Chapter Forty: The Blade-Wielding Ghost

When it comes to making money, it all boils down to the basic necessities of life: food, clothing, housing, and transportation. Meng Fan had previously developed the "Jade Bee," an excellent product for beauty and skincare, but at that time, he lacked a "mighty tree" to shelter under and dared not "flaunt his wealth."

Now, with Liao Zhong serving as that mighty tree, Meng Fan could finally bring his inventions to light and enter the health and wellness industry. Beyond that, Meng Fan cultivated various high-end food products, such as beef, vegetables, and fruits. The Southwest Division established its own food base, using the logistics network of the "Na Du Tong" company to distribute these goods across the country.

He also developed two types of specialized silkworms, each with distinct functions. One produced silk that, when woven into fabric and treated with specific dyes, naturally emanated a unique luster, enhancing its color while offering superior breathability. Meng Fan had Liao Zhong partner with others to open clothing boutiques, launching Na Du Tong’s own luxury brand.

The other type of silkworm was created by fusing spider genes with silkworm biology. The resulting silk, when braided into ropes, was as tough as spider thread and flame-resistant. It boasted high tensile strength—exceeding 1.4 GPa, comparable to high-grade alloy steel—and a fracture strength of over 1.75×10¹⁰ Pa, which is 135 times that of human bone, 25 times that of high-strength alloy steel, and 6 times that of diamond. Furthermore, it possessed high elasticity, capable of stretching 40% beyond its natural length, and up to five times its length in high-humidity environments, ensuring peak performance under various conditions.

These ropes were first put to use by Na Du Tong, proving unexpectedly effective in tasks such as capturing "Outsiders." After all, aside from methods like the "Qi-Sealing Needle," there were few reliable ways to restrain powerful Outsiders; conventional handcuffs and ropes would snap the moment a strong individual pulled on them. With Meng Fan’s silk ropes, escape became nearly impossible. The staff at Na Du Tong jokingly dubbed them "Dragon-Binding Ropes," implying they were strong enough to restrain a dragon, let alone a human. Later, through Liao Zhong’s connections, other departments also procured a significant quantity, though that is another story.

Finally, Meng Fan bred a pack of ferocious dogs for the Southwest Division to assist the company in tracking and capturing Outsiders, thereby reducing casualties among company personnel.

All in all, Liao Zhong profited handsomely, and Meng Fan received his share as well. The beauty of Na Du Tong was that it was not a traditional government bureaucracy but a company in name. Liao Zhong, acting under the guise of providing employee benefits, could distribute these rewards without the Board of Directors raising any objections. As a regional head, he acted like a general manager with immense authority; no one would fire a manager who was running the company so successfully. Not to mention, the dogs and ropes had undeniably benefited the organization.

***

At the Na Du Tong headquarters, Zhao Fangxu reviewed the documents submitted by Liao Zhong and asked thoughtfully, "Is it confirmed that Meng Fan’s research direction in Beast Mastery is different from his father’s?"

Liao Zhong stood before him and guaranteed, "Director Zhao, you know me; I would never lie to you."

"Besides, you know all those products appearing in my division—they were all cooked up by this kid. A person’s energy is limited; he doesn’t have the capacity to pursue the same research as Old Meng. Furthermore, the kid knows his priorities. He is exactly the talent Na Du Tong needs!"

Zhao Fangxu nodded and laughed heartily. "This Meng Fan is excellent. He takes a macro-level approach to Beast Mastery and has contributed significantly to the company’s growth. We don’t need to worry; this is a win-win for everyone. With that, I am reassured."

Liao Zhong chimed in flatteringly, "Hehe, you are wise, Director Zhao!"

Zhao Fangxu then instructed, "Little Liao, I trust your ability to get things done. From now on, Meng Fan is assigned to your division. See that he is properly looked after. Truthfully, the best place for him would be in agricultural research, but given his unique status as an Outsider and the fact that he is already at your 'Dark Bunker,' you understand, don't you?"

"Understood, perfectly understood. I will protect him well!"

"Good. You may go."

As he stepped out of the room, Liao Zhong breathed a long sigh of relief. He had finally "cleared" Meng Fan’s name. In reality, this had been Meng Fan’s goal for the past two years: to enter the upper echelons of Na Du Tong by leveraging his ability to improve biological species. His value was something those "old foxes" could not overlook. Once his status was legitimized, Meng Fan could display his skills within reasonable bounds, verify his theories, and continue to build his foundation. By utilizing the company’s platform and connections, he could acquire materials that were otherwise impossible to obtain, such as rare alloys. After all, he still possessed the art of beast taming, which required specific essence from gold and stone; to make his "Flower Fox Mink" even more powerful, these specialized materials were essential.

***

At the Dark Bunker, Meng Fan, dressed in his white lab coat, saw Liao Zhong return and asked with a smile, "Did you get it done?"

Liao Zhong said with pride, "With me on the case, is there anything that doesn't get done?"

"From now on, you’re a key protected asset of the company. Director Zhao has granted you certain special privileges. In some instances, even I, as the head of the Southwest Division, have to follow your orders."

Meng Fan said with satisfaction, "Does that mean I’m the boss of the Dark Bunker now?"

Liao Zhong skillfully flicked Meng Fan on the head. "You want to climb over my head already?"

"Haha, one must have dreams, right? What if they actually come true?"

Liao Zhong glared at him indignantly. "Don't even think about it. As long as I'm around, you'll have to listen to me."

After some banter, Meng Fan asked, suddenly serious, "Uncle Liao, have you really decided to let Chen Duo become a temporary agent?"

Since Chen Junyan’s departure, Meng Fan had been the one accompanying Chen Duo for the past two years, and they had developed a strong bond. The "Manggu Zhuha" on Meng Fan’s shoulder had shifted from a bright vermilion to a deep, purplish red. Chen Duo had been training under Liao Zhong with extreme diligence.

Liao Zhong was silent for a long time before saying firmly, "I don’t want her to spend her whole life in this dark, sunless bunker."

"You should understand the implications of Chen Duo’s condition. If you submit that report, the Board of Directors is going to have a headache," Meng Fan said bluntly.

"But this is something I must do, and being a temporary agent is the only way for Chen Duo to gain her freedom."

Meng Fan sighed and said, "Fine, I can’t argue with you. Let me add a safeguard to your report."

"From now on, Chen Duo will be the company’s blade."

"And I will be the one wielding it."