After dinner, Lin Chi proposed a private chat, and I assumed it would be in the cafeteria. However, the head of Shabiya opened a hidden door beside us, revealing a VIP conference room. Lin Chi and I entered, and our formal discussion began.
After the manager poured us each a cup of tea, he closed the door and left. The door automatically locked. Lin Chi suddenly relaxed her rigid posture, unbuttoned her pristine white shirt, and unfastened a button on her suit jacket, fanning herself with her hand. "Damn it, this bureaucratic system is killing me! I hate meetings! They're so drawn out!"
"It's the same everywhere, north and south," I chuckled. Fortunately, I was wearing casual clothes; otherwise, I would have been as uncomfortable as her.
Lin Chi took off her high heels and sat cross-legged on the plush sofa, wearing only black stockings. I took out my cigarettes and asked if she wanted one.
"Sure, I'll have one," Lin Chi said with a smile.
I pulled out two cigarettes, lit one, and offered it to her. Lin Chi accepted without hesitation and started smoking, puffing away contentedly.
Lin Xi also smoked. It seemed like most people I knew at Shabiya smoked, perhaps due to the high pressure of their work.
"Actually, introducing you to them was one of the main purposes of today's meeting," Lin Xi said. "Although their abilities are average, they represent Shabiya's departments. Whether it's the Mohe or other forces, they have to show them some respect in Fucheng. Associating with them will make your work easier."
I nodded. "Thank you for your consideration, Director Lin."
She was right. We didn't need Shabiya to fight for us; just helping us clean up the mess afterward, like last night, would be perfect.
"As for the affairs of the Underworld, that's the main topic I wanted to discuss with you," Lin Xi said, blowing a smoke ring.
"What exactly is happening in the Underworld?" I asked, recalling her mention of unrest during the meeting.
"Simply put, the new King Yama lacks the support of the populace, leading to a schism within the Underworld. Many powerful officials and great marshals have established their own factions and are now warring with each other. Consequently, the Department of Yin Messengers has been caught in the crossfire. Many Yin Messengers have changed professions to become marshals and lead armies, resulting in two negative outcomes. Firstly, there's a shortage of Yin Messengers, insufficient to dispatch to the mortal realm for soul and ghost capture. Secondly, many defeated ghosts from the Underworld, having nowhere else to go, are taking the risk of infiltrating the mortal realm and causing trouble, leading to frequent hauntings across the country."
I nodded. "So, what do you need me to do?"
"Aren't you a Yin Messenger? I want to enlist your help to summon the person in charge of the Department of Yin Messengers, His Highness the Little King Yama, to discuss a cooperative arrangement."
"...Can't you find her yourself?" I asked.
Lin Chi waved her hand. "My rank isn't high enough."
"You're not high enough?" I was puzzled. Lin Chi was the highest-ranking spiritual leader responsible for paranormal affairs in Yanxia. If she wasn't high enough, who was?
"Really not. At most, I can contact the Seventh Lord and Eighth Lord. Anyone higher won't meet with me. Even when I meet with the Seventh Lord and Eighth Lord, they're often dismissive. After all, for them, we living humans only have a few decades of life; we're too young and lack seniority."
Ah, I began to understand. The ghosts serving as Yin Messengers in the Underworld were from ancient times. For example, Xie Bi'an was a ghost from before the Ming Dynasty. I wasn't sure about Ma Jiaojiao, but judging by her relationship with Xie Bi'an, she was even older, hailing from an era before him. As for Wu Zhao, she was a ghost from the Tang Dynasty. To them, we humans were indeed junior.
The reason they treated me with such respect wasn't because I was handsome, but because they believed I was the reincarnation of Bai Ze. Bai Ze's seniority surpassed all human civilizations, so naturally, they held me in high regard.
"Alright, I'll contact her for you." I unclipped the soul-capturing token from my waist.
"...You can contact her now?" Lin Chi asked, surprised.
"Yes, I have a phone, and I can reach her anytime. Hello?" I pressed the button.
"Greetings, Lord Wu. Whom are you looking for?"
Lin Chi's eyes widened, and she stared at my actions in astonishment, not even noticing the ash falling from her cigarette.
"I'm looking for His Highness the Little King Yama."
"Certainly, please wait a moment."
"...This actually works." Lin Chi murmured.
"You should put your shoes back on. She might be here soon," I said.
Lin Chi quickly extinguished her cigarette, put on her high heels, adjusted her clothes, sat up straight, and waited.