62: Chapter 62: The Troublemaker Becomes Team Leader

When the morning bell of Hengchuan Peak rang, the stone wall at the entrance of the cafeteria was crowded with people.

Usually, this wall was plastered with labor tasks like "cleaning the latrines" or "moving Spirit Stones," and the Disciples would just sigh and walk away after one glance.

But today, a brand-new red paper was posted at the very top of the wall.

The ink hadn't dried yet, giving off a pungent smell of cinnabar.

[Hengchuan Peak Order No. 009: Announcement Regarding the Establishment of the Munitions Line Temporary Management Layer and the Appointment of Team Leaders]

In a prominent position on this announcement, the name that had appeared countless times on the "Discipline Violation Review Board" was now listed as the Team Leader of the First Squad.

Team Leader Wang Dameng.

The air froze for three breaths.

Then, like boiling water that had exploded, a buzzing discussion erupted.

"Team Leader Wang Dameng? That sleepyhead? That troublemaker who leads the way in slacking off every day?"

A usually honest Outer Sect Disciple rubbed his eyes, thinking he had misread it.

"Is the boss crazy? Letting him be the boss? Is Hengchuan Peak finished?"

"Exactly, what can this guy do besides drinking and bragging?"

In the corner of the crowd, several Disciples who used to sleep in with Team Leader Wang Dameng had strange expressions.

Some looked secretly happy, thinking, "Our brother has risen to the top, life will be easier from now on"; others sneered, thinking this was just a trick by Shen Xingzhou to "fight poison with poison."

And in the shadows further away, those "roll kings" who only knew how to bury their heads in hard work and detested troublemakers, looked disdainful.

"The world has changed. Honest people work themselves to death, while troublemakers become officials and manage people."

"Hmph, just wait and see. He won't last three days before he breaks up the team."

Facing the criticism of the entire peak, Team Leader Wang Dameng himself was indifferent.

Chewing on a blade of dry grass, he swaggered into the workshop of the Munitions Line.

That was his new territory.

"Everyone, be quiet!"

His Pulse Refining Realm spiritual energy erupted suddenly, accompanied by a thunderous roar that shook the dust off the workshop ceiling.

The originally noisy workshop instantly fell silent.

Dozens of eyes stared at him in fear, curiosity, and anger.

Team Leader Wang Dameng walked to an open space and spat the dry grass in his hand onto the ground.

"I am Team Leader Wang Dameng. Boss Shen asked me to be this First Team Leader. Are you not convinced?"

No one dared to speak, but the dissatisfaction in their eyes was about to overflow.

"If you're not convinced, hold it in."

Team Leader Wang Dameng grinned, revealing a mouthful of big yellow teeth. "But I'll say the ugly things first: follow me, and I'll ensure you eat well and drink well. If anyone dares to slack off under my nose..."

He casually grabbed a newly assembled piece of armor and squeezed it hard with one hand.

"Crack!"

The hard mysterious iron armor was deformed in his hand like a crispy biscuit.

"That will be your fate."

Next, he did three things that made everyone shut their mouths.

The first thing: establishing authority.

He pointed to two old rascals in the corner who loved to slack off and steal credit from others.

"Zhang San, Li Si. You two, I know all about your old tricks of 'leeching performance points'."

"From today on, you two go to the 'Waste Processing Group' and are responsible for the harmless dismantling of discarded talisman boxes. You can't eat until you finish, and your performance points will be halved."

The two wanted to argue, but Team Leader Wang Dameng glared, and the deformed armor rotated on his fingertips.

The two immediately shrank their necks and went away dejectedly.

The second thing: winning people's hearts.

He walked up to several weak or elderly servants who couldn't work hard, and suddenly there were a few brand-new slips in his hand.

"In the past, if you couldn't work here, you'd be kicked out. The boss cares about us, so I won't talk nonsense."

"These 'Special Approval Rest Slips' are for you. And those new Low Grade armor sets, you get priority."

Those old servants held the slips, their hands trembling, and their eyes turned red instantly. For so many years, this was the first time they felt that in this cannibalistic Sect, there were still people who treated them like human beings.

The third thing, which was also the most ruthless move—

He slapped a newly arrived task sheet onto his own forehead with a smack.

[Task: Eliminate the Remnants of the Black Wind Stronghold (Danger Rank: A)]

"I'm leading the team for this job."

Team Leader Wang Dameng looked around, his voice low, "Don't say I don't work just because I'm an official. For the most dangerous jobs, the Team Leader goes first. Anyone who is afraid of death can get out of my team now."

After this combination of moves, there were those who cheered and those who cried, but no one dared to look down on him anymore.

On the System interface, data streams jumped wildly.

[Team Leader Influence Assessment (Real-time)]

[Execution: High (Orders are executed immediately, no shirking)]

[Team Cohesion: Short-term ↑ (Formed an interest community centered on Team Leader Wang Dameng)]

[Resentment Distribution: Concentrated and transferred to the "named old rascals", overall grassroots resentment decreased]

Shen Xingzhou stood on the second floor, looking down at the glowing Team Leader Wang Dameng, and breathed a sigh of relief.

It seems this risky move was the right one.

However, the growth of power is often faster than weeds.

Just half a month later, the trend in Hengchuan Peak began to change quietly.

At first, it was just small things.

"Team Leader, I don't have enough Spirit Stones at home. Can you help me change my task? This night watch job is too tiring."

A Disciple who was usually close to Team Leader Wang Dameng handed him a pot of wine in private.

"Sure, small matter."

Team Leader Wang Dameng took the wine and patted the other person's shoulder generously, "I'll go tell the scheduling department and transfer you to the supply warehouse."

Then, such things happened more and more.

Some Disciples found that applying for task adjustments through the formal System process often required waiting for Shen Xingzhou's approval for a long time, and it might even be rejected.

But as long as you handed Team Leader Wang Dameng a cigarette, sent a pot of wine, or even just buttered him up a bit, the easy job would fall to you the next day on the schedule.

"Brother Dameng, my performance points... can you slightly..."

"Don't worry, brother will cover for you."

Gradually, a strange atmosphere spread through the Munitions Line.

When everyone worked, they no longer looked at the "System rules," but at "Brother Dameng's expression."

The originally transparent System began to be covered with a layer of ambiguous human relationship networks.

In Shen Xingzhou's Immortal Cave.

The System interface popped up a conspicuous red warning.

[Faction Risk Alert]

[Abnormal Behavior Observation:]

Resource application bypass: In the last three days, there have been 15 task adjustment applications that were not approved by the System but were directly coordinated and effective by the Team Leader verbally.

Cult of personality sprouting: The high-frequency words used by grassroots Disciples have gradually changed from "Boss Shen" to "Brother Meng" and "Our Boss."

Interest exchange: Detected an increase in the frequency of private small-amount financial/favor exchanges.

[Judgment: A tendency for Team Leader power concentration has appeared.]

Shen Xingzhou looked at this report, his brows knitted into a knot.

This was what he was most worried about.

He needed Team Leader Wang Dameng to be a mad dog to help him bite people and suppress the field.

But he didn't expect this mad dog to not only bite people but also start enclosing land.

If not limited, Team Leader Wang Dameng would sooner or later turn Hengchuan Peak into his "independent kingdom."

By then, Shen Xingzhou, the Peak Master, would be marginalized.

Once Team Leader Wang Dameng was in a bad mood, or was bought by someone outside, the entire Munitions Line—the heart of Hengchuan Peak—could stop beating instantly, or even backfire on its owner.

"I need him to work, but I also need to prevent him from rebelling..."

Shen Xingzhou took a deep breath, "Is this the taste of being an official?"

He looked at Team Leader Wang Dameng on the interface, the figure who was shouting in the workshop like a local emperor.

Can't dismiss him.

Once dismissed, the order that had just been established would collapse. Those troublemakers would only think, "Honest people can't beat the black-hearted boss after all," and it would be even harder to manage.

"Must put a bridle on him."

Shen Xingzhou muttered in his heart.

The System also seemed to have made corresponding calculations and gave the most rational adjustment suggestions.

[Management Structure Modification: Authority Upper Limit Setting]

[Suggested Measure A: Authority Separation]

Clearly stipulated: The Team Leader has no right to independently approve task adjustments.

For all resource mobilization, the Team Leader only has the "right of suggestion," and the final "approval right" must return to the host (or System terminal).

Any verbal promise, if not recorded by the System, shall be deemed invalid.

[Suggested Measure B: Audit Tracing]

Implant "System recording points" at key positions of all squads.

Ensure that every operation of Team Leader Wang Dameng is under the supervision of the System and cannot tamper with data privately.

Shen Xingzhou looked at these two suggestions, his fingers tapping gently on the desktop.

This is not just a technical modification; this is challenging the prestige that Team Leader Wang Dameng has just established.

Once announced, Team Leader Wang Dameng will definitely feel that his "power has been reduced."

Will this force him to rebel?

"But it must be done."

Shen Xingzhou's eyes turned cold, "If the System is not rigid, it will be eaten up by human relations."

He raised his hand and clicked on the line [Execute Modification] in the Void Realm.

[Instruction has taken effect]

[Current Faction Risk Level: Low → Medium]

[System Remark:]

The shadow of the faction has already sprouted in Bankruptcy Peak.

Host, you planted a Dragon seed, but what you might harvest is... a flea.

Shen Xingzhou looked at the risk level that had turned to [Medium], and a faint chill rose in his heart.

Outside the window, Team Leader Wang Dameng was holding a wine pot, surrounded by a group of people, walking out with thunderous laughter.

Shen Xingzhou closed the window, shutting out the noise.

He knew that from today on, the game between him and Team Leader Wang Dameng had just begun.