71: Chapter 71: Prelude to Demotion

Tier 2 City, East City, Law Enforcement Officer Commander Xiang Ding's residence.

"Little Tian, it won't be long before your downward assignment. You have been assigned to a Tier 3 City, Chang City. This is your result as the top in the Class Competition among the twelve middle schools in Chang City. Take a look."

Xiang Tian, who was petting his Beast, the Sha Jin Wolf, paused upon seeing the document his grandfather handed over. He took it and tossed it aside casually.

"Grandfather, a Tier 3 City? What kind of promising young Beast Tamer could such a city produce? If they were capable, why would they be in a Tier 3 City?"

"After all, who with real ability would restrict themselves to a Tier 3 City? Wouldn't they all move to cities with better resources once they made it?"

Speaking of this, a sense of superiority flickered in Xiang Tian's eyes. "Sha Jin Wolf, how many people in that kind of city have even seen one, let alone heard of it, aside from those like you, Grandfather, who come from the Federation's management?"

Xiang Tian's voice was filled with disdain, cruel and realistic.

Powerful people only seek out more powerful places to serve as their stage, while those without ability constantly sink and gather together.

"However, a city isn't devoid of wealthy people. I only need to look at the list of the top three high schools in a city; the rest aren't really worth the effort."

Commander Xiang Ding frowned slightly as he listened to his grandson's words, but he said nothing, for his grandson was not actually wrong.

Anyone with means in the family would send their children to the top three schools in the city, because the principals of those top three high schools were all the city's masters—or rather, they held the honorary title of City Lord.

Even as a Law Enforcement Officer in a Tier 2 City, he would have to bow his head to a City Lord of a Tier 3 City.

However, he had seen this list. His grandson would be sent to Changcheng No. 11 High School, where there happened to be a young person whose Beast was a Sha Jin Wolf.

He just hoped that reality would allow his grandson to change somewhat; this was one of the goals of the Federation's downward assignment.

Thinking of this, Commander Xiang Ding felt much better and nodded slightly. "You just need to make up your own mind."

"Once the downward assignment begins, we cannot provide you with too much assistance. This is a Federation rule. Apart from giving you a sum of money and some fixed resources in advance, we cannot give you much more help."

"Your Sha Jin Wolf is currently at Level 11. Wait until you break through to Tier 2 Mental Power before using the cultivation fluid to increase the Sha Jin Wolf's level, otherwise, you are prone to accidents."

Hearing this, Xiang Tian was somewhat dismissive. "Don't worry, Grandfather. I can break through to Tier 2 in two months at most. This speed is considered fast even across the entire Federation. It should be... about a month after the next semester starts?"

"As for those future classmates? Heh, we aren't even people from the same world. School is just the only way they could ever get to know me."

Speaking of this, seeing the worried look still on his grandfather's face, Xiang Tian took a deep breath and gave his assurance.

"Don't worry, Grandfather. Within the regulated zones, it's impossible for me to kill anyone."

Hearing this, Commander Xiang Ding looked at his grandson and remained silent for a long time, not revealing another cruel reality of the downward assignment.

---

"Girl, you'll be going on your downward assignment in a while. You can't be as willful as you are now. You must get along well with your classmates and don't learn from that lawless playboy, Xiang Tian."

"You said a few days ago that you were about two months away from Tier 2 Mental Power? That speed is quite good. Once you reach Tier 2 Mental Power, feed your Beast the cultivation fluid. Your father has already prepared it for you."

Cui Yan was sunk into the sofa, her left leg resting on a low stool, her right hand bandaged. She curled her lip and looked speechlessly at her pot-bellied, earnest father. Her tone was reproachful and carried a hint of speechlessness.

"Why are you comparing me to Xiang Tian? Is he even worthy? His strength is just so-so. If it weren't for him relying on having a grandfather who is a Law Enforcement Officer, and you being a businessman afraid of being targeted, I would have broken his legs long ago."

Chairman Cui Geng looked at his daughter's energetic short hair, and the corners of his mouth twitched helplessly. "I believe you, I believe you. How could a father not believe his daughter?"

"I'm just specifically mentioning it: when you go on the downward assignment, rein in your temper. Our family's capabilities aren't huge, but places like Tier 3 Cities still produce talents in various fields every year."

"You and Xiang Tian are assigned to the same Tier 3 City. Xiang Tian certainly won't care about such things, but our family is different. We fear being targeted from above and collapsing from below..."

Cui Yan, who already had a fiery temperament, immediately waved her hand in anger upon hearing her father's words. "Oh, alright, Dad, I know. You're just afraid I'll provoke some grass-roots underdog who makes a comeback, and in the end, our whole family will be wiped out."

Chairman Cui Geng paused, his expression tightened, and his eyes suddenly changed, becoming cold. "That's not all I meant, Dad's meaning."

"What Dad meant is, if someone really provokes you, find a suitable opportunity to take them out—Xiang Tian is no exception."

"The downward assignment is the time when the offspring of officials and merchants die the most. And those who die at this juncture, few die innocently. The Federation will investigate, yes, but once they find out it happened in the wild, they won't take any action."

"When Dad said we fear collapsing from below, it's not that the company can't maintain its basic operations; it's that I'm afraid you'll be broken! I'm afraid that Xiang Tian will play dirty with you!"

Speaking of this, Chairman Cui Geng's face did not look good. He also seemed like a deflated balloon, leaning back against the chair.

"That brat has been eyeing your old man's assets for more than a day or two."

As soon as these words were out, Cui Yan's expression changed. Her initial impatience became grave, as if she understood something, and she stared fixedly at her father.

"Dad, do you mean that the Federation is intentionally trying to choke out those..."

"Hey, hey! Dad didn't say that! Don't say things that are detrimental to unity!"

Cui Yan froze. Looking at her father's avoidant demeanor, she knew she had guessed correctly.

The purpose of the Federation doing this was because they were afraid that if such people entered the Federation's upper echelons in the future, who knew what kind of chaos they might cause. Even if they had talent, the Federation would still stifle them. The population base was there; what kind of genius couldn't be found?

You aren't indispensable.

Therefore, a rule called the downward assignment was created.

And those rich kids and official kids who treated others peacefully—no, or rather, those who were normal people—would not, and could not possibly, fall into this kind of life-and-death crisis.

In short, the Federation wanted to weed out some 'future' internal pests in advance.

"My god... if that's the case, then the purpose of the downward assignment itself can't be..."

She looked at her father and asked the question with difficulty.

"Dad, is the Federation... raising insects for a fight?"

Silence. Chairman Cui Geng did not respond to his daughter; there was only silence.

But sometimes, silence itself is a form of tacit agreement.

The scene instantly went quiet. After a long while, Chairman Cui Geng sighed heavily.

"Girl, don't put too much pressure on yourself. Two people on downward assignment won't be in the same school. When you participate in the school competition, just pay attention."

This news managed to pull Cui Yan out of her previous conjecture, and she let out a long breath.

"That's true, I'm not some villainess, what am I afraid of..."