Free Web NovelChapter 929: Chapter 664: Return Quickly
A few days later, the Rong City Joint Action Bureau was officially established. The new office was located in a building owned by the Rongcheng Chamber of Commerce. As the leading commissioner of the Bureau, Yang Xiao held the first meeting of the new department in the brand new conference room.
The Action Bureau, in terms of rank, matched that of deputy-directorate level institutions, but it was a case of high rank with modest staffing. Aside from Yang Xiao, who was the second-in-command, the other group leaders one level below in rank—Qu Muzhi, Fu Qingzhu, and Chi Dan—were the backbone of the three old powers in Rongcheng, with ranks roughly equivalent to deputy-directorate level officials at the Patrol Defense Office. The influence of Xi Yuru, who represented the local forces of Rongcheng, should also not be underestimated.
After announcing some official formalities, Yang Xiao asked the other department heads who attended the meeting to leave, leaving only Qu Muzhi, Fu Qingzhu, and the other two. These four were the heads of the main departments and, like Yang Xiao, were also members of the five-person decision-making committee. They had the right to know about all major actions of the Action Bureau and, most importantly, the right to supervise.
"Ladies and gentlemen, let’s cut to the chase. I know that today each of you has brought a proposal, which are urgent issues to be addressed proposed by the Patrol Defense Office, Apostles Union, Chamber of Commerce, and local families of Rongcheng. This is also the significance of establishing our Joint Action Bureau—to maximize the integration of forces, respond to emergencies and maintain stability, and manage differences."
Lifting his right hand, Yang Xiao gestured to Chi Dan on his right, "Group Leader Chi, let’s start with you."
Chi Dan, dressed in a new uniform, opened her briefcase and took out a file bag, which was sealed with a sticker bearing the Chamber of Commerce logo. After opening the file bag, she took out a piece of paper.
"In the past year, Rongcheng has frequently suffered attacks by Evil Cultivators. The frequency of attacks has increased more than threefold over the previous year, and the intensity has also increased. There have been multiple occurrences of Venerable Level combat power in battle, causing significant damage to the business environment in Rongcheng, with extremely bad effects."
Chi Dan, holding the paper with both hands, spoke with a serious expression and a calm, clear voice, "After multi-channel verification by our Chamber of Commerce, it has been found that these frequent attacks by Evil Cultivators on Rongcheng are very likely attracted here, and their target is one person."
Hearing this, Yang Xiao’s heart suddenly skipped a beat—he was all too aware that the Evil Cultivators led by the Yu Yuan Sect were coming for him.
"Of course, these Evil Cultivators might also come for a certain thing or for a Resentful Eye. Specifically, we are still in the process of investigation and believe that results will soon be available." Chi Dan put down the paper, looked towards Yang Xiao, and nodded, "Commissioner, I’ve finished my point."
The primary purpose of establishing the Action Bureau was to handle some issues that the three families couldn’t, or found inconvenient, to resolve by themselves. Today’s meeting aimed to select one issue among those raised by the families and find a solution for it.
This was the first task for the newly formed department, and it needed to be handled well—to make a good first impression. But Yang Xiao didn’t expect that this first shot would be fired at himself.
With a composed expression, Yang Xiao signaled to the next person, and Qu Muzhi, who was sitting beside Chi Dan, opened his file bag and took out a document, "Three months ago, my City Center Official Residence investigation team arrested a female evil cultivator in a remote villa area north of the city. Before we could interrogate her, her accomplices rescued her, and the audacious individual left his name, claiming to be the Ming Emperor Ye Xiao from the Yu Yuan Sect."
"Ming Emperor Ye Xiao..." Xi Yuru gasped, her expression turning grave, "I know of this person. He once stood up against three chiefs of the Patrol Defense Office with his own strength and successfully rescued his comrade. The Patrol Defense Office even issued a kill-on-sight order for him."
"Hai Hai..." Yang Xiao coughed twice, suppressing the unease in his heart, and glanced at Xi Yuru, reminding her, "Group Leader Xi, watch your language. If it weren’t for that scoundrel’s sneak attack, how could he have escaped from Group Leader Qu’s hands?"
"The Commissioner’s reprimand is correct, I misspoke, and I apologize to Group Leader Qu." Xi Yuru nodded and smiled at Qu Muzhi as an apology.
Qu Muzhi, with an unemotional face as if he were an emotionless machine, continued reading, "Moreover, this person also caused trouble for my City Center Official Residence, creating a severe negative impact. Though his character is despicable, his actions are bold, and his methods are savvy—he is a formidable enemy. Chief Huang hopes that the Action Bureau can punish him as a deterrent."
Feeling Qu Muzhi’s gaze, Yang Xiao’s heart suddenly turned ice-cold. He, of course, knew that this was not Qu Muzhi’s own intention; it must have been instigated by Huang Guozhao. Wasn’t it him who rescued Tong Han and casually ripped up the paintings in his office? Was Huang Guozhao so petty as to still hold a grudge over such an incident months later?
Before Yang Xiao could speak up, Fu Qingzhu also opened the file bag and took out a few sheets of paper, speaking in a volume just loud enough for everyone present to hear clearly.
"Half a year ago, Wu Peide, the vice-president of our United Federation, mysteriously disappeared. At the time we declared him a defector, but recent intelligence indicates that Wu Peide was murdered by a mysterious assassin and his body was destroyed to erase evidence. The nature of this case is extremely atrocious. Chairman Qiu Huai De hopes that under the leadership of Commissioner Yang, the Action Bureau can uphold justice, apprehend the culprit, and bring them to justice," Fu Qingzhu said as he looked towards Yang Xiao. freewёbnoνel.com
"Alright, alright, this is how you all want to play it..." Yang Xiao maintained his composure on the surface, but inside he was panicking. The murder of Wu Peide, the abduction of Tong Han, the destruction of Huang Guozhao’s paintings, and the Yu Yuan Sect coming after him for treasures. How could every problem in Rongcheng be related to him?
"Commissioner Yang, it’s my turn." Seeing Yang Xiao distracted, Xi Yuru couldn’t help but call out to remind him, her voice sultry and soft, matching her demeanor.
