267: Chapter 268 Your position determines your perspective

"Family Head Sun, do you recognize this person?" Lin Ye's voice was calm, but to Family Head Sun, it sounded like a thunderclap.

Family Head Sun fell silent, his mind racing as he weighed how to answer this question.

Should he frankly admit it or distance himself?

He swept his gaze over the severed head and finally spoke slowly, though his voice was much lower than before, devoid of any anger.

"I recognize him. Flying Eagle Gang Leader."

After speaking, he looked up at Lin Ye and feigned confusion: "Why... is he dead?"

Seeing Family Head Sun playing dumb, Lin Ye smiled: "Naturally, I killed him!"

His tone then shifted, carrying a hint of coldness: "I heard that the Flying Eagle Gang is a force supported entirely by your Sun Family."

"I wonder if Family Head Sun knows that the real Flying Eagle Gang Leader died long ago."

"The one who has been in charge of the Flying Eagle Gang all these years is actually a Demon wearing human skin!"

Family Head Sun's heart tightened at these words.

The Flying Eagle Gang was a subordinate force of the Sun Family. While it wasn't exactly public knowledge, those who needed to know already knew, and that naturally included the Demon Suppression Division.

Therefore, he couldn't deny it, so he had to tell the truth.

After all, the Flying Eagle Gang was the Flying Eagle Gang, and the Sun Family was the Sun Family.

Even if Flying Eagle Gang Leader really was a Demon, it wouldn't implicate him; he could easily brush it off by claiming ignorance.

Thinking of this, his face regained some calmness.

"I... truly did not know about this matter."

"Although the Flying Eagle Gang has had some dealings with the Sun Family, as the Family Head of the Sun Family, I have always been busy with official duties and have never interfered too much in the development of the Flying Eagle Gang."

"As for the matter of Flying Eagle Gang Leader being possessed by a Demon, it is my negligence, and I am willing to accept punishment from the Demon Suppression Division."

He knew very well that completely distancing himself was impossible.

Rather than being branded with the label of colluding with a Demon, it was better to proactively take responsibility for negligence.

In this way, even if the Demon Suppression Division wanted to make trouble for the Sun Family, they would have no way to start.

"Heh, what a clever retreat to advance. Family Head Sun, you certainly have a good plan."

Old Man Shen finally found an opportunity to speak, his tone filled with just the right amount of mockery.

"Family Head Sun, the Flying Eagle Gang is a force supported entirely by your Sun Family, and Flying Eagle Gang Leader was your top henchman."

"These things are no secret in all of Qingfeng County."

"Flying Eagle Gang Leader has been possessed by a Demon for so many years; who knows how many lives he has devoured in secret, causing so many casualties!"

"Did your Sun Family not hear even a whisper of it?"

"Do you think you can just brush it off with a claim of negligence?"

The Demon Suppression Division indeed did not practice collective punishment, but that didn't mean the Sun Family could just wash their hands of it.

The matter of Demons is of paramount importance. If it were really that easy to get away with, then in the future, everyone would follow suit.

As long as the Demon didn't threaten their own vital interests, they would turn a blind eye to every anomaly.

Wouldn't that be complete chaos?

Therefore, the Sun Family must pay a price today.

Although it wouldn't go so far as to exterminate the clan, the Sun Family must be given a painful lesson.

Only in this way could they truly kill the chicken to warn the monkey.

Let those who harbor wishful thinking know that once they discover an anomaly with their subordinates, they must report it in a timely manner; playing dumb will not work!

Family Head Sun's gaze flickered slightly.

He also saw what Old Man Shen was planning.

This was clearly an attempt to make an example of him.

But the Flying Eagle Gang was the Sun Family's power, that was a fact.

Flying Eagle Gang Leader being a Demon was also a fact. The Demon Suppression Division would not make an issue out of this point, because it concerned the foundation of the nation and could not tolerate any falsification.

Shen Lian's meaning was also very clear; regardless of whether he was aware of it, the Sun Family could not stay out of this, and there was no such thing as "the ignorant are not guilty."

Moreover, over all these years, to say that he hadn't noticed any anomaly in Flying Eagle Gang Leader would be pure self-deception.

It was just that the Flying Eagle Gang concerned the overall development of the Sun Family, so he chose to turn a blind eye.

Although suppressing Demons was the national policy of the Great Han, what did that have to do with their noble families?

Even to some extent, the existence of Demons was more conducive to the development of their noble families.

If it weren't for these things occupying the vast majority of the imperial court's strength, how could their families develop their forces with peace of mind?

As the saying goes, where you stand determines your perspective.

Demons are the imperial court's serious trouble, not the noble families'; he saw this very clearly.

After a long silence, Family Head Sun finally spoke, his tone full of sincerity: "Captain Shen is right. With such a thing happening in the Flying Eagle Gang, the Sun Family cannot shirk the blame. I will certainly not shirk the responsibility that should be borne, but..."

Family Head Sun changed the subject: "My Sun Family definitely has no intention of deliberately shielding them."

"After all, if I were truly colluding with a Demon, I would not have cooperated so much with the Demon Suppression Division's search last night."

"I admit to the crime of negligence, but I absolutely do not admit to colluding with a Demon!"

"If the Demon Suppression Division insists on collective punishment, then my Sun Family will definitely not sit and wait for death, and I believe the other families will not stand idly by either!"

The meaning in these words could not be more obvious.

You of the Demon Suppression Division can use this matter to warn the noble families, but our Sun Family is not a soft persimmon for you to pinch.

If you really push us into a corner, we'll just go down together!

"You..." Given Old Man Shen's temper, how could he accept Family Head Sun's threat? He was immediately about to fly into a rage.

However, before the curses could leave his mouth, he was interrupted by Director Liu, who had been listening all along.

Old Man Shen and the others were military officers; they could afford to be a bit more aggressive in their actions.

But he was different.

As a civil official, maintaining the stability of the overall situation was his primary responsibility.

If this matter really caused panic in Qingfeng City, it would also not be in the interests of the imperial court.

Since Old Man Shen had played the red face, it was time for him to play the white face.

"The two of you, please don't get excited. In my opinion, why don't we wait for Commander Zhuge to return from reporting his duties before discussing this further?"

Calculating the days, it should be soon.

Director Liu's voice was not loud, but it eased the tense, sword-drawn atmosphere in the room significantly.

Family Head Sun shifted his gaze from Old Man Shen to Director Liu.

He recognized this person: the Director of the Logistics Department of the Demon Suppression Division.

He didn't usually show his face, but anyone who could sit in this position at the Demon Suppression Division couldn't have a simple background.

The most critical thing was that the other party's surname was Liu.

Just this one point was enough to make him afraid to be presumptuous in front of this person.

Moreover, he happened to need time to find connections to calm this incident down, and the other party's attitude of temporarily shelving it suited him perfectly.

Thinking of this, Family Head Sun immediately cupped his hands at Director Liu: "Everything shall be decided by Director Liu."

Although Old Man Shen was still a bit resentful, he couldn't undermine Director Liu at this time, so he subconsciously glanced at Lin Ye.

Lin Ye nodded calmly.

It was truly meaningless to continue arguing with Family Head Sun now.

After all, there were only two people in Qingfeng County who were truly qualified to punish a noble family of the Sun Family's level: the County Magistrate and the Demon Suppression Commander.