Chu Zhongxiong didn't bother with Qin Siyang's reply and hung up the phone right away.
That left Qin Siyang somewhat stunned.
Last time at his own funeral, he had chatted and laughed with Chu Zhongxiong.
Why did this call feel like they couldn't get a single word in agreement today?
Li Tianming glanced at Qin Siyang and said, "Looks like Chu Zhongxiong is willing to help you."
"Willing to help me?", Qin Siyang was puzzled, "Old Li, with that kind of attitude, you call that willing to help me? I feel like there's a ninety percent chance this is going nowhere."
"That's because you don't really understand Chu Zhongxiong. Given his experience and position, saying what he just said basically means he's inclined to support you. I don't know why he has a good impression of you, but your luck is seriously off the charts."
"Really?"
"I suggest you take a look at the information report President Zhao compiled about him, then judge his attitude. I bet you'll start seeing him in a different light. Honestly, Chu Zhongxiong is probably the strongest all-rounder I've ever seen in the safe zone."
"All-rounder? Old Li, aren't you one of the top all-rounders in the safe zone? His Tiger Rank isn't even higher than yours."
"I've just dabbled in different research fields. I can't compare to someone like Chu Zhongxiong, a true all-around talent."
Qin Siyang pulled up Chu Zhongxiong's information report.
'I won't realize it until I see it?'
As he read through Chu Zhongxiong's resume carefully, Qin Siyang realized just how astonishing it was.
[Year 2000, the apocalypse descends. Chu Zhongxiong, as an auxiliary member of the firefighting team, excellently organized the team to resist the gods using high-pressure fire truck hoses, while leading hundreds of people into the safe zone. Because of this, he was selected by the United Government as the temporary security administrator of Area 14122.]
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[Year 2001, a cult force appeared in Area 14122. Chu Zhongxiong went undercover behind enemy lines and wiped out all their strongholds, earning outstanding merit. He was transferred to City 121 and promoted to vice mayor of City 121.]
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[Year 2003, a military mutiny broke out in City 121. Chu Zhongxiong led United Government personnel into battle and killed the rebel leader. Afterwards, he was promoted to a standing council member of State 12.]
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[Year 2005, under Chu Zhongxiong's strong proposal, State 14 took the lead in issuing a reward mechanism for sequence ability users to hunt gods. The results were remarkable, and it has now been successfully implemented across the safe zone. Afterwards, he was promoted to Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Economy.]
[That same year, due to a fiscal shortage in the Ministry of Economy, Chu Zhongxiong proposed treating sequence ability users separately from ordinary people, and pioneered and refined the special recruitment mechanism for sequence ability users. This boosted their motivation, enabled them to generate large amounts of wealth, and solved both the fiscal crisis and education issues. However, his younger brother, who was also his deputy, died in an accident.]
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[Year 2007, Chu Zhongxiong used his spare time to research and develop a key technology for generating electrical energy from the remains of gods, and donated it to the United Government free of charge. That same year, he was appointed president of Tianxing Research Institute and became an executive director of the paper review committee.]
"My god… this promotion path is like riding a rocket!"
Qin Siyang was dumbfounded.
"From going undercover to killing enemies, from economics to research, succeeding in everything… is there anything this Chu Zhongxiong can't do besides getting pregnant and giving birth?"
"Crude, but not wrong. Whatever field he works in, he excels at it. There might really be nothing he's bad at."
Qin Siyang frowned, "But even from this resume, I still can't see why he would support me."
Li Tianming smiled, "Aren't you the one who's best at using your brain to analyze things? Why not try figuring it out yourself?"
Seeing a hint of provocation in Li Tianming's tone, Qin Siyang snorted, "Fine, I'll try."
He examined the resume again in detail, and his gaze eventually settled on the period when Chu Zhongxiong served as Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Economy.
Despite having achieved remarkable results in that position, he didn't advance further. Instead, he used his "spare time" to do research.
Qin Siyang suddenly understood.
Chu Zhongxiong's ability was too strong, so he was sidelined by others.
'Then who did it?'
Suddenly, a name appeared in Qin Siyang's mind, Minister of Economy, Jiang Yuanrui.
Jiang Yuanrui came from the Jiang family of the Haori Chamber of Commerce.
Qin Siyang belonged to the Zhao Chamber of Commerce, which was already at odds with the Haori Chamber. So, was Chu Zhongxiong trying to back him to vent his frustration?
But the paper hearing was organized by Xiao Zhigang. Jiang Hao was just tagging along. There was no need to stir up so much trouble over this.
'Wait!'
'Could it be that Chu Zhongxiong also has a grudge against Xiao Zhigang?'
He went over Chu Zhongxiong's resume again carefully.
He had created and refined the special recruitment system, solved education problems, yet received no reward at all…
'Could it be that all the credit was taken by Xiao Zhigang from the Ministry of Education?'
'On bad terms with both Xiao Zhigang and Jiang Yuanrui?'
'Maybe even the death of Chu Zhongxiong's younger brother is connected to these two!'
At this thought, Qin Siyang felt everything click into place.
Now it made sense why Chu Zhongxiong would support him.
"Old Li, does Chu Zhongxiong have grudges with both Xiao Zhigang and Jiang Yuanrui, so he's willing to help me?"
"Exactly. As expected of you, your brain really is cunning."
Qin Siyang frowned, "Something even you know wasn't written in the report by Zhao Longfei. That's way too sloppy."
"That's called rigor. In the eyes of us researchers, things that everyone knows aren't necessarily true. President Zhao just listed the facts and left the rest for you to judge. That's also a sign of trust in your ability."
"Trust my ability? Then I really have to thank him!"
Qin Siyang shook his head again, "Chu Zhongxiong is a government official himself, yet he dares to go up against two ministers. That takes guts."
Li Tianming disagreed, "He's still a bit behind you. You're basically nothing, yet you're going up against the entire research community in the safe zone plus a minister. That takes even more guts."
Qin Siyang shot Li Tianming a look of disgust, feeling like this bald guy seized every chance to insult him.
Li Tianming continued, "Chu Zhongxiong is secretly competing with two ministers. If this works out, it'll be both revenge and a way to establish authority. He might even gain more recognition within the United Government. But if he fails, life probably won't be easy for him. After all, helping you could be seen as siding against his own."
Qin Siyang nodded, "So his caution is understandable. He wants me to show results first, and only step forward to oppose them once everything is certain."
"In other words, as long as we deal with Jerry Warren, Chu Zhongxiong's side will be easier to handle…"
Ding!
At that moment, Qin Siyang received a text message.
It was from Gu Yunpeng, and the message was very short.
[Fourth Uncle has already agreed.]
Qin Siyang smiled, "Gu Yunpeng really gets things done reliably."
Li Tianming said from the side, "When you need something, he's your dear brother-in-law. Once it's done, he's just Gu Yunpeng."
Qin Siyang ignored him and looked at the information on Jerry Warren.
[First Vice President of the Warren Chamber of Commerce. Son of President Kyle Warren, younger brother of Georgia Warren, and the uncle of Sally Warren.]
Li Tianming looked at the information and laughed, "See that? President Zhao even specifically marked that he's Sally's uncle, just in case you didn't know. Looks like President Zhao knows your little sweetheart situation pretty well."
Qin Siyang hesitated for a moment, then dialed Sally's number.
It connected quickly.
["Hello, Qin Siyang?"]
A cheerful young girl's voice came from the other end.
"Mm, it's me."
["Qin Siyang, I've been waiting for your call!"]
[T/N: The World, it's so facked, now he has to sell his body. Alas!]
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