A Good-for-Nothing

96. A Boyfriend’s Shirt (2)

Translator: Dragon Rider

Zhen Daoyuan’s lips slightly moved and with that he frowned and looked around. “Director General Zong, now is not really the right time to talk about that matter.”

Zong Xian had a bland look on his face, as if he didn’t care. “They are all crack agents of SMB, and currently, we, a couple of old men, do not have enough time and energy to deal with ‘that matter’. Director Zhen, I understand that you want to protect our young staff members, but you should also know sooner or later, they will be the ones calling the shots in SMB.”

On hearing Director General Zong make such remarks, all people present pricked up their ears in the knowledge that the matter Director General Zong was going to talk about next was definitely of great significance.

From the one sitting closest to him to the one furthest away, Zong Xian’s eyes swept across face of each of them.

“What I’m going to talk about next is a secret that we, a couple of old men, have been keeping for over twenty years. All of you are the best and also the most trustworthy members of SMB. Not a single word of what you are going to be informed here is to be disclosed to anybody. Otherwise all people present today will be wanted by SMB for the rest of their lives.”

Zong Xian paused. His tone was quite bland but there was manifest stateliness in it, though he was not angry.

“If any of you find this unacceptable, leave this meeting room right now.”

Everybody had a solemn face and kept silent.

Li Zong’s facial expression remained utterly unchanged, as calm as still water. “Director General Zong, there’s no coward in our two groups.”

“Good.” Zong Xian nodded in satisfaction. Zhen Daoyuan didn’t say anything either.

Zong Xian continued, “Then I’ll get to the point. All of you know that twenty years ago, the Demon King came into our world and inflicted pains and deaths upon us.”

“Yes.”

“I’ll finish the story.” Zhen Daoyuan heaved a sigh, a hint of grief on his face. “On that day, all staff members of SMB fought the Demon King on the Taihang Mountain. Director Chi was killed. Director General Zong, Sect Leader Zhang of the Tigers and Dragons Mountain, and even Elder Chen were all seriously wounded during the fierce fight. After the fight, Elder Chen permanently lost the power of using a sword due to severe internal injuries. Sect Leader Zhang also spent almost ten years in closed-door cultivation.

Many crack agents and talents of SMB and even the Department of Homeland Security lost their lives on that day.”

Zhen Daoyuan’s eyes slowly swept across faces of staff members sitting in front. “The price was tremendous and painful, but we managed to deal the Demon King a heavy blow. Director General Zong and a couple of members of the Counter-demon Committee joined hands and sealed the Demon King in an enchantment, and everything seemed to return to some semblance of normality, but it was not until the Demon King was restrained that we finally found out the reason why we succeeded in sealing the Demon King at the cost of merely a couple of elders. At that time, the Demon King’s powers should be far greater than that.”

Someone blurted, “What was the reason?”

“The Demonic Seed.” Zhen Daoyuan squinted his eyes, making it difficult for staff members to tell whether he was looking at them or someone behind them.

“The Divine Law maintains the circle of life. No matter humans, demons, Yōkai or gods, when their energy exceeds the threshold set by the Divine Law, the Divine Law will automatically purge these over-powerful beings. The Demon King came to know about this far earlier than we did.

In that year, the Demon King was aware that SMB had been planning to take action for quite some time. We had many powerful agents at that time, and the Demon King was not confident of winning a fight with us, so he took advantage of the lull before the storm and sealed a large proportion of his power in a vessel beforehand, which later became the Demonic Seed. Not long after that, the Demon King, who had less than half of his power left, fought SMB and was sealed in an enchantment. Thus, by throwing dust in the Divine Law’s eyes, he escaped the fate of being purged.”

Someone muttered under their breath, “Why does this Divine Law sound like artificial intelligence? It can detect energy.”

Li Zong, who had been silent all along, noticed that Tun Shanhai’s little face was ghastly white, and he was even uncontrollably shuddering. Quietly, countenance unchanged, Li Zong reached out his hand and stroked the top of Tun Shanhai’s skull. With that, Tun Shanhai was pulled out of his horrific memories of that fight and returned to normal. He cast Li Zong a grateful look.

Zong Xian observed, “Of course the Divine Law has its own detecting mechanism. Right now, our first priority is to find the Demonic Seed as soon as possible. Zhu family had only half of the divinatory symbols. Given the bond between Zhu family and the God of Divination, I think the burnt half held some information on the whereabouts of the Demonic Seed. Pity those symbols are gone for good and we’ll never find out.”

Li Zong inclined his head. “I think the Demon King has done all these things lately not only to enhance his powers but also to distract us. Presumably he has already started searching for the Demonic Seed.”

Zong Xian was very pleased to see that Li Zong’s mind was so sharp. “That’s true. The Demon King’s intention is definitely not as simple as it seems.”

Zhang Jingqiu said, “But currently we don’t have a shred of clue. Can you provide any information that might be helpful, Director General Zong?”

Zong Xian shook his head. “Zhao Yidi has been investigating this all these years but so far has found nothing. He only conjectured that the Demonic Seed once appeared in the south-west.”

Zhang Jingqiu replied, “Then let’s adopt a double-barreled approach. Since the Demon King is trying to distract us, Li Zong and I should take our respective teams and split up. One team goes to the south-west to look for the Demonic Seed. The other team does whatever it takes to stop the Demon King’s plans. The Demon King needs to enhance his powers, so no doubt there will be more and more incidents.”

“Sounds like a plan. Then the second action group shall handle the matter of the Demonic Seed.”

Zong Xian nodded. “So it’s settled. From now on, the first action group will be in charge of all internal affairs. After all, the selection procedure for the Special Talents Training Program (STTP) has already begun. Given the current circumstances, SMB could really use some new blood. The second action group shall go to the south-west. I’ll send a missive and have the Fengdu Action Group fully cooperate with you.”

With high morale, all staff members present nodded repeatedly.

Seeing this, Zhen Daoyuan sighed, “SMB has always been short-handed. During this recruitment season, we must assess all aspects of the applicants. I think there will inevitably be another fight between us and the Demon King. We must do everything we can to minimize casualties.”

Li Zong inclined his head.

So did Zhang Jingqiu.

Zong Xian patted the two of them on the shoulder and remarked, “I’ll coordinate all matters concerning superior departments. If you need anything, all you have to do is ask. I’ll give you anything within my grasp. You may do whatever you deem necessary.”

Seldom had Zong Xian ever delegated to this degree. As a result, on hearing these words, all others came to realize the severity of the situation and none of them dared to take this matter lightly. Highly motivated, all staff members nodded their heads solemnly.