"Sifang Transport Company is one of the largest freight companies in the North District, mainly handling cargo transportation between satellite cities.
Sometimes, they even take on shipments between the main city and other high-walled cities. Their boss is a woman named Chen. I heard her business is huge—not just limited to a few satellite cities, but even connected to the main city."
"Brother Lu, are we sure... we want to work with them?"
Unexpectedly, after receiving Lu Xin's approval to join this project, Lü Cheng was visibly grateful.
He knew that with his qualifications, even though he had gained the favor of the director's daughter, staying in the company without any achievements was still very difficult. Especially after his failed attempt to snatch Lu Xin's job, which had made him unpopular in the office. His reputation had plummeted. Because of this, he was especially diligent in handling this task.
For the entire company, this was an important deal.
Their company was a small trading business primarily dealing with trade between satellite cities. However, this particular project assigned to Lu Xin was connected to the main city. Doing business with the main city was every company's dream.
So, Lü Cheng not only quickly organized all the necessary information for Lu Xin but also decided early on to accompany him for the site inspection.
Unexpectedly, there were three people on this trip.
Princess Xiaoqing had also tagged along, seemingly worried that Lu Xin might intentionally sideline her boyfriend in work matters.
Lu Xin didn't mind. After all, Princess Xiaoqing had a car.
"Sifang Transport Company is probably not as simple as it seems on the surface..."
As he listened to Lü Cheng's report, Lu Xin silently considered this.
In modern society, thanks to the discovery of wild grain species and the partial revival of industry, most people no longer struggled for food. However, restoring the former industrial system was still a long way off.
One of the biggest obstacles was transportation.
The roads outside the high city walls were severely damaged, filled with obstacles, and overrun with countless lunatics that no amount of cleanup could remove. There were also scavengers and rogue knights surviving by plundering, not to mention countless unpredictable dangers.
Those willing to transport goods through such perilous terrain were either extremely fierce, had strong backing, or possessed unique methods...
This was further confirmed by another confidential report that Chen Jing had given Lu Xin, which contained information that couldn't be found through public channels.
For example, the woman named Chen was merely a puppet figurehead for Sifang Transport Company.
The real boss was a man named Qin Ran, an individual born in the wilderness.
Since people from the wilderness were not granted official city residency until they had lived inside for three years, were barred from schooling, and were forbidden from registering a company or working in administrative departments until ten years had passed, Qin Ran had pushed one of his lovers forward as a front. As for Sifang Transport Company's actual business, it was likely much more than just legal cargo transportation.
People born in the wilderness were never simple—and even less likely to be honest.
"We'll go with them. Not many people are willing to take on external transport jobs these days."
Lu Xin didn't explain further. To his company, this was just business.
But for his other job, the real reason for approaching Qin Ran was to assess whether he posed a problem.
From the driver's seat, Princess Xiaoqing glanced at him through the rearview mirror and rolled her eyes.
She felt that Lu Xin was putting on too much of a show in front of her boyfriend.
However, after being scolded by her father the previous day, she didn't dare say much this time.
The car soon arrived at Sifang Transport Company in the North District. The place consisted of massive warehouse-like structures, most of which had been dismantled to make way for neat concrete roads. The large yard was filled with a row of pickup trucks reinforced with thick iron plates and even spikes. Every vehicle was filthy, covered in moss and dried mud, resembling monstrous beasts.
They had already made a call in advance. As soon as Lu Xin and his group got out of the car, a young man with half-shaved hair, a cigarette in his mouth, and wearing slippers approached. He lazily swung his stick-thin arms and gestured for them to follow him inside.
Along the way, Lu Xin could feel cold, scrutinizing gazes falling on them from different corners.
Some belonged to cocky, streetwise young men, while others came from hardened, battle-ready men.
"You two go inside and discuss the deal with the manager," Lu Xin said to Lü Cheng and Princess Xiaoqing with a smile. "I'll stay outside and inspect their trucks."
Lü Cheng hesitated, but Princess Xiaoqing pulled him along, and the two quickly entered the office.
Checking the transport trucks before finalizing a contract was a reasonable step. Additionally, if Lü Cheng could handle the negotiations well, it would be a valuable achievement for him. Princess Xiaoqing, at least, understood the priorities in this situation.
Once they were inside, Lu Xin slowly wandered around the yard.
According to the report from Chen Jing, there were seven or eight murder cases linked to this company. However, there was no confirmation that they were connected to a psychic contamination incident. Internal conflicts and shady business dealings often resulted in fatalities, but such incidents were considered small matters in high-walled cities. They weren't even worth investigating.
What Lu Xin needed to do now was uncover the truth.
So he took his time walking around, observing whether he could spot any anomalies like those he had seen during the café incident.
"The ones who run outside the city are indeed ruthless..."
After circling the yard a few times and closely inspecting several trucks, Lu Xin thought to himself.
The trucks bore various marks—some appeared to be from stones, others looked like blade cuts. Some tires and chassis even had dark red stains. Whether it was blood or not was unclear.
Lu Xin wasn't exactly an expert in these matters.
But he felt that he should at least try to appear professional.
So he carefully examined the vehicles, considering what aspects might be worth investigating.
"Hey, what are you doing?"
"Don't hit me!"
"If you keep hitting me, I'll report you to the Security Bureau!"
As Lu Xin was examining the trucks, sudden cries echoed from a row of office buildings ahead.
He quickly walked over and saw a group of delinquent-looking young men kicking Lü Cheng while cursing.
"You call this business? We risk our necks every day out there, and you want to cut our prices? Acting like some educated city boy—I'll throw you outside for the lunatics to tear apart!"
Lü Cheng clutched his head, repeatedly begging for mercy. Princess Xiaoqing, standing nearby, was shouting but didn't dare intervene.
"What's going on?"
Lu Xin quickly approached, shifting his backpack to his chest.
Princess Xiaoqing, in tears, said, "We just thought their prices were too high and tried to negotiate, but they started attacking us! I also noticed huge discrepancies in their financial records—working with them will only bring us trouble!"
Before she could finish speaking, a woman suddenly rushed over, grabbed her hair, and began slapping her.
"Bitch, who are you calling shady?"
"If you hadn't been so annoying, why would I hit you?"
"Say it! Why did I hit you?"
Princess Xiaoqing's face was swollen, and she was sobbing uncontrollably.
Seeing her getting slapped, Lu Xin slowly withdrew his hand from his backpack and instinctively slowed his pace.
"Sorry, sorry, everyone. I sincerely apologize..."
Taking his time, he walked up, repeatedly bowing. "How did things escalate so quickly?"
A shirtless man with a scar across his face glanced at Lu Xin. "You're in charge, right?"
"On the phone, they called you Manager Lu?
Good, then I'll deal with you. You called us, said you needed trucks, and I got them ready for you—drivers included. Now you're backing out? Are you playing with us?
Everyone's just trying to survive. If you won't give way, don't blame us for being ruthless..."
Lu Xin smiled. "You make a good point. Let me go back and discuss this first."
Lu Xin was not surprised by what happened to Lü Cheng and Princess Xiaoqing.
Their company was a small trading firm in a satellite city, primarily dealing with the circulation of non-strategic goods between satellite cities. Because the boss had connections with the Materials Management Department and had obtained a travel permit, he held a small amount of power. As a result, the logistics companies they usually dealt with were always deferential to them, sometimes even offering them kickbacks.
Suddenly, they encountered Sifang Logistics Company, and naturally, they didn't expect things to be different this time.
Although the exact reason for Lü Cheng and Princess Xiaoqing being beaten was still unclear, it was normal for conflicts to arise when two opposing attitudes clashed.
"Negotiate?"
The scar-faced man sneered, spat on the ground, and said, "Everyone's busy trying to stay alive. Who has the time to argue with you?"
Lu Xin's expression became somewhat troubled as he asked, "Then what do you want?"
The scar-faced man snorted, "Sign the contract, pay up, and get to work—let's keep things simple!"
Lu Xin fell silent for a moment and said, "There's no way we're signing the contract just like that."
Hearing this, the scar-faced man sneered, "This little manager has a pretty tough head, huh…"
At that moment, the people around them lazily moved in, each with a smirk on their faces, surrounding Lu Xin in the center.
Seeing this scene, Lu Xin hesitated slightly, then suddenly pulled a gun from his backpack and pointed it at them.
"A gun?"
The crowd froze.
Even Lü Cheng, who had been kicked to the ground, and Princess Xiaoqing, who was having her hair yanked, widened their eyes in shock.
No one expected Lu Xin to pull out a gun.
"He actually has a gun…"
"Haha…"
But immediately after, the place erupted into laughter.
The expressions of these people became playful. Even the woman holding Princess Xiaoqing's hair showed a look of disdain.
Some people quietly pulled out sharp iron rods, while others picked up hammers or axes.
"Didn't think someone inside the walls would actually carry a gun…"
"Heh, little brother, is that gun of yours even real?"
The group laughed as they slowly approached.
At this moment, a lean and tough young man gripped a rusty knife. While everyone's attention was on the gun, his eyes flashed coldly, and he suddenly lunged at Lu Xin's back.
A cruel light flickered in his eyes. As someone who had survived on the streets, he understood that standing out was crucial.
But opportunities to do so were rare. Aside from life-or-death situations, it was all about being the most ruthless and acting the fastest. This clueless fool was already doomed—if he could take him down with a single stab, he'd be eating meat tonight…
However, just as he was about to strike, the seemingly unprepared Lu Xin suddenly turned around.
He raised his gun and, without hesitation, pulled the trigger.
"Bang!"
The young man let out a pained scream and fell two meters away, blood gushing from his left thigh.
It was Lu Xin's first time using a gun, and his aim was indeed poor.
But the gunshot stunned everyone. The crowd instinctively took several steps back.
The area fell into an eerie silence. The laughter and mockery from earlier vanished completely. The only sound left was the young man who had been shot, writhing on the ground, screaming in agony like a pig being slaughtered, his voice trembling with sobs.
Everyone now looked at Lu Xin as if he were insane. Who would've thought the gun was real?
Even more surprising—who would've thought he'd actually dare to fire it?
This was inside the walled city, not outside.
The Security Bureau didn't take such matters lightly.
People who frequently roamed the wilderness were fierce, but they weren't fearless—if anything, they feared death even more.
Ironically, the reckless young punks in the city were often the ones willing to do anything in the heat of the moment. That was exactly why Lu Xin had chosen to shoot one of them first.
After firing, Lu Xin immediately turned his gun on a middle-aged woman standing at the back of the crowd.
"Don't push me."
"You all can see it now—my gun is very real…"