Chapter 1396: The Edge of Collapse: The Cruel Beginning (Part 1)

January 4, 2224

At 7 o'clock in the morning, a large number of streetside restaurants and bars were already full of people. Many people had reserved some seats. Relatives and friends gathered together, and everyone was waiting for the large-scale competition that would start at 9 o'clock.

As early as last year, the Film and Television Entertainment Association had been constantly promoting investment and making full preparations for this event. Many people were checking the test scores of 128 mutants, but the specific details were not announced. These mutants all scored above 80 points.

A large number of gaming companies have already opened, and many people can't help but want to bet, but the betting has been restricted from the beginning. The amount of each person's bet cannot exceed 10% of the monthly income. This is a hard rule of the Department of Operations.

After logging into the page of the gaming website, most people can see the amount they can bet after logging in with their identity information.

Many people are participating in such gaming entertainment for the first time, so the amount of bets is very small. Some people just start when they see the high odds. The odds of the betting companies are relatively small.

The headquarters of Section 5 has already set up a venue, and a large number of spectators who have bought tickets for the event have gathered outside Section 5. Tickets are not cheap, with the lowest price being 30 yuan and the highest being 300 yuan. There are a total of 10,000 viewing seats, and all the tickets have been sold out in advance.

At the main gate of Section 5, there are many booths and detection machines. At this time, many people are standing in front of the booths, saying that they can't watch for the time being and can only give their tickets to friends. They need to exchange the corresponding identity information of the tickets. There are more than one or two such people.

"Sir, take this, see if you can help us exchange the identity information of 100 tickets!"

A group of people are gathered around a booth, and one of the smiling men handed in a small bag. The member of Section 5 in the booth seems to understand something. He smiled and put it away, and then checked it with his fingers in his pocket.

"Okay, just slow down."

Today, there are unusually many people at the headquarters of Section 5. Many people from Section 3 have been temporarily mobilized to help maintain order on the scene. The scene has long been crowded, and everyone is discussing the strengths and weaknesses of these mutants.

The competition will last for about 3 days, starting at 9 am and ending at 11 am, starting at 2 pm and ending at 5 pm, and starting at 8 pm and ending at 11 pm.

All the mutants participating in today's competition have been waiting in Section 5. At this time, dozens of mutants who will participate in today's competition are sitting in the conference room, and Alpha is standing on the stage.

"Please listen carefully, everyone participating in today's competition. Our operation department may directly determine the winner based on the situation on the scene, rather than when you are injured. If you have any objections to our operation department's judgment, you can submit an appeal after the competition."

Alpha said that the mutants under the stage looked relaxed, but they seemed a little restless. Many mutants were still very happy, because participating in the competition would get them a lot, even if they only got one place higher, the prize money would be much higher.

Most mutants knew that today's competition was different from the performances that had been arranged on some TV shows in the past, and they had to fight with real swords and guns.

"This is a set of basic rules for evaluation. Please remember it. Knocking down the opponent, falling off the field, or voluntarily admitting defeat are the three most direct and effective ways of judging. The ranking will be based on your performance on the field and the time you fight."

As Alpha spoke, many people became excited. The grouping had been completed a few days ago. Everyone present looked at each other's opponents and began to get ready.

"There is more than an hour left. Please adjust your physical condition and prepare for physical examination."

Alpha turned around and walked away. Several directors began to tell these mutants some details of the game. After Alpha walked out of the meeting room, she took out a cigarette. She was the referee for the past three days, but for some reason, Alpha always felt a little uneasy.

The clerks passing by kept greeting Alpha. Alpha just nodded and walked quickly towards the venue.

When approaching the booth, Alpha noticed that many clerks in the booth looked suspicious. She probably knew what they were doing. Someone would definitely resell tickets. This was certain. This kind of thing was repeatedly banned in the city.

In particular, concert tickets of some performing stars are the most ruthlessly resold. Although Alpha has dealt with it several times, it has not been effective. However, Alpha does not intend to do these things now. There are more important things to be completed this year.

"Please show your ID!"

"Okay!"

The two men and women holding each other showed their IDs. They are a young couple. The man is called Gate and the woman is called Song Suo. Both are interns employed by the joint organizer of this event and need to be responsible for treatment on the spot.

After undergoing identity checks, the two stood beside a security scanner, waiting to be checked and then enter Section 5.

The people responsible for the live broadcast were queuing up to enter one after another. Everyone was busy and excited about the feast that started at 9 o'clock. The traders of the bookmakers had already entered the scene in advance.

The most eye-catching thing about this event is the prize money. Now, 128 mutants who were selected for the ring match based on their test scores have already received 10,000 in advance, with a total prize of more than 10 million, and the first place has a prize of up to 3 million.

Because it is the first session, and there are so many mutants participating this time, the prize money is very high. The Jiang family also announced that in the future, the prize money will be customized according to the number of mutants participating in the ring match every year, and the prize money for the champion will not be less than 1 million.

Everyone is guessing what the situation will be like in this competition. The lowest level of the mutants participating is A1, and there are 29 S-level mutants. Basically, everyone is betting on these S-level mutants to advance, and the odds have begun to change significantly.

And some people who are not lucky in gambling only bet on mutants with high odds. People from all walks of life gathered here today, especially some film and television companies, which are already looking for some mutants with good appearance and temperament. Some companies even promise some mutants that as long as they can get a good ranking, they can sign a contract with the company and enter the entertainment industry.

This event has driven a large number of industries. The north has seen unprecedented growth in food, clothing, housing and transportation. The rapid development of the entire north has played a role in reconciling the overall economic growth of the city.

The contradiction between ordinary people and mutants has almost been eliminated. Many people from the lower classes in the south and the west have also come to the north to develop, which has reduced the burden of employment pressure in the south and the west. The flow of population has not stopped the growth of consumption, but has caused consumption to continue to surge. In the three days of the New Year this year, the overall consumption of the city increased by 159%, and the consumption of the lower classes increased by more than 200%.

Such economic growth makes people in the city very happy. The medical prices in the medical industry have also begun to decline. Many people don’t understand what Freya has done. Recently, many new drugs have appeared on the market, and the effects are much better than many old drugs in the past.

Alpha sat quietly in the ring venue. This is a temporary training ground on the side of the 5th Department Headquarters. There are 10,000 seats in the circular square, and some ticket buyers can be seen entering in advance.

In the middle is a giant metal platform of 100 square meters. Alpha sits in the chief judge's seat, looking at the battles that will appear on the light and shadow screen today, feeling uneasy in his heart.

A new round of chaos has already begun. Various problems have begun to arise around the chaos of the mutant arena competition. In order to stimulate the economy and resolve the conflicts between mutants and ordinary people, such arena competitions have achieved the best results.

Once something is related to money, it will often become extremely complicated, and many problems hidden under the table will begin to breed.

Alpha has instructed some special section members to start investigating privately. The problem reported now is the problem of reselling venue tickets. At least half of the 10,000 tickets have been resold.

And when the groups came out a few days ago, some team leaders and even regional section officers who knew the grouping situation had privately contacted some people from the bookmakers.

Alpha knew very well that the internal information of the exam had been resold to the bookmakers, and the bookmakers had already contacted some mutants before the arena competition began.

Manipulating odds is inevitable, because the more sophisticated the manipulation, the more money the bookmakers make, and behind the bookmakers are businessmen from some big companies, including family businessmen, who all want to share this huge profit.

Alpha did not immediately stop these things, but waited, and from the next ring match, he introduced a corresponding system to curb these ugly phenomena, which is the most effective means.

Looking at the ring in front of him, Alpha knew very well that there would be some fake matches later. The bookmakers only need to buy one of the mutants at the key odds, so that the mutant with low odds will deliberately lose to the opponent with high odds. Alpha looked at the light and shadow screens in front of him, which showed all the bookmakers, and some clues could be seen from the odds.

"Section Chief Alpha, are you interested in this? If you are interested, please notify us. You can buy as many as you want, just think of it as making some pocket money."

Honghong touched behind Alpha, and Alpha shook his head.

"If there is a fake match this time, I will directly disqualify the two of them and they will not be allowed to participate in the mutant promotion exam within three years."

Honghong's face changed. She looked at the pile of numbers on the light and shadow screen. Honghong had heard some of these things. Long before the ring match started, the capital of all parties began to do a lot of work behind the scenes.

I thought Alpha had changed a little now. Honghong said nothing and could not say anything. I am afraid that today's event will not go smoothly as expected.

"Where do you want to go, Ms. Honghong! Please sit here. From now on, don't go anywhere. If you want to leave, I will arrest you immediately."

Honghong swallowed and became embarrassed instantly. Alpha lit a cigarette.

"Section Chief Alpha, you are not kidding, right? I think we should be fine with this matter."

"Isn't this a competition? Ms. Honghong, this is not a game, nor an entertainment program. I told you at the beginning."

Seriously, Honghong immediately understood in her mind that Alpha probably had a lot of evidence, and what she had to do now was to dig these things out directly at the scene.

This caught Honghong off guard. At this time, two female members of the special management team came over and stood directly beside Honghong.

"If she dares to contact anyone, she will be arrested immediately for illegal private trading!"

A chill ran down Honghong's spine. She didn't know what Alpha was going to do, but Alpha's expression at this time was extremely serious. Recalling what happened in the film and television area last year, a large-scale investigation only found out a small number of people. This matter was revealed by God. They suppressed it, and Honghong also heard that the entire fifth floor of the local public security management office was damaged because of Alpha's fight with Jean above.

"I think it's already this time, Chief Alpha, if you do this"

Honghong didn't dare to say any more. At this time, Alpha's eyes became extremely sharp. More and more people entered the venue. Honghong finally understood what Alpha wanted to do and let everyone present act. witness.

There are a lot of machines installed on the sidelines, but Honghong doesn't know what these machines are used for. Like many people, everyone doesn't know what these machines are used for.

"It can measure the strength of mutants when fighting and the number of modified cells used. If these things are found to be too large during the level assessment, they will be disqualified immediately."

Honghong's eyes widened, she didn't expect Alpha to do such a trick.

"This is different from what was promised at the beginning."

Honghong said dissatisfied, her brows furrowed. The Jiang family had indeed done a lot in private. The income from the tickets belonged to Section 5, but reselling the tickets had already made the Jiang family a lot of money. Plus now The three participating gaming companies have already done a lot of work with each other in private.

Honghong is getting more and more anxious. She doesn't know what kind of evidence Alpha has in hand, but it is certain that Alpha has such a tough attitude because he has the decisive evidence that can send people to prison.

Obviously many of the directors of Section 5 have already attended the Jiang family's banquet. Many problems were solved through them, and they also received a lot of generous rewards. Many things were even done under the instruction of these directors. Yes, the situation was getting worse now. Honghong looked around and saw that the businessmen were all seated. They seemed to be waiting for the arena competition to start and then watch the money go into their bags.

Honghong glanced at the time and it was just past 8 o'clock. She became anxious and wanted to leave the table, but she was watched and could not leave at all, and she could not contact anyone because Alpha kept his word and she He will be arrested, and if he is arrested at this time, the Jiang family's stock may suffer an unprecedented impact.

Honghong began to feel uneasy. It was probably impossible to convince Alpha. At this time, a group of directors came towards this direction, and Honghong immediately looked over.

"President, why are you here so early? I"

"Now you are disqualified as referees and all of you are asked to go back and deal with the five subjects."

For a moment, the nine council officers looked at Alpha with pale faces.

"Can't you hear me?"

Alpha asked. The nine people looked extremely embarrassed at this time. Alpha stood up.

"Think carefully about what is right. I don't want to have to arrest you personally in the next three days!"

The nine people looked at Alpha in shock, seeming to have realized something. Alpha stood up and walked in front of the nine people.

"I have not reiterated this once! Now go back to work."

After the nine people bowed slightly, they turned around and walked away with complicated expressions. Many businessmen greeted the nine directors along the way, but they just said a few casual words and left the venue.

Time passed by, Alpha was still waiting, and there were more and more people in the venue. Alpha carefully recalled everything in the past, and he would only take action to deal with many things when he saw the problem. When he encountered After countless resistances, Alpha knew that the following days would be the same.

Only when we realized that problems would occur, we immediately started to arrange them. As expected, many problems were exposed. A total of 395 staff members participated in the investigation of this incident. Most of them were grassroots staff members. Alpha was one of them. Some of them were recommended by Tamai.

Corruption has begun to breed within the business department on a large scale. This is what Alpha least wants to see. Many of his past classmates have begun to divide into different factions, supporting each other and seeking benefits for themselves. Will seek some benefits for Cone.

Alpha has always felt that this approach is wrong and will destroy the administrative department in the long run. The chiefs and secretaries of other departments are also facing the same problems as him. Nepotism is the most serious problem in the administrative department at present.

The gods basically turned a blind eye to such problems, and even protected the past students. The two directors who were involved in the film and television area last year are still serving, but they were replaced by Alpha and were responsible for some areas at the bottom. They also came to Alpha and proactively admitted some things. Alpha did not punish them because the censorship in the film and television area was over and many things would become irreversible.

The same goes for today's nine directors. Before this grand meeting, they had already colluded with businessmen, family members, and many regional officials under their subordinates, and began to favor the businessmen. This is the worst the result of.

Alpha has been thinking about it for a long time, and finally decided that something must be done by someone. If it continues to be left unchecked, the business department will only become the same as the past management in the future.

The matter has reached a point where it has to be resolved, and such a decision is extremely difficult for Alpha.

8:19 am

"Then I'll leave this matter to you, Jill!"

Gil bowed slightly. The six gods in front of him were looking at the situation of various industries in the city on the light and shadow screen, and calculating the distribution of taxes.

"But I didn't expect that your boy would have such an idea."

Li Chu said, and Jill smiled helplessly. The six gods were in Rose's shop. This shop between the headquarters of Section 3 and Section 5 was closed today.

"Where's the location!"

Werther asked, and after thinking for a while, Jill said.

"Choose Montenegro, my lords, what do you think?"

"Then you will be solely responsible for Jill!"

Gu Yi said, and Jill nodded.

"Now that you've made up your mind, just go ahead and do it."

Deguna smiled. The problem of mutants becoming violent must be solved. Even though the violent incidents caused by mutants last year have temporarily subsided, mutants have always been an extremely unstable point in the city.

"Set up a research team Gil, and I will give you all permissions now."

As Deguna said, Gil walked over. Tang Rao glanced at Gil and lit a cigarette.

"Have you thought clearly?"

Jill nodded.

"I have thought about it very clearly, Mr. Tang Rao."

From time to time, there would be discussions and knocks on the door on the street below. Many female customers would ask around the store when they passed by. Most of them were regular customers of Rose's store.

"You bastards, why don't you work in Congress instead of working in my house?"

Rose said, and Li Chu laughed.

"Because this is the closest to Section 5. If anyone wants to take advantage of this mutant competition to do something, we can go directly there. As for that girl Alpha, I don't think there is any need to worry. She shouldn't be able to do anything now. of."

After Gil was stunned for a while, a hesitant look appeared on his face, and Tang Rao noticed this.

"How about we keep suppressing that girl like this? Gene just left not long ago, so isn't it a bit too much?"

Tang Rao asked.

"Since the establishment of the Acting Department, everyone has been cooperating with Alpha's pace, but what is the result? Although we know what she wants to do, if she continues, other departments will be dragged down. Now we need her to follow the pace of the city. OK."

As Deguna said, Tang Rao stood up, walked to Gil's side, and put his arm around Gil's shoulders.

"I'm a little hungry, let's make something to eat together."

"Remember to pay, this is the property of my shop."

Rose shouted, and Tang Rao dragged Jill to the kitchen.

"What's going on?"

Gil was a little surprised, but he immediately shook his head.

"I have brought you up since you were a child, can't I not see your kid's little thoughts?"

Tang Rao already knew that Gil just wanted to talk to the gods about something, but he stopped talking. This matter could only be related to Alpha, and the only person who knew about it was Gil, who was the secretary of Section 5. .

"Maybe I'm too worried."

As Gil said, Tang Rao took out a cigarette and lit it.

"explain."

"President, in the past six months, she has been checking the information of the members of the 5th Section. She will often call some grassroots members to the headquarters, and even go to some places in person to find some grassroots members. I don't I know what she wants to do. I asked her once and she just said she wanted to promote some people.”

Tang Rao became a little suspicious. This kind of thing should sound quite normal. Tang Rao also knew Alpha's character. He interfered in what she wanted to do several times, started to put pressure on her, and had coordination problems in various subjects, which led to Now Alpha is kind of isolated from the business.

What Alpha has done in the past few years has caught the department off guard. What the city needs is absolute stability, and Alpha's actions have indeed destroyed the stability of the city.

"Jill, just go back to work and don't say anything unnecessary."

Jill looked at Tang Rao doubtfully.

"Go if you are told."

Gil smiled and bowed slightly, then turned around and hurried downstairs. Tang Rao leaned against the refrigerator, thinking about where Jean had taken Alpha in the hours before he left, and what he had said to Alpha. The change in attitude after Jean left was too surprising. Tang Rao knew from a young age that Alpha was not a docile kitten, but a ferocious beast that could awaken the power he possessed and interact with himself. Same, the sensing ability is very strong.

"What exactly does that little girl want to do?"

Tang Rao looked at the time and saw that it was already 8:47. Gene had looked for him before leaving.

"If you have any questions, keep an eye on Alpha for me."

These are Gene's original words. Although it is not difficult to understand, Alpha has restrained herself after Gene left. Several gods have talked to her many times, and Locke often invites Alpha to the General Affairs Department for dinner.

All this is to keep Alpha's own pace in line with the pace of the industry, rather than what happened in the past. Last year's large-scale review of the medical industry and the subsequent large-scale review of the film and television area made the city turbulent for several years. Months later, both crises were successfully resolved with the support of the Angus family.

The gods have unanimously decided that they can no longer let Alpha act like this.

It's just that Tang Rao vaguely felt something was wrong at this time. Her premonitions were often very accurate. Something big might happen in the city. This kind of sixth sense perception was very difficult to explain.

"I hope there won't be any problems."

8:53 am

Tamai swallowed and looked at the director in front of her. Her name was Ling Hong. She came to assist in this special mission. This special mission was commanded by Tamai. Alpha had just dealt with it the day before. Tamai issued this special mission.

"The situation seems to be very bad, Lord Ling Hong."

Tamai asked, Ling Hong nodded, and there was a house in front of her. After Ling Hong put out the cigarette butt in her hand, she waved her hand, and soon the people from Section 3 rushed in.

"What are you doing?"

The people in the room shouted, and soon there was a fierce quarrel, and Ling Hong walked in. This was the home of a certain regional section officer. At this time, a large number of members of the administrative section were mixed inside. Section 1, There are members from Section 4, Section 5, Section 6, Section 7, Section 8, Section 9, Section 11 and Section 12. There are nearly 200 people from the executive section in the entire five-story building. Including 6 regional section officers.

More and more officers were handcuffed and taken out of the room. Tamai looked at the large number, and soon these officers were taken into the lift parked on the back street. , and the surrounding streets have been blocked by Section 3.

"Take your men in and search."

Ling Hong said, Tamai led the people in, staring at Tamai with a pair of resentful eyes.

Soon Tamai found some information recorded on paper in a room on the first floor. It was the information of the people who purchased the admission tickets, as well as the information including the profit distribution of the middle price difference earned. All the information is quite detailed.

More and more ugly evidence about the mutant competition was being collected, and most of the officers involved were taken onto the lift. Ling Hong looked at the six regional officers in front of her.

"Tamayi, what on earth do you mean?"

A regional officer from Section 7 asked, but Tamai said nothing. One of the regional officers stated that he was not within the management scope of Section 3 and needed to speak directly to his superior director.

Tamai directly took out the internal arrest warrant issued by Section Chief Alpha, as well as part of the evidence of their crimes. The six regional officers were dumbfounded for a while.

Without saying a word, Tamai asked the selected officers who participated in the arrest operation to put them on the elevator. After a long-term secret investigation, it was found that the number of people involved in the case exceeded 3,000. This is An unusually large number.

Everyone saw the business opportunities in this mutant competition, so they started to take action. In just a few months of plotting, a consensus of interests had been reached. Ling Hong watched the search results without saying a word. evidence of.

This operation was what Alpha had told him a month ago, and Ling Hong brought the 2,000 members of Section 3 that he could mobilize within his maximum authority to assist in the arrest.

This is the fourth batch of people arrested this morning. Such numbers make Ling Hong feel uneasy, and only a handful of senior executives in the business department know about this matter.

"It's about to start."

Ling Hong glanced at the time. It was already 9 o'clock. The mutant competition officially started. Ling Hong glanced at the two hosts on the stage. They were still heating up the atmosphere. They looked like they were a real person. Show entertainment program is average.

Ling Hong took out another cigarette and lit it, then smiled helplessly.

"You'll be isolated if you do this, Alpha."

Ling Hong knew very well that Alpha had been blocked from solving the city's problems time and time again, and she was very dissatisfied in her heart. Ling Hong's action had not been reported to the section chief and secretary, who were currently engaged in the most serious It was a sweet time, and Ling Hong did not tell any of her classmates about this action.

Alpha trusted Ling Hong very much, and Ling Hong knew it, but she always felt that if she did this, extremely serious problems would occur within the administrative department, because the councilors would not remain silent.

Ling Hong looked at the section officer Tamai who was seriously taking investigation records in the room.

"Hopefully this young man can handle it."