"Hmm, hmm... What are you doing here?"
Ultima looked at the man standing at the door, her small mouth instantly pouting, an expression that clearly said, "You're not welcome here."
"Hey, is that how you talk to your superior? Be careful, or I'll make things difficult for you!"
Zhong Chen loudly said to Ultima with an expression that conveyed, "I am your boss."
Meanwhile, Veron didn't dare to speak to Zhong Chen like Ultima did. He quickly placed his right hand over his chest and bowed, saying:
"Lord Chen!"
Zhong Chen waved his hand and said to him:
"Alright, you can go and tend to your duties for now. I have something to discuss with her!"
"Yes, your subordinate takes his leave!"
Hearing Zhong Chen's command, Veron quickly bowed and walked out.
In his heart, he thought, "Please don't let you big shots fighting involve a small fry like me; my small body can't handle it."
"Alright, then, Host, what exactly are you here for?"
Hearing that Zhong Chen was threatening her with making things difficult, Ultima could only ask helplessly.
"Hehe, actually, I've found you a great position, a position that most people wouldn't even dare to dream of!"
"In terms of actual power, it's much more impressive than your current position as Chief Inspector!"
"You'll have thousands upon thousands of subordinates. It's definitely a good position. So, what do you say, want to consider it?"
Watching Zhong Chen's sly merchant-like expression as he tried to sell something, Ultima indicated that she didn't believe a single word.
If it was really that good, wouldn't you take it yourself? Uh... sorry, I forgot you're the founder of the Do-Nothing Organization.
"Just tell me directly, what exactly do you want me to do?"
"It's just that I've expanded three legions recently, so that batch of equipment...Pah... So, there aren't enough commanders! And then... you know!"
After speaking, Zhong Chen even playfully wiggled his eyebrows at Ultima.
"So, you're telling me to be a subordinate to that guy Benimaru? No way!"
Ultima stated that she accepted being a subordinate to him and Rimuru, after all, one gave her a soul and the other bestowed her a name.
For her, a dignified Primordial Demon, to be a subordinate to a monster, that would be showing too little respect for a Primordial.
"Oh, it's actually just for you to hold the title. You can hand over your daily duties to Veron!"
"Once he's familiar with the work, he can take over the Legion Commander position, and you can step down!"
Hearing Zhong Chen say that, Ultima considered it seriously for a moment, then asked Zhong Chen with suspicion:
"Are you sure you'll let Veron become Legion Commander once he's familiar with the work?"
"Absolutely! Don't you believe my words?"
Zhong Chen slapped his chest, making a loud sound, indicating, "Don't worry, I won't lie to you."
"It's precisely because they are your words that I don't dare to believe them!"
Ultima muttered softly, looking at Zhong Chen.
"Alright, since you've put it that way, I'll reluctantly agree."
"But I'll say this first, Benimaru shouldn't even think about commanding me. If he has something, tell him to go find Veron!"
Zhong Chen saw that Ultima had finally been swayed by his persuasion and quickly said:
"Alright, alright! It's settled then. I'm leaving, no need to see me out!"
With that, he turned and swiftly left the Chief Inspector's office.
Ultima, watching Zhong Chen's departing back, couldn't help but mutter:
"Was I just tricked by him?"
If Zhong Chen had heard that, he would definitely have said, "Yes, you were tricked."
After all, he only said that Veron would be promoted to Legion Commander once he was familiar with the work, but he didn't say when he would finish familiarizing himself with the work.
The Commander-in-Chief of the army was Benimaru, and how familiar Veron was with the work was ultimately up to Benimaru.
"I laugh with delight, I laugh with delight..."
Zhong Chen, walking down the street, sang happily, and unknowingly arrived in front of a newly opened shop.
Looking up, he saw the words "I Love Pachinko" written in large characters on the signboard.
"Pachinko? Oh, Japanese pinball machines!"
"Hmph! Do you think I'd walk in and lose everything like a certain scummy snake? Impossible!"
Zhong Chen continuously slandered it verbally, but his body honestly walked inside.
"Play? Play! What I'm playing is pinball!"
Upon entering and seeing rows of pinball machines, Zhong Chen stated, "As the saying goes, no investigation, no right to speak."
"Today, I'm going to thoroughly investigate, and then, from a moral high ground, I'll start pointing fingers at the owner of this shop."
Then, Zhong Chen went to the front desk, pulled out two one-hundred lime coins from his pocket, and handed them to the young lady at the counter.
Seeing two hundred-lime coins, the young lady immediately flashed a brilliant smile.
"Hehe! Customer, here are your marbles. I wish you abundant winnings!"
Taking the small basket filled with marbles, Zhong Chen proudly said:
"Hmph hmph! Today, you're unlucky to have met me. I am the man known as the Pinball Prince!"
After speaking, he ignored the stunned young lady and turned to walk towards the pinball machines.
"Hey, hey, hey! Host, you never even touched this thing in your previous life. Where did you get the title 'Pinball Prince' from?!"
"Aren't glass marbles also pinballs?!"
"..."
"Alright! Let me teach the owner of this shop a lesson!"
Saying that, he threw the marbles in his hand into the machine.
An incense stick's worth of time later, Zhong Chen looked at the empty small basket and fell into contemplation.
"This... this is impossible... This is absolutely impossible!"
"How could this be!!! No, I don't believe it!"
Saying that, Zhong Chen ran back to the front desk and exchanged five hundred lime coins for more small marbles.
It wasn't until sunset that Zhong Chen walked out of the shop, utterly dejected. He looked back at the shop and fell into deep thought.
"Am I really at the same level as that vegetable snake?"
"I was wondering why I couldn't find you, I didn't expect you to be here!"
Just as Zhong Chen was caught in self-doubt, Sakuya's voice rang in his ears.
"Sa... Sakuya... I... I... I was just doing research, yes... research... Oh, you wouldn't understand..."
"You don't need to explain. It seems I've indulged you too much, leading you to contract such a bad habit!"
Unfortunately, Sakuya didn't listen to Zhong Chen's excuses. She directly grabbed him by the collar and walked away.
"Sakuya... I was wrong... I truly know I was wrong... Help me... Someone help me... Ah ah ah ah..."
It is said that on that very night, the Administrative Building issued an official document titled "Rectification and Treatment Plan for Establishments with Gambling Nature."
The next day, all the pinball parlors in the Monster Country Federation announced their closure and bankruptcy. Of course, Zhong Chen was completely unaware of this matter.
It was only when he wanted to get even the next day that he discovered there wasn't a single pachinko parlor left in the entire Monster Country Federation.
PS: Gambling and drugs harm people. Please stay away from them and cherish life!!!
Of course, these are all later stories. Currently, Zhong Chen is writing a self-reflection report of up to twenty thousand words under Sakuya's supervision...