Seized by the System

“Before you have enough power, be wary of drawing too much fire. Keeping a low profile is the key to your eventual success. Without an adequate power, the first one to go onstage is usually the loser in the end.”

Bai Shixin recalled the quote suddenly as he strolled into the open door without second-guessing himself.

“Shixin, you’re here. Have a seat.” A tiny old person sat behind a regular red pinewood office table, examining files and documents.

Seeing him, the old person did not stand up, instead only nodding at a couch beside, indicating him to sit.

“Thank you, Elder Ancestor. I have a good news.” Bai Shixin sank into the couch and held his emotion before reporting calmly, as usual.

“Oh, what is the good news?” The old person set down his pen and asked inquisitively.

“According to the news on the human’s side, the moon will disappear in six months, and the humans are beginning to descend into a state of panic. Even if the Dragon God is handling them, the faith they had in surviving had dropped to a historical low. This is a rare tactical window for us Greater Rat Clan…” Bai Shixin paused as he observed the facial expression of Elder Ancestor Bai.

Elder Ancestor Bai nodded and said with interest, “I already knew. In your opinion, how should we utilize this tactical window?”

Bai Shixin took a deep breath and said seriously, “Sages of the past ages have said that ‘Mount Tai did not choose and pick its soil, therefore it could grow to the size that it did, the seas did not winnow the streams that go into it, therefore it could expand to the depth that it had.’ This crisis had exhausted the humans and caused a species-wide panic on them, if we could use our safety in the underground as a lure to attract the talents in the human species, we could possibly enrich our power as we absorb the strength of other clans.”

“Not bad, you’ve always thought about the bigger picture. Attracting human talents to fortify our clan has always been my foundational viewpoint.” Elder Ancestor Bai smiled and nodded. “Now is a good opportunity to put out some attractive measures. However, many humans are worried about the demons, what action would you suggest taking?”

“Beating them at their own game…” Bai Shixin smiled mysteriously. Without waiting for Elder Ancestor Bai to ask him, he explained, “Do you remember their definition of humans and demons in the Cloud Fog City?”

“Good, good,” Elder Ancestor Bai said approvingly, “you are indeed the wisest person in the Greater Rat Clan. Our clan, and by extension, the Demonic Alliance, will belong to youths like you.”

“I dare not claim an honor of this altitude. Elder Ancestor Bai had led the demons for generations, I wouldn’t dare to have such an extravagant wish,” said Bai Shixin humbly.

“Heh, save the modesty. Go and get busy. If there is a need, I will order them to cooperate with you.” Elder Ancestor Bai stood, leaving his heavy pile of documents as he accompanied Bai Shixin to the door.

Walking the Path of Godhood would entail handling a huge number of secular affairs. Other cultivation methods would only need to focus on their physical wellbeing, their tools, or their formations.

Bai Shixin refused quickly, but politely and turned around to leave hurriedly.

The first step was done without any unpredicted elements.

The foundation was laid, so it was time to get the main character on the stage…

…

A few days later.

In bright daylight, a corner in the city.

“F*ckin’ huge rat, why would it appear in the day?”

A hardworking environmental sanitation worker was going to throw bags of rubbish into the dumpster when he saw a massive rat the size of a pig pushing itself out from beneath it.

The large rat slapped a piece of paper onto the dumpster and dove back underground.

The worker hid aside, peering from afar.

It was not his first time seeing the Greater Rats, but they had always appeared at night to drag trash underground.

There was once upon a time when they came out in the day to loot trashcans. However, after Vigilante A had begun his global roaming, they had disappeared.

‘Could it be like the news had said, a crisis is imminent, so even the rats are getting antsy?’

Remembering the local Special Affairs Department’s notice, the worker inched toward the dumpster and took a photo of the paper with his phone.

“Wanted: Unity of Demons and Humans. All who are gifted with the talents of… For inquiry, please contact Wechat: XXX to arrange for a meeting. Basic remuneration includes: an account in the underground city of the Greater Rat Clan, a residential unit with 4 rooms and 3 halls, and allowance up for discussion. Flood- and fireproof as well as guaranteed safety…”

“This, this is…” The worker looked around stealthily. After he had confirmed that no one had looked over, he shuffled the paper into his pocket decisively.

He had no talent to speak of, but his son had a tertiary degree. His son had graduated two years ago, but because the arrival of Era of Vitality, he could no longer work in his original work. Therefore, he went on to learn new skills.

The skill he was learning was about cultivating vitality crops, which was listed on the poster.

Similar scenarios quickly spread to all places.

The local Special Affairs Department immediately reported the sightings.

Ren Ruofeng had only asked them to hold their fires and observe.

Initially, there were a lot of bystanders, but as the news spread on the internet, there were photos and videos that could prove the authenticity of the claim. The Greater Rats were really seeking talents with plenty of safety-guaranteed residences to offer.

The higher powers of the Greater Rats were pleased. Vigilante A had warned them not to destroy the telecommunication system, to which they complained, but now, they were able to enjoy the same treatment.

The wanted poster had circulated all over the globe within a few days. Without the internet, that was unfathomable. The act of pasting posters only delivered the sense of desperation for talents, but the actual efficiency was low.

The rats stayed underground, connecting the Greater Rat Kingdom’s network with humans’ cable was not unthinkably difficult.

With the allure of money and pills, there would be plenty of people who would do it for them.

On the Monsters Forum, in a popular thread.

“The underground city of Greater Rats does really sound not bad. They pay well and we don’t even need to worry about the sea that will eventually crash onto Earth.” One of the pioneers posted his experiences, complete with videos to prove his identity as a human.

“But there are rats everywhere. Aren’t you worry the rats will eat you up?” Questions flooded into his inbox.

“Oh, we don’t stay with those lowly rats who still couldn’t transform. Our neighbors are all wererats and look like us. The Rat King is kind and personable, and he’d already banned the wererats from attacking humans. There are a few of us who already proved to us that unless you’re being an idiot, there’s not much danger staying with them.” The poster seemed to have gotten a really good deal, as he kept persuading the other people online.

His motive was understandable. The more other people went there, the more insurance he had. Humans are social creatures, after all.

Maybe, only when there was an overabundance of influx to the city that could threaten his position that his opinion would change.

“Looks like it’s a pretty good deal. Maybe we could stay there for a while to ride through the lunar disaster before coming back?” Someone asked.

“Sure,” The poster said, “Elder Ancestor is really open, he believes that turnover rate of talents should be decided on one’s free will, so he had offered plenty of job opportunities. He had openly said that he agreed with the idea that there shouldn’t be a distinction of humans and demons, as long as all of us evolved from natural creatures and have to rely on our own, we shall be seen as the same.”

“That’s right. In that case, we are not betraying the human species, we’re only shifting. That doesn’t sound very different from emigrating, does it?” Everyone realized.

The propaganda in Cloud Fog City seemed to have worked against them.

Bai Shixin’s wisdom was evident from acts like this.

The humans’ tactic to divide the Demonic Alliance was able to shut the sly Cang Lang up, but Bai Shixin could turn that into his own to poach talents from humans while raising their own public opinion.

If he had another agenda, he would have become a huge threat to the humans.