489: Me, stingy? Impossible!

Shang Wan Ning: "Xiao Si, who is the largest developer for the seventeenth phase of the Earth God Temple project?"

Xiao Si was subtly annoyed. "It's a subsidiary under 'Fengdu Construction'. The major shareholder behind it is... the 'Underworld Asset Management Bureau', directly subordinate to the Secretariat Office."

The light orb spun. "Simply put, it's the Host's own industry."

Shang Wan Ning raised an eyebrow.

Her own industry is driving housing prices up to eighty-two thousand per square meter, making it impossible for veteran employees to afford a home?

This whole thing sounds quite 'skin-flaying'.

She is clearly a wise and mighty, considerate, and peerlessly beautiful Her Majesty the Empress.

How could she possibly be a skin-flayer?

Xiao Si must have made a mistake.

[That's right, no mistake!!!]

Shang the Skin Flayer put her hands on her hips ╯^╰

Seeing that the Host hadn't spoken for a long time, Xiao Si, as the bootlicking system who had followed her for decades, knew—to put it crudely—the smell of Shang Wan Ning's fairy farts.

Of course, that's an exaggeration; deities cannot fart.

But the Host's skin-flaying nature must be real. It's just that it hasn't been so obvious since the Underworld developed in recent years.

Perhaps she has too many industries and hasn't noticed herself.

"Ahem." Shang Wan Ning cleared her throat, picked up her teacup, and took a sip. "So, who at the Underworld Asset Management Bureau is responsible for pricing the Earth God Temple project?"

"Who else could it be?" Xiao Si's light orb floated in front of her. "The Secretary-General manages it directly. The quarterly project pricing reports only take effect after Ling Qi signs them."

"Last month, the price for the seventeenth phase was adjusted, rising from seventy-three thousand to eighty-two thousand, an increase of 12.3%. The report is currently sitting under the third stack of files on the Secretary-General's desk."

Shang Wan Ning's fingers, holding the teacup, paused.

AQi signed it?

Instantly, the side profile of the Secretary-General bent over files flashed through her mind: the chain of her gold-rimmed glasses hanging by her neck, her brow slightly furrowed, the red pen moving swiftly and steadily across the paper.

So, the eighty-two thousand housing price was approved by her own Secretary-General?

"What's the reason?" Shang Wan Ning put down the cup. "There must be an explanation, right? Underworld salary levels didn't rise by twelve percent along with the price."

"The reasons are quite adequate," Xiao Si said, pulling up the project report and reading it out formally in an electronic voice. "First, the project is adjacent to the Netherworld School District, with mature surrounding facilities. The Wangchuan River view is a scarce resource, possessing inherent premium value."

"Second, the inflation rate for incense points has recently risen. Construction material costs and nether-energy maintenance fees have both increased. Reasonable price adjustments help maintain the project's profit margin."

"Third, market supply and demand imbalance is evident. The number of registered interested customers has reached three times the available units, and a lottery mechanism is about to be implemented. The price adjustment is in line with market principles."

After reading, Xiao Si added: "There is a small line of text noted at the end of the report—'This pricing has fully accounted for the internal discount offered to Underworld employees; the actual transaction price can be reduced by five percent.'"

Shang Wan Ning was amused.

Considering an internal discount?

A five percent reduction?

Five percent off eighty-two thousand still leaves seventy-seven thousand nine hundred. You Wu's savings would still only be enough to buy a toilet space.

"AQi calculated this account..." She rubbed her temples. "She's too shrewd."

"Host, that's not right," Xiao Si's light orb wobbled. "The Secretary-General manages the accounts for you; she saves where possible and earns where possible. In recent years, the Underworld has expanded, raised troops, and conducted research—which of these isn't a money pit?"

"If you didn't rely on these industries to recover funds, your private treasury would have been emptied long ago."

Shang Wan Ning naturally understood this principle.

The operation of the Underworld inherently requires massive resource support. Although incense offerings from the Mortal Realm are plentiful, the expenditures are even greater. The Research Institute's budgets often reach hundreds of billions, the Department of Reincarnation's channel maintenance costs, the updating of Nether-Soldier equipment... every single expense is astronomical.

Real estate development is one of the quickest ways to generate revenue. Land in Fengdu City is incredibly precious, and prices in slightly better areas naturally soar.

However... "Regarding You Wu," Shang Wan Ning tapped her fingers on the table, "we must provide an explanation."

"He has followed me for so many years; if not for merit, then for his hard work. If word gets out that he is worried about affording a school district apartment, it would make me look like I mistreat my veteran officials."

Xiao Si blinked its "eyes": "Then the Host means..."

"Reserve one unit for You Wu in the seventeenth phase of the Earth God Temple," Shang Wan Ning said decisively. "The unit he was interested in, eighty-six square meters, two bedrooms and one living room. Give it to him at... at the internal employee cost price."

"What is the cost price?" Xiao Si asked.

Shang Wan Ning choked slightly.

How would she know the cost price?

Ling Qi has managed the Underworld's accounts for years. She only approves the general direction and never asks about specific figures.

"You check it," she waved her hand.

Xiao Si's data stream flashed, and after a few breaths, it reported a number: "The comprehensive cost per square meter is approximately twenty-one thousand points, including land nether-energy infusion, materials, construction, and formation maintenance."

Shang Wan Ning raised an eyebrow: "Twenty-one thousand? Selling for eighty-two thousand?"

That profit margin... "Host, you can't calculate it that way," Xiao Si explained. "Land nether-energy infusion is a cost unique to the Underworld; ordinary developers can't do it at all. Moreover, the project comes with 'Yin Gathering Formations' and 'Soul Calming Formations' to ensure the residents' souls are stable, and the maintenance fees for these formations are very high."

"Furthermore, the school district premium and river view premium are all considered added value..."

"That's enough, that's enough," Shang Wan Ning interrupted her. "Give it to him for twenty-one thousand. The total price... one million eight hundred six thousand points. Let him pay in installments, thirty percent down payment, and the rest deducted slowly from his salary."

The light orb flashed: "Host, if this price gets out, the other Ghost Officers will cause an uproar."

"Who said it would get out?" Shang Wan Ning rolled her eyes at it. "This is a 'Special Merit Employee Internal Relocation Quota' and won't go through public channels. Tell You Wu to go directly to the project manager to sign the agreement, with a confidentiality clause specified in the terms."

"Also," she thought for a moment, "a thirty percent down payment is over five hundred forty thousand points. Doesn't You Wu have three hundred seventy thousand in his account? I will cover the remaining one hundred seventy thousand for him."

Xiao Si was silent for two seconds.

"Host," the electronic voice conveyed disbelief, "You... you're paying the down payment from your private treasury?"

"What, is that not allowed?" Shang Wan Ning squinted at it.

"It's not that it's not allowed..." Xiao Si circled a few times, finding it strange: "It's just a bit unexpected. You're usually stingy... cough, accustomed to being frugal, so I'm not used to you suddenly being generous to a subordinate."

Shang Wan Ning was so angry she laughed: "When have I ever been stingy? When have I ever been cheap about money that needed to be spent?"

"Yes, yes, yes." Xiao Si readily agreed. "The Host is the most generous. Everyone throughout the Underworld knows that Her Majesty cares for her subordinates and spreads her grace widely."

Just occasionally flays some skin, that's all.

Xiao Si didn't dare say the second half aloud.

"Then it's settled," Shang Wan Ning decided. "Go notify You Wu and tell him to find time to complete the procedures in the next couple of days. Remember, don't mention that I covered the down payment; just say it's a 'Special Benefit for Veteran Employees'."