369: Chapter 369 I've been looking forward to this day

“Don’t move! Everyone listen, Gong Kaiming is colluding with a cult and wants to lead everyone to their deaths. Don’t be misled by him; once you leave, it’s a dead end!” Several anti-gravity aircraft hovered over Meilin Settlement, with people shouting from above.

“Now, listen to my command: everyone go home immediately, and absolutely do not leave the city!”

“Gong Kaiming, for his own selfish reasons, plans to lead everyone to their deaths. Everyone, please do not fall for it!”

… …

The aircraft repeatedly shouted, aiming to ruin Gong Kaiming’s reputation.

The Citizens, unaware of the inside story, stood bewildered in the streets.

They dared not leave the city, nor did they dare go home. They could only huddle together on the road, discussing among themselves.

Gong Kaiming was greatly alarmed when he saw this scene.

“Don’t believe them, this isn’t true. They’re talking nonsense. How could I collude with a cult?” He quickly explained to the staff members in the Command HQ.

But with such matters, explaining is tantamount to covering up.

Whether he colluded with a cult or not was not the point; the point was that everyone would rather believe it than not. For Gong Kaiming to suddenly ask everyone to leave in the middle of the night was already quite abnormal. Now that the Huatong Chamber of Commerce and the Mercenary Guild were saying the same thing, it certainly wasn’t groundless.

“What are you still standing around for? Why aren’t you quickly splitting up to do your work? Tell everyone this is a conspiracy by the Huatong Chamber of Commerce; they just want to seize power.” Gong Kaiming said.

He urged them for a long time, but no one moved.

“The Huatong Chamber of Commerce wants to seize power?”

The true thoughts in the staff’s minds were:

“That’s great! Come quickly!”

They wished they could throw themselves into the embrace of the Chamber of Commerce; their lives would be infinitely better that way.

Many people from Meilin Settlement had gone to work at the Chamber of Commerce headquarters, and it was said that the conditions there were unbelievably good.

Everyone had been looking forward to this day for a long time.

There were already many such voices circulating among the Citizens. They all believed that since the Huatong Chamber of Commerce originated in Meilin Settlement, its headquarters should be built there. After learning that Gong Kaiming was unwilling and had driven Niu Xingwang away, they all thought he was a short-sighted person and completely unfit to be Mayor.

“Mayor Gong, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with the Huatong Chamber of Commerce wanting to seize power. I suggest you step down; it would be good for Meilin Settlement.” A staff member spoke up.

“What did you say? Nonsense! This is a rebellion! Do you understand or not? As a state civil servant, how can you say such a thing? Where is your integrity? Where is your stance?” Mayor Gong was enraged when he heard these words.

“Oh, come on! You’re speaking so grandiosely. Who doesn’t know that you just can’t bear to give up the Mayor’s position?” Another person spoke the plain truth.

“You…” Just as Mayor Gong was about to scold them, someone entered.

“Don’t move, the Mercenary Guild is executing a mission!” The door of the Command HQ was opened, and a group of fully armed mercenaries walked in, surrounding everyone.

“Yinghua, you…” Mayor Gong was somewhat incredulous when he saw that the leader who entered was Cao Yinghua.

Cao Yinghua was the mole he had sent to the Huatong Chamber of Commerce.

“Mayor Gong, I apologize for the offense!” Cao Yinghua walked closer, replied politely, and then shouted:

“Men, take him down!”

“Cao Yinghua, what are you doing!” Mayor Gong shouted loudly.

“Mayor Gong, I apologize, but I cannot stand by and watch you harm the Citizens.” Cao Yinghua spoke politely yet firmly.

“Everyone, I have been entrusted by the Huatong Chamber of Commerce to clarify something. The Huatong Chamber of Commerce has no intention of seizing control of Meilin Settlement. Today’s action is merely to crush Gong Kaiming’s conspiracy. As for who will govern Meilin Settlement afterward, that will require everyone to choose for themselves. However, I must state that until a new person in charge is elected for Meilin Settlement, I will temporarily be responsible for public order.” Cao Yinghua said to the staff members.

He was reminding these people that to gain power, they could do so through democratic elections. No one should think about inciting the Citizens or resorting to armed seizure of power.

“You, surnamed Gong, tell me, where is my Old Xue?”

As soon as Cao Yinghua finished speaking, a disheveled middle-aged woman ran in from outside the door.

“Take him away!” He didn’t know what was going on, nor did he intend to deal with it.

“You can’t go! You can’t go! Tell me, where is my Old Xue!” The woman stopped the mercenary from leaving and rushed over, clutching Gong Kaiming tightly.

“Elder Sister, if you have any issues, you can go to the Mercenary Guild. He will temporarily be detained there.” Cao Yinghua said with a frown.

“Alright, alright, alright! Thank you! I’ll go with you all!” The woman did not seem to be making a scene unreasonably.

After the Citizens learned that Gong Kaiming had been arrested, the farce quickly subsided.

The next morning, Niu Xingwang returned to Meilin Settlement.

“What’s going on?” As soon as Niu Xingwang entered the Mercenary Guild, he saw the middle-aged woman.

Her attire was completely out of place there; it was hard not to notice her.

“Guild Leader, she’s looking for Gong Kaiming. I heard her husband disappeared, and she came to him for answers.” A mercenary reported.