Free Web NovelChapter 439: Chapter 168: You’ll Cooperate and Drink with Me?
"Arrest every family on this list. Leave none behind. If anyone resists, execute them on the spot."
The report detailed the collusion between the Gao Family, several other powerful families, and the former Prefecture Chief.
It contained details of various bribes that had allowed these families to flourish in Nanxing Prefecture.
At last, Shen Bai understood why the Gao Family would risk universal condemnation and dare to make a move against the Prefecture Chief of the Nanxing Prefecture Observatory.
The reason was simple: the profits from their collusion were enormous.
If they were discovered, not a single person from these dozen or so families would escape. The lightest sentence would be death.
Not only did they rely on the former Prefecture Chief to bleed the common folk dry, but they even colluded with Demonic Forces to reap massive profits.
Take the Gao Family, for instance.
Before all this, the Gao Family’s influence had not been significant. It was only under the protection of the former Prefecture Chief that they grew to their current stature.
Wu Tian asked, "Lord Shen, once we’ve arrested them all, how should they be handled?"
The Observatory could now act on any matter concerning the public’s safety without reporting it. But this particular situation was directly related to Shen Bai, so Wu Tian felt he should at least touch base with him and let him know what was happening.
If Shen Bai had other ideas, he could proceed accordingly.
Shen Bai thought for a moment, his fingers drumming softly on the desk, making a rhythmic tapping sound.
The room was utterly silent, save for the continuous sound of Shen Bai’s tapping.
After a moment, Shen Bai stopped and looked at Wu Tian, his voice flat as he spoke.
"Briefly investigate what happened and see if you can beat any other leads out of them. If they can provide clues about those Demonic Forces, we’ll consider it atonement for their crimes and reduce their sentences. But if they’re completely useless, the original sentences stand. All those marked for execution will be beheaded."
Nanxing Prefecture had been without a Prefecture Chief for a long time, and corruption had become rampant in many areas. Shen Bai felt this was a time for bold, decisive action, with no room for hesitation.
Any softness would just make people think the Observatory was the same as it had always been.
Only by fanning these flames higher and higher could the Observatory’s authority be re-established.
Wu Tian nodded and cupped his hands. "In that case, I will post the assignment in the registry and order my men to carry it out immediately."
With his orders received, he didn’t intend to linger and prepared to carry out Shen Bai’s instructions at once.
Shen Bai nodded. "Very well. You may go."
Without another word, Wu Tian took his leave, turned, and left the fifth-floor room.
Shen Bai picked up the intelligence report on Nanxing Prefecture’s various powers and began reading it again.
He read for a full hour.
When Shen Bai finished the last page, he set the report aside, a plan already forming in his mind.
’Over a thousand factions, with more than a hundred of them being Demonic Forces. And there’s no telling how many of the others are already collaborating with them.’
’It seems the long period without a Prefecture Chief gave them plenty of time to grow. This won’t be easy to handle.’
Shen Bai mused.
Beside him, Amber could no longer sit still. Her eyes darted about before she came to stand before Shen Bai. She reached out with a fair right hand, picked up the nearby teapot, and poured him a cup.
"Master, please have some tea."
Amber offered the teacup to Shen Bai.
Shen Bai felt no awkwardness at all. He took the cup, had a sip, and handed it back.
Amber immediately refilled it for him.
’Only a fool would have a Deceitful Beast and not make use of it.’
’People in the Jianghu strive to increase their strength. Isn’t it all for the sake of one thing: enjoyment?’
Shen Bai was no fool, nor was he like one of those protagonists from a novel who, after gaining power, still insists on living a life of hardship. That was completely unrealistic.
’Since I have a clear picture now, I’ll first grind the Skill Level for the Chaotic Heart Spell. Once the interrogation of the Gao Family yields results, I’ll plan my next move.’
Shen Bai set down his teacup and thought.
With that decided, he didn’t delay and began grinding the Skill Level for his Chaotic Heart Spell.
First, however, he had Amber merge into his body to gain a three-times bonus.
Before him, a wisp of smoke dissipated, leaving behind a line of text.
[Chaotic Heart Spell +3+3+3...]
The Skill Level for his Chaotic Heart Spell was increasing at a visible rate.
Shen Bai was rather looking forward to seeing what kind of Attribute the Chaotic Heart Spell would grant him once it reached Level 6.
「The afternoon passed in the blink of an eye.」
A knock sounded once again at the door of his room in the five-story building.
This time, it wasn’t Wu Tian, the Landlord of the registry, but Zheng Xing, the Landlord of the resource depot.
After knocking, Zheng Xing heard a "Come in," and immediately pushed the door open.
"Lord Shen, I’ve brought all fifteen Deceitful Objects you requested. You may use them as you wish."
Zheng Xing held fifteen wooden boxes of varying sizes. To a Void Realm Peak expert like him, they were utterly weightless.
The boxes were naturally crafted with special methods, so even though they weren’t locked, none of the Deceitful Objects’ auras could escape.
This was the key to Shen Bai’s mission in Nanxing Prefecture, which was why he had wanted to get his hands on the Deceitful Objects as soon as possible.
Once he appraised all these Deceitful Objects, his power would take a qualitative leap.
