

“I bear some responsibility for today’s losses,” Meng Xian said, lowering his head, not offering further explanation for the day’s events.

“Of course you’re responsible…” Tian Ming’s tone suddenly grew heavier.

A bead of cold sweat appeared on Meng Xian’s forehead. His actions were simply out of an eagerness to achieve results, and not just for Tian Ming to see. More importantly, he wanted to control the greatest power in this Shelter, and the obstacles to that were certainly the people around Tian Ming. Meng Xian didn’t dare to confront them openly.

However, purely in terms of ability, his subordinates were far stronger than these original residents. A method of hollowing out and internal competition would be enough to force the original people to yield high-power positions to his subordinates.

Meng Xian took a deep breath and looked at Tian Ming: “Boss, positions within the Shelter should go to the capable. Those who can’t withstand the pressure should be eliminated. As the captain of the Materials Group, Qiu Wuhui isn’t even a Five-level Ability User, so why should he lead so many people? I know these people have good connections with you, but you can’t appoint people based on personal favoritism.”

Tian Ming, however, chuckled: “Are you teaching me how to do things?”

“I wouldn’t dare to teach the boss how to do things; I’m just speaking frankly. Ever since I, Meng Xian, decided to relocate, I’ve wholeheartedly dedicated myself to our Shelter. While it might seem a bit impersonal, as a leader, there isn’t much room for personal favors.”

The rule of this world is that the capable rise, and the incompetent fall. Without Tian Ming’s presence, this Shelter would not survive in the Apocalypse.

Tian Ming didn’t know how to refute Meng Xian, because what he said was indeed reasonable, and his concept of managing the Shelter highly overlapped with his own. The only difference was that Meng Xian was a person with selfish motives and ambition. The original residents of the Shelter could clearly sense this.

After a moment of silence, Tian Ming slowly spoke: “For future matters, I hope you handle yourself well. I know you’re thinking for the Shelter, but there’s no need for such intense internal competition. If you think someone is incapable, you should personally step forward and make him give up his position. Of course, whether someone is capable or not isn’t something you alone can decide.”

Meng Xian was startled; he hadn't expected Tian Ming to say that. Although he hadn't spent much time with Tian Ming, he knew this boss was a strong-willed person.

If a strong-willed person reasons with you, it means he values you. Meng Xian had also climbed from high-level management to a top position, so he naturally knew some ways to win people over. But from the bottom of his heart, he looked down on the original residents of Tian Ming’s Shelter. It was almost impossible to make him show a good face to the original residents.

“Boss, if what I say doesn’t count, then who does?”

“Take Gouzi, for example. He was a hooligan, a small-time follower before the Apocalypse. What ability does such a person have? But if you ask him to do many things, he can do them very well. Because I told him to find his own place. Although his education level isn't high, he's still a person with insight, isn't he? You might look down on him, but at least he can get others to do things, isn't that also a skill?”

Meng Xian remained silent, because Tian Ming was right; Gouzi indeed excelled in human relations, and many matters were mediated by him.

Tian Ming looked at Meng Xian and continued: “Everyone lives together. Shen Yuan told me that your arrival would create social strata in the Shelter. If you keep doing this, what she said might come true.”

Meng Xian said with a bitter smile: “Boss, this is the law of human societal development; it’s unavoidable. Even without me, when the population reaches a certain level, social stratification is an inevitable outcome.”

“With strata comes struggle, and with struggle comes internal friction. Do you understand what I mean? I’ll stop here; I won’t say anything else. Today, the Materials Group suffered heavy losses, but the Materials Group cannot just collapse like this.” Tian Ming finished speaking and stood up.

Meng Xian followed behind him, and it wasn’t until they were out of the conference room that he whispered, “Boss, I understand what you mean.”

“I hope you’ve truly listened to what I’ve said.” Tian Ming finished speaking and left directly.

Tian Ming returned to his room and closed the door. The losses of the Materials Group pained him greatly. So many people had died at once, and internal problems within the Shelter were also beginning to surface. What Tian Ming disliked most was the formation of factions and internal strife within the Shelter.

As the boss, Tian Ming could not take sides. Even if he knew one side had ambitions, he could not use his status as boss to suppress either side.

Appropriate, healthy competition could accelerate the Shelter’s development, and Tian Ming believed he could control it. Neither side would betray him, because they could not bear the cost of betraying Tian Ming. But what happened today also served as a reminder to Tian Ming: if one side became too strong, he still needed to step in to maintain a slight balance.

Frequent short-term foraging trips, while convenient for themselves, also made it easier for mutated zombies, increasing the risk of this path. During Meng Xian’s management, the Materials Group was dispatched almost daily; even when supplies were abundant, the Materials Group was still required to go out.

Tian Ming lay on his bed, spreading his palm, the image of the Red Crystal Core flashing through his mind. The dream he had before reappeared in his memory. Rules, broken, if the evolved Red Crystal Core was one of the fragments of broken rules, then absorbing a Red Crystal Core should enhance his ability, right?”

The Red Crystal Core had already been absorbed by him. He closed his eyes, feeling his control range. It hadn’t increased much; the current control range was 10 meters, or more accurately, 10.1 meters. This Red Crystal Core only increased his control distance by 5 centimeters.

The Corpse King’s attribute was the conversion of tungsten metal, so the enhancement should be in elemental control, right? Tian Ming spread his palm, and various elements in the air gathered towards his palm. Tungsten has an atomic number of 74. With a thought from Tian Ming, a mass of metal slowly formed in his palm.

It was indeed as he had guessed; the speed of elemental transformation had always been slow for Tian Ming.

Tian Ming rarely used his elemental transformation ability. But today was different. Converting other elements into tungsten metal was almost as fast as reorganization.

Tian Ming then experimented with transforming targets into other elements, and the speed reverted to its previous level. Only the tungsten element had received a significant boost.