328: Chapter 328 Lin Chen's Counterattack! Reverse Takeover Management Bureau

Three seconds after the vote passed, Yuanshi's communication arrived.

It wasn't a standard communication; every screen in the entire command center lit up simultaneously, forced in. Yuanshi's face appeared on every light screen, his expression ashen, eyes burning with a fury never seen in three million years.

"Lin Chen! Are you insane?!"

Lin Chen looked at him, his expression as calm as if they were just chatting about daily life.

"Insane? I'm perfectly sane."

Yuanshi took a deep breath, suppressing his anger.

"Do you know what the Administration Bureau is? It's the incarnation of rules for three million years! The core of order for the All Heavens and Myriad Realms! You say you'll acquire it just like that?"

Lin Chen smiled.

That smile made Yuanshi's heart sink—he had seen countless people's reactions before him: fear, sycophancy, awe, madness. But this smile of Lin Chen's was a first.

A half-smile, neither mocking nor not mocking, as if he were looking at a clown.

"Incarnation of rules?" Lin Chen said. "Rules are dead, people are alive. Rules from three million years ago are long overdue for an update."

He stood up, walked to the light screen, and looked directly into Yuanshi's eyes.

"Yuanshi, I'll give you two choices."

"First, accept the acquisition. The Administration Bureau merges into New Era Development. You continue being your 'Yuanshi,' but major decisions require my approval. Annual salary of 50 trillion, plus equity incentives."

"Second, refuse the acquisition. Then I'll use New Era Development's 10 trillion shareholders, 3 Jing in capital, and the backdoor left by No. 117 to forcibly acquire your Administration Bureau."

"Choose."

Yuanshi fell silent.

The light of the twelve Executors behind him fluctuated violently, clearly engaged in intense internal communication.

Three seconds later, Yuanshi spoke, his voice as cold as ten-thousand-year ice:

"Lin Chen, do you think acquiring the Administration Bureau is like buying cabbage? The Bureau's underlying protocols are written into the laws of the universe. Without my consent, you can never modify them."

Lin Chen raised an eyebrow.

"Is that so?"

He raised his hand, revealing the token left by No. 117.

On the token, the word "cleanup" was emitting a faint glow.

Yuanshi's face changed instantly.

"This... this is No. 117's authority token?! Wasn't he already sealed by me?!"

Lin Chen smiled.

"He was indeed sealed. But he left a backdoor."

Yuanshi was silent.

Lin Chen continued: "This token can enter the Administration Bureau's core database, view the 'Value Assessment' records of all civilizations, and modify the fates of those civilizations about to be cleared."

"But more importantly—"

He paused, smiling meaningfully:

"It can modify the Administration Bureau's 'Underlying Service Agreement'."

Yuanshi's pupils shrank suddenly.

The Underlying Service Agreement was the foundation of the Administration Bureau's existence. It defined the source of the Bureau's power, its operating rules, and its relationship with the All Heavens and Myriad Realms. Once modified, the entire structure of the Administration Bureau would collapse.

"You... how do you know about this?!"

Lin Chen looked at him.

"No. 117 told me."

Yuanshi fell completely silent.

Behind him, three of the twelve Executors' lights began to flicker violently, as if seeing hope, or perhaps fear.

Lin Chen struck while the iron was hot:

"Yuanshi, I know you don't want to give up. But have you ever thought—what has come of the Administration Bureau you've guarded for three million years?"

"The Zeroing Storm is coming, and you can only watch civilizations be destroyed. The Kindling Project was launched, and you can only watch living beings struggle. The Old Gods caused trouble, and you could only watch them run wild."

"What you're guarding is a pile of dead rules, not living people."

"But I'm different. I used the Capital Law to revive the Dead Silence Star Domain, the Spiritual Energy Star Domain, the Icebound Star Domain, and the Data Star Domain. I turned Old Gods into employees, creditors into shareholders, and enemies into partners."

"You stick to rules, I use people. Who wins? Does it even need to be said?"

Yuanshi was silent for a long time.

Long enough that Zhang Hao thought he was about to make a move.

Then, he sighed.

In that sigh, there was the exhaustion of three million years, and an indescribable sense of relief.

"Lin Chen, you win."

Lin Chen raised an eyebrow.

"You agree?"

Yuanshi nodded.

"But I have one condition."

"Speak."

"Those twelve Executors have followed me for three million years. They aren't bad people; they're just used to obeying. After the acquisition, don't make things difficult for them."

Lin Chen looked at him and smiled.

"That's it?"

Yuanshi was stunned.

Lin Chen continued: "Those who want to stay are welcome at New Era Development. Their annual salary will be at market rates, and equity incentives will be calculated based on contribution. For those who don't want to stay, New Era Development will issue a severance package, and they can go wherever they like."

Yuanshi fell silent.

Then he gave a bitter smile.

"Lin Chen, I finally know why you were able to win."

"Why?"

"Because you know how to handle people."

Lin Chen shrugged.

"Nonsense. I'm a businessman. If I didn't know how to handle people, how would I make money?"

Yuanshi chuckled.

He raised his hand, and a golden light flew from his palm, landing in front of Lin Chen and transforming into a contract.

The title of the contract was:

"Epoch Administration Bureau Acquisition Agreement"

[Acquirer: New Era Joint Development Company]

[Acquired Party: Epoch Administration Bureau]

[Acquisition Price: 3 Jing dimension points (Paid in full over ten thousand years)]

[Transfer Method: All assets, permissions, and personnel of the Administration Bureau shall merge into New Era Development]

[Special Terms: Yuanshi retains the title of 'Honorary Director,' with an annual salary of 50 trillion plus equity incentives. The twelve Executors may choose to stay or leave based on their own will.]

After reading the contract, Lin Chen smiled.

He signed his name.

Yuanshi signed as well.

The moment the contract took effect, the entire All Heavens and Myriad Realms shook.

Countless people looked up and saw a line of large golden characters in the sky:

"The Epoch Administration Bureau has officially merged into the New Era Joint Development Company. Henceforth, the Administration Bureau is a subsidiary of New Era Development, with Yuanshi serving as Honorary Director."

The All Heavens and Myriad Realms completely exploded with shock.

"The Administration Bureau has been acquired?!"

"Lin Chen turned Yuanshi into an employee?!"

"This is fucking insane!"

Under the tree of heavenly dao, Zhang Hao looked at those messages and laughed so hard he couldn't stand up straight.

"Boss! You're incredible! You actually took over the Administration Bureau!"

Lin Chen sat in his chair, sipping tea.

"What does this amount to?"

Zhang Hao was stunned.

"This doesn't amount to anything?"

Lin Chen looked at him.

"The Administration Bureau is just the beginning. The real target is the Zeroing Storm itself."

Zhang Hao's eyes widened like copper bells.

"You can even acquire the Zeroing Storm?!"

Lin Chen smiled.

"The storm is a rule, and rules have loopholes. If there's a loophole, it can be exploited."

He stood up and walked to the window.

Outside, the shadow of the storm was approaching.

But in his eyes, there was no fear, only anticipation.

"Have Yuanshi come see me."

"It's time to discuss how to deal with this storm."