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 assistance 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 entities would not employ minors, as it would only put them at a disadvantage .
Most of the people in Gao Peng's company assumed 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 Wang Liang .
"Of course, I'll be focusing on character above all else!" replied Wang 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 pass through .
Someone in a security uniform bumped 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 spaces . 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 .
Chapter end
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