| PN | Puppet Alliance | 194
Shen Yuxi lowered his head and saw the message from Qi Chao.
A trace of amusement flickered in his blue eyes. He knew clearly that it must be the association stirring up some trouble, prompting Qi Chao to think it was the perfect time to distribute benefits to the alliance members.
He looked up at You Zhao and said warmly, “The monthly benefits I mentioned distributing to the alliance members earlier — it can be implemented now.”
“Now?”
You Zhao was a bit surprised. Beside him, Guo Li quickly added, “But, Brother Shen, we haven’t finalized the exact plan for the benefits yet. Isn’t it a bit rushed to implement it now?”
Shen Yuxi nodded lightly, his fingers tapping a few times on his light-brain interface. He then sent the finalized plan to You Zhao and the other two. “Take a look. If there are no issues, let’s implement it today.”
The three immediately bowed their heads to review the plan.
Seeing this, Shen Yuxi returned to his chat with Qi Chao and typed: [What are you planning to do now?]
As Qi Chao’s confidant and partner, Shen Yuxi understood Qi Chao’s character very well. Qi Chao was generally good-natured, but when it came to things he couldn’t tolerate, he would never stand by idly.
Since the association was making a move, there was no way Qi Chao would just ignore it.
Sure enough, the next moment, Shen Yuxi saw Qi Chao’s reply:
[I’m going to disgust the association a bit first.]
Shen Yuxi chuckled softly at the message, then sent back a quick [Be safe] before switching to his chat with Ayu. He instructed Ayu to keep an eye on Qi Chao at all times to ensure his safety.
Ayu: [Understood.]
Seeing Ayu’s reply, Shen Yuxi paused slightly, considering asking what she were doing at the moment. But he quickly dismissed the thought.
Just as Qi Chao had said, as long as the puppets didn’t cross any lines, there was no need for him to interfere.
He looked up at the visibly conflicted expressions of Guo Li and the others, his lips curling into a gentle smile. “What’s wrong? Is there an issue?”
You Zhao hesitated for a moment, pointing to the plan displayed on the light-brain interface. “Brother Shen, wouldn’t this be a bit too much for us to handle? Even the association hasn’t given out this many energy stones before.”
“It’s fine. This is your teacher’s decision.”
As if reminded of something, Shen Yuxi’s smile deepened.
According to Qi Chao, energy stones were essentially the crystallized remnants of energy transmitted from the mother tree to the mother stone.
As long as the mother tree remained, these stones would never run out. No matter how many were distributed, Qi Chao wouldn’t feel the slightest pang of regret.
Hearing that the plan was per their teacher’s instructions, the three exchanged glances, suppressing their lingering doubts, and refrained from further comments.
Meanwhile, on the other side, after finishing his conversation with Shen Yuxi, Qi Chao stepped out of the aircraft and walked into the association’s grand hall.
The association’s senior members were still deliberating in the meeting room when Qi Chao arrived.
Instead of barging in, he chose to sit outside and wait for them to finish. After all, since they were busy plotting against him, it seemed rather impolite to interrupt.
So, when the high-ranking officials of the association walked out of the meeting room, they were greeted by the sight of Qi Chao, sitting casually in a chair, flashing them a friendly smile.
Senior Officials: “...???”
When did he get here? Wait, more importantly—hadn’t they ensured that the meeting’s details were completely kept a secret?
How on earth did Qi Chao find out about it?!
The president’s expression froze noticeably upon seeing Qi Chao. In his eyes, their relationship had already deteriorated beyond repair.
Yet, mindful of the emperor’s presence and influence, he still had to maintain superficial harmony.
“President, you forgot to invite me to the meeting,” Qi Chao said, his smile undiminished. “That really hurts my feelings.”
Hearing this, the president felt sick but replied with an overly kind tone, “Oh, my memory isn’t what it used to be. I must have forgotten that you needed to attend. I’ll be sure to include you next time.”
Qi Chao and the president exchanged polite smiles, as if their relationship were perfectly cordial.
Yet both were acutely aware that their good relationship was nothing more than a façade.
“Oh? What were the president and the other officials discussing in the meeting?” Qi Chao asked, his smile as bright as ever. “As the secretary dispatched by His Majesty, I believe it’s my duty to keep proper records. Would you mind sharing?”
Of course they minded.
The senior officials were extremely uncomfortable. They all knew Qi Chao had been sent by the emperor as an undercover operative to undermine the association’s influence and support for the alliance.
Likewise, Qi Chao was fully aware of their intentions, but his pointed question was clearly meant to make a mockery of them.
“Not at all,” the president responded with a forced smile, stepping forward. “It was just some routine discussions, like improving the methods for crafting puppets.”
“Oh? Could you elaborate on those methods?” Qi Chao pressed, his tone innocent. “His Majesty used to be a puppet master himself, so I’m sure he’d be very interested in these topics.”
Qi Chao showed no intention of letting the matter drop.
The president’s smile grew strained.
Still, he was an experienced man who had lived through many trials, and he quickly regained his composure. He followed Qi Chao’s lead and began spouting a long-winded explanation.
Normally, one would expect Qi Chao to ease up at this point, but that was not his style. Instead, he seized on every inconsistency in the president’s explanation, digging deeper and deeper.
Under Qi Chao’s relentless probing, the president’s forced smile began to crack.
Sensing the situation deteriorating, the other senior officials discreetly slipped away. While they didn’t want the association to be replaced, they also had no desire to risk angering the emperor.
In their view, the best course of action was to let the president bear the brunt of Qi Chao’s onslaught while they stayed out of the fray, hoping to profit from the aftermath.
The president held his composure as best as he could while answering Qi Chao’s questions, though his grip on his cane tightened and his hand incessantly rubbed against the handle. The frustration and dissatisfaction bubbling inside him were barely concealed.
“I see. It seems this meeting was indeed quite significant,” Qi Chao remarked with a smile.
For now, he had no intention of pushing the president to his breaking point. Seeing that the president’s anger was already close to surfacing, Qi Chao decided to ease off for the moment.
“Indeed. If there’s a next time, we’ll be sure to invite you,” the president replied, his face regaining its usual benevolent expression. He turned and began to leave, but had barely taken a few steps when Qi Chao called out to him again.
“President, I’ve heard from others that the association’s mineral veins are running dry. With the alliance currently in the spotlight, I worry that news of this might unsettle the puppet masters in the association.”
Qi Chao sighed with a concerned expression, as though genuinely worried.
Does this really need to be pointed out by you?
The president felt a surge of rage choke him. In his mind, Qi Chao wasn’t just some random secretary; he was clearly colluding with the emperor to bolster the alliance and undermine the association.
“Secretary Qi, you needn’t concern yourself with this. It’s something the other officials can handle,” the president said tersely. He turned his head and walked away decisively.
This time, no matter how much Qi Chao called after him, the president refused to respond.
In truth, Qi Chao had no intention of calling out to the president again.
He chuckled softly and made his way downstairs, planning to have a proper conversation with the association’s puppet master.
After all, as the supposed source of the rumors about the association cutting benefits, Qi Chao held considerable sway in this matter.
As Qi Chao walked, his gaze landed on a hidden surveillance eyeball nestled in the corner.
While continuing on his way, he spoke in a low voice, “Don’t stay out too long. Come back early for dinner.”
The eyeball bobbed up and down a few times, as if acknowledging his words. Qi Chao’s lips curved faintly, and he stepped into the elevator.
On the other side, upon hearing her dad’s reminder, Ayu tilted her chin slightly. Beneath the brim of her hat, a pair of crimson eyes gleamed.
Turning to the nearby puppets, she said, “Hurry up. Dad’s urging us to go home.”
“Got it!” Agu replied cheerfully.
“How far are we from our target puppet?” Xiang Yue glanced over at Moss.
“Two minutes away,” Moss rasped, his voice hoarse.
“Why do I have to come along too? You’re all completely unreasonable!” Xing Yu shouted from the side, only to have his mouth promptly covered by Lan Luo and Chi Yao working in unison.
Meanwhile, Shuang Jian and Xuan Jian held onto Qiu Qiu’s hands tightly to ensure their youngest sister didn’t wander off and get separated from them.
Li Bai’s golden eyes narrowed with focus behind his mask as he gazed at the distant villa. He looked up at Moss and asked, “The puppet we’re looking for is there, right?”
“Yes,” Moss confirmed with a nod.
According to Xiao Que, who had an ability for information gathering, the puppet inside that villa possessed a rare collective communication ability.
If they could convince the puppet to join them, communication within the organization would become far more efficient. After all, their organization now consisted of no fewer than a hundred puppets.
Most of the puppets in the organization were grouped into small factions, scattered across inconspicuous places like junkyards and sewers.
Properly harnessing their potential could significantly assist Dad. This was the original intent behind Xiang Yue and the others establishing the organization.
“Let’s pick up the pace,” Agu urged, then shot a scornful look at Xing Yu. “Xing Yu can sit this one out. I’d hate for him to slow us down.”
Xing Yu: ...What’s that supposed to mean?
Xing Yu’s face flushed red with anger, making the tear-shaped beauty mark at the corner of his eye stand out even more. “I’m way better than you, okay? Even without an ability, my body is way stronger!”
Agu just smiled, silently watching Xing Yu spout nonsense, his expression practically daring him to prove it.
The tension between the two puppets rapidly escalated, with both on the verge of a full-blown argument.
Lan Luo, observing the scene, couldn’t help but smile a little brighter. He quite enjoyed seeing these nuisances go at each other—but only when it wasn’t during such a crucial mission.
Xiang Yue, noticing the commotion, sighed. His tail drooped as he turned to face the two. His canine ears perked up in a clear warning as he said, “Stop fighting!”
Agu instantly quieted down, suddenly becoming obedient and well behaved.
Meanwhile, Xing Yu, already fuming, couldn’t help but laugh.
Who does he think he is?
As a transcendent world’s consciousness, why should he have to listen to some random puppet?
He was just about to retort when Moss’s raspy voice cut through the air.
“You’re being loud.”
Xing Yu clamped his mouth shut, glaring at Agu and Xiang Yue with a sharp, threatening look.
His silence wasn’t because he was giving in to him. He just didn’t feel like wasting his breath—definitely not because of him!
The group of puppets, though still bickering and fooling around moments ago, quickly became focused and professional when it was time to act.
Even the smallest among them, Qiu Qiu, proved herself adept. She flapped her tiny wings and silently flew to the second-floor window of the villa.
With careful precision, she nudged the lock open from the outside, creating a quiet path for her companions to enter unnoticed.
During the day, the second floor of this villa was eerily quiet, but the first floor was an entirely different story.
The clinking of bottles and raucous laughter of drunken men celebrating mixed with the coquettish voices of women. The chaotic blend of sounds was enough to irritate anyone who heard it.
“Pulled off a big one this time! Damn, that felt great!”
“Hahaha, boss, you should’ve seen it. Those Imperial lapdogs set up electronic jammers, thinking they’d throw us off. Little did they know we could still hear every word they said. Hahaha, what a joke!”
“Good thing we have this gadget.”
The man referred to as “boss” was a burly figure, his face flushed red from drinking. Reeking of alcohol, he shoved the woman beside him aside and kicked the cage at his feet with excitement.
His expression brimmed with triumph.
“The haul from this job is enough to keep us living the high life for years! From now on, brothers, we’re going to enjoy ourselves properly!”
“Cheers to that!” Three equally inebriated men around him shouted in agreement, their voices filled with drunken exuberance.
The once lively and boisterous atmosphere in the living room came to an abrupt halt. Only the so-called “gadget” in the cage, the puppet named Uriel, remained trembling inside.
Each time the cage was kicked, Uriel flinched violently, his wide, terrified eyes like those of a frightened rabbit. He was clearly petrified.
Uriel was slightly taller than Qiu Qiu, but at that moment, he seemed so small and vulnerable.
He buried his head in his knees, shivering uncontrollably. The loud, drunken voices of the men boomed in his ears, each word sharp and cruel, like the snarls of a demonic beast.
He felt utterly miserable.
It wasn’t just the emotional agony; the physical pain was overwhelming. Deprived of energy stones and forbidden to leave the cage, Uriel’s body was cracking, his body dry and brittle, a visible sign of his deterioration.
The cage rattled with every kick, each vibration reverberating through his fragile form.
Time dragged on endlessly until, suddenly, the living room fell silent. The absence of noise felt heavy, almost suffocating. Uriel sensed something was different. Hesitant and anxious, he slowly lifted his head.
What he saw made his breath hitch.
The humans were sprawled on the floor, unconscious or worse. Surrounding them stood a group of puppets—no fewer than ten.
They were an unusual bunch, varying in height and build. Some were tall and imposing, while others were smaller, with one even shorter than Uriel.
A few lingered by the humans, observing them with detached curiosity. Others were focused on their light brains, seemingly analyzing something.
One of the puppets stood directly in front of Uriel, looking down at him.
“Wh-who are you?”
Uriel gathered all his courage and spoke up, his voice trembling.
“We’re here to rescue you!”
The puppet with white hair smiled brightly, his expression as warm and inviting as the morning sun. His golden eyes, visible beneath his mask, were filled with sincerity, and the small tiger teeth that peeked out only made him appear even cuter.
Usually, tasks like speaking with frightened puppets were handled by the friendly Li Bai.
Sure enough, Uriel relaxed almost instantly under Li Bai’s comforting smile.
He glanced over at the puppets standing around the humans, unsure of what they were doing.
Hesitant, he whispered, “What are they doing?”
Li Bai turned his head to look. Lan Luo had just kicked one of the fallen humans, while Agu and Xing Yu were in the middle of another argument. Other puppets were either destroying cameras or cleaning up the mess—none of them were really doing anything that seemed... appropriate.
Li Bai paused, then gave a nonchalant answer, “Nothing to worry about.”
Noticing that Uriel was still trembling, Li Bai’s golden eyes softened further, his voice gentle. “Don’t be scared. We’ve already called the police. Once we leave, these bad guys will be taken away by the officers.”
Call... the police?
Uriel looked at Lan Luo, who had just kicked another human, and then glanced at the chaotic scene in the living room. He was still processing everything and hesitantly nodded.
After a moment, he asked, “Can I ask why you’re here to save me?”
Li Bai had initially thought about saying they came for his special ability, but the truth was, they often rescued puppets without abilities as well, inviting them to join their organization.
Simply mentioning an ability didn’t feel quite right in this case.
He paused, and his golden eyes beneath the mask curved into crescent shapes as he answered cheerfully, “Because we’re part of the Alliance!”
Alliance?
"Is it the Human Puppet Master Alliance?"
Uriel’s curiosity deepened. He had heard this name during collective communications while using his abilities, though he wasn’t sure what kind of organization it was.
“No, it’s a Puppet Alliance,” Li Bai said, proudly puffing out his chest. “But, the leader of the Puppet Master Alliance is our dad!”
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