"Yes, yes, yes, I understand. I understand. Don't you worry, I'll contact the Inspectorate right away and get this handled!"
The person in charge of Longque Technology in East Sea City, Hong Qinghua, bowed and scraped. After hanging up, he wiped a bead of sweat from his brow, a look of shocked uncertainty on his face.
'How strange... To think this would get *his* personal attention...'
Others might not know, but he was perfectly clear on the matter. To outsiders, he was the highest authority for Longque Technology in East Sea City.
But in reality, the director of the Ancient Research Institute was the true big shot...
Even at headquarters, he was a top-tier figure!
These days, anyone researching ancient history and archaeology was anything but simple. After all, whether it was the Daoist Collection, Divine Treasures, or Celestial Medicine, it was all dug up from underground!
'Lu Xuan?'
'Wasn't that the person Li Xiaosang told me about?'
'Hmm...'
Hong Qinghua unhurriedly took out his phone. He scrolled through the contacts categorized under "Godsons and Goddaughters" for a good while before finally dialing a number.
"Xiaosang, it's me."
"Godfather, what's wrong?"
"Here's the thing. I wasn't sure before, so I couldn't give you a definite answer. But I just personally paid a visit to Sakata Heavy Industries and had a talk with them. I'm about to head to the Inspectorate now to get your old friend released."
He said it all so casually, without batting an eye.
On the other end of the line, Li Xiaosang's heart fluttered, and her nose began to sting.
"Th... Thank you!"
'A man of Godfather's status was actually willing to lower himself for my sake...'
Hong Qinghua chuckled and said:
"No need to thank me. This is what I ought to do for you."
Finally, he added a reminder:
"Remember, you have to do your best at headquarters. Strive to get noticed and stay there. East Sea City is ultimately too small a pond. It can't contain a fish like you."
"Mhm! I know, Godfather. Don't worry!"
After Hong Qinghua hung up, the smile vanished from his face.
He rubbed his nose and muttered to himself:
"These kids are still so easy to fool. A few words and they're falling all over themselves with gratitude. I just hope one or two of them turn out to be brilliant so I don't end up at a loss... Lu Xuan, huh? For *him* to personally ask about it... Interesting. Hmm, he might be a good investment target, too."
......
"Director, that's the situation."
In the top-floor office of the Inspectorate Building, Chen Tianhua recounted the events with a deadpan expression. He said seriously:
"That kid is really decent, Director Ji. We should just let him go. Besides, he really has no connection to that Wu Datong..."
In the spacious office, the other two inspectors who hadn't left yet wore varied expressions.
One was the bald inspector, who was currently speechless. He couldn't understand what Chen Tianhua was thinking, speaking up for some lowlife from the slums.
The other inspector was a bit younger, his face full of schadenfreude, his gaze mocking.
Sure enough, the next second, Director Ji slammed his hand on the desk.
"Old Chen, is your old problem acting up again? Huh? I was thinking of promoting you to team leader. What the hell is wrong with you?"
Chen Tianhua didn't say a word.
Director Ji continued to berate him:
"You were just like this when you first joined the Inspectorate—that stubborn-as-a-mule attitude. You suffered for it, and I had to talk to you more than a few times, didn't I? What, is your compassion overflowing again? Feeling all selfless and righteous now?"
Chen Tianhua was silent for a moment before giving a slight nod.
Seeing this, Director Ji grew even more furious. The bald inspector, who was on relatively good terms with Chen Tianhua, quickly tried to reason with him:
"Old Chen, that's enough. You know how the Director treats you. This would be one thing if it were a normal situation, but this involves Sakata Heavy Industries!"
After a pause, he continued:
"Pissing off Sakata Heavy Industries for some slum lowlife? Isn't that just fucking stupid? Even if Sakata Heavy Industries might not care, you can't take that gamble!"
The younger inspector sneered and said mockingly:
"I'm telling you, Old Chen, you're really regressing with age. If you keep this up, you'll never be fit for a team leader position."
As he spoke, he cheerfully poured Director Ji a cup of tea and said with a fawning grin:
"Director, what do you think of me?"
Director Ji shot him an irritated glare.
"You don't have enough seniority yet... But you certainly know how to play the game better than Old Chen. And you understand boundaries!"
He put heavy emphasis on the word "boundaries," the warning in his tone unmistakable.
Chen Tianhua stiffened his neck.
"But Director Ji, that kid really has nothing to do with Wu Datong. And an innocent soul like him shouldn't be treated this way. If you release him, I just won't be the team leader."
"Are you threatening me now?" Director Ji's expression darkened, clearly enraged. "Fine, Chen Tianhua! What do you think the Inspectorate is? A place where you can release people whenever you feel like it?"
The bald man shrank back, wisely choosing to remain silent, while the younger one continued to fan the flames:
"Director, don't be angry. After all, Old Chen is from the most senior batch of inspectors. It's not surprising he'd think this way..."
This made Director Ji even angrier.
"Enough! Chen Tianhua, you have no sense of organization or discipline whatsoever! I see you still need to be tempered at the grassroots level. Starting tomorrow, you're on street patrol. And don't you dare mention releasing him again!"
With that, he slammed his teacup down on the desk, his tone hostile.
"I'm making my stance clear right now: I will absolutely not release him!"
Street patrol was the most grueling position in the Inspectorate. Normally, it was a job for the combat division, but the task was usually offloaded onto administrative staff. Chen Tianhua had undoubtedly been 'exiled to the frontier.'
The schadenfreude on the younger man's face intensified. The bald man, however, just shook his head and sighed, already starting to think that he should probably distance himself a bit from Old Chen from now on.
Just then, a phone rang unexpectedly.
Director Ji shot another fierce glare at Chen Tianhua before answering the phone himself.
"Hello, Ji Bochang speaking. Who is this?"
The next second, his expression changed dramatically, and his tone became sycophantic.
"Manager Hong! Please, wait a moment while I find a pen to take notes. Your orders, sir!"
As he spoke, Director Ji actually rummaged through his drawer for a pen and paper, assuming a deeply respectful posture as he listened intently.
On the other end, Hong Qinghua chuckled and unhurriedly explained the situation. Director Ji listened attentively, nodding from time to time. Where was the imperious demeanor from just moments ago?
"Yes, Manager Hong, I understand. There must have been a procedural error by my subordinates, which led to the wrong person being arrested... By the way, Manager Hong, what was his name?"
"Lu Xuan."
"Oh, right, right, right... Huh?"
Director Ji processed it. Why did that name sound so familiar?
'Didn't that Younger Brother Lu from the other day have the name Lu Xuan?'
'A coincidence?'
'Or could it be...'
A bad premonition washed over him.
Before long, the call ended, and Director Ji let out a breath.
"Director, who was that on the phone?" the younger man couldn't help but ask.
At the same time, Chen Tianhua rose to his feet and said dejectedly:
"Well, Director, I'll go pack my things and head out for street patrol..."
"Wait!" Director Ji hurriedly stopped him. "I'm asking you, what's the name of the person you want released?"
"Lu Xuan."
"A young man, dressed in rather shabby, simple clothes, but looks clean?"
"That's right." Chen Tianhua was confused. 'How does the Director know?'
The bald man and the younger man glanced at each other, sensing that something was wrong.
BAM!
Ji Bochang slammed his hand on the desk again, his teeth clenched.
"Why the hell didn't you say so earlier! Lead the way! To the interrogation room! We need to *invite* Mr. Lu out!"