Something’s Wrong with This Game — I Became a God by Mining!

"Zhou Zheng? That old scoundrel is locked up right now in our Public Security Division prison."

Shi Xin couldn't help but chuckle:

"That bastard discovered the Blazing Gold Mine but kept it secret, selling off quite a bit of Blazing Gold under the table over the years.

Claimed he was 'living in seclusion in the mountains' - damn, he made a killing off it.

Just from the initial confession, the illicit funds amount to a staggering two hundred thousand taels.

That's equivalent to a full year's tax revenue for Xiangfeng Prefectural Capital."

Yang Ling gasped sharply inwardly, but considering the value of Blazing Gold, two hundred thousand taels wasn't really that much.

"Old Superior, if I wanted to pull Zhou Zheng out of here..."

Yang Ling thoughtfully explained the situation from beginning to end.

"This Zhou Zheng damaged the Mining Guild's interests, which essentially means he damaged the Third Prince's interests..."

"Sir, don't you understand yet? The Third Prince means nothing to us."

Yang Ling said with a serious expression:

"If we're going to align with the Fourth Prince, we can't afford even a moment's hesitation.

This Zhou Zheng is an old master craftsman. Since he's already spat out most of the stolen funds, why not have him join my mining operation and secure control of that Blazing Gold Mine for the Fourth Prince?"

Shi Xin stared at Yang Ling for a long moment, then sighed emotionally:

"You're not old, but you've got drive. Since you're not afraid, why should I be?

I'm the Director of the First Division of the Public Security Department within the Ironclad Department.

If I want to release Zhou Zheng, it's a matter of one word."

Before long, he brought Yang Ling to the prison where Zhou Zheng was being held.

Zhou Zheng looked to be around sixty years old, sitting disheveled in the corner of his cell, muttering to himself.

Yang Ling glanced at his status panel through the iron bars:

Character: Zhou Zheng

Class: Martial Artist

Strength: 66

Agility: 58

Spirit: 20

Martial Arts: Zhou Family Heart Technique (Third-Rate, Skilled)

Fierce Tiger Fist (Third-Rate, Transcendent)

Flying Cloud Steps (Third-Rate, Transcendent)

Faction: None

"A very standard Seventh-Rank Expert. Looks like he's even stronger than Liang Yue."

Just then, the head jailer approached with several underlings, smiling without any warmth as he looked at Shi Xin:

"Director Shi, what brings you here?"

Shi Xin glanced at the man and said flatly:

"Interrogating Zhou Zheng. Is there a problem?"

"Zhou Zheng? This case is under Director Zhao's jurisdiction. If you want to interrogate him, you'll have to wait until Director Zhao returns from the Blazing Gold Mine."

The head jailer clasped his hands with a smirk:

"No need to see you out."

Shi Xin smiled: "Starting now, I'm personally taking charge of this case."

The head jailer frowned slightly: "I'm afraid that goes against protocol..."

The next moment, a slap landed across his face.

It sent him flying into the air before crashing heavily to the ground.

The jailers he'd brought with him looked furious, their eyes locked onto Yang Ling.

"Against protocol? The Director of the First Division of Public Security IS the protocol here. A measly head jailer like you dares to question your direct superior? Insolence against your boss?"

Yang Ling stared at the head jailer, his gaze icy cold.

The head jailer slowly came to his senses, clutching his face as he glared at Yang Ling:

"Who the hell are you, daring to—"

"Director of the First Division, Public Security Department, Changhe Prefectural Capital Ironclad Department. Yang Ling."

Yang Ling said coldly.

The head jailer's words instantly choked off, his expression shifting between shock and uncertainty.

His subordinates all gasped sharply at the same time.

Director of the First Division of the Public Security Department in the Changhe Prefectural Capital Ironclad Department? At this age?

That meant the two men standing before them were both Directors of First Divisions - one from Xiangfeng Prefectural Capital, the other from Changhe Prefectural Capital...

"You're from the Changhe side, why are you meddling in—"

"I've been ordered to come to Xiangfeng Prefectural Capital to assist with mining affairs. Today's interrogation of Zhou Zheng is also at Eunuch Xu's behest."

"And a lowly head jailer without even a rank dares to babble on here? Who gave you the guts?"

Yang Ling said flatly.

The head jailer had already scrambled to his feet, gritting his teeth:

"I'm Director Zhao Qing's man, so you—"

"Oh? A mere Director of the Second Division like Zhao Qing is enough to give you the audacity to defy your superior?"

"I'm sorry, but he has absolutely no face with me."

Yang Ling smiled: "Now, are you going to open this door yourself, or should I help you open it?"

The head jailer's mind went through a fierce internal battle before he finally chose to silently unlock the cell door.

"Zhou Zheng, come with me."

Yang Ling called out to the man inside.

The man inside had long since noticed the commotion outside. Hearing this, he strode out quickly, didn't waste a single word, and simply followed Yang Ling and Shi Xin out of the prison.

"Chief, if Director Zhao comes back and finds out..."

One of the jailers watched the scene, his heart pounding with fear.

"Then we'll tell him the truth."

The head jailer's eyes flickered with a hint of venom as he touched his stinging face.

...

"You don't have much time, so I'll keep it brief."

On the way, Yang Ling didn't exchange pleasantries with Zhou Zheng, cutting straight to the chase:

"Your disciple went to Changhe Prefectural Capital to find help, and the person he found eventually came to me."

"I have five catties of Kylin Iron and need a skilled blacksmith to forge it."

"At the same time, I've been arranged by the Fourth Prince to assist with the Blazing Gold mining operation."

"If my mining goes smoothly, this Blazing Gold Mine will be under the Fourth Prince's control from now on."

"You're familiar with this place. Later on, I could arrange for you to serve as a Supervisor here."

"Right now, all you have to do is answer me one question: are you in or not?"

Zhou Zheng had been about to ask more about this man's background, but after hearing these words, he didn't hesitate. His voice raspy, he said:

"I thank Director Yang for his esteem. This old man is in!"

Shi Xin felt a pang of emotion. He still wasn't used to such blunt, direct handling of affairs, but he had to admit it seemed incredibly efficient.

Next, he personally pulled out Zhou Zheng's case file and used his official seal to render a final verdict.

The case was closed. Zhou Zheng would forfeit 200,000 taels of silver as restitution and be released without charge.

"I've completed the process on my end. If the other side isn't satisfied, they'll need to send the case file to the Capital for retrial. That process will take a year or more, and the outcome is far from certain."

"So for now, you're in the clear. No one can come after you for your past offenses."

Shi Xin stared at Zhou Zheng: "Director Yang has already made it very clear.

You need to prove your worth."

Zhou Zheng looked at the case file in his hands, his heart swelling with emotion.

He'd thought he would either die or at least be skinned alive this time. Who would have imagined he'd be cleared of charges so easily?

"Rest assured, both Directors. I, Zhou Zheng, am not ignorant. Just watch my performance."

Now a free man, Zhou Zheng's mood had relaxed considerably. At that moment, something suddenly occurred to him, and he turned to Yang Ling with surprise, his voice tinged with urgency:

"Director Yang, did you just say you have Kylin Iron?"

Yang Ling smiled and pulled out the Kylin Iron.

Zhou Zheng snatched it immediately, examining it closely, his eyes practically glowing.

"What a treasure. A true treasure. It's been years since I've seen something as fine as Kylin Iron."

"Master Zhou, let me first lay out my requirements. How about you help me draw up a detailed forging plan?"

Yang Ling said with a smile.

Zhou Zheng didn't even look up: "Go ahead."

His gaze was utterly captivated by the Kylin Iron, lost in it.

Yang Ling: "I need a pickaxe better than the Centenary Refined Vermilion Gold Pickaxe."

"At the same time, I need better flying daggers."

"If possible, I'd also like to see if my Seventh-Rank Official Saber can be upgraded."

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