First-Year Internship—And You Went to Site 749 to Contain Monsters?!

On the other side.

Outside Venue Nine, not the slightest murmur of discussion could be heard.

Pushing the door open.

Rows upon rows stood in perfect formation, eight hundred pairs of eyes filled with determination.

This is what a proper military force looks like.

This is what it means to be a proper military force!

None of that nonsense where tasks have been assigned, yet people are still grumbling with seven kinds of dissatisfaction and eight kinds of resentment, thinking so-and-so isn’t fit to lead or whatever.

Whether it’s the regular army.

Or the 749 Bureau.

In private, perhaps there can be whispers of discussion.But once a task has been accepted, obedience is mandatory.

Otherwise, don’t accept it.

The 749 Bureau has never had anything compulsory; if you don’t want to do it, then don’t. You can refuse; it’s not like they’re short on people.

This kind of high-profile diplomatic mission, a golden opportunity to accumulate merit, is something many people scramble for and still can’t get.

Even for tasks that absolutely require a specific person to complete.

The 749 Bureau higher-ups would, at most, use incentives, sweeten the pot, promise greater rewards, but would absolutely never resort to coercion.

After all, boomerangs are quite a mysterious thing.

If you’re not careful, they can hit you right between the eyes. Today you can force others, tomorrow others can force you.

Once that door is opened, it’s endless.

So, facing Lu Ding’s arrival.

The eight hundred gazes were filled with respect.

Besides, they weren’t primitive people. Great Han was a place where technology and mysticism soared together. Lu Ding’s name and deeds, after these days of fermentation, had already spread to thousands of households.

Just two words.

Badass!

Meeting these gazes, Lu Ding felt satisfied inside.

Good.

No classic scenario of a subordinate being defiant and rebellious, forcing him to make an example of someone, killing the chicken to scare the monkey.

Since that’s the case.

Lu Ding took a step forward.

Mutual respect.

”This is my first time working with all of you. My impression of you...”

His voice paused for a moment.

Just as these eight hundred people thought Lu Ding was going to start like their teachers from school days, seniors from work, or leaders from past missions, always opening with ’You are the worst batch I’ve ever seen, ever led’ to dampen their current eagerness and sharp edge...

Lu Ding raised his volume: ”Is good, very good!!!”

At that moment, the rising and falling sounds of breathing in the venue paused for an instant.

How was this different from what they expected?

”I see your sharp edge.”

”I’m not a person who knows much about humility, nor am I particularly subtle. I occasionally assess the situation, my style is ’courtesy before force’, I work with arrogant domineering, I act with ruthless cruelty. I believe all of you have probably heard of me.”

As he spoke, he leaned forward slightly, as if saying ’Answer me loudly!’

Then came the responses.

”Heard of him, Great Han’s Corpse-Shattering Taishui!”

”New City’s Sin of Arrogance!!!”

”Holder of the Special Merit Award Medal!!”

”The record-breaker for Great Han’s cross-level achievements!”

”The maintainer of Great Han’s gold standard for low-level practitioners defeating high-level ones!!”

”The ruthless dark horse of the new generation!!”

”One of the representative figures of decisive killing among the younger generation!!”

One title after another, one feat after another.

Hearing them, a curve formed at the corner of Lu Ding’s mouth as he slowly nodded: ”Not bad!”

Spreading his hands open, the great cloak behind him swayed without wind: ”All of that refers to me.”

”Since you can list these, you should probably also guess that when I do things, ’the general in the field is not bound by orders from the court’.”

Lu Ding pointed across the formation of eight hundred people before him: ”Therefore, for this trip to Great Jing, my rules are the rules!!!”

”First, no wanton killing of innocents, but anyone who intentionally obstructs mission progress, regardless of gender or age, kill!”

”Second, maintain moral bottom lines, but with my commands and the mission as the premise, you can use any means necessary.”

”Third, unity, but no foolish kindness.”

”Fourth...”

Lu Ding’s smile vanished: ”The final interpretation right belongs to me.”

”Alright, anyone with objections can voice them now. You have only five minutes. Once we leave through this gate, if anyone still has objections, I guarantee they will receive a disciplinary notice.”

”If, after leaving Great Han, during the mission, anyone still has objections, I guarantee they won’t return to Great Han. After all, we do have casualty quotas for this trip.”

Although seasoned investigators predominated among these elite troops, there were also quite a few talented prodigies from various backgrounds. The connections that got them here were just the icing on the cake; their skills were solid enough.

But their temperament...

Lu Ding didn’t want to accompany some boy or girl through their growing pains during mission execution.

Sure enough.

The moment his words landed.

Several voices rang out.

”Report!”

...

Lu Ding looked at them one by one; all were relatively young, about his own age.

”Speak.”

”What if it’s you, Captain, ordering us to our deaths?”

”Captain, I will definitely resolutely obey your orders, but what if your orders conflict with 749 Bureau management?”

”Sir, I’d like to ask, can you accept others’ suggestions?”

”Leader...”

Lu Ding listened to each in turn.

Pointing at the girl who asked if he could accept suggestions, he said: ”Except for her, all of you who just spoke, get out. You have no part in this Great Jing trip. If you utter one more word, I’ll have you carried out lying down.”

Apart from that girl, Lu Ding didn’t care what the others had specifically said. It was all just showing off their personal will and desire to be different.

Oh right, and also having bad ears and brains.

Not hearing, not remembering what he just said—that everything is based on his command, his rules are the rules, the final interpretation right belongs to him.

Asking questions should be like that girl, asking properly, not using the question to showcase one’s individuality or to find loopholes in the leader’s words.

Those few young people who spoke couldn’t believe what Lu Ding said.

But they weren’t stupid.

They had also heard the rumors about Lu Ding during this time.

Knew his temper.

If he said ’carried out’, that was absolutely the minimum guaranteed treatment, with no upper limit.

Even though they were unwilling, unconvinced, and didn’t understand in their hearts.

They could only brace themselves, faces pale, feet feeling like they were filled with lead, and walk step by step out of the gate.

Taking one last look back at the venue.

Fists clenched tightly.

Eyes filled with unwillingness, they left, went home, to complain to mom, dad, grandpa, grandma~

After weeding out these people.

What remained were only the investigators who genuinely wanted to complete this mission journey.

Lu Ding didn’t care whether they respected him or just wanted to finish the task regardless of who the leader was.

Couldn’t bother with that much.

All he thought about was finishing this job and returning to New City.

Responding to that girl’s earlier words.

”I’m a person who loves listening to others’ suggestions the most, isn’t that right, Xinghe?”

Fu Xinghe adjusted his glasses: ”Of course, Brother Lu’s open-mindedness, I have deeply experienced it. Any of you have the opportunity to offer advice, but I advise you, never even think about trying to influence the decision.”

Lu Ding smiled; Xinghe really understood him.

Raising his hand in a beckoning gesture, the doors of Venue Nine swung open.