<h4>Chapter 981: Chapter 988: Expanding the Faction (2)</h4>


    Because of the arrival of Secret Society members, the originally deste base suddenly became overcrowded.


    Hu Fei previously estimated that this base could amodate a maximum of four hundred people. Including Ling Chen’s own personnel, there were a hundred more people than that. To temporarily settle them, Ling Chen had no choice but to add more beds, increasing the upancy of rooms that originally housed four people to six. Fortunately, the rooms were quite spacious, so even with six people, it wouldn’t feel cramped.


    However, while the amodation issue was resolved, Ling Chen still faced an even greater problem, which was food.


    Previously, at the research base, the total number of people didn’t even reach a hundred; at most, around seventy or eighty people, and special individuals would usually go out to buy takeout. But now, with a sudden increase of hundreds of people, this became a big problem. You can’t possibly have someone go out to buy takeout for every meal, right? Ordering takeout for four to five hundred people is a terrifying thought. Moreover, in this way, the daily expenses for meals alone would be substantial.


    By then, Hu Fei, who was in charge of managing funds, would probablyin to Ling Chen every day.


    "Headache!"


    Ling Chen sat alone in the base’s dining room, holding his head in his hands, thinking of a solution. Previously, he was just an agent for Ghost and only needed to execute orders, without worrying about anything else. Later, he had a research base and some subordinates. However, thanks to the help of Hu Fei and the others, Ling Chen didn’t need to worry too much.


    But things were different now. As the head of the family and the overall manager of the base, he could no longer shirk his responsibilities.


    "What are you thinking about?"


    At this moment, the porridge girl walked over from behind, cing her hands on Ling Chen’s shoulders and gently kneading them.


    Ling Chen smiled wryly: "Honestly, I haven’t adapted to this role yet. Suddenly managing the food and livelihood of so many people, I really don’t know what to do."


    "No one is born a leader; it’s all about umting experience gradually. Besides, with everyone’s help, you don’t have to worry too much. Here, this is the Secret Society’s list, take a look first."


    Taking the document the porridge girl handed over, Ling Chen nced at it, his eyes instantly revealing a hint of surprise.


    "Didn’t the Secret Society send only more than four hundred people? Howe there are more than eight hundred names on this list? Does that mean half of the people haven’t arrived yet?"


    "Don’t worry, the other four hundred people are all intelligence agents from the Secret Society. They are spread across various cities in Huaxia, specializing in intelligence gathering and won’t be stationed at the base. The Secret Society is famous mainly because of its intelligencework. Currently, the God Organization has concentrated its forces in Huaxia, so I’ve kept only the Huaxia intelligencework, reducing the overseaswork to a tenth of its former size."


    "Oh, by the way!" The porridge girl suddenly said, "Over the years, the Secret Society has umted considerable funds. Master told me that the money is in the bank, and he’s already given me the passwords. If you need funds, you can ask me for them."


    "How much money is there?" Ling Chen asked.


    "I’m not sure of the exact amount, but it should be several billion."


    "Several billion?" Ling Chen was slightly taken aback. Truly worthy of the Secret Society, the foundation is indeed substantial.


    "Master said, in addition to the money in the bank, there are also some shares. Over the years, Master used that money to invest in numerous enterprises, with an annual profit of around five billion. As long as those shares remain untouched, there will be a steady ie every year. Before the Secret Society was weakened, the annual expenses were about twenty billion, but now that the Secret Society’s numbers have significantly decreased, we shouldn’t need that much. Just be a bit frugal and don’t squander it all at once."


    Hearing this, Ling Chenughed and said, "Don’t worry, the money matters are entrusted to Hu Fei. That guy guards money with his life, so it’ll be safe with him."


    With a huge fund as a backup, Ling Chen felt much more at ease.


    As the saying goes, if you have money, things be easier; there’s nothing money can’t solve.


    Returning to the control center, Ling Chen saw Hu Fei, Tang Guolun, Zhou Qi, and others gathered together, discussing something.


    "Ling Chen." Tang Guolun waved a hand, signaling Ling Chen toe over.


    Coming to their side, Ling Chen asked, "What are you discussing?"


    "We currently have a little problem." Tang Guolun pointed to the surveince footage on the big screen and said, "Although we have upied the God Organization’s base, the buildings above this base were funded by the Ling Family. Moreover, the construction site is still unfinished, making our travels very inconvenient. Most importantly, the God Organization is very familiar with the structure of this base; they know where the exits and entrances are. If they secretly monitor us, it will surely cause trouble for us. So, we discussed earlier and wanted to make some modifications to this base."


    "Modifications?" Ling Chen curiously asked, "What kind of modifications?"


    "Reconstruct two new entrances," Hu Fei interjected. "I just checked the base’s architectural blueprints and found a few suitable ces to start construction. We have enough personnel now, and the base is equipped with sufficient support. As long as we work overtime, we should be able to open a passage within three days."


    After listening to Hu Fei’s n, Ling Chen nodded and said, "Alright, I have no objections. You guys handle it."


    Tang Guolun and the others were quick to act, and after receiving Ling Chen’s approval, they immediately got busy.


    Because the first level of the base is heavily fortified, they decided to dig the passage on the second level. Ling Chen supervised for a bit, and seeing the excavation going smoothly, he acted as a hands-off manager, leaving Tang Guolun in full control.


    Fearing that the God Organization might send someone for surveince, Ling Chen and the others stayed at the base and didn’t go out in the past few days.


    After two and a half days of hard work by more than a hundred people, the passage on the second level of the base was finallypleted. The passage is about three meters wide, allowing a vehicle to pass through. It stretches over forty meters, leading to an underground parking lot on the north side of the base.


    Building the entrance in an underground parking lot undoubtedly increases its concealment.


    Ling Chen was very satisfied with the work results of the past few days. As the saying goes, the more people, the more strength;pleting such arge project in a short amount of time was no small feat.


    After the passage waspleted, Ling Chen personally drove out of the base, purchasing arge amount of cigarettes, alcohol, and food to reward everyone.


    After a busy morning, Ling Chen sat in the base’s bedroom, crossing his legs, ready to take a break.


    At this moment, his phone on the coffee table rang.


    Answering the call, Ling Chen said, "Hello," and asked, "Haozi, what’s up?"


    "Chen, where have you been thesest few days? You’ve been missing."


    "Didn’t I tell your sister? I’ve been quite busy these days. Why, do you need something from me?"