A bewildered-looking Anxi glanced at the passersby outside the alley.

Since the distributor had reminded him that he was gestating a glorious prelude, it must be that his president was up to something again.

{Then, go to the division headquarters office stationed here, address 20-4 Nanyuan Street. Say it’s the latest intel from the Inhabitant’s Office assisting the investigation. }

In the telepathic image, Yang Zicang showed the paper he was holding.

Anxi saw rows of twisted signatures and fingerprints. ‘What is this, some kind of accusation letter?’ he wondered. This president of his was simply amazing in his eyes.

“What are we trying to do here? Seek redress for grievances? “

“Foster peace negotiations between both sides—that’s the task the division gave me to ‘pacify the villagers.’ Just tell them that. Once you’re there, you can contact me anytime. I’ll be right here. “

Anxi saluted excitedly. “Guaranteed to get it done right on time. “

He quickly dashed out of the dim alley, merged into the stream of people, and within a few steps, was back at the entrance of the shop where he worked.

A man in a suit, his face betraying annoyance, stood at the door.

“Where have you been? It’s work hours. “

Seeing Anxi return with a joyful expression, Little Hirst immediately flew into a rage.

“What’s it matter? There’s no business anyway. I told you before to suggest selling some ordinary clothes, but you refused to take my advice. Take a look at what sort of time this is. “

“You… fine, fine! How vulgar! How rude! If it weren’t for the fact that you’re a refugee, I’d fire you on the spot. ” The man pushed open the black-painted iron-and-glass door and went inside.

“Get in here and work. I’ve booked a client soon. We must nail this deal. Come on, let’s rehearse the measuring move again—you were way too rough last time. “

From outside the door, Anxi sized him up.

Having closed the door and received no response, Little Hirst yanked the amber-tinted glass-and-iron door open again, fuming: “What are you standing there gawking for? Do you want to work or not? “

“Ah… Mr. Hirst, my time is very precious, so I’ll only ask you once. ” Anxi, his sharp ears disguised with the contour of a Mutao Township native, produced a stack of remelted gold bars from inside his coat.

“Here’s an opportunity. Are you selling this store? I can continue to employ you afterward. “

Hurst was taken aback at first, then anger surged up, but when his eyes landed on the five small gold bars held out before him, the words got stuck in his throat.

“You… this… is it real? “

“Absolutely real, guaranteed authentic. If you’re willing, we can write the contract and change the sign right now. “

“Uh… our shop’s reputation is quite well-known in the city. So I need to evaluate our business value… ” Hurst said as he reluctantly glanced at the shop, left to him by his grandfather and which had supported his family for nearly thirty years… but now it was barely sustainable.

“If you’re not interested, I’ll go ask the shop next door. “

“Ah, what… wait, isn’t the one next door a bakery? “

Seeing Anxi actually pull out a gold bar and start heading to the next door, the man could no longer hold back his pride. He dashed forward in two steps, grabbed Anxi’s arm, and said, “I’ll sell! I’ll sell right now! I’ll draft the contract immediately! “

“Good, I’ll take down the sign right away. “

“Huh? “

Ten minutes later, Anxi was off briskly with a document in hand. His agile figure darted through the crowd like a fish, rushing quickly toward the location of Nanyuan Street.

In front of the former Hurst Tailor Shop, a well-dressed gentleman stepped down from a carriage, accompanied by an attendant beside him.

The two men stood up straight with smiles, then slowly raised their heads in unison to look at the door header. The words “Cutting Art House ” were gone, replaced by a piece of floral cloth scrawled with the words “Investigation Company ” in paint, fluttering gently in the breeze.

“Yo, Mr. Long Denu’sler, you’re finally here. ” Little Hirst pushed the door open, his face a mix of smile and sob as he greeted him.

“Uh, excuse me… Is our scheduled appointment today? “

“Of course it is, just that you’re—well, just ateenybit late. ” Little Hirst pinched his thumb and forefinger together to gesture. “Come on in, don’t worry about the stuff above for now, I can still provide you service as usual, just as top-notch as ever. “

……

Anxi stepped out of Unit 20-4 at South Garden, holding a document stamped with the divisional steel seal in one hand and a car key in the other.

“Heh heh, this old man is gonna drive a real car in this era too. “

The square iron-box vehicle, already carrying a hint of an off-road vibe, swaggered down the street. With a harsh blast of the horn, pedestrians turned their heads, only to see the small car in dark blue paint, marked with the 47th Division insignia, creeping up behind them; they scattered in panic.

Arriving at the gate of the Land Administration Office in a whirlwind, Anxi pulled out the key and strode briskly toward the iron door.

“Hold it, who goes there. “

Anxi waved the document in his hand. “The 47th Division. “

Before the guard from the Security Department could even make out the handwriting, the man had already leaped up and vaulted over the iron gate in a few swift moves.

The office of the Chief Minister was packed with a restless crowd, all kinds of arguments buzzing endlessly, half of them curses.

Nuoneike, who had been called back again, was shaking so badly his hands trembled as he kept wiping the cold sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief.

Standing here, I’m nothing—just someone to take their anger out on, entirely useless—yet I still have to stay. Because in the end, I’ll be the one sent to do the dirty work, no question about it.

“What do we do? If this keeps escalating and the reporters catch wind of it and spill it to the press, we’re finished, all of us. “

“Those villagers probably giving us nothing but empty threats, anyway. “

“Are you willing to bet on that? “

Amid the droning cacophony, a knock at the door cut through abruptly, silencing the room. Footsteps soon followed, and the door swung open. The people inside stared with suspicion at the man on the threshold, face tinged with exotic features.

“Who might you be? ” a man in charge from the Civil Works Association asked warily.

“Hello. I’m from the Hirst Detective Agency. Commissioned to investigate the current situation of Qiaoshi Village and the surrounding area. And now, we’ve got an initial result. “

“A detective agency? ” The people inside sprang to their feet in shock—more than a few barking statements like a series of crashing waves, “: ” “Who do you think you are? “! And specifically, who hired you? ” What the hell are you,” and then overlapping disarray: “Where’d this scumbag come from? “.! ” Are you someone you recognize? ” — an absolute siege. Someone demands soon answers from the current authorities; in the closest fit — director followed — yes. _”

Amid the shouting from all sides, a Department Chief from the Security Division barked loudly: one one of himself – loud enough this guy cuts sharply and demands “Who commissioned you?“

From the doorway, Anxi held up the documents in hand with a grin from ear to cheek; steadying himself against the doorframe said through bite-back , _”Given their word

……

On that afternoon in April, for the old-school officials of White Violet City, it was a day that might forever be etched into their memories.

That outsider, who had stationed his troops here, actually took the initiative to authorize a survey company no one had even heard of, meddling in matters that fell squarely under their own departments.

Perhaps the news about blowing up the lake dam had already reached their ears, prompting such an outrageous reaction from the military brass, the crowd mused. Yet, since those in the “Temporary Command Office ” hadn’t brought it up, officials from the various city halls dared not ask.

All they could do was watch helplessly as the division’s people unraveled the problem from the very root of the conflict, tackling this headache head-on.

And they did it in a way never seen before—at least not in the Grand Duchy: by establishing a third-party entity, a so-called survey company, tasked with investigating, preparing negotiation teams, collecting and organizing the demands of both sides, and directly reporting to the division headquarters.

Overwhelmed by delegations from several ministries coming to him all at once, an official from the former city hall sent someone to ask at the division’s Temporary Command Office. When the envoy returned, brimming with confidence, he turned to the throng behind him and said:

“Director Kangde, and everyone else, quickly go find the most brilliant lawyers and negotiation experts you know to handle this matter. “

“Huh? We’re really going to negotiate? With Those dirt-poor farmers? “

“Ha, ” a few newspapers were thrown onto the stone steps outside the door, landing in the arms of several department heads, “Take a look at the international situation; farmers aren’t just about tilling fields. On the contrary, this time you ought to thank the Division Headquarters for shifting the confrontation from guns and explosive packs to the table, where lawyers and farmers can have their say. “

Kangde lowered his head, glancing at the newspaper in his hands. It read:“The Supreme Leader of Tiyago was lynched and hanged in front of the office building last month by local armed militia. “

Nuoneike, who was among the crowd, heard this and stared wide-eyed, nearly choking.

“What’s wrong with you? ” The representatives from the Recruitment Office and the City Chamber of Commerce beside him, sensing the anomaly, turned to look at him.

“No… nothing. ” Nuoneike swallowed his saliva with difficulty.

Folk don’t drip-tease without a nook… a phrase he had once heard flashed through his mind.

The other newspapers featured similar stories about armed peasants.

“How dare they… “

“Forget that; just find someone. Ah, Mr. Wilhelm from the Iron Horse Law Office seems good. “

“I also know a lawyer by the name of Shaw, who specializes in asset-related matters. “

“It seems there’s an Boriea Law Firm in the south of the city. A few of them approached me before, wanting to treat me to dinner. Hurry, let’s find them quickly. “

These folks, usually so carefree and deeply concerned with their dignity, now scattered in panic, each speeding off—whether directly to someone they knew or to find acquaintances of acquaintances—in pursuit of relevant figures within the city.

……

Hark Street, Anderson Law Firm. A middle-aged man in a wool coat, inking his fountain pen, turned his head sharply toward the intruder bursting through the door.

……

On the second floor of the White Ocean Building, the cover of theCivil Codehad just been flipped open when a large hand slammed it shut with a “bang. “

Veer Wei looked up. Beside his desk stood a man in a newsboy cap and a half-length gray trench coat. Next to him was a thick-browed youth of seventeen or eighteen, standing rigidly with his left hand grasping his right wrist, both hands placed properly in front of him.

“We are from the Brilliance Decor Chamber of Commerce, Attorney Veilun. Please come with us immediately to handle a case. “