Chapter 61: Scarce Manpower, Ingeniously Breaking the Deadlock

With the loan secured, Mao Yu felt a surge of energy through every fiber of his being, practically walking with a spring in his step.

Humming a little tune and strutting with an air of absolute invincibility, he headed straight for the Supers Guild.

Rebuilding the academy required talent above all else, and since the guild commanded a vast reservoir of superhuman resources, it was the paramount priority for recruitment.

The guild headquarters towered into the clouds, constructed entirely of black metal that radiated a chilling aura.

At the entrance, two guards in uniform stared blankly at the passing crowds, lending the scene an even greater sense of solemnity.

This stood in sharp contrast to Mao Yu's relaxed mood, planting a faint seed of unease in his heart.

"Let's hope everything goes smoothly." Mao Yu took a deep breath and strode proudly into the building.

The guild lobby was opulent yet completely deserted, silent enough to hear a pin drop.

Mao Yu's footsteps echoed through the cavernous hall, sounding exceptionally abrupt.

He traversed the long corridor and arrived at the door of Director Sun's office.

"Knock, knock, knock."

"Come in." A low voice echoed from within.

Mao Yu pushed the door open to find a short, plump, balding middle-aged man sitting behind a desk, eyeing him with a scrutinizing gaze.

"You must be Mao Yu?" Director Sun's tone was lukewarm.

"That is indeed me." Mao Yu smiled slightly and cut straight to the point, "I've come this time to..."

"I know what you're here for." Director Sun interrupted him, speaking at a leisurely pace. "You want to recruit superhumans to rebuild the academy, right?"

"Precisely." Mao Yu nodded.

"I can help you, but you'll have to agree to my conditions." A sly smile crept onto the corner of Director Sun's mouth.

Next, Director Sun reeled off a series of jaw-dropping demands, not only asking for exorbitant compensation but also demanding all sorts of special privileges—an outright act of extortion.

"Director Sun, aren't these conditions a bit too harsh?" Mao Yu frowned.

"Harsh? No, no, no, not harsh at all." Director Sun waved a hand dismissively. "You must understand, superhumans aren't so easy to recruit. Without my help, you won't find a single soul."

"Director Sun, let's not beat around the bush." Mao Yu's face darkened. "You're deliberately making things difficult for me!"

"Difficult? Hehe, young man, watch your words and bring proof." Director Sun maintained a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "I'm merely presenting reasonable requests. Whether you agree to them or not is entirely your choice."

The two sides reached an impasse, the atmosphere charged with tension.

"It seems we won't be reaching an agreement today." Mao Yu took a deep breath, turned around, and made to leave.

"Wait." Director Sun called out to him. "Young man, don't be hasty. We can discuss this further."

"Discuss?" Mao Yu halted, a cold sneer playing at the corner of his lips. "What else is there to discuss?"

"The conditions are negotiable," Director Sun...

"What conditions?"

"Besides recruiting superhumans, you need to do me a favor." Director Sun rubbed his hands together, his fleshy face plastered with a flattering smile that was a complete 180-degree turn from his previous hardline attitude.

Mao Yu felt a sharp ache in his temples. What on earth was this old fox plotting?

He massaged his temples, forcing himself to calm down.

"What favor?"

Director Sun leaned in close to Mao Yu and lowered his voice. "Help me secure a good position for my daughter at the academy."

Mao Yu nearly spat out a mouthful of blood. So that was where this was leading!

Suppressing his rising anger, he forced a smile that looked worse than crying. "Director Sun, I'm not really sure what your daughter's capabilities are."

Hearing this, Director Sun immediately bristled, his mustache twitching in indignation. "My daughter is an advanced superhuman, naturally gifted and peerlessly unique!"

Mao Yu ranted wildly in his mind: That daughter of yours only got into the academy through the back door, and she comes dead last in every single exam. How do you even have the nerve to call her naturally gifted?

He felt like a fly trapped in a spider's web, surrounded by sticky silk threads with no escape no matter how he struggled.

The dim lighting of the office illuminated Director Sun's greasy face, making him look all the more repulsive.

The air was thick with a nauseating scent of cologne, turning Mao Yu's stomach.

Just as Mao Yu was on the verge of despair, a flash of inspiration struck his brain, and a bold idea surfaced.

A crafty smile curved the corners of his mouth as he spoke, "Director Sun, I actually have a proposal that might solve both our problems."

He paused briefly before continuing, "We could hold a superhuman tournament, funded by the academy with the guild assisting in publicity. The top finishers in the competition won't just receive generous prize money; they'll also earn direct entry into the academy with elite benefits. That way, we can attract a large number of outstanding superhumans while simultaneously boosting the academy's reputation. Isn't that killing two birds with one stone?"

Upon hearing Mao Yu's proposal, Director Sun's eyes lit up. After a moment of contemplation, he slowly said, "Your proposal is actually rather interesting..."

Pressing his advantage, Mao Yu added, "Furthermore, the judges for the competition can be appointed by the guild, which will also guarantee fairness and impartiality."

The smile on Director Sun's face grew increasingly radiant as he rubbed his hands together and said, "Well, this plan is good, very good. As for my daughter..."

Before Director Sun could finish, Mao Yu jumped in preemptively, "With Miss Sun's innate talent, I'm certain she will stand out brilliantly in the competition."

Director Sun burst into hearty laughter and patted Mao Yu on the shoulder. "Young man, I have high hopes for you!"

Suppressing his revulsion, Mao Yu squeezed out a smile that was uglier than weeping.

Stepping out of the guild building, he drew in a deep breath of fresh air and felt as though he had been brought back to life.

He pulled out his phone and dialed a number...

"Fengyao, it's done."

Fengyao had been observing Mao Yu's every move from the shadows.

Seeing him deftly resolve the guild's obstruction, boundless admiration and affection welled up in her eyes.

She walked gracefully to Mao Yu's side, gently looped her arm through his, and said softly, "I knew you could do it."

Feeling Fengyao's tenderness, a warm current surged through Mao Yu's heart.

He turned his head to look at her, the corners of his mouth curving upward. "Hehe, look who you're talking about! A little matter like this is a walk in the park!"

With the guild's cooperation, the publicity campaign for the superhuman tournament went into full swing.

As soon as the news broke, the entire superhuman metropolis erupted in a frenzy!

Lavish rewards and generous perks—this was practically a pie falling straight from the sky!

For a time, applicants poured in endlessly, everyone rolling up their sleeves and eager to test their mettle.

The recruitment grounds were a sea of people, bustling with unprecedented excitement.

Standing on the high platform and looking out over the bustling crowd below, Mao Yu felt a deep sense of accomplishment.

The people around him cast looks of profound admiration his way, with praises echoing endlessly: "Master Mao is too awesome!", "Master Mao is mighty!", "Following Master Mao means we'll always eat well!"

Listening to these accolades, Mao Yu's mouth nearly split from ear to ear.

He cleared his throat and spoke in a booming voice, "Thank you all for your support of the academy's reconstruction! I guarantee that as long as you are willing to put in the effort, the academy will never treat you unfairly!"

Thunderous applause and cheers erupted from the crowd, making Mao Yu feel like a victorious general enjoying his moment of glory.

Yet, beneath the bustling surface, undercurrents were surging.

Various factions were watching Mao Yu from the shadows, all hoping to carve out a piece of the academy's reconstruction for themselves, or even seize control of it and turn it into their own sphere of influence.

As night fell, the clamor of the recruitment grounds gradually subsided.

Mao Yu stood in the center of the empty field, gazing at the litter-strewn ground while his heart filled with anxiety.

He knew this victory was only temporary; greater challenges lay ahead.

He pulled out his phone and dialed a mysterious number. "Hello, it's me... Things have gotten a bit tricky..."