Sikinkov’s eyes were bloodshot. He didn’t respond immediately to Ivan and Du Lang but instead looked at his assistant and asked, “Has the City Council President of Amir been contacted? Any instructions from the court?”

The assistant shook his head, “No, Acting President, none. We can’t get through to the President’s phone, and there’s no directive from the court either.”

Sikinkov laughed self-deprecatingly.

Of course, it was a redundant question. How could they contact him?

Amir must have turned off his phone immediately and hid in a place where no one could find him.

If something like this happened in New Moon City, if anyone contacted him, he would have to give instructions.

Giving instructions would mean having to take responsibility for the consequences.

But as long as he’s unreachable, the decision must come from the Acting City Council President.

Whatever happens afterward has nothing to do with Amir, the “uninformed” person.

The same goes for all the leaders from the court.

With such a huge crisis, which leader would stand up to help? Surely, they’d push it to the New Moon City Council to bear, while they stay as far away as possible.

At that moment, Sikinkov felt a bit desperate.

He was only acting as the Deputy Mayor for two weeks, so why did this have to happen to him…

He once suspected whether he had done anything monstrous in his past life to be punished by fate like this.

In this situation, advancing is impossible, and retreating is impossible.

To maintain the dignity of the World Government would inevitably result in harming the hostages, and the financiers in front of him would ruin him completely.

If he were to protect the hostages’ lives and cater to Muto Dongying’s demands to split New Moon City, the court would definitely hold him accountable afterward.

Sikinkov was trapped, unable to go in any direction, feeling like a piece of dog shit on the street, with everyone avoiding and despising him.

Suddenly, his eyes fell on an empty seat, and he froze, “Where’s Beiyuan Jun? He’s the Director of the Public Security Bureau, why isn’t he at the meeting?”

“I’ll go check.” The assistant went out to call and inquire about the situation.

After a short while, he returned to report, “Director Beiyuan Jun recently fell on the stairs at home and is now in the ICU.”

Sikinkov’s face changed, “How is he? Is it serious?”

The assistant’s gaze drifted, hesitantly saying, “The hospital said all test results are fine, his vital signs are stable…but somehow, he just won’t wake up.”

Sikinkov stood frozen like a statue.

A moment later, he lost his composure and burst into laughter, laughing so hard that he bent over with tears streaming down, “Wonderful, truly wonderful Civilization Crescent, why didn’t I think of this move?”

The faces of the council members turned grim one by one.

At this critical moment, the top person in the Public Security Bureau decided to play dead?!

By doing this, Beiyuan Jun effectively shifted all the Public Security Bureau’s responsibilities onto Sikinkov.

Ivan’s tone became firm, “Acting President, please remember, you are currently the highest official in New Moon City, and you must bear the appropriate obligations and responsibilities to maintain the integrity of this city!”

Du Lang also said sternly, “Sikinkov, understand this, it was me and these gentlemen and ladies who put you in this position! We can elevate you at any time, and we can pull you down at any time!”

Ivan: “The City Council must not compromise with the thugs, and the dignity of the World Government must not be infringed! If you sign a document acknowledging the independence of the frontier, you will be seriously dealt with by the court for malfeasance!”

Du Lang: “I swear! Sikinkov! If you dare delay the negotiations, or order a forceful attack on the Xinghai Cinema leading to another child’s death, I will unite all the consortia to charge you with ‘crimes against humanity’!!!”

Sikinkov slumped there, his whole body numb.

He turned his head to look out the window of the conference room, thinking: Maybe I should just jump down, end it all if I die, and if I don’t, I’ll go to the ICU and play dead.

Ivan and Du Lang continued their argument; their shouting sounded muffled, as if through frosted glass.

After an unknown amount of time, Sikinkov sighed deeply.

Perhaps thinking of his son, still in middle school; he couldn’t leave him without a father.

Or maybe recalling the vows and ideals he declared when he took office; he absolutely couldn’t let the citizens and the thugs see a joke.

In the end, Sikinkov didn’t choose to imitate Beiyuan Jun’s absurd actions but stood up from his seat.

With a dim look that made him appear ten years older, he said in a low voice, “Captain Ivan, please stay. The rest of the gentlemen and ladies, please leave.”

Du Lang, realizing the implication of these words, was already furious and pointed at Sikinkov’s nose, saying, “You’re dead, Sikinkov. I’ll make you regret this decision! You’ll die an ugly death!”

Du Lang left furiously with the parents, shouting as he walked, “We’ll go overnight to the Capital City, and have the court sanction this lunatic against humanity! He can’t stay in this position any longer!”

The other council members also got up and left, each looking at Sikinkov with a gaze of pity.

A few colleagues who were privately close to him even bowed deeply, as if saying a farewell.

In the end, only Sikinkov and Ivan remained in the conference room.

Ivan secretly breathed a sigh of relief and softly said, “This decision is right, Acting President. It may lead to painful consequences, but it is the right one.”

“If we compromise once, the thugs taste sweetness, and they will do it a second time, a third time, and thugs in other cities will follow suit. Then more children will be endangered.”

“The children at Xinghai Cinema are innocent, but setting a precedent of compromising with thugs must never be established; we must extinguish this ember. May God bless these little angels…”

Sikinkov shook his head, his voice weak, “Don’t say that, I’m not as noble as you think. I just feel that compared to the vague ‘crimes against humanity,’ the charge of malfeasance is closer to me.”

Ivan pursed his lips and said, “In any case, New Moon City will remember your choice, no matter how long you’re gone.”

“Ha, don’t say it like I’m going to die!” Sikinkov kicked the chair away and tightened his loose tie with determination on his face, “I don’t intend to resign to fate!”

“Does fate want to toy with me, Sikinkov? No way!”

Ivan was stunned, “I don’t understand what you mean.”

Sikinkov said heavily, “This rescue mission, the Anti-Violence Fourth Section should not participate.”

Ivan thought this meant retreat and was a bit anxious, “Acting President!”

Sikinkov interrupted him and explained, “Not only the Anti-Violence Fourth Section, but all authorities’ armed forces should not participate. I want to entrust another group to handle this matter.”

“In my name, gather all key intermediaries and the leaders of well-known Mercenary Corps in New Moon City.”

“I want the city’s most elite mercenaries to meet me in Conference Room No. 1, immediately!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep