Chapter 1373 - 630: Dancing in the Snow

Li Banfeng took the special train the next day and arrived at the Dark Star Bureau on the fifth day of the New Year.

Entering the office, Li Banfeng called Director Shen: "Little Shen, come to my office."

This time Shen Jingye had no complaints at all, because Li Banfeng's rank had changed and was now a full level higher than his.

Upon meeting, Shen Jingye thanked him first: "Director Li, you saved my life, I don't even know how to repay you. From now on, if there's anything you need me for, just say the word."

The life-saving favor he was referring to was the arrangements Li Qi made after he left Gourd Village. That series of arrangements left him with a plausible explanation, allowing him to keep his position and avoid excessive investigation over the incident.

Li Banfeng smiled: "Who saved you? It was you, Director Shen, who fought bravely and escaped from the Dark Dimension Space on your own."

Shen Jingye let out a sigh: "That's how the matter got smoothed over. I'm fine now, but the Dark Star Bureau is about to disappear."

"What's wrong with the Dark Star Bureau?" Lately the Dark Star Bureau's case-handling efficiency had been very high, and it had even been commended not long ago.

Shen Jingye explained: "The External Civilization Research Bureau has been established upstairs and is about to take over all the work of the Dark Star Bureau."

"And what's the background of this External Civilization Research Bureau?" ℯℯ𝑙.

Shen Jingye recited the full name once: "External Civilization Investigation and Research Work Bureau."

Just hearing the name, even Li Banfeng felt it sounded familiar: "How is this any different from the Dark Matter Research Room and the Dark Star Special Action Team? Isn't this just pointless tinkering?"

Shen Jingye let out a long sigh: "Essentially there's no difference. What it represents is the leadership's determination to use another institution to replace the Dark Star Bureau."

"Why must they replace the Dark Star Bureau?"

"Mainly because of the time factor. The Dark Star Bureau has existed too long, with too many overlaps with Puluo State and the Inner State, and too many overlaps with domestic and foreign Dark Energy Organization institutions. A lot of forces have already infiltrated the Dark Star Bureau."

Li Banfeng felt this was perfectly normal: "The Dark Star Bureau's research is Dark Energy and Dark Matter. How could things related to Dark Energy possibly not have infiltrated the Dark Star Bureau?

If there were no infiltration at all, wouldn't the Dark Star Bureau just be a bunch of outsiders? How are outsiders supposed to carry out the work?

Besides, if we're talking about long history, the Defense Agency has been around even longer, and it's even more heavily infiltrated over there. Why don't they set up a related organization to replace the Defense Agency?"

Shen Jingye said: "One of the main reasons for replacing the Dark Star Bureau is precisely that they don't want the Dark Star Bureau to turn into the Defense Agency. The Defense Agency is indeed too deeply infiltrated—so deeply that many tasks can only be completed by the Defense Agency. It's not only irreplaceable, but outsiders can't even get a foot in.

The higher-ups have sent in outsiders several times trying to replace Liao Zihui, and none of them ended well, as you know."

Li Banfeng did indeed know. The biggest outsider, Xia Shumin, ended up being sent away by Chu Er because of a series of inappropriate moves.

But there was one thing Li Banfeng didn't understand: "Why must outsiders meddle in insiders' affairs? Wouldn't it be better to let professionals do professional work?"

Shen Jingye raised his eyebrows; there were some things he couldn't go on about: "In any case, the External Civilization Research Bureau is already established. The work that originally belonged to the Public Security Team has already been taken over by them, and a large amount of work will be handed over to them next.

And the higher-ups have already decided your position in the External Civilization Research Bureau: they want you to serve as the Bureau's Supervisory Director. Your rank and benefits will be one level above a director."

Li Qi now had a new post.

"How is that any different from now? Isn't this just tossing me around? They're worried that if I stay in the Dark Star Bureau too long, I'll end up infiltrating it too, right? So whenever there's nothing going on, they make me change places, make sure I never have my own people under me, is that it?"

Shen Jingye nodded awkwardly; what Li Banfeng said was basically correct.

Leaning back in his chair, Li Banfeng spun left and right several times: "Once the External Civilization Research Bureau is established, what happens to the Dark Star Bureau's personnel?"

Shen Jingye said: "That depends on where you go."

"What does my destination have to do with them?"

"It has everything to do with them. If you go straight to take office at the External Civilization Research Bureau and give up your position at the Dark Star Bureau, then the Dark Star Bureau will be dissolved within one to two years. I'll be transferred somewhere else to retire in peace, and all personnel of the Dark Star Bureau will be diverted out to other institutions to hold idle posts."

"Idle posts?" Li Banfeng frowned. "Dumpling, Light Bulb, Chuuni, Preserved Fruit, Haitang, those young people have just begun to see a bit of promise, and you're going to stick them in idle posts? What are they supposed to look forward to for the rest of their lives?"

Shen Jingye sighed: "After all, they're personnel being diverted out. Having somewhere to go is already pretty good; they certainly can't expect to be reused by others."

"What about the External Civilization Research Bureau? They don't need manpower?"

"The higher-ups have made it explicit: the External Civilization Research Bureau doesn't need personnel who've been infiltrated. You know all about Ming Xing's case—he was young, and he was a textbook infiltration operative.

The investigation found that Ming Xing's parents are Dark Energy Users, members of a Lavsha Nation Dark Energy Organization. Before he joined, his parents did some smoothing of the way, which meant we did a poor job on his background check.

He infiltrated the Dark Star Bureau and carried out many actions that were harmful and destructive. That incident has become a pretext; nearly everyone in the Dark Star Bureau has been slapped with the label of 'infiltrated personnel,' myself included. Wherever we go, we will never again be given important roles, and it's even more impossible for us to enter a core institution like the External Civilization Research Bureau."

Li Banfeng said: "What if I don't give up my position as deputy director of the Dark Star Bureau?"

Shen Jingye saw a glimmer of hope: "If you retain your position in the Dark Star Bureau and, while taking office as Supervisory Director of the External Civilization Research Bureau, simultaneously serve as deputy director of the Dark Star Bureau, then with your current influence, the Dark Star Bureau as an institution will be preserved,