Xiao Zhenggong looked at Big Head, the coin rolling between his fingertips.
Big Head was a Fifth Layer Martial Cultivator. Though he had exceptional talent, his strength wasn’t much greater than Zhong Guoshu’s.
If Xiao Zhenggong wanted to kill him, it wouldn’t take much effort. The coin in his hand was enough.
His tone suddenly softened, and he asked calmly, "Big Head, what exactly are you doing here?"
Big Head replied, "Captain Chen asked to co."
"You’d better be honest. Captain Chen never asked you to run to the hospital every day. There’s sothing else going on here."
Big Head shook his head. "I haven’t co to the hospital every day. Today, I just ca to take a look."
"I’m questioning you now in my capacity as deputy captain," Xiao Zhenggong said, the coin in his hand unknowingly flicking between his thumb and index finger. "You know the rules of the Dark Star Bureau. If you don’t cooperate, I won’t be lenient."
"I asked him to co," Captain Chen Changrui said, suddenly appearing at the door. "Zhenggong, put that coin away. You’re playing with a one-yuan Steel Coin so enthusiastically, people might think we can’t afford to pay our salaries."
Xiao Zhenggong pocketed the coin and said to Chen Changrui, "I suspect Agent Zou Guoming and He Jiaqing are colluding and leaking bureau secrets. There’s nothing wrong with asking him a couple of questions, is there?"
Chen Changrui smiled. "Nothing wrong at all. Ask away. However, it’s not convenient to question him here, as so matters shouldn’t be known by outsiders. Let’s go back to the bureau and question him slowly. What do you think?"
Xiao Zhenggong sneered. "No need. I’ve already asked what I needed to ask and seen what I needed to see. I’m just an outsider in this bureau anyway. Talking too much only breeds resentnt."
After speaking, Xiao Zhenggong left the hospital room. Chen Changrui and Big Head stayed for a while before also returning to the bureau.
「That evening, Big Head went to Flower Lake Park and entered New Land.」
Out in the Wilderness, He Jiaqing sat by a campfire, beckoning Big Head to sit.
He Jiaqing was perplexed by Xiao Zhenggong’s actions. "Has your deputy captain always been so hot-tempered? If he had actually killed today, would your bureau have let him off?"
Big Head replied, "The bureau might not hold him responsible. Even if they did, the most he’d get is a disciplinary action."
"A disciplinary action?" He Jiaqing was astonished. "Does your bureau think so little of ? Am I not an important person?"
"You are an important person, but Xiao Zhenggong’s status is unique."
"What status?"
"As far as I know, he’s a Balancer."
"What’s a Balancer?" He Jiaqing had never heard the term before.
"That’s a bureau secret. During one operation, Xiao Zhenggong killed a teammate. That colleague had a powerful background; his father was a prominent figure. But in the end, the matter was dropped.
"That prominent figure used many connections to investigate Xiao Zhenggong, seeking revenge for his son. I was also implicated because I had participated in that operation with Xiao Zhenggong.
"It was only thanks to Captain Chen’s strong support that I managed to weather that storm. I’ve never understood it. Xiao Zhenggong was the killer, yet he faced no consequences, while I, rely his subordinate at the ti, suffered greatly.
"Later, I learned from Captain Chen that Xiao Zhenggong is a Balancer, and that prominent figure couldn’t touch him.
"A ’Balancer,’ as the term implies, is soone capable of balancing the relationship between Puluo State and the Outside Provinces. Xiao Zhenggong’s status in Puluo State is not ordinary, but I don’t know his specific identity."
"I know. He’s the Gang Leader of the Jiang Xiang Gang," He Jiaqing frowned slightly. "But the Jiang Xiang Gang isn’t considered a Great Clan Gate in Puluo State. Why would the Outside Provinces regard him so highly?"
Big Head didn’t know the reason either. "Regardless, you need to be more careful from now on. Since he’s determined to kill you, he’ll likely look for another chance."
"I’m not afraid of him; I’m worried about you. He openly accused you, and your captain heard everything."
Big Head wasn’t worried. "The Captain trusts a great deal and despises Xiao Zhenggong. He wouldn’t suspect based on a few words from Xiao Zhenggong."
He Jiaqing sighed. "I’m sorry for dragging you into this."
Big Head shook his head and smiled. "Aren’t we brothers? Why fuss over such things between brothers?"
He Jiaqing took out a Gold Yuan Pill and a packet of dicine Powder, handing them to Big Head. "This is for you. Take the Elixir with the dicine Powder; it’s for raising your cultivation level."
"You an, to enhance my Dark Ability?" Big Head shook his head, returning the Elixir to He Jiaqing. "The bureau has rules. Any enhancent of Dark Abilities must be reported, and the process and thods must be clearly explained.
"I can’t take such dicine because I can’t explain the source of the ability increase. If the bureau found out, I’d be severely punished."
He Jiaqing laughed. "Do you honestly report to the bureau after every enhancent?"
To Big Head, this was perfectly normal. "That’s the rule. Hiding one’s abilities is a very serious offense."
"You told Xiao Zhenggong is a Third Layer Combatant. Do you think he’s not hiding anything?"
After a mont’s thought, Big Head said, "He’s a Balancer; I can’t compare to him. The bureau has special equipnt that can test everyone’s true abilities."
He Jiaqing pushed the Elixir back into Big Head’s hand. "Take it without worry. No device in this world can detect your abilities.
"Always rember, both dicines must be taken together. The Elixir is poisonous, and the dicine Powder is the antidote. After taking them, you must rest well.
"The bureau’s promises about your prospects and future are all false. Only your own cultivation level is real. You must always rember that."
...
He Jiaqing returned to his hospital bed and carefully mulled over the preceding events and their implications.
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