How Am I Still Alive?-Chapter 1323 - 1309: Seeking Refuge

In the makeshift tent studio, it was already a scene of demons dancing wildly.

The young man floated in the middle of the room, typing quickly on a laptop, while countless tentacles behind him were also flying around at high speed.

Some were pressing calculators, others were keeping accounts, and even more were tapping away on electronic devices... When one room sounded like an entire internet café from the clacking of keyboards, God knows how much work was being processed simultaneously.

"True Tentacle Monster," was reaching conclusions at an astonishing rate.

"Figured it out, this month’s surplus, increased by 7%..."

"There are seventeen vacancies internally and for expansion new positions needed, recruiting externally could go up to a hundred and twenty-one... uh, calculate the cost, they seem to be asking for not only Eastern Country’s coins and credit-coins."

"Right, the local spoils of war, specialty products, and other spoils need to be sold, give an estimated value for the secondary business groups to package... no, I should be able to have the officials help me with the sale."

"The profit from the courtyard factory... quite good, maybe expand it a bit... forget it, I don’t need the income, no need to introduce too many strangers as permanent residents."

"Uh? Who is this, directly asking for Life-points and credit-coins without signing their name? The reason being ’you know’... heh, this scribble, Meow... rejected."

Sitting on a floating board, Lu Ping’an, with countless "tentacles" busily working, these new "neural systems" came with touch, perception, and even taste, giving Lu Ping’an the feeling of having multiple bodies. As a High-Tier Scholar, paired with the newly added "Rule-level Nerves," he could indeed process multiple tasks simultaneously, even up to a dozen or so.

Files were quickly reviewed and approved, budget costs were calculated, personnel jobs were scheduled, and various bizarre applications mixed in proper issues were rejected.

"A video game competition? Uh, sure, completely zero damage, just consuming electricity."

"Singing competition? OK... Professionals like singers are not allowed to participate."

But some chaotic "activity applications" were directly approved by Lu Ping’an.

After all, regardless of his situation, for those old soldiers who had been on the "Divine Boat" for "ten years" with all sorts of constraints, unable to comfortably do what they wanted, it was better to just have a good vacation and rejuvenate.

Especially since there were many people from other branches of Lin Nu’s Church aboard the Divine Boat... it was a good opportunity to network, as they might be comrades in the future.

"These guys, have become much livelier..."

The youngsters of the past always seemed anxious, as if a moment’s delay would cost them something, especially those young geniuses, each arrogant to the core.

Matters of human relationships and networking, you tell them to be mindful, and they all say "yes, yes, yes," but once they leave, it’s like "ah, I’m so busy, please spare me the socializing."

Now, after having roamed through a world at war for ten years, they are actively organizing events and building relationships with colleagues... It’s not about buttering up anyone, but just naturally hoping to have more "friends" and more ways out after experiences like "do nothing as allies struggle" and "want support from my turf? Hah, pay the toll."

After all, sometimes when it’s proper and justified, whether or not you’re willing to aid the neighboring position might really depend on your past relationships with them.

With more travel experiences aboard the Divine Boat, these old stagers had also become accustomed to organizing various activities during their vacations... Entertainment and relaxation were one aspect, gathering intelligence was a steady gain, and knowing more people opened more paths.

"... A naked man imitating an eel burrowing contest in sandy soil? Uh, what the heck, just by hearing the name, it feels like losing sanity points, tsk tsk, and it’s even split into ’artistic effect score’ and ’athletic speed score’... approved. Add extra prize money to attract more participants and make it lively."

Though nonsensical, such boring yet novel stuff was actually the most popular, just be careful not to create a notorious black history, as it could socially kill you afterward.

"Get Meow to record it and show me... never mind, I’ve been ordering her around a lot lately, haven’t approved her budget yet, better let her rest."

Even though he was considering how to increase Meow’s workload, Lu Ping’an’s "tentacles" were still busy at high speed.

And looking at himself in the mirror, at that moment, he too felt increasingly "non-human."

"... OK, done."

The work that was originally expected to take at least a week was completed by Lu Ping’an in just over two hours, so, next.....

"Upgrade complete. Work hard so that you can slack off in peace!"

Lu Ping’an lay down and started his own "vacation."

A pair of tentacles opened a comic book, one turned on the TV while another two had already grabbed the game controllers. Lu Ping’an’s head began to nod off as his tentacles wildly played games.... Even when resting and entertaining himself, Lu Ping’an had to give it his all!

"...Man, you’re getting more and more outrageous."

The Big Shot knocked on the door, signaling his arrival.

"What’s up?" 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Lu, however, didn’t even open his eyes, merely having two pairs of tentacles hand over tea and cookies.

Meanwhile, a blackboard was being quickly filled with writing...

"You’re here to ask why I rejected the ’Great Bamboo Eating Contest’? Everyone knows you just wanted to feast, but there’s really not much bamboo left in the storeroom. We can’t plant normal bamboo in the contaminated courtyard. Hang in there. It’s only a couple of days away...."

This scene, where the schizophrenic Tentacle Demon was his own boss and brother, even made the long non-human Panda struggle to keep a straight face.

Lu, who had seemed the most normal all along, might have been the most abnormal from the start....

"That’s not it... I’ve found a Gardener, he has demonized bamboo, and I’ve filled up on it.... no wait, I’ve got something serious to discuss with you."

"Something serious? You’re not going to tell me you want to participate in that ’Mudfish Naked Competition’? That thing where you can at most wear a cloth strip or open-crotch pants—but in your case, it seems like you wouldn’t even be arrested if you went naked...."

"I may be a Panda, but I’m a normal person, thank you.... If it were female mud wrestling, I’d be quite interested, but let’s skip this one. Wait, where was I? Stop getting sidetracked, I really am here for something serious...."

The Panda finally remembered his "serious business," but when he finally spoke out about it seriously, even the half-asleep half-awake Lu Ping’an was completely woken up.

"Are you saying that someone wants to switch sides and join us?"

"Yes, and not just one person, among them is even a Rule-level...."

Actually, the reason was quite simple—some of the "Divine Sub-Church’s leaders" or headmen decided to abandon Mercury 42, bringing their followers back to Earth.

But It or its followers have their own lives.... They truly have their own lives, friends, and family. How could they simply give up?

Some endured out of necessity, others just couldn’t bear it and looked for jobs locally.

But recruiting a Rule-level Big Shot was somewhat beyond Lu Ping’an’s expectations.

"That’s normal enough, being Rule-level, he certainly doesn’t want to follow someone weaker than him.... With so many Rule-levels coming together, it’s only natural for him to think joining us is sensible, and moreover, our Rebirth Business Group is known for being the staunchest battle faction."

As for why he approached Panda, that was even more predictable.... Although a bit outrageous, but with both Lu Ping’an and Guan Xinxian absent, this "Deputy Commander" was indeed the acting second-in-command.

Xue En had brought indeed a serious matter, and one that must be attended to cautiously....

"Okay, tell him we welcome him."

But since he dared to come to us, Lu Ping’an certainly dared to receive him.