He wanted to leech sothing off Cheng Lang, so he decided to leave with Du Yu.
On the way, he got a general idea of the situation within the Inspectorate from Du Yu.
"Things are much better now. The day after the Pang Family was wiped out, that’s when everyone was truly up in arms. They were practically ready to storm the Judicial Court and capture your Chief Judge alive..." Du Yu was as glib as ever.
A few Judges walking ahead of them turned, their expressions unfriendly. They glared viciously at Du Yu, startling him. It was only when they glanced over and saw Su Chen that they reined themselves in.
"That’s why I didn’t dare to wear my uniform here..." he muttered under his breath.
’I wonder what the Elder Council was thinking,’ Su Chen mused. ’Wiping out the Pang Family without letting the Inspectorate get involved at all... Even if they were suspicious of others, sending a director to supervise would have at least eased the tension...’
As he gained a deeper understanding of Ying Feng and sorted out the various major factions, Su Chen finally and truly understood just how much hatred the Judicial Court’s actions that night had stirred up.
There was no way Chong Jingtian and his people could have failed to see the hidden dangers, yet they went ahead with it anyway.
Suddenly, Su Chen rembered sothing. ’I almost forgot. My cut from taking down the Pang Family... why haven’t they sent it to yet? This process is taking forever.’
Du Yu had to return to the Inspectorate, while Su Chen went directly to the Translation Departnt.
Beneath a shady grove of trees inside the Translation Departnt, Cheng Lang had been waiting for so ti.
When he saw Su Chen arrive, his tightly furrowed brow relaxed slightly. He had thrown out the bait last ti, but Su Chen never followed up, which had truly made him anxious.
’Su Chen ca from a lower-tier city. For soone with no backing to face an invitation from the Security Departnt—not to ntion the guarantee of a Top-tier Profession—and still not respond for nearly a month...’
That level of composure was beyond his expectations. After weighing his options, Cheng Lang decided to take the initiative and contact him again.
’Since Su Chen didn’t refuse, there’s still a chance.’ However, Cheng Lang didn’t ntion his previous offer. Instead, he sighed and said, "Yesterday, another Judge died."
"Another one..." Su Chen frowned. This was the third death of a Judge he’d heard about since the fall of the Pang Family. "Was the cause of death Occupational Aberration again?"
Cheng Lang nodded. "Officially, yes. But it could be retaliation from the Pang Family."
The key mbers of the Pang Family had been all but wiped out, but there were bound to be so who had slipped through the cracks, scattered in other places.
"Why are they holding onto the bodies?" Su Chen couldn’t help but shake his head.
"You’d have to ask Chong Jingtian why he moved against the Pang Family without any warning." Cheng Lang’s tone was cold, yet he added helplessly, "The friction between the Judicial Court and the three departnts is long-standing. It’ll likely take decades to resolve."
Cheng Lang was all but saying, ’When you beco the Chief Judge, we can work on it together.’
"Indeed," Su Chen said in full agreent.
’This kid...’ Seeing that Su Chen was so patient, Cheng Lang had no choice but to speak first. "What about my offer from last ti? Have you thought about it? A month has gone by, and I hear Zhu Xuan is already one step closer to achieving a Top-tier Profession."
"I could consider it," Su Chen murmured thoughtfully.
Even with Cheng Lang’s Qi Cultivation Skill, he couldn’t help but feel a surge of anger. ’I’m not just representing the Inspectorate, but the Security Departnt... and this kid has the nerve to say he’ll *consider* it?’
"But shouldn’t you show a little sincerity first?" Su Chen asked, testing the waters.
Cheng Lang’s expression soured. ’The other candidates at least have the decency of a Core Seed. But this kid... he gets right to the point and asks for benefits.’
Since Su Chen was being so blatant, Cheng Lang dropped the pleasantries as well. He said in a low voice, "We only show our sincerity to *actual* Core Seeds."
"Heh..." Su Chen let out an ambiguous laugh. ’Just as I thought. All talk, but when it’s ti to actually give sothing up, it’s a different story.’
’Cheng Lang’s aning was obvious. If I lose my Core Seed status after I advance to Tier Three, I won’t be worth investing in.’
"So that ans there is no sincerity." Su Chen shook his head, feigning disappointnt. "And here I thought the Security Departnt wouldn’t be so petty."
Cheng Lang gritted his teeth in anger, his voice growing colder. "Being generous doesn’t an being a sucker."
"Then... how am I supposed to trust your promises?" Su Chen said, shaking his head.
"Your investigation should have told you that I ca from the refugees. My years as a refugee taught one thing: a future promised by others might sound wonderful, but what matters most is whether you can eat your fill today."
’Such a narrow worldview...’ Cheng Lang was well aware of Su Chen’s background. His brows locked tight. After pondering for a long while, he finally asked, "What do you want?"
"Five Secret Technique Energy Crystals and five different types of Thunder Cores." Su Chen’s demand was exorbitant.
Cheng Lang’s expression turned ugly. ’A narrow worldview, but what a massive appetite.’
Not even counting the connections required to obtain them, the items had a sticker price of nearly twenty million gold.
’It’s nothing to the Security Departnt, of course, but if we just give it to him, we’d be complete morons.’
"That’s too much," Cheng Lang refused instantly. "One Secret Technique Energy Crystal and one Thunder Core."
’We can give him so benefits, but we can’t be taken for suckers.’
"You’re too stingy," Su Chen frowned. "Alright, let’s cut to the chase. I’ll just take the Secret Technique Energy Crystals. Three of them."
Cheng Lang’s expression shifted. After a long mont of hesitation, he finally agreed. "Fine."
A smile imdiately blossod on Su Chen’s face. "Actually, I’ve admired the Security Departnt for a long ti."
"Oh, and get those things to as soon as possible."
Cheng Lang’s cheek twitched. ’He changes his tune so fast.’ By the ti he processed it, Su Chen had already turned and walked away.
Staring at Su Chen’s departing figure, Cheng Lang’s expression flickered, but in the end, a cryptic smile ford on his lips. "I’m not afraid of you having desires. I’m only afraid of you being desire-free."
’When he realizes his position as a Core Seed is truly unstable, the loss of status will naturally compel him to seek out people who can help.’
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