459: Accept the competition and be tied to the same warship! (3k words)

Bureau of Extraterrestrial Affairs Building, eighteenth floor.

“Haha, Lin Yang, you’re quite something! You publicly rendered Zhai Lin speechless; I think Zhai Lin was practically fuming!”

The moment Lin Yang arrived at Song Qingfeng’s office, Song Qingfeng immediately praised him:

“Well done!”

“That old man has broken the rules many times, but usually, it’s not worth falling out with them over such minor matters.”

“Today, however, truly let out all the pent-up frustration from before. It was so satisfying!”

Song Qingfeng was in a very cheerful mood.

He had long been displeased with Zhai Lin and his group.

However, due to the internal situation of the Universe Alliance, he could only turn a blind eye to Zhai Lin’s actions.

Watching Lin Yang render Zhai Lin speechless from beginning to end, causing him to leave in a huff, also made Song Qingfeng feel a sense of relief.

“I thought Director, you would say I was too impulsive and reckless,” Lin Yang said with a smile.

“How could that be?”

Song Qingfeng chuckled again:

“Young people, sometimes it’s necessary to be a bit flamboyant when the situation calls for it.”

“If you hadn’t done that just now, it would have shown your composure, but doing it doesn’t necessarily mean it was impulsive or reckless.”

“Different statuses, sometimes doing the same thing or saying the same words, can lead to completely different outcomes and impacts.”

At this point, Song Qingfeng looked at Lin Yang and slowly continued:

“If you have status, you must use it when appropriate. If you don’t, people will think you’re easy to bully!”

“What you did just now was neither right nor wrong.”

“After all, from that battle in front of the Universe Alliance Building, you and they were destined to be on different paths.”

“If you save his face, he won’t be grateful. If you don’t save his face, he’ll still think it’s only natural.”

“So, don’t have any psychological burden.”

Lin Yang immediately nodded: “Understood, Director.”

“To be honest, I’m truly a bit envious of you. If I had your status back then, perhaps many things would have been much easier to handle.”

Song Qingfeng said with some emotion, then paused and told Lin Yang:

“You shouldn’t think that I’m using you as a pawn and secretly watching the show, right?”

“Ah?” Lin Yang was startled, then shook his head: “No, I don’t have such a thought. I am their enemy myself.”

Song Qingfeng’s words just now were not wrong.

From the moment the battle broke out in front of the Universe Alliance Building, from the moment those Old Monsters tried to kill him, he and those Old Monsters were destined to be on different paths.

There was no need to show mercy to enemies.

As for Song Qingfeng, whether from the perspective of an enemy’s enemy being a friend, or for other reasons.

In short, so far, Song Qingfeng’s many assistances to him have been very significant and useful.

Therefore, Lin Yang would not harbor such thoughts.

Even if Song Qingfeng did indeed want to use his status to achieve something.

But many things in this world are inherently exchanges of interests.

As long as what Song Qingfeng did did not touch his bottom line and principles, Lin Yang did not mind Song Qingfeng using his status to do something.

Moreover, it currently seemed that Song Qingfeng’s goals aligned with his own.

That is, to deal with those Old Monsters.

Song Qingfeng used his status to achieve certain goals, and he, in turn, gained many conveniences through Song Qingfeng.

At most, it was an exchange of interests, not a matter of who was using whom as a pawn.

“That’s good.”

Song Qingfeng seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, then said seriously:

“Lin Yang, now that you have come into contact with some of the true core secrets within the Universe Alliance, I will be frank with you.”

“Director, please speak,” Lin Yang said, appearing to listen attentively.

Song Qingfeng nodded slightly, then said:

“I am indeed interested in your status; I can say this very frankly.”

“After all, the current situation within the Universe Alliance is extremely complex. One must either be exceptionally talented, with terrifying potential and the ability to grow rapidly, or have a profound background, at least with enough power to contend with the Old Monster Faction.”

“Only then is it possible to ensure that the Alien Management Bureau is not seized by the Old Monster Faction.”

“Do you understand what I mean?”

Song Qingfeng looked at Lin Yang with burning eyes.

Lin Yang’s heart skipped a beat as he met Song Qingfeng’s gaze: “Director, do you really intend to groom me to become the next Director of the Alien Management Bureau?”

“Hmm? From your tone, it seems you had already guessed this before?”

Song Qingfeng did not answer, but instead asked in surprise.

Lin Yang nodded: “It wasn’t my guess; Que Tian found some clues. When we were trapped in the Unknown Space, he brought this up during a casual chat.”

“Que Tian? No wonder. You two must have talked about the merits and contribution rewards of the mission, and he discovered the anomaly from that?” Song Qingfeng smiled.

Lin Yang was immediately surprised: “Director, you can even guess this?”

“Haha.”

Song Qingfeng chuckled and said nothing more, then continued:

“That kid Que Tian guessed correctly. Yes, I do have the idea of having you take over.”

Song Qingfeng directly clarified this point, then asked:

“Since that kid guessed it, he must have also told you a lot about the current situation within the Universe Alliance, and some relevant information about my side.”

“Yes, he mentioned some,” Lin Yang nodded and briefly reiterated some of the things Que Tian had told him at the time.

After he finished speaking, Song Qingfeng nodded slightly and said:

“That kid told you a lot, which saves me some effort. It will be much simpler for me to explain things to you now.”

“Lin Yang, Que Tian guessed correctly. From the very beginning, I hoped that all your credentials within the Alien Management Bureau would be perfect.”

“This offers a significant advantage during the succession.”

“Your resume, from your very first mission, has been maintained and optimized by Xiaoquan Assistant throughout.”

“But this is still far from enough.”

“The Old Monster Faction will not willingly let you take over easily!”

Song Qingfeng said, sighing with emotion:

“You are indeed a very suitable successor.”

“No, not just suitable, but perfect!”

“A perfect successor!”

“Talent and potential, you fully possess.”

“With your two supreme characteristic talents of Space and Life, your future achievements are immeasurable.”

“And in terms of background, it far exceeds my minimum expectations.”

“It can be said that from the moment I started paying attention to you, you have been the perfect successor in my heart.”

“But, this is for me, and for the Alien Management Bureau!”

Song Qingfeng’s tone became slightly heavier:

“For me and the Alien Management Bureau, you are the perfect candidate, but for the Old Monster Faction, such an overly perfect candidate will precisely become their greatest obstacle!”

“Therefore, the path of succession ahead, even with my full assistance and paving the way for you, is destined to be fraught with thorns and difficulties.”

“You will also become their biggest thorn in the eye.”

“Just as Que Tian warned you, even if they dare not personally deal with you, they will certainly try every possible means to stop you.”

Lin Yang raised an eyebrow upon hearing this, interjecting: “Assassination?”

“Yes, assassination!”

Song Qingfeng’s eyes narrowed slightly:

“So, from now on, you must be careful and cautious at all times.”

“After this mission, they will also discover that I am intentionally letting you earn merits and contributions, and then realize my intention to groom you for succession.”

“Even if they don’t want to be at odds with your master and elders, they will at most spare your Life. They will find powerful assassins, not to kill you, but to cripple you.”

“Even if your master and elders can reconstruct your body, the time consumed in doing so would be enough to delay important matters.”

Lin Yang’s heart tightened: “I understand, thank you for the reminder, Director.”

“No need to be polite. Since we’ve talked this much, I’ll say one more thing: I will fully clear obstacles for you moving forward, and now you need to answer me, are you willing to accept these?”

Song Qingfeng waved his hand, his expression more serious than ever:

“I do want to groom you, but I also respect your wishes and thoughts. If you are unwilling to bear too much, I will not force you.”

“After all, with your talent and status, being a free agent would indeed be more worry-free and effortless.”

“But once you choose to accept my grooming for succession, the road ahead is dangerous and unknown, and many troubles and dangers will arise that you could otherwise avoid.”

“So, the decision is yours.”

Hearing this, Lin Yang did not hesitate much before directly saying: “Director, I am willing to accept this challenge.”

“You don’t have to answer so quickly. You can think about it some more; there’s no rush,” Song Qingfeng said, seeing Lin Yang’s immediate reply, and instead tried to persuade him.

Lin Yang shook his head: “No need to consider it. And to be frank with you, Director, I already considered it on the way back.”

He had indeed considered it.

After Que Tian finished speaking to him, he had thought about this matter when he had nothing to do on the road.

Accepting Song Qingfeng’s kindness would certainly bring some extra trouble.

But if he didn’t accept it, the troubles that were destined to come would not lessen.

After all, enemies would not give up on dealing with you just because you retreated.

He and the Old Monster, and the people of the Old Monster Faction, were ultimately on opposing paths.

The people of the Old Monster Faction would not become benevolent towards him just because he chose to forgo Song Qingfeng’s grooming.

On the contrary, accepting Song Qingfeng’s proposal now would give him allies like Song Qingfeng and the people of Song Qingfeng’s faction.

In the future, it wouldn’t just be him and the White Fatty Old Man fighting against those Old Monsters alone.

Moreover, if the people of the Old Monster Faction were allowed to control the Alien Management Bureau, it would be better for him to control it himself!

Seeing that Lin Yang had considered everything so thoroughly, Song Qingfeng immediately laughed heartily again:

“Good, then, from this moment on, we are bound together on the same warship.”

Lin Yang smiled slightly: “The honor is all mine.”

Song Qingfeng was immediately delighted: “Lin Yang, I also have some intelligence about the ruins here. I’ll send it to you; you can take a look and use it as a reference.”

Lin Yang, however, waved his hand slightly: “Director, let’s not rush to look at it. Actually, my report just now…”

“Shh!”

However, before Lin Yang could finish speaking, Song Qingfeng immediately made a shushing gesture and said faintly:

“There was nothing wrong with your report just now; don’t dwell on it. If there’s nothing else, you can leave for now. If I have any questions, I’ll come find you again.”

Lin Yang was startled, then understood something, and immediately turned to leave.

Not long after he left the Bureau of Extraterrestrial Affairs Building, he suddenly received a message on his communication device from Song Qingfeng’s private number.

“Leave headquarters. I’ll come find you in fifteen minutes.”