The malt liquor was bought from the Calradia continent in the Mount & Blade Warband World and arrived in Deherim in the current Blue Star World through trade.
Its taste was mellow, with a malty aroma, and it was incredibly sweet on the palate. Combined with a slightly fermented process, it instantly created a captivating blend of mead and beer flavors.
One could even say that even in the current Blue Star World, or even the Blue Star World of the past, there was no malt liquor that could compare to this one.
After all, while malt liquor in modern industrial society is delicious and its production processes and flavors are highly standardized, it still lacks the unique flavor of purely handcrafted malt liquor.
Therefore, for the Blue Star Humans in Deherim, being able to drink such uniquely flavored handcrafted malt liquor was an extremely enjoyable experience. Moreover, as they had already integrated with the power of rules and begun to shed their identity as Blue Star Humans, drinking this malt liquor, which contained the power of rules, also served as an enhancement for them.
Most importantly, the tasteless baijiu or beer produced locally, which contained no power of rules, could no longer stimulate their souls.
They couldn't even feel the alcohol when they drank it.
Furthermore, they no longer experienced that slight tipsy feeling after getting drunk, which meant they could no longer adapt to the alcohol native to the Blue Star World.
This was understandable, as they now had souls, and their souls dominated their bodies, unlike the original Blue Star Humans who used various hormones to control their bodies.
The soul level was already quite extraordinary. If the alcohol couldn't stimulate their souls, then even if it stimulated their bodies, they wouldn't feel it. Although Blue Star Humans and Lingjie Human Race looked very similar, and even had the same structure, in essence, Blue Star Humans still relied on hormones to control their bodies, while the Lingjie Human Race relied on their souls to control their physical bodies.
Hormones are all secreted by the body itself, which then uses the brain for thought and control.
But the soul is different; it is much more mysterious.
However, these are all side notes. For Zhang Caidong and Zhang Bo, drinking malt liquor and eating food imbued with the power of rules made their conversation and time together extremely pleasant, especially with roasted lamb among the food. For them, it felt as comfortable as drinking beer and eating barbecue at home.
"Bo Ge, what exactly is going on? I always feel that even though you've dealt with the remnants of the Diesel Company today, you're still holding back and haven't said much about certain things," Zhang Caidong asked proactively after clinking glasses with Zhang Bo.
"You also noticed I was holding back? That's right, because you are the only one I truly trust," Zhang Bo smiled, looking earnestly at Zhang Caidong. "Let those senior managers investigate the middle-level managers. You shouldn't get involved. If anything really happens, just push all the responsibility onto those senior managers. Otherwise, it will be very troublesome with your executive position."
"How so?" Zhang Caidong chuckled slightly, looking at Zhang Bo's earnest gaze, and his heart suddenly skipped a beat.
"A purge is definite, and executions are also definite. The conflicts between those senior managers and middle-level managers are basically irreconcilable now. You should be able to see that their conflicts have become increasingly sharp recently." Zhang Bo took a sip of malt liquor, his face showing considerable regret, and he couldn't help but sigh, saying, "It's unstoppable. And Lord Shen Mu also said that the remnants of the Diesel Company are hidden among those middle-level managers, so they will definitely seize the opportunity to cause trouble. I'm afraid the situation will get out of control then, so I only trust you."
"But if things reach an irreversible stage, even I won't be able to stop it," Zhang Caidong sighed.
Previously, those senior managers had already forced his hand. Although it seemed that this coercion had been resolved by him, a faction of senior managers had subtly formed, emerging from their need to eliminate an enemy.
If he couldn't satisfy these senior managers' desire to eliminate those middle-level managers, it would be like a double-edged sword, and they would certainly attack him again in the end.
Whether the next forced palace could be resolved so quickly was hard to say. At least Zhang Caidong himself felt lingering fear. He shuddered at the thought of it. If those guys really succeeded in forcing him out, his authority as general manager would definitely be severely weakened.
At that time, when he wanted to do anything, he would be sidelined by these senior managers.
And once he was sidelined by these senior managers, he, as the general manager, would truly be a lamb to the slaughter.
After all, power is only to be consumed, never to be given back.
Those Blue Star Humans had formed small groups, and from these small groups, they tasted the immense benefits that came from working together.
If he then stood on their opposite side, it would mean standing against a collective of interests, and he would be deeply crushed.
Therefore, Zhang Caidong did not want to do this.
But now, looking at Zhang Bo, his face grew increasingly helpless: "Bo Ge, this matter is truly a bit troublesome. Those senior managers actually already have the idea of a massacre against those middle-level managers. I am currently just restricting them to provide me with a list for my review, still following the previous process. I can only strictly limit their actions within the process, not allowing them to break outside of it, otherwise, it will be uncontrollable."
"Is the situation already this critical?" Zhang Bo seemed surprised, raising his head to look at Zhang Caidong, his brows furrowed. "A massacre? Those senior managers wouldn't want to slaughter the middle-level managers, would they?"
"What do you think, Bo Ge? These senior managers are like madmen now," Zhang Caidong said with a bitter smile. Because he was relatively close to these senior managers, he clearly understood how angry and furious they were at these middle-level managers who were challenging their authority and were about to sideline them.
Especially since these senior managers also realized that as they all became Spiritual Realm Commanders and gained Lingjie Human Race soldiers as their followers, they began to fight against Undead Monsters.
Making their Lingjie Human Race soldiers stronger and stronger, able to raise their own level and the level of their followers with Lord Shen Mu.
These actions, these moves, these situations made these senior managers deeply apprehensive and worried. After all, they were now all on the same starting line. The number of middle-level managers was increasing, and the low-level soldiers under their command had not yet fully created enough distance.
If those middle-level managers made their Lingjie Human Race soldiers the same rank as their own soldiers, then what use would these senior managers be, apart from a mere title?
Although a mere title could bring some honor and face, in terms of real power, these middle-level managers, who simply didn't obey their commands, could directly sideline them and would no longer bother with them at all.
These middle-level managers even formed their own small circles, which then expanded into larger circles, allowing these larger circles to directly manage the lower levels. They would put these senior managers on a pedestal, and if anything happened, they would discuss it among themselves. At that point, it was truly uncertain whether these senior managers would still have a place to live in Deherim.
After all, if anything happened, these middle-level managers would contact the lower levels and resolve it directly.
If Lord Shen Mu issued any orders, these senior managers couldn't personally act; they would also need to contact a group of middle-level managers and the lower levels to work for them.
And they had already been sidelined, so how would this work? They wouldn't even have a say.
Even if they were very angry at that time, there would be nothing they could do, because once they were sidelined, whether it was the upgrading of Human Race soldiers or the acquisition of combat experience by Human Race soldiers, they would be excluded by those middle-level managers and others. They would be pushed to weaker areas, or even put under house arrest, completely prevented from upgrading.
Slowly, these senior managers would be completely unable to defeat those middle-level managers, losing their physical threat.
Then everything would be over.
In fact, even Zhang Caidong was worried about this situation, as he knew very well that if he was truly sidelined, then his position as general manager would be in name only.
Zhang Caidong also did not want to be sidelined.
So he told Zhang Bo about the current situation and some of the information he had gathered.
"It seems it truly is a bit troublesome." Zhang Bo nodded, but in his heart, he was still quite pleased, especially after learning the current situation. He remained calm, but he already understood that the time had truly come, and the details of his plan were truly flawless.
"Cai Dong, can you still command those senior managers now?" Zhang Bo asked at this point.
"Yes, they haven't broken ties with me yet, and they don't dare to directly conflict with me," Zhang Caidong sighed, his face also full of helplessness.
After all, although those people hadn't broken ties with him or conflicted with him, if he stood against them, that conflict would definitely arise, and they would completely break ties and overturn the table. If the other party were to cast him aside, then he would also be sidelined, just like the middle-level managers cast aside those senior managers.
"Before, I used to scheme against others. Now, others are starting to scheme against me. Being the top leader is a bit difficult," Zhang Caidong said with an even more bitter smile.
"Alright, alright, Cai Dong, I understand. But let them fight among themselves; you shouldn't interfere. In fact, I also plan to let them get moving, because Lord Shen Mu also told me that he isn't sure how many remnants of the Diesel Company there are. But you should know that at that time, the Diesel Company was capable of summoning an Abyssal Rift," Zhang Bo said slowly to Zhang Caidong, his tone taking on a serious expression.
"An Abyssal Rift, oh. I remember Xue Zhigang, the general manager of the Diesel Company, mentioned it to me at the time," Zhang Caidong paused slightly, then nodded as if enlightened.
"Hmm? Xue Zhigang mentioned it to you?" As Zhang Caidong nodded, Zhang Bo's brow furrowed slightly, and he looked up at Zhang Caidong.
Zhang Bo didn't say much, because he knew that summoning that Abyssal Rift and the Abyssal Legion actually depended entirely on his Magic Crystal Ball to trip them up. If Zhang Caidong knew about it, then it would deviate from the details of the plan he still wanted to carry out, and he would have to handle it carefully.
"He mentioned it to me, after all, this was also a trump card for the Diesel Company." Zhang Caidong paused slightly, seeing Zhang Bo's direct gaze on him, and quickly explained, "Zhang Caidong told me at the time, but I don't know the specifics. After all, although I seem to hold a high position of power, in reality, Xue Zhigang himself controlled everything. Bo Ge, I am not a remnant of the Diesel Company. After all, I was the spy who took down this company."
Zhang Caidong thought Zhang Bo's gaze implied he was also suspected of being a remnant of the Diesel Company, and he couldn't help but quickly explain.
However, for Zhang Bo, seeing his current appearance, he understood that he didn't know the true details and didn't know that it was actually he who could summon that Abyssal Rift through the Magic Crystal Ball.
So he smiled and nodded, saying, "Cai Dong, I certainly won't suspect you. No matter what, you are deeply trusted in my heart. Even if I suspect others are remnants of the Diesel Company, it's impossible to suspect you."
"Exactly. Now everyone is on edge. I don't want to get involved with any remnants of the Diesel Company. That would be like being smeared, whether it's true or not," Zhang Caidong sighed.
If he were suspected of being a remnant of the Diesel Company, even as the general manager, he would have to prove himself, which would be troublesome and might even lead to a decrease in trust.
"So, what should we do next?" Zhang Caidong directly changed the subject. He didn't want to delve deeper into this topic.
"There's nothing else to do but let those senior managers draw up a list themselves, and then ignite a small-scale conflict. Anyway, those senior managers and middle-level managers will definitely start an internal struggle. You just don't get involved. Even if something happens, don't interfere. Just stay in your room and close the door, let them handle it themselves," Zhang Bo finally stated his purpose. "Anyway, we don't have any external enemies right now, so let them fight. Then we can sit back and watch the tiger fight, see who jumps around the most, and that might be a remnant of the Diesel Company. If we can draw out more remnants of the Diesel Company, maybe we'll even make a meritorious contribution."
"That makes sense," Zhang Caidong nodded, thoughtfully saying, "Indeed, whoever is most agitated is definitely a remnant of the Diesel Company, trying to incite our internal strife."