Chapter 745 - 337: Using One Force Against Another

Chapter 745: Chapter 337: Using One Force Against Another

The next few days were all Lu Shuai’s stage. He led the masses in marches and demonstrations. At first there were only a few hundred people, mainly from the Canon Law School, the Celestial Principle School, and some residents of the North District, but the size grew by the day, and by the end more than ten thousand people were taking part; there were even strikes.

People shouted slogans of Justice, fairness, and freedom, demanding that the killer be severely punished and that a Grand Governor be chosen who could truly serve the nation and the people.

These were once Luthor’s rallying cries for conquering people’s hearts, now inherited by Lu Shuai. Lu Shuai stood at the very front of the resistance. If he were just the Lu Shuai who had just arrived in the Dragon Capital, he certainly wouldn’t have much influence, but now he was already the embodiment of popular will. Though his political foundations were not solid, his popularity was stronger than Nalan Jingguo and Chen Rutang combined, and a large part of Chen Rutang’s support rate also came from Lu Shuai.

The Golden Body Lu Shuai had earned from the sugar cake rescue incident was now continuously stacking up. As the descendant of a Grand Governor, he could have enjoyed a wealthy life, yet he was willing to fight on the front line for the interests of the people. The public awareness that had already been awakened in Luthor’s era would not erase his efforts.

This was something the entire upper class of the Dragon Capital had not anticipated. By coincidence, Lu Shuai was also a member of the Upper Council, which meant he was not just a grassroots leader but someone with a voice. At this moment, public opinion became Lu Shuai’s weight and authority.

By past practice, someone like this would either be smeared with some scandal or physically eliminated. There were many methods and it was easy enough to handle. But now they had run into the freak that was Lu Shuai, with Celestial Principle School experts at his side, which made things difficult—no method seemed easy to pull off.

The most interesting part was that there were internal splits within the Council. The main contradiction had already shifted to Ye Shidao versus the Lot people led by the Potter Family, and the conflict between the Beijing people and the Lot people. Even though everyone could see Lu Shuai growing in power, no one was willing to divert their attention at this moment to deal with him. They all knew Lu Shuai was just a hot-blooded young man, not their primary antagonist.

Lu Shuai didn’t care and didn’t bother. He was single-minded about going all the way. Opportunities like this were rare. While those above had yet to reach a conclusion, he wanted to maximize the support he could win. Once elections resumed, Dean Chen’s chances of victory would increase.

The marching procession never failed to pass by the Potter Family’s manor in the East District, and the cries for severe punishment of the murderer echoed across the sky. Even the city guard maintaining order didn’t dare act rashly. A crowd this large was not something the city guard could suppress, especially when the leader was a member of the Upper Council.

The original Knight Order had already swapped posts with the Black Iron Guard.

A lot had happened in these few days. The Black Iron Guard had entered the Dragon Capital, and troops appeared in every street and alley. These soldiers all wore Black Iron Masks, like killing gods out of Hell, radiating a chilling aura from head to toe.

At the same time, the manors of the Potter Family and the Nalan Family were likewise surrounded by the Black Iron Guard. The Cabinet’s order was that during the investigation they were allowed to enter but not to leave.

Celestia was also subjected to investigation and questioning. People from the Church Court’s Law Enforcement Court went as well, though they did not go too far. Even though Celestia was not representing the Hedan Royal Family this time, everyone knew that this legitimate daughter of the George Family was currently in high favor and carried great weight in Hedan. Their cooperation with the Royal Family was also tacitly approved by the Cabinet, to maintain the Royal Family’s dignity. Unless they were ready to rip their face off with Moncalleta, it was fundamentally impossible to resort to heavy-handed tactics. Moreover, in terms of motive, Celestia had come this time to discuss follow-up cooperation with the Royal Family and to expand that cooperation. Killing Ji Sheng would bring them no benefit at all; it was far more likely that the killer had taken advantage of Hedan’s visit.

The killer—or the killer’s organization—possessed a pervasive and vast power base in the Dragon Capital. Among those who fit the conditions and whose interests clashed with the Royal Family, there were actually only a few, and the largest was the Potter Family.

That’s right, the Potter Family had risen by relying on Hex-Tech. Most of the Kingdom’s trade was monopolized by the Potter Family, and they paid only a small amount of tax. At first, Ji Sheng and the Zheng Family were just nibbling at the edges, but gradually their operations grew, cutting into the Potter Family’s slice of the pie. The Potter Family had kicked up a fuss several times, but each time Ye Shidao had smoothed things over and blocked them. The justice faction, of course, supported the Royal Family as well; if they couldn’t eat, they certainly wouldn’t let the Potter Family feast alone. Now that the Zheng Family had fallen and the George Family had taken the stage wanting to continue expanding, the Potter Family would definitely not allow it, which created a motive.

On top of that, there was the necklace used in the previous assassination of Hong Yan. Ji Sheng had pointed out that the necklace had been supplied by a business belonging to the Potter Family. At the time, the evidence seemed inconclusive, but looking at it now, Ji Sheng likely had been silenced.

Rumors were already spreading widely in both the Upper Council and the Lower Council. Given the Potter Family’s past reputation and their wealth, they absolutely had the capacity to do it. Those who didn’t know Ji Sheng was an Angel believed it; those who did know he was an Angel were even more convinced it had to be the Potter Family—no one else could pull it off.

Thus Ye Shidao’s operation this time gained the support of most councilors. First killing Hong Yan, then Ji Sheng, and failing in the attempted assassination of Chen Rutang—it was only that Chen Rutang had great luck. The killer hadn’t expected there to be a Grand Scholar of the Celestial Principle School at his side, which was why the attempt failed. It was certainly that the Potter Family had grown careless, thinking Chen Rutang would be the easiest to deal with.

In the eyes of the councilors, the Potter Family, in order to make Nalan Jingguo the Grand Governor, had already gone mad. The marriage alliance once praised by everyone was now starting to backlash, and likewise the Nalan Family was being despised by the Beijing people.

When the wall falls, everyone pushes. Although the Potter Family and the Nalan Family lodged severe protests, the Upper Council still supported Ye Shidao’s decision. This was more than just a decision; it increased Ye Shidao’s voice, driving his power into an unprecedented concentration.

With less than two months left, the other councilors all hoped at this moment that Ye Shidao would strike with a heavy fist and ruthlessly suppress the Potter Family.

The Potter Duke, back at the manor, had a face ashen with rage. He hadn’t expected things to develop like this. One or two incidents alone wouldn’t have been a big deal; with time, they would have passed. Who could have predicted that all these matters would be strung together at such a critical moment—and that Ye Shidao, this thing who had once knelt at his door, would dare bare his fangs.

"Grandfather, the three Angels are already on their way and will arrive in the Dragon Capital in the next few days. Your personal letters have also been sent to the border troops and to the Councils of the twelve main cities. It shouldn’t be long before a full impeachment against Ye Shidao is launched," Nalan Potter said.

The Potter Duke took a deep breath, his expression gradually settling. The room grew quiet, and Nalan Potter didn’t dare speak.

He had talked it over with Ji Mingyue. This absolutely wasn’t the work of the Potter Family—he could swear on his cultivation. Although there were all those interests and conflicts, he loved Ji Mingyue. As long as the two of them were together, none of those conflicts of interest would exist, and it was even more impossible for them to target Ji Sheng at such a time.

The problem was: who had killed Ji Sheng? How could an Enslaved Angel just die like that? It was practically a joke. He even suspected that Ji Sheng had faked his death, but from the Life Master’s deductions, the probability was high that Ji Sheng was truly dead, which was inexplicable.

Who the fuck was framing the Potter Family.