"Ugh..." Lin Qiu, who had just awakened from a coma, looked at the brand-new clothes on her body, her gaze somewhat bewildered as she scanned her surroundings.
If her memory served her correctly, the last thing she seemed to recall was Chu Feng's figure.
And this place... it seems to be Chu Feng's lounge?
She circulated her Spiritual Power within her body but found no injuries, which made her wonder if she was dreaming.
Disbelieving, she touched her body but felt no pain at all, finally confirming that her injuries seemed to have completely healed.
Could Chu Feng have come up with some other miraculous item?
Seeing that her body had recovered, Lin Qiu immediately got out of bed and headed outside. As the general manager of the agency, she needed an update on its current situation.
She pushed open the door to an empty office, feeling no surprise.
That guy Chu Feng... he must be out dealing with those troublemakers by now!
Lin Qiu's gaze darkened slightly. She took a deep breath and then turned to walk outside.
A few minutes later, after wandering around the empty building, Lin Qiu finally arrived at Taran's office.
Looking at the dazed figure sitting behind the desk, her brows furrowed, filled with confusion.
What's going on? What exactly happened? I don't think I was unconscious for too long, was I?
"Taran... Taran?"
As Lin Qiu approached the desk and softly called out, Taran, who had been sitting there dazed for over an hour, finally snapped back to reality.
"Lin Qiu! Thank goodness, you've finally woken up!"
Seeing Taran suddenly embrace her waist, Lin Qiu's confusion deepened.
This was the first time she had seen Taran like this.
What on earth could have happened in the few hours I was unconscious to change a person so drastically? If my Warning Crystal hadn't reacted, I would have suspected she'd been possessed by something Bizarre!
"Taran, what's wrong? What happened exactly?"
"It's Chu Feng!"
Hearing the voice before her, Lin Qiu suddenly felt as if her head had been struck by a blunt instrument; she was a bit dazed.
"Chu Feng... What did he do to you?"
Hearing Lin Qiu's slightly trembling voice, Taran's body stiffened for a moment. She finally realized the ambiguity of her previous words and quickly looked up to explain.
"No, it's not what you're thinking!"
After Taran's detailed explanation, Lin Qiu quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
Looking at Taran, who still had furrowed brows, Lin Qiu helplessly pushed her back into her chair.
"Just because of this? Something that hasn't even happened yet?"
Faced with Lin Qiu's counter-question, Taran clearly couldn't quite grasp her meaning.
"Let's put aside the fact that the apocalypse hasn't arrived yet. Even if it truly comes one day, as long as we are alive and the Strength within us hasn't faded, there will always be hope. In my hometown, there's a saying: 'We master our fate, we beckon our fortune!' As long as we continue to grow stronger, even if the Demon God from Hell itself appears, it would have to concede ground and allow us a place to exist!"
Taran stared blankly at the calm-faced Lin Qiu before her, somewhat unable to comprehend why she would react this way upon hearing news of the impending apocalypse.
She couldn't fully understand what Lin Qiu had just said, especially that phrase from the East.
But she felt, inexplicably, that her composure was gradually returning; the rational and decisive Taran was quickly making a comeback.
After a long moment, Taran closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When she opened her eyes again, their brightness told Lin Qiu that the Taran she knew had returned!
"I'm sorry, Lin Qiu. I lost my composure just now. Thank you for what you said!"
"It's okay, as long as you've found yourself again! And... the feeling when you hugged me just now was actually quite nice..."
Lin Qiu smiled as she looked at Taran before her, her tone teasing.
"Lin Qiu, quick, forget what just happened!" Taran's face, which had just returned to normal, suddenly flushed at her words.
"Let's talk about the monetary collapse! That Chu Feng, who dumps all his responsibilities, I reckon he can't be relied on. Who knows where he's gone off to now..."
"If Hell continues to invade the Human World, the collapse of human currency is indeed foreseeable," Lin Qiu nodded in agreement.
"So what should our agency do next? And, how should we settle payments for exorcism commission fees?"
Lin Qiu stood up, her mind racing.
"Since the US Dollar is bound to collapse, we should spend all the money in our agency's account right away—exchange it for food, supplies, and all sorts of useful things!"
"As for the exorcism commission fees... what do you think about gold? There's an ancient saying in the East: 'In times of peace, antiques are cherished; in times of chaos, gold is king.' I think it makes a lot of sense!"
Taran, looking at Lin Qiu quoting another old saying, felt a headache forming.
Although she didn't understand Lin Qiu's hometown phrase, she did clearly understand the word "gold."
"Gold is indeed a possibility. Moreover, it's an excellent material for Exorcism. I think this choice is very feasible!"
"Alright. While we still can, let's figure out the fee structure first, and then gradually transition the settlement method."
Seeing Taran agree, Lin Qiu immediately demonstrated her swift and decisive manner, starting to work on the agency's future fee structure.
And Taran, with her mind restored to normalcy, finally regained her usual level of intelligence.
"Lin Qiu, the US Dollar is doomed to collapse. Do you think we should..."
Raising her head, Lin Qiu looked at Taran, who was hinting at something. Thanks to the understanding between them, she immediately knew what Taran was thinking.
"You mean... the banks?"
...
In a room adorned everywhere with hexagram patterns, an old man was meticulously cleaning a silver coin. He asked, seemingly casually, "Any news on those two, Belles and Palmer?"
"Sir, we have lost contact with them. But... followers in America sent back news that the Exorcism Agency was attacked today!"
"Was it their doing?" The old man continued with the task at hand, not forgetting to keep asking.
"Sir, we did indeed order the operation to commence today!"
"Oh?" The old man paused his movements and looked up at the middle-aged man beside him, his tone holding a strange note.
"So, they did it, and now contact is lost?"
"Yes, Sir!" The middle-aged man, catching the old man's glance, quickly lowered his head and spoke respectfully.
The old man's fingers tapped lightly on the table, and he suddenly let out a light chuckle.
"Those two youngsters... I'm afraid they're not coming back."
"What?" The middle-aged man was momentarily stunned, then his expression changed drastically.
Oh no! The sacred object is still in their hands!