Before the Xisiya administrative building, alarm bells blared.
After the attack, the security forces arrived imdiately.
In the first-floor lobby, the director of the Xisiya Security Bureau was loudly berating the building’s guards.
“How could you idiots handle your duties so poorly, letting an attack happen right here!”
One guard protested unfairly, “Director Valeri, the attackers stayed hidden in the car and only crawled out through the sunroof to fire the rocket launcher when they were right next to the building. We didn’t have ti to stop them…”
“Shut up! You dare make excuses for your negligence, arrest him!”
Two burly n wearing sunglasses stepped forward and pinned the guard to the floor. Just then, Yelanka stepped out of the elevator.
“What are you doing?”
“Ah—Administrator.”
Valeri’s face changed instantly; his reddened cheeks were filled with a sycophantic smile.
“This attack was obviously aid at you. Letting the perpetrators succeed is the guards’ dereliction of duty. I will remove these incompetent people and replace them with Security Bureau elites to protect your safety.”
Yelanka frowned slightly and glanced at the guard who had been held down.
“All right. But there’s no need to punish them. They didn’t do it on purpose.”
“Yes, Administrator, you are truly kind.” Valeri said again, “Those two reckless criminals—I will take them away for strict interrogation and make them confess everything.”
“I’ll have Sigaochin handle the interrogation of those two criminals. The Security Bureau should start by investigating nearby surveillance footage.”
“Sigaochin in charge of interrogations…”
“Director Valeri won’t forget that she ca from the Police Departnt’s Criminal Division; interrogating two criminals will be child’s play for her.”
“Ah, I see.” Valeri showed an expression of sudden realization, patting his forehead, “How could I forget? I’m ashad. I’ll begin the investigation right away.”
After speaking, Valeri walked toward the door, but paused after a few steps, turned his head and smiled, “I heard those two who carried out the car attack were captured by your guards before they even escaped the street, Administrator. Impressive. It seems, besides Sigaochin, you’ve found another capable hand.”
Yelanka’s expression was indifferent. “The situation is murky; we must be cautious. Go.”
“Yes, Administrator…”
Valeri turned and left; the smile on his face vanished as quickly as it had appeared.
On a balcony on the second floor, Guan Tong and Uenoshi stood watching Valeri climb into a vehicle with his thick legs, followed by several of his sunglassed thugs who also boarded and drove off.
“What do you think?” Guan Tong asked.
“Not a good man.” Uenoshi’s assessnt was simple and direct.
“The director of the Xisiya Security Bureau, Valeri… he definitely has issues. But Yelanka has no solid evidence right now, so she can’t move against him directly.”
Uenoshi looked puzzled. “She’s the Administrator, the most powerful person in this country, right? Can’t she just replace the director?”
“The Security Bureau is a special departnt. From what Yelanka told , it’s independent of the administrative system and has supervisory and law enforcent authority over the entire administrative system, even including the Administrator. The director’s appointnt requires votes from multiple parties.”
“I didn’t know that…”
Guan Tong explained, “From what I understand, the people of Xisiya support this approach because the Administrator is chosen by family succession. The previous Administrator was Yelanka’s father, and this term’s succession was a competition between Yelanka and her brother Lijeka.
The Security Bureau was established to answer only to national security, not to the Administrator. So if there is evidence that an Administrator harms national security, the Security Bureau can investigate and hold them accountable… but Valeri doesn’t seem like an impartial man.”
Uenoshi asked, “So Valeri originally supported Lijeka, and now that Yelanka is the Administrator, he plans to work against her?”
“Not sure. But a fox will eventually show its tail. I think this attack was a probing move. Yelanka’s enemies will surface soon.”
“…That will be hard on her.” Uenoshi fell silent for a mont, recalling Yelanka’s earlier desire to change her nickna. “She wants to be the country’s sword, but she must guard against attacks from within.”
“The Administrator’s seat is never easy to hold,” Guan Tong said. “Since she chose this path, hardships will keep coming… but with us helping, it should be a bit easier.”
“Mm.”
“She’s back in her office. Let’s go.”
Guan Tong and Uenoshi returned to Yelanka’s office. Although the room had been hit by the rocket, Guan Tong had used a shadow wall to force the explosion to the window area.
As a result, aside from shattered window glass, the interior suffered little damage.
The attack had occurred more than half an hour earlier; shards had already been cleaned away. Yelanka sat in her chair looking unwell.
She told Guan Tong and Uenoshi about her earlier conversation with Valeri.
“Replacing the guards with Security Bureau personnel—seems like he had ulterior motives.” Guan Tong said.
“I thought the sa.”
“So you agreed to lure them out?”
“Yes. With you both as my teachers, I’m not worried about my safety; besides, I can fight myself.” Yelanka said with confidence.
Guan Tong knew that from Yelanka’s talent at the academy and the resources she controlled, her overall strength could rank among first-rate, perhaps even top Ascendants.
“But…”
Yelanka looked at Guan Tong.
“Teacher, I think they might figure out that my new guard is ‘Shadow.’”
“Oh?”
“They all believe Lijeka’s death was a hit I ordered. To infiltrate the heavily guarded Ice Field Prison without drawing attention, then complete the assassination and leave without a trace—only extrely powerful Ascendants could do that.”
Yelanka continued, “Afterward, you disguised yourself as a soldier and entered the Landing Site; nothing happened at first. But when those parasitized forms launched a surprise attack and you were forced to act, your identity was exposed… They’ll naturally assu you could only have been undercover at the Landing Site with my permission; otherwise, Commander Sigaochin would have discovered you.
Then I added a mysterious, powerful new bodyguard. If they connect these dots, they’ll suspect my new guard is ‘Shadow.’”
Guan Tong listened and nodded. “Right. If I were your enemy, I’d reach the sa conclusion.”
“So, Teacher, if you were my enemy and drew that inference, what would you do next?”
“Hm… ‘Shadow’ is a world-renowned expert. Beating him isn’t impossible, but it would require many top experts and a thorough plan to be safe. If using force seems unwise, one could try contacting him secretly and buy him off or turn him.”
Uenoshi: “Sounds reasonable.”
Yelanka nodded. “Defeat him or turn him—those are the enemy’s two realistic options. If they attempt to turn you, Teacher, I hope you’ll play along and use it to our advantage.”
Guan Tong looked at her. “Aren’t you afraid I might actually be turned if they offer enough?”
Yelanka shook her head gently, her gaze steady. “If I still have a few people I can absolutely trust in this world, you are definitely one of them.”
“…”
Guan Tong hadn’t expected Yelanka’s typically cool personality to say sothing like that. After a mont of silence he agreed.
“All right. If the enemy tries to contact , I’ll try to draw out their intentions as much as possible. But… Yelanka, sotis people can’t be too bound by rules.”
“…I understand what you an, Teacher. At a critical mont, I won’t rule out using force to wipe out the entire Security Bureau and other enemies directly.”
The murderous intent in Yelanka’s eyes felt tangible; even Guan Tong admired her resolve.
It made sense—she’s not yet twenty; staying steady and restrained must be a constant effort. Impulsiveness and brutality are more natural for soone her age, especially after what she’s endured.
For a mont, Guan Tong felt pity for those who would oppose Yelanka.
They might think her composure is an act, that she clings to rules to secure her position and dares not overturn the table.
Reality might be the exact opposite.
The reality is more likely that Yelanka struggles to maintain order and seek evidence by the rules precisely to suppress the anger inside her, to stop herself from toppling the table.
If one day she decides she will no longer suppress herself, those begging her to play by the rules may find themselves at her rcy…
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