I Cultivate in a Government Office

Chapter 239: Chapter 137: Inspection and Clan Affairs

Mining Area Security Post

Liu Shun, Captain of the First Patrol Squad, finished checking the Internal Affairs log for the third time and turned to look out the window toward the landing pad.

”Chief, about Director Yang...”

His voice was a little dry.

Du Hong stood by the window with his back to him, his gaze fixed on the southeastern skyline. ”We’ve checked everything that needs checking. What are you so nervous about? There were no issues to begin with. Don’t let your worrying create one.”

Despite his words, his right thumb, hidden behind his back, was unconsciously rubbing against his index knuckle. Half an hour ago, they had received an urgent notification: Director Yang was inspecting the mining area ahead of schedule and was already on his way.

The entire security post immediately went on high alert. All duty logs were double- and triple-checked, the armory was re-inventoried, and even the cleaning Array in the corner of the hallway was deliberately run for an extra cycle.

This wasn’t Du Hong making a mountain out of a molehill. Everyone in the Lingshan New District’s City Defense System knew exactly what the name ”Yang Wenqing” signified.

Director Gao was focused on his cultivation, and Director Chu specialized in oversight. The one who truly held the careers of the subordinates in his hands was this young Vice Director Yang. In six years, everyone he’d personally promoted had ended up in a key position, and not a single person he’d disciplined had ever managed to make a comeback.

”Chief, Director Yang’s Flying Shuttle!” a monitor’s voice crackled through the comms.

Du Hong took a deep breath, straightened his collar, and led the security post’s senior officers to the landing pad to greet the director. Just as they reached the elevated platform, the Flying Shuttle came to a smooth stop.

A few seconds later, the hatch slid open noiselessly.

Yang Wenqing stepped out of the Flying Shuttle. His gaze swept over the welcoming party, then traveled past them to the stretch of ocean beside the security post.

It was the lifeblood of Lingshan New District: the Coral Ore farming and harvesting zone.

Dozens of gigantic platforms dotted the vast expanse of the sea. Their main frames were built from a special Seadrowned Wood, their surfaces etched with complex water-repelling runes. The platforms varied in size; the smaller ones were over a hundred meters in diameter, while the largest were a full three hundred meters square.

On the nearest platform stood several hemispherical, transparent domes. These were the nursery workshops. Looking through the domes gave a clear view of the seafloor below, revealing neatly arranged coral racks.

Farther out, several platforms were equipped with towering cranes and conveyor belts. These were the harvesting platforms. Specialized mechanical arms reached deep into the sea to retrieve mature coral stalks. After a preliminary cleaning and sorting, the coral was transported directly to the primary processing plants on shore through sealed, runic pipelines. The entire process occurred almost entirely without exposure to air, preserving the potency of the Coral Ore’s Spiritual Qi to the greatest possible extent.

Surrounding the platforms, a faint blue film of light was visible just beneath the surface of the water. This was the Sea-Purifying Barrier that enveloped the entire cultivation zone, serving to block both pollutants and large marine life, while also being capable of forming a protective shield in an emergency.

In the sky, three medium-sized transport airships moved between the platforms, the Array formations on their hulls glinting with a soft blue light in the sun. In the distance, two patrol Flying Shuttles bearing the City Defense Bureau’s insignia were making their routine rounds along the edge of the maritime zone.

This stretch of sea processed an immense value in raw materials each day, generating a third of Lingshan New District’s tax revenue and providing a livelihood for tens of thousands of workers and their families.

After his customary survey of the area, Yang Wenqing’s gaze returned to Du Hong, who had already stepped forward to greet him.

”Chief Du.”

”Director Yang.” Du Hong snapped to attention and saluted, his form flawless. ”The entire security post is prepared and awaiting your inspection.”

Yang Wenqing returned the salute. Dispensing with pleasantries, he looked toward the main security building. ”Let’s take a look inside.”

As he strode forward, Du Hong immediately moved to his side to lead the way, maintaining a respectful half-step behind him. When they passed the entrance, two guards on duty puffed out their chests, their gazes sharp.

Upon entering the main building, Du Hong led Yang Wenqing to the monitoring center on the second floor. He knew this director wasn’t interested in mere window dressing.

Four technicians were already standing at attention before the monitoring center’s panoramic screen wall. Yang Wenqing gave a dismissive wave and walked straight to the main control console.

”Pull up the duty logs and anomaly reports from the last forty-eight hours,” he said.

A technician complied, and data began scrolling across the screen.

Du Hong stood just behind and to the side, watching as Yang Wenqing’s slender fingers slid across the virtual panel.

”What’s this entry in the night shift’s log?” Yang Wenqing asked, pointing to a specific record.

”Director Yang, sir...”

Du Hong reported factually, ”That was a newly transferred technician. He had a brief lapse in concentration between 0400 and 0500. The shift supervisor noticed, corrected him on the spot, and logged the incident. I spoke with him this morning, issued a verbal warning as per regulations, and his performance review for this month has been lowered one grade.”

He pulled up the records of the conversation and the disciplinary action. The screen displayed the exact time, the technician’s signature, and the follow-up measures.

Yang Wenqing glanced at it but said nothing. He continued to review the other records, pulling up real-time feeds from various monitoring stations and randomly checking the equipment status and duty logs for several of them.

”The ’Wind-Listener’ Array at Monitoring Station Three. It was reported for rune degradation last week. Has it been repaired?”

”It has,” Du Hong said, pulling up the maintenance record. ”The tech department came yesterday afternoon. They replaced three rune nodes, and it’s testing normal. Here is the sign-off report.”

The questions and answers continued, with each of Du Hong’s responses being precise and direct. There was no filler, no passing the buck.

Yang Wenqing closed the display and turned to Du Hong. ”Take me to the patrol squad.”

”Of course.”

Du Hong immediately led the way.

The east wing of the first floor housed the patrol squad’s equipment room and staging area. Eight on-duty officers were inspecting their gear. When they saw Yang Wenqing enter, they snapped to attention in unison.

Yang Wenqing walked to an equipment rack, picked up a standard-issue runic pistol, and inspected its condition and ammunition.