268: Zhong Huai's style of doing things

Amidst this tense and deathly silence, Zhong Huai suddenly let out a long sigh.

That sigh was long and filled with helplessness, as if he were lamenting how there could be such a fool as Director Wang in this world.

He didn't look at Director Wang again but instead made a move that surprised everyone.

First, he nodded imperceptibly in the direction of Yan Xing and the dark shadow.

It was a reassuring signal.

Don't be impulsive, watch me.

Then, his gaze passed over the crowd and landed on Lin Yu, giving another almost unnoticeable nod.

The meaning of that one was even clearer.

Leave it to me, it's just a small scene.

Yan Xing caught the signal almost immediately and instinctively looked at Lin Yu.

Lin Yu's expression didn't change at all; he simply withdrew his gaze from Director Wang and looked elsewhere, adopting a posture of “I didn't see anything, you guys continue.”

That was enough.

Yan Xing understood instantly.

Mr. Lin Yu didn't want to get involved personally; he wanted to see the methods of this Fangs captain.

Since that was the case, he couldn't spoil Mr. Lin Yu's mood.

The restless killing intent surrounding Yan Xing vanished without a trace in an instant, and he reverted back to the respectful “Little Yan” in front of Lin Yu.

Zhong Huai took all of this in, feeling increasingly confident.

Only then did he slowly turn around to face Director Wang again, who was still psyching himself up with “principles” and “ironclad rules.”

“Inspection is fine.”

Zhong Huai uttered those three words.

What?

Director Wang was stunned, almost thinking he had misheard.

He... he agreed?

After such a fierce confrontation, Zhong Huai actually relented so easily?

A surge of wild joy rushed to Director Wang's head.

I won!

In front of the Fangs Special Operations Team captain and an Abyss Domain powerhouse, he had used the “rules” to win a round!

“Good! Good! Captain Zhong is indeed someone who understands the big picture and considers the overall situation!”

Director Wang's face was flushed with excitement as he immediately stepped forward.

“Then let's begin. According to procedure, first we need to...”

“You're going to do the inspection?”

Zhong Huai interrupted him lazily, looking at him as if he were an idiot.

Director Wang choked on his words but still puffed out his chest righteously.

“Of course it's me! I am the highest-ranking official of the Customs Department on-site. For me to perform the unboxing inspection is reasonable, fair, and legal!”

As he spoke, he pulled a sophisticated detection device from his waist and moved toward Yan Xing's hand.

Yan Xing didn't even bother to dodge, just looking at him as if he were a dead man.

“With that piece of junk?”

Zhong Huai sneered, mocking him mercilessly.

“Director Wang, have you stayed at the Abyss Domain Trade Port for so long that your brain has degenerated? The energy reaction level of this storage ring is high enough to set off the alarms at Customs Headquarters. Do you think that little civilian toy in your hand, which doesn't even count as Professionals' equipment, can detect anything?”

Director Wang's movements froze mid-air.

He knew, of course, that his instrument wasn't up to par.

But he thought it was just a formality; once the ring was opened, the contents would naturally be clear at a glance.

“Then I'll have my men do it!”

Director Wang refused to give up, pointing at his subordinates behind him who had just been helped up and were still unsteady on their feet.

“They are elites from Customs Headquarters, with professional detection equipment and authorization!”

“Have them do it?”

Zhong Huai's voice suddenly rose as he looked around, finally landing on the pale-faced customs officers.

“Director Wang, are you joking?”

“First, they were just ‘scared unconscious’ and their mental state is currently extremely unstable. If a mistake occurs during the inspection and the evidence is damaged, who will take responsibility? Can you afford to?”

“Second, the value of this ring is immeasurable. If you let these low-level agents touch it and they decide to steal it, or if they collude privately with Abyss Domain personnel to tamper with it, who will take the blame?”

“Third, and most importantly.”

Zhong Huai approached Director Wang step by step, his powerful pressure forcing the latter to retreat.

“According to your Customs Department's ‘High-Level Item Inspection Regulations,’ when handling items of this level, the rank of the inspector must match the potential threat level of the item.”

“Tell me, among everyone present, besides you, Director Wang...”

Zhong Huai drew out his words, slowly pointing to himself.

“...and me, Zhong Huai. Who else is qualified?”

The scene fell into a dead silence.

Everyone's brain stalled.

After going in a circle and blocking all other possibilities, this was the conclusion?

Only the two of you are qualified to inspect?

Director Wang's face turned red and white alternately, his lips trembling, unable to say a word.

He finally understood.

From the very beginning, he had fallen into a pit dug by Zhong Huai.

This pit was dug using the very “rules” and “regulations” he was most proud of.

Now, he was buried deep.

Let him do the inspection himself?

He couldn't figure it out... he didn't have the skill.

And... he wouldn't dare even if he had a hundred times the courage!

Not to mention whether his meager strength was enough to initiate the inspection procedure; just facing Yan Xing's face at close range made him feel like his bladder was sounding an alarm.

Those three gazes from earlier that had nearly torn him apart were still fresh in his memory.

He valued his life.

Fortunately, he wasn't hopelessly stupid.

After thinking for a moment, Director Wang realized that Zhong Huai's actions seemed to be making things difficult for him, but in reality, he was offering him a way out.

A way to save both his face and his life.

If he didn't take this exit... if Yan Xing really developed a killing intent, Zhong Huai definitely wouldn't be able to stop him, and might not even try.

Having figured this out, Director Wang felt as if all the strength had been drained from his body, and he slumped instantly.

He looked at Zhong Huai dejectedly, his voice dry.

“...Captain Zhong, you do the inspection.”

“Hahahaha!”

Zhong Huai let out a hearty laugh, as if the aggressive officer from just now wasn't him.

He patted Director Wang's shoulder affectionately, with such force that he almost sent the man stumbling.

“Director Wang is truly reasonable! Come, come, come!”

Zhong Huai snatched the law enforcement recorder, which was still recording, from one of Director Wang's subordinates and shoved it directly into Director Wang's arms.

“Hold it, aim it properly!”

“Today, I'll let you see with your own eyes how our Fangs Special Operations Team performs its duties, strictly enforces the law, and defends the ironclad rules of the Alliance!”

“You'd better capture this clearly for me... I mean, for us!”

Then, Zhong Huai happily hummed a little tune as he prepared to inspect the ring.

Of course, everyone knew he definitely wouldn't find anything; this guy's bias was just too obvious.

No matter what he found in the ring, this guy would probably just say one thing.

“Completely compliant! Just a false alarm. Scatter, scatter.”

Unless... the contents of the ring were enough to shock Zhong Huai to the point his head might actually split open.