Chapter 229: Human Sentiment and Strategy

Tan Xin walked through the dim Black Prison corridor and came outside the main gate, where Chu Shiduo had been waiting in the car for a long time.

"Teacher, what did you talk about? Why did you come out so soon?" Seeing Tan Xin come out, Chu Shiduo quickly got out of the car to open the door for him, asking curiously.

"He got my promise, and I got his answer. It’s that simple."

Tan Xin sat in the back seat and answered unhurriedly, "Tell Gu Yuan that for tomorrow’s trial, Han Meng is to be acquitted."

"Acquitted?" Chu Shiduo was a bit surprised.

"Teacher, that’s not easy to handle... When Han Meng defied orders and took action, all the people present saw it. How can we find a reason to release him? And if the media reports this, it’s like slapping ourselves in the face..."

"Prepare a letter for Gu Yuan, saying that Han Meng’s actions at the time were under my secret orders, and have him pass it to the defense attorney."

Chu Shiduo was startled. "But Teacher, this reason is also a bit far-fetched? The media..."

"It doesn't matter what the media says," Tan Xin waved his hand. "Just do as I say. Gu Yuan can handle such small matters himself."

Chu Shiduo wanted to say something but stopped, eventually nodding. "Understood."

"However, Teacher, there’s one more thing I don't understand... If you didn't want Han Meng to face trial from the beginning, when he took action, why didn't you just order the gates to be opened? Why did you have to let him go to the Black Prison for so long and offend all the Enforcers in Aurora City?"

Tan Xin glanced at Chu Shiduo’s puzzled face in the rearview mirror and spoke slowly:

"If I had opened the gates at that time, he might not have felt my goodwill. But now that he has been imprisoned, it is I who am saving him from the disaster of imprisonment on the eve of the trial... Which approach do you think makes him trust me more?"

"Besides, a Han Meng who is ostracized by all Enforcers is far more valuable than an ordinary Enforcer Han Meng."

Chu Shiduo carefully savored the difference between the two, and realization dawned in his eyes.

"The student understands."

Tan Xin looked out the window and thought for a moment before speaking, "We aren't going back to headquarters. Go straight to the Aurora Base. Someone from there said yesterday that the Aurora Lord suddenly showed signs of waking up. I have to go see for myself... During the time I’m away, all affairs at headquarters are to be handled by you."

"Yes, Teacher."

……

"Tan Xin!!"

"Damn it!! Where is Tan Xin? Tell him to come out and see me!!"

"I have been funding you Enforcers for so many years! One-third of this building was built with my money! Now that something has happened to me, you want to play dead?? You must give me an explanation for the Chamber’s matter!!"

At the entrance of the Enforcer headquarters, Yan Shang’s angry roars echoed one after another, and he had left the entire lobby in a mess.

A group of Enforcers looked at each other helplessly, lowered their heads silently, and pretended nothing had happened...

Yan Shang had been making a scene here for an entire afternoon, and the entire lobby couldn't work normally. But because the other party had funded the Enforcers for so many years, although everyone was annoyed, they couldn't afford to offend him, so they just kept dragging it out.

However, even though Yan Shang had been making a scene for so long this time, Deputy Chief Tan Xin still hadn't made a move.

Yan Shang seemed tired and sat directly under the Enforcer’s flag. While wiping the sweat from his forehead, his gaze was as sharp as if he could eat people... Although he was still furious on the surface, after an afternoon of probing, he already knew in his heart that he and the entire Star Chamber of Commerce had been abandoned by the Enforcers.

"President, let’s go back." The squinting man stepped forward and lowered his voice.

"That Tan Xin probably won't come out again... There’s no result from making a scene like this."

Yan Shang took a deep look at the silent Enforcer lobby. After a long silence, he finally got up and walked toward the door.

Seeing that he had finally made enough of a scene, the Enforcers breathed a long sigh of relief.

"Any results from the on-site investigation?" Yan Shang asked in a deep voice as he walked out the door.

The squinting man opened his mouth but ultimately said nothing.

"Speak!"

"President, I’ve never seen a scene like that... All the buildings and trees in the Chamber were eerily displaced, and most of the corpses were suppressed around the buildings or lying in pieces on the stairs. It’s just like..." The squinting man paused for a moment before saying,

"It’s like those things came to life and ate everyone. Even the Paper Puppeteer was caught in it."

"Calamity Domain?" Yan Shang’s brows furrowed.

"Most likely."

"What about Pu Shu? Was he found?"

"...No, his body isn't at the scene. He might have deserted in the face of battle."

"That coward... don't let me catch him, or I'll make him see what happens to those who betray the Yan family!" Yan Shang snorted coldly. "What about that God of Strength Dao? Has it been activated?"

"It hasn't. It seems the scene was extremely chaotic when the incident occurred; no one had the time to set up the ritual to activate him... or perhaps that's why he escaped the disaster."

Just then, a black-haired woman walked over from a distance and spoke calmly:

"I've already coordinated with the dark agents in the law enforcement system. Currently, they are just as clueless about the destruction of the Chamber of Commerce. Tan Xin seems busy with the Aurora Lord's affairs and has no time to deal with this... We have been completely abandoned."

Yan Shang took a deep breath and turned back to look at the imposing headquarters of the law enforcers, cold murderous intent flickering wildly in his eyes.

"That brat Tan Xin is kicking us while we're down; he's completely burned the bridge with us... Does he really think that just because one son is dead and one manor is destroyed, I, Yan Shang, have nothing left??"

The black-haired woman was silent for a moment. "There is one more thing."

"Speak."

"Half an hour ago, Tan Xin went to the Black Prison to meet Han Meng, the Chief Law Enforcer of the Third District... Immediately after, news came from the Tribunal that Tan Xin intends to release Han Meng without charges."

"Han Meng?!" The rage in Yan Shang's eyes burned even brighter. "Good, very good... Not only did he refuse to save the Chamber of Commerce, but he's also the first to release the law enforcer who killed A-Bin... What a classic case of 'killing the donkey once it's finished grinding the mill'!"

"Chairman, we..."

"If he wants to kick us aside like dogs, he better be prepared to be bitten back." Yan Shang sneered, looking like a vicious jackal driven into a corner. "I can't destroy the law enforcement system, but crushing a Han Meng is no problem... I'll let him know that even without that manor, the influence of my Star Chamber of Commerce in Aurora City is not something he can manipulate at will."

"Contact the media and those dark agents in the Tribunal... I hold their leverage and their lifelines. This time, it's our turn to give Tan Xin a surprise."