Chapter 507: Finance Snatching People (Thanks to 'Yanshu ing' for Gifting Alliance Leader)

Chapter 507: Financial Poaching (Thanks to 'Sakura Book ing' for the Alliance Master donation)

To a civil engineering student like Zhang Yu, had this been a few months ago, True Monarch Chain-Pivot would not have spared him a single thought.

Even if Zhang Yu had earned his military certification in his junior year, to the True Monarch, the name would have been nothing more than vaguely familiar.

After all, for a student, obtaining a military certification is an arduous, complex, and rare feat; in a class of so many, a decade might pass without a single student achieving it.

But to True Monarch Chain-Pivot, while the certification was difficult, looking across the entire grade or the whole school, those who held one were not exactly scarce.

His student contact list, for instance, was filled with those who possessed the certification.

What truly drew the True Monarch’s attention to Zhang Yu was the experiment involving the God-Transformation Dharma Remains.

After all, anything touching upon the God-Transformation realm, no matter how small, is a matter of great consequence.

Moreover, this case involved the core technology of the God-Monarch of Nectar.

Within the project teams of True Monarch Magnetic-Pole and True Monarch Heaven-Script, besides Zhang Yu... not a single other test subject had succeeded.

Even though the school and the project teams had recently increased investment and recruited more students for testing, there had been no genuine success stories.

It was not just the Dharma Remains in the hands of True Monarch Magnetic-Pole; as far as True Monarch Chain-Pivot knew, the Dharma Remains hidden within the Finance Department had also failed to find a successful subject.

Thus, after the failure of Nine Heavens Gilded to lease Zhang Yu, absorbing him into the Finance Department gradually became a new option.

If this had previously been merely a contingency plan, then once Zhang Yu secured the inter-school championship in the civil engineering competition, True Monarch Chain-Pivot resolved to put the plan into motion.

After all, even setting aside the matter of the Dharma Remains, investing in Zhang Yu’s demonstrated capabilities would never be a loss.

And so, at this very moment, True Monarch Chain-Pivot descended in projection, intending to recruit Zhang Yu personally.

In his view, for a figure of his standing in the Finance Department to personally extend an invitation, the outcome was a foregone conclusion.

As for the face of the Civil Engineering Department? The face of Director Gao? In the eyes of True Monarch Chain-Pivot, when had they ever possessed such a thing?

Meanwhile, upon hearing the True Monarch’s unreserved efforts to poach Zhang Yu, the scene erupted into chaos.

The students present, though silent on the surface, were flooding the Spirit Realm with a sudden surge of communication.

Someone in the class group chat posted a photo of the scene.

"True Monarch Chain-Pivot from Finance is here to poach Zhang Yu!"

"And right when Director Gao was about to recommend him for graduate studies."

Ying Xin: It seems our senior brother is about to ascend to the Finance Department.

Li Xiao: Does this mean we can all apply for loans from him in the future?

Ji Yuan-Shu, working overtime at the construction site, paused for a long moment, staring at the messages in the group without moving.

In the inter-school competition group.

Shi Huaiyu: A poaching war!

Xiao Yuji: It’s not just Director Gao trying to keep him; the Artifact Refining and Finance departments are both moving in.

Su Yanyang: If it were me, I’d definitely choose Finance. They’re the wealthiest, and they’d even cover the breach-of-contract fees.

In the departmental competition group.

Gongshu Jin: You all missed the banquet; you missed a grand show.

Gongshu Jin: Just as Director Gao announced Zhang Yu’s graduate recommendation, True Monarch Chain-Pivot descended.

Gongshu Jin: He’s trying to drag Zhang Yu straight into the Finance Department!

Yu Xinghan: Zhang Yu, are you going to become a financial lord?

Shi Yunxiang: He’s ascended.

In the Artifact Refining group, Feng Tingting messaged: At the civil engineering celebration, a Finance tycoon descended from the heavens to snatch a disciple on the spot! A slap in the face to the whole department!

In an instant, countless messages about the Finance Department’s poaching frenzy spread wildly through the Spirit Realm. The image of Director Gao, Zhang Yu, and True Monarch Chain-Pivot standing together was captured and shared repeatedly.

Under the gaze of the masses, Director Gao snorted coldly, stepping in front of Zhang Yu to face the True Monarch. "Zhang Yu is a student of my Civil Engineering Department, my disciple. I thank you for your high regard, True Monarch, but joining the Finance Department is out of the question."

True Monarch Chain-Pivot smiled indifferently. "Whether to transfer departments or which teacher to serve is a student’s free choice. Why not ask Zhang Yu himself?"

"Director Gao has only just taken charge of this mess of civil engineering pots and pans; it would be best not to act so arbitrarily, lest you damage the friendship between our departments and delay the projects in your hands."

Director Gao’s gaze sharpened; he heard the threat hidden in the True Monarch’s words regarding loans, debts, and investments.

Many projects in Civil Engineering required vast capital for turnover, and a significant portion of those spirit coins came from the Finance Department.

If Finance were to tighten the noose, many construction sites would be unable to pay wages, and projects would grind to a halt.

Historically, the Finance Department had used this leverage to control many internal affairs of Civil Engineering. A little pressure was usually enough to make professors and experts surrender. But to Director Gao, constant compromise only emboldened the Finance Department.

Furthermore, he believed these threats weren't foolproof; if Civil Engineering projects failed, the Finance Department’s loans would be at risk. They were bound together in prosperity and ruin.

Yet, there were too many spineless individuals in Civil Engineering. The Finance Department’s threats had become a habit for both sides.

Even now, before Director Gao could respond, professors and experts were flooding him with messages, urging him to stay calm, not to be impulsive, and to negotiate properly.

Director Lin: Calm down, old Gao. Do you want a pile of civil engineering companies to go bankrupt?

Lang Yougong: Director Gao, the jobs of so many teachers and students are at stake. You cannot clash with Finance.

Old Director (Soul Cultivator): Don’t fight Finance. If you fight, how will we make money? So many mouths in Civil Engineering are waiting to be fed.

True Man Jiao Lei: Director, if the student really wants to transfer, you can stop him for a moment, but not for a lifetime. It’s not worth offending Finance over this.

Watching the messages scroll across his vision, Director Gao felt as if invisible chains were binding his body, a look of helplessness creeping onto his face.

Just then, Zhang Yu stepped out from behind him.

He looked the True Monarch in the eye and said, word for word: "True Monarch Chain-Pivot, I have made myself very clear. I have no interest in the Finance Department, and I will not transfer."

The True Monarch narrowed his eyes and smiled. "Zhang Yu, you are young. Buried in construction sites, you may not yet understand the gap between our departments."

"It is a waste of your talent to remain in Civil Engineering. Think it over carefully..."

Under the shocked gazes of the crowd, Zhang Yu interrupted him, his voice resolute: "I will not go to the Finance Department."

Seeing himself interrupted and hearing such a decisive refusal, the True Monarch’s smiling face turned expressionless in an instant.

Director Gao looked at Zhang Yu in surprise, stunned by the crispness of the refusal and the boy’s refusal to back down.

Meanwhile, the text messages before Director Gao continued to jump.

Director Lin: Old Gao! Why don't you persuade your disciple? How can he speak to the True Monarch like that? So rude!

Old Director (Soul Cultivator): Make your student apologize to the True Monarch immediately! Where is your responsibility as a director? Don't ruin business for the rest of us!

Director Gao chuckled. "Chain-Pivot, I believe my student has expressed himself clearly. Will you not leave?"

True Monarch Chain-Pivot said emotionlessly: "Zhang Yu, it seems the contract you signed is indeed harsh, to provoke such a reaction."

"It also shows that you know nothing of the Finance Department."

"Come with me to the Finance Department for a look. It won't be too late to decide after you've seen it."

Director Gao barked: "Chain-Pivot! My student has already refused. How long do you intend to pester him?"

The True Monarch smiled faintly: "Qingmu, I am merely inviting your student for a tour. Why are you so anxious? Are you afraid he won't return? If you have so little confidence in your own department, why hold onto him so tightly?"

At that moment, Director Lin stepped forward, standing beside Director Gao with a helpless expression. "Old Gao, the True Monarch is just taking Zhang Yu for a tour. What are you so worked up about?"

Another professor stepped forward to intercede: "Director Gao, it is a good thing for Zhang Yu to visit the Finance Department. How can we in Civil Engineering avoid dealing with them? If Zhang Yu builds those connections early, it will only benefit his future."

Director Gao looked at the line of Civil Engineering faculty pleading their case, his heart a turbulent mix of indignation and helplessness.

True Lord Chain-Pivot offered a faint smile, watching the scene unfold as if it were a mere farce.

Just then, a subtle tremor rippled through the Spirit Realm, and the Nine Heavens Primordial Sun Pagoda manifested, instantly severing all transmission of information.

The cold voice of True Lord Magnetic-Pole echoed across the hall: "Enough. Stop leaking this news. Do you want the other universities to make a laughingstock of Wanfa?"

True Lord Chain-Pivot looked at True Lord Magnetic-Pole and smiled. "Well, Magnetic-Pole, you finally couldn't hold back anymore? Are you ready to make your move?"

True Lord Magnetic-Pole sneered: "Chain-Pivot, today is the Civil Engineering Department’s commendation ceremony. What are you, a man from Finance, doing here prancing about, dressed like a stack of funeral money? What exactly are you so smug about?"

The projection of True Lord Chain-Pivot flickered, his form shimmering with spirit coins. A radiance of currency bloomed throughout the Spirit Realm, standing in firm opposition to the Nine Heavens Primordial Sun Pagoda, yielding not an inch.

True Lord Chain-Pivot replied: "Magnetic-Pole, the Finance and Civil Engineering departments are exchanging ideas here; what business is it of yours? You would do better to worry about whether you can pay back next month’s loans."

True Lord Magnetic-Pole retorted: "Are we the ones who created the deficit on the books? The Artifact Refining and Civil Engineering departments toil away with endless overtime, yet the school’s debt climbs year after year, and the funds in the accounts dwindle. Our salaries in Artifact Refining drop annually, while some earn the most, only to pin the losses on us and use loans to keep a stranglehold on our throats?"

(End of Chapter)