48: Chapter 48 You call this running a dungeon?

Director Li Guoan's laughter wasn't loud, but it was like a stone thrown into a still lake, instantly shattering the tense atmosphere in the conference room.

All the experts looked up, their gazes fixed on him with a mixture of confusion, astonishment, and a final glimmer of hope.

A ten-person task. A one-man challenge.

This was a dead end written into the system's rules.

"Director, what do you mean?"

The tactical team leader, Zhang Yunhai, furrowed his brow tightly. He couldn't think of any way to break the deadlock.

Director Li Guoan's gaze swept over everyone present.

From the tense soldiers to the pale-faced research experts, finally, it settled firmly on Chen You.

"Little Chen, you tell them. What stands behind you?"

Chen You was momentarily stunned by the sudden question.

But he quickly recovered. Straightening his back, he looked at everyone and spoke word by word, "It's the entirety of China."

This somewhat chuunibyou line, at this moment, carried an undeniable weight.

Director Li Guoan nodded in satisfaction, extending a finger to tap rhythmically on the table.

"Did you all hear that? Who says we only have one person?"

His voice suddenly rose, carrying an inspiring force.

"The 'Source Realm' system says this task recommends a ten-person team. Did it ever say that all ten must be players?"

"Did it ever say that these ten people can't possess the world's top tactical analysts, data modelers, and social behavior scientists?"

Director Li Guoan stood up, placed both hands on the table, leaned forward, his eyes blazing.

"Chen You is our sole executor in the 'Source Realm', our fist!"

"But he is not fighting alone!"

"Sun Feng's data team is his eyes, able to analyze all data for him and plan the optimal path!"

"Zhang Yunhai's tactical team is his brain, able to formulate comprehensive contingency plans and avoid all risks for him!"

"Experts like Qian Zhonghua and Zhang Ping are his logistical support, able to transform everything he brings back into real-world strength for us!"

"And me, and the entire nation!" Director Li Guoan declared, each word resounding with force.

"Are his wallet! A wallet with unlimited credit!"

"One player, backed by the most elite group of people from an entire civilization. Tell me, does that not count as a 'team'?!"

The conference room fell dead silent.

Then came the sound of heavy breathing.

Behind Data Team Leader Sun Feng's glasses, a fanatical light flickered.

At the corner of sociologist Pan Yu's mouth, an uncontrollable slight smile appeared.

Even the most rigorous, most unsmiling Zhang Yunhai seemed to have a slight relaxation in his tightly pressed lips.

Yes!

Their thinking had hit a dead end!

Who said a team must consist of ten players fighting side by side?

A soldier charging on the front lines, supported by the entire modern military's command, intelligence, and logistics systems—is he just one person?

He is the spearhead of the entire war machine!

"I understand..." Sun Feng murmured.

"The system only specified the task format, but it didn't limit how we complete it."

"Our advantage was never the game characters, but the entire nation outside the game!"

"And, we can Pay-to-Win," Pan Yu added softly, her eyes sparkling with unusual brilliance.

Using a nation's wisdom to conquer a game task.

This in itself was the highest-dimensional form of overwhelming force!

The dark cloud pressing on everyone's heads was completely torn apart by Director Li Guoan's words. The atmosphere in the conference room instantly shifted from oppressive to soaring.

"So, the 'Cornerstone of Civilization' task is not urgent for now," Director Li Guoan said, sitting back in his chair, regaining his composure.

"This requires us to make more meticulous preparations."

He looked at Chen You, "The selection of the guild territory location, I will personally report to the highest level. We will choose the most suitable site nationwide."

"Also, I will mobilize the country's top architecture and engineering experts to join the project team to pre-plan the construction of the 'Guild Projection Territory' in advance."

"Yes, Director," Chen You nodded.

"Now, your task is that dungeon—'Wailing Valley'."

Director Li Guoan's gaze shifted to Zhang Yunhai.

Zhang Yunhai immediately stood at attention and pulled up the information, "Reporting, Director."

"According to the intelligence brought back by Comrade Chen You, 'Wailing Valley' is a dungeon with an access level of LV10. The internal monsters are primarily wraith-type."

"Considering we know nothing about the number, distribution, skills of the monsters inside, or whether there is a BOSS, I recommend that Chen You's first entry be primarily for reconnaissance."

"After obtaining sufficient intelligence, our tactical team will conduct tactical simulations and risk assessments overnight, formulate the safest strategy, and then proceed with the formal conquest."

This procedure was the standard operating protocol for special forces executing high-risk missions, as cautious as could be.

However, Chen You gently shook his head.

"Team Leader Zhang, esteemed experts, the situation might be a bit different."

He tapped lightly on the tablet in front of him, quickly updating the game data for the data team.

[Character: Chen You]

[Class: Cultivator]

[Level: 10 (Qi Refining Second Layer)]

[Title: immortal path pioneer]

[HP: 2130]

[Spiritual Power: 862]

[Attack: 591]

[Defense: 268]

...

When they saw 'Qi Refining Second Layer' and the drastically increased attributes, everyone gasped in shock.

Especially the '574' in the attack column, which drew a low exclamation from Sun Feng's data team.

"My heavens... these stats are more than double what our model projected for a standard level 10 template!"

"Is this the boost from breaking through with a Heaven-tier cultivation method? It's terrifying!"

Feeling the shocked gazes of everyone, Chen You felt a bit smug inside, but still calmly explained:

"Not only did I break through my realm, but I also obtained a full set of rare-grade equipment from the 'Ascension Assistance Grand Gift Pack'."

"Moreover, my core attack skill, 'Startling Swan', has a base damage of 200% of my attack power."

He paused, then voiced his judgment, "So, I feel that... I might be able to solo this dungeon."

"No!"

Zhang Yunhai blurted out almost instantly, his tone resolute.

"Comrade Chen You, I understand your increased strength. But the dungeon is an unknown environment. Any accident could happen."

"Your safety is the top priority. We cannot take any risks!"

He looked at Chen You seriously, "I still insist on my recommendation: reconnaissance first, then conquest."

"Even if it takes a few extra days, we must ensure absolute safety."

Chen You felt somewhat helpless.

He knew Zhang Yunhai meant well, but he also knew that every second of the thirty-day newbie protection period was incredibly precious.

Moreover, he really wanted to test the limits of his current strength.

The atmosphere in the conference room grew quiet again because of this minor disagreement.

On one side was the supremely confident ace, on the other was the steady-as-a-mountain strategist.

At that moment, Director Li Guoan, who had been silent, spoke again.

He first nodded approvingly at Zhang Yunhai, "Comrade Yunhai is right. Safety is always the first priority."

"Little Chen, remember, your life is more important than the entire project."

Chen You felt a warmth in his heart and nodded, "Yes, Director."

Director Li Guoan then changed his tone, slightly furrowing his brow as if remembering something, his gaze sweeping around the conference room.

"However... there's something I don't quite understand."

"Have we fallen into another thinking trap?"

He looked at Chen You, then at Zhang Yunhai.

"One of you is thinking about soloing, the other about reconnaissance and making contingency plans."

"Why?"

"What kind of monsters are in Wailing Valley?"

Sun Feng immediately answered, "Reporting, Director. They are wraith-type monsters."

Director Li Guoan slapped the table.

"Right! Wraiths! I remember very clearly, the mall has a type of item specifically designed to counter this kind of monster, right?"

Everyone in the conference room was stunned.

In Chen You's mind, an item instantly flashed.

[Exorcism Talisman].

Back then, it was because he saved it and didn't use it that he got surrounded and beaten by eight Ghost Wolves, and was later severely criticized by Director Li Guoan.

Seeing the expressions of sudden realization on everyone's faces, the corner of Director Li Guoan's mouth curled into a cold smile, carrying a hint of 'you high-IQ fools'.

"Since we have a super-effective weapon, why not use it?"

"Why should we still let our ace risk reconnaissance? Why should the tactical team stay up all night making plans?"

He stood up. His voice wasn't loud, but it seemed to vibrate in everyone's ears.

"My demand is simple."

"Go in, and then, use Exorcism Talismans to blast the entire valley flat for me!"

"One wraith, a hundred wraiths, who cares if there's a BOSS or not."

"If one talisman doesn't solve it, use ten! If ten don't work, use a hundred! A thousand!"

Director Li Guoan turned around, his burning gaze fixed on Chen You.

"I don't want the process, I don't want clutch plays, I don't want tactical gambits!"

"I only want one result—clear it in the fastest, safest, most overwhelming way possible!"

"Money, is not a problem."

He said this last sentence with a calm, matter-of-fact tone, yet it carried an undeniable aura of dominance.

The entire conference room fell silent.

All the experts, including Zhang Yunhai, stared dumbfounded at Director Li Guoan.

In their minds, a scene instantly appeared:

Chen You walks into the eerie and terrifying Wailing Valley, facing a horde of swarming wraiths.

Unhurried, he pulls out hundreds, thousands of golden-glowing talismans from his backpack, scattering them like heavenly blossoms...

Then, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The whole world falls silent.

This... this is what you call dungeon running?

This is practically using a strategic bomber to level a beginner's village!