Marvel: The other side of the double-passing door is Devouring the Stars

Chapter 488 Only Important Figures Can Enjoy
Virtual Universe Company?

He was just a minor council member of a chamber of commerce, not even worth an ant in front of Virtual Universe Company!

"It's over..." Zhao Jianguo slumped into his chair. "This time it's really over..."

He never imagined that standing up for his son would cause such a huge mess.

The root of all this was his good-for-nothing son, who offended someone he shouldn't have.

"Zhao Ming! Get over here!" Zhao Jianguo roared.

3 PM, Yunding District, Donghai City, Zhao Family Villa.

A black flying car bearing the logo of Virtual Universe Corporation slowly landed in front of the villa. The door opened, and three people stepped out—two men and one woman, all dressed in the official uniforms of Virtual Universe Corporation.

The leader was a middle-aged man in his forties, wearing gold-rimmed glasses. He had a refined and scholarly air, but his brows exuded an undeniable air of authority. His name was Zhang Lu, a senior specialist in the legal department of the East China Sea branch of Virtual Universe Company.

"This is it," Zhang Lu said, adjusting his glasses as he looked at the luxurious villa before him. "Zhao Jianguo's house."

"Commissioner Zhang, is it really necessary for you to handle such a small matter personally?" a young female assistant asked. "According to procedure, it can be handled by the subordinates."

“No,” Lawyer Zhang shook his head, “this matter is not simple.”

"What do you mean?" the other male assistant asked, puzzled.

"Have you seen the file?" Zhang asked. "The threatened employee, Luo Shuang, is just a new employee who recently passed the interview, but who was her recommender?"

“Yes… Rowan,” the female assistant said, flipping through the files, “the records show that Rowan is a full member of Virtual Universe Company, and…”

Her voice suddenly stopped, and her eyes widened.

"You saw it?" Zhang Lu said calmly. "Luo Wen's teacher is Blood Luo King."

The two assistants gasped.

Blood King Luo is a being of the Immortal King level! He's a top-tier powerhouse within the entire Virtual Universe Company. Anyone who can become Blood King Luo's student naturally possesses an extraordinary status and position.

“Therefore, threatening Luo Shuang is actually provoking the families of Blood King Luo’s students,” Zhang Lu said. “I must handle this personally, and I must handle it cleanly and efficiently, without any mistakes.”

“Understood,” the two assistants immediately became serious.

Zhang Lu straightened his clothes and rang the doorbell.

Soon, the door was opened. It was the Zhao family's butler, an elderly man in his fifties, who opened the door.

"Hello, who are you looking for?" the butler asked politely.

“Attorney Zhang from the Legal Department of Virtual Universe Company,” Attorney Zhang showed his identification, “we’re here to see Mr. Zhao Jianguo; we have important matters to discuss.”

The butler's expression changed slightly upon seeing the badge on the identification: "Please...please wait a moment, I'll go inform them."

A few minutes later, Zhao Jianguo rushed out in a panic. He already knew that people from Virtual Universe Company were coming, but he didn't expect them to arrive so quickly.

"Commissioner Zhang... hello," Zhao Jianguo said with a beaming smile, "please come in, please come in."

“No need,” Zhang Lu said coldly. “We won’t go in. We’ll talk at the entrance. We’ll leave after we’re done.”

These words were quite blunt, but Zhao Jianguo dared not show any dissatisfaction and could only smile obsequiously, "Alright, alright, please go ahead."

Zhang Lu took out a tablet and opened a document: "Zhao Jianguo, male, 52 years old, director of the Donghai City Chamber of Commerce, chairman of the Zhao Group. Yesterday afternoon, you hired five martial artists from Tiandun Security Company to threaten Luo Shuang, an employee of Virtual Universe Company, and her family. Do you admit to this?"

"I...I..." Zhao Jianguo's forehead was covered in cold sweat. "Commissioner Zhang, there's a misunderstanding here..."

"A misunderstanding?" Zhang Lu sneered. "Your son, Zhao Ming, harassed Luo Shuang's employees at the restaurant yesterday and got a beating from Luo Shuang's brother. You felt sorry for your son, so you paid someone to retaliate. Is this what you call a misunderstanding?"

"It's not revenge, it's not revenge!" Zhao Jianguo quickly waved his hand. "I'm just letting them go and argue, just let them argue!"

“Theory?” Zhang Lu turned the tablet screen toward Zhao Jianguo. “This is the on-site conversation recorded by the security department. The people you hired said either make the other party kneel down and apologize and pay 100,000 yuan in compensation, or they’ll take action and leave the other party in the hospital for months. Is this your so-called theory?”

Zhao Jianguo stared at the text record on the screen, his face ashen, speechless.

"According to Article 37 of the 'Earth Warrior Management Regulations,'" Lawyer Zhang continued, "if a hired warrior threatens or harms others, the employer and the executor bear joint liability. According to Article 12 of the 'Virtual Universe Company Employee Protection Regulations,' the company has the right to pursue legal action against any person who threatens the safety of its employees and demand compensation."

"Commissioner Zhang, I was wrong, I was really wrong," Zhao Jianguo almost knelt down. "Please give me another chance!"

“An opportunity?” Zhang Lu looked at him coldly. “When you hire someone, do you ever think about giving them a chance?”

Zhao Jianguo was speechless.

“However,” Zhang’s tone shifted, “considering this is your first offense, and that the people you hired didn’t actually harm any employees, the company can be lenient.”

"Thank you! Thank you, Commissioner Zhang!" Zhao Jianguo felt as if he had been granted a pardon.

“But,” Attorney Zhang continued, “you must pay the price.”

He opened another document on his tablet and handed it to Zhao Jianguo: "This is the compensation plan drafted by the company's legal department. First, issue a public apology to Luo Shuang and her family, and guarantee that there will be no further harassment. Second, pay one million yuan in compensation for emotional distress. Third, pay two hundred thousand yuan for the company's security department's deployment costs. The total is one million two hundred thousand yuan, to be credited to your account within three days."

"One million two hundred thousand?!" Zhao Jianguo gasped.

Although he was well-off, 1.2 million was still a considerable sum. More importantly, this money was compensation, essentially a free gift.

"What, you think it's expensive?" Attorney Zhang raised an eyebrow. "Then we can take legal action. It won't just be a matter of money; your act of hiring thugs to threaten others is enough to put you in jail for a year. Moreover, once this is exposed, your business reputation will be severely damaged, and you'll lose your position in the Chamber of Commerce."

Zhao Jianguo shivered.

He knew that what Zhang Lu said was true. If this matter escalated, his losses would far exceed 1.2 million.

“I…I’ll pay,” Zhao Jianguo said through gritted teeth. “I’ll definitely transfer the money to the company account within three days.”

“Very good,” Attorney Zhang nodded in satisfaction, then took out another document. “This is a guarantee. Sign it.” Zhao Jianguo took the document and quickly glanced through it. It stated that he guaranteed he would no longer harass Luo Shuang and her family, and would not retaliate in any form, otherwise he would bear more serious legal consequences.

With trembling hands, he signed his name.

“There’s one more thing,” Attorney Zhang put away the documents, “Tell your son, Zhao Ming, to behave himself. If he dares to harass Luo Shuang’s employees again, next time it won’t be a matter of just paying compensation. Virtual Universe Company’s determination to protect its employees will not be challenged by anyone.”

"Understood, understood," Zhao Jianguo nodded repeatedly. "I will definitely discipline him properly."

"That's good," Zhang Lu turned to leave, but after a few steps, he turned back. "Oh, right, I forgot to tell you something. Luo Shuang's employee's brother, the one who taught your son a lesson yesterday, is a Stellar-level martial artist. Your son actually dared to provoke a Stellar-level martial artist; he's quite brave."

Zhao Jianguo's face turned even paler.

A stellar-level martial artist—that's someone an ordinary businessman like him simply can't afford to offend!
“Keep an eye on your son from now on, don’t let him cause trouble everywhere,” Zhang Lu said coldly. “Not every problem can be solved with money.”

After saying that, Zhang Lu and his two assistants got into the flying car and drove away.

Zhao Jianguo stood at the door, covered in cold sweat, his legs weak.

“Dad…” Zhao Ming poked his head out of the villa.

"Get out!" Zhao Jianguo roared. "It's all your fault, you good-for-nothing! You messed with the wrong person and made me lose 1.2 million!"

"One million two hundred thousand?!" Zhao Ming was also dumbfounded.

"One million two hundred thousand is nothing," Zhao Jianguo gritted his teeth. "If it weren't for Virtual Universe Company turning a blind eye, our entire family would be finished! Do you know who you've messed with? People from Virtual Universe Company! And that Luo Wen is a stellar-level martial artist!"

Zhao Ming's face turned deathly pale instantly.

“From today onwards, you’re staying home obediently,” Zhao Jianguo pointed at his son’s nose. “No going out, no causing trouble! If I hear you harassing Luo Shuang again, I’ll break your legs!”

“I…I understand…” Zhao Ming said, trembling.

He only now truly realized how much trouble he had gotten himself into.

Meanwhile, in the East China Sea branch of Virtual Universe Company, in the general manager's office.

A man in his fifties sat behind a large desk, reviewing a report. His name was Zhou Mingyuan, the general manager of the East China Sea branch of Virtual Universe Company. He possessed strength at the third level of the Universe level and was a very influential figure in the entire East China Sea City.

“Interesting,” Zhou Mingyuan said softly after reading the report.

"Mr. Zhou, what do you think we should do about this?" the secretary standing to the side asked.

“Attorney Zhang has handled it very well,” Zhou Mingyuan said. “He paid the compensation that was due and issued the warnings that were due. However…”

He paused, then continued, "This Luo Shuang, although just a new employee, has a powerful background. She's Luo Wen's cousin, and Luo Wen is a student of Lord Blood King."

“Yes,” the secretary nodded, “we checked, and Rowan has a very high rank on his internal file; he’s clearly someone being groomed for advancement.”

“In that case, the level of protection for Luo Shuang must be raised accordingly,” Zhou Mingyuan said. “Immediately order that Luo Shuang and her immediate family members be placed under the surveillance and protection of the Security Department.”

"The scope of surveillance protection?" The secretary was somewhat surprised. "Mr. Zhou, this level of protection is usually only available to personnel at the branch manager level or above. Luo Shuang is just a new employee..."

“Although she’s a new employee, she’s a family member of Lord Blood King’s student,” Zhou Mingyuan said. “Lord Blood King may not usually concern himself with these trivial matters, but he certainly values ​​his student’s family. If something happens to Luo Shuang, affecting Luo Wen’s mood, and consequently Lord Blood King, who will bear the responsibility?”

The secretary suddenly realized, "I understand. You mean, protecting Luo Shuang is actually to maintain our relationship with Lord Blood King?"

“That’s one way to understand it,” Zhou Mingyuan nodded. “Moreover, this is consistent with the company’s policy—the families of key personnel to be groomed should be given special protection. Luo Wen is Xue Luo Wang’s student, and his future is limitless. Providing protection for his family now is an investment.”

“Understood,” the secretary said. “I’ll arrange it immediately.”

“Furthermore,” Zhou Mingyuan continued, “compile a report on how this matter was handled and send it to headquarters. Let headquarters know that our East China Sea branch has done a very good job in protecting the families of key personnel being groomed.”

"Yes!"

After the secretary left, Zhou Mingyuan leaned back in his chair and gently tapped the table.

He had worked at the Virtual Universe Corporation for over thirty years and knew its rules intimately. Within this vast organization, the network of relationships was intricate and complex. Even an indirect connection with a King-level Immortal was an extremely valuable resource.

"Luo Wen, a student of Blood King Luo," Zhou Mingyuan muttered to himself, "with such a background, it's no wonder he's already a seventh-tier Stellar-level cultivator at such a young age. Given time, he'll probably become another Immortal King."

He pondered whether he should find an opportunity to meet Rowan in person. Establishing a good relationship could help improve his position within the company.

Meanwhile, in the security department, Captain Chen Gang received orders from his secretary.

"Including Luo Shuang and her immediate family members in the surveillance and protection scope?" Chen Gang was somewhat surprised. "That's a very high level of authority."

“It was President Zhou who personally gave the order,” the secretary said. “Execute it immediately.”

“Understood,” Chen Gang immediately began making arrangements.

The surveillance protection area is a special service provided by Virtual Universe Company, which can only be enjoyed by high-level employees or important figures.

Simply put, the company adds a special marker to the identity information of those being protected. If they encounter danger in public areas, such as being assaulted or threatened, the nearby surveillance system will immediately identify them and trigger an alarm, and the security department will arrive as quickly as possible.

This service requires robust technological support—the company's intelligent system must monitor the entire city's surveillance network in real time, identify protected individuals, and analyze surrounding hazards. This demands enormous computing resources and human capital, so it is only available to high-ranking individuals.

"Who are Luo Shuang's immediate family members?" Chen Gang asked.

“According to the files, her parents, and her cousin Rowan,” the assistant said, reviewing the documents, “but Rowan is already a company member and is under protection. So it’s mainly her parents.”

"Enter their information into the system," Chen Gang said. "Starting today, they will be under our surveillance and protection in any public area of ​​Donghai City."

"Yes!"

(End of this chapter)