Era of Magic and Martial Arts-Chapter 216 - 200: What the Hell Are You Doing

"Yes, I understand. I will cooperate with the warden's work, ensuring no mistakes. Please don't worry, Sir."

Zhou Hu stood as straight as a rod, his voice passing through the phone, full of respect and obedience.

However, after he hung up, his previously calm expression became extremely gloomy.

Ma Xuan quickly stepped forward and asked, "Did something happen?"

Zhou Hu gritted his teeth, the muscles on his face twisting, his voice carrying a hint of maliciousness and ferocity: "The higher-ups backed down. They ordered us to unconditionally obey and cooperate with Warden Qian Huan's directives in the near future."

Ma Xuan's face was solemn as he asked suspiciously, "The higher-ups are bowing to Celestial Light Capital? Fully cooperating with Warden Qian Huan's work? Doesn't that mean our Second Prison is being handed over to them on a silver platter?"

Zhou Hu let out a cold laugh, his laughter laden with endless sarcasm and disdain: "It's not Celestial Light Capital they're bowing to, it's Bright Group they're caving into."

Ma Xuan was puzzled: "But why?"

Zhou Hu shook his head: "Do you think the higher-ups would explain the reason to me? Hmph, as I've said before, those who work in offices are all a bunch of gutless cowards, unreliable."

A complex light flickered in Ma Xuan's eyes. He hesitated for a moment and asked, "So, should we listen to what the higher-ups say?"

Zhou Hu's brows knitted into a knot, his expression changing unpredictably. He looked at Ma Xuan and asked:

"Do you think if our Second Prison is really handed over to Celestial Light Capital, and a comprehensive stock reform is completed, Warden Qian Huan will still keep us on?"

Ma Xuan shook his head gravely: "Probably not. If they accepted us without any changes, wouldn't the Second Prison be the same as before? Stock reform would be meaningless then."

Zhou Hu, having confirmed this with Ma Xuan, looked even more aggrieved. He asked again: "And if Celestial Light Capital doesn't want us, do you think the prison system could take us back?"

Hearing this, Ma Xuan's expression also fluctuated, finally replying hesitantly: "They probably would, otherwise, where would we go?"

Zhou Hu sneered: "Ma Xuan, you're still too naive, you haven't interacted enough with those people on top. I know them, when we're useful, they look at us directly, but when we're worthless, they don't care whether we live or die."

Zhou Hu paused for a moment, then gently patted Ma Xuan's shoulder, speaking earnestly: "A carrot for a pit, without this Second Prison pit, what use are we carrots?"

Ma Xuan's voice carried a hint of raspiness, revealing some helplessness and struggle: "Couldn't we be transferred to another prison to continue working?"

Zhou Hu's voice was cold and unyielding, shattering Ma Xuan's naive fantasy:

"Would other prisons welcome us? Even if such an opportunity existed, and the higher-ups were willing to arrange it, could we maintain our current positions? Would you be willing to give up everything and start from scratch as a prison guard in a new prison?"

Ma Xuan fell silent, simply shaking his head stiffly.

Zhou Hu had made up his mind, his tone deep: "So, we must guard our carrot pits tightly."

Ma Xuan stared at Zhou Hu's dark and sinister demeanor, taking a deep breath, his voice tinged with unnaturalness: "So, what should we do, continue to sabotage the warden? That would be going against the higher-ups."

Zhou Hu did not immediately answer Ma Xuan's question but instead changed the subject, asking: "Why haven't we seen Chang Wei today?"

After a brief moment of thought, Ma Xuan replied: "He rushed off this morning, I think he went to his nephew's school."

Zhou Hu let out an "oh," and sighed:

"Chang Wei only has this one nephew, it's not easy for him. So, when Chang Wei returns, tell him not to wait any longer. The plan has been moved up. Let him handle it, and I'll give him a long holiday so he can focus on looking for his nephew outside. Maybe he can find him, right?"

Ma Xuan's pupils shrank suddenly, a chill rising from his heart and enveloping his entire body.

Zhou Hu glanced at the phone in his hand, his brows slightly furrowed, looking increasingly annoyed.

He heavily patted Ma Xuan on the shoulder, speaking ominously: "Leave this matter to notify Chang Wei. Hmm, I have to go to a meeting now. Warden Qian Huan has suddenly called a meeting, hmm—, he's planning to stir up more trouble. I better hurry to cooperate with him properly."

Noticing Ma Xuan's silence, Zhou Hu's voice unconsciously rose a few notches:

"What, do you have any doubts? Hmm, true, Chang Wei's mind isn't as sharp as yours. It's wise to let you and me handle such important matters."

Ma Xuan involuntarily shivered and quickly responded: "No problem, as soon as Chang Wei comes back, I'll speak to him."

Zhou Hu slowly withdrew his hand, exiting the office with a dark expression, heading towards the meeting room.

Ma Xuan's complexion turned pale and rigid, not out of sympathy for Chang Wei, but rather continuously mulling over Zhou Hu's weighty advice:

—— You're still too naive, you haven't interacted enough with those people on top. I know them, when we're useful, they look at us directly, but when we're worthless, they don't care whether we live or die.

Ma Xuan stood frozen like a statue for a solid half-minute, then a mournful smile appeared on his face, and he muttered to himself:

"Yes, a carrot for a pit, I must tightly cling to my carrot pit, so, I can't be blamed!"

Ma Xuan exhaled a deep breath as though dispelling a heavy burden within.

He reached for his phone and dialed Chang Wei's number: "Hello, where are you? Hurry back, I have something important to tell you, hmm, don't worry, it's good news."

.....

The atmosphere in the meeting room suddenly grew tense, and Zhou Hu's emotions could no longer be contained.

He slammed the table hard, his eyes bloodshot, glaring at the warden in fury: "What did you say?"

Qian Huan had a cold expression, no longer with the cautiousness of the past, replaced by a fierce look as if someone had just killed his father.

Fearlessly staring back at Zhou Hu, he sneered with ridicule: 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

"The last-place elimination system is a performance assessment mechanism that many enterprises advocate and strictly implement today. That Supervisor Zhou doesn't know this just means he's been stuck too long in our relatively closed prison environment, unable to keep up with the times."

Zhou Hu almost laughed in anger, retorting: "Last-place elimination, I'm well aware of it, I was just asking if you plan to bring those corporate practices into the prison. Are you insane? This is a prison!!!"

Looking at Qian Huan, as if seeing an idiot, he taunted: "Bringing this system into the prison, do you know how many people will die, Warden?"