"Second Senior Brother?"

Han Zhan's tone carried some confusion. The two of them had just finished talking yesterday, so why had he come looking for him again after only a few hours?

"I'm here to ask for someone." Lin Jingxuan said, looking at Shang Siteng standing beside Han Zhan.

"A young genius and outstanding figure of the Shang family's younger generation, forced by the upper echelons to become the new Captain. The eldest daughter of the Patriarch Shang, Shang Siteng."

"Yesterday, my attention and thoughts were completely drawn by the Energy Bricks, which was my oversight."

Han Zhan understood from Lin Jingxuan's words that he seemed to want something from Siteng. However, Han Zhan stood up and said:

"Second Senior Brother, although Siteng followed me to North County, she is still an entirely independent person, not my slave or dependent. If you want her help for something, it needs her agreement."

This was something that needed to be made clear to Second Senior Brother Lin Jingxuan.

Hearing Han Zhan speaking up for her, Shang Siteng felt a warmth.

Lin Jingxuan was taken aback, but he quickly reacted and showed a rare smile.

"Contracted Spirits are not tools, Junior Brother, you did the right thing."

"I came here indeed to ask Miss Shang Siteng for help."

"You don't need to respond immediately. I'd like to explain in detail the current situation in Great Xia North County. How about it?"

After Lin Jingxuan finished speaking, he looked at Han Zhan, who then turned to look at Shang Siteng beside him. Seeing Shang Siteng nod, he too nodded in agreement.

"Then let's stop standing at the door and talk inside."

It was just past noon, and there was no one else at Han Zhan's house for the time being.

Xia Youwei had gone to the training ground to hone Combat Technique, and Li Lingzhen had gone to various hospitals to check on the recovery of the wounded.

After the three sat down, Lin Jingxuan began to speak.

"When we first arrived at North County, it was the most difficult time. We lost the technological support of Can Shang Company, had no supply of Energy Bricks, and had to rely solely on the Ancient Arrays left by the teacher to barely get through the first month after the new year."

"But now, everything is different."

"We have an ample supply of Energy Bricks, alternative solutions for Awakening Stones, and new research directions for Ancient Arrays."

"Everything is in a state of revitalization."

"Now, Great Xia urgently needs a large number of talents, which we cannot provide at once, so..."

"So you intend to use robots to replace humans in some repetitive or low-skilled jobs, freeing more human labor," Shang Siteng continued.

Lin Jingxuan adjusted his glasses. "That's right."

"Without long-term planning, there will be immediate concerns. Although we solved the energy problem, the Awakening Stone problem, and the Ancient Array problem, some fundamental issues haven't been completely resolved."

"For instance, the top combat power of Great Xia is lacking, as we discussed yesterday. Also, Great Xia's current population is too low to meet the normal operational needs of the cities, and there are continuous probes from other forces."

Lin Jingxuan articulated three significant issues Great Xia is currently facing.

He came looking for Han Zhan in hopes that Shang Siteng would lend a hand, which is related to these three issues.

If Shang Siteng could agree, using Can Shang Company's technology to help Great Xia manufacture a substantial amount of mechanical technology.

The basic workforce of each city could be met, and city efficiency would greatly improve.

Shang Siteng herself could assist in handling Great Xia affairs temporarily, allowing Lin Jingxuan to focus on studying the River Map and Luo Book, aiming to reach Tier Nine.

Mechanical technology could also help Great Xia better defend its borders, coordinating with Ancient Arrays to handle the probes from other forces—a multifaceted approach.

However, this also brought up a significant issue.

Shang Siteng would completely become a traitor to Can Shang Company by betraying them and giving Great Xia the core technology, leading to endless pursuit by Can Shang Company, severing ties completely.

This is why Han Zhan wanted to leave the choice to Shang Siteng initially.

He had foreseen this eventual outcome.

Shang Siteng is entirely independent, even if she is a Nuwa Stone Contracted Spirit; Han Zhan himself did not deprive her of the power of choice.

The three of them fell silent simultaneously.

They were waiting for Shang Siteng to make her choice.

"I am willing to help. After all, I am now a Fallen Nun," Shang Siteng said with a small smile.

"For a Fallen Nun, doing things that betray the Monastery is quite normal, isn't it?"

Lin Jingxuan didn't quite understand what Shang Siteng meant by Fallen Nun.

Listening from the side, Han Zhan's ears had turned a little red.

"Then, over the next few days, we will proceed with the handover work. Currently, there aren't any specific positions in Great Xia; you can be appointed as the head of the Great Xia Research Institute, specializing in research and technology. All resources of Great Xia will be unconditionally tilted in your favor."

"Additionally, I will appoint you as the acting head of the Strategic Headquarters, responsible for all matters in Great Xia."

"From what I heard yesterday about your experiences on the Nuwa Continent, I am confident in your capabilities."

"Once the handover is complete, I will enter a closed state and officially study the River Map and Luo Book. As long as I can comprehend a part of it, it will be enough for me to make a breakthrough."

Lin Jingxuan communicated the plan to Han Zhan and Shang Siteng.

After everything was arranged, he turned and left.

Only Han Zhan and Shang Siteng remained, with Han Zhan looking at Shang Siteng, letting out a slight sigh, feeling a bit apologetic.

"Sorry for dragging you into this." Shang Siteng wasn't a Great Xia person, yet in the blink of an eye, she was shouldering several significant responsibilities.

This made Han Zhan feel guilty.

But Shang Siteng shook her head indifferently.

"Even if you hadn't brought it up, I would do my best to help Great Xia. My relationship with Can Shang Company reached a breaking point long ago, otherwise, I wouldn't have agreed so decisively."

"These are not caused by you; everything was destined. You don't need to feel guilty."

"Respecting my opinion before making decisions, to me, is already the best comfort."

Hearing Shang Siteng say this, Han Zhan finally felt relieved.

At this moment, Shang Siteng suddenly moved close, breathing gently by Han Zhan's neck.

"Ah Zhan, since there's still time and they haven't returned yet, could you help me apply some lipstick?"

"Lipstick? I'll need to look for it. I wonder if Lingzhen and Youwei's rooms have any. Right, what color do you want?"

Shang Siteng's sudden request left Han Zhan a bit unable to react.

"Silly, you need to read Lingzhen's books more, to learn some extracurricular knowledge."

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