Chapter 513: Catching Up at Last!

"Done, the 59 Revision finally caught up (crying tone)!"

Although the employers have been offering quite tempting high prices, you still have to spend the money on living.

At first, some bold bandits headed toward Tiger Mountain, but after being plowed over by the heavy firepower of various nations several times, no one dared to take the job anymore.

Moreover, they are ultimately bandits, so even if the local lords get bombarded, they can't say much.

Even for the sake of the nobles' dignity, after paying commissions and losing manpower, they still have to publicly thank the Pioneers for their anti‑bandit actions.

Players: stifle a laugh.

Now Hei Shui Ling has Lao Nv Shi, Wu has the Pioneers, and Ai Li Nuo really can't help but develop.

No wonder she signs various cooperation agreements with players so readily—how could she not? Since it's already hard for her to get help from the Radiant Realm, she's eager to bind herself to the Pioneers.

Of course, players might purely choose to help a particular NPC out of personal preference, but the governments of each nation won't.

The reason they all coincidentally invest in Hei Shui Ling, undertaking massive infrastructure projects, is that this is the only noble domain east of the Capital Region willing to accept them.

Indeed, unlike the weak South Territory, the chaotic West Territory, and the conflicted Capital Region, the nobles of the East Territory and North Territory may also be petty, but at least they're united when it comes to xenophobia.

After all, there's only so much food on the table; if others take an extra bite, you get less. So everyone hopes the number of nobles at the table is as few as possible—no one wants it to increase.

Especially the Pioneers, who, though they don't say it outright, clearly have grievances against the noble lords and are treated like despised dogs.

So if the southern nobles are forced to cooperate, and the Royal Capital nobles cooperate selectively, then the East Territory and North Territory nobles…

"Woof woof woof woof woof!"

It's like a food‑guarding dog, clutching a tiny bowl that can't even hold three dishes, barking that no one else may sit at the table.

Thus, compared with them, those ostracized to the point of giving up—not only allowed the Pioneers to settle in Hei Shui Ling but also let them invest in factories and build industries—Ai Li Nuo suddenly became towering.

There's nothing more to say; money ultimately gets taken by the clever, so everyone returns favors. Hence, the nations, not just with infrastructure projects, are even willing to sell automatic weapons to Ai Li Nuo.

Therefore, while the Royal Capital nobles are furtively contacting a few Pioneer representatives, probing to acquire more USPs, Ai Li Nuo already faces the delightful dilemma of whether to raise an AK or an M4.

Thus, Hei Shui Ling has become the largest settlement for players within the Radiant Realm, even earning the reputation of "the fourth newbie village."

"Good fellow, pulling the status up to be on par with the Underground Space, Sunlight City, and the Barbarian Primeval Forest—can that even work…"

Ai Li Nuo rattled off so much at once that Ji Ming only now found a chance to interject.

Darn, I can't just chat with the younger ones; I have to care for the elder, too.

"Hmm, so that's how it is. Got it. Actually, I wanted to ask earlier—where is the Grand Archbishop now?"

"Oh right… (image), the teacher is currently at…"

Since Hei Shui Ling is stitched together from four noble domains, it naturally once had more than one Sheng Guang Jiao Tang.

However, after decades of prolonged neglect, most have become dilapidated, dangerous old buildings.

Including the Count's Domain, whose cathedral could theoretically host a bishop‑level official, survives only thanks to subsidies from higher‑ups.

Therefore, Grand Archbishop Te Ni Si couldn't stand by, so he used personal connections to apply for a subsidy from the Holy See.

After consulting professionals and conducting a series of assessments, he simply abandoned the renovation plan and built a new one beside the old cathedral in the Count's Domain.

But they've only just received the architectural drawings from the designer, and the construction crew is busy laying foundations and building the basements that every cathedral has.

"Oh, so you're going to be the site supervisor then."

The elders are busy, the youngsters are busy; now Hei Shui Ling still has many affairs to resolve, and Ji Ming feels embarrassed to bother again.

Since he's already caught up with Ai Li Nuo and knows the Grand Archbishop's current situation, he prepares to leave with Lao Nv Shi.

But before he can step out of the room, Ai Li Nuo blocks him.

"Um, what's up?"

"Ji Ming!"

Ai Li Nuo grabs his cuff, her eyes shining with the light of the court's disaster‑relief grain finally arriving.

"Please help me; handling so many affairs every day is driving me to exhaustion!"

Ji Ming: …

Trying to trick me into working, huh!?

Attention!

If you now look for excuses, trying to dodge with "I can't, I don't know, I'm unable," you'll lose the opportunity!

A high‑EQ response is to immediately turn to Lao Nv Shi and speak earnestly.

"Teacher, your experience far exceeds mine; please help her."

Exactly! Passing the buck is better than taking it, shifting responsibility is the eternal survival strategy.

But Buluowa merely squints and coldly says three words.

"I won't."

Having said that, he leaves without looking back.

Alright, a being even more formidable than the buck‑thrower shows up—how do you describe someone who never even gets stuck? The black pot is flung over without a touch.

So, with the buck‑throwing failed, Ji Ming can only turn back in pain, settle for a lesser option, and resort to a low‑road tactic.

"Ai Li Nuo, I'm a scholar from the Church, and I don't know these things."

But Ai Li Nuo had already prepared and replied immediately.

"If you don't know, you can learn—we'll improve together!"

"…Damn!"

Ji Ming may have decent EQ and sufficient IQ, but his expertise is all in reading people and social nuances.

He's never held any high office since childhood, only ever a class group leader, so he has no idea how to handle such extremely complex territorial affairs.

Yet seeing Ai Li Nuo's pitiful plea, he reluctantly agrees to "take a look."

That look ends up lasting half an hour, with Ji Ming meticulously reviewing the "Hei Shui Ling Knight Equipment Procurement Plan."

Actually, elsewhere it's easy—forming a knight order just needs reference cases and ready‑made gear lists.

But who says Ai Linuo has good relations with the Pioneers and has managed to get many exclusive trading channels?

Moreover, because of her background and experience, she is both a staunch supporter of the superiority‑of‑firepower theory and a sufferer of firepower‑deficiency phobia.

So she is always wondering whether she can equip her knights with the Pioneers' distinctive firearms in addition to the traditional weapons.

And plain handguns, whether revolvers or clock18, are too feeble for her; she wants to give the knights something bigger.

Ji Ming, of course, has no objection; after all, they are spending their own money, and he, an outsider, can only offer suggestions.

Thus, after confirming the procurement direction for the other equipment, he hesitated for a moment.

"I think we should go with an AK. I've seen Pioneers' cavalry charge with AK‑series automatic rifles; as long as the hands are steady, it looks pretty cool in combat."

"Hmm."

Ai Linuo nodded repeatedly, about to speak, but suddenly realized something.

"Huh? How could you have seen it?"

Ji Ming: "Ah, this."

Option 1: I recall a documentary I watched before that featured something similar (x).

Option 2: "I saw it under Falling God Mountain before, but I'm not very familiar with guns, so I might have misidentified it." (√)

"Oh, that's fine. Since the Pioneers use it that way, we can arrange our equipment the same way."

Seeing Ai Linuo nod, Ji Ming picked up the "Mara Machine Gun and Field Cannon Development Application" that was tucked under the "Procurement Plan".

"Hmm, and here's this proposal. Look, I spotted the problem at a glance."

"You want the other side to co‑research with you, you're asking them, so you can't just state your own needs; you also have to give them …"

Then he fell silent, and was shocked to discover that the part beneath the application was even more explosive…

Geez, Ai Linuo, why are you still thinking about their tank!?

But Ai Linuo was still listening attentively, and unexpectedly the person only spoke half a sentence before going completely idle.

She, anxious, hurriedly urged.

"Also have to give the other side what?"

"You also have to give … uh, you must understand this is a world full of interests; you need to promise them some benefits, otherwise who would work for free for you?"

"Oh, right, no one would work for free without a reason …"

Ji Ming now just wants to finish this matter quickly and leave; since Ai Linuo said nothing further, he continued reading the documents.

Then he discovered that he had read five documents in one go and written his suggestions, while Ai Linuo beside him seemed only to be flipping back and forth over the few pages she had.

…Damn, no wonder they left me here; they really want me to work for you, you lazy fool!

Ji Ming was instantly incensed; although he didn't say much, he knew who could handle Ai Linuo.

He was about to get up and go to the construction site to fetch the Archbishop who had switched to a foreman, when he suddenly noticed that Ai Linuo's condition seemed off…

He quickly adjusted his sitting posture, glanced at her quietly, and indeed found—

Ai Linuo, you're spying on me, aren't you!

Moreover, Ai Linuo's once crystal‑clear gaze is gone; now her eyes are exactly like those seductive harlots in the Royal Capital!

Ji Ming couldn't help but feel a bitter, aching sorrow, as if the wall of his heart had thickened.

【What are you thickening, can you stop pretending to be artsy here? Can't you see what the problem is?】

"Hey, why are you in such a hurry? I'm just thinking of a strategy, aren't I?"

Ai Linuo is the daughter of Princess Mengquan, naturally bearing the radiant royal bloodline and inheriting the curse that can be abbreviated as the Dragon Curse.

In the past she had virtually no power, found banquets tedious and refused to attend, so the curse wasn't even worthy of appearing on her stats.

But now she is a landowner, a genuine princess, powerful enough to negotiate with multiple factions, so the curse naturally intensifies.

Actually it wasn't a big deal; Ai Linuo is very career‑driven, and when she first arrived there were many tasks, which she handled quite well through relentless work,

but now with Ji Ming's help, her mind relaxed instantly; the weather is hotter, and she's sharing a room with that male succubus…

Buluowa: "Thick Gift Crab, look! Look! What was I saying again?"

Ji Ming sighed.

"Ai·Li·Nuo"

"Uh, huh?"

Ai Linuo only then realized she had been unintentionally staring at Ji Ming idly for a long time, and hurriedly lowered her slightly flushed cheeks, pretending to read the documents earnestly.

"What's wrong? I'm looking, I'm looking at this, this… ah, I flipped it over."

Ji Ming restrained the urge to turn into a sweating soybean, and, while lowering his charm, tried to console.

"It's fine, Ai Linuo, our teacher is a sister, so we can loosely say we're from the same school. I think we can be a bit more frank."

Saying that, Ji Ming placed a bottle of Rejuvenation Elixir on the table and adopted a serious expression.

"I'm a doctor. You seem off. Have you noticed anything strange about yourself lately?"

Ah, so this is the frankness?

Ai Linuo felt a surge of disappointment, but still went along with Ji Ming's words.

"Strange places…"

She thought for a moment, her face reddening further, stammering.

"Um… lately… I just keep flipping over the things you wrote… does that count?"

"The things I wrote?"

"What did I write!"

"Damn it, I remember after I transmigrated I never wrote that kind of thing again, so how did you—!"

Ji Ming, startled, quickly rummaged through his memory and found…

Luckily, it's not 'Cybertron Flirt King' or 'Corporate Slave Sir and the Seven Giant Women'.

But he had indeed written things for Eleanor, and there were quite a lot.

Besides that, back when we were fighting the Evil God Church on the Wind Shadow Marquis's territory, I had already written Eleanor a whole secret manual.

After having the Archbishop send the copy to the church and launching a special crackdown on the Evil God Church, it had originally been given to Eleanor as a keepsake.

But Eleanor didn't care what Ji Ming was thinking while he stayed silent; she gathered her courage and continued whispering.

"Also…… sometimes when I dream…… I dream of seeing you, with me……"

【ohyeah！giggity！giggity！giggity！】

Now Ji Ming was truly shocked; amidst the clamor of the little boss who loved to watch the excitement and didn't mind making a fuss, his teeth chattered.

"What did you dream about me?"

"I dreamed we were in your Clinic."

"Clinic? The one in Sunshine City?"

"Yes."

"And then?"

"You said I was sick, it was urgent, and I needed surgery right away! So… so… you wanted me… to take off my coat."

Ji Ming had already been frightened into speechlessness, only able to sit there dumbly listening to Eleanor slowly utter each word.

"I feel it's really strange; I didn't want to, but you know, in a dream I can't control it—I really did struggle! But in the end I still went along with it."

"You praised my shirt as looking great, then urged me to quickly lie on the operating table; I certainly wouldn't want to, but for some reason I immediately lay down!"

Ji Ming: ……

"Exactly!"

(End of chapter)