46: Fusang enters

“Hmph, there's no need for tea. Where is that kid named Su Ze?” Jiang Chen said with a cold snort.

Xiao Xu continued, smiling, “Unfortunately, he is not currently at school. So, how about you all have a cup of tea and wait a moment?”

Hearing this, Jiang Chen sneered, “Heh heh, not at school? It's class time right now, yet he just happens to be absent?”

“Principal Xiao Xu, don't tell me you deliberately hid him?! If you intentionally interfere with our mission... don't blame me for being impolite!”

Xiao Xu waved his hands repeatedly, saying, “How could that be? Vice Principal Jiang Chen, you worry too much. I will definitely cooperate fully with you all to complete the mission, and we can all happily resolve this matter together.”

“However..., just a little while ago, Captain Guo Linshan of the Daxia Spirit Guard called Su Ze away, saying it was for something important. I certainly didn't hide him deliberately.”

“If you all are patient, you can wait and have tea in my office. I believe he will be back from the Great Xia Spirit Guards soon. After all, he is still a student at our Azure Dragon Beast Tamer University, and Captain Guo has no reason to keep him for too long.”

Jiang Chen and the others saw that Xiao Xu's expression didn't seem fake, so their attention focused on Jiang Tianlong, the youngest among them. He was also a Deputy Commander of the Great Xia Spirit Guards, so he should be the one to step forward and request the person.

Feeling everyone's gaze, the young and arrogant Jiang Tianlong chuckled lightly, saying disdainfully, “I thought it was someone important. Turns out it's that Old fellow Guo Linshan, who only managed to reach the position of Detachment Commander in the Eastern Corps at his age.”

“Don't worry, I'll personally lead the team over. He definitely wouldn't dare refuse to hand the person over!”

Although they held the same rank of Detachment Commander, the Imperial Capital Legion was composed entirely of the elite of the elite, meaning that logically, their positions were half a rank higher than those in other legions at the same level.

“Since Tianlong says so, I feel relieved.”

Among the three of them, Jiang Chen and Jiang Tianlong both hailed from the Jiang Family, one of the Four Great Families of the Imperial Capital, while Chen Ze was attached to the Jiang Family's influence.

Therefore, among the three who seemingly had similar status, Chen Ze actually held the lowest position.

Furthermore, because Jiang Tianlong was younger, he was one of the rising geniuses of the Jiang Family's new generation.

Although Jiang Chen had a higher seniority, he was a marginalized figure within the family.

Therefore, he had to curry favor everywhere with Jiang Tianlong, who was much lower in seniority than himself.

This could also be seen from their respective positions: Chen Ze, as an outsider, was placed by the Jiang Family into the Beast Tamer Association, which held little actual power.

Jiang Chen, on the other hand, was sent to the Imperial Capital Beast Taming University to retire. Although the benefits were generous, it wasn't a place with much future.

Jiang Tianlong, however, entered the Great Xia Spirit Guards, the core power of the Great Xia Nation—this was a position of true authority.

“Are you sure you won't stay for tea?” Seeing the three turn around and prepare to leave, Xiao Xu quickly spoke up, trying to keep them.

Jiang Chen turned his head and said coldly, “Principal Xiao Xu should drink the tea himself. After all, if we verify that Su Ze's contract carries significant risk, your responsibility won't be small. Let the tea calm your nerves!”

The three who set off again subtly swapped positions. Now, Jiang Tianlong was in the lead, with the other two slightly lagging half a step behind.

Watching the three figures gradually disappear, the expression on Xiao Xu's face also slowly turned cold.

“Guo Linshan knew they were coming here to demand the person, so he called Su Ze away. But I wonder if he realized how thoroughly prepared the opposition is—three different powers all sent a representative. The Jiang Family's reach... is growing longer and longer!”

Saying this, he turned and walked back toward his office.

He didn't need to worry about Su Ze. After all, given how highly Guo Linshan valued him, he would surely do everything he could to protect him.

Even if Guo Linshan and Yu Shenghuo couldn't hold them off, there was still Lin Xi.

That Old fellow had a terrible temper and possessed an incredibly powerful backing that was in no way inferior to the Jiang Family.

If the Jiang Family truly wanted to force the issue, they probably wouldn't gain anything beneficial.

Thinking this, Xiao Xu returned to his office door. Before entering, he paused slightly upon seeing the door—which he had closed when he left—now ajar, and then a faint smile appeared on his face.

After pushing the door open, he discovered the cleaning lady, the one who always hovered outside his door and was responsible for the top floor of the administration building's hygiene, was inside.

The moment she saw Xiao Xu, she immediately performed an extremely standard ninety-degree bow.

A black space expanded centered around her, quickly enveloping the entire office.

Xiao Xu did not make a move to counterattack, as he sensed no killing intent. The black space merely isolated the office from all external perception.

Inside this space, she no longer looked like the cleaning lady, but transformed into a gorgeous young woman wearing a traditional kimono.

She bowed again and said, “Lord Xiao, although we have communicated secretly many times, and with your intelligence, you must have guessed my identity long ago, this is still the first time we meet with our true identities.”

“It's a pleasure to meet you. Allow me to introduce myself: I am Ishiro Meiko, the adjutant of Captain Tanaka.”

Xiao Xu returned the bow and said, “Miss Ishiro is too modest. Your technique for concealing your aura is first-rate. I only had suspicions but couldn't confirm them, nor did I know that your beauty was so captivating. It truly is a waste of talent to use such a face for dirty, tiring work.”

Ishiro Meiko smiled and said, “Everything is merely for His Majesty the Emperor.”

Seeing that she had no intention of continuing the small talk, Xiao Xu spoke plainly, “Alright, since Miss Ishiro has voluntarily revealed her identity, does this mean you have made your decision?”

“You should know that someone has already acted faster than you. The Jiang Family, one of the Four Great Families of the Great Xia Imperial Capital, has already approached Su Ze.”

Ishiro Meiko immediately grew serious and said, “That is precisely why I am here. The high-level officials of the Island Nation negotiated and finally decided to adopt your suggestion: to seek a breakthrough through this young man, Su Ze.”

“If he can truly succeed in activating the bloodline of the Golden Feather Phoenix Bird, then we won't have to risk probing that unknown place.”

Xiao Xu smiled and said, “It's good that you figured it out. Trust me, that kid will definitely surprise you all greatly!”

Ishiro Meiko nodded noncommittally, then inquired, “So, are we supposed to protect him now, preventing the Jiang Family from taking unfavorable actions against him?”

“To complete this mission, we mobilized all our forces infiltrated within Great Xia territory. As long as that certain person doesn't intervene, we can completely protect him from the Jiang Family.”

But Xiao Xu shook his head, “No. Not only should you not help him, but you must also continue executing your assassination plan. You just need to maintain control and not actually kill him.”