278: This is a case of hiding something obvious.

"Xiao Si's third plan is cost-effective and efficient. Face? How many incense offerings is face worth?"

"Can it be traded for a position in the Department of Judges and Law of Reincarnation fragments?" In her haste, she even let the mission rewards slip.

Ling Qi sharply caught the keywords: "Department of Judges, Law of Reincarnation fragments, mission..."

She immediately connected Wanling's sudden "striving for progress" with this absurd plan.

"Your Majesty, have you been tricked by the unreliable Xiao Si again???"

"What is the punishment this time? Hair loss, gaining weight, or..." Her gaze subconsciously swept over Shang Wan Ning's long, slender fingers.

Shang Wan Ning hid her hands behind her back, her expression shifting between red and white as she growled with feigned bravado.

"Shut up, I haven't. This is a far-sighted strategic decision of mine; it has nothing to do with the system."

[I absolutely cannot let AQi know about the fingers shortening! Absolutely!!!]

[Hmph ╯^╰]

Ling Qi looked at the Empress's "protesting too much" reaction and her suspicious movement of hiding her hands.

She already understood seventy to eighty percent of it in her heart.

To make the slacking A Ning lose her composure like this, even to the point of resorting to the punishment of the "Chen Yu nuclear weapon," it was likely no small matter.

She fell into silence again, her knuckles tapping rhythmically on the armrest of the Phoenix Throne.

Her brain worked rapidly, calculating the cost-benefit ratio of various plans.

Shang Wan Ning watched her nervously, not daring to breathe, fearing that the two cold words "rejected" would come out of the Secretary-General's mouth.

Then 'her' fingers... (She shuddered)

After a long time, Ling Qi looked up, the gaze behind her lenses complex and difficult to read. It reflected a weary resignation and a determination to clean up the mess.

"The plan can be executed."

Shang Wan Ning's eyes suddenly lit up, as if finding life in a desperate situation.

"But..." Ling Qi's tone shifted as she held up three fingers.

"First, for all of Chen Yu's 'artistic behaviors,' a proposal must be submitted in advance for me to review the risk level. When necessary, I possess the 'power of veto'."

"Second, for all 'creations' that may cause substantial damage or trigger a war crisis, the necessary funds and aftermath costs will be deducted from Your Majesty's Private Treasury and personal incense offerings."

"Third—"

Ling Qi pushed up her glasses, a cold glint flashing across the lenses.

"The overtime hours that my Subordinate and all Civilian Ghost Messengers of the Netherworld put in for this plan will be settled at three times the highest overtime rate of the Netherworld. Payment must be immediate; no IOUs."

The joy on Shang Wan Ning's face froze.

The first point was fine, but the second point about the Private Treasury and personal money!!!

Her heart ached!

And the third point, triple overtime pay, and paid immediately at that. Ling Qi, you are shearing the 'God's' wool while the fire is hot.

Shang Wan Ning opened her mouth, trying to bargain. "AQi, about this overtime pay—"

"Hmm?"

Ling Qi swept a glance over, full of pressure. "If Your Majesty finds it difficult, Subordinate will go to the Department of Finance right now to compile a list of the wear and tear on my personal clothing that you have 'borrowed' and not returned over the past few years, and estimate the compensation for mental distress while I'm at it."

"Deal!"

Shang Wan Ning interrupted the Secretary-General, fearing that her Private Treasury would be emptied if she were a second slower.

Squeezing out an imperial benevolent smile, she grabbed Ling Qi's hand and took the opportunity to stroke it twice.

"It shall be as the Secretary-General says. Everything is for the great cause of the Netherworld. Thank you for your hard work, AQi."

Ling Qi pulled her hand back expressionlessly, straightened her slightly messy collar and glasses, and returned to her image as a shrewd and capable Secretary-General.

It was as if the person who had been dripping with sweat on the Phoenix Throne just now wasn't her.

"If Your Majesty has no other 'heavy responsibilities' to entrust, Subordinate will take her leave."

"I need to immediately draft the 'Code of Conduct for the Netherworld's Chief Cultural Ambassador to the Demon (Trial Version)' and the advance application for overtime pay."

Ling Qi performed the proper etiquette, her steps as she turned to leave were gentle yet powerful, her purple skirt swaying gracefully.

Shang Wan Ning watched her back disappear behind the palace gates and let out a long sigh of relief, slumping into the Phoenix Throne.

[Whew~ finally settled. Most of my fingers are saved, though my wallet hurts a bit.]

She rubbed her temples, beginning to feel the sting of the personal incense offerings that were about to leave her.

But then, thinking of the mission rewards and her long fingers that didn't have to shorten, she felt it was worth it.

"A-Yu, A-Yu, A-Yu..." Shang Wan Ning looked toward the Demon and murmured to herself.

"My incense offerings and face are all riding on your 'silly art show.' You must not let me down!"

"At least, don't let me lose too much."

...In the Netherworld, the lingering fragrance of aloeswood in Jiaotai Palace had not yet dissipated, and Shang Wan Ning was sighing over saving her finger length.

Meanwhile, in Grass Spirit Village in the northern part of the Demon, it welcomed the most "brilliant" and "explosive" day in its history.

The sun was bright, and the breeze was warm; it should have been a peaceful scene of spiritual plants breathing and cubs playing.

However... "Elders and fellow villagers of Grass Spirit Village, and you little pups. Raise your paws—no, your front paws!"

"Follow my rhythm." A crisp and highly penetrating shout echoed through the Ancient Altar.

In the center of the altar, Chen Yu, sporting her signature stubborn white hair, stood on a temporary wooden crate.

She held a... well, a megaphone made from a rolled-up Sound-Amplifying Spiritual Grass.

A circle of clear-eyed Grass Spirit Dog cubs sat around her feet.

Feng Xi and several elders stood a little further away, their facial expressions already out of control, their lips twitching, and their paws unconsciously scratching the ground.

"Today, we are learning a representative piece of the Netherworld's advanced culture."

Chen Yu put her hands on her hips, looking very imposing. "It's called 'Diggy Diggy Dig.' Everyone, perk up! This is the crystallization of the wisdom of the Six-Tailed Demon Fox... cough, I mean, the thousands of souls in the Netherworld."

She cleared her throat, ignoring Feng Xi's weak protest of "Lord Prefectural City God, is this song title a bit too... plain?"

"In the little Demon, Diggy Diggy Dig~"

"Plant a little seed and watch a little flower bloom~"

"In the big Demon, Diggy Diggy Dig~"

"Plant a big conspiracy and get a big beating~ Yay!"

Chen Yu sang with such devotion; she was out of tune but full of energy, even adding her own on-the-spot dancing effects, making the small wooden crate groan under the weight.

Her white hair flew up and down with her movements, and her glasses slid to the tip of her nose, only to be coolly pushed back by her.

The cubs: (⊙_⊙)???

This tune is so weird!

But the Lord Prefectural City God's dance is so energetic, it's almost addictive.

"Come on, come on, don't just stand there. Dig along with me."

Chen Yu jumped off the crate, grabbed the front paws of the nearest black-and-white spotted puppy, Feng Nuo, and forced her to sway from side to side.

"Diggy Diggy Dig~ Yes, just sway like that, release your natural instincts."

Feng Nuo: "!!!"

[Who am I? Where am I? What am I doing? But the Lord's hands are so soft and fragrant, I'll just dig then!]

With Feng Nuo taking the lead, the other cubs looked at each other.