"Envoy Xu Shouming’s more than fifty men were turned into skeletons by the Inner State people, is this considered a misunderstanding?"
"This..." Shen Jingye pondered his words, "This should be the tragic outcome of a misunderstanding."
Li Qi shook his head and said, "The Inner State doesn’t think so. They’re preparing for war."
Shen Jingye was silent for a moment, then looked at Li Qi and said, "We don’t want to see war. What we need is peace; the reason we set up the Balancer was to resolve misunderstandings between both sides."
Li Banfeng nodded, "I’ve been trying to resolve it. I also don’t want to see war. These days, I’ve spent a lot of time and effort attempting to clear up the misunderstandings between you all. The Inner State has agreed not to escalate the situation, but they’ve also presented their conditions."
"What conditions?" Shen Jingye couldn’t imagine that the Soda Kiln incident could achieve such progress.
Li Qi said, "The Inner State attaches great importance to the entrance of the Soda Kiln. To ensure the safety of this entrance, the Inner State requires the removal of the Soda Kiln’s Defense Agency, and the transport at the Soda Kiln cannot be interrupted."
"Removal?" Shen Jingye shook his head, "That’s impossible!"
"Impossible? You said it?" Li Qi stood up and said, "Alright, that’s settled then. I’m going to the Soda Kiln now to explain things to them, Director Shen has made up his mind; if war is inevitable, then so be it, but removing the Defense Agency is absolutely out of the question."
"Wait!" Shen Jingye immediately stopped Li Qi, "Director Li, what I mean is, I can’t be the one to make that decision."
Li Qi laughed, "Exactly, you certainly can’t make that decision, so you need to discuss it with Director Du. Not only this issue needs discussion, but also the matter of the Greenwater Beggar."
"What’s up with the Greenwater Beggar?" Shen Jingye was even more nervous, "Hasn’t he already returned to Puluo State?"
Li Banfeng nodded, "He has gone back, but he hasn’t said he won’t come again."
"Why would he come back?" Shen Jingye looked at Li Qi, puzzled.
Li Qi looked at Shen Jingye seriously, "You think selling me out ends this matter?"
Shen Jingye lowered his head, "I wasn’t aware of this matter..."
Li Qi said, "Well, now you’re informed. The Greenwater Beggar gave us five days to gather a group of people for him. If this group can’t be assembled, he will come back to Yuezhou."
"What kind of people?"
"The people of Three-Head Fork," Li Banfeng said, "Some of these people have very high combat power, and the Greenwater Beggar wants to enlist some of them."
Shen Jingye asked, "You mean the Three-Headed People?"
Li Banfeng nodded.
Shen Jingye asked, "How many do they want?"
"Five thousand."
"Five thousand people?" Shen Jingye shook his head repeatedly, "That’s absolutely impossible."
"You said it! You said it’s impossible! That makes it simple!" Li Banfeng was about to get up, Shen Jingye hurriedly stepped forward to stop him.
"Director Li, this matter isn’t something I can decide either!"
"That’s why we need to find someone who can make the decision."
Shen Jingye nodded, "Director Li, why don’t we draft a detailed written report on the situation first, submit it, and then..."
Click-click~
Both their phones rang, they received the same message: There was an incident at Zheng Bridge Square, and the Dark Star Bureau needed to take immediate action.
Shen Jingye put away his phone and said, "I can arrange for the Public Security Team to handle this. Let’s focus on the urgent matters first."
"Come on, what could be more urgent than a case, I must go!" Li Qi put on his coat.
Shen Jingye said, "Li Bureau, you shouldn’t go, we have more pressing matters to discuss right now."
"Come with me, we’ll discuss while walking!" Li Banfeng pulled Shen Jingye out of the office.
Shen Jingye hastily said, "What’s this about? The house is on fire, yet you’re going to handle a case?"
Li Qi frowned and said, "What are you talking about? We agreed back then that when a case arises, we must be on the scene, whoever doesn’t go is a coward!"
Shen Jingye really didn’t want to go, but with Li Banfeng’s cultivation level, pulling him along, he had no choice but to go.
The two went directly to the Public Security Team. As soon as they saw Li Qi, Light Bulb opened his mouth wide and Dumpling’s eyes turned red.
Chuuni tried to hold back his laughter, but couldn’t help and laughed out loud.
Preserved Fruit murmured, "Director Li, welcome back."
Someone whispered on the side, "Is this Director Li?"
"Indeed, it's him, invariably leading the charge in crucial engagements."
"Just a few days ago, he faced down the Straw Moth Lady alone. Everyone presumed Director Li was finished, yet here he is, returned!"
Observing the palpable excitement from the assembled crowd, Li Banfeng remarked to Shen Jingye, "Little Shen, notice how thrilled everyone is by your arrival."
Shen Jingye managed a strained chuckle. His inclination was to refuse, but the current circumstances precluded any such objection.
Inside the minibus, Li Banfeng announced, "First, I shall brief Director Shen on the situation as it stands."
Dumpling had made preparations. This time, the challenge wasn't a Strange Monster, but an escaped fugitive. The suspect was located within a restaurant at Zheng Bridge Square. Upon receiving the report from the establishment's owner, enforcement personnel were dispatched with urgency.
The fugitive employed a crudely made explosive device, taking the restaurant's patrons and staff hostage. Multiple attempts at negotiation by the enforcement officers proved futile; the situation was dire.
Shen Jingye furrowed his brow. "Does this fall under our jurisdiction?"
Dumpling swiftly relayed, "Based on the verification conducted by personnel on-site, the suspect is identified as a mid-tier Fighter."
Mid-tier represents a general categorization by the Dark Star Bureau for users of Dark Energy. Levels one through three are designated low-tier, levels four and five are mid-tier, and levels six and seven are high-tier Dark Energy Users.
Within the Dark Star Bureau's records, the apex level for a Dark Energy User is the Seventh Layer, a benchmark widely acknowledged across the Outer Provinces.
An adversary exceeding the Third Layer presents a significant challenge for conventional enforcement units. This is precisely the juncture where the Dark Star Bureau is compelled to intervene.
After grasping the intricacies of the case, Shen Jingye issued directives: "This incident has transpired in the central district. With regard to safety and discretion, utmost vigilance is required from all personnel..."
All tactical planning was entrusted to Chen Changrui; Shen Jingye's focus remained on the Inner State individuals and the Greenwater Beggar.
Chen Changrui devised an elaborate strategy, designating key operatives such as Preserved Fruit, Crabapple Fruit, Cone, Brick, and Huajia, along with other seasoned agents, to spearhead the forceful apprehension of the suspect.
However, upon reaching the scene, Chen Changrui's meticulously laid plans proved ineffective.
The primary reason was an underestimation of the suspect's capabilities. Subsequent investigations revealed the suspect's improvised explosive possessed both an auto-detonation mechanism and a remote trigger, implying the device could still detonate even if the suspect was apprehended.
Furthermore, the suspect had resolved to fight to the bitter end, presenting a mere ten-second window of opportunity. His intention was to detonate the bomb after this brief period.
"Everyone, pull back! If you wish to live, put distance between yourselves and this location!" The suspect, positioned behind the bar to negate any sniper threats, bellowed through the restaurant’s customer-attracting amplifier. "Ten seconds – just ten seconds! I'm commencing the countdown now!"
Did the suspect harbor no desire for self-preservation?
Not precisely.
He was acutely aware of the bomb's destructive potential and blast radius. His objective was to exploit the ensuing chaos, both preceding and following the detonation, as cover for his escape.
"Ten! Nine!" the suspect began his count.
Shen Jingye’s expression grew grave, yet no command was issued.
Arriving to find the situation had escalated to this point, the most prudent course of action – to minimize casualties and, consequently, liability – was inaction.
"Eight!"
"Little Shen, let's go!"
"Where are we going?" Shen Jingye turned, bewildered by Li Qi's abrupt intention, but Li Qi was already pulling him forcefully into the restaurant.
Li Qi confronted the suspect directly, while Shen Jingye was positioned closer to the bomb.
The suspect continued his countdown: "Seven!"
Li Qi acknowledged the suspect's presence with a nod. "It's me. Hello!"
The suspect hesitated, his fingers hovering over the remote trigger.
Li Banfeng swiftly disarmed him of the remote control.
The suspect faltered once more before producing a sidearm.
Li Banfeng promptly relieved him of the firearm as well.
The suspect then seized a pen from the bar counter. For a practitioner of Martial Cultivation, any object could be transformed into a lethal weapon.
Li Banfeng discharged a shot, sending the suspect crumpling to the floor.
The timing mechanism continued its relentless count, with less than three seconds remaining.
Li Qi calmly observed Shen Jingye.
Li Qi felt no urgency; he possessed numerous methods for neutralizing the explosive device.
Shen Jingye, however, was pressed for time. As the closest individual to the bomb, he acted instantly.
With incredible speed, he identified the critical juncture and severed the connection between the timer and the detonation mechanism.
The timer reached zero, but the bomb remained inert.
"No need for further pretense? Are you perhaps a Craftsman Cultivator or an Arithmetic Cultivator?" Li Banfeng inquired with a smile, his gaze fixed on Shen Jingye.