Chapter 148: Open Fire, Kill

“There are two more personnel appointments that require Former Director Lu’s presence as a witness.”

Lu Jing’an’s eyebrow twitched slightly. “Very well,” he said.

‘He’d already been standing outside for so long, what was a little more time?’

‘Lu Jing’an wanted to see just what other tricks Bai Lang had up his sleeve.’

Hearing this, Bai Lang’s smile grew wider.

He took a step forward, facing everyone in the open space before the Government Office.

This included the former staff of the Water Patrol Bureau who had been driven out, as well as the ever-growing crowd of onlookers gathering at the periphery.

He raised his voice and announced:

“Upon investigation, Li Ergou, a member of the former Water Patrol Bureau’s Escort Team, and Sun Long, a clerk from the records department…”

“…have demonstrated loyalty, sharp wits, and decisiveness. They have recently performed acts of great merit!

Therefore, I hereby announce the following appointments: Li Ergou is promoted to Captain of the Water Patrol Bureau’s Escort Team!

Sun Long is promoted to Chief of the Water Patrol Bureau’s Intelligence Division! Effective immediately!”

As soon as he finished speaking, the crowd fell silent for a moment before erupting into a clamorous buzz.

‘This wasn’t a personnel appointment.’

‘This was a blatant, public unmasking of traitors, right in front of Lu Jing’an and all the former Water Patrol Bureau personnel.’

‘And a shameless display of the rewards for betrayal!’

‘He was telling everyone that the Water Patrol Bureau had long been infiltrated, riddled with holes like a sieve.’

‘It was also a warning to those still on the fence: *Follow us, and your merits will be rewarded with high office and great wealth!*’

Lu Jing’an’s gaze swept calmly over the two men who had been named.

Li Ergou was a short, stocky, dark-skinned man.

He was originally just an ordinary team member under Zhao Laosuan.

Now, he kept his head down, not daring to meet anyone’s gaze.

Especially not the fiery glare from Zhao Laosuan, which looked as if it could burn him alive.

Sun Long, meanwhile, was a somewhat frail-looking, middle-aged man.

He was the same man who had tried to stop Lu Jing’an from setting sail at the docks that day, clutching the prohibition order.

His face flushed and paled in turns, his body trembling slightly.

Lu Jing’an felt little anger toward these two traitors.

‘They were merely pawns, each serving their own master.’

‘They weren’t worth his anger, and certainly not worth disrupting his plans over.’

However, the tree may prefer stillness, but the wind will not cease.

Just as Lu Jing’an was about to suggest leaving again…

“Li Ergou! FUCK YOUR ANCESTORS!!”

A roar of pure, unadulterated rage exploded from within the crowd of Escort Team members!

Zhao Laosuan’s eyes were bloodshot, the veins on his forehead bulging violently.

Like a thoroughly enraged lion, he burst from the crowd!

His movements were astonishingly fast. The short knife tucked at his waist—the one used for inspecting cargo—was already drawn.

A cold light flashed. Before anyone could react,

…he had viciously plunged it into Li Ergou’s abdomen! Li Ergou had just looked up at the announcement of his promotion, a hint of joy barely gracing his features.

“SQUELCH!”

The sound of the blade sinking into flesh was sickeningly clear.

“That’s for selling out your master for glory!!”

“That’s for betraying us from the inside!!”

“I’ll slaughter you, you fucking mutt!!”

Zhao Laosuan was like a rabid tiger. He roared as his arm pumped mechanically, stabbing again and again!

Once, twice, three times…

Blood sprayed everywhere, drenching his arm and the front of his tunic.

It stained the gray flagstones at his feet crimson.

The look of joy on Li Ergou’s face had long been replaced by boundless terror and excruciating pain.

He tried in vain to grab Zhao Laosuan’s arm, a choked gurgle escaping his throat.

His eyes were filled with the terror of death and the bitter frustration of losing the glory that had been within his grasp.

He had betrayed Lu Jing’an, dreaming of a meteoric rise to power and wealth.

But he never imagined that before the echoes of his promotion had even faded, a blade would be at his gut, claiming his life.

After seven or eight stabs, Li Ergou was no longer breathing.

He collapsed limply into a pool of his own blood, his eyes still wide open in death.

It all happened too fast. From the moment Zhao Laosuan erupted to the moment Li Ergou died, only a few breaths had passed.

Only then did Bai Lang seem to snap back to his senses, shouting sharply, “Seize him! He dared to commit murder in public. Kill him without question!”

Several Wolf Camp Martial Artists beside Bai Lang immediately sprang forward like cheetahs, lunging straight for Zhao Laosuan.

A flicker of cold satisfaction flashed in Bai Lang’s eyes.

‘Of course, he had the power to stop Zhao Laosuan the moment he moved, but he chose not to.’

‘This was the exact result he wanted.’

‘Let Lu Jing’an’s loyal dog commit murder in public, then kill him in the name of the law.’

‘It was a far greater blow to Lu Jing’an’s authority than simply killing Zhao Laosuan outright.’

‘It would show everyone, in no uncertain terms, the fate that awaited anyone who stood with Lu Jing’an and the Lu Family!’

‘He can’t even protect his most loyal dog!’

Seeing this, Lu Jing’an sighed to himself.

‘This Zhao Laosuan… He’s brave, to be sure, but far too impulsive.’

‘Lashing out now played right into Bai Lang’s hands.’

However, his loyalty had been proven, and blood had already been spilt.

‘But how could Lu Jing’an stand by and watch Zhao Laosuan be executed in public?’

Just as the two Wolf Camp Martial Artists’ sharp, claw-like hands were about to touch Zhao Laosuan’s neck—

“CLICK!”

The crisp click of a metal mechanism. It wasn’t loud,

…but it cut through the surrounding chaos with exceptional clarity.

Everyone froze, their gazes involuntarily snapping toward the sound.

And there was Lu Jing’an. No one had seen when,

…but a glossy, jet-black, exquisitely crafted short-barreled pistol had appeared in his hand.

The gun’s lines were smooth, and its body gleamed with a cold, hard metallic luster in the dim light.

And now, its dark, gaping muzzle…

…was pointed steadily, directly at the spot between Bai Lang’s eyes as he stood on the steps above!

Lu Jing’an’s arm was as steady as a boulder, his gaze so calm it was almost indifferent.

He looked at Bai Lang, whose expression had suddenly darkened. His voice was not loud,

…but it carried an undeniable, piercing force:

“Tell your men to stand down.”

In that instant, the air completely froze.

All the noise—the chatter, the gasps, the shouting—was snuffed out as if throttled by a great, unseen hand.

The only sounds left were the mournful cry of the River wind whipping past the dock’s flagpole…

…and the faint, heart-stopping aura of death that seemed to emanate from the pistol.

Bai Lang stared at the muzzle, which was practically touching him, yet his face showed no trace of fear.

Instead, slowly, bit by bit, his lips stretched into a savage and unnerving grin.

Like a starving wolf that had just caught the scent of blood.