"Ch'en reported this, what do you think? Fumizuki."
"…Part true, part false."
"Ha, I thought so too, but the director of the medical department already called me, so let's stop here."
Tossing the report document aside, the giant Lung looked out the window at the night view of Lungmen stretching to the horizon, his non-human face forming a vivid smiling arc. But because his appearance was indeed somewhat terrifying, it looked unusually distorted.
And behind him, Fumizuki, his capable wife, hidden in the shadows, picked up the file again and flipped through it. Looking at Officer Ch'en's sternly worded report and the medical department's guarantee letter, her similarly atavistic face also carried a smile similar to her husband's. As political creatures, they never believed these problems on paper; they only trusted the data gathered by their own subordinates, and their own feelings about certain matters.
And regarding Li Lin, who had attracted the attention of various forces, the first reaction of Lungmen's leader, Wei Yenwu, and his wife Fumizuki was: problematic.
After subsequent investigation, it was found that this person indeed had more suspicious points than imagined.
It seemed many things had him appearing in the core area. Many matters were intricately linked to this person.
Leaders don't believe in coincidences. When everything looks like a coincidence, it also means there is an inevitable hidden connection among them. And entangled with Li Lin were Penguin Logistics and its guarantor, also Oripathy patients, and the most mysterious Lazarus File.
Judging from data analysis and Officer Ch'en's testimony, he didn't have the qualification to directly publish the Lazarus File. But judging from surveillance and various investigation data, as well as interrogations, there was an inseparable connection between these things and Li Lin. Of course, these were investigated by the ninja unit directly under Lady Fumizuki; all materials were destroyed after investigation, and even some careless traces left by Li Lin were cleaned up by Lady Fumizuki wiping his ass ( cleaning up someone's mess).
Since the problem was confirmed, the next step was to confirm the relationship of mutual benefit.
And magically, no matter what Li Lin did, their mutual benefits were aligned. This was good news for Lungmen.
Whether this Li Lin was the creator or insider of the Lazarus File, his revelations and actions were beneficial to Lungmen. As a trading city, Lungmen didn't possess overly large manufacturing industries or other heavy industrial research areas. But the Lazarus File could cause other industrial cities to collapse, directing economic flow towards Lungmen, which was enough. This turmoil could rejuvenate the Lungmen LMD, which tended towards rigidity.
"The Lazarus File… whether he published it or not, we must maintain it. Columbia must be split. A united Columbia poses a very huge obstacle to our trade routes. On this point, our interests are common."
"Then, what about Raythean Industries? They seem to have been making some small moves recently."
"Don't rush Raythean Industries yet, eat one bite at a time. Didn't Blacksteel International just recently move into Lungmen? Let them cooperate with Ch'en, tap ( discipline/warn) those scientific organizations that flowed over from Columbia. At least ensure the research group and medical group start operating again. This is an opportunity. Columbia's civil war was definitely not triggered solely by the Lazarus File; there are very many factors involved. Too many people don't want to see a united Columbia."
Wei Yenwu looked at the colorful night view outside the window, pouring himself a glass of red wine.
Can one document destroy an empire? No. One document will only arouse greed in people's hearts, only drive an organization into madness. And what truly causes an empire to split is external hope, and internal madness. The Lazarus File was just a trigger; as an outsider, Wei Yenwu was very clear about this.
He didn't know how important these files were to those research organizations, nor did he know what this meant for the entire world. But there was one point he was very clear about. That was, all of this was entangled with Lungmen's interests. Chaos meant weakness. And weakness would force the relinquishing of many rights that shouldn't have been given up originally. For a trading city like Lungmen, this was simply the most perfect thing. Regardless of the Lazarus File, as long as there was news of related personnel, Wei Yenwu would sort out the information, then erase it.
"However, there are still things in here that cannot be explained clearly. Believing so rashly that it's him, is that really okay?"
Lady Fumizuki looked at her husband and asked in a low voice:
"There are too many things entangled with him. Chernobog might raise questions…"
"So what if it's him? So what if it's not him?"
Wei Yenwu raised an eyebrow.
"We need the gimmick of the Lazarus File, so even if it's not him, it should be him. Because Lungmen needs this concept. What's more, judging from the file, he is a genetically modified subject; then anything happening from him can be explained. If we can truly follow the vine to get the melon ( follow clues) and root out the organization behind him and reach cooperation, that's a good thing. If it's simply our speculation error, it won't hinder the plan's progress either."
"Lazarus File? Immortality? Titan? These things also require time from project initiation to construction. And the appearance of the Lazarus File, that's just a legitimate reason. A reason that allows everyone to legitimately roll out consumption. Although consumption is life (lives), this is also what we need."
"Without consumption, there is no economy. And without economy, there is no Lungmen. They are the producers, and we are the ones who control the channels."
Hands clasped, looking at the scenery outside, Wei Yenwu's huge mouth curled into a slight smile.
Everything in this world is based on trade, so everything in this world can also be traded. Unable to buy? It's simply because the price isn't enough. And if the price isn't enough, you can choose to add your own bargaining chips, or of course, you can choose to lower the opponent's bottom line.
Lungmen didn't have this strength before. But what about after these behemoths start internal consumption and fighting, suffering heavy losses? When they are already exhausted and everything needs rebuilding, will they refuse Lungmen's help? No, they won't have the ability to refuse Lungmen's goodwill either. And this is precisely what Lungmen desires.
"Pass down my order, let Ch'en choose a group of people herself, establish a special department. Let them cooperate with Blacksteel International's defense department. Since the old director already called me, then give him this face, clean up Lungmen's illegal biological departments. Of course, all materials must be confiscated and sent to the medical department. Let them see our sincerity. This department is called… let's just call it the Immortality Agency . The agency to clean up immortality. Mm, not bad."
"…Madam."
"Go. Pass down Yenwu's order."
"Yes."
Seeing Lady Fumizuki nod, the ninja in the shadows received the order, turned into a puff of smoke, and disappeared silently from the room. In the huge office, only Wei Yenwu and Fumizuki remained, looking at Lungmen in the night curtain, savoring some kind of inexplicable emotion.