"You've finally returned."

"I'm about to collapse."

"I've never done this much work in my entire life."

"The pile of documents I need to read and sign every day is taller than I am, and not just by a little bit."

"I'm begging you, please get me some administrative staff, I can't do this anymore."

"Or next time you leave, please leave Secretary Fu with me... I'm so exhausted... I'm staggering when I walk now... seeing double..."

Lu Ding could understand him.

After all, when he left, the Path of Dry Bones hadn't been fully cleaned up yet, and there was still reconstruction work that needed approval afterwards—the procedures had to follow proper formal channels.

There was also the stabilization of territory.

And recruitment.

There was just an endless handful of tasks.

Lu Ding patted his shoulder: "Old Qian, the capable bear the heavier burdens."

"You've worked hard. This time I brought you a gift; I'll make it up to you properly later."

Although Qian Jin was somewhat looking forward to Lu Ding's gift, there was still an important question he needed to ask first: "Grand Guardian, I'm not complaining, I'm just exhausted."

"When can you reassign me to some combat missions? Even frontline ones would be fine. You have no idea how much I envy that bastard Hou Dehai."

"When you were away, that brute kept playing dumb and feigning ignorance every single day. Everyone else evolves; he devolves. Ask him something and he doesn't know, bring something up and he doesn't understand. The moment I ask him to help me handle a single document, he either has a headache or an ass ache."

"You be the judge—with his beast-like physique, he wouldn't even feel pain if you chopped him with a knife. This is clearly slacking off! He's using his position for personal revenge!!"

"He's sabotaging me!!"

"He goes out to fight every day, and you can't even call him back. I'm out of options, Grand Guardian!"

Lu Ding felt his teeth ache from hearing this and needed to air them out.

He knew this was Hou Dehai getting back at Qian Jin for his past actions.

That guy—everyone gave gifts to Qian Jin, forcing Hou Dehai to remain impeccably honest and clean.

Although this outcome was good after Lu Ding arrived.

But everyone has their grievances.

And Hou Dehai really wasn't suited for administrative work anyway.

Lu Ding said: "I understand, I understand. I'll talk to him when I get back."

As he spoke.

Lu Ding looked at Zhan Tingzhou and the other two. Who had come was clear at a glance; who hadn't come required focused questioning.

"Where's Zhou Chu? Why isn't he here?"

Qian Jin replied quietly: "He's on a mission. Speaking of which, Grand Guardian."

He gave a thumbs up: "This one you found is excellent, just fucking excellent. One person can do the work of many, his efficiency is simply incredible."

"He takes on missions by the handful; it's almost scary to watch. He finishes one and immediately starts another. It gives me the feeling that he alone can handle half of the White Ridge 749 Bureau."

Zhou Chu's work efficiency was comparable to Lu Ding's.

Back in the Liberation Sect, when he was still called Zhou Huo, he was already a model worker, the top performer.

After joining 749, he took his existing foundation, made it bigger and stronger, and achieved even greater heights.

But this wasn't to say Zhan Tingzhou and the others didn't work.

They were efficient too, but compared to Zhou Chu, they lacked that habit—cultivated over years—of working non-stop, left foot stepping on the right foot, repeating the cycle endlessly.

Lu Ding nodded: "We must give him a commendation certificate!"

"Alright, you all take over here first. Also, the information on these investigators—Xinghe, you coordinate the handover with Old Qian. We can discuss other matters later. I need to go to another place first."

The Slaughter Goddess Temple and the Fierce Pursuit Hall still hadn't been dealt with.

One was suspected to potentially yield rewards; the other had a prior grudge with Lu Ding. He had to go personally.

Zhan Tingzhou stepped forward and said: "I'll accompany you."

Wasn't this his time to shine?!

As a reincarnator, he knew there was a great secret within this Slaughter Goddess Temple.

Perfect—he could use this opportunity to thank Lu Ding and help him gain a harvest.

Lu Ding glanced at him, giving him a meaningful look.

As if saying 'You have intel.'

Then he changed his words: "Alright then, Zhan Tingzhou will accompany me. Old Qian has indeed worked very hard recently. Regarding the handover matters here, Xinghe, you keep an eye on things."

"Yes, Brother Lu."

Fu Xinghe replied.

How come he hadn't noticed before that Zhan Tingzhou also seemed to be eyeing his job?

Why, upon looking back, were there competitors everywhere?!

There weren't this many before.

Qin Jinghao and Shen Qixue couldn't stay still.

The two were just about to speak.

Lu Ding interrupted: "You two shouldn't come for now. We don't need that many people; it would waste resources. Stay here and help coordinate the work handover. After I finish handling things, we'll return and distribute rewards based on merit."

"Your previous rewards haven't been distributed yet."

"Didn't you already give us contribution points?"

Shen Qixue didn't understand—how could they keep receiving things for free like this?

She was starting to feel embarrassed.

"Brother Lu, you go ahead first. I'll explain it to them here."

Fu Xinghe understood Lu Ding's efficiency.

Taking Zhan Tingzhou, they flew away. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

Fu Xinghe remained behind, explaining to Shen Qixue and the other: "Contribution points are what you rightfully earned. The rewards are what Brother Lu gives because he thinks you performed well."

"They're different."

"Moreover, this time our bureau underwent a major upgrade; we brought back a lot of supplies. You haven't used your contribution points yet, right?"

Shen Qixue and Qin Jinghao shook their heads in unison.

"We've been too busy recently. Even if we exchanged for something, we wouldn't have time to use it. And... the inventory is somewhat limited."

That was putting it mildly.

But everyone understood—the items in White Ridge's inventory weren't very useful to them.

"Then you can exchange them later. This time Brother Lu brought back many things and also increased our bureau's weight. You'll be able to check the inventory for exchanges then."

"If you're not satisfied, you can directly check in the APP, make your selection, pay, and have it shipped directly from the Director-General's office."

Qin Jinghao didn't understand the significance in Fu Xinghe's words.

But Shen Qixue did.

"It can be shipped directly from the Director-General's office!!!?"

Fu Xinghe nodded: "Yes."

"So you can exchange for anything you want."

This was a treatment no other 749 Bureau in the entire new city had.

Shen Qixue asked one more question: "So what is our bureau's weight now... how much?"

Fu Xinghe held up four fingers.

Shen Qixue stood frozen in place. She knew the 749 Bureau weight in her hometown was only around three-point-something, slightly above the Great Han's overall average.

Although it didn't seem like much.

But many places in Great Han had 749 Bureau weights that weren't high—like in the new city, there were even places with negative values, pulling down the average. So a three-point-something had solid, undeniable value.

And there was another gap between whole numbers and non-whole numbers.

Investigators from high-weight 749 Bureaus, compared to those from low-weight ones, although there were no written regulations, undoubtedly had more status, standing, and authority.

Shen Qixue suddenly realized she might be able to bring honor to her ancestors and return to her hometown with her head held high in the future.

As long as she got promoted under Grand Duke Lu, when she returned, wouldn't that person back home have to look at her with new respect!?

Who would dare mention that old marriage arrangement again!?

In that instant, Shen Qixue was filled with motivation, fired up!

As for whether it would be difficult, Shen Qixue felt it would be challenging, but not impossibly hard. After all, currently in White Ridge 749, from top to bottom, there weren't many stronger than her.

She was still a genius, talented. She could definitely fight her way to the top under Grand Duke Lu!!!

After all, she was now at the Fourth Restriction cultivation level.

She immediately said: "Secretary Fu, give me the files. I'll sort them for you."

"Alright, thank you for running this errand. I'll stay here and coordinate with Bureau Chief Qian."

As he spoke, he handed the materials to Shen Qixue, then suddenly remembered something and added: "Oh right, remember to separate the Fourth Restriction and Fifth Restriction ones when sorting."

Fu Xinghe flipped through the materials: "Also, these names marked with checks are key."

Key talents!?

Good, I'll guide them very well.

Shen Qixue looked at the materials as she said: "Understood, Secretary Fu. Don't worry, I will..."

Shen Qixue suddenly froze, as if struck by lightning, standing motionless in place.

.

Additional chapter for the gift from the esteemed Asking the Undying, once again thanking the esteemed one.