"Hmm, don't think I don't know you're talking bad about me behind my back." When Chaoge looked up, she saw Yaochen staring speechlessly at the book in his hand, not turning a single page for a long time.
Yao Chen could only put down his book and meet her gaze. He noticed that she had changed out of her silver-gray military uniform jacket and was now wearing a military-style overcoat that looked like it came from somewhere. She wore a dark brown vest, light brown striped trousers, and her black curly hair was swept to the left and fell in front of her chest. The light brown jacket was made of some kind of leather, but it looked to be of good quality. The colors, like the silver-gray P4 Nebula military uniform, belonged to the dark color scheme. Fortunately, she was quite beautiful, and it suited her perfectly.
[Little Red Riding Hood, when did you become interested in my clothes? There's a shop to the left when you go out, would you like to change your outfit too?] Seeing that her AI was becoming more and more humane under her influence, Chaoge didn't know whether she should marvel at her own charm.
It must be because the brilliance of one's own humanity is too strong that it has been able to cultivate the AI into this state.
If Yaochen heard her boasting, he might jump up and spit in her face.
"No, I'm not interested. I just connected to the military system on Tianzi Star and got a video of a previous military meeting." Yao Chen didn't bother explaining his earlier gaze to her and instead got down to business.
【Really? That's great. Just transfer the data to my monitor.】 Ever since the last intrusion into the annual royal palace meeting, Yao Chen has stated that Min Kaiyang has once again upgraded the defense level using the power he absorbed. It will be very difficult for him to obtain the data from the Tianzixing military again, and he is very likely to alert them.
Although she wouldn't be harmed, it would mean that Qin Muge would know that she was being monitored immediately. If Min Kaiyang found a way to counter the monitoring, the situation would be completely reversed.
This is their biggest disadvantage.
Therefore, Chaoge was very satisfied that he was able to obtain specific video materials so quickly after the military meeting.
While Chaoge was satisfied, Yaochen was not so easily satisfied. Looking closely into the depths of his cat-like eyes, countless incomprehensible data and codes flickered, but the light blue light only flashed by. Since Chaoge was the only one present, this scene went unnoticed by the others.
A few breaths later, he curled his thin lips into a smile, closed his eyes briefly, and then opened them again. "Do you know where I got that information?" Because the answer was somewhat unbelievable, adhering to the principle of not asking him anything that would be too difficult for him, he didn't even ask Chaoge from his mind but instead asked directly.
Chaoge tilted her head. Having spent so much time with Little Red Riding Hood, she usually knew that such a question was beyond her expectations, so she simply didn't waste her time. She raised her chin and looked at him with slightly lowered eyes.
[Military Technology Research and Development Department.] Fortunately, despite his shock, Yao Chen still remembered that such things could not be made public, and he resumed communicating with Chao Ge via brainwaves.
[What does that mean?] Upon hearing this answer, Chaoge's heart skipped a beat. She blinked and decided to ask more clearly.
[All military documents across the entire Crystalless Empire are classified, but the section from this meeting concerning the handling of the Yin-Yang Collection was cut out and placed in a regular folder.] Yao Chen confirmed again and again, his large, cunning purple eyes fixed on Chao Ge, a slightly intrigued smile curving his lips.
"You scared me to death! I thought you meant that only his department hadn't upgraded to the latest system." Chaoge quickly gave a wry smile. What was she even expecting?
Yao Chen looked at her with the eyes of someone looking at an idiot: "Even if he wants to protect you, the consequence of doing so is that he'll have to give up that chair under his butt in a heartbeat, okay?"
"Oh, I guess I have too much of an imagination." Chaoge replied expressionlessly, her gaze shifting to the side, lost in thought.
[I suggest you watch that clip right away; something's definitely wrong.] Yao Chen's attention is usually focused on the most urgent matters, and he'll never let Chao Ge sway him from the main point.
Hearing Yao Chen say that, Chao Ge became curious about the video. However, after watching for only a few minutes, her expression grew increasingly worse, and after those few minutes were over, she stared blankly at the screen.
[What's with that utterly hopeless look on your face?] Yao Chen had imagined many of her reactions, but this was the only one he hadn't considered. He had also watched the video and didn't think any part of it could have provoked her like this.
After hearing what he said, Chaoge turned her head, cupped her face in her hands, and leaned in to ask earnestly, "Look at my face, what exactly is it about that guy that he doesn't like?"
Yao Chen realized that this referred to Ling Tianji.
He volunteered to eliminate the Yin Yang Group's forces. Chao Ge clearly had no past grudges or recent conflicts with him, so his sudden appearance was too abrupt, making it impossible to know what he was planning.
[Actually, there's a question I've been curious about for a long time: what exactly makes you so afraid of Ling Tianji?] Whether it's based on the data analysis after the system upgrade or on the current understanding of the Ling family, even if you're afraid of Ling Tianquan, you shouldn't be afraid of this guy who's prettier than a woman.
Yao Chen couldn't understand it.
"You don't understand. This kind of guy with dark thoughts is terrifying. Besides, he looks better than a woman, but can you guarantee he's less cunning than a woman? They say the most poisonous heart is a woman's, but he's even more cunning than a woman!" Chaoge raised her chin slightly, speaking with righteous indignation, even though there was no reliable data to support her claim.
【…Should I be speechless because I think what you said makes sense?】 Yao Chen raised one eyebrow. Despite being in the body of a little kid, whether it was because his features were too delicate or because of the cold aura of the system, his expression, which should have been very comical, was still imposing.
【Yes!】Chaoge nodded, her eyes clearly indicating that he should cooperate with her guess without any reason.
"Heh, so you're too scared to do it, all you're left with is talk?" In order to fully express his emotions to her, Yao Chen abandoned the mode of mentally rehearsing. His deep purple eyes showed a hint of contempt, and he uttered a sarcastic remark with a slight lift of his thin lips.
Chaoge: ...Damn, I really want to fight my own AI system!
After mocking her, Yao Chen remembered something else—[Didn't you notice Yang Yuheng? In previous military meetings, she basically didn't oppose other forces, but this time she actually helped Yan Xi and demanded the elimination of Yin Yang Group. This isn't like her at all; and Min Kaiyang, if he were this friendly to us, I'd even change my surname to his; Yan Chen's behavior this time was also strange, and so was the Yan family.] She laid out all her suspicions in one breath, and Yao Chen looked at her, waiting for Chao Ge to say something.
[Hmph, it's obviously the tangled mess between the three major families. Even if I find it all strange, I still can't find any answers. Didn't you see Qin Muge's expression? No matter what happens at the military meeting, she always has that shrewd, all-knowing look on her face. I'm not going to bother with her. Instead of thinking about things that have no answers, I'd rather worry about practical issues, like how to deal with Ling Tianji's Third Fleet.] Chaoge rolled her eyes at him, and in her mind, she even offered a somewhat arrogant explanation of her thoughts.
Yao Chen looked at her expressionlessly, his deep purple eyes seeming to be deep in thought, as if trying to see her deepest thoughts through her expression.
She's always been like this since she came into this world, seemingly indifferent to everything. But just when you get that impression of her, she'll say something that surprises you.
It seems she has always understood these things.
Even without her dual personality, she could live the way she wanted. And he, or rather, it, had already decided to protect her.
Whether she decides to return to Earth or stay to avenge Luo Qinghe.
Just as Chaoge was racking his brains about facing a troublesome opponent, Ying ran in with a bewildered look on his face: "Boss! Something terrible has happened!"
Chaoge felt her head throb even more: "Ying, I became the boss not so you could curse me."
"Oh, boss, that's not what I meant! Oh, and another bunch of people have come from outside!" Ying was probably too single-minded for too long, so she couldn't process too much information at the same time. After hurriedly apologizing, she quickly explained what had happened, afraid that if she followed Chaoge's train of thought for a while longer, she would completely forget what she wanted to say.
"What? These people gave us a two-day weekend and then went back to their troublemaking ways? Get them out!" Chao Ge felt a surge of anger rising in his heart, wishing he could breathe fire and burn these troublemakers to death.
"No, no! Boss! They've come to join us! There are too many of them! Some are clinging to Ningtao's leg, begging to be taken in, which annoyed Mo Nian so much that he took out a rocket launcher!" Ying finally realized that she couldn't breathe too loudly when talking to Chaoge, otherwise Chaoge would probably personally beat those innocent guys out the door this time.
What?! They're coming to join us? This time, Chaoge was completely dumbfounded.
☆ Chapter 71, the eighth evaluation of the Yin-Yang Collection
The large villa that originally housed the Yin-Yang group was more than enough for them, but when Chaoge went down to the first floor, she found that the space that could have accommodated them was packed with people. The scene was just like a train carriage during the Spring Festival travel rush, where it was almost impossible for anyone to walk through the aisle.
What's going on?
We, Yin Yang Ji, never engage in such heinous business as human trafficking, okay? What are all these people doing here? Did looting and vandalism not work, so you're trying to bankrupt us?
Mo Nian looked up and saw his boss standing halfway up the stairs. His irritated face finally changed, and he breathed a sigh of relief. He was so relieved that he could practically write "Saved" on his face to express his joy. Jiang Ningtao had already gone back to his room to sleep after learning that they weren't the ones who came to cause trouble, and he was too impatient to deal with these guys.
Spall was very diligent in arranging their places, even dividing them into different areas according to their origins. It could be said that, apart from Yao Chen and Chao Ge, Spall was the person Chao Ge trusted most in the entire Yin Yang Clan. Meanwhile, Ritter, who had been following him, sat on the sofa like a lord. If Spall hadn't been so willing to help Chao Ge, he wouldn't have been able to exert any real influence here.
As for Ying, she does seem to be trying very hard to help, but the truth is that apart from knowing a little about fighting and eating... she's just causing trouble for Mo Nian and the others.
However, in terms of background, she is the least likely among everyone present to betray Chaoge.
Thinking of this, Chaoge glanced at Ruit out of the corner of her eye. Before the guys downstairs could introduce themselves, she turned and went upstairs, leaving Mo Nian with a look of despair: "You guys figure it out yourselves. Anyway, I don't need you."
Even with just her six subordinates, Chaoge sometimes has to think long and hard about them; she wouldn't dare use people of unknown origin. As for whether or not to use Mo Nian and the others, that's not within Chaoge's consideration.
No matter how unwilling she was to bring it up, she had to admit that Qin Muge was far more skilled than her in personnel management. The past affairs between the three families in the military and the royal family, and the relationships between the members of the personal guard, involved far more interests than those of Chaoge and her group. Her every move could even affect the development of the country.
Even though Min Kaiyang had the idea of manipulating Little Red Riding Hood to control Chaoge and replace Qin Muge, and even though Chaoge has grown to her current level in a short period of time, the fact is that even decades later, Qin Muge will still be an existence that she cannot surpass.
Huh, that's strange, why am I thinking about her again?
Chaoge shook her head and stepped over the last three steps. Inside the room, Yaochen was still in the same position as before she left. Hearing her return, he turned to look at her, his eyes calm, waiting for her to explain the situation.
Because someone was pondering why they associated every little thing with a thug, they completely missed Yao Chen's gesture, subconsciously walked into the room and closed the door behind them, until their eyes met Yao Chen's—
Completely bewildered and full of questions: "Why are you staring at me?"
Yao Chen said coldly, "Let's see how long your reaction time is."
Chaoge: ...I think it's time for us to have a fight.
Since her thoughts yielded no results and Yao Chen mocked her with a cold face, Chao Ge suppressed her anger and decided that this matter couldn't be left unresolved. She snorted and beckoned to Yao Chen with her finger: "Come on, let's hurt each other."
Yao Chen glanced at her sideways. He hadn't wanted to bother with her idiot at first, but then he thought that given the situation downstairs, it was impossible for Chao Ge to put on a face like "I'm seriously thinking about it but it's all for naught." In a flash, he understood Chao Ge's idea, and this time his expression and tone became sarcastic: "Okay, let's warm up before we fight, like telling a story about a general and a little silly girl?"
Chaoge: ...What the hell is hot besides your mouth?
She reflected on what she had fed her brain during the process of raising it, which led to it growing into the kind of thing that could easily infuriate her.
It was something that used to happen a long time ago, and it was always the one choking to death. Why has the fortunes changed so quickly, and now it's her turn to be the one to suffer?
This time, it was Chaoge who took the initiative to steer the conversation back to business: "You're in charge of dealing with that group of people who want to curry favor with me. Don't take anyone with a complicated background."
Yao Chen knew how conflicted Chao Ge was about her feelings, so he didn't dwell on what had just happened and instead followed her lead to the current matter.
"Actually, it wouldn't be very meaningful to entrust this matter to me. The Empire probably isn't taking it seriously, and even if someone from the Federation infiltrated, I wouldn't be able to find them easily."
Chaoge shrugged, indicating that he didn't care. He sat down opposite him and opened the AI system to read the news in the empire.
One month later.
Apart from Chaoge and Yaochen, each of the original members of Yin Yang Group now has a bunch of direct subordinates. After so much time, the scale of Yin Yang Group has expanded significantly. The base they occupied earlier has now come in handy, and it can easily accommodate even a few hundred more people.
Having more people certainly has its advantages. Whether it's dealing with other forces or running errands, having more people makes things much more convenient.
Chaoge wasn't too concerned about this matter at first, and let them do it. After all, judging from the supplies they obtained after the last operation, it was enough for Yin Yang Ji to eat for another six months.
...However, now there are suddenly hundreds more mouths to feed. Energy is okay, but the food is being consumed at almost the speed of light. Chaoge often suspects that he has raised a bunch of rats.
Replenishing food supplies became an urgent issue.
At this point, the negative effects of having a large number of people also became apparent.
When Chaoge entered the study early in the morning, he found a note in one of the books on the desk. The note was very simple: Beware of the mole.
Holding the paper slip between her index and middle fingers, Chaoge felt a bit of a headache. She hated these kinds of riddles that everyone had to guess; they were just insulting her intelligence.
【Little Red Riding Hood, come to the study upstairs right away, I have some trouble.】 After calling Yao Chen using their unique way of communicating, Chao Ge simply sat down in the chair behind the table and started thinking about the food problem.
"Perfect timing, I've run into some trouble too." Yao Chen had just returned from outside when he heard Chao Ge's call and headed towards the second floor.
To his surprise, upon closer inspection, he found Rhett leaning against the stairs, seemingly waiting for him. Yao Chen looked at him, a hint of confusion in his eyes. Rhett's gaze wandered aimlessly; there was hardly anyone in the hall at this time, indicating he had gone out for a major shopping spree. However, such activities were extremely expensive, especially in a resource-scarce place like the City That Never Sleeps. Apart from the city lord's faction, probably no other power could afford to squander their resources like this.
“Someone’s unclean, you should investigate more thoroughly.” As if discussing the nice weather, Rhett casually reminded him. The little white snake, not to be outdone, crawled up his arm, peeking out its head from the opening in his shirt at the shoulder, flicking its tongue at Yao Chen.
Yao Chen didn't speak, but stared at him with an ambiguous look, as if to say, "I thought you were the uncleanest person here."
"Ah, if it weren't for some idiot needing to stay here, I wouldn't have said anything." Remembering some things that needed to be investigated, Rhett's eyes shone like unsheathed swords, meeting Yao Chen's purple eyes.
Yao Chen nodded. "I understand. I'll remind her."
"Also, whether it's for cooperation or as me doing a good deed, we can focus on supplying the Federation for the next three months." Rhett straightened up and walked out of the room, tossing a suggestion to Yao Chen without caring whether he would accept it or not.
Yao Chen then continued walking upstairs.
When he reached the door of Chaoge's study, he looked down at the lock. A faint blue light appeared in his purple eyes, and light burst from them as he scanned the lock.
He quickly frowned, pushed open the door, and went inside.
"Someone's there..."
“I know someone has been here.” Chaoge was interrupted by Yaochen before she could finish speaking, and judging from Yaochen’s stern face, he seemed very angry.
Chaoge held up the note in her hand and waved it. With Yaochen's eyesight, she could easily see the words on it: "It seems that Ritter was right. There are indeed some unclean guys who have infiltrated."
"The most troublesome thing is that I don't know if the person who reminded me is trying to confuse the issue or is genuinely well-intentioned." Chao Ge rested her right elbow on the table, her palm supporting her chin, and waved the note from side to side with her left hand, looking distressed.
Yao Chen raised an eyebrow. It was rare to see her confide her troubles to him so earnestly. Could it be that she really had no plans this time?
"So I've decided! I'll just watch them make a scene! Anyway, with our current financial resources, we can last for another two months. When it's really time to take action, they definitely won't be able to hold back, and I can also clean up their personnel while I'm at it." Chao Ge crumpled the paper into pieces with her left thumb and forefinger and put the scraps into the trash can next to her.