Chapter 36: Forming a Team

The person answering the phone was Liu Jinsen. Under the effect of the Level 6 prop "Mysterious CEO Call," the scene around Liu Jinsen also appeared in the projection.

Liu Jinsen was still the same, his face cold and meticulous.

Beside him, Sha Ruijing was also the same as last time, smiling, with a hint of fawning and flattery.

"Wen Xishu, I'm here to tell you that you must log into the Mysterious Tower before four o'clock this afternoon."

Liu Jinsen didn't have a word of nonsense.

Wen Xishu said:

"My sins, how can they be redeemed? I have already, as you said, exceeded the task of exploring the Mysterious Tower."

"Logically speaking, I should have already balanced my merits and demerits, right? I have also saved countless people's lives. Now the Bunker Security Bureau doesn't give me any commendation, and they actually want me to take risks?"

Liu Jinsen showed a look of shame, which surprised Wen Xishu a bit.

"I'm sorry, I miscalculated the degree of desire the higher-ups have for you... or rather, for the secret you hold."

"Currently, in the Security Bureau, except for the Second Division and the Sixth Division, the other four divisions hope to interrogate you, including the five divisions of the Government Affairs Bureau, all hope to catch you."

"With the intervention of the old principal, and the efforts of the Second Division Chief and the Sixth Division Chief, you are currently considered temporarily safe."

"You can study in the Three Towers Academy, or you can move around the bunker like a free person."

"Currently, no department is allowed to apply for your arrest warrant, and they have no power to arrest you."

"All of this is thanks to your contribution to the lower levels. Sha Ruijing also put in quite a bit of effort in this matter. The three words 'Wen Xishu' are now extremely sacred in the lower levels."

Liu Jinsen looked at Sha Ruijing as he said this.

Wen Xishu didn't expect that Sha Ruijing could actually pull off such a big stunt.

Although he didn't know how famous he was in the lower levels, and didn't know how Sha Ruijing operated it...

But since Liu Jinsen specifically mentioned it, and this kind of phone call specifically brought Sha Ruijing along, it was estimated that it was to let him know that Sha Ruijing had made a great contribution.

Wen Xishu said:

"Thank Comrade Sha... oh no, Comrade Sha Ruijing for me. If there is a chance in the future, I will repay him."

Sha Ruijing also seemed to know that Wen Xishu on the other end of the phone could see them, so he waved at Wen Xishu, all smiles.

Wen Xishu cut back to the main topic:

"But I guess no matter what I did, or what Sha Ruijing did, it's still not enough, right?"

Liu Jinsen nodded:

"Sorry... it really isn't enough."

"The things involved here are very complex. Wen Xishu, I can only tell you that you are now a pawn in a multi-party game."

Anyone being called a pawn probably wouldn't be happy. But Wen Xishu wasn't annoyed.

"Okay Liu Sir, tell me, what else do I need to do extra?"

Liu Jinsen said:

"Become stronger."

Wen Xishu was stunned for a moment, then understood. This was really a high-EQ way of saying it.

Liu Jinsen continued:

"Next, you need to keep becoming stronger, but you should be clear about the way to become stronger."

"The Bunker Security Bureau hopes that you can explore the Mysterious Tower at a fixed time cycle; the exact time interval is seven days."

"After each exploration of the Mysterious Tower, you have seven days to rest and adjust. Seven days later, you will explore the Mysterious Tower again."

"Wen Xishu, I personally hate Wen Zhaohua very much; the crimes he committed are too numerous to record. But I don't hate you. Especially since you saved countless lives in the lower levels not long ago."

"If I could, I would be willing to use my career to protect you, but I am low-ranking and weak, and I can't do that."

"Even if I risked everything, I couldn't change the decisions of the higher-ups."

"Seven days after seven days, it is foreseeable that you will constantly fall into danger."

"But I believe that with your performance the first time, you are definitely not something in a pond; perhaps in the future, just in terms of achievements in tower ascent... you will surpass Wen Zhaohua."

"I think, at that time, some of the Security Bureau's decisions will become cautious."

"May you become a legend of the bunker."

At this moment, Wen Xishu glanced at the old lunatic Albert, who was drinking red wine and shaking his head behind him.

Wen Xishu was silent for a short while, then said:

"Can you tell me what Wen Zhaohua actually did?"

Although not long ago, Albert refused to answer Wen Xishu's question. But Wen Xishu asked Liu Jinsen at this moment, and Albert didn't stop him either.

The old principal still had that leisurely expression.

Liu Jinsen was also silent for a short while, then said:

"Countless people... tower climbers in the bunker, including many people on the Heavenly Ladder ranking, all died because of him. He also caused some nearly irreversible losses in exploring the Three Towers."

"I promised the old principal not to tell you more things."

Wen Xishu glanced at Albert, and Albert waved at Wen Xishu with a smile.

Wen Xishu said helplessly:

"Okay, I understand. Regarding the tower ascent this afternoon, do you have anything to add?"

Liu Jinsen hummed:

"Yes, you have already been to the Three Towers once, so this time, after you activate the login device... you will go to the rest area."

"The role of the rest area..."

Wen Xishu interrupted:

"I know the role of the rest area, a place to sell intelligence, prepare for battle, and form teams."

Liu Jinsen said:

"Good, what I want to say is, this Mysterious Tower rest area... will have quite a few people."

"Most of these people are death row inmates, or exiles. And some... hmm, and some 'our own people'."

"You should know that people on the same floor and with the same mission can form teams in the rest area."

Wen Xishu gave a light chuckle, probably guessing what was going on.

Liu Jinsen said:

"If you don't meet the conditions for forming a team, that's fine, but if you do... the higher-ups hope you accept the team-up request."

Wen Xishu asked curiously:

"If I meet the conditions, but I refuse to form a team... will the higher-ups know? They aren't in the rest area."

Liu Jinsen's tone was solemn:

"They will. This world has many special props, such as the phone you are currently using, which belongs to the old principal."

"And some props can deconstruct part of the login device's data, and even... I heard that in the highest functional floor of the bunker, there are rooms that can see various indicators."

"So, don't choose to defy. Wen Xishu, I know you are certainly unwilling, but I am not advising you from the standpoint of the Security Bureau. When you are not strong enough, it is best to choose to adapt to the environment first."

Wen Xishu understood.

Exploring the Three Towers, going to which floor, which area, were all unknown.

The Tower of Desire and the Mysterious Tower must be in the same area and have the same mission to form a team.

In other words, as long as he was the only one who received a certain mission during a certain period of time, he wouldn't be able to form a team with anyone.

And even if he could form a team, the teammates might not necessarily be the "monitors" arranged by the higher-ups.

But there was always this possibility.

As long as the higher-ups arranged enough people, as long as he explored the Mysterious Tower enough times...

Then there would always be a time when he might form a team with these people arranged by the higher-ups.

Once a team was formed and they became teammates, his process of exploring the Mysterious Tower could be recorded.

The higher-ups were really going all out to obtain the secrets about Wen Zhaohua.

Even if it was just a tiny probability, they were willing to arrange many exiles, death row inmates... and even suicide squads to take a gamble.

Wen Xishu now believed more and more that Wen Zhaohua had something the higher-ups desperately wanted.

Wen Xishu said:

"If I happen to be able to form a team, but I kill all my teammates in the Mysterious Tower, what will happen?"

This was said straightforwardly and frankly. The light and airy attitude when talking about killing teammates made even Liu Jinsen stunned.

Liu Jinsen suddenly had the thought that perhaps there were demons living in the hearts of both Wen brothers.

Albert also narrowed his eyes, sizing up Wen Xishu.

Liu Jinsen answered truthfully as before:

"Please don't do that. Most of the people exploring the Mysterious Tower are criminals, but it doesn't exclude a few people who choose to fight to the death to change their fate. Just like you."

"Some people are innocent; even if they are criminals, the moment they choose to enter the Mysterious Tower, they are already atoning for their sins."

"You cannot know whether these people who form a team with you are coming for you, or for freedom and wealth."

"If it's the latter, then they can die at the hands of the Mysterious Tower's monsters, but they should never die at the hands of their own people."

Wen Xishu didn't refute this sentence.

In fact, when Liu Jinsen said "please don't do that," the question he raised already had an answer.

Wen Xishu naturally knew that some people's lives shouldn't be cut short, but if he were in an environment where they would die if he didn't, he knew very well that he would definitely not have half a bit of pity.

"Okay Liu Sir, I am a person without any violent tendencies; I won't do that kind of thing. I haven't even used violence in the Mysterious Tower."

At least for the second half of the sentence, Wen Xishu was telling the truth. He really hadn't used violence in the Mysterious Tower.

He had only used it in the Tower of Desire.

(I'm in Xi'an these two days, temporarily two updates to muddle through)

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 37 =====