Inside a large tent beside several trucks, the air was thick with cigarette smoke.

Kangde, Reclamation Department Minister, leaned back in his wide leather chair, rubbing his slick forehead. Across the small table sat the stout Deputy Minister of the Police who said in a low voice,

“Going by what we’ve seen this afternoon, this survey company is definitely taking the villagers’ side. “

“If those bureau chaps weren’t breathing down our necks, and I had to have every word recorded and reported, why would we beat around the bush like this? We could have just shown ’em the title deed straight away and be done with it. “

From the sidelines, a representative from the chamber of commerce exhaled a plume of smoke and, his expression hidden behind the haze, said, “I thought they were stirring up this big a fuss because they had some hidden ace pulling the strings somewhere, ready to throw down a heavy hand. “

He flicked off the ash from his cigarette. “But as I see it now, it’s just the bureau going through the motions, trying to get a read on what’s really going on here on the ground. “

“Yeah, they haven’t got a stick to beat us with anymore. But up in the city, there’s been some activity today as well. We’ve got to seal this up fast. “

A businessman chipped in, “Exactly, there’s still a ton of properties on the list waiting for a proper look from us. The more time we waste here, the more noticeable we become. “

The Deputy Minister of the Police, shooting a weaselly, hard look said, “Well way I see it, we produce that ‘green deed’ of evidence tomorrow and tie up the charge tight into a knot for ’em. I’m done waiting. “

Minister Kangde frowned, “Won’t that leave a loose thread for the bureau to grab hold of? This town’s virtually clean of the Marshall’s men all together; if they… “

“Just a bunch of country bumpkins, ” the conscription office director sneered coldly. Since the division headquarters had arrived, his authority had been completely nullified. “Look at how beaten-down they are. We’ve been throwing documents at them for two days, and they haven’t batted an eye. Even if you gave them the chance, they couldn’t do anything with it. This land deed will pass through without a hitch too. “

Several of them chuckled softly.

“Fine. From now on, Bridge Stone Village will be our Chamber of Commerce’s site for a new factory. This land was already run into the ground by their own hands. “

“Hahaha, sounds good! Just make sure to let me buy in on a share when the time comes. “

……

The next day.

Early that morning in the warehouse, the team of lawyers—who had been digging through evidence and legal loopholes all night long—strode in holding their documents with bold confidence.

Darui and his colleague had already left, but Yang Zicang stayed behind, bearing an official letter issued by the division headquarters. The various bureau directors and office chiefs raised no objections. Only Nuoneike seemed unsettled that entire morning, acting as though he had something to hide.

It wasn’t until a fierce round of verbal sparring that a break finally rolled around. Across the way, the farmers shot them a “Hmph! ” coldly, their stomachs brimming with pent-up anger again as they stood up to discuss matters amongst themselves.

Nuoneike made his way over to Yang Zicang and stammered hesitantly, “So, uh… Mr. Fogman… “

“Hmm? ” Yang Zicang looked up, pretending he had just noticed his approach. He set aside the contracts he’d been reviewing—paperwork a certain resident had submitted to the Land Administrative Office during the construction of his home over a decade ago.

He raised his gaze, his eyes calm and collected, but the look alone sent a jolt of anxiety through Nuoneike’s heart.

Nuoneike nervously shot a glance at the others milling about the room, then lowered his voice to ask, “Mr. Fogman, this… this suggestion of yours… “

He jabbed his index finger downward in a vague point. “Could it be you? “

“Mm-hmm. ” Yang Zicang nodded lightly, then continued lounging with his legs crossed, flipping through the files on the table. As if all he’d done was confirm a minor, insignificant matter.

Nuo Neke, standing diagonally behind the chair, felt as if a thunderbolt had exploded above his head!

Damn that Wumin… it really was him!

The deputy director’s face instantly drained of all color.

That absurd suggestion had actually been turned into reality by him—and he’d made a pawn of Nuo Neke, who was stabbed repeatedly in the process! Dazed, Nuo Neke stumbled back to his seat and felt as though the chair beneath him was bristling with thorns.

Yang Zicang’s eyes swept over one document after another.

Construction dates, signatures, seal patterns, title deeds… these so-called evidences…

They were all records of houses built or sale contracts processed through the procedures established over decades in Bai Jin City.

At first, homeowners were just worried about future trouble, so they’d proactively go through these unnecessary procedures—until it gradually turned into a habit taken for granted.

But all these “evidences ” came with a precondition…

Snorting coldly, Yang Zicang glanced at his chest, hoping that the rent-district’s mailing system was as quick as his old neighborhood’s.

……

At noon, Yang Zicang explained some matters to Anxi.

“Are you sure it’ll really work? “

“Trust me; absolutely no problem. “

Anxi nodded vigorously and quickly summoned several people. They gathered in a small farmyard; these five or six individuals were the initiators of this timber dismantling operation, as well as those who had contributed the most. Among them was the young boy who had sent the message.

“Senior Inspector, you called for us, ” the group said, crowding around with a sense of urgency.

Yang Zicang stood on the stone steps in the yard, the midday sun glaring overhead. “You’ve all seen the situation—those ‘documents’ piles up against you like a wall, and they don’t work in your favor. “

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“That’s right! If this keeps up, our lands and houses… I’m afraid they’ll really end up in the hands of those lords! “

“But just making it this far, we’ve already held our heads high. Without you, Inspector, there’s no way we’d be sitting down with those big shots to talk about land ownership. “

The situation here had already stunned the other villagers who lived near the old mill.

This was something unheard of—happening right here. So, even though the odds were against them, everyone felt genuinely grateful to the warmhearted Fogfolk; it was just that royal decrees were hard to defy.

“Mr. Fogfolk, didn’t you say you’d help us? ” the young boy Fusi couldn’t help stepping forward, a glimmer of eagerness in his eyes. “D-Do you have some… some magical Fog power? Could you conjure up a real land deed? “

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Anxi chuckled, “It’s true that fogfolk have all sorts of bizarre abilities, but they ain’t like what you’re imagining, hey. “

Yang Zicang added, “I’m just a representative of the investigation firm. All I can do is pass on the true and complete picture of the situation here to the temporary command office. “

One villager mustered his courage, looked up and said, “I know you must’ve investigated the flattened Stone Bridge Fort for sure! Let’s all go to the Hawthorne family and beg for their mercy. “

“You can forget about the Hawthorne family’s land deeds. “

Yang Zicang stopped the crowd.

“Then what’re we supposed to do? ” a villager said with some heat, “Didn’t you say you’d help us! Hah, you did what you could, we don’t blame you. But if they dare to take it, I’ll blow up the dam. “

“Everyone, don’t do anything rash. ” Yang Zicang raised his hand to gesture for calm, “Actually, the key to solving the problem is already here. “

“It is? ” Two villagers who had already turned to leave the courtyard to work on explosives stopped in their tracks and turned around, just in time to meet the fogfolk man’s gaze.

“Yes. I’m just worried that after I leave, you’ll fall back into danger, so let me propose something. “

“Propose something? “

“Set up your own village self-governance committee. “

The men stared blankly at him, as if they hadn’t processed what he said.

Anxi, who had been standing by with his arms crossed, suddenly felt as if a jolt of electricity ran through him. He whipped his head toward Yang Zicang on the steps.

“Huh? What was that? ” The men seemed not to understand the word.

“Com… committee? What kind of official is that? ” a bewildered villager asked.

“From now on, this place won’t rely on others, but on yourselves. “

“Us? ” another exclaimed in terror. “Isn’t that just going against the masters? We’ll be arrested! “

“How could we possibly have that right? “

“Why wouldn’t you? ” Yang Zicang countered, his tone carrying a calm, steady strength. “Elders, uncles, and brothers, to put it plainly, this autonomous committee is simply an organization elected by us folks, dedicated to doing good for our Qiaoshi Village. “

“First, when conflicts arise between neighbors—say, over land boundaries or water sources—the committee steps in to mediate, following old traditions or working out a fair solution. “

“Second, for any public village matters, like repairing canals or tending the mill, the committee organizes everyone to get the job done together! “

“Third, and most importantly! ” His eyes gleamed sharp and spirited.

“If outsiders ever try to steal our land or tear down our homes, the committee will be our voice! They’ll argue with them, fight them. We’ll have our own lawyer, our own archives. Do you understand? “

“This… ” The others were deeply unsettled. “We won’t be branded as some troublemaking group, will we? “

“If this organization genuinely serves the villagers, if its people are voted in by everyone, and if no service fee is charged… then who can call it a troublemaking group? If this is trouble, then what about the Chamber of Commerce? And the trade unions? “

“The Chamber of Commerce? Trade unions? “

“Vote! “

A few villagers felt a jolt through their bodies, like an electric shock. They had never considered this before, but… could it actually work?

“The Autonomous Committee represents the interests of the villagers, and from now on, it can be specially tasked with handling such matters. ” said Yang Zicang.

Anxi looked at the man in confusion.

“When we are no longer here in the future, you can, like those chambers of commerce, hire professional personnel for help—exactly as we’ve been doing with them these past few days. And yours is a purely public welfare organization, doing things that benefit the nation and its people. “

The group exchanged glances and saw a shining brightness reflected in each other’s eyes!

“This is a public welfare cause that benefits the nation and the people… ” they repeated. Hearing the term “public welfare ” spoken by the Fogfolk man, they were thoroughly stirred.

“Right, right, right… this is decided by our own choice, a matter shared by everyone together! But… “

One turned his head to Yang Zicang. “Sir Fogfolk, I sincerely thank you for your advice. You truly have our best interests at heart… but, after all, the land ownership here… “

“There’s no ownership of the land. “

“Hmm, right—no land… huh? ” The group raised their heads to stare at Yang Zicang.

Anxi also turned to look.

Yang Zicang smiled and said:

“Over sixty years ago, the patriarch of the Holson family already published a declaration in theHorn Guardian Newspaper, titled: ‘The Holson Family’s Declaration on Permanently Severing Blood Ties with the Ciris Family of Castlerock, and Abolishing Inheritance Rights over the Domain.’ “

Stunned, the group listened in mute confusion.

“This can be easily investigated. I’ve already asked someone to find a copy; it won’t be long before this newspaper arrives from the Chebin Archipelago through our land concession’s exclusive mailing channel. So right now, Qiaoshi Fort is essentially masterless land, yet legally it still belongs to the Huosang family’s territory. That declaration is indisputable evidence. “

The group in the yard was stunned for a moment, then “Ah——!! ” Fusi was the first to leap up. Cole clamped his hand over his mouth, muffling the shout, but the boyish ecstasy had already flooded his entire face.

“LONG LIVE THE FOGFOLK! ” The others nearly burst into cheers!

“Keep it down! ” Cole said in a trembling voice.

“We’re going to establish an autonomous committee! ” They excitedly clutched at Yang Zicang’s cotton clothes.

If not for Cole frantically signaling them to stay quiet, the lot of them would have nearly tossed the Fogfolk into the air and cheered on the spot.