Free Web NovelChapter 434: Chapter 167: Amber Awakens
After about the time it takes for half an incense stick to burn, a series of footsteps echoed from downstairs, ascending the stairs to the fifth floor.
Shen Bai saw six people walk up.
Leading them were two middle-aged men: the Landlords of the Registration Room and the Resource Room.
The other four were the heads of the A, B, C, and Ding Divisions.
Each of them exuded a formidable aura.
As they entered, the two men in the lead bowed to Shen Bai.
"Greetings, Lord Shen!"
Shen Bai nodded. "I was half-expecting the classic trope of snobs looking down on others. Apparently not."
He picked up the dossier in his hands, which was filled with names.
It was the Information on the members of the Observatory.
The men were slightly taken aback, clearly not expecting such a direct response from Shen Bai. They didn’t know how to reply.
Shen Bai waved his hand. "Alright, find a seat, all of you."
Not daring to say more, they each found a place and sat down.
Shen Bai continued to flip through the dossier. For some reason, his silence exerted an inexplicable pressure on them.
This pressure stemmed partly from Shen Bai’s status and partly from the fact that he had just arrived and already taken down the entire Gao Family.
The men all sat up straight, not making a sound.
Shen Bai looked at the man on his left. "You are Zheng Xing, Landlord of the Registration Room, at the peak of the Void Realm."
Zheng Xing nodded quickly and said respectfully, "Yes, Lord Shen. I am in charge of the Observatory’s Dianmao, as well as the registration and assignment of all missions."
Shen Bai nodded, then turned to the man on his right. "You are Wu Tian, Landlord of the Resource Room, also at the peak of the Void Realm."
Wu Tian also nodded. "Yes, Lord Shen. I am responsible for the allocation and distribution of all resources."
Shen Bai then turned his gaze to the four division heads. "Your strengths are all at the Void Realm. Does that mean most of the men under you are also at the Void Realm?"
The heads of the A, B, C, and Ding Divisions nodded in unison, confirming that what Shen Bai said was correct.
"Then I don’t understand," Shen Bai said flatly. "Why have there been so many incidents in Nanxing Prefecture recently?"
As he spoke, Shen Bai took out another dossier and placed it on the table.
"In the last half-month, there have been a full thirty incidents. Half of them were caused by anomalies, and the other half by the Demonic Forces in Nanxing Prefecture. The Observatory only managed to stop thirty percent. I am very dissatisfied with these results. I need to know why. With your level of strength, these problems shouldn’t be happening."
These thirty incidents resulted in numerous civilian casualties, which should be impossible given the strength of a Prefecture-level City.
Even the lowest-ranking members, like Fang Hong and his men, are at the Meridian Realm.
With such a roster, they should have been able to resolve these incidents immediately.
Since Shen Bai had agreed to become the Prefecture Chief, he had no intention of feigning compliance or acting secretively.
He was a man of principle. Since the Great Zhou Country had given him this opportunity, he would fulfill his responsibilities and do a good job as Prefecture Chief.
So, after seeing this performance record, Shen Bai voiced his dissatisfaction.
Zheng Xing, the Landlord of the Dengqi Room, knew the most about these matters. He stood and cupped his fists. "Reporting to Lord Shen, our hands were tied. The Observatory was leaderless, so many plans could not be reported to a superior. We didn’t dare act without authorization."
"After all, not long ago, the previous Prefecture Chief was beheaded and his head put on public display."
As he said this, the others all fell silent, clearly agreeing with Zheng Xing.
Shen Bai stroked his chin and narrowed his eyes. "Are you saying you were scared?"
Zheng Xing’s head snapped up, and he shook it. "Lord Shen, I am not afraid. But my men... they live on a knife’s edge every day. If they die at the hands of these anomalies, it’s a fitting end. But they can’t die for other reasons."
The implication was that without a superior’s order, they dared not act. They were afraid that even if they succeeded in eliminating an anomaly, they might instead incur the displeasure of their superiors and be charged with insubordination.
And that would be a wrongful death.
Shen Bai lowered his hand. "There is nothing wrong with what you’ve said. Now that I am the Prefecture Chief, I will not hold you accountable for what happened in the past."
With that, Shen Bai tossed the dossier to Fang Hong, who was standing beside him.
Fang Hong fumbled to catch it, then quickly stood motionless to the side.
He was incredibly nervous.
’Everyone sitting here was a big shot, while he was just a grunt from the Ding Division. He had inexplicably run into Lord Shen, and now he was inexplicably part of this meeting. He really didn’t dare move a muscle, afraid that the slightest twitch would bring about all sorts of terrible consequences.’
Shen Bai continued, "From now on, resume your duties according to the established protocols. Remember, I don’t want to see these anomalous incidents happening so frequently, nor do I want to see those Demonic Forces running so rampant. If there is anything you are unsure of, report to me."
"However, as long as you adhere to one rule, you don’t need to report to me."
Confused, they all turned to look at him, surprise on their faces.
Shen Bai paused in thought for a moment before saying with an impassive expression, "As long as it is for the well-being of the people, you may take any action. Regardless of the methods, as long as you are maintaining order in Nanxing Prefecture and protecting the safety of its citizens, you have my full approval. You do not need to report to me."
As soon as he said this, looks of astonishment appeared on everyone’s faces.
