Special Territory: Processing Plant 1

However, Zhou Miaomiao was completely baffled as well.

"This is completely different from the direction of my research back then!"

The evolutionary path she had researched at the time required absorbing specters in order to evolve, because according to her calculations, only the energy provided by specters could reach the threshold for evolution.

"Still, it doesn't really matter, does it? It's a good thing for you." Zhou Miaomiao still tried hard to make excuses for her failed product. "In this case, it's much more convenient for you. You have to know, this is much simpler than evolving by absorbing a specter."

Su Man looked at her without speaking.

Zhou Miaomiao awkwardly scratched her head. "Why don't you let me record the data so I can study it further when I get back?"

Yet she also told her not to hold out too much hope. "This technology is still too premature at this stage, and there are simply no past experiences to reference. If I try to modify it, I'll likely just make it even worse."

Zhou Miaomiao was being realistic. "I sold it to you at the price of a failed experimental prototype to begin with. As things stand, this outcome is already very good."

She muttered under her breath, "I'm actually starting to feel like I took a loss."

Su Man took a sip of tea. "I didn't say anything." Throughout the whole conversation, it had just been Zhou Miaomiao talking.

Zhou Miaomiao: "..."

"So why did you ask me to come over?" Zhou Miaomiao asked, puzzled.

"Asking you to study it was real, but if you couldn't figure anything out, I didn't have any particular expectations either. I'd figure it out on my own sooner or later anyway," Su Man answered honestly.

After all, what Zhou Miaomiao said was true; she had accepted buying a counterfeit item at a counterfeit price when she acquired this evolutionary artifact, so naturally she wouldn't stir up trouble over it.

"Oh, you gave me a scare." Zhou Miaomiao finally let out a sigh of relief, muttering quietly, "I thought you were here to cause trouble for me."

Her words brought a slight curve to Su Man's lips. "Have you run into trouble lately?"

At this question, Zhou Miaomiao immediately began pouring out her grievances. "You have no idea, this job I have is completely unfit for human beings. I don't know how that senior colleague managed it, but anyway, I only have a few orders a day, and yet people are always complaining about me."

As she ranted, Zhou Miaomiao completely lost her previous restraint, chattering away like a talkative chatterbox. Right in the middle of her energetic complaints, she received a work notification and had to take her leave reluctantly. "See? Here it comes again, they won't let anyone have a moment of peace. Miss Su, if you don't need anything else, I'll be off. I really am very busy with work."

Su Man nodded. "Go ahead and take care of your work then. I'll look for you if anything comes up."

No answers had been found regarding the dagger, but just as Zhou Miaomiao had said, the dagger's current state was actually beneficial to her; she just had no idea what kind of form it would eventually take.

Not long after seeing Zhou Miaomiao off, Su Man received another notification from the light screen.

[Emergency notification: A special territory has appeared. The circumstances of this special territory are unique, and player participation eligibility is now being verified.]

[Assets reach 1 million (Player requirement met)]

[Player owns at least one special territory (Player requirement met)]

[Players are advised that multiple Sovereign-tier players will participate simultaneously this time, and fatal casualties may occur.]

The light screen scrolled through lines of confirmation and analysis, finally providing an evaluation and recommendation.

[Player meets participation eligibility, but player participation in this territory contention is not recommended.]

However, the final decision rested in Su Man's hands.

[Does the player decide to participate?]

Su Man did not rush to make a decision, only asking, "Can I bring people with me?"

The light screen replied promptly: [Categorically no.]

"Is this time very dangerous?"

[For you as a player, the danger index reaches 90%.]

[You belong to a newly ascended Sovereign-tier player with limited experience, but many of the participating players this time may be veteran Sovereign-tier players.]

[Although details cannot be disclosed to you, the circumstances of this special territory are extremely unique.]

"Is it a place with high profitability?" Su Man considered this point first.

[Yes.]

"Must I capture and secure this place before I can leave, or will I die if I fail to take it?"

[There is no such rule. The moment a player secures administrative rights, the game will end, and all remaining players will return to their respective domains.]

Of course, that was assuming they were still alive by then.

In that case, if she wasn't purely fixated on the administrative rights, wouldn't this practically amount to going on a vacation?

Su Man was truly exceptional at equivalently substituting concepts.

Not to mention the vacation aspect, she would also get to observe other Sovereign-tier players—this simply couldn't be a more wonderful thing.

She couldn't find a single reason to refuse.

"I'm going."

[Respected player, welcome to the Cinnabar Pork Processing Plant.]

Before Su Man could even clearly make out her surroundings, the light screen eagerly began displaying messages.

[The Specter Realm Guild has received an anonymous report: Boss Zhu of the Cinnabar Pork Processing Plant is tyrannical by nature, withholds workers' wages, and leaves the workers suffering in misery. Investigations confirm these allegations. In accordance with Article 23 of the Specter Realm Guild Regulations, Boss Zhu's qualification as a proprietor will be put on trial once again.]

[Trial Duration: Seven days]

[Trial Rules: The identities of the trialists are confidential; apart from the trialists themselves, the people inside the factory are unaware of them.]

[Trialists enter the factory in the guise of employed staff, and therefore must complete their assigned job duties. Failure to complete them will result in penalties, potentially fatal in severe cases.]

[Five trialists have arrived. Anyone who kills Boss Zhu within seven days will obtain the right to purchase the processing plant at a discounted price.]

[If no one kills Boss Zhu within seven days, Boss Zhu will remain the owner of the processing plant and will obtain a thirty-year protection right for his position as proprietor granted by the Guild.]

[Special Reminder: While Boss Zhu remains alive, this place is still his factory. In accordance with Specter Realm regulations, as the ruling authority, his strength will receive an additive suppression bonus. However, Boss Zhu also possesses a fatal weakness. It is hoped that this clue will assist all trialists.]

The light screen rambled on for a while. To be honest, Su Man didn't retain most of it, remembering only a few key points:

1. To seize control, she must kill Boss Zhu.
2. They might not be able to defeat Boss Zhu in a one-on-one fight, so they must find his fatal weakness.
3. They have assigned roles and must complete the tasks associated with those roles.
4. There may be five Sovereign-tier players present.

That being said, however—Boss Zhu? Processing plant?

That sounded awfully familiar. She only knew one Boss Zhu; surely it couldn't be such a coincidence?

When she finally had time to carefully look around her location, well now—those familiar pieces of equipment around her, the familiar pig-headed creature in front of her—it genuinely was the very same processing plant of Boss Zhu that she had previously visited to deal with the nuisance of the Fly Snack Bar.

If that was the case, then her previous thoughts of treating this as a vacation were premature. If someone else snatched this place away and cut off the supply chain for her fast-food restaurant, she would be throttled at the throat, and her little diner would go bankrupt!

Her mind raced through countless thoughts, though her expression remained completely unperturbed.

Her gaze drifted toward the four individuals standing beside her. These should be the Sovereign-tier players who had arrived with her: three men and one woman. Each of them wore an air of lofty aloofness, looking exceedingly difficult to get along with, and at that moment, they were all looking around and sizing up their surroundings.

"Hey, stop gawking. Once you start working here, you'll have all the time in the world to stare. Catch, these are your work uniforms and employee badges."

A set of waterproof-material work clothing was shoved into Su Man's hands, along with a pair of high-waisted rubber boots and a pair of rubber gloves.

Placed neatly on top was her employee badge, which read: [Sow Postpartum Care Specialist]