"You're so naive! Do you even remember why we brought in so many freelance players in the first place? On one hand, it was to absorb fresh blood, and on the other, it was to collect resources from them. It's obvious that neither of those are useful anymore. We're already having layoffs, so why would we absorb any fresh blood? And another thing, without funding from above, why would we even bother collecting resources?"

Lin Zinuo, as the vice-captain of the logistics team, was more aware than anyone of the seriousness of the situation.

Su Mo also felt that this was very troublesome. The Dawn Legion's Tenth Army might really collapse. It wasn't easy to find a place to settle down, and the relationships were pretty good. Was it all going to go down the drain?

"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. Let's think of a solution."

Su Mo replied simply.

"Think of a solution for what? We can't even afford to repair the He Lan."

Lin Zinuo was on the verge of tears, thinking of her He Lan.

Su Mo didn't answer Lin Zinuo. Instead, he watched the dismissed freelance players, lost in thought.

Two days later (game time), over ninety percent of the freelance players in Dawn City had been expelled, and the once bustling city became much quieter.

At this time, Qian Chengxue said to Sun Li and the others, "All team leaders and vice-leaders, as well as senior executives, log off and go to the conference room for a personnel meeting. Everyone else, stay at your posts!"

"Understood."

Sun Li and the others looked serious. What was coming was finally here.

Although Qian Chengxue didn't say anything on the surface, everyone knew in their hearts that there simply wasn't enough money to sustain them.

Su Mo didn't log off. This personnel meeting didn't have much to do with him.

However, he was also feeling a little headache now. Such a big change had occurred, and his Black Steel Envoy mecha was also destroyed. He felt like he was walking into a dead end.

Thinking of this, Su Mo raised his head and looked at the sky.

Dark clouds filled the sky, and it seemed like it was going to rain.

......

In the evening, Su Mo opened his eyes. He sat up and took off his helmet.

He stared at the helmet in his hand, feeling a little dazed, and a bit awkward.

Just then, Su Mo's phone rang.

Buzz, buzz.

Su Mo snapped out of his thoughts, picked up his phone, and glanced at the number. His expression changed slightly. He answered the call and walked out of the computer room.

"Hello..."

......

---------------------------------------

In an inconspicuous shop in the Imperial Capital, Su Mo and Chen Shan sat facing each other, with the same low-quality white wine and a pot of stewed chicken.

Su Mo didn't mind. Since they were familiar, he wasn't too reserved. He picked up a piece of chicken.

Chen Shan poured a glass of white wine for Su Mo and said with a smile.

"Come on, let's have a toast first."

"Okay."

Su Mo raised his glass and clinked it with Chen Shan before drinking it all in one gulp.

"That's the spirit! Brother, this is for you."

As he spoke, Chen Shan took out a file bag from beside him and handed it to Su Mo.

"What's this?"

"The reward for the information you submitted last time."

Chen Shan said with a smile.

Su Mo opened the file bag and took out two things: a certificate of merit and a cash check for 100,000 yuan.

Chen Shan coughed and said to Su Mo with an awkward expression, "The information you gave last time was very valuable, but this is all the reward we can offer. I hope you don't mind, brother. The Tianlong Guild is also having financial difficulties, and this is all we can give. But don't worry, when the medicine is developed, the contributor's name will be noted."

"I know, no need to say more. I don't care about those things. If I did, I wouldn't have submitted it."

Su Mo didn't care at all.

"Magnanimous! I knew I didn't misjudge you. Although you received a smaller reward, everyone will benefit. The developed medicine will be available at a reasonable price to all our compatriots. At that time, they will be able to use the cheapest medicine and also earn foreign money with it."

Chen Shan said very happily.

"That's good. Let's not talk about that. I have something I want you to help me with."

Su Mo raised his head and looked at Chen Shan very seriously.

Chen Shan was slightly stunned, but then he patted his chest and assured, "Brother, just say it. As long as I can do it, I won't hesitate!"

"Thank you, it's like this..."

Su Mo lowered his voice and talked to Chen Shan in detail...

......

-------------------------------------

The next day, Su Mo came to the company building.

As soon as he entered the building, he felt that the atmosphere was not right. The usual relaxed atmosphere was gone, replaced by a heavy feeling.

Everyone's faces were filled with worry and fear.

Su Mo picked up his phone and glanced at the legion group and the team group.

"I heard that the legion is going to adjust positions, is it true?"

"It's true, I've already received the adjustment letter. I've been transferred to a factory in the suburbs, crying~~~"

"Hey, don't blame Xue-jie. I heard that the layoffs in the legion next door are even more terrifying. It's a clean sweep, and they don't even give you the opportunity to transfer. They just give you some subsidies and send you away."

"That's too much, didn't they sign a contract?"

"Don't even mention it. I later learned that the contracts signed by other legions are not the same as our template. They can terminate the contract whenever they want, and they don't have to pay much compensation. And they also confiscate all the game's earnings, leaving you with nothing."

"That's too much."

"Okay, it's useless to say more. At least this one has some compensation, which is considered good. Have you seen the forums? It's like a hornet's nest has been stirred up. Especially those Korean bastards next door, you don't know how awesome they are. They forcibly terminated the contract and even blackmailed the people below. Their operation is just extremely skilled, causing many people to jump off buildings. It's all over the news now. I'm telling you, those are the real chaebols. We're still considered to have a bottom line."

.......

Su Mo browsed around and opened the forum.

His eyelids couldn't help but twitch. The number of posts had reached hundreds of millions, and they were basically all denouncing the layoff turmoil.

It seemed that they weren't the only ones encountering the same trouble.

Just then, a micro-chat message popped up @ everyone.

He subconsciously clicked on it, and Qian Chengxue started speaking in the group.

"I'm very sorry, everyone. The legion has encountered a major change. As you all know, we're having financial problems and have to make personnel adjustments. But don't worry, we won't easily give up on every brother and sister. I will try my best to arrange the adjusted personnel to work under the industry's name. And we will give the arranged personnel a subsidy. I believe that one day, we will get through this difficult time. When the Earth Cup ends and the Sky Cup begins, maybe we brothers and sisters will have the opportunity to fight side by side again. I would like to express my gratitude and apology to everyone here."

"Xue-jie, you don't have to say that, we understand! We know best how good you are to us."

"Yeah! Xue-jie, you don't have to blame yourself, you've already done a great job."

.......

The people who were originally in low spirits spoke up one after another.

"Okay, don't say anything more. I'll treat all the brothers and sisters who are leaving or being transferred to dinner tonight, just as a small token of my appreciation."

Qian Chengxue said somewhat wearily.