Novel Full Chapter 48: The Oriole Behind
Chapter 48: Chapter 48: The Oriole Behind
“Sir, it was admirable watching you take on that whole crowd,” Su Chen said as he walked in, his voice full of praise.
“Alright, cut the flattery.” Yuan Chenyang waved his hand, though the expression on his face softened considerably. “So you finally decided to leave your house today.”
“I came to see how you were doing,” Su Chen said, feigning curiosity. “What’s with all the commotion? Is it because of that Deceitful Artifact?”
Yuan Chenyang rubbed his temples. “Why are you asking about this?”
Su Chen sighed. “I feel like a small action of mine might have set off a chain reaction, making you an enemy on all fronts.”
He was talking about draining the Deceitful Artifact, but Yuan Chenyang thought he meant discovering its empty husk.
“It has nothing to do with you. Don’t put that pressure on yourself.” Yuan Chenyang glanced at him, his gaze softening as he emphasized,
“I don’t have much time. I’ll be rotated to guard the ruins soon, and I was going to launch a major investigation anyway. If it weren’t for the Deceitful Artifact you found, today’s ordeal would have been much harder to get through.”
“Oh, is that so…” Su Chen breathed a sigh of relief. He couldn’t explain that he had absorbed the Deceitful Artifact, and he would have felt terrible if he had actually gotten Yuan Chenyang into trouble.
As if afraid Su Chen would feel pressured, Yuan Chenyang quickly added, “Besides, discovering a Deceitful Artifact is a meritorious achievement, no matter the circumstances!”
“If you hadn’t discovered it, that wouldn’t mean it didn’t exist. Exposing it ahead of time is for the best!”
“That’s true…” Su Chen thought for a moment, then his tone shifted. He said shyly, “Well, since it’s a meritorious achievement…”
“I knew it,” Yuan Chenyang said with a laugh. “I’ve been keeping the matter with Qi Chuan under wraps, so this contribution is a bit tricky. It’s not easy to give a public commendation, not with the Deceitful God Cultists still lurking in the shadows.”
“How about this: I’ll privately give you ten Black Flame Potions and ten Radiance Potions.”
Su Chen had no objections. ’Commendations are empty words; tangible benefits are what really matter.’
Su Chen rubbed his hands together. “Could the Radiance Potions be swapped for something a little better?”
“You…” Surprise flashed in Yuan Chenyang’s eyes. “As expected of someone with a Red Gold Talent. The Inspectorate doesn’t have anything better in stock, but… let me see what I can do for you.”
Even Su Chen felt he was being a bit much. He asked cautiously, “Um… do you have any more of that Glazed Blood?”
“Getting addicted to it?” Yuan Chenyang asked genially.
Seeing Su Chen nod, he said with some exasperation, “I barely get any quota for that stuff in a whole year. You’re only Tier One, yet you’re willing to just use it up like that.”
“It’s not going to multiply if I just let it sit there,” Su Chen retorted.
“I’m out, I’m out.” Yuan Chenyang waved his hands repeatedly. When he saw Su Chen still standing there, he caught on. “Is there something else?”
“It’s about what I mentioned to you before… the special professions…” Su Chen reminded him.
“Didn’t I already give you Engineering Apprentice?” Yuan Chenyang said, stuffing the Deceitful Artifact from his desk back into a drawer.
“I meant something like Scholar,” Su Chen said.
“Don’t bite off more than you can chew…” Yuan Chenyang leaned back, rubbing his large, bald head. He shook his head and said, “When I was young, I was just like you, full of curiosity about all sorts of professions. I wasted a lot of time.”
“It won’t be too late to delve into them when you reach my age—if you still have the energy for it then.”
“Besides, you think special professions are a dime a dozen? There aren’t many in Southwind City. Ying Feng might have some, though.”
’Ying Feng…’ Su Chen was lost in thought. He wasn’t completely ignorant about Ying Feng; their control over information was notoriously strict.
The various official organizations in Southwind City only had information on Tier Two Professions—at least, that’s what was publicly known.
“Alright.” Su Chen gave up. Yuan Chenyang rubbed the bridge of his nose and asked casually, “How far have you developed your profession?”
“Around 70%, I guess,” Su Chen responded vaguely.
“You have such a precise feel for it?” Yuan Chenyang was both surprised and pleased. “That’s not slow at all. I’ve studied this Sky Splitter Warrior profession carefully, and it shouldn’t conflict with Gale Hunter.”
“I estimate it won’t be long before you can become a Tier Two Professional.”
Yuan Chenyang seemed to recall something. He looked at Su Chen and said with a sigh, “It’s rare to see someone your age with such dedication. I thought the potions I gave you last time would take you at least a month, maybe even two, to get through.”
“Talent is important, but one’s Heart is even more so. Perhaps it’s because you were once a refugee that you desperately seize every opportunity. I’ve seen my share of talented people who’ve wasted their years. As you get older, your Talent can even regress…”
BEEP—
As he was speaking, his wristband emitted a beep. He took a look, and his expression changed slightly, his brow furrowing deeply. “Zhang Hongbo is here. How did he get back so fast?”
’Wait, if he’s back, then why did Zhou Xian bring all those people over?’
Yuan Chenyang muttered to himself before suddenly cursing aloud, “That old fox! He’s trying to see what cards I’m holding. So devious!”
’The City Lord is back?’ Su Chen’s mind raced. Yuan Chenyang clearly hadn’t anticipated this.
’He probably got word and didn’t trust Old Yuan not to stir up trouble.’
“You should go. I’ll have Old Sun deliver your things,” Yuan Chenyang said, irritably shooing him away.
“Yes, sir.” Su Chen nodded and left the room. Coincidentally, the elevator was just arriving.
DING!
Su Chen stopped in his tracks. Standing inside was Zhang Hongbo. “Lord City Lord.”
“Just call me Uncle Zhang.” Zhang Hongbo’s attitude was very affable as he clapped Su Chen on the shoulder.
Su Chen readily complied, “Uncle Zhang.”
“Mm…” Zhang Hongbo nodded. “Hengyu has a very reserved personality. You two should interact more. You might be able to help each other out in Ying Feng in the future.”
“We said hello at the banquet the other day. He’s an extraordinary young man, and he has your distinguished air,” Su Chen said with sincerity.
Zhang Hongbo stared at him for a long moment before shaking his head with a laugh. “Go on down.”
As he watched the elevator doors close, the smile vanished from his face. The very instant he stepped into Yuan Chenyang’s room, he demanded in a stern voice, “Yuan Chenyang, what do you think you’re doing!”
“I was gone for only ten days, and you’ve thrown all of Southwind City into utter chaos! How about you be the City Lord instead, hmm?”
“I wouldn’t dare…” Yuan Chenyang met his gaze coldly, feeling disgusted inside. In a low voice, he said, “City Lord, you should already be aware of the specifics. The situation is urgent.”
“There are people from the Deceitful God Sect in the Inspectorate, the City Patrol Department, and the Exploration Department. The power within the Deceitful Artifact has completely vanished, and we don’t know what they’ve done.”
Zhang Hongbo’s voice was cold. “We root out a few small-fry like that from the City Patrol Department every year. I’m not clear on the Inspectorate’s situation, but that person in the Exploration Department was already on our watch list.”
“As for the Deceitful Artifact, that is indeed troublesome.” He paused. “But since you made such a huge scene and still found nothing, it’s probably not as bad as you imagine.”
A vein throbbed in Yuan Chenyang’s temple. He suspected this old fox hadn’t just returned today; he had likely been watching from the shadows all along, seeing what he could dig up.
Then, Zhang Hongbo’s tone softened. “Policing your own is the Inspectorate’s responsibility, and you did discover the Deceitful Artifact. But the city is filled with complaints, and there are some things even I can’t do anything about.”
“What do you mean?” Yuan Chenyang stared at him.
Zhang Hongbo explained, “I returned in a hurry, leaving no one to guard the ruins. The council has already decided: you will be rotated ahead of schedule to stand guard there.”
“Ahead of schedule?” Yuan Chenyang shot to his feet. Zhang Hongbo remained expressionless. “Furthermore, the people from Ying Feng just arrived. They agree as well.”
The words caught in Yuan Chenyang’s throat. Veins bulged on his forehead. After a long moment, he finally squeezed out a single word: “Fine.”
“Your intentions were good, we all understand that. But you must also consider your methods,” Zhang Hongbo said placatingly. “I will temporarily take over the Inspectorate. Don’t worry.”