191: Chapter 191 Departmental Signage

Three days later.

In the southern suburbs of Kyoto, the once desolate abandoned warehouse district was now decorated with lanterns and streamers, filled with the sound of gongs and drums.

A brand-new asphalt road led straight to the main gate, with colorful flags fluttering in the wind on both sides.

The once dilapidated red-brick warehouse, after Lin Fan's "violent renovation" and the addition of system black technology, had transformed into a sci-fi steel fortress.

The star alloy exterior walls, entirely silver-white, reflected the dazzling sunlight. The two giant guards at the entrance, assembled from discarded mecha parts, exuded a heart-palpitating sense of oppression.

Right above the main gate, a massive plaque was covered with red silk, appearing mysterious and unfathomable.

The official opening ceremony for the "New Martial Arts Special Strategy Department" was being held today.

Although the department's name sounded a bit unconventional, and few people even understood its specific functions.

However, the guests present today were enough to make all of Kyoto tremble.

"The Head of the Kyoto Li Family has arrived! Gift: One thousand-year-old blood ginseng!"

"The Head of the Kyoto Wang Family has arrived! Gift: Two S-rank exotic beast inner cores!"

"The Kyoto Zhao Family... representative Zhao Wujing has arrived! Gift: A cash check for fifty million!"

The greeter at the door was none other than Qian Duoduo, who had previously been captured by Lin Fan to work as manual labor.

The little fatty was now wearing a sharp suit, his face glowing with health, and his voice was as loud as a stage actor's.

Every time a name and gift list were announced, the surrounding crowd would let out a gasp of amazement.

These usually high-and-mighty heads of aristocratic families now had smiles on their faces that looked worse than crying, as they queued at the door to register and present their gifts.

There was no other way; they had to come.

The cautionary tale of the Qin Family was right there.

When even a Half-step Martial King was forced to break his son's leg to apologize and cede three mineral veins, how would these families dare to cross Lin Fan?

Lin Fan was wearing a brand-new Major General's uniform, his chest covered with various medals of unknown origin, standing at the hall entrance with a blooming smile.

Beside him was a table with a money counter and a giant electronic scale.

"Oh, Head Li, what a rare guest!"

Lin Fan enthusiastically shook Head Li's hand while his other hand naturally took the brocade box containing the blood ginseng and handed it to Lin Xiaoya.

"Xiaoya, inspect the goods."

Lin Xiaoya obediently opened the box, took a look, and said in a crisp voice, "Brother, two of the blood ginseng's roots are broken. The quality is B+, so calling it A-rank is a bit of a stretch."

The smile on Lin Fan's face dimmed instantly. He let go of the hand and pointed to a table in the corner of the hall.

"Head Li, it's the thought that counts. There's open seating over there; plenty of melon seeds to go around."

Head Li's smile froze.

Open seating?

He, the head of a top-tier aristocratic family, was to sit in open seating?

"Major General Lin, this..."

"What? You're looking down on it?" Lin Fan raised an eyebrow. "How about I return this blood ginseng to you and we settle it in cash at market price?"

"No, no, no! Open seating is fine, perfectly fine!"

Head Li was so startled he shuddered, hurriedly wiping away cold sweat as he slipped into the corner.

No joke, if his gift were returned, all of Kyoto would know by tomorrow that the Li Family couldn't afford a proper gift—that would be a massive loss of face.

Over the next while, Lin Fan fully demonstrated what it meant to "treat people based on their status."

If the gift was heavy, they were brothers; he'd put his arm around them and invite them to the head table, serving them the best tea and water.

If the gift was light or they tried to pass off inferior goods, Lin Fan's sharp tongue would leave them utterly embarrassed, wishing they could crawl into a hole.

Just then, the low roar of an engine was heard.

An off-road vehicle with North Border Military Region plates, trailing a cloud of dust, stopped arrogantly at the end of the red carpet.

The car door opened, and a young man in camouflage combat gear, exuding a chilling murderous intent, jumped out.

It was Qin Feng, who had rushed back from the North Border overnight.

However, Qin Feng looked a bit disheveled now, with stubble on his face and dark circles under his eyes, but his gaze was startlingly bright.

He strode up to Lin Fan and, without a word, gave him a bear hug.

"Hahaha, Brother Fan! I missed you so much!"

Qin Feng's voice was filled with excitement.

Only he knew what he had gone through in his family over the past few days.

From an outcast on the fringes, he had overnight become a manager of mineral veins with real power. The elders who used to mock him now had to bow and scrape in his presence.

All of this was given to him by the man in front of him.

"Alright, alright, two grown men hugging and clinging—it's unseemly."

Lin Fan pushed him away in disgust and smoothed his wrinkled uniform. "What good stuff did you bring?"

Qin Feng chuckled and pulled out a crumpled piece of paper from his pocket.

"No money, no treasures. I just brought this."

Lin Fan took it and saw it was an "Urgent Approval Order for Mineral Vein Mining," already stamped with Qin Feng's private seal.

"You've got some conscience, kid."

Lin Fan tucked the note away with satisfaction and pointed to the main table in the center. "Go, sit at the head table. Today, you're family."

Qin Feng stunned for a moment, then nodded heavily and walked in with his head held high.

Watching Qin Feng's back, the heads of the aristocratic families had complex expressions in their eyes.

They knew that although the Qin Family had lost face, because of Qin Feng's presence, they had actually boarded Lin Fan's fast ship.

Just as the auspicious hour approached and they were ready to unveil the plaque.

A crane's cry suddenly echoed from the sky.

A giant mechanical crane dove down from the clouds and landed steadily in the center of the square.

A middle-aged man in a Mao suit stepped off the back of the crane.

The moment they saw this person, everyone present stood up, not even daring to breathe loudly.

That was General Ye Canglan's personal secretary!

"Major General Lin Fan."

The secretary said with a smile, holding a long sandalwood box. "Elder Ye is busy with official duties and couldn't come in person. He specifically ordered me to deliver a handwritten inscription as a congratulatory gift."

The crowd erupted in an uproar.

A handwritten inscription by the General Ye Canglan!

This honor was absolutely astronomical!

Lin Fan also dropped his playful grin and solemnly accepted the wooden box with both hands.

Inside was a scroll.

Upon unfurling it, four flamboyant characters appeared, with a towering aura of slaughter between the lines:

【Pillar of the Nation】

Total silence fell over the venue.

How could someone like Lin Fan be a Pillar of the Nation? He felt more like a scoundrel, bullying small families everywhere!

Lin Fan was stunned for a moment, then burst into loud laughter.

"The one who knows me best is Elder Ye!"

He waved his hand sharply and shouted, "Unveil the plaque!"

The red silk fell, revealing the brand-new plaque.

"New Martial Arts Special Strategy Department"

In the bottom right corner of these large characters, Lin Fan had Elder Ye's four words carved overnight.

This meant that from today onwards, this department would become the most unreasonable yet most justified place in Kyoto.

Standing on the steps, Lin Fan looked at the people below with their varying expressions, his heart filled with pride and ambition.

I've finally established a firm foothold in Kyoto.