The recruitment drive would be ending in three days . This time, a lot of children had been recruited . Ever since the Cataclysm, child labor was no longer frowned upon by society .

The Cataclysm had left lots of children without parents . Even though the New World Allied Government had provided financial a.s.sistance to these children, child labor still existed in this world .

These orphans were often stereotyped as rebellious delinquents, so in truth, the government viewed child labor as a good thing . These orphans would not have the time to fool around if they were all given stable jobs .

However, children were less physically competent than adults . Most companies and other profit-minded ent.i.ties would not employ minors, as it would only put them at a disadvantage .

Most of the people in Gao Peng's company a.s.sumed that he was simply being generous .

Their gossiping soon reached Gao Peng's ears .

"Let me know if there are any promising talents this time," Gao Peng ordered w.a.n.g Liang .

"Of course, I'll be focusing on character above all else!" replied w.a.n.g Liang .

. . .

In the Southern Sky No . 7 Factory, mask-wearing workers toiled while listening to the metallic hum of the machinery around them .

Black fumes were expelled into the air from the factory . A thick, black cloud circled above the factory, absorbing the black flumes into itself . Liquid waste was expelled through a couple of large drainage pipes into the underground sewage system .

Since the Cataclysm, all existing plant life in the world had grown hardier and capable of absorbing all kinds of chemical contaminants through their roots . Some plants even derived nutrients from these contaminants .

Liquid waste flowed out of the pipes with a hiss through an alloy gate and instantly flooded the underground sewage system .

After lunch, Gao Peng went to the factory and saw a couple of people huddled together outside, talking to each other in hushed tones .

"What's wrong?" Gao Peng asked one of the workers .

The worker saw Gao Peng's nameplate and hurriedly replied, "A monster suddenly appeared in the factory . It's killed a lot of workers . The security supervisor will send his people in to get rid of it shortly .

There's a monster in the factory? Gao Peng could not believe his ears . A high wall had been built around the factory . Surveillance cameras had been set up everywhere . There was no way a monster could get in without anyone knowing .

The worker then said that he did not really know what the monster looked like . He had only heard about it from the others .

After thinking about it for a while, Gao Peng decided to go back and bring his familiars into the factory . The workers quickly stepped aside to allow Gao Peng's party to pa.s.s through .

Someone in a security uniform b.u.mped into them at the factory's entrance . A Four-Winged Jade Devil Mantis followed close behind him .

The man immediately recognized Gao Peng . Who let this spoiled brat in? he silently cursed .

"Supervisor Jiang, did you find the monster?"

"Yes, but it's a slippery thing . It fled into the underground sewage system," said Supervisor Jiang, sighing .

Sewage system? How did a monster manage to enter the factory through the sewage system? Gao Peng thought .

"Were the underground defensive installations damaged?" asked Gao Peng . That would need to be resolved quickly . Otherwise, other monsters would take advantage of the security breach and enter the factory from the sewage system .

"Head Gao, there are no defensive measures placed in the sewage system, other than an alloy gate that lets liquid waste flow out of the factory," said a man named Zhou Wu in a corner, glancing at Supervisor Jiang with a hint of glee in his eyes .

"The underground water pressure should be enough to prevent other monsters from entering the factory," said Supervisor Jiang awkwardly, while silently cursing Zhou Wu . He knew that Zhou Wu had been eyeing his position for a long time; the man would gladly blame him for today's fiasco .

Gao Peng frowned . He was not interested in whatever was going on between these two . He only knew that there had been a security breach in the factory, which had resulted in the deaths of a number of workers and a delay in the factory's function .

Gao Peng would give an honest report of today's worker attendance to his superiors later . Whatever they decided to do next would be entirely up to them .

Gao Peng then made his way to where the monster had disappeared . There was a gaping hole in the concrete floor, from which wafted a nasty smell .

Da Zi scuttled over and poked his head into the hole curiously . Gao Peng ordered it back, fearing that the monster might still be lurking nearby .

Da Zi chirped unhappily at Gao Peng . "No danger, no danger at all . "

After thinking about it for a while, Gao Peng grew more convinced that there was no lord tier monster living in the sewage system . Also, he recalled that his grandfather had a familiar living in there . All potentially dangerous monsters had been exterminated by the familiar long ago .

"I'll go take a look," said Gao Peng, summoning his familiars to his side .

Supervisor Jiang quickly stopped him . "Best leave this sort of thing to us . . . "

"I don't think your Devil Mantis is cut out for the job," said Gao Peng, shaking his head . Devil Mantises were not exactly suited for combat in damp, dark places .

Gao Peng tried to advise Supervisor Jiang against bringing his familiar into the hole . However, his words had injured the man's pride .

He was the factory's security supervisor, after all . The facility's safety was his responsibility . Now the head of Human Resources was doing his job for him .

"Worry not, I believe in my familiar . It can adapt to all sorts of environments . Right?" Supervisor Jiang said to his Four-Winged Devil Mantis .

The Devil Mantis shook its head . Your words, not mine .

"Every familiar has its limitations . Four-Winged Devil Mantises usually prefer wide, open s.p.a.ces . Besides, I still need you to maintain order in the factory," said Gao Peng .

Supervisor Jiang was stunned for a moment by his words . He could not believe that Gao Peng would actually help him out .

He then let out a deep sigh and said, "Be careful, Head Gao . It's not a high-level monster, but its movements are quick and agile, and it can also climb on walls . Once you're down there, walk westward and you'll reach the alloy gate . . . " said Supervisor Jiang .

Gao Peng hadn't decided to help Supervisor Jiang on a whim . He simply thought that Stripey and Da Zi were more suited for combat in such a damp and dark place . Given that there were no wild commander tier monsters living in most urban areas, both of Gao Peng's commander tier monsters could definitely handle whatever was down there .

After waving a hand at Supervisor Jiang, Gao Peng led Stripey, Da Zi, and Flamy into the hole .

They dropped onto a cold concrete floor . The walls around them were damp, and water trickled down from cracks between the bricks . Turning on the flashlight that Supervisor Jiang had given him, Gao Peng began walking westward .

. . . . The recruitment drive would be ending in three days . This time, a lot of children had been recruited . Ever since the Cataclysm, child labor was no longer frowned upon by society . The Cataclysm had left lots of children without parents . Even though the New World Allied Government had provided financial a.s.sistance to these children, child labor still existed in this world . These orphans were often stereotyped as rebellious delinquents, so in truth, the government viewed child labor as a good thing . These orphans would not have the time to fool around if they were all given stable jobs . However, children were less physically competent than adults . Most companies and other profit-minded ent.i.ties would not employ minors, as it would only put them at a disadvantage . Most of the people in Gao Pengs company a.s.sumed that he was simply being generous . Their gossiping soon reached Gao Pengs ears . Let me know if there are any promising talents this time, Gao Peng ordered w.a.n.g Liang . Of course, Ill be focusing on character above all else! replied w.a.n.g Liang . . . . In the Southern Sky No . 7 Factory, mask-wearing workers toiled while listening to the metallic hum of the machinery around them . Black fumes were expelled into the air from the factory . A thick, black cloud circled above the factory, absorbing the black flumes into itself . Liquid waste was expelled through a couple of large drainage pipes into the underground sewage system . Since the Cataclysm, all existing plant life in the world had grown hardier and capable of absorbing all kinds of chemical contaminants through their roots . Some plants even derived nutrients from these contaminants . Liquid waste flowed out of the pipes with a hiss through an alloy gate and instantly flooded the underground sewage system . After lunch, Gao Peng went to the factory and saw a couple of people huddled together outside, talking to each other in hushed tones . Whats wrong? Gao Peng asked one of the workers . The worker saw Gao Pengs nameplate and hurriedly replied, A monster suddenly appeared in the factory . Its killed a lot of workers . The security supervisor will send his people in to get rid of it shortly . Theres a monster in the factory? Gao Peng could not believe his ears . A high wall had been built around the factory . Surveillance cameras had been set up everywhere . There was no way a monster could get in without anyone knowing . The worker then said that he did not really know what the monster looked like . He had only heard about it from the others . . . After thinking about it for a while, Gao Peng decided to go back and bring his familiars into the factory . The workers quickly stepped aside to allow Gao Pengs party to pa.s.s through . Someone in a security uniform b.u.mped into them at the factorys entrance . A Four-Winged Jade Devil Mantis followed close behind him . The man immediately recognized Gao Peng . Who let this spoiled brat in? he silently cursed . Supervisor Jiang, did you find the monster? Yes, but its a slippery thing . It fled into the underground sewage system, said Supervisor Jiang, sighing . Sewage system? How did a monster manage to enter the factory through the sewage system? Gao Peng thought . Were the underground defensive installations damaged? asked Gao Peng . That would need to be resolved quickly . Otherwise, other monsters would take advantage of the security breach and enter the factory from the sewage system . Head Gao, there are no defensive measures placed in the sewage system, other than an alloy gate that lets liquid waste flow out of the factory, said a man named Zhou Wu in a corner, glancing at Supervisor Jiang with a hint of glee in his eyes . The underground water pressure should be enough to prevent other monsters from entering the factory, said Supervisor Jiang awkwardly, while silently cursing Zhou Wu . He knew that Zhou Wu had been eyeing his position for a long time; the man would gladly blame him for todays fiasco . Gao Peng frowned . He was not interested in whatever was going on between these two . He only knew that there had been a security breach in the factory, which had resulted in the deaths of a number of workers and a delay in the factorys function . Gao Peng would give an honest report of todays worker attendance to his superiors later . Whatever they decided to do next would be entirely up to them . Gao Peng then made his way to where the monster had disappeared . There was a gaping hole in the concrete floor, from which wafted a nasty smell . Da Zi scuttled over and poked his head into the hole curiously . Gao Peng ordered it back, fearing that the monster might still be lurking nearby . Da Zi chirped unhappily at Gao Peng . No danger, no danger at all . After thinking about it for a while, Gao Peng grew more convinced that there was no lord tier monster living in the sewage system . Also, he recalled that his grandfather had a familiar living in there . All potentially dangerous monsters had been exterminated by the familiar long ago . Ill go take a look, said Gao Peng, summoning his familiars to his side . Supervisor Jiang quickly stopped him . Best leave this sort of thing to us . I dont think your Devil Mantis is cut out for the job, said Gao Peng, shaking his head . Devil Mantises were not exactly suited for combat in damp, dark places . Gao Peng tried to advise Supervisor Jiang against bringing his familiar into the hole . However, his words had injured the mans pride . He was the factorys security supervisor, after all . The facilitys safety was his responsibility . Now the head of Human Resources was doing his job for him . Worry not, I believe in my familiar . It can adapt to all sorts of environments . Right? Supervisor Jiang said to his Four-Winged Devil Mantis . The Devil Mantis shook its head . Your words, not mine . Every familiar has its limitations . Four-Winged Devil Mantises usually prefer wide, open s.p.a.ces . Besides, I still need you to maintain order in the factory, said Gao Peng . Supervisor Jiang was stunned for a moment by his words . He could not believe that Gao Peng would actually help him out . He then let out a deep sigh and said, Be careful, Head Gao . Its not a high-level monster, but its movements are quick and agile, and it can also climb on walls . Once youre down there, walk westward and youll reach the alloy gate . said Supervisor Jiang . Gao Peng hadnt decided to help Supervisor Jiang on a whim . He simply thought that Stripey and Da Zi were more suited for combat in such a damp and dark place . Given that there were no wild commander tier monsters living in most urban areas, both of Gao Pengs commander tier monsters could definitely handle whatever was down there . After waving a hand at Supervisor Jiang, Gao Peng led Stripey, Da Zi, and Flamy into the hole . They dropped onto a cold concrete floor . The walls around them were damp, and water trickled down from cracks between the bricks . Turning on the flashlight that Supervisor Jiang had given him, Gao Peng began walking westward .