Even though Chu Guang hadn’t meant to humiliate him, and had even sent the secretary out beforehand to spare him some embarrassment, the pressure was immense.

Seeing the editor-in-chief bow his head like a scolded child, not daring to breathe too loudly, Chu Guang sighed and softened his tone. “People trust us. Our duty is to respond to that trust, not to expect them to unconditionally understand us every time. And honestly, what’s so hard about this? You think this is tougher than fighting the Army or the Tide? Please. This is just people being too clever for their own good, voluntarily surrendering the ground under their feet. How’s that any different from desertion?”

Zhao Yigeng’s expression darkened with regret. He wished he could crawl into a crack in the floor. He had heard of the Clearspring Daily incident, but because its content was so absurd, he hadn’t taken the paper seriously at all.

And that was the problem.

Because the Survivor’s Daily hadn’t published any news about the Hive, nor had any of its sub-publications, Clearspring Daily had become the only newspaper speaking on the matter.

Fortunately, the perpetrators hadn’t done a very thorough job. If they had been just a bit more prepared, if they had blended truth and lies with more finesse, and made it sound a little more convincing, the consequences could have been catastrophic.

The more Zhao Yigeng thought about it, the more terrified he became. Cold sweat trickled down his forehead. He finally understood how serious the problem was.

When the scolding stopped, he bowed his head and said in a heavy tone, “This was a failure of my responsibility... I’m sorry. I’ve failed your trust.”

Seeing that he truly grasped his mistake, Chu Guang’s anger eased a little. He continued more patiently, “The one you owe an apology to isn’t me, it’s all the people who believed in you. The battlefield of public opinion is right there. If we don’t occupy it, our enemies will. We have the finest warriors on the wasteland, men and women who fight with noble ideals, who charge into death without hesitation. I don’t want them to come home only to read third-rate rags that turn all their sacrifices into the enemy’s joke.”

Even the Academy, proud as it was, admitted that the New Alliance’s success in Clearspring City was nothing short of a miracle. It was something to celebrate, not to watch their printing factory burn.

Not even the Army had managed to bomb his factories, yet in peacetime, their own people had done it.

The frustration that had just faded came rushing back; Chu Guang’s fist clenched again.

Zhao Yigeng watched nervously, trying to guess which part of his failure had reignited the administrator’s anger.

At that moment, shouting came from the corridor outside. One of the voices sounded familiar, catching Chu Guang’s attention.

“What’s wrong with my article?! The analysis of the Hive’s safety was based on the opinion of Professor Hyrja, director of the New Alliance Biological Research Institution! Why can’t it be published?!”

The high-pitched, indignant tone was like a hissing cat, Chu Guang instantly guessed it belonged to a certain green-haired lady.

He didn’t recognize her voice, but he knew the personalities of every writer under his administration. None of them could make a sound like that.

Sure enough, another sharp voice followed, “Heh, the director of the Biological Research Institution doesn’t speak for the New Alliance.”

“But that professor is the leading expert in her field!”

“I know, but science is one thing, reality is another. We can’t always rely on science...”

“What kind of nonsense is that?! If we don’t believe in science, what, should we start believing in the Great Stag God instead?”

“You can always believe in the administrator! Honestly, can’t you understand that? You’re a journalist for the Survivor’s Daily, have some perspective!”

“... The Survivor’s Daily I know isn’t like this.”

“That’s why you were shut down, wasn’t it? Anyway, before the festival, don’t publish anything controversial. It doesn’t matter who you ask, that’s the editor-in-chief’s order!”

“And when exactly can we publish it?!”

“After the memorial for the fallen soldiers... A few days after the celebration, maybe.”

“Are you insane?! If we wait a week, it’s not news anymore!”

As Chu Guang’s expression grew darker, Zhao Yigeng’s embarrassment deepened, especially after hearing the jab about the Boulder Town’s Survivor’s Daily getting shut down.

Indeed, the Survivor’s Daily that Hal founded in Boulder Town no longer existed, but in the end, the inner city that destroyed it had perished as well.

That fool really didn’t know when to hold his tongue.

Zhao Yigeng coughed awkwardly. “I’ll go and explain things to the editors...”

But before he could finish, the office door burst open.

Dori stormed in, clutching a manuscript, with Yang Yan, her supervisor, hurrying behind her.

She had been ready to argue with the editor-in-chief, but the moment she saw Chu Guang, both of them froze in shock.

“Administrator?!”

“Y–You’re here?”

Chu Guang didn’t scold them. Instead, he gave a coughed softly. “I won’t interfere in your argument. But speaking personally, I’ll say this. I will always believe in science, and I recommend that you do too. Though, of course, that’s not an order.”

Seeing Dori frozen in place, he continued in a gentle voice. “May I take a look at your article?”

Hyrja hadn’t mentioned granting any interview to the Survivor’s Daily, likely because she’d considered it trivial.

And truthfully, it was.

Just like how Chu Guang himself hadn’t cared much about Clearspring Daily at first. He simply had bigger priorities. But he had always encouraged the bluecoats, the shelter-born nobles, to shed their pride and talk with wastelanders. Thinking they didn’t understand anything and therefore didn’t deserve to speak was exactly how the Enlightenment Society had doomed themselves.

Human beings instinctively respect knowledge and experience, but no one liked arrogance.

Looking up at the administrator, Dolly nodded blankly and handed over her manuscript.

Chu Guang skimmed it quickly. It addressed precisely the questions he’d raised with Zhao Yigeng earlier, and did so objectively, without embellishment.

That, above all, pleased him.

The Survivor’s Daily wasn’t just the New Alliance’s main source of information, it was the reference for other local and private media as well. If a single sentence came out distorted here, it would end up a hundred thousand miles away from the truth by the time it spread.

“Well written.” He offered the praise plainly, then handed the manuscript to Zhao Yigeng.

Seeing Chu Guang’s satisfied expression, Zhao Yigeng accepted it with both hands, almost solemnly. “I’ll have the editorial team make it tomorrow’s headline immediately!”

At the same time, he glanced at Yang Yan, who straightened up and nodded sharply. “I’ll contact the printing factory right now, tell them not to reprint yesterday’s edition!”

“Not just the headline,” Chu Guang added, smiling at the astonished Dori. “Something this important can’t be explained on a single page. I want at least three consecutive issues, each with a dedicated column, clear up all the misunderstandings, and eliminate any public fear toward Little Feather.”

Overjoyed, Dori clenched her fists in excitement, almost trembling. She had no idea how to express her gratitude, until another thought struck her. She seized the moment. “Wait, respected administrator, is Little Feather the name of the Mother Body inside the shelter? I heard it understands us. Can I... interview it?”

Hyrja hadn’t promised her anything, only suggested she ask the administrator. But getting an audience with him had seemed impossible, until now.

“Of course,” Chu Guang replied with a chuckle. “Little Feather is quite an interesting one. Many people have met it, back before it became the Mother Body. Oh, and bring some sweets as a gift. It likes that.”

He turned back to Zhao Yigeng and joked. “And please, stop overinterpreting everything I say. Instead of guessing what I might want, just focus on doing what you should do.”

When something truly sensitive arose, he would tell the right people to keep it confidential, there was no need for them to play mind reader.

Zhao Yigeng straightened up, pressing his fist to his chest and saluting like a soldier. “Understood! I’ll remember your words!”

“I’m no journalist,” Chu Guang said with a smile. “You should learn from the professionals who came from Boulder Town, Progressive voices are needed wherever they’re found. Anyway, I won’t take more of your time. Get back to work. I have my own business to attend to.”

He nodded warmly, then signaled to Lu Bei at the door. Together, they left.

Next on his schedule was meeting the representatives of the Enterprise. The Academy had already sent him a lavish, and surprising, gift of congratulations.

He wondered what the Highest Council would send. After all, they were long-time partners. Surely they wouldn’t offer less than outsiders.