One person: Starting with the Snow Drinking Blade

Chapter 141 Dawn

Chairman Zhao paused for a moment, then slowly said, "What the company needs is order. Order in the world of supernatural beings, and order in society as a whole. The Wang family disrupted the order, so they should be eliminated. Some forces are stirring in the shadows, wanting to disrupt the order, so someone needs to put them in their place. Some problems cannot be handled by the existing system, so new forces are needed to solve them."

He paused, then added, "As for eliminating dissidents... as long as it doesn't disrupt order or shake the foundations, the company won't take action against anyone. But if someone wants to overthrow the company or break the existing balance, then... don't blame the company for being ruthless."

Nie Lingfeng understood.

What the company wants is an obedient and stable community of supernatural beings. And this "ghost department" is the final guarantee to maintain this obedience and stability...

"I understand." He nodded slowly. "I'll take over this department."

A look of satisfaction flashed in Chairman Zhao's eyes: "Very good. Now, let's discuss the details. Have you decided on a name for the department?"

Nie Lingfeng thought for a moment, then suddenly felt a playful urge, and a mischievous smile appeared on his lips:

"How about... we call the Embroidered Uniform Guard?"

The smile on Chairman Zhao's face froze.

"Or... the Eastern Depot? The Western Depot? The Inner Depot?" Nie Lingfeng added fuel to the fire. "At the very least, we could call them the Bad People. That sounds more imposing."

Chairman Zhao's face darkened visibly. He stared at Nie Lingfeng, his eyes seeming to say, "Are you asking for trouble, kid?"

Chen Duo, standing nearby, didn't understand the meaning of "Jinyiwei" or "Dongchang," but seeing Chairman Zhao's expression, she sensed the tense atmosphere and whispered to Nie Lingfeng:

"The Embroidered Uniform Guard...aren't they good enough?"

"Good, very good." Nie Lingfeng suppressed a laugh, "It just sounds a bit like... a eunuch."

Chen Duo: "...?"

Chairman Zhao took a deep breath, suppressing the urge to throw the kid out, and gritted his teeth, saying, "Be serious!"

"Alright, alright, let's get serious." Nie Lingfeng knew when to stop, stroking his chin as he thought for a moment, "Since it's dealing with special issues and operating in the shadows, how about calling it... 'Dark Department'? Or 'Shadow'? 'Night Owl'? 'Ghost'?"

Chairman Zhao's face grew increasingly dark. Each of these names sounded more childish than the last, and less like a legitimate department.

"How about... 'Dawn'?" Nie Lingfeng suddenly said.

Chairman Zhao was taken aback: "Dawn?"

"Yes." Nie Lingfeng nodded, his eyes becoming more serious. "A sharp blade in the darkness, the dawn before sunrise. Solve problems before they erupt, nip crises in the bud before they arrive. For this order... guard every sunrise."

Chairman Zhao fell silent.

He pondered the name carefully.

breaking Dawn……

It sounds much more reliable than the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the Eastern Depot, or the Bad Guys. And the message is good too—operating in the dark to protect the dawn.

It's still a bit cringey, but... it's barely acceptable.

"...Alright then." Chairman Zhao rubbed his temples, feeling he'd sighed more today than in the past year. "Let's call it 'Dawn.' The department number... let's go with 'Zero.' From today onwards, you're the leader of 'Dawn Zero Group,' reporting directly to me. You choose the department members yourself, and submit the list to me for approval. I'll arrange for someone to handle funding, resources, and intelligence support. But there's one thing—"

He stared at Nie Lingfeng, saying each word clearly: "The existence of this department is top secret. No one else can know about it except me, you, and the members you've chosen. Including Xu San and Xu Si, including Zhang Chulan and Feng Baobao, including... this little girl next to you."

He looked at Chen Duo.

Chen Duo immediately shook her head: "I won't tell."

"She's one of my people," Nie Lingfeng said. "I trust her."

Chairman Zhao stared at Chen Duo for a few seconds, then finally nodded: "Okay, I trust you. But what if the news leaks out..."

"I'll take responsibility," Nie Lingfeng said.

"Okay." Chairman Zhao stood up, took a file folder from the drawer, and pushed it to Nie Lingfeng. "Inside is the 'Dawn' authorization instructions, contact information, and... your first task."

Nie Lingfeng took the document and opened the envelope. Inside were only a few thin pages of paper and an unremarkable-looking cell phone.

He first looked at those few pages of paper. The paper listed the permissions of "Dawn Zero": they could access all intelligence resources below Level B within the company, request equipment support below Level A, and mobilize local branch forces for assistance when necessary. However, each operation required prior notification, and a detailed report had to be submitted after the mission…

It has a lot of privileges, but also a lot of restrictions.

Then he looked at the phone. It was black, without any brand logo, only a red "0" engraved on the back. He pressed the power button, the screen lit up, and it indicated that fingerprint and iris verification were required.

Nie Lingfeng pressed his fingerprint and aimed it at the camera. The phone unlocked with a "beep," revealing only one app on the screen with a simple sun icon and the words "Dawn" below.

He opened the app; the interface was very simple, with only a few options: mission list, intelligence database, equipment application, contact person, and report submission.

There is only one task in the task list, and its status is "pending receipt".

Nie Lingfeng clicked on it.

Mission Name: Eliminate the Lurkers

Mission Level: A

Mission Description: Based on reliable intelligence, there is an external force infiltrating the company. The targets are mid-to-senior level personnel below the board level; their number and identities are unknown. Without alerting the infiltrators, ascertain their identities, collect evidence, and, if necessary… eliminate them.

Task timeframe: three months

Note: This mission is top secret and must not be disclosed to anyone except members of "Dawn". Available resources: S-level.

Nie Lingfeng's eyes narrowed.

Purge the mole... Is there a mole within the company? Or someone below the board level?

"It seems the company isn't a monolithic entity after all." He looked up at Chairman Zhao.

Chairman Zhao's expression remained calm, but his eyes were cold: "Over the years, the company has grown too rapidly, and it's inevitable that some people have designs on us. Some forces have overreached. I need a knife, a sharp knife that can cut off these hands."

"So, I am that knife?" Nie Lingfeng raised an eyebrow.

"Yes," Chairman Zhao readily admitted, "but it's not just you. The existence of 'Dawn' is precisely to handle these kinds of 'internal problems.' There will be many similar missions in the future. Be prepared."

Nie Lingfeng was silent for a moment, then slowly nodded: "Understood. I accept this mission."

"Very good." Chairman Zhao nodded. "You have all the information you need on your phone. The contact person's code name is 'Eagle,' and he will provide intelligence support. Request any equipment you need directly. But remember—I need results in three months."

"Don't worry." Nie Lingfeng put away his phone and documents, stood up, and said, "Well... shall we go now?"

"Wait a minute." Chairman Zhao called out to him, took out another small box from the drawer, and pushed it towards him. "This is for you."

Nie Lingfeng opened the box, inside were two rings. The rings were simple in design, silver bands with a small sun pattern engraved on them, just like the icon of a mobile app.

"This is the identification of 'Dawn' members, and it also serves as a communicator," said Chairman Zhao. "Once worn, it can only be seen by 'Dawn' members. It contains miniature positioning, communication, and emergency SOS functions. If in danger, pressing it three times will send a distress signal to other nearby members."

Nie Lingfeng picked up a ring and put it on the index finger of his left hand. The ring automatically adjusted its size, fitting snugly against his finger, neither too loose nor too tight, very comfortable. He tried pressing the surface of the ring three times, and his phone immediately vibrated, a message popping up on the screen: "SOS signal sent, awaiting response."

He handed the other one to Chen Duo. Chen Duo put it on, looking down at the ring on her finger, a hint of curiosity flashing in her emerald eyes.

"Let's go." Chairman Zhao waved his hand. "I'll contact you if there's a mission. Otherwise... don't bother me."

Nie Lingfeng smiled, took Chen Duo's hand, and turned to leave the office.

By the time I stepped out of that building, it was completely dark. The lights of Beijing were coming on one by one, the traffic was bustling, and people were clamoring—it was like a completely different world from the quiet, oppressive top-floor office I had just been in.

"Nie Lingfeng," Chen Duo suddenly spoke, her voice very soft, "Are we... going to become spies?"

Nie Lingfeng was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.

"I guess so. But we're righteous spies, the kind who specialize in catching bad guys."

Chen Duo nodded, not asking any more questions, but simply tightened her grip on the hand wearing the ring.

The two stood on the street for a while. Nie Lingfeng took out his phone, intending to call Xu Si to ask about Zhang Chulan's situation. But after thinking about it, he put it down.

Chairman Zhao's words were still echoing in my ears.

"The existence of this department is top secret. No one else can know about it except me, you, and the members you've chosen. This includes Xu San, Xu Si, Zhang Chulan, and Feng Baobao..."

He suddenly realized that from today onwards, he and Xu San, Xu Si, Zhang Chulan, Feng Baobao, and the others might... drift further and further apart.

It's not that feelings have changed, it's that stances have changed.

He is the "dawn's" blade, a hidden pawn in Chairman Zhao's hand. Xu San and Xu Si, on the other hand, are the company's visible forces. There are things they can do that he cannot. There are things they can say that he cannot.

"Never mind," he shook his head, put away his phone, "Let's find a place to stay first. The mission... isn't urgent."

He took Chen Duo's hand and they walked slowly along the street. Beijing's nights were bustling, filled with people and lights. Chen Duo looked curiously at the surrounding skyscrapers, neon signs, and pedestrians, her eyes sparkling.

"Want some ice cream?" Nie Lingfeng asked.

Chen Duo immediately nodded: "Yes."

"Come on, I'll take you to eat the best food."

The two found a popular ice cream shop, waited in line for more than ten minutes, and bought two huge cups of ice cream piled high with various toppings and fruits. Chen Duo held the cup, which was bigger than her face, and ate it in small bites, with cream on the corners of her mouth and her eyes curving into crescents.

"Is it good?" Nie Lingfeng asked.

"Mmm!" Chen Duo nodded vigorously, scooped up a spoonful and held it to his lips, "Try it."

Nie Lingfeng paused for a moment, then smiled and ate it: "Mmm, delicious."

The two sat on a bench outside the shop, eating ice cream and watching the bustling traffic on the street. The evening breeze was gentle, and the night was beautiful, as if the heavy topics, the undercurrents of conspiracy, and the impending bloodshed in the office were all just illusions.

"Nie Lingfeng," Chen Duo suddenly spoke, her voice muffled—her mouth was full of ice cream.

"Um?"

"Will we always be like this?" she asked, her emerald eyes sparkling in the neon lights. "Eating ice cream together, shopping together,...seeing the world together?"

Nie Lingfeng looked at her for a long time, then nodded very seriously.

"Yes. As long as I'm alive, I will."

Chen Duo smiled, a sweet smile, sweeter than the ice cream in her hand.

"Um."

Night was falling.

But the new story has only just begun.

Dawn Zero Group was officially established.

The first knife has been drawn.

The target—a lurking figure hidden in the shadows…