Chapter 1830 - 941: Unlucky Year, Narrow Road for Enemies

The next day, New Spring.

The Coast app updated with several new announcements.

Sandwiched between 'Illegal modification of appliances causing fire' and 'Incomplete thorough cleaning leading to excessive pesticide residues on fruits and vegetables' was a violation notice.

The Defense Security Section E003 team was caught gambling after work hours, hereby severely warned, with all members having their performance bonuses for the month deducted, and the head of the Defense Security Section having a month's salary deducted as a warning to others. All employees should take this as a lesson!

In the photos, the E003 team caught red-handed grins widely at the camera, basking in the sunshine, delighted beyond measure.

It seemed not like they were caught violating regulations, but more like they were being commended.

As for those pitiful, bruised, nearly unrecognizable people in the background and what they were doing, that's another story entirely...

Immediately following, in another collective commendation notice, the E003 team for thwarting a nefarious terrorist attack, effectively protecting the Coast's property and employees' lives, was awarded a group commendation and a one-time bonus equivalent to fifteen months' pay, rank promoted by two levels, doubling of medical insurance and pension contributions, stirring envy in many.

Envy from other departments, anger from the Defense Security Section.

Because after this bunch of bastards reported it, the security loophole got plugged, surveillance cameras were reinstalled inside and outside the warehouse, leaving no blind spots... the merry little base tacitly acknowledged within the Security Section disappeared henceforth!

Beasts!!!

Where will we go for team-building after shifts from now on!

Momentarily, the previously jubilant armed security guards lost their smiles.

Now each day they patrol the security with pent-up anger, catching thieves and recovering stolen goods, hitting with five batons, delivering three, rounding up to a hundred after ninety, encountering 'good reviews' and offering 'discount' cashback...

Even the petty thieves of all sorts also couldn't chuckle anymore.

In a large forest variety of birds exist, the same applies to a large group of people.

Especially during such a bustling time as the Tech Expo, when the number of foreign tourists easily exceeds tens of thousands daily, and tickets for the Paralympic scene have become hard to come by, naturally leading to the rapid germination of various disorders with characteristic Wilderness flavors such as petty theft, scam gangs, vehicle robbers, road tyrants, etc...

Then, under the electric batons of the Defense Security Section, they experience firsthand what's called Coast speed and Coast warmth!

The local voltage, powerful!

The residents of New Spring seize the opportunity to make some small fortune, buying handicrafts or health products or last week's antiques, as long as it's not overdone, the Coast couldn't be bothered.

After all, having truly witnessed the reaction speed of the Coast's security system and the demonstration within the park of people reforming themselves, few are courageous enough to commit crimes again.

But these outsiders haven't seen it!

There's even buzz among wandering settlements beyond Hai Province, hearing rumors of New Spring's naive wealth, eager but having illicit plans.

Unfortunately, these wandering settlements entering Hai Province almost all vanished without a trace within a day or two, evaporated into thin air.

Only the 'kind-hearted old farmers' among the local settlements shed tears, counting the introduction fees given by Blessing Park, and thanked this divine act.

Under the surveillance of countless cameras spread throughout the Hai Province Wilderness, which even Ji Jue could hardly count, the Paradise System's control and observation have infiltrated into every corner, coldly overlooking any sign of disturbance, silently witnessing one reckless individual after another meeting their demise after ignoring warnings.

As the momentum of the Coast Tech Expo grew increasingly strong, more and more troubles sprouted like mushrooms after a rain.

There are too many people in this world who can't stand others doing well.

From before the start of the Expo, the servers of Coast Technology and Coastal Industry have been enduring network attacks from all over, falling like torrential rain.

When the Paralympic live broadcast began, criticisms and accusations online were ceaseless, with countless people continuously throwing muck at the Coast from all angles, alleging things like ignoring human rights, human experimentation, and falsifying achievements.

Over at the Taiyi Ring Association, more than sixty complaints have been received, accusing Ji Jue of abusing alchemy, violating association rules, and demanding a temporary freeze of all involved patents, calling for a fact-finding meeting to explain the Fly King's involved technology... yet these complaints, lacking any evidence, never proceed through regular channels, akin to waste paper, merely serving to unsettle Ji Jue.

[The preliminary inquiry result of yesterday's thwarted attack is complete... Unfortunately, sir, no leads were found.]

Isis's report sounded from the workshop: [A total of eleven mercenaries, all Imperial people, long mingling in Central Earth. Their past history has no involvement with the Coast, and this time the mission was a quadruple rate commissioned order on Desert Market, with generous bonuses, through an intermediary. The employer never revealed themselves from start to finish.

Should we delve deeper?]

"No need, if the loose ends were truly cleaned up well, digging around won't yield anything significant."

Ji Jue coldly sneered, "Besides, isn't it the case that if I say who it is, then it's them, and if I suspect someone, they're a suspect?"

Evidence?

What evidence?

The Security Bureau needs evidence for their actions. Here in New Spring, no, in Hai Province, whoever I say is a suspect is a suspect, even giving them the opportunity to prove their innocence is already considered lenient.