For every 100 PS = 1 bonus chapter
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Hearing Dragon ask, Koala finally relaxed a little. But when it came to the task he'd assigned her, her face filled with worry. "It's too hard, Mr. Dragon. Your request for everyone in the organization to have a mobile phone... it's just impossible. These phones are insanely hard to get. I paid a fortune and had to beg and flatter someone for half a day just to get one."
"And it's not just that. I haven't seen a single News Coo in half a month. Forget phones, I can't even buy a newspaper."
"If this keeps up, our intelligence network will be paralyzed. We'll have no choice but to go back to encrypted Transponder Snails, but they're way too slow compared to phones."
After experiencing the convenience of smartphones, going back to the era of Transponder Snails felt like torture. That's the power of tech.
"What? It's already gotten that bad?"
Dragon was a bit surprised. When these phones first appeared, nobody cared. But in just a single day—one day—they became explosively popular. Off-the-charts popular.
"What's our current equipment status?"
Koala sighed, clearly frustrated. "Right now, only regional commanders and captain-level agents have phones. The rest don't. Even our intel department only has three."
That was bad. The importance of smartphones for information transmission couldn't be overstated. They were unmatched.
"I'll find a way to solve the supply issue myself."
"Okay... alright."
Seeing the deep concern on Dragon's face, Koala forced a smile to try and lift the mood.
"But I did set up a group chat. Messages are a bit limited and slower, but it's still way faster than before. From now on, intel sharing will be smoother, and we don't have to worry about Transponder Snails getting tapped."
Koala's eyes sparkled as she spoke, especially now that she'd discovered TikTok wasn't just entertainment, it was also a powerful tool for communication. As someone in intelligence, she had been giddy for days.
Dragon nodded slightly, a meaningful smile curling on his lips. "Tapped? The World Government might not be able to tap it, but the TikTok developer might."
"You... you mean…" Koala's expression changed instantly, going pale as she realized the implications.
"That's right. Just as you're thinking." Dragon's eyes narrowed. Sabo, who had been quietly listening, also realized the danger and picked up the thread.
"If the TikTok developer could create such a next-level phone, then they definitely have access to our message logs. If they're a friend, fine. But if they're hostile... we've got a problem."
Koala's face went white. "Then... what do we do?"
"Don't worry, I have a solution." Dragon looked at her. "Are you sure the only ones selling phones are the newspaper company?"
Koala nodded firmly. "Yes, Mr. Dragon."
"Then this is manageable." Dragon's tone relaxed. "I have a connection with Morgans, the head of the World Economy News Paper. Asking him should be easy. That bird knows everything."
"That's right!" Koala and Sabo's eyes lit up and locked on Dragon.
Dragon pulled out a special Transponder Snail. It was clearly different from the standard issue. He punched in a number and dialed.
Boruboruboru~~~
Boruboruboru~~~
"Hello! Well, well, if it isn't Dragon himself! What a rare call. Is there some big scoop? Hurry up and spill it! I'm already fired up!" Morgans' loud, excited voice came through instantly, sounding energetic as ever.
"Morgans, come on. What big scoop could I possibly have? The one making headlines lately is you. I can't believe you guys produced something as game-changing as a smartphone. Impressive," Dragon said casually, with a hint of sarcasm.
Being flattered by Dragon, Morgans clearly felt pleased with himself.
But as someone who'd clawed his way to the top of the underworld, he immediately picked up on Dragon's real intent with just that one line.
"Dragon, don't get clever. And don't try to dig deeper. I'm not telling you who he is," Morgans replied flatly, clearly not interested in revealing anything more.
There was a short pause before Dragon's voice came through, low and serious. "I just want to know one thing. Is he a friend or foe? These phones are insane. If we use them, will our intel be compromised? Will the World Government be able to spy on us?"
"Hahaha! What, even you're using the phones now?" Morgans chuckled. "That tiny little gadget really is something, huh? If even Dragon is worried, it must be serious."
He paused to think. His relationship with Dragon wasn't bad. And with how large the Revolutionary Army was, it represented a huge distribution network. Selling phones through them felt very secure.
After collecting his thoughts, Morgans finally spoke, his voice slow and deliberate.
"First off, as a friend, let me give you some advice—stop poking around about the TikTok developer. You just need to know this: the phones have nothing to do with any existing power. They don't belong to any faction. They're purely for entertainment. I'm just working for him."
That offhand statement made Ron sound like a big shot. Even Morgan—one of the Six Emperors of the Underworld—was just an employee?
Dragon went silent.
But he'd gotten what he needed. As long as the developer didn't meddle in world affairs, that was enough.
Just as Dragon was about to hang up, Morgans spoke again.
"Dragon, I've got a business proposal. Interested?"
"A business proposal?" Dragon frowned, instantly cautious. "What kind?"
"Hahahaha! Don't get so tense. With our relationship, do you think I'd scam you?" Morgans laughed, clearly enjoying himself.
"Hmph!" Dragon snorted coldly, clearly not buying it.
Morgans kept going. "These phones are red hot. These days, anyone walking around without one feels inferior."
"That's your marketing stunt. You only release a few a day. Not even enough to fill the gap in someone's tooth," Dragon said coldly.
"Bullshit!" Morgans snapped. "I've got 200 News Coos flying full shifts! And still, the demand's going up every day. I'm telling you, it's scaring even me! It's not a scam, it's a tsunami!"
Dragon's eyes narrowed. "Wait... you're saying you're not the one limiting the supply?"
"Of course not. Which brings me to the collaboration I mentioned," Morgans said with a hint of mystery.
Dragon's heart skipped a beat. Could it be…
Sure enough, Morgans' next words made his pupils shrink. Koala and Sabo both gasped, instinctively covering their mouths.
"Dragon, are you interested in selling mobile phones?"
(To be continued.)