The man with the square face responded, “It feels a bit long and stiff. How about writing it as ‘Shocking! Radical Change at the Border, Sikinkov Solo Kills Hong Quansheng!'”

Zhao Yiming laughed heartily: “Alright, we’ll use this title.”

He looked at Amir, asking seriously: “Mr. City Council President, this is at least a first-class merit, right?”

Amir snapped back to reality, responding meekly: “First-class merit, definitely. It might even be evaluated as a personal special merit.”

Zhao Yiming clapped, congratulating: “Congratulations, Mr. Bureau Chief, you are now the special-class hero of the New Moon City Public Security Bureau!”

As he spoke, his smile grew mysterious once again: “So the question is, how do you plan to receive this medal?”

Special merit medals, one is awarded to the living, nine to the dead.

So, Sikinkov, how do you want to receive it?

With Hong Quansheng’s corpse beside him, facing Zhao Yiming’s mysterious smile, Sikinkov had already lost all confidence.

He trembled as he picked up the teacup, eyes downcast, silently toasting Zhao Yiming.

“Hahaha, there’s no need for formality, Mr. Bureau Chief.” Zhao Yiming invited Amir to join in the toast to Sikinkov, “Let’s substitute tea for wine today and toast our special-class hero!”

After the three finished their tea, Zhao Yiming said to the man with the square face: “Go bring Ah Le in.”

Shortly, the man with the square face returned with a young man who lowered his head in deference.

The youth bowed to the three in attendance: “President Zhao, esteemed guests, good evening.”

Zhao Yiming slowly replied: “Introducing Hong Chenle, Hong Quansheng’s foster son, you may call him Ah Le.”

“Ah Le, your foster father is no longer here, and the Crow’s Nest cannot be ungoverned, you’ll take the leader’s position going forward.”

Hong Chenle didn’t even glance at Hong Quansheng’s corpse beside him, his expression gleeful, unable to contain his excitement: “Thank you, President Zhao, for your support!”

Zhao Yiming advised earnestly: “Do your work well in the future, ask more if you’re unsure, don’t always act on your own as your foster father did, understand?”

“Understood, understood.” Hong Chenle replied repeatedly.

Zhao Yiming held up two fingers, saying: “I have two more things to instruct you.”

“First, for this year’s King selection, I’ve met with people from Iron Blood and Black Domain. What your Crow’s Nest has done lately is truly embarrassing, even we are ashamed to support it, you better step down for now.”

“This year’s King of the Borderlands will be given to Ashen Gang, I’ve spoken with heads of major groups, they’re quite cooperative, let’s stabilize this year first.”

Hong Chenle cautiously asked: “I follow President Zhao’s arrangements, but… what about the Wolf Attack? They definitely won’t accept this outcome.”

Zhao Yiming’s expression turned slightly displeased: “It was three-way infighting before, now it’s two against one, do you still need to ask me what to do?”

Hong Chenle quickly said: “Understood, I won’t disappoint President Zhao!”

Zhao Yiming took a sip of tea, continued: “Second matter, recently the emerging rookie mercenary, Su Mo.”

Upon hearing Su Mo being mentioned, Sikinkov perked up.

Zhao Yiming: “Yesterday, Hong Quansheng sent people to ambush Su Mo in the Inner City, but they were counter-killed, it’s truly disgraceful to the extreme.”

Hong Chenle made a throat-slash gesture, tentatively asking: “Should I mobilize all Crow’s Nest elites to kill him this time?”

Zhao Yiming shook his head: “That’s not what I mean. I want none of you to touch him.”

“My intel indicates, Su Mo is a Mad Corpse Blood Code carrier, his power is only High Tier of Awakening, yet he can single-handedly kill a Critical Initial Tier opponent… there’s something peculiar about this.”

Hong Chenle softly reminded: “President Zhao, no power is absolute, it depends on who’s using it. Low-tier beating high-tier is not uncommon.”

Zhao Yiming nodded: “I know it’s not uncommon. If Su Mo’s strength was Promoted High Tier, using experience and skill to counter-kill a Critical Initial Tier opponent, I wouldn’t care.”

“But this young man cross-leaps four minor tiers and single-handedly kills an opponent two major tiers higher… it’s a bit unbelievable.”

Hong Chenle: “President Zhao, what’s your assessment?”

Zhao Yiming: “Either there’s a problem in the intel, severely misjudging Su Mo’s power.”

“Or…” He squinted his eyes, his tone turned playful, “Su Mo has some unknown powers.”

“In any case, I want to keep observing this person, see how he grows.”

“Go back and inform your subordinates and other group leaders, nobody is to trouble him anymore.”

Hong Chenle nodded: “Understood.”

Zhao Yiming stood and said: “Let’s leave it here for today. The City Council President and the Bureau Chief are busy men, I’ll see you off.”

…

A week later, the New Moon City Government Center Public Security Bureau held another press conference.

Sikinkov formally announced to the outside world – the crackdown plan against the Crow’s Nest achieved a phased victory, group leader Hong Quansheng, along with ten Crow’s Nest leaders were killed, the Raven Hunt operation concluded successfully.

The outside world was completely baffled.

Everyone initially thought it would be a massive battle, with all sorts of armored cannons and Extraordinary Beings advancing towards the Border District, aerial space filled with floating gunships and drones, the security forces and thugs fighting each other fiercely.

How did it suddenly end?

Not just outsiders, even within the Security Bureau there was confusion.

Everyone was asking around, seemingly no one heard of any troops being dispatched.

Yet, saying there was no fight, Hong Quansheng indeed died, his corpse was brought back, verified to be authentic, it’s an undeniable fact.

For a moment, from the Anti-Violence Fourth Section to the militia reserve units, no one knew what was happening.

If you asked above, the only response you’d get was – classified, don’t ask.

At the press conference site, reporters were engaging with Sikinkov.

Reporter: “Mr. Bureau Chief, there’s news that you killed Hong Quansheng, the leader of Crow’s Nest, and were awarded personal special merit; is this information accurate?”

Sikinkov: “More accurately, it’s a result of everyone fighting side by side. In the chaos, I alone cornered Hong Quansheng, eventually killing him, this special merit couldn’t be without the help of comrades.”

Reporter: “But according to our sources, nobody in the Border District witnessed a firefight between the Security Forces and Crow’s Nest, how do you explain this?”

Sikinkov: “To minimize casualties and achieve objectives with minimal losses, we employed a surgical-style precision decapitation operation, and it’s normal for no one to witness firefights because the operation was entirely covert.”

Reporter: “Can you disclose how many troops participated in the Raven Hunt operation and where the battles took place?”

Sikinkov: “To protect the privacy of the fighters, any operational details are not convenient to disclose.”

Reporter: “There’s news that after Hong Quansheng’s death, his foster son Hong Chenle took over the group, Crow’s Nest wasn’t wiped out due to this, what’s your opinion? Do you consider the operation as a failure or success?”

Sikinkov: “I consider this operation a complete success, without a doubt.”

“Hong Quansheng as the founder of Crow’s Nest, his death is a heavy blow to Crow’s Nest, we powerfully deterred the arrogance of violent groups, justice in New Moon City was upheld.”

“Crow’s Nest not being wiped out was expected, they are deeply rooted at the Border District, the preset target of Raven Hunt was to clear the leadership level of Crow’s Nest, not an overall purging, sustained strikes will continue in the future.”

“As for Hong Chenle, I don’t know much about him, but he’s already on our focus observation list.”

“The Security Bureau will continue to faithfully fulfill its mission, safeguarding the citizens of New Moon City. Today’s Q&A ends here, goodbye.”

Sikinkov left without looking back.

“Mr. Bureau Chief! Mr. Bureau Chief!…” Reporters surged forward eager for more inquiries, but no one received any response.

Sikinkov proceeded directly into the office building, disappearing from everyone’s view, the soldiers of the Municipal Guard Team began guiding reporters to exit orderly.

New Moon City had a week of rainstorms, just now the rain stopped and the weather cleared.

Recently, all truths, along with that heavy rain, were obliterated in the illusory rainbow at the edge of the sky.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep