With cautious steps, a man named Cao Zhiwei in his thirties emerged from the room, regaining his confident and upright demeanor. His tall and well-built figure, combined with his thick eyebrows and large eyes, accentuated his straight posture. At first glance, one wouldn't suspect him of being a scoundrel.
In this moment, he briskly walked down the corridor towards the stairs, intentionally or unintentionally puffing out his chest as he passed by others. Pinned to his chest was a deep red, circular badge adorned with the emblem of a castle-like design, representing the Council Chamber of the base. This badge, given to him by Liu Xing, signified his authority to command a portion of the guards.
Cao Zhiwei was a selfish individual. In the real world, he had a younger brother, yet he never once yielded to him throughout their upbringing. On the contrary, from childhood toys to daily necessities as adults, his younger brother always conceded to him. Their family was well-off, and almost every gaming console or similar item was bought in pairs. Strangely, he couldn't recall any instance where his parents favored one of them in speech or action. Nevertheless, Cao Zhiwei remained self-centered.
He arrogantly left the career his family recommended, only to face difficulties in various jobs. He never looked within himself for reasons, always blaming bosses or colleagues for what he deemed unfavorable. Similarly, he looked down on ordinary girls in his personal life, longing for a princess who would not only proactively help him achieve a life reversal but also consider his dignity. As a result, he remained single even in his thirties. In this world, many things ultimately rely on luck rather than character. Surprisingly, he caught the eye of a divorced woman who liked him. Despite his failed attempts at blind dates, he couldn't escape the pursuit of women. The divorced woman came from a good family background, and though he would have rejected anyone else, he didn't decline her advances. He was highly regarded and recommended to work in a research town, which led him to this place.
However, a twisted mind is always twisted. Cao Zhiwei's mentality was undeniably on a twisted and neurotic level. In just a few days, he went from envying a coveted job to hating it passionately. The reason was simple: most people were outshining him. To the extent that his once high opinion of himself as an urbanite with an undergraduate degree paled in comparison to the tech and management elites. He felt insignificant in the presence of these scientific and managerial geniuses. His self-esteem plummeted, and perverse thoughts emerged. He believed that even if he were a rural pig, he should still aim for the city's prized cabbages.
The pig's plan turned out to be quite difficult to execute. He underestimated the intellectual giants who excelled in their respective fields. They focused their energy on knowledge, but that didn't mean they were mere bookworms who would casually give away their daughters. In fact, these high IQ research elites, when it came to significant matters concerning their children's lives, could easily see through him with a fraction of their attention, let alone their daughters, who were likely far superior to Cao Zhiwei in many aspects. Becoming their son-in-law was no easy feat.
As a result, the pig's plan to snatch the cabbage turned into a perfect failure, and he joined the ranks of the cynical and disillusioned. It wasn't until he inexplicably arrived in this world, until he followed Liu Xing, and until today that he finally had a glimmer of hope. That hope was to complete the mission and gain his rightful place. Liu Xing hadn't explicitly promised him, but once he completed the mission and elevated his status, he would surely be qualified to pursue the coveted cabbage.
Carrying a heart full of resentment, anger, jealousy, and humiliation, Cao Zhiwei entered another building. Here, there was tight security, and from today on, he was one of them, his status even higher than that of the ordinary guards. Thinking about this, he felt pleased; finally, there was some reward. He had persevered through hardships, endured humiliation, and now he finally had results. As long as he completed the mission, he would undoubtedly receive better rewards. Glancing at the guard at the entrance, Cao Zhiwei lifted his head high and walked in. However, he didn't notice Liu Xing in another building, engaged in conversation near the window with someone. Inadvertently, he glanced at Cao Zhiwei as he entered the opposite building. The expression in Liu Xing's eyes resembled that of someone looking at discarded trash, a dismissive gaze, as if they would never meet again.
As Cao Zhiwei stepped into the building, after just a dozen steps, he began to feel a somewhat eerie sensation.
"Captain Cao, over here."
Just as Cao Zhiwei was mumbling to himself, the term "Captain Cao" filled him with a renewed spirit.
"Good observation skills. With just one glance, you noticed the badge you had just put on. Coupled with our previous interactions, you know your surname is Cao, and you promptly replied when I said 'Captain Cao' is coming." Someone in his heart greatly appreciated this. He looked at the guard and nodded, trying his best to exude an air of leadership that a young and trainable person would have. He recalled various appearances from that other world, projecting the image of a leader who appears to be saying "I have high hopes for you, keep up the good work," fantasizing about gaining people's loyalty from the very first day in office. Look, as long as there's an opportunity, I'll be an excellent leader.
The guard next to him just happened to miss Cao's expression, but another guard on the other side noticed it fully. Suppressing his laughter, he felt extreme disdain. Only the guards understood that the captain was actually the most disposable here, always ready to be sacrificed. This was Liu Xing's brilliance.
Regardless of one's character, it had to be admitted that Liu Xing was an exceptional talent. The base was managed by Liu Xing, so he never compromised on selecting personnel. Among those who followed Liu Xing, those with special skills were assigned corresponding positions. Those without any special skills but provided absolute support to him or directly helped him rise to power became his confidants and guards. And people like Cao were those without skills, trying to take advantage of the situation, attempting to turn things around after failing to thrive before. Who could these petty thoughts deceive?
Those truly capable, Liu Xing would embrace. But these opportunistic individuals, Liu Xing gave them two roles: Captain and Officer. The one named Li Xiaodong, who had been implanted with parasite eggs, was the Officer, and Cao Zhiwei was the Captain.
On the surface, both Captains and Officers led guards in carrying out missions. But anyone with a brain could see that in case of an accident, the Captains and Officers were the ones who died, while the guards usually came out unscathed. The higher the official position, the greater the responsibility? That notion didn't exist. Liu Xing used pawns. Rewards? If one paid close attention, all the Captains and Officers seemed to be living luxuriously, enjoying a lavish lifestyle. However, they were just like the depraved women they held and embraced—two groups at the bottom, without homes, and not even stable partners.
The individuals Liu Xing truly valued, even among these guards, had nearly all established their own families. These people, even without Liu Xing's match-making, would naturally end up like rotten meat and flies, sticking together. Liu Xing was indeed a political genius. With just a nominal title, he had these pawns charging into the fray for him.
People like Cao Zhiwei didn't know these intricacies, and even if they did, their intellectual capacity would prevent them from ever escaping. At this moment, he had already entered the center of the building, and a guard lifted a floorboard, revealing an area he had never been to before. He gazed at the dark staircase below, hesitating. Raising his head, he met the cold gaze of the guard. With a determined sigh, he grabbed onto the ladder and began his descent.