Chapter 59 Achieving a Win-Win Situation

"Tap, tap..."

Cheng Mo raised his hand and tapped lightly on the wooden panel, the sound crisp and decisive. His fingers were slender and strong, with distinct knuckles.

"Who is it?"

A cold, clear female voice came from within the room.

Li Luyan narrowed her eyes, staring at the door with a hint of amusement.

In an era where the old order had collapsed, a woman capable of reaching a leadership position either possessed ruthless methods or harbored formidable, hidden strength.

"It's me, Cheng Mo. A new awakened individual is here to register." His voice was steady, carrying a trace of respect.

There was a moment of silence from behind the door, followed by a faint "click" sound.

The door opened.

Li Luyan looked at the woman's face. The woman possessed striking, sharp features, with her short hair neatly cropped to the jawline.

As Li Luyan looked at her, the woman was also scrutinizing Li Luyan with a piercing gaze, much like a hawk locking onto its prey.

The woman nodded slightly. "Come in."

She then turned and walked back into the room. Cheng Mo whispered an introduction to Li Luyan, "This is Director Feng..." He paused briefly, "A level three lightning-attribute awakened."

Also level three?

A glint of interest flashed in the depths of Li Luyan's eyes. It seemed this woman maintained her position not merely through ruthless tactics, but through genuine, formidable strength.

She quietly surveyed the room.

The layout of the registration office was almost identical to Professor Diao's room, yet far neater. Books on the desk were arranged meticulously, and the air lacked the sour, musty odor found elsewhere.

Instead, it carried a refreshing scent of lemon.

Director Feng sat down on a genuine leather sofa, pulling a piece of paper from the drawer without even lifting her head. "Name."

"Li Luyan." Li Luyan gazed playfully at the woman who was writing. Perhaps her gaze was too intense, as Director Feng looked up. "Ms. Li, is there something on my face?"

Li Luyan withdrew her gaze and grinned broadly. "No, of course not."

Director Feng picked up her pen again. Her fingers were slender and attractive, her fingernails trimmed clean and neat.

Li Luyan noticed obvious abrasions and calluses on the web of Director Feng's thumb—clear evidence of frequently handling cold weapons.

"Awakened attribute." She paused her pen, signaling Li Luyan to continue.

"Mental-type..." She paused, drawing out her voice playfully, "Level three."

The tip of Director Feng's pen visibly hitched. She finally raised her head, locking eyes directly with Li Luyan.

Li Luyan met her gaze unflinchingly, the two pairs of eyes engaging in a silent clash in the air.

She could sense the oppressive aura emanating from Director Feng; this woman was indeed like a sharp-eyed hawk. But what interested her more was the fleeting trace of... wariness in the depths of the other woman's eyes?

Director Feng suddenly burst into laughter, the sound particularly pronounced in the quiet, empty room. "Ha... Interesting... Let's get acquainted."

"My name is Feng Man."

Li Luyan curved the corners of her lips. She didn't particularly care for making friends, but she enjoyed making friends with people like Feng Man.

She gave off the scent of her own kind.

"Alright. But Director Feng wanting to make friends with me—you aren't harboring some ulterior motives, are you?"

She tilted her head, her eyes half-closed as she looked lazily at Feng Man.

"Such as?" Feng Man placed her fountain pen on the desk, watching Li Luyan dangerously. The contact between the pen and the glass tabletop made a crisp sound.

"Using me."

Hearing Li Luyan's words, Feng Man suddenly burst into hearty laughter. Her laugh was bright, and the surrounding atmosphere warmed considerably, as if a block of ice had melted.

"I like you." She stood up, walked around the desk, and extended a hand toward Li Luyan. "I hope we can create mutual benefits rather than mutual suspicion."

Li Luyan looked at the calloused hand extended before her, currently lying open and completely defenseless.

After a moment, Li Luyan chuckled softly, "Very well, Director Feng."

However, she had no intention of shaking that hand. After all, at such close range, a lightning-type awakened could easily turn someone into a human charcoal briquette.

Feng Man's hand remained suspended in mid-air, the smile on her face undiminished.

She seemed to have anticipated Li Luyan's reaction all along. Her slender fingers flicked twice, and she withdrew her hand. "It's fine. Caution is always wise."

"Now then," Feng Man sat back down on the sofa, crossing her legs over the desk in a lazy posture. "Since the handshake is off the table, why don't you tell me: did you register with your sights set on the Association President, or the President's Chief?"

Li Luyan deliberately drew out her tone, her gaze sweeping across every corner of the room. "The President's Chief... Doesn't everyone want to reach the highest position?"

"The President's Chief?" She chuckled softly. "Do you even know who is running in this election?"

Li Luyan waved her hand dismissively, maintaining a lazy attitude. "I don't know... and I don't want to know." In any case, she would do her utmost to help Cheng Mo secure the position of Chief.

Whatever could make that little bastard—a divine creation—so excited had to be top-tier treasure. If they failed to win the position of Chief... well, she wouldn't mind resorting to a few petty tricks to get her hands on that prize.

Li Luyan's words sparked a hint of amusement in Feng Man's eyes. She put her legs down, leaned forward slightly, and rested her elbows on the glass table.

"Interesting." Feng Man's voice dropped lower. "However..."

"The position of Chief isn't so easy to claim." A dangerous arc formed at the corners of Feng Man's mouth. "Especially... when you don't even know who your opponents are."

She began to speak unprompted, "We have a level four awakened individual in this base; now that is a genius among geniuses... So,"

"Young lady, don't set your sights quite so high right from the start."

Hearing Feng Man's words, Li Luyan let out a weary yawn and offered a perfunctory response. This woman looked less than thirty years old; why did she speak with such seasoned authority?

Feng Man stared at Li Luyan, helplessly curling the corners of her lips. She retrieved a metal box from her drawer and tossed it casually toward Li Luyan.

The box traced an arc through the air, yet stopped abruptly half a meter away from Li Luyan, hovering steadily in mid-air.

"A welcome gift." Feng Man watched the hovering box, resting her chin on one hand with a trace of appreciation in her eyes. "Open it and see."

Li Luyan used her mental power to pull the box toward herself.

The lid popped open, revealing a blue crystal core resting inside. Silver light rippled across its surface, making it far more exquisite than ordinary monster cores—it looked practically like a work of art.

"The crystal core of a level three lightning-mutated beast," Feng Man emphasized, not forgetting to observe Li Luyan's expression. "There are no more than three of these in the entire sanctuary."

"It seems," Li Luyan closed the box, flashing a sincere smile, "we are going to be very good 'friends'."

"As expected of Director Feng, truly generous."

Hearing this, Feng Man's eyes curved into crescent moons as she smiled, faint wrinkles forming at the corners of her eyes. Her voice carried the pleasure of one who had found a kindred spirit. "Then... I hope we can achieve a win-win situation."