Chapter 241: Recruitment
The consortium’s terms were indeed tempting, but Xu Zhi caught a faintly familiar scent in them—almost as if… she had done something similar herself back in Cloud City.
Leeks, after all. The words sounded nice, but once you signed the contract, however much the consortium invested in you, they would inevitably squeeze out a corresponding—if not doubled—return from your value.
Xu Zhi didn’t hide her hesitation. Seeing this, the man looked puzzled. “Miss Xu, are you dissatisfied with the conditions the consortium has offered?”
Hearing that, Xu Zhi spoke with some difficulty. “Isn’t twenty years… a bit too long?”
“How could it be?”
He seemed even more confused.
“Twenty years is already special treatment for you as a Lamp-attribute supernatural. During these twenty years, regardless of whether you successfully advance, the consortium will continue providing you with resources. You should know that for other attributes, contracts start at twenty-five years minimum. And after ten years, if their aptitude proves unsatisfactory, their resources are reduced.”
His tone was full of matter-of-fact certainty. Xu Zhi could tell he genuinely believed a twenty-year contract was entirely reasonable—that she was the one benefiting.
“Miss Xu, you must understand that twenty years is really not long for a supernatural. The average lifespan of supernaturals in our cities is already 150 years—and that includes the largest base group, the low-tier ones.”
“Moreover, the consortium is signing this contract without even knowing whether you can successfully advance, or whether you’ll simply waste time and drain our resources.”
“We’ve already shown more than enough sincerity.”
It was phrased beautifully—so beautifully that Xu Zhi almost felt persuaded.
She knew clearly that this was not the moment to decide. Whether she agreed or refused, she could not make that decision now. Besides, she hadn’t yet seen what other parties were willing to offer.
Was a bottom-tier Lamp-attribute supernatural really worth competing over?
Not really.
But Xu Zhi was not merely a bottom-tier supernatural. The timing of her appearance was far too sensitive. She had conveniently lost her memory, and her identity was highly suspicious. What she represented was no longer just a Lamp-attribute supernatural.
Right now, everyone wanted to keep her within their own sphere of influence. If only one side had discovered her, she would not even have the “right” to choose. But since multiple forces were watching, a subtle balance had formed between them.
“May I think it over?” Xu Zhi asked after careful consideration.
On the surface, the consortium seemed sincere and relatively “aboveboard.” But in reality? If she had any better option, she would not want to sign a twenty-year indenture contract.
“Of course. You may consider it—but please give us an answer as soon as possible.”
The man’s expression was no longer as cheerful as before. Xu Zhi’s hesitation clearly displeased him. Still, he couldn’t force her to respond immediately, so he could only leave it at that.
In his mind, if this girl were wise enough, she would understand that the consortium was her best choice.
From his perspective, other forces could never compare to the consortium. They might have advantages in certain areas, but none of them had as much money.
Money could buy anything in this world. Serving a sufficiently wealthy power was the only way to obtain more of what one desired.
After leaving the tent, Xu Zhi clearly sensed several gazes falling upon her. Her meeting with the Fixed Star Consortium had clearly already reached other ears.
Recruitment from the other forces would likely follow soon.
Xu Zhi touched her “wrist” and sighed inwardly. Though it seemed she had the freedom to choose, in reality she was forced to pick one among the forces seeking her out—bargaining with tigers.
But that was fine. Once she obtained resources and strengthened herself, she would tear off this borrowed skin herself.
She had been wondering when the next visitor would come. Unexpectedly, they arrived together—and far sooner than she anticipated.
She was stopped before even reaching her tent. The newcomers were a middle-aged man and a somewhat taciturn-looking girl.
The girl appeared even younger than her, yet at such an age she already held a certain status and authority. She must have possessed something exceptional.
Unlike the previous two, these two seemed unusually approachable. They even asked whether they could sit in Xu Zhi’s tent.
Xu Zhi hesitated at the middle-aged man’s request before nodding. “You may… but my sister is there.”
“That’s no problem.”
“Alright.” Since they put it that way, she couldn’t very well refuse.
Had something changed?
They seemed anxious—coming one after another to offer terms. Perhaps she would soon be able to leave the Lower District?
When they returned outside the tent, Xu Zhi found maneuvering her wheelchair inconvenient. The middle-aged man stepped forward and knocked on the door. Almost the moment he did, a voice responded from inside.
“Coming.”
Qi Yanxin hurried over to open it. The first thing she saw was Xu Zhi, and she brightened with relief. “You’re back?”
Only then did she realize others had come with her, and she grew a little flustered. “These are… guests?”
“Miss Qi, pardon the intrusion. We’re only here to discuss some matters with your younger sister.”
The middle-aged man smiled warmly, but the fact that he answered before Xu Zhi revealed a certain dominance.
Qi Yanxin stepped aside to let them in, then asked awkwardly, “Would you like something to drink?”
Only after asking did she feel annoyed at herself—they had nothing but plain water, supplied by the military.
“No need to trouble yourself. We’ll only sit for a moment. We have other matters to attend to later.”
After speaking, he didn’t look at Qi Yanxin again. It was as though the surface-level “politeness” had already fulfilled its purpose. Turning to Xu Zhi, he went straight to the point.
“Miss Xu, I assume you haven’t made your decision yet. Would you like to hear the terms we can offer?”
Xu Zhi easily sensed the “arrogance” ingrained in him—an arrogance disguised beneath politeness, yet perfectly aligned with this world.
She didn’t think there was anything wrong with it. In fact, no one present found it strange. This was never a “fair” world. Honestly, as an upper-tier supernatural, the fact that he showed even superficial courtesy to Qi Yanxin already counted as good breeding.
In the Federation, perhaps those in power still needed to understand “restraint and etiquette.” But not here.
In these short days, Xu Zhi had already come to understand that the real world was far more rigidly stratified than the Federation—colder, harsher, and one where people were truly divided into ranks.
She nodded slightly.
“Please go ahead.”
