The command center was crowded with bureaucrats, think tanks, and a few players from around the world.

Under the grand mission of maintaining world stability, various organizations reluctantly united, following the directions of the Global Occult Coalition.

Agents collected information at the front lines, maintaining surveillance,

while the research team at the back analyzed data, using modern science and mysticism to explain the phenomena,

sending the results to the command center for decision-making by bureaucrats and think tanks.

During these four days, besides striving to evacuate the populace and build temporary shelters, they did do something —

they used gold foil, steel, and fabrics infused with magic, curses, and talismans,

creating protective suits that allowed ordinary Transcendents to temporarily enter the Buddha light,

allowing them to briefly enter the Buddha Country without being completely engulfed by the Buddha light.

With these protective suits, they were able to gather further information — such as, the closer to the Ajanta Caves, the more ordinary people went missing, the Buddha light corrosion became more severe, gradually leading to auditory and visual hallucinations.

And each passing day, the core corrosion area of the Buddha light kept expanding.

Everyone present knew that only by eliminating the Sibi King in the caves’ center could the problem be truly resolved.

The moment Li Ang in his Dragon Head White Lab Coat walked through the door, he drew the attention of everyone present.

He ignored the curious, envious, or fearful stares, striding across the command hall to a small room in the side chamber.

Inside the small room were a dozen chairs, with some familiar faces seated.

A cold-faced short-haired young man, Lose Control,

and Hoenhem, who was scholarly like a university professor,

Side Truth, whom he had just met a few days ago,

Abel and Dawn from the European Heavy Industry Group (Abel’s previous company, Prometheus Laboratory, had been merged by European Heavy Industry),

David from the Supernatural Accident Place affiliated with the Federal Bureau of Investigation,

Nebula from the Global Occult Coalition,

and Life-Killing Hospital, Wang Buliuxing, even the Dusk Knight with whom he had executed two missions long ago — seeming to belong to the Great Britain Royal National Church Knight Group.

Besides these players, representatives sent by various organizations sat in the small room,

but these so-called "leaders" didn’t have much of an aura in front of the numerous players, instead appearing somewhat like followers.

"You’re here."

Hoenhem saw Li Ang appear, nodding kindly,

Side Truth also nodded in greeting.

Lose Control opened his eyes to glance at Li Ang, then closed them again to compose himself.

"Hmm."

Li Ang nodded, casually dragging over a chair to sit down, asking casually, "Has Michael not arrived yet?"

"He’s about to arrive."

Nebula, also representing the Global Occult Coalition, said, "Mr. Li, please be patient."

"Oh,"

Li Ang was indifferent to whether Michael showed up with grandeur, at this level a Transcendent does not require so-called grandeur to enhance their prestige, he was concerned about something else.

"Who’s settling this time’s payment?"

Li Ang scanned the room’s occupants, calmly asking, "Let’s settle the deposit first."

The expressions of the many players in the room turned somewhat peculiar; they were mostly personnel from official organizations, responsible for maintaining order and stability, with rewards typically distributed after returning by superiors — who would bicker with the European Heavy Industry Group.

Li Ang’s straightforwardness, coughing, candidness was rare.

"...Mr. Li, I’m currently responsible for handling the remuneration matters."

A white middle-aged man in a suit raised his hand, stepping forward with a somewhat awkward expression.

"Oh? I remember you, you’re Francis from the European Heavy Industry Group, right?"

Li Ang recalled that during the Yin City anomaly, Francis was the director of the European Heavy Industry Group’s Yin City outpost and had once misguidedly wanted to recruit Li Ang.

Unexpectedly, after twists and turns, he found himself meeting Francis again in Mumbai.

"Yes."

Francis coughed, without explaining why the European Heavy Industry Group sent him to India to avoid suspicion.

He’d thought coming to India to handle the Ajanta Caves would accumulate enough credibility to return to Europe’s hub but unexpectedly ran into another anomaly.

Li Ang cast him a glance, saying, "This situation you’ve stirred up is quite big.

Even back in my rural hometown, people are talking about it, saying 0100 1111, 0100 1101, 0100 0111,

1000, 0100 1111, 0100 1100, 0101 1001,

0011, 0100 1000, 0100 1001, 0101 0100."

"???"

Francis froze for a few seconds before reacting, nearly wanting to retort, why are you citing ASCII binary code, are you living inside a computer system? Are your compatriots computer people?

"My compatriots aren’t computer people,"

Li Ang apparently guessed Francis’s thoughts, seriously saying, "It’s just that my compatriots are highly intelligent, the sort capable of programming Windows systems with fixed-line telephone keypad,

typically disdainful of using human language for communication, opting for computer language."

???

Which neighborhood do you live in? Is it read as human community, written as Celestial School? And isn’t speaking in binary codes cumbersome every time?

Francis’s expression turned stiff, restraining his questions, awkwardly saying, "This anomaly is relatively widespread.

However, we have circulated the logs and reports from all previous actions to other organizational bodies,

and think tank teams from various sides have yet to fully confirm,

that the Sibi King’s anomaly was triggered by the European Heavy Industry Group’s actions.

There’s a high probability he was destined to revive, unaffected by our actions.

And to date, the Sibi King anomaly still largely remains constrained to India locally,

without causing substantial damage.

"I understand."

Li Ang knew they were shirking responsibility to minimize compensation and responded, "You mean the matter was neither too big nor too small, but somewhat big. Many haven’t heard, so it’s not entirely large, but many have, so it’s also not tiny. What exactly is it? There’s no conclusion yet, but the underlying reason is heartwarming."

Are you writing for the New Concept Mao Dun Award?

"Uh..."

Francis was stunned for quite some time before nodding difficultly, "That’s correct.

We at European Heavy Industry Group have agreed to compensate for the vast majority of losses from this anomaly,

and the remuneration paid to various organizations will be evaluated afterward under the supervision of the global occult coalition.

As for Mr. Li, since you’re not affiliated with any organization, thus outside the scope of the Common Defense Agreement, bearing no responsibility nor duty to jointly resolve the anomaly,

we can advance you part of the deposit, if you’re willing..."

With that, Francis proactively applied to add Li Ang as a friend and sent him some files via the friend link, offering Perfect Level equipment and item information.

If Li Ang agreed to participate in this action, he could pre-select a Perfect Level piece of equipment and choose another Perfect quality item upon completion.

Moreover, he would have certain priority rights in dividing the Sibi King’s war spoils.

Li Ang scanned them briefly, and given he hadn’t yet entered the Buddha Country, the proposed remuneration from the European Heavy Industry Group seemed reasonable and acceptable.

Indeed, compared to him, with no ties, unrestrained, and powerful,

players with organizational backgrounds had somewhat inferior negotiating conditions — fulfilling one’s role demands.

Li Ang agreed to the terms, instructing Francis to send him the selected Perfect Level equipment later.

With compensation already incoming before any work, Li Ang felt a bit better, rubbing his palms together and addressing the roomful of Transcendents with diverse expressions, "Stop looking at me so strangely.

I think this time, the European Heavy Industry Group has shown much responsibility.

I don’t quite understand why every peculiar anomaly always involves the European Heavy Industry. They’ve done nothing, so why so much hostility toward them?

Their agents, whether in ability or ethics, seem quite competent, don’t they have any confirmed dirt?

It seems many are just attacking them due to their large scale, multitude of personnel, and strong strength, some merely bandwagoning without basis or merely vent their personal emotions in unreasonable bashing ways.

Not allowing fair judges like me to speak on their behalf feels like mere censorship; I truly don’t comprehend today’s public opinion environment.

Anyway, I’m a pure bystander; this time, I stand with the European Heavy Industry Group.

No way, you just took their money and claim you’re impartial; that’s difficult to believe.

The Transcendents wore varied expressions, yet fearing Li Ang’s reputation, dared not reveal themselves, rendering the room’s atmosphere oddly strange.

Bang—

The door swung open nonchalantly, silver-white armored, winged Michael bearing a longsword, accompanied by the Global Occult Coalition agents, entered the room.