Yilan City Federal Bureau of Investigation Building "Your bail permission has been approved." The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigator, clad in exoskeleton armor, opened the electronic paper book in his hands, showing the bail permission with an encrypted tag, "Your lawyer is waiting outside for you." With somewhat dirty and disheveled hair, Levis, looking rather dejected, slowly stood up. The FBI investigator reached out and unlocked the electronic shackles on his hands and feet, then took out a slender alloy ankle band and placed it on his ankle, "This is a positioning ankle band. According to Federation law, you are not allowed to leave the Saint Ilan District of Yilan City during your bail period. You must be available for court summoning at any time. If you leave the restricted area, we have the right to arrest you again and bring you back until the trial. Do you understand?" His expression was somewhat vacant, betraying neither happiness nor sadness. But the FBI investigator didn’t care about these details; after completing the procedure, he returned Levis’s personal belongings and led him outside, soon reaching the lobby. A man in neat formal attire spotted Levis as he walked out and immediately approached him, examining Levis’s condition carefully, "How is your health? Did they use any punitive measures?" This question seemed to trigger something in Levis, causing his body to shudder involuntarily. After pondering for a moment, he shook his head, "No." This man was the lawyer who had come to pick up Levis. After ensuring that everything was in order with Levis, the FBI investigator left. As the lawyer noticed Levis’s strange expression, he refrained from asking further questions and glanced at Levis’s somewhat casual outfit, quickly adding, "I’ve prepared some clothes for you. Let’s get in the car and change." Then he whispered into Levis’s ear in a very faint voice, "A gentleman from Nord wants to meet you." Upon hearing this, Levis seemingly regained some spirit. He snuffed out the cigarette in his mouth and nodded gently at his lawyer, "I also have some things I want to discuss with them." The two made their way towards the lobby entrance. But just as they were about to leave the Federal Bureau of Investigation Building, Levis stopped, turning back to look at the television hanging in the lobby. At that moment, the ultra-thin LCD TV was replaying the mayor’s recent speech. Hearing the sonorous voice echoing in his ears, Levis lit another cigarette and took a deep drag. "What’s wrong, Mr. Levis?" The lawyer ahead turned around, puzzled, looking at Levis. "Just suddenly thought, maybe I shouldn’t leave here so easily." He took another deep drag from his cigarette, then looked at the still somewhat confused lawyer standing by the staircase, his tone calm, "It’s okay, let’s go." The lawyer withdrew his gaze and continued leading Levis forward. Levis, however, scrolled through the bracelet on his wrist with his hand behind his back. Ahead of them, a black sedan had been waiting for a long time. White Jasmine Palace·Mayor’s Office Hearing He Ao’s words, the mustached man walking ahead was first surprised, then turned around somewhat fearfully, looking at the slender man. This reaction was unlike any he had imagined a mayor might have when facing an assassination. Such a composed attitude even made him think that the assassin in front of him was summoned by Mayor Lin En. He had risked everything, staking his entire political career and future on the assassin before him. If Lin En died today and the Consortium took power, they wouldn’t abandon him, a "devoted" follower. Everything he did today would be "rectifying the chaos", and he might even have a chance to rise to the position of mayor. After all, history is written by the victors. But if the assassin failed to kill Lin En today, or if he was actually Lin En’s man, just today’s surveillance footage in the Mayor’s Mansion would be enough to bring him to criminal court. The assassin must kill Lin En today! The mustached man was not the only one aghast at this moment. The gaunt man with a perpetually grim face couldn’t help but show a flash of bewilderment and shock, his gaze swiftly and carefully assessing the elderly man before him and the decor of the entire office. There seemed to be no ambush; at this moment, Mayor Lin En was the only one here. No guards, no attendants; under the circumstances of an attack on the Mayor’s Mansion outside, the most crucial person in the Mayor’s Mansion, the mayor of Yilan City, was staying here alone? How could that be? Was it some kind of disguise skill? But looking at the elder’s serene face, he couldn’t discern any deceit. Was he genuinely confident, having anticipated his arrival, or was he feigning calm, delaying for time until others arrived? According to the intelligence from above, although last night’s assassination attempt had likely failed due to interference from the South City Defense Army, Lin En was probably seriously injured now. Having survived the night and able to talk normally was already a miracle; it was nearly impossible for his injuries to have healed. A severely injured non-combatant C-level was far from being a match for him. Numerous thoughts flashed through the gaunt man’s mind; he forcibly suppressed the emotions in his heart, maintained his composure, mustered his courage, raised his head, looked at He Ao, and, with a smile, said, "It is our honor to have Mr. Mayor wait for us so long." As he spoke, he stepped forward, fully entering the office. The elderly man sitting behind the desk showed no reaction to his movement; he appeared to treat him as a ’visitor,’ with no panic whatsoever. At this moment, his previously firm confidence wavered slightly. After a brief pondering, he waved to the others behind him, took a step forward, and walked to a stool set up in the middle by a staff member earlier. The big man who had walked last closed the door, then locked it from the inside, and together with the mustached man, who still maintained a lost and panicked look, they sat down following the gaunt man. The big man sat behind the gaunt man while the mustached man sat directly beside him. The gaunt man now looked at He Ao and said calmly, "I wonder what Mr. Mayor would like to know?" "Don’t be nervous, we’re just chatting," He Ao glanced at the gaunt man’s tense body, closed the "Eight Hundred Years of Yilan" completely, put it on the shelf, and smiled, "Just like at home." Scattered rain outside the window behind him fluttered, and white jasmine petals danced among the raindrops. The elderly man with gray hair sat in front of the window scene, resembling a beautiful painting. His voice was slow and gentle; everything outside the window seemed to have quieted down at this moment. Unconsciously, the gaunt man’s mood relaxed a bit, but soon, he tensed up again. Just then, the elderly man’s gentle voice rose again in his ear, "Which Consortium hired you?" This calm and straightforward statement hooked into the gaunt man’s mind like a thread, making him subconsciously want to answer, but he quickly snapped awake, looked at He Ao, and quickly responded, "I’m just a lowlife from the underworld; I’ve been hired by many – Consortiums, gangs, and even City Government officials. The jobs I’ve done range from murder, vandalism, to catching mistresses. Does Mr. Mayor want to know about all of these?" "What’s your network then? Who are your ’informants’ in the Mayor’s Mansion?" Hearing his response, He Ao laughed lightly, shook his head slightly, "Given your capabilities, you must hold a not inconsiderable position in Yilan’s underworld, right?" "Just a bug that does the dirty work, not worthy of Mr. Mayor’s attention." The gaunt man shook his head slightly and looked at He Ao, "However, I am surprised Mr. Mayor would wait for an underworld bug like us for a while. I wonder how Mr. Mayor knew there would be ’guests’ visiting today?" He still wanted to test the reality and illusion of the elderly man before him. "Every day there are guests visiting; one more or one less is normal," He Ao chuckled and shook his head, "Which gangs in Yilan’s underground world are closer to the Consortium, can you elaborate?" "The situation in the underground world is not as simple as the old men sitting in those splendid skyscrapers imagine. Most gangs are working for the Consortium, but a lot of the time, we don’t like the Consortium. The Consortium itself has great difficulty controlling the gangs." The gaunt man said coldly. "But the gangs supported by the Consortium can become one of the most vigorous among many gangs," He Ao laughed, "After all, even in the underground world, gangs need money and resources to survive. It is easier to obtain these from the Consortium than to squeeze them from the poor, isn’t it?" Hearing He Ao’s rhetorical question, the expression on the gaunt man’s face faltered. It was then that he realized that the elderly Mayor before him was very different from those ’Saint Yilan people’ born to silk and riches; he was someone who had truly interacted with the lower levels and understood the structure of Yilan City’s lower class life. He didn’t know if the underground world in other parts of the Federation was different, but in Yilan City, the so-called gangs were actually just the gloves of the Consortium. The Consortium wouldn’t personally manage the dirty areas and do the unspeakable dirty work, so they supported a local gang to manage those things on their behalf. In Yilan City, big gangs that had risen had, to some extent, the backing of a certain Consortium. The Consortium gave them resources and money, and in return, they worked for the Consortium and committed murder, only appearing more autonomous, while they were actually just dogs on a leash. "It seems you know a lot." The gaunt man said softly, "If I were twenty years younger..." Before the gaunt man could continue, a harsh shout erupted throughout the office, interrupting all conversation. The man with the Fu Manchu mustache, who had been sitting beside the gaunt man, suddenly stood up, looked at the gaunt man, and angrily roared, "What are you doing? You’re here to kill the Mayor! He asks you to sit, and you sit down? He asks you a question, and you answer? Are you an assassin or a lapdog?" He violently waved his arms, his face flushing with uncontrollable anger, "Are you going to betray the Consortium and become the Mayor’s dog after a few more words? Aren’t you afraid of being punished by the Consortium? Aren’t you afraid that I’ll tell the Consortium that hired you later? I’ll tell you the truth; I have good relationships with every major Consortium in Yilan City." His chest heaved, his voice growing increasingly rapid and urgent, "And this Old Geezer has always been bluffing; I’ve been to this office many times, and there’s no place around here to set an ambush. If you don’t kill him now, when the Mayor’s Guard comes back later, do you think we can still leave easily?" The portly man, who had been ostensibly scanning the surroundings, turned around somewhat bewilderedly, surprised by the man with the Fu Manchu mustache’s outburst. Noticing the portly man’s surprised ’gaze,’ the man with the Fu Manchu mustache seemed encouraged and slightly raised his tone. He glanced over the gaunt man’s cold cheeks and snorted, "Stop getting delayed, get on with it, fool." Then he turned his head to look at He Ao, "And you, Mr. Lin En, you Old Geezer, dare to oppose the Consortium; have you not weighed your own strength, pretending to scheme—" His words were never completed because fresh blood had already filled his throat. "I... but... Consortium..." His eyes widened in bewilderment, his voice breaking off intermittently. The gaunt man pulled the dagger that had directly pierced through the back of the man with the Fu Manchu mustache’s neck and, with a gentle push, toppled his now silent body to the ground. The gaunt man pulled out a towel from his pocket, wiping the blood off the dagger in his hand; he looked up at He Ao, "My way of interrupting people’s speech is rather direct; I hope I didn’t frighten you. "To be honest, the Consortium doesn’t have complete control over the gangs, and we’re not obliged to obey every person affiliated with the Consortium, just esteemed gentleman, no matter how many times he stressed his relationship with the Consortium, it didn’t make me feel he ought to keep his mouth shut." He glanced down at the gold watch that had slipped from the chest of the man with the Fu Manchu mustache and smiled, "Upper-class people who have never struggled through life and death might not quite understand our folks at the bottom’s respect for and... indifference towards, life. "After all, even if you fail in your political games, you still have a decent life and possibly a chance for a comeback." "And our struggle for survival failed, and all that awaited us was the fate of being starved to death." He sneered, lowering his head to glance at the bearded man already dead on the floor, then turned to look at the portly man behind him and chuckled. "This guy should have nothing to do with you, right? Is there a problem if I killed him?" The portly man in front of him, the former Minister of Women, Children, and Health, was his ’internal contact’ assigned from above. the portly man stood up, shrugged, "I’m not particularly close to him, and I don’t know why he so resolutely surrendered to you and even tried to persuade me. "Just as I stayed in the conference room waiting for you, and he, completely unrelated to this matter, insisted on staying there too—I even hinted that he should go to a safe house and not get involved, but he was still so... confident." He then shook his head. "Let’s get to business," he raised his head, his gaze sweeping across the entire office, and he spoke softly, "No ambushes, there should be no one else in this building." "It looks like the ’delay’ plan has ended, Mr. Mayor, your luck doesn’t seem very good, the reinforcements haven’t arrived yet," the gaunt man looked up at He Ao, "But to tell you the truth, Mayor Lin En, you are indeed capable, your speeches are truly moving, and I do respect you. If I were twenty years younger, I would definitely charge into battle with you without hesitation," he raised the dagger in his hand, pausing slightly, "But, time never flows backward, and I won’t be twenty years younger, now I still respect you and think you are the best mayor Yilan has had in decades, if not centuries. "However, what you are pursuing is doomed to fail, and since it’s destined to fail, why not let it become the stepping stone for my future happiness? I will always remember you." "I used to admire you." He Ao didn’t respond to the gaunt man’s words but instead looked toward the portly man who had stood up. Lin En indeed liked this portly man; otherwise, he wouldn’t have entrusted the Department of Women, Children, and Health to him when he had once served as minister. "Thank you for your appreciation," the portly man was slightly taken aback, then nodded in acknowledgment. At that moment, the gaunt man shouted. In an instant, the portly man pulled out what seemed to be an all-plastic pistol from his pocket, aimed it at He Ao, and both, one on the left and the other on the right, charged at He Ao. Watching the two men flying towards him, after a brief silence, He Ao sighed softly, raised his hand, and gave a slight flick. A dagger shot out from his sleeve, spinning fiercely with a sharp whistling sound, slicing through the gaunt man’s neck, then spinning backward, cutting through the portly man’s neck. The dagger then flew back to the desk and landed in He Ao’s palm. Everything happened too fast, ending in an instant, so swiftly that the two men didn’t even get a clear look at the dagger in He Ao’s hand. The gaunt man opened his mouth as if to say something, but nothing came out before he tilted forward and collapsed in a pool of blood, next to the bearded man. And the portly man, maintaining his forward motion, just let out a final sigh before falling onto the gaunt man and the bearded man. The marker that had been on the portly man was also retrieved. At first, when He Ao asked the gaunt man a question, the marker was on him, then when he asked the portly man a question, it was conveniently placed on the portly man. Although their conversation was brief and not cooperative, the information that came to mind helped He Ao fill in many gaps, especially the gaunt man, who provided a lot of key information about the underworld. But they were similar to the lowest level of executers, not holding many key clues themselves, so He Ao didn’t continue ’talking.’ Just then, accompanied by a subtle sound, a crystal ball rolled out from the gaunt man’s chest, landing on the edge of the desk. He Ao stretched out his hand, picked up the crystal ball. Looking into the crystal ball filled with storm and thunder, He Ao turned to look out the window at the stormy weather and whispered, "Let it disperse." The rolling storm cloud dissipated at that moment, the rapid rainfall gradually ceased, and the brilliant sunlight streamed through the gaps in the clouds, shining on the swaying jasmine petals. The rain that had fallen all night gradually stopped.