Lianna tightened her grip on her father’s hand and looked nervously around the sea of people.

So that’s it… So many people love the hero! And now a lot of them were wearing “Bundles/Quintri….” outfit.’s classic triple set “! Indeed, even young women around the hall had on straight-leg pants and sailor-style peaked caps.

You are a young girl … “Hey there, cutie, you like the hero too, huh?” —

Spotting Lianna staring with her gleaming, starry eyes at the clothes of those nearby, a tall young woman walked over, bent down with a smile, and said, “You know, that’s not a very professional look. Here—take my hat, I’ll give it to you.“

“Sister, what are you here for? “

“I’m selling hats. “

Ebiser glanced at the old wool naval-style cap on his daughter’s head and said politely, “That won’t do, you can’t wear that. Give it back to her quickly. “

“It’s okay, it’s just an old model for display. “

As they were talking, a woman in work attire appeared in front of a door on the left side of the hall.

“Those of you seeking the honored Fogfolk for official matters, please line up over here on my left. Anyone asking for general help, form a line on the right. “

A crowd rushed over in a flurry.

“Dad! I’m going to line up first. ” Lianna hurried over to the left door clutching the hat.

No sooner had she steadied herself than four or five youngsters came running up behind her, and the line quickly grew into a long queue.

“Have you heard? That thing in Qiaoshi Village—our revered Fogfolk did that too, ” someone in the line said.

“What happened there? “

“Listen, they started a self-governing village over there. The Land Office couldn’t do a thing about them… “

Lianna perked up her little pink ears, listening intently to the crowd boast about Yang Buchen. Her heart thumped like a little rabbit inside her chest.

So amazing—there was truly someone in this world who could do so many things.

And, and he might stay young and that handsome forever…

Suddenly, a stir went through the crowd. Lianna and the others turned their heads to see several Fogfolk returning to their rented land.

“It’s a pity he’s not a hero, ” the people nearby said, unable to hide their regret as they watched the few figures quickly walk past.

Yet Lianna felt as if her gaze had been drawn by a magnet.

At the forefront strode a middle-aged man with an aura of composure and gloom, looking even older than her father. But Lianna was certain—that was him. He silently paced in long strides through the crowd, then turned and entered a passageway.

Seeing the back of his thin leather jacket, Lianna’s eyes lit up with excitement. She was sure—no doubt about it—that he was the person whose face had been blurred out in the newspaper!

……

“Oh, Yang Buchen~ I’m so glad to see you’re alright. “

The moment Yang Zicang pushed open the small meeting room door, the blonde “Regional Liaison ” Schmidt rushed over from the side, carrying documents. He looked toward the two men entering the conference room.

“Are these all your friends? You’re really popular, aren’t you. “

A faint smile crept onto the face of the “middle-aged ” Yang Zicang, who sported a stubbly beard and a shaved head at an inch-long stubble, radiating an air of sharp austerity. He tugged his hat down slightly.

“Comrades we’ve fought with. How did things go yesterday? “

“Someone from the division headquarters came to ask about our leased land, but as you know, they didn’t get much out of that. As for the commotion it’s caused, I’m sure it’ll blow over in a few days. “

He Yishu stepped over from across the room and said, “Hello, sir. I heard the border’s been locked down again lately. Any chance to leave the region? “

“The management has always been strict. Without proper identity and justification, people are generally not allowed to come and go freely. Are you thinking of leaving? “

“Leaving… ” Yang Zicang pondered. There didn’t seem to be much for him here anymore, yet the danger he had brought could end up harming the ordinary people around him.

“Preserving the old fate… ” he muttered under his breath. If that were the case, the people he had saved, the events he had changed… would they be forcibly steered back onto their former tracks?

“It’s me who wants to leave, ” He Yishu said. “I came here for some other matters, and now I need to go to Havenick. Earlier, I checked the route—it seems the only train heading there departs from that hydro-sail city to the west, right? “

“The train to Havenick—the nearest one is indeed in Hydro-sail City, running once every three days or so. But if you want to process the departure formalities, it’ll take several days just to get approval. And according to the latest regulations, you won’t be allowed to return within six months after leaving. “

Upon saying this, Schmidt chuckled, and both He Yishu and Yang Zicang grinned as well. To them, such a rule might as well have been complete nonsense.

“And you, Mr. Bucheng? If you’re not planning to leave for now, I’ve had quite a few people looking for you—and for our ‘Hurst Investigation Company’… “

“Wait, our? ” the Karl inside rose to his feet, staring in astonishment at the few who had shut the door and walked in. “What company is this? “

“Ah, this is my company. I’m a senior investigator now, by the way, ” Yang Zicang said, looking at Schmidt. “I can have my friends join the company too, right? As a senior investigator, they’d be able to easily get their future annual salaries, wouldn’t they? “

“That would require calculations. If something as simple as setting up a company could make that happen, every Fogfolk would be a company owner. “

“That’s true enough. Besides, you can only draw one year’s salary from a single job at a time—it’s essentially receiving next year’s salary in advance. “

Even if a Fogfolk spent the entire year exclusively working instead of fostering any “Radiance Events, ” the maximum salary they could claim would be just over fifty yearly stipends. When calculated, that amount isn’t truly astronomical.

Thinking back to their homeland, some people made dozens of times what others earned in a single week. Here, though, even a dedicated Fogfolk worker who flawlessly picks up a new job every seven days might end a year with less total income than what some native inhabitants’ wealth increased within a single month.

“My salary should have already been calculated, shouldn’t it, Mr. Schmidt? “

“Mm-hmm. “

He Yishu and Karl, standing nearby, stared wide-eyed at the two of them.

So far, He Yishu didn’t even have a clue what they were talking about.

Schmidt pulled out a salary calculation form.

“If you were just an ordinary investigator, your weekly salary wouldn’t be much higher than a taxi driver providing professional services. But you’re different. As a figure who triggers phenomenal waves, someone whose mere presence can command the attention of an entire phenomenon, if a company can hire a star-level figure like you as a senior investigator, then theoretically, you can absorb most of White Violet City’s demand for the next four to five years. And that’s just our city. Your reputation has already spread rapidly to other nations. So? ‘Hirst Investigation Company’ is now fully equipped with the potential to become an international corporation—we just need to expand our team with more specialized professionals. “

“Wha—What do you mean, President… So, we’ve, like, got a huge company now? President? “

Yang Zicang turned his head, flashing a sly grin at Karl, “From now on, I’m a true president. “

Karl couldn’t help but think of Li Aimin, who asked the same question every single day: “How big is our association’s power now, really? ” This was truly an international investigating organization, the very core behind a thought wave that had swept the world. This kind of ‘association’ should finally shatter Li Aimin’s “dream. “

“Too bad; this world will be gone the month after next. “

The words spoken stunned both a cold-shuddering He Yishu and a heart-pounding Yang Zicang into a simultaneous groan of frustration.

“Let me take my yearly salary out first, ” he said, grabbing the receipt sheet, “Let me see how much. Twelve thousand silver coins! That much… then, working a full year—that’d be… sixty-four thousand eight… “

Yang Zicang seemed to see the phantom shadows of endless coins falling down.

“Ahem, that’s right, consider this a little privilege I’m granting you. ” Schmidt patted Yang Zicang on the shoulder. “After all, we need to transfer precious metals like silver to the next epoch of land. Remember to use these funds where they’re needed. The world’s wealth must flow through our hands properly. “

Hearing this term, Yang Zicang felt a twinge of displeasure.

“What? Is that so! Boss, let me join the investigation company! ” Karl said urgently.

He Yishu struggled for a moment before speaking, “Brother Yang, if you don’t mind, I’d like to sign on with Hurst’s Detective Agency too. If you could give me a position like a district manager, I think I could also bring Xue Qi on board. That way, we’d have an investigation company led by Fogfolk. “

By this point, He Yishu was already getting excited.

“Now that’s really a good idea! At this rate, our investigation company won’t have any trouble attracting investigation requests on its own, will we? The efficiency of generating Glory Light will be off the charts! “

Karl nodded too. “Seems like solid reasoning. “

Yang Zicang suddenly looked up at Schmidt. “Could it be… that’s exactly why you volunteered to become a shareholder in my investigation company? “

Schmidt shrugged, a serene smile spreading across his face.