"…Another long-distance mission?"
"Yeah, we delivery people don't have the right to question the boss's ideas."
After all, we're just working stiffs.
Facing Li Lin's somewhat complaining gaze, Exusiai also shrugged somewhat awkwardly.
After all, the person had just recovered not long ago, and making them continue to run around outside, no matter how you looked at it, was a bit unfeeling. But for some unknown reason, the boss was as stubborn as a donkey eating a scale weight ( - idiom: stubbornly determined), dead set on having everyone in Penguin Logistics take this job, even abandoning the initially humane persona.
Unsure what great profit could drive the mysterious boss to make such a decision. This order was issued directly from the boss, not through Penguin Logistics' usual information channels. In other words, this was very likely a deal between some high-level big shots. There would be no possibility of any leaks. And looking at the huge box Exusiai brought over, and the densely packed seals on it, Li Lin couldn't help but frown.
The journey through the Lungmen wilderness and Chernobog was truly not a pleasant memory; all that could be recalled was pain, nothing but pain.
The dividing line between civilization and barbarism was the mobile city, truly too clear.
"I~'m~ back~ I brought you guys the most delicious braised chicken wings, okay? For our big patient, I even specially bought two extra portions—Why are you all gathered here? Did something happen?"
Why is everyone gathered together? Is there delicious food and you didn't call me?
Croissant, with her hair tied in a ponytail, grinned, carrying a bag of food, and skipped into the dormitory, then saw the huge box among the three.
Croissant was naturally also an old hand . She naturally realized what it meant to be gathered around this box full of seals at this time. Although clumsy and carefree in personality, it didn't mean she didn't understand things. Her originally sunny expression visibly deflated , turning into a look of disappointment .
"Ah… Such a good holiday ruined just like this?"
Croissant, looking bored, carried the bag, placed it on the coffee table, propped her chin on her hand, pouted, and looked at the inexplicable box.
"So? Which big shot needs us to deliver this where? Let me declare beforehand, Croissant is clearly priced and does not haggle; even if it's the boss, if the salary isn't paid, I will go on strike without hesitation."
"Five hundred thousand Lungmen LMD per person, and also a three-week holiday from the Kazimierz Knightclub. The item being transported this time seems to be very troublesome, so it requires several of us to go together. Same requirement as last time, go to the capital of Kazimierz, meet a knight, hand this thing over to her, then wait for a reply. It might take a relatively long time, need to prepare some equivalents."
"Equivalents? Isn't that Orundum ? No way, converting it is a huge loss. I'm gonna die…"
Croissant buried her head in despair, and Texas also showed a somewhat troubled expression.
Lungmen, this commercial city, used every means possible to promote the circulation of Lungmen LMD; exchanging precious metals within Lungmen, in terms of equivalent value, was undoubtedly a loss. If told in advance, they could have stopped the loss a bit, but being so rushed now would undoubtedly incur a small loss.
Although round trips could eventually be reimbursed, watching money leave was an extremely unpleasant thing for Croissant. Before she could comfort this dispirited Forte girl, who was exuding 'baby is unhappy, baby needs comfort' vibes, the phone in Li Lin's pocket rang. A somewhat pop-like (口水 - kǒushuǐ) tune Sora had set up sometime unknown echoed in the room, making everyone look at him somewhat strangely.
"Ah, sorry, I need to take this call."
Making a shushing gesture to the others, Li Lin picked up the phone, quickly walked outside the Penguin dormitory, and pressed the answer key. The stern and upright voice he had heard just a few hours ago appeared on the phone. Seemingly in complete control of the situation, the voice was full of vigor.
"Li Lin, are you still at Penguin Logistics?"
"Still here, what's wrong?"
"Then I have an important mission for you. I hope you can deliver an item to the knights of Kazimierz. Just hand over these goods, that's all. Then please bring back whatever they reply with. Specific matters have already been discussed with your boss. By tonight, you will receive our cargo contact request. You can set off early tomorrow morning."
"Hm? Officer Ch'en, why do you also need to send something to Kazimierz?"
"Also?"
"Yeah, I just received a mission notification here, asking me to go to Kazimierz."
"…So that's how it is, looks like I'm not the only one thinking this way."
Officer Ch'en fell silent for a moment, then said in a low voice. Unsure what exactly she was talking about. Before Li Lin could react, Officer Ch'en on the other end chuckled lightly and said to Li Lin:
"Next, Lungmen might undergo some changes. As a logistics team, you are very likely to be targeted by others. People will do anything when cornered . So, go to Kazimierz with your companions and stay there for a while. Come back after a month when the dust has settled. I initially planned to use some official business to send you away, didn't expect someone else had the same idea as me."
"Is it about the Immortality Agency? So rushed?"
"Mm. Seems like there's a small problem within the Guard Bureau, someone thinks this is an opportunity to be exploited. But it's also a good chance to round up those criminals all at once. Don't worry, it will end soon. Peace will come. I promise."
Officer Ch'en gave a few instructions over the phone, then hastily hung up.
And Li Lin, holding the disconnected phone, fell into deep thought.
Officer Ch'en is lying.
It felt like this operation wasn't as well under control as Officer Ch'en said; just calling him shortly after he left showed that some sudden event probably occurred soon after Li Lin departed, causing many people to make hasty decisions. Officer Ch'en was also kind-hearted, intending to send him away conveniently, then fight a life-or-death battle with those gangsters in Lungmen herself.
Li Lin didn't doubt Officer Ch'en would win; after all, the actual controller Wei Yenwu was behind her, and various violent institutions hadn't lost control. So the one truly likely to be targeted by desperate dogs was himself, the third shareholder. Officer Ch'en wanting him to leave very likely meant he was exposed.
But who was it that wanted him to leave even before Officer Ch'en did?
Li Lin walked back into the room holding his phone somewhat strangely. Then he saw a corner of the sender's name exposed on the box.
"Sent by Chongyue Mountain Shop… Are they designing clothes for the Kazimierz knights? Lungmen's clothing industry is that strong now?"
Isn't Chongyue Mountain a shop and restaurant? Has it expanded to Kazimierz?
Looking at the sender's information, Li Lin's head became even more muddled.