Chapter 270: Handling the Aftermath |
“Red Moon Studio has not held its license for very long. In just a little over two months, it has already developed more than seven hundred studio members. More than half of them are Quasi-Martial Artists, and they also have over eighty Martial Artists and thirty First-Rank Martial Artists!”
“Many of the old conservative studios could not achieve that even after one or two years.”
“Everyone can see that Red Moon used relatively aggressive methods to develop the studio, but this wolf-pack style truly does work.”
“We cannot completely erase all of Red Moon Studio’s accomplishments just because of one accidental incident.”
Inside the task force meeting room, the people had split into two factions.
One side supported shutting down Red Moon Studio and imprisoning Zhou Maoming along with the boss behind him, on the grounds that Red Moon had caused the situation to spiral out of control and produced such severe consequences, and that similar incidents must be prevented from happening again.
The other side, however, believed that Red Moon Studio belonged to the aggressive camp. Although it had made mistakes, its merits outweighed its faults. It could be given a warning and placed under further observation.
Both sides held firmly to their views.
Neither could persuade the other.
After answering it, the police chief’s expression darkened.
“The 《spirit realm》 Six Gates has already thoroughly investigated several villages in Rong County and screened all the personnel there. More than seventy Red Moon Studio players have now been arrested! Only Zhou Maoming managed to escape with a few others.”
“These people have already been placed on the Six Gates’ maritime wanted list.”
“They’re finished.”
Holding the phone, the police chief swept his cold gaze across the room.
“Anyone who ends up on the Six Gates wanted list carries a bounty. Zhou Maoming and the Second-Rank Martial Artist under him now have rewards of thirty taels of gold and twenty taels of gold respectively. Do you still think Red Moon Studio has a chance?”
“…”
The people who had previously insisted on giving Red Moon Studio another chance and continuing to observe them fell silent.
From this point on, Zhou Maoming and the others would find it impossible to move forward inside 《spirit realm》.
They could only throw themselves in with heretical sects and demons, walking hidden and shameful paths.
As for those who had been arrested, they would face prison, and it would be very difficult for them to regain their freedom for quite some time.
Red Moon Studio was basically finished.
“The person in charge of Red Moon is being hunted down, and most of its core members have been thrown into prison. But they still have several hundred members in the Gold-Farming Team. How should those people be dealt with?”
Someone raised the issue.
The problems left behind by Red Moon Studio had to be resolved properly.
If they were left alone, those people would lose their means of making a living and would eventually starve to death inside 《spirit realm》.
The police chief swept his gaze around the room.
Someone let out a sigh.
“If the people from Red Moon had still been kept in the dark, this would have been easier to handle. But now the entire company has exploded into chaos. So many people were shouting and exposing the secret of spirit realm. After that, who could keep calmly farming gold and making money as if nothing had happened?”
“Exactly.”
“These people are now a batch of time bombs. They will be difficult to manage. I am afraid none of the studios in the city will be willing to take them in.”
“And some people have already taken the opportunity to leave Red Moon Plaza and go home, or head to Public Rental Housing. This matter has to be resolved properly as soon as possible.”
“We cannot let the situation continue to spiral out of control.”
“The most important question now is this: who can take in and settle these several hundred people?”
The task force meeting room fell briefly silent.
After quite a while, someone proposed a name.
“Try Warring States Game Studio.”
“In the Huishui County and Rong County area, the one developing the best right now is Warring States Game Studio.”
Everyone turned to look at the speaker.
The man had a square face and deep-set eyes. He said:
“They not only have someone sitting in the position of Hall Master at a Yulong Gang hall, but one of their people has also become a Branch Helm Leader in the Caobang. If those gangs help arrange and settle people, it might work.”
“…”
Everyone began quietly discussing it among themselves.
“The Yulong Gang lost quite a few people some time ago, so perhaps they could take in some of them. The Caobang also recruits a batch of dock laborers every month… It seems feasible.”
“But this time, Red Moon Studio’s main opponent was Warring States Game Studio. Would they really be willing to take in people who once served their enemy?”
Someone raised a sharp question.
“These people are all uncontrollable time bombs. Especially for Warring States Game Studio, there may be personal grudges involved, which makes it even more dangerous.”
“Treat a dead horse like a living one.”
“Contact the person in charge of Warring States Game Studio and ask about their attitude. We can appropriately allow them to put forward some conditions.”
As soon as the police chief finished speaking, someone immediately took out a phone.
A cool voice came from the other end.
“Director Zhang, hello. This is Su Wan.”
Director Zhang explained the discussion on their side.
“This time, Zhou Maoming acted too radically and has already received the punishment he deserved. We plan to revoke Red Moon Studio’s license… but the remaining players in the Gold-Farming Team must be properly settled.”
“I’m sorry, Director Zhang, but our Warring States Game Studio cannot take on this task.”
Su Wan rejected the proposal on the spot. Her voice was cool and decisive, carrying clearly to everyone in the room.
“You also know, Director Zhang, that because of them, our Warring States Game Studio lost dozens of brothers. Some of them also died at our hands… The relationships involved here are too complicated. If anything goes wrong, my own studio will become unstable as well.”
Su Wan said, “You should look for someone more suitable.”
“We can transfer Red Moon Plaza to your name.”
Director Zhang offered a bargaining chip.
Su Wan gave a light laugh.
“Director Zhang, I mean it. We really cannot take this task. Warring States Building is not even half occupied yet. What use do I have for that pile of steel and concrete?”
“A Fourth-Rank martial arts manual.”
At that moment, the police chief spoke.
It was one firm, forceful sentence.
And it stunned Su Wan on the other end of the line.
She immediately began calculating.
A single Fourth-Rank martial arts manual could sell for at least three thousand taels of gold on the spirit realm black market. At an auction, it would fetch even more.
If it were a body-protection technique or a lightness skill, its value would double.
If it were an internal cultivation method, the price would triple.
Even at the lowest estimate of three thousand taels of gold…
That was worth no less than three billion RMB.
Just as Su Wan was rapidly weighing the pros and cons, the police chief added decisively:
“A Fourth-Rank lightness skill, 《Cloud Ladder》.”
“Deal!!”
Su Wan’s eyes lit up as she shouted, “I’ll take the task. I can receive the people from Red Moon Studio and Red Moon Plaza right now. When will 《Cloud Ladder》 be delivered? I can arrange for someone to come pick it up.”
A Fourth-Rank lightness skill!
She had to secure it!!
On the police chief’s side, the atmosphere in the entire internal meeting room immediately relaxed, and smiles appeared on several faces.
“That little fox.”
“She really will not move unless she sees the rabbit.”
“Too crafty.”
“Fine!”
The police chief kept his word.
“Contact Red Moon Studio’s boss immediately. Inform him of the final handling of the Red Moon incident. His people do not possess the ability to maintain stability. All members of the Gold-Farming Team will be transferred to Warring States Game Studio, along with Red Moon Plaza. Everything will be cut over in one package.”
“Tell that surnamed Ruan fellow that I had to pay out a Fourth-Rank martial arts manual for this!”