Chapter 107: Leaning against a big tree makes it easy to enjoy the shade

Hehehe.

It's still that saying; the words Song Bingyuan spoke, each character Chen Shicheng believes individually, but put together it's hard to say.

He dares to swear that if he says the words of refusal, there might be no problem now, but later who knows—one day a dozen burly men could burst in, holding credentials, saying your matter is exposed, come with me. And even if Song Bingyuan really isn't lying, if C City later runs into trouble and people come asking for your help, who could still directly refuse?

After all, no matter how you say it, Yu Wei's death is directly related to him.

When the time comes and someone stands before you, will you repay this favor or not?

"So I hate owing favors to others the most."

Chen Shicheng sighed helplessly in his heart, "If I join you, what's in it for me?"

Joining is joining, but the treatment afterward must be clarified; we can't just work for free.

Song Bingyuan was also taken aback by such blunt words, then his face lit up with joy—not fearing your questions, but fearing you wouldn't ask; as soon as you open your mouth, that at least is a clear signal showing he's very interested.

As long as the treatment or benefits are in place, then the Cultural Tourism Bureau Logistics Department of C City will have its own local expert! Song Bingyuan organized his language: "First is the issue of welfare and benefits; joining the Cultural Tourism Bureau Logistics Department, although you aren't yet a national civil servant, you can enjoy all regular benefits, the national information network is fully open to you, you receive a monthly salary, and you also receive state protection."

"If someone attacks you in the game or in reality, that counts as assaulting the police, with serious consequences; moreover, you can get a free satellite phone and log onto the dedicated website of the Cultural Tourism Bureau Logistics Department."

"Don't underestimate this website; while game forums are just ordinary players' posts, the site is full of guides from top players of the Blood-Red Great Wall, each one is solid content, and it's completely free."

"Most importantly, this website also serves as an internal trading and task-acceptance platform, where you can exchange points for all game items in the state's resource vault."

"As for points, they are earned by completing tasks; simply put, it's how much you contribute to the state that determines your reward, and the state will definitely not shortchange anyone in this regard."

"Of course, there's also the advancement channel everyone cares about; you don't need to worry—if your strength is sufficient, your political achievements outstanding, and you meet some conditions, you can apply to enter the Blood-Red Great Wall, and even the position of C City bureau chief isn't out of the question."

Song Bingyuan might have been afraid Chen Shicheng would refuse, so he babbled on nonstop.

However, Chen Shicheng only heard the beginning; the rest didn't sink in at all. After pondering carefully, he asked with a strange expression.

"According to what you said, I'm not a civil servant but still get civil servant benefits—that's just a temporary worker, right? If something happens..."

"Ah?"

Song Bingyuan recalled what he had just said, instantly understood Chen Shicheng's meaning, and hurriedly explained, "Don't misunderstand; if you join the Cultural Tourism Bureau Logistics Department, I'll give you an external consultant position."

"This position isn't that of a temporary worker on the payroll; it's a cooperative relationship—you only need to answer to me, and with me around, you can freely decide whether to accept the mandatory tasks from the headquarters."

"Moreover, when you go on missions, the spoils count as your personal property; you don't have to go through the confiscation-and-redistribution process like everyone else."

Chen Shicheng blinked, "Isn't this just listening to the tune but not the proclamation? Can your Cultural Tourism Bureau Logistics Department accept such a position?" According to Song Bingyuan's words, he would be cooperating with the state organization as an individual, gaining all resources of the official organization while still being able to refuse orders.

Before, I'd only seen this kind of position in videos of those annoying second-generation rich kids; I never imagined I'd one day enjoy such privileges! "It might not have been possible before, but after the large-scale public test it is." Song Bingyuan said with a wry smile.

"How so?"

"Don't think that just because domestic affairs have been calm and everything seems under control; in reality, every era has its ambitious people, various regions have long had undercurrents, the higher-ups are also somewhat harried—put bluntly, it's a shiny surface over dung."

"Now player numbers have surged again, the nation is in chaos, manpower is severely lacking, and C City's Cultural Tourism Bureau Logistics Department is still in its infancy, so the higher-ups have also given me great autonomy, encouraging me to blaze a new trail."

"So you needn't worry at all; on this little plot of land in C City, I'm still in charge, and all guarantees are absolutely achievable."

Song Bingyuan has basically laid all his cards on the table.

This external consultant position is less about recruitment and more about finding a high-combat-power mascot to steady morale.

Of course, if he truly encounters a problem he can't solve, this mascot will still act depending on the situation.

It truly carries the spirit of "having no sword in hand, not using the sword in hand" to the extreme.

After hearing all this, Chen Shicheng pondered for a moment; frankly, Song Bingyuan's proposed terms are already very reasonable, with every side having made the maximum concession within their authority.

After hearing it, to say he felt not the slightest stir would be absolutely impossible.

"Leaning against a big tree makes it easy to enjoy the shade"—this saying isn't just empty talk!

As a slumbering dragon, the state may not show its peaks or leak water, appearing as harmless as a panda, but if it truly wants to exert force, that's earth-shattering.

So, no matter how chaotic the world looks now, someday it will gradually return to peace, and based on extraordinary power a stable social structure will form.

And within this collective, there's no doubt that the state will still be the one leading the nation to the peak; no matter how extraordinary an individual's power, they cannot break free from this collective.

Of course, all this presupposes that we haven't yet become immortals wandering the world; if in the future we can achieve immortality and become ancestors, then of course we can ignore all this.

But is ascending to immortality really that simple?

Chen Shicheng never thought of himself as a trailblazer leading the age, but he also never underestimated himself.

If we add the confidence from the Stealing Heaven Pendant, he really does have a bit of ambition to rival heaven in longevity.

But this takes time; in the early and middle stages, before we can ignore collective power, hitching a ride on the state's heavy war chariot is no foolish move; as for how far we'll go in the future, that depends on one's own strength.

(End of chapter)