The mont he stepped into the Inner Governnt Office, Chen Sheng sensed sothing was off with the atmosphere. Zhan Fusheng was putting on airs, seemingly certain that Chen Sheng would bow and apologize to him.
"Peacekeeper Envoy Chen, Peacekeeper Envoy Zhao."
Lu Cheng was the first to rise. He cupped his fists in a salute, breaking the silence.
Chen Sheng returned the gesture briefly. His gaze swept across the hall before he walked, without hesitation, to the primary seat on the left and sat down firmly. He did not, like Lu Cheng, take a seat below Zhan Fusheng.
The mont he sat down, the atmosphere in the entire hall froze.
Chen Sheng chose to ignore Zhan Fusheng completely, not even sparing him a glance.
Zhao Changqiu, who was following behind Chen Sheng, faltered for a mont, a flicker of hesitation in his eyes.
He first glanced at Zhan Fusheng’s ashen face, then at Chen Sheng’s composed back. In the end, he chose to follow Chen Sheng’s lead. With a simple nod toward Zhan Fusheng, he sat down in the seat below Chen Sheng.
In fact, even now, Zhao Changqiu was still mulling over the aning of what Chen Sheng had said earlier.
’It was as if today wasn’t about Zhan Fusheng taking office, but Chen Sheng himself.’
Zhao Changqiu couldn’t quite figure out the key to it all, but he could sense that sothing was amiss.
’For Chen Sheng to act this way, he was either suprely arrogant or he knew so inside information that others didn’t.’
Zhao Changqiu narrowed his eyes, calculating silently. He decided to take a gamble.
’After all his years navigating the treacherous currents of officialdom, he knew the importance of picking a side.’
’Chen Sheng’s posture today clearly showed he had sothing to back him up. If this gamble paid off, the rewards could be unexpected. If he lost, well, as long as he and Chen Sheng joined forces in the future, self-preservation should be guaranteed.’
Chen Sheng’s blatant disregard for Zhan Fusheng plunged the atmosphere in the hall into an extre, heavy silence.
Lu Cheng’s eyes darted back and forth, glancing from Chen Sheng to Zhan Fusheng. He couldn’t understand where Chen Sheng’s confidence ca from.
’Hadn’t he heard that the appointnt from the State City’s Jingwu Bureau had already been issued? The news that Zhan Fusheng was about to beco the new Deputy Captain had spread throughout all of G Camp long ago.’
’Was Chen Sheng simply ignorant, or did he have an ace up his sleeve?’
For a mont, Lu Cheng was lost in deep thought.
As for Zhan Fusheng, he was already burning with fury.
’He was furious at Chen Sheng for ignoring him, but even more furious that a re nobody from so county, with no background whatsoever, dared to be so insolent right after arriving. It was the height of arrogance.’
’He had already decided: after today’s appointnt was official, he would put this ignorant little brat firmly in his place.’
’And when that ti ca, it wouldn’t matter who pleaded on his behalf!’
But for now, Zhan Fusheng didn’t make a scene.
’The Governor would be arriving at any mont. If he caused a scene now, there was no guarantee it wouldn’t lead to so unforeseen complication.’
’He would just have to endure for a little while longer!’
Zhan Fusheng’s forbearance plunged the entire hall into a strange, utter silence.
Even Lu Cheng was unwilling to speak now. He simply closed his eyes and feigned ditation, as if he were completely uninvolved.
Sandalwood incense swirled through the hall, but it couldn’t dispel the heavy atmosphere. The occasional chirp of a bird from outside only served to accentuate the profound silence within.
Roughly half an hour later, a powerful, domineering aura suddenly descended.
Outside the G Camp’s Governnt Office Hall, a rising and falling chorus of voices could be heard: "Greetings, Governor!"
The sound swelled from far to near, washing over them like a tide, prompting the four n inside to rise in unison, straighten their robes, and look toward the entrance.
Nie Xuanfeng entered the hall with a calm expression and a steady gait. His gaze swept over each of the four n, as if it could see right through to their hearts.
At his side was a young, beautiful woman whose aura was just as formidable.
She, too, wore a Junior Fifth Grade Official Robe embroidered with a bear, creating a stark contrast with her glamorous beauty. She had willow-like brows, phoenix eyes, and skin as white as snow, yet between her brows emanated a dreadful Evil Qi that made it impossible for one to et her gaze.
Her identity was, of course, self-evident.
She was none other than the Vice Governor of the Ning’an Jingwu Bureau, Sun Siniang, also known as Sun Yuzhi, who bore the moniker "Mother Yaecha Widow Sun." For so reason, however, she seed displeased at the mont, her red lips pressed tightly together and her gaze cold.
"Greetings, Governor Nie! Greetings, Vice Envoy Sun!"
Zhan Fusheng’s face was alight with joy as he hurriedly bowed, his voice tinged with hopeful expectation.
Chen Sheng and the others also bowed in turn, their etiquette proper.
Nie Xuanfeng walked directly to the head seat and spoke, his voice indifferent:
"You may all rise."
"Thank you, Governor!" the n replied in unison.
"I have co today to announce an appointnt issued by the Jingwu Bureau Headquarters in the State City." Nie Xuanfeng’s gaze swept slowly over everyone, finally pausing on Chen Sheng for a brief mont.
Zhan Fusheng’s face was full of hope and delight, as if he could already see himself sitting in the Deputy Captain’s chair.
Chen Sheng’s expression was placid. He stood with his eyes lowered, looking as calm as ever.
Lu Cheng and Zhao Changqiu, however, looked nervous, their palms beginning to sweat.
"Effective imdiately, G Camp Peacekeeper Envoy Chen Sheng is hereby promoted to the position of Junior Sixth-Grade Deputy Captain of G Camp. This is the official docunt, stamped by the State Governnt Office." Nie Xuanfeng paused, then retrieved a docunt bearing a large, vermilion seal from his sleeve and slowly unfurled it.
The mont Nie Xuanfeng’s voice fell, the hall was plunged into a silence so profound you could hear a pin drop.
Lu Cheng’s mouth fell open. He stared at Chen Sheng in utter shock, a storm of disbelief raging in his heart.
’He had never imagined that the position of G Camp’s Deputy Captain would be taken by a young man who had just been transferred.’
’A complex mix of emotions washed over him: a hint of indignation, a touch of envy, and a thread of indescribable jealousy.’
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