Making His Name Known

On this day, Li Hao made his name resonate across the realm. Tens of millions of citizens throughout Heavenly Star City remembered one name: Li Hao of the Night Patrol, Governor-General of the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office. Even though most of them had never heard of that agency before, they etched it into their memories now. The long-dormant imperial clan had unexpectedly spoken as well, conferring upon Li Hao the title of Marquis of Heavenly Star. A marquisate was hardly worth much these days. Even the imperial clan had lost its prestige, let alone a mere marquis. Yet over the past eighty years, imperial investitures of nobility had become extraordinarily rare. To publicly enfeoff Li Hao before the entire capital stirred up a massive uproar. *** Inside the Inspectorate. The director arrived tardily. Paying no mind to the terrified expressions of his subordinates, he simply stared outside, lost in deep contemplation. What a man, this Li Hao! First he had seized Four Seas Corporation and slain Liusha in a flash; now he was targeting Heavenly Star Colosseum. In the blink of an eye, three Transmutation-stage experts and over a dozen Rising Light powerhouses had perished. If that were not enough, Li Hao had even snatched the old director of the Department of Finance’s divine power talisman. That old director was in for a bitter loss. After paying a steep price, his talisman had collided with his own energy bomb and been blown to scraps! *Energy bombs proved useless against him... What a terrifying kid!* That sword was anything but ordinary. That dog was far from ordinary as well. Multiple energy bombs—likely the Liu family’s deepest reserves—had been outright swallowed. Meanwhile, Li Hao had engaged Liusha head-on. Even if Liusha had not fallen directly to Li Hao’s hands, he already possessed combat power on par with the Transmutation stage. That was even more frightening! Pondering this, the director looked toward the imperial palace once more, then shifted his gaze beyond Nine Departments Avenue. In that direction, a tumultuous clamor had erupted instantly. The entire capital was trembling! No one had anticipated such a grand spectacle playing out in Heavenly Star City tonight. The newly arrived Heavenly Star Governor-General was audaciously bold—and they were speaking of Li Hao, not Hou Xiaochen. In this moment, Hou Xiaochen was being overlooked by many. The public was far more intrigued by Li Hao, even if he was nominally only the Vice Governor-General. "Director..." Several subordinates turned toward the director of the Inspectorate. The director looked back at them and suddenly chuckled. "Come on. Let's go to the Department of Finance!" "What?" "To feast on meat!" The director sneered. "A corporation under their wing colluding with pirates, feeding demon beasts, and slaughtering fellow humans—does Liu Yunqing really think he can just brush this aside?" With that, he soared straight toward the Department of Finance. He was not alone. At that very moment, figures from the other eight departments were also streaking through the sky toward the same destination. Now that Li Hao had caught you red-handed and aired it before the public, there was no helping it. The Department of Finance was dripping with wealth. Li Hao might be a colossal headache, but before dealing with him, the Liu family had to bleed profusely and pay a staggering price to settle this. *** Inside the Department of Finance. The smile had vanished entirely from Director Liu's face. Moments later, a rasping cough sounded beside his ear. "Sigh! Who could have foreseen this... Then again, such is fate. Though we didn't expect this outcome, one must always be prepared for defeat. Very well. Let us seize this chance to lie low for a while. Aside from the dynasty's tax rights, whatever else they want from the Department of Finance, let them take it all!" "Father!" Director Liu ground his teeth. "We're just giving it away like that?" "You gain some, you lose some; it might not be entirely a bad thing." The old man's voice echoed again. "Right now, Li Hao and the Silver Moon clique are riding a crest of unstoppable momentum... Suffering a major setback might actually work in our favor. The imperial clan is itching to poke its head out too, so let them fight it out! We must hold on to tax collection, but throw out all of Four Seas Corporation's merchant caravans. Do the same with the Colosseum. Every property we hold in Heavenly Star City... yield it all!" "If they keep pressing us... throw out the second-tier ruins under our control as well." Director Liu's face shifted dramatically. Suppressing his inner shock, he murmured, "Father, this is only a temporary setback. Losing two Transmutation experts is indeed hard to swallow, but..." He paused, suddenly deflated. Letting out a long sigh, he nodded. "Fine, I understand! Li Hao is someone who simply refuses to play by the rules. The Department of Finance does need to go quiet for a while to wipe away the fallout. He, Li Hao... has no dark dirt on him. Between the Nine Departments and the imperial clan, the pot wouldn't dare call the kettle black, so none of them would ever pull a stunt like this..." He gave a bitter smile. In truth, none of them would ever air such dirty laundry in public. Who among them dared claim their own hands were clean? Not a single soul! None of them dared do it because they were all cut from the same cloth. But Li Hao dared. If you tried to retaliate against him by exposing dirt on the Inspectorate, it would be nothing more than a joke. Would Li Hao care? Not in the slightest! The more you tossed out, the more thrilled he would be. He loved nothing more than watching the chaos unfold. In any case, there was nothing to say against him personally. If anyone had the ability, let them dig up some dirt on Li Hao! He had only entered the fray a few days ago—what could anyone possibly find? "Heh..." Director Liu suddenly chuckled, his laughter turning cold. "Every single one of them wants to watch the show without stopping to consider where Li Hao comes from. He's a Silver Moon barbarian! They'd better watch out before they weave a cocoon around themselves. Whose ass isn't smeared with filth? Father is right... Since we've taken a heavy loss, we might as well lie low. I'd love to see if this Li Hao can stir up any more waves!" *Fine, you all want to watch a show, do you?* *Even the imperial clan wants to join in the fun. Very well, we'll see who has the last laugh. Li Hao is no gentle lamb. Everyone was fixated on Hou Xiaochen; who could have known Li Hao would quietly reach the Transmutation level?* *Just wait! If this continues, none of them will come out unscathed.* Sensing arrivals outside, he sneered once more. *Are they truly this impatient?* *Fine. It just so happens that I need time to stabilize my realm anyway.* Without bothering to step outside, he projected his voice from the main hall. "Wu Yong of Four Seas Corporation committed grave offenses; the evidence is conclusive and his guilt inexcusable. His death was of his own making, yet I, Liu, bear undeniable responsibility for failing to oversee him. Effective today, Four Seas Corporation shall be nationalized. Heavenly Star Colosseum has no relation to the Department of Finance and may be handled at discretion! The Department of Finance is the fiscal foundation of the nation. I, Liu, am incompetent and have been negligent in discipline. Starting today, aside from state tax revenue, all affiliated enterprises shall cease operations and close down..." "Furthermore, Li Hao of the Night Patrol under the Inspectorate has rendered outstanding merit. Coupled with the imperial clan's recent investiture naming him Marquis of Heavenly Star, I, Liu, propose promoting Li Hao to Deputy Director of the Night Patrol. His deeds and rank are more than sufficient, even if his seniority is slightly lacking... But in this new era, we must grant opportunities to the younger generation." Liu Yunqing chuckled. "Therefore, I believe he may be suitably promoted! Director Chen, please give it serious consideration. As for the specifics, I shall not interfere." He paused briefly before continuing, "If you all still feel unsatisfied... the Liu family holds a ruin, likely an ancient martial arts university. We are willing to open it to the public as compensation to the people. I am unwell and shall not converse further with you all." Outside the door, the expressions of the directors flickered uncertainly. Liu Yunqing had conceded with total finality. No struggle, no counterattack—he had simply yielded without resistance. The others also faintly sensed another presence, realizing in their hearts that the old director had spoken. Those veteran directors were the figures who had established the balance of the Nine Departments back in the day. No matter what they seemed like now, they had once been formidable giants. Having witnessed countless deceptions and schemes, they had clearly prepared for this eventuality long ago. The director of the Inspectorate gave a light laugh. "Then we will not disturb Director Liu any further. Take good care of your health. As long-time colleagues, do not let a few parasites ruin your constitution." "Thank you for your concern." Director Liu offered a polite reply, after which silence fell. Seeing this, the directors smiled and departed in an instant. This was enough! As for how the spoils would be carved up next, that depended on each faction's capabilities. The Department of Finance controlled an enormous number of enterprises—not just businesses, but ruins, connections, and networks... The Liu family had relinquished all of it, yielding everything short of tax revenue. Of course, tax collection was the very bedrock of the Liu family's standing. They could never hand that over. Surrendering it would mean the destruction of the Department of Finance, which would push the Liu family into a bloody war to the death. For now, they had merely severed their peripheral holdings. It had gone smoother than anticipated. Yet none of them felt truly at ease. The Liu family was trying to sharpen and fatten Li Hao, that deadly blade. Today he had carved a pound of flesh from the Liu family; whose turn would it be tomorrow? *** While the Nine Departments bargained, Heavenly Star City remained in an uproar. In a slum district of the city, the young girl who had guided Li Hao into the capital on his arrival was currently standing remarkably close to him. She could even clearly see Li Hao. The outer rim of Heavenly Star City was where the slums lay; the poor had no right to reside in the city center. Looking up at the sky, the young girl showed no fear. When one had already sunk this low, what was left to fear? The clashes of the mighty belonged to the mighty. She did not understand the disputes of high-ranking figures, nor did she care. Those were affairs for the great and powerful. Yet her eyes remained fixed on the heavens. Beside her, several younger children appeared timid. One whispered, "Sister Yuqi, stop looking! If those experts sense us, we'll be in big trouble." The girl kept gazing upward. Only after a long while did she murmur, "I think I know that person!" "Who?" "The one in silver armor—the Governor-General of the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office, or whatever it's called." "You've seen him before, Sister Yuqi?" "Not long ago. Just a few days back..." As she spoke, she suddenly added, "Didn't he just say that anyone with grievances could go to him to file a complaint?" "That's just big talk from an important person. You didn't take it seriously, did you, Sister?" A child beside her whispered nervously, "Those great figures are terrifying. That huge explosion just now killed so many people, including those Rising Light and Transmutation experts! We've heard of those big bosses—the head of Four Seas Corporation, the boss of Heavenly Star Colosseum... He killed them all!" Those two had been immensely famous. Children who ran errands and guided travelers had heard of them; they were genuine luminaries, far beyond the petty thugs of the slums. The girl nodded without a word. She simply kept looking up at the sky. Li Hao, Governor-General of the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office! Li Hao the Demon Sword! She had heard people mention him over the past few days, describing him as a barbarian from the north who slaughtered without blinking... Yet earlier, the man she had guided had almost certainly been him. He had wanted to go to the Night Patrol to find someone. Back then, she had not known who he was seeking, but now she understood—it must have been Hou Xiaochen, who had arrived ahead of him. Even so... it felt surreal to imagine. That chillingly ruthless demon who butchered people like cattle had actually ridden on the back of her bicycle to the Night Patrol headquarters. The girl stared at the sky, lost in thought. After a long time, she lowered her head. Li Hao had already departed, setting off once again to kill. *** At Heavenly Star Colosseum. The area was terrifyingly quiet; anyone who hadn't kept quiet was already dead. Golden Spear had arrived with his men, and the Martial Guard Army had surrounded the Colosseum. Inside, many people knelt on the ground, not daring to rise. Another group of spectators was gingerly preparing to leave, some of them currently negotiating with the Martial Guard Army. The quiet Colosseum grew somewhat noisy: "What are you doing? I'm from the Heavenly Star General Administration Bureau..." "We just came to watch a match! Is that a crime now?" "..." Many wanted to slip away quickly. Around the perimeter, quite a few onlookers watched, though none drew near. The Martial Guard Army possessed few top experts; Golden Spear was only at the Rising Light stage. Among the rest, only a handful had Three Suns combat power. A Martial Guard force like this could never suppress the Heavenly Star Colosseum under normal circumstances. Yet none of the Colosseum's staff dared resist, nor did the clamoring guests, because they all knew a deadly star was on his way. In truth, some had contemplated fleeing, but the experts had already sensed Southern Fist's arrival. Southern Fist touched down and glanced at Golden Spear with a mocking glint that made Golden Spear bristle. Beaming at the noisy crowd, Southern Fist said casually, "Everything will wait until Governor-General Li arrives. Everyone, don't move rashly. This is Heavenly Star City; the Governor-General respects rules and laws. But if you run around, that counts as resisting enforcement... Don't blame me for not warning you if you end up dead." A man stepped out from the crowd, took a deep breath, and forced a smile toward Southern Fist. "Brother He, I just came to watch the excitement and don't need to meet Governor-General Li. The Ninth Prince is still waiting for me. Do you think I could head back first?" "Oho, you're here too!" Southern Fist grinned and nodded. "Sure! Go ahead!" The man exhaled in relief, only to hear Southern Fist chuckle, "I'm just non-staff, after all. I don't represent the Inspectorate or the Night Patrol..." The man froze in his tracks, his expression stiffening. *Then why the hell did you speak up?! What are you implying?* He wanted to leave, but dared not take another step. Right at that moment, an enormous vessel descended from the sky, slamming onto the pavement with a thunderous roar. Clad in silver armor that gleamed brilliantly, Li Hao looked down upon the crowd. The entire area fell dead silent in an instant. Li Hao merely swept his eyes over them, yet that glance exerted immense pressure on everyone present. The powerhouse who had been speaking to Southern Fist wiped the smile from his face and stepped back, cursing inwardly. *Damn that Southern Fist! When did he team up with a murderous demon like Li Hao?* Li Hao took in the people before him—both the Colosseum staff and the spectators. Among the spectators, many glanced up toward the vessel, and upon seeing the captives aboard, they stared at one another in shock. Some of them were family—brothers, sisters, fathers, and sons... Meeting under such circumstances proved intensely awkward. Li Hao offered a faint smile. "Detain them all! The Martial Guard Army will take custody of the Colosseum staff. As for the guests of the Colosseum, board the ship! I, Li, am not an unreasonable man. If you were merely watching the show, it is hardly an unforgivable crime... though you will have to suffer a bit of trouble." "Of course, of course!" An elderly man stepped forward with an accommodating smile. "Governor-General Li, cooperating with law enforcement is only right; we have no objections. We just... wish to ask, roughly how long will this take?" Li Hao smiled warmly. "If things go quickly, a day. If slowly... only a few days!" *How many is 'a few days'?* Despite wanting to ask, the elder held his tongue. Just then, a figure walked over from the perimeter and transmitted his voice to Li Hao across the distance: "Governor-General Li, I am Zhou Qin, Deputy Director of the Night Patrol. I just saw my son aboard your ship. I wonder..." As a Deputy Director, he technically outranked Li Hao. Li Hao tilted his head toward the middle-aged man, who smiled and continued via voice transmission, "My boy just enjoys having fun; he's not one to make trouble. I'll take him back and discipline him properly." Li Hao raised an eyebrow, smiled, and transmitted back, "Very well. Once I bring him to headquarters and record his statement, you may collect him, Director Zhou." Deputy Director Zhou frowned slightly and sent another message: "Governor-General Li, there is no need for such hassle. I will simply take him with me now..." Li Hao looked at him for a long moment before speaking aloud: "There are thousands of people here, from all walks of life! Director Zhou, I gave you plenty of face. Since we are colleagues, you could simply take him back at headquarters and pay a fine to settle the matter. Yet you insist on taking him right here, in front of everyone... Are you trying to disrespect me, or are you hoping to step on me to display your authority?" With that, Li Hao strode toward him step by step, while Southern Fist, Yang Shan, and the others swiftly moved into flanking positions. Li Hao's face was devoid of expression. "Whose orders are you following?" "Or do you think that because you outrank me by one tier in the Night Patrol, I ought to yield to you?" "I already said I would release him after returning. Your persistence—do you think I, Li Hao, would not dare touch a superior, or do you think... you are stronger than me?" Killing intent spilled into the air! Deputy Director Zhou's expression grew solemn. Taking a deep breath, he said, "A misunderstanding. I was merely anxious as a father; you misunderstand me, Governor-General Li. Since you have spoken, we will settle it after returning." Li Hao fixed him with a penetrating gaze. "Do not let others use you as a spear so easily. A peak Rising Light expert is indeed strong, but timing and circumstances matter! If someone wants me to release people, let them come in person instead of hiding in the shadows like a coward! As for you... the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office does not fall under your jurisdiction. I will investigate your son thoroughly. If he is clean, I will naturally release him. If he is guilty... you are welcome to see whether you can snatch him from the hands of Silver Moon martial artists!" Zhou Qin fell silent, nodded without another word, and turned to leave. He had merely been probing, but Li Hao's stance was uncompromising. Tonight was Li Hao's stage. Pressing further would easily spark a conflict, which was not the outcome he or his backers desired. It had only been a test, yet Li Hao's reaction had been fiercely sharp, proving once more the raw arrogance and unbridled defiance of the Silver Moon faction. Seeing even Li Hao's superior rebuffed, the surrounding onlookers chose to hold their ground. Had Li Hao agreed to release Zhou Qin's son, a mob would have surged forward demanding the same treatment. *If you release a Night Patrol officer's son, why not ours?* But Li Hao had refused, and no one dared step forward to test him again. The noble scions and young ladies from the Colosseum wore expressions as though mourning their parents. While they might not face severe punishment, being dragged to the Night Patrol... who knew what this murderous fiend might do to them? They could already smell the foul stench wafting from the vessel. That was hardly a good sign. It meant the earlier captives had been scared out of their wits. Yet under Li Hao's gaze, these formerly arrogant nobles filed obediently onto the ship, while the Martial Guard Army began taking custody of the Colosseum personnel. No one resisted. The outcome was already decided. The moment Liusha was slain and the Rising Light experts she took with her were blown to pieces, Heavenly Star Colosseum had lost all ability to resist. "Seal this place!" Li Hao's voice rang out. "Bring everyone back to Night Patrol headquarters! Not a single innocent will be wronged, and not a single culprit will be spared. All who have violated the laws of Heavenly Star shall receive their due punishment!" He looked around at the onlookers. Some backed away slightly, while others stood their ground with composed expressions. Li Hao paid them no heed. "Those with relatives or friends detained, await notice from the Night Patrol! Pardon the disturbance during tonight's enforcement. Furthermore..." Li Hao's voice boomed across the area: "Earlier, the city gate garrison was killed in an explosion triggered by the boss of Heavenly Star Colosseum. I, Li Hao, failed to prevent it—my sin. Those guards lost their lives on my account; their families may claim pensions from either the Inspectorate or the Department of Finance, compensated according to the regulations for those killed in action!" Leaving those words behind, the great vessel took flight and soared away. A voice transmitted into Li Hao's ear: "Governor-General Li, Director Mu wishes to speak with you tomorrow. If you have time, you may visit the Mu Residence or the Department of Internal Affairs for a chat." "I will!" The transmission came from someone in the Department of Internal Affairs who remained hidden. Director Mu clearly had no desire to show his face or clash with Li Hao tonight, even though his daughter had been captured. The airship glided through the sky. Moments later, it arrived at Night Patrol headquarters. The ship was packed. Where there had once been around three thousand people, the number had now reached four thousand. Headquarters had already descended into chaos. Brilliant lights illuminated the compound as people hurried back and forth. At the entrance, the big-eyed girl and her two companions peered outside in fascination. With a colossal boom, the great vessel touched down, and the trio craned their necks to watch. Li Hao was the first to disembark. At the gate, Chief Steward Yu was present, though Hou Xiaochen was absent. Seeing Li Hao, Chief Steward Yu smiled, though her expression soon turned wry. *Incredible!* *We all thought you had fled, but the moment you showed up, you struck like thunder. Over a dozen Rising Light experts died tonight—a truly staggering loss.* Beside Chief Steward Yu stood Yao Si's secretary. Seeing Li Hao, the secretary showed a hint of trepidation, though he forced himself to speak: "Governor-General Li, the Director requests your presence in his office when you have time..." "Understood." Li Hao nodded. He was unfamiliar with the Night Patrol compound, but whether guards, personnel on duty, or curious onlookers, everyone hastily averted their gaze the moment Li Hao looked their way. Only the trio continued staring at him in fascination. Li Hao glanced at them without engaging. He knew who they were—the resident troublemakers of the Night Patrol. Yet... so what? Seeing Li Hao ignore them, the trio felt somewhat displeased. The big-eyed girl offered a smile. "Governor-General Li, we are—" "I have business. We'll talk later!" Li Hao shot them a cool glance and gave a flat reply. The big-eyed girl bristled with annoyance. Li Hao suddenly let out a cold scoff: "'The people's marrow and fat are your salary and sustenance!' You take your pay and do no work—monstrous geniuses? Troublemakers? A bunch of useless trash!" "..." The courtyard fell dead silent. The trio's expressions shifted. Li Hao stared at them coldly, saying flatly, "What are you looking at? How much I, Li Hao, am paid is how much work I do—only more, never less! I am worthy of my salary, and worthy of the oath I swore upon joining the Inspectorate! As for you... get lost. Don't let me uncover anything on you, or I'll make you pay dearly!" The three exchanged startled looks, while everyone nearby was stunned. *What... was that about? What did that mean?* Ignoring them, Li Hao strode directly into Night Patrol headquarters. Behind him, the trio stood dazed for a long time. Finally, the big-eyed girl stammered, "Did he... just insult us?" Yes, they had been cursed out! The saber-wielding youth chuckled self-deprecatingly. "Yeah, we got chewed out." The spear-wielding youth sighed. "The guy... looks down on us." Indeed, that was precisely the message. They had wanted to greet him, but Li Hao couldn't even be bothered. Monstrous geniuses, troublemakers, prodigies, figures on the Divine Master Roll—none of it meant anything to him. It wasn't arrogance; he simply felt these people were unworthy of being called true heroes. There was no need for pleasantries. The big-eyed girl muttered gloomily, "I saw him slaying enemies all over the place tonight and thought he'd be someone worth befriending... And then... hmph!" Instead, they had been ignored and dressed down. She was thoroughly incensed! Soon, however, she spotted a figure at the bow of the ship and grinned. "Mu Xiaorong, you got captured too?" Mu Xiaorong ignored her. The big-eyed girl chuckled. "Who would have thought? Still... that guy has guts, capturing even you." She teased, "Beg me, and I'll find a way to help you escape..." Before she could finish, a wave of sword intent swept over them, causing all three to blanch. The next instant, a longsword brimming with murderous intent plunged right before them. The big-eyed girl's face drained of color as a tremendous roar exploded! Li Hao's voice drifted over: "Joking or serious, whoever dares let a single person I brought back escape... I will take her life!" "I was just joking... really..." Blood leaked from the corner of the big-eyed girl's mouth as she stumbled back several paces, her face a mix of gloom and shock. "I've always had a grudge against her. It was just a joke; I had no intention of letting her go..." The expressions of the spearman and saber wielder darkened. *So strong!* This Li Hao was not merely powerful—he was utterly overbearing. The big-eyed girl truly had been joking; she and Mu Xiaorong had been at odds for years. Yet Li Hao had attacked without hesitation. Li Hao paid them no further attention, and the sword vanished. The big-eyed girl gritted her teeth in frustration. Seeing this, Mu Xiaorong sneered, her eyes laced with mockery. *Suffered a loss, didn't you?* *That man is cold-blooded and ruthless to the extreme.* *One of our own?* *What 'own people'? She could see clearly that Li Hao didn't view these Night Patrol officers as comrades at all. The only ones he considered his own were the Silver Moon martial artists.* *He treated everyone outside the Silver Moon faction as potential enemies.* Aboard the great vessel, thousands remained silent. After all, guards were watching them: the Yang Shan couple and Southern Fist. Southern Fist chuckled, glancing at the trio. "Call Dao Jian out to fight him; otherwise... you three should just forget it. Don't worry, if Dao Jian comes out to duel him, Old Hou and I won't interfere... Hahaha!" It would make for good entertainment anyway. The trio said nothing and didn't linger, scurrying away with bitter expressions. Li Hao was not only arrogant, but terrifically strong... Forget it; they would swallow the loss. If they stayed any longer, that madman might actually kill them. *** Inside the Director's office building. Hou Xiaochen shook his head with a laugh. "Why bother? They're just three troublemakers. They haven't done anything truly evil, and they show no mercy when fighting the Three Great Organizations. You're acting a bit off." "My killing intent hasn't settled yet." Li Hao chuckled faintly. "I wanted to slaughter all those thousands outside... but didn't dare. It turns out that sometimes, you truly can't just kill as you please. So bullying three little kids isn't a big deal. Who told them to run their mouths?" Hou Xiaochen couldn't help laughing. "Little kids? Are you older than them?" After a chuckle, he let out a sigh. "My head aches..." "I know." Li Hao nodded. "There's trouble, but not that much. I've realized that the Nine Departments and the imperial clan are all paper tigers. They talk big, but when core interests are at stake, who would dare pay the enormous price to step forward and kill me? They don't dare, and they can't bear the cost... Just like when the Night Patrol was first founded." "With the strength I displayed today, without a divine power expert, they cannot kill me! And if a divine power expert comes, wouldn't you step in, Director? Unless they reach a unanimous consensus... Even if they could, that would take time. And during that window, Director, do you think I might be able to kill a divine power expert?" Hou Xiaochen burst into hearty laughter. "You... you're something else. Compared to before, I almost thought you'd been replaced by someone else." Li Hao shook his head. "I didn't want this! But this world keeps lowering my bottom line, challenging it again and again. I've come to understand: if I don't change, I cannot gain a firm footing. And without a footing... how can I speak of bringing change?" Hou Xiaochen pondered this and nodded. Looking at Li Hao now, he felt something had shifted. After a long pause, he asked, "How do you plan to handle the people outside?" "Investigate them. If their offenses are minor, release them after their families pay a ransom. If their offenses are severe... hand them over to the Inspectorate." Li Hao spoke with utter composure. "If the Inspectorate doesn't deal with them, so be it. Could I really execute them all?" "Hahaha, fine, that works!" Hou Xiaochen nodded. "That's good. Even if the Inspectorate releases them, that will be their problem..." Li Hao shook his head. "No. If the Inspectorate releases them, I will arrest them again!" Hou Xiaochen froze, staring at Li Hao. "What do you mean?" Li Hao said calmly, "I am the Vice Governor-General of the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office; I have that authority! I want the people of Heavenly Star to know that I, Li Hao, do not fear power and dare to flip the table! Yes, popular support might be useless now; Director Liu said it's nothing more than a fart! But I wonder... if I can offer them a glimmer of light, can a single spark ignite a prairie fire? How many supernaturals are there, and how many ordinary people?" "As long as rulers haven't transcended mortal society, governance and deterrence require people. And I... hope to kindle some light for them..." Hou Xiaochen drifted into thought. Moments later, he smiled and nodded. "Reasonable, and very... ambitious! But if you do this, I'm afraid I won't be able to hold the line for you." A sigh escaped him. *What are you trying to pull? I'm actually starting to get scared.* *Li Hao seems half-mad. Who the hell fed him these ideals? Hong Yitang, or Battle Heaven City?* *If he keeps going like this, I really won't be able to hold out.* Chief Steward Yu stepped into the room from outside. Having overheard those words, she looked at Li Hao with surprise and shock before murmuring, "Li Hao, the Director will support you with everything he has. The Director has a righteous heart as well!" "..." Hou Xiaochen felt an urge to roll his eyes. *What do you know? How can you just say that!* For the first time, he felt that Jade Rakshasa placed far too much trust in him. Was that truly a good thing, assuming he was omnipotent in every matter? It was utterly exasperating! Li Hao couldn't help chuckling as well, nodding. "Naturally. The Director is the very bedrock of my confidence!" With that, he grinned. "The Director mentioned earlier that slaying a divine power expert would inspire fear. Since no divine power expert showed up this time, I must find a way to lure one out and establish my authority!" "..." "Cough, cough, cough!" Hou Xiaochen's ailment seemed to flare up again. He coughed relentlessly for a long time, gasping for breath. "No need. Things are fine as they are... Li Hao, you must be exhausted. Go rest early!" "I have nowhere to stay, so I'll make do in your office tonight. Tomorrow, I'll go check where my marquis residence is." Hou Xiaochen felt mentally drained. *Don't do this! Just get the hell out!* Since Li Hao wouldn't leave, Hou Xiaochen had no choice but to depart himself. Standing up, he gave a cough. "Then attend to your business, or get some rest. I'll go outside to take a look... and drop by the Inspectorate to report on the Heavenly Star Colosseum affair... After all, it involves the Governor-General's Office." With that, he rose and left, unable to stomach Li Hao any longer. Li Hao said nothing, watching Hou Xiaochen depart. He let out a sudden chuckle, then called out, "Someone, come in!" Soon, an attendant entered timidly. "Governor-General Li... do you have orders?" "Go find a place... no, the Night Patrol should have a dungeon. Lock everyone up." The attendant turned pale. "Governor-General... we... we do have holding cells, but... they can only hold a few hundred people at most. Those outside..." There were simply too many! "Then lock them in unoccupied office buildings. I doubt they have the courage to run; escaping is a capital crime! Go. Also, make arrangements to contact the major newspapers in Heavenly Star City and publish reports on tonight's events..." "Well... the newspapers don't know the exact details, and... they are generally overseen by the Administrative Department..." Li Hao stared at him. "Doesn't the Night Patrol control any newspapers?" "A few... but very few..." "Then that's enough!" "Director Huang..." Li Hao cut him off with a cold stare. "Do as you're told. If Huang Long has an issue, tell him to come find me!" The attendant dared not say another word and scurried off. Li Hao's voice drifted from behind: "For the publication, just pick up any flier and read it; make the villainous deeds crystal clear. Furthermore... add one line: 'Where supernatural turmoil and rogue transcendents run rampant, a protective umbrella inevitably shields them. The Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office will eradicate these parasites without fail!'" The retreating staff member stumbled slightly, not daring to look back. He nodded vigorously and hastened away. This Li Hao... was truly out of his mind. He couldn't afford to provoke him. As for Director Huang... in this moment, the attendant felt it best if Director Huang didn't stir up trouble. Otherwise, Li Hao might prove even more ruthless than Hou Xiaochen. Hou Xiaochen still observed basic norms, but Li Hao observed none at all. *** At the same time. Inside another director's building. An old man took a sip of tea, exhaled slowly, and chuckled to himself. "We've invited a wolf into the house!" Laughing softly, he shook his head. Heavenly Star City was about to become lively beyond imagination.