267: Zhong Huai's attitude

Director Wang's pampered face was now completely devoid of color.

His entire body was shaking—not faked, but a genuine, uncontrollable physiological reaction from the depths of his heart.

Those dozen or so subordinates lying on the ground with twisted bodies and foaming at the mouth were the Sword of Damocles hanging over his head.

Dead? Or not dead?

He didn't know.

He only knew that he had just skirted the gates of hell.

If that terrifying pressure had extended just one more meter... Director Wang didn't dare think further, as an uncontrollable urge to urinate welled up within him.

He spun around abruptly, as if grabbing onto a final life-saving straw, and practically lunged at Zhong Huai.

“Captain Zhong! You... you saw everything!”

His voice was so sharp it cracked and changed pitch.

“Publicly attacking and killing government agents! This is treason! It's a declaration of war! Quick! Take them down! Kill them on the spot!”

Director Wang roared incoherently, his spit flying onto Zhong Huai's combat uniform.

Zhong Huai leaned away in disgust, avoiding the wave of bad breath.

He picked at his ear, putting on a look of 'What did you say? The wind is too loud, I can't hear you.'

“Take action?”

Zhong Huai asked back lazily, his gaze sweeping over the surroundings before finally settling on Director Wang's distorted face.

“Director Wang, you can eat whatever you want, but you can't just say whatever you want. Why didn't I see them lift a finger?”

“You!”

Director Wang's breath hitched, nearly causing him to pass out on the spot.

Didn't see it?

A dozen people are lying on the ground, their lives uncertain, and you're telling me you didn't see it?!

If that wasn't 'lifting a finger,' then what was it? Did this group of people have a collective sudden illness and lie down on their own!

Of course Zhong Huai saw it.

But he knew even better that it didn't fall into the category of 'taking action' at all.

That was simply the aura unconsciously emitted by a powerful expert—a crushing weight belonging to a different level of existence.

Just as a human doesn't care if they step on a few ants while walking.

Yan Xing might not have even considered these dozen people as targets.

But he couldn't say those words to Director Wang.

Even if he did, this bureaucrat wouldn't understand.

“I only saw your subordinates getting emotional and acting excessively, attempting to launch an attack on friendly personnel,” Zhong Huai's tone was flat and indifferent, yet every word cut deep.

“The other side merely struck a pose, and your subordinates—perhaps due to insufficient training or poor psychological fortitude—scared themselves unconscious.”

“Pfft—”

Director Wang felt a sweetness in his throat as a surge of blood rushed to his head.

Shameless!

Too damn shameless!

This was simply lying through his teeth!

Yet, Zhong Huai's status and strength suppressed him completely; he didn't even have the courage to refute it.

Zhong Huai ignored the director, who was on the verge of collapse.

He tilted his chin toward his adjutant, Li Mingyang.

“Take two medics over and check on them. Don't let them actually die here; writing reports later is a hassle.”

“Yes, Captain.”

Although Li Mingyang was also shocked by Yan Xing's strength, he would execute Zhong Huai's orders without question.

He immediately picked two people and jogged over with first-aid equipment.

After arranging all this, Zhong Huai finally strolled back to Director Wang.

He looked down at the man, who was half a head shorter than him.

“Director Wang, I'll say this one last time.”

“From now on, I am taking full command of this place.”

“All personnel on-site must follow my orders. Including you.”

“If you issue another stupid command without authorization, or say a single word of nonsense...”

Zhong Huai paused, leaning into Director Wang's ear, and said word by word at a volume only the two of them could hear.

“I will be the first to handcuff you on charges of 'obstructing high-level military operations.'”

Director Wang trembled all over, as if bitten by a venomous snake.

He wanted to bring up his backers, to mention the name of that powerful figure who controlled the Alliance Customs System with one hand.

But the words reached his lips and he swallowed them back down.

It was useless.

In Linzhou, or even on this entire planet of Blue Star, his background meant nothing in the face of the military—especially before the gold-lettered brand of 'Fangs.'

The name 'Zhong' behind Zhong Huai was the true power here.

The muscles on Director Wang's face twitched frantically; finally, all his resentment, anger, and fear turned into dejection.

But he couldn't just let it go.

If he returned empty-handed today, he would not only become the laughingstock of the entire department but also be unable to account to the figure behind the scenes.

Director Wang took a deep breath, as if using every ounce of strength in his body to make a final struggle.

He settled for the next best thing.

“Fine! Captain Zhong! I can let the matter of the people go!”

His voice was hoarse, yet it carried a trace of desperate determination.

“But! This storage ring must be inspected!”

“This is the rule! It's the iron law!”

Director Wang seemed to find a bit of confidence again as he pointed at the ring on Yan Xing's hand and raised his voice.

“I don't care if storage rings are private property in the Abyss Domain! But on our Blue Star, all high-spec high-energy items must be under Customs supervision!”

“This is to eliminate safety hazards! To prevent the inflow of contraband! This is a matter of principle!”

The more he spoke, the more excited he became, as if he were the incarnation of justice and the defender of the rules.

“If contraband is found, the nature of the situation changes completely! When that time comes, everyone on-site who attempted to harbor or obstruct will be viewed as accomplices and face the strictest investigation!”

“The manufacturer of this ring and every person whose hands it has passed through must be investigated clearly!”

These words were less for Yan Xing's ears and more for Zhong Huai's.

This was an open scheme.

A final ultimatum to drag everyone down with him.

The moment his voice fell.

The air seemed to freeze.

Three cold gazes from three different directions fell upon Director Wang simultaneously.

One came from Zhong Huai.

The last trace of disguise vanished from his habitually lazy face. In its place was an undisguised grimness and impatience. This death-seeking fool was truly challenging his bottom line.

One came from Yan Xing.

The aura he had just retracted began to stir once more. It was a pure, blatant killing intent. If not for his concern for a certain person, he would have crushed this noisy fly by now.

And the third... was the lightest, yet also the heaviest.

Lin Yu, who had been standing outside the circle as if uninvolved, finally made a move.

He merely tilted his head slightly, casting an indifferent gaze toward the still-ranting Director Wang.

This ring could not withstand an inspection.

He had duplicated it.

He didn't know if it could be detected, but... the risk was great.

The Abyss Domain side didn't matter; he had never been there, so they couldn't find anything.

The Blue Star side wouldn't work. It would be fine if they only found the ring's past information.

But if it involved the essence of his ability... that was absolutely unacceptable.