Zhang Caidong said indifferently, “I think you should understand one thing: since Lord Shen Mu has arranged for Sun Zhiru to be one of our senior managers, then we must respect Lord Shen Mu’s arrangement. For the remaining two spots, I hope Sun Zhiru makes the selection, and you must also respect this arrangement.”
At this moment, Zhang Caidong directly brought up Shen Mu’s name, which was in fact a tactic to use Shen Mu’s authority to win people over for himself.
After all, Shen Mu had not said that Sun Zhiru should choose two people to add to the roster.
“Alright, there’s no need to say more now. Let’s do it this way.” Watching these people, each unwilling but unable to voice their objections, Zhang Caidong sighed and instructed them, “We all follow Lord Shen Mu. We listen to everything Lord Shen Mu says, and we will not lack for good things to eat in the future, just like now.”
Zhang Caidong used Shen Mu’s name again to comfort them, but in reality, he was also using Shen Mu’s authority to suppress them.
This was a small tactic.
“We understand.” These people finally nodded, said nothing more, and each led their Swadian Commoners towards their respective offices.
Only Sun Zhiru remained, standing awkwardly to the side, unable even to defend himself.
At this moment, Sun Zhiru also nodded to Zhang Caidong: “Thank you, Brother Zhang Caidong. I am indeed a bit awkward here.” As he spoke, Sun Zhiru sighed and added, “Why don’t you just take all these spots? I don’t need them here. After all, I don’t know anyone here, and I don’t know how to arrange these things. As the general manager, you are more familiar with this, so I will still choose to listen to you.”
Sun Zhiru still expressed his modesty and humility, as well as his absolute respect for Zhang Caidong.
However, Zhang Caidong smiled at this moment and said nothing more: “I know you also have friends and family. Give them to your friends. It’s more convenient to have your own people among the senior managers for anything that comes up. After all, I know you used to be a board member, and you should understand that in a board meeting, if you don’t have a few people supporting you, it’s hard to get anything done.”
Zhang Caidong comforted Sun Zhiru a few more times, then left and walked towards Zhang Bo.
Only Sun Zhiru remained, slightly frowning and sighing helplessly.
Sun Zhiru understood the reasoning very well.
However, seeing Zhang Caidong being so polite and genuinely concerned, he felt something unusual in his heart.
“I never expected that in just one day, he would figure out my background, knowing that I used to be a board member and that I have family and friends.” Sun Zhiru pursed his lips and said nothing.
Just as Zhang Caidong said, he indeed needed two friends to support him, which would make it easier to carry out any work.
And among his small group of seven or eight people, he really needed to develop them first.
Moreover, looking at the 10 Swadian Commoners following him expressionlessly, and feeling the amplified strength and physique within him, as well as the combat experience that appeared in his mind.
He still clenched his fists and showed a smile: “Indeed, giving that special holy artifact to Lord Shen Mu was the correct action. Now I am not only a senior manager, but I can also cultivate my own influence.”
Whether or not to cultivate his own influence didn't actually matter that much, as he still needed to support his friends from back then.
These few families had known each other since before the disaster, and they had supported each other all this time without any discord, instead continuing to help each other. It could be said that they knew each other inside and out and trusted each other greatly.
With such a good opportunity, of course, he had to consider them first.
So Sun Zhiru didn't think much more and directly turned around and walked towards a town residence on the outskirts.
After all, he had already become a senior manager, belonging to Deherim's management, so he also had his own detached town house, and he had also brought his friends and family into it.
And when he returned at this time, it immediately caused exclamations.
“My Zhiru, what happened to you? How do these clothes on you all look like Spiritual Realm creations? No, it's not just that they look like it; they are clearly Spiritual Realm creations.”
“Wait, wait, wait, you didn't happen to receive an extra gift from Lord Shen Mu, did you? Look at this outfit, and the weapons in your hand are all Spiritual Realm creations!”
“Could it be that you have obtained a Spiritual Realm inheritance and become a Spiritual Realm Commander under Lord Shen Mu?”
As soon as he entered the room, his four good brothers stared at him with wide eyes.
Including the 4 wives and four or five children who came out from the side, they all let out surprised exclamations.
Because when Sun Zhiru left, he was still like an ordinary Blue Star Human, wearing modern clothes, but when he came back, he was wearing a long robe that clearly belonged to ancient people, holding a long-handled scythe, and carrying an old wooden shield, dressed like a Lingjie Human Race. How could they not guess that he had received some extraordinary gift?
“Yes, Lord Shen Mu was very generous this time and allowed me to obtain the inheritance of the Lingjie Human Race.” Sun Zhiru smiled and did not hide anything, clearly telling them what had happened in the meeting room.
At the same time, he clapped his hands, signaling the 10 Swadian Commoners who had returned with him to also enter.
They were all dressed in linen robes, holding wooden sticks or scythes. Although they looked like they were sixteen or seventeen years old, their eyes were firm.
It was truly startling.
“He really became a Spiritual Realm Commander, and was also granted ten Spiritual Realm Followers. Lord Shen Mu is truly too generous.”
“Indeed, the decisions we made back then were all correct. This Lord Shen Mu is really not a stingy person, and he is not the same as the arrogant official employees of the Diesel Company.”
“In fact, the Diesel Company had already solidified its class structure at that time, so even if we had joined them, it would have been useless. It’s better to directly join a new force and have the opportunity to rise, just like now.”
The four middle-aged Blue Star Humans in the room looked at each other and smiled.
This was exactly what they had thought at the time.
They had joined Shen Mu, joined this new Human Race force, and indeed gained a perfect speculative opportunity, especially by relying on the special white-glowing statue they had found at the time. They had truly reached what could be called the pinnacle of their lives.
Moreover, they had already heard Sun Zhiru say that two more people out of the four of them should be chosen to accompany him to Lord Shen Mu’s Noble Residence tomorrow to become Spiritual Realm Commanders, and also receive the allegiance of 10 Lingjie Human Race as their Followers.
This was simply the subsequent opportunity they had gained after their online protection; how could they not seize it quickly?
But just as they were rejoicing, one middle-aged man, usually the most thoughtful among them, couldn't help but frown and say, “I say, brothers, shouldn’t this matter be considered carefully? After all, the interests involved seem to be a bit too great.”
This sentence immediately silenced everyone in the room. The happy smiles they originally had on their faces suddenly vanished as they thought of something, and one by one, they closed their mouths, their expressions gradually calming down.
Just as that middle-aged man said, the interests involved seemed to be truly too great.
They were all originally company founders and CEO-level executives. After thinking about it, they all noticed that something was amiss.
After all, it was easy to understand: to be able to become a Spiritual Realm Commander, and under the benevolence of Lord Shen Mu, to possess Spiritual Realm Followers who were Spiritual Realm creatures almost indistinguishable from Blue Star Humans, like Lingjie Human Race soldiers.
Why would two spots be given away for free to Sun Zhiru, someone who had just joined Deherim's management?
Sun Zhiru was equivalent to a newcomer.
According to their past experience working in corporations or companies, it was like a leader who was directly parachuted in, with no foundation, essentially a blank slate of a leader.
If the people below were to unite, they could even directly sideline Sun Zhiru.
And it should be known that Zhang Caidong and the other 15 very close senior managers had all risked their lives together under Lord Shen Mu before earning their current status and position.
This was also why they were so united.
But now, Sun Zhiru, who was parachuted in, had obtained power, status, and position second only to Zhang Caidong.
Now, analyzing it, they felt surprised despite the pleasant shock, as this status was no longer something they could easily achieve, especially since they believed they had only offered an ordinary holy artifact.
“Could it be that Lord Shen Mu wants to split the relationship and power between Zhang Caidong and those 15 senior managers, and then support us to become a new rival group?” Another middle-aged man slowly spoke.
They all had considerable experience in workplace struggles.
So when he stated this situation, they all fell silent, then one by one, they looked up and exchanged glances.
They also saw a sense of helplessness in each other's eyes.
The subsequent situation was like this, but they had no way to say more. After all, they all understood that even if they didn't want to compete, there was nothing they could do. After all, Shen Mu had already supported Sun Zhiru to a position second only to Zhang Caidong. And he had also granted him two spots, clearly intending to promote him.
Now, it was completely too late to retreat.
Besides, they had no way to retreat, and they were also reluctant to give up the opportunity. After all, a position second only to Zhang Caidong, and the fact that they could all become Spiritual Realm Commanders, all possess Spiritual Realm Followers, and all have Lingjie Human Race soldiers loyal to them—this opportunity to climb upward and rapidly achieve class ascension—they were all unwilling to give it up.
“When a man dies, he faces the sky; let’s do it! Isn’t it just an opportunity to compete? Isn’t it just becoming a tool in someone else’s hand? What if we become that tool?”
Another impulsive middle-aged man spoke in a deep voice at this moment, and he forcefully waved his hand in front of him, clenching his fist and saying loudly, “This is a good opportunity, we can’t easily give it up. If we brothers slowly unite and develop steadily, will we necessarily lose to Zhang Caidong and them? Moreover, since Lord Shen Mu wants to divide them, then there will definitely be further internal divisions among them. When they split into smaller groups, it will also be convenient for Lord Shen Mu to control them, and we will be meritorious officials then.”
They had all come through workplace struggles, and they were all exceptionally shrewd. As long as they returned to the realm of workplace struggles, they believed they would absolutely not be inferior to others.
“Hmm, I knew it would be like this, so I also agreed.” Sun Zhiru also nodded gently at this moment, a smile on his face.
They all understood that an overly powerful faction could easily sideline the highest authority.
Even if it didn't sideline them, if a few words were concealed at a critical moment, the highest authority could become like a deaf and blind, mute vegetative state, unable to hear, see, or speak.
Therefore, fresh blood was needed to be injected, to let the highest authority know what was happening below, or to maintain the flow of information.
They all understood this point.
So, based on this key point, they also began to think very seriously.
After all, if they were to develop, they would certainly squeeze others' living space, and also squeeze others' rights and interests to some extent. Therefore, they should discuss how to cleverly avoid this while also allowing them to become part of the core management.
And then recruit a group of people who belonged to them.
However, while they were thinking, Zhang Caidong had already arrived at the entrance of another town residence with the 10 Swadian Recruit.
“You wait for me here. If anything happens, I will come down myself.” Zhang Caidong instructed the 10 Swadian Recruit behind him, then had them guard the entrance.
“Understood.” The 10 Swadian Recruit were also quite dedicated, then lined up at the entrance of the town residence, standing there as if on guard.
This made Zhang Caidong even more satisfied.
These were his Spiritual Realm Followers, his Spiritual Realm soldiers. Before, those Gnolls had reluctantly and lazily carried out his orders. Even when told to wait here, they didn't stand or sit properly, either half-squatting or leaning against the wall, looking annoying.
These Lingjie Human Race truly deserved to be people who were not much different from Blue Star Humans.
Just looking at them made one feel relaxed.
“What? Brother Cai Dong, you seem to be in a very good mood?” Zhang Bo happened to open the door and saw Zhang Caidong walking in. Especially seeing the smile on his face, a hint of a smile also appeared on his own face: “And the clothes you’re wearing and the weapons in your hand are truly extraordinary.”
“Lord Shen Mu bestowed them upon me. He is very generous; they are all Spiritual Realm creations.” Zhang Caidong explained the reason with a smile.