Chapter 203: Sorry and You're Welcome_2
"You're too kind."
After replying to the message, a meaningful, eerie smile appeared on Ren Zhong's face.
He shrugged, put on an Assassin's Creed costume, and walked out of Starfire Resources.
On the street, groups of Black Armored Warriors stood at the entrances of each street.
The ragged and numb expressions of the wastelanders carried large bundles as they emerged from their homes, converging towards the town's west gate like streams.
There was no weeping, nor heart-wrenching wailing, only the numbness of despair.
The sky inexplicably turned hazy, everything seemed to be viewed through frosted glass.
The once-thriving Starfire Town suddenly died.
The vast majority of the wastelanders instinctively glanced toward the White Wall when walking down the street.
They weren't looking at the Town Government Tower's location, but rather at Ren Zhong's Starfire Resources.
No one knew what they were thinking.
Ren Zhong failed to fulfill his promise, yet these wastelanders seemed to have little resentment.
In a corner, Ren Zhong clenched his fists and turned to leave.
Since his resurrection, he constantly worried that he was influenced by the Source Star Society's atmosphere and had become cold-blooded.
This anxiety peaked after he personally sent Bai Feng to the Mengdu Group.
Until today, he realized he had been overthinking.
Even knowing there was an opportunity to start over, witnessing this scene still pierced his heart.
But now, he no longer easily says "I'm sorry" in his heart.
In this world, the most meaningless phrase is actually "I'm sorry."
The most meaningful phrase is "You're welcome."
This time he failed; next time he'll do better, and never have to say sorry again.
Three hours later, Ren Zhong met Ma Dafu and his daughter in the Town Government Tower.
In just a few hours, Ma Dafu appeared much more haggard.
Ma Xiaoling took a box from the side, "Dad, let's have another injection."
Ren Zhong glanced at the box; it was the Anti-aging Potion.
Ma Dafu shook his head, "No, just let it be."
Ren Zhong clasped his hands together, remaining silent.
"Ren Zhong, I don't blame you. I've always known it couldn't be so easy for someone to come from outside with a team backing them. Although I'm still not completely certain of your origins, you have done quite well. You didn't deceive me; you just didn't succeed."
Ren Zhong remained silent.
Ma Dafu continued talking to himself, "In fact, I should have realized earlier. Starfire Town becoming like this isn't on you or anyone else. The responsibility lies with me. I shouldn't have placed all hopes of changing Starfire Town's fate on you alone."
Ren Zhong shook his head, "That's not entirely fair."
"Your company has already started relocating, right?"
"Yes."
"By evening, the Purple Crystal Mining side will start construction, and this place will be converted into a warehouse within two weeks."
"My Town Government Tower will fly to Liao Yuan County. Once Chenhui Town is built, it will fly there, but by then, I will no longer be the mayor. Ren Zhong, you should work well with the next mayor and at least strive to...create a place that's unlike Starfire Town."
Ren Zhong did not shatter Ma Dafu's illusion and simply nodded, "Okay. Ma Xiaoling, where will you go?"
Ma Xiaoling: "I don't know, I'll take a break first, but I might be directly conscripted into the army. With Dad retiring, it doesn't matter what happens to me."
"Hmm."
By evening, amidst the rumbling sounds, the Town Government Tower slowly ascended.
At the same time, one large machine after another flew in from the direction of the Chenhui Mine, like a swarm of locusts.
The sprawling town was leveled within just under two hours, leaving only high walls.
At the same time, Wang Zhaofu contacted Ren Zhong, "The site for Chenhui Town has been decided, it's here, less than two kilometers from the mine. Ren Zhong, do you want to come and take a look?"
Ren Zhong shook his head from afar, "No need. I'll be at Chenhui Mine tomorrow; for the company's matters, I'll rely on you, Brother Wang. With everything here in need of revival, if you're short-handed, you can transfer people from Chromium Carbon Town. But... for now, don't transfer people from Starfire Town, hire new ones."
"Hmm, got it!"
That night, Ren Zhong headed straight to Liao Yuan County.
Today marked the end of his cooperation with Wu Big Mouth and others.
In just seventeen or eighteen days, the small moves Ren Zhong made at his fingertips allowed Wu Big Mouth and others to accumulate nearly ten billion, while he took eighteen hundred million for himself.
But to Ren Zhong now, money was just a number.
He had come to deeply understand that on Source Star, having money alone was not enough.
One must become a rule maker; otherwise, no matter how much money one has, they will only be at the mercy of others.
…
On the 91st day, Ren Zhong entered the continent-level laboratory in the Chenhui Mine.
Under the unusual gazes of many scientists in the lab, he put on a white coat and entered the laboratory.
Others found it quite speechless, but as he had spent a lot of money, they couldn't say much either.
In this vast laboratory, Ren Zhong was mesmerized.
The continent-level regional laboratory was truly remarkable, with facilities that left him dazzled.
Only five minutes later, Ren Zhong was sure that he had come to the right place.
Soon, people in the continent-level lab realized they had underestimated Ren Zhong.
Then someone with keen intelligence ran to the Science College in Liao Yuan County to inquire, confirmed Ren Zhong's "top scholar" identity, and immediately reported it upward.
The department head of the laboratory promptly decided to truly transfer Ren Zhong into the project group related to liquid metal, starting as an assistant.
The head even considerately asked Ren Zhong, the patron's, opinion, worried he might feel he was being used as free labor, stating they just wanted to take a chance to cultivate him.
At the same time, this head, on behalf of the Purple Crystal Mining company, officially invited Ren Zhong to join them.
The incident even alarmed Yu Junren.
Ren Zhong didn't explicitly refuse, nor did he agree immediately, only saying he would consider it.
Of course, he was delighted to be cultivated by them and expressed his gratitude.
…
On the 94th day, unlike the mental exhilaration of the previous few days, today Ren Zhong was slightly distracted.
Up until midnight at twelve o'clock, he still hadn't received another message from Sun Miao.
Ren Zhong realized something had happened to Sun Miao.
The morning of the 95th day.
Ren Zhong was awakened early from his dormitory bed.
Someone informed him that the handling of the liquid metal was complete.
Ren Zhong mentally reviewed the bits and pieces of the past five days he had spent in the laboratory.
Hmm, quite fruitful.
He silently thought that he probably should die.
With an indescribable regret, he bid farewell to his many colleagues in the laboratory and left the Chenhui Mine.
The five days in the laboratory were the most enjoyable days since his rebirth, like returning to the long-cherished, yet unattainable past ivory tower.
The peaceful, busy, and fulfilling life of a researcher was so addictive that he almost forgot about returning home.
But in the end, he clarified the relationship between illusion and reality.
Life here was good, but now what he missed was still Starfire Town.
Unknowingly, he had tightly bound his life with the fate of the wastelanders.
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