Chapter 295 - 162: The Bureau Chief’s Day (Part 2)

Chapter 295: Chapter 162: The Bureau Chief’s Day (Part 2)

Yang Yong’s expression turned serious. "What are your orders, Patriarch?"

"Find a reliable proxy and register a company in the New District’s commercial area." Yang Wenqing lowered his voice. "The company’s office needs to be presentable, because I plan to use it as a liaison point for the branch’s external investigation work. Understand?"

Yang Yong understood immediately and nodded gravely. "Understood."

"Good. This needs to be handled discreetly," Yang Wenqing instructed. "Go find Uncle Deyong. He’ll be in charge of the subsequent arrangements for personnel and funding."

"Alright." Yang Yong made a mental note.

Just then, a simple meal arrived from the cafeteria. The two stopped discussing official business and chatted about family matters and the New District’s market square as they ate. After the meal, Yang Yong didn’t linger, leaving in a hurry to handle the confidential task Yang Wenqing had given him.

After seeing Yang Yong off, the afternoon’s work came flooding in. He was new to the post and had a thousand things to deal with. Although Wang Hai handled a large amount of the daily coordination, many matters that required a final decision or involved sensitive issues still needed his personal attention.

「Late afternoon, nearing dusk.」

Having finished the mountain of paperwork, Yang Wenqing was about to catch his breath when Liu Min knocked and entered to report, "Director, we’ve received word from the Government Soldiers. The dispatched Vice Inspector for Supervision has already moved into the barracks."

Positions like Inspector General and Vice Inspector for Supervision belonged to the Government Soldiers’ military justice system, holding responsibility for overseeing the garrison. These posts were typically filled by Entry-level Cultivators seeking tranquility or waiting for a breakthrough. Their status was detached; they didn’t directly interfere in military affairs, but they had a profound impact on the local balance of high-level combat power.

With such a figure now stationed in the Lingshan New District, he, the new Director, should pay a formal visit as soon as possible.

"Notify Director Zhu and Director Wang at once. Have them get ready. We’re going to pay a visit immediately." Yang Wenqing stood up, straightened his collar, and instructed Liu Min.

"Yes, Director!"

Liu Min hurried out to relay the order.

A moment later, Yang Wenqing, along with Zhu Yunchuan and Wang Hai, boarded an official Flying Shuttle. Soon, the shuttle landed smoothly on the dedicated docking platform at the Government Army Camp.

The Government Soldiers on guard led the three of them to the headquarters of the two Inspector Generals, but the Entry-level Vice Inspector for Supervision was nowhere to be seen.

After a round of pleasantries, Yang Wenqing stated their purpose.

Hearing this, Fang Sui responded with a smile, "Director Yang is very thoughtful. The Vice Inspector has already given his instructions. His main purpose here is to oversee defenses while focusing on his quiet cultivation. He will not be receiving guests unless it concerns an urgent military matter or a threat at the Entry level, nor will he interfere in local affairs. We will convey the kind intentions of the three directors on your behalf."

Yang Wenqing’s smile didn’t waver. "It seems we were the ones being presumptuous. Having an Entry-level senior overseeing the New District is a blessing for us. The City Defense Bureau will certainly cooperate fully with the Government Soldiers’ defense efforts. In the future, if there is any need for coordination, please do not hesitate to give your instructions, Inspector General Lei and Inspector General Fang."

"Director Yang, you’re too kind. We will cooperate with each other," Lei Kang nodded.

"Alright, then we won’t disturb the two Inspector Generals from your duties." Yang Wenqing cupped his hands and took his leave.

A short while later, the Flying Shuttle took off again, heading back to the branch office.

Inside the cabin, Wang Hai looked at Yang Wenqing’s expression with some apprehension and said in a low voice, "Director, it seems this Vice Inspector for Supervision won’t be easy to approach."

Yang Wenqing replied nonchalantly, "Entry-level Cultivators have their own bearing. His refusal to see us is a way of stating his position. Us taking the initiative to visit is a matter of fulfilling the proper etiquette. This is for the best. As long as he doesn’t interfere with our normal law enforcement, maintaining this tacit understanding is the ideal situation."

Zhu Yunchuan mused, "With an Entry-level Cultivator overseeing things, at least on the surface, the Jade Whale Sect and the Water Race will have to think twice before attempting another large-scale surprise attack. The pressure on us will be greatly reduced, allowing us to focus more of our energy on internal investigations."

"Director Zhu is right."

Yang Wenqing nodded, his gaze drifting out the window to the New District, which was gradually being enveloped by the night. "For now, someone else is watching the external threats for us. It’s time to accelerate the removal of our internal hidden dangers."

By the time they returned to the branch office, the city lights were already twinkling on.

Yang Wenqing told Zhu Yunchuan and Wang Hai to go home and rest, while he returned to the director’s office alone.

Just as he walked into the office, a communication signal from Liao Tianming came through.

"Director Yang, we just received a notice from the Provincial Hall. The assigned Second Realm earth-vein Cultivator is expected to arrive tomorrow morning. We just received a message from him. He requests that we keep everything simple—no reception is necessary, and certainly no formal visit. He will only communicate with the technical personnel from the Civil Affairs Bureau who are responsible for on-site coordination."

Yang Wenqing was taken aback. The thoughts of these powerful cultivators with profound Cultivation were often difficult to fathom. After being turned away at the door earlier, he suddenly wasn’t sure what to do. Yet, to do nothing at all felt like it might be a breach of etiquette.

After a moment of thought, he activated the encrypted communication function in his badge and contacted his master, Qin Huaiming.

The connection was established quickly.

"Master, the earth-vein Cultivator assigned by the Provincial Hall arrives tomorrow. They’ve notified us that no reception is needed. Your disciple is unsure if this is mere courtesy or their true intention. I ask for your guidance, Master."

Qin Huaiming responded with a chuckle, "Most Cultivators of this type walk the path of quiet cultivation. They aren’t like us, who seek a future within the official career system. They value tranquility and detest tedious formalities and social obligations. Since he stated it clearly, just do as he says. Simply arrange for the liaison personnel and the necessary support to ensure his work proceeds smoothly."

"However, their ’quiet cultivation’ isn’t truly so quiet, or they wouldn’t have been dispatched to the New District to handle such matters. So, you don’t need to be too concerned."

This implied that these people had no real power. They seemed to be in quiet cultivation, but in reality, they had even less control over their own destinies than officials like them.

Hearing this, Yang Wenqing’s mind was put at ease. "Your disciple understands. Thank you, Master."

Before he could even finish his thanks, the other party had already disconnected, clearly busy with something. Yang Wenqing smiled, then connected to Wang Hai’s communication channel. He first explained the Cultivator’s attitude before instructing, "...You need to coordinate with Director Liao from the Civil Affairs Bureau and handle all the logistics and peripheral support. Understand?"

Wang Hai replied, "Don’t worry, Director!"

"Good. I have faith in your work."

Yang Wenqing ended the call, and Liu Min came in again to report, "Director, the Major Case Team is about to have a case summary meeting. Team Liu just asked if you would like to participate."

"Is it the summary meeting for the bombing case?"

"Yes!"

"Patch the communication feed in. I’ll just listen."

"Yes, Director."

Immediately, Yang Wenqing formed a hand seal for a Spell, using his badge to activate the large Communication Array on his desk. A dozen or so seconds later, Liu Min patched in the communication signal from the Major Case Team’s meeting room. Their discussion had just begun. There were no pleasantries; the various squads started by reporting the clues they had uncovered that day.

After the reports concluded, Liu Xin summarized:

"...Based on the clues provided by the main city bureau, today’s cross-referencing and peripheral interviews have narrowed the list of suspects to seventeen individuals. These people have complex social networks. My opinion is that the next step should be to focus on investigating all the movements of these seventeen people over the past month to find any intersections. If two or more of them appeared at the same place at the same time, or if they have some kind of hidden connection, the probability of their involvement is extremely high."

"Checking for intersections is a good idea, but these people have strong counter-surveillance awareness. Conventional methods might be too slow," Kong Yu added with a frown. "I suggest, could we apply to Director Zhu to use special resources from the Internal Affairs Inspection Division? For example, a ’Flying Falcon,’ or perhaps request a ’Dream Reading’ on the prime suspects?"

A ’Flying Falcon’ is a specially trained Spirit Beast that can help detect a target’s emotions.

Li Yue chimed in, "I think Captain Kong’s suggestion this afternoon about investigating their finances is a good angle. Their operation would have required financial backing. The bank accounts of these seventeen people and their close contacts could be a key direction for our screening."

Liu Xin made a decision on the spot. "Alright, Captain Li, you take a team and continue to dig deep into the intersection points of these seventeen individuals’ movements. Captain Kong, you immediately pull all the bank accounts and credit records for these seventeen people and their relatives and friends, as well as any suspicious transaction records from the major money houses and pawn shops in the New District. Focus on screening for any abnormal fund flows within the last six months."

"Right!"

Kong Yu and Li Yue responded in unison.

What followed were more detailed arrangements, which Yang Wenqing didn’t bother listening to. Liu Xin’s team was conducting the overt investigation, the public-facing charge. All they needed to do was make a scene.