Chapter 807: Three Questions
The Administrative Chief had long considered the issue raised by Vice-Captain Zhou, and his current distress was partly due to this very concern.
"When Bai Xue first joined the Spirit Police, a large part of it must have been because of Yang Haoran. Although the Talisman Order was causing trouble for Bai Xue when Captain Luo invited her to join the Spirit Police, they were just making a fuss; they wouldn't dare to truly go to war with the Underworld Office over this. Captain Luo, I believe, understands this clearly in his heart, and Yang Haoran certainly understands it too."
"Therefore, there was absolutely no need for Yang Haoran to insist on Bai Xue joining the Spirit Police. Furthermore, according to the information I've gathered, Bai Xue didn't seem willing to join the Spirit Police at first. Yet, in the end, Bai Xue became a member of the Spirit Police. To say that Yang Haoran had no hand in this, I absolutely refuse to believe."
The Administrative Chief did not directly answer Vice-Captain Zhou's question, but instead spoke these words.
"You mean Yang Haoran had other motives for letting Bai Xue join the Spirit Police?"
Vice-Captain Zhou pondered for a moment before asking.
"If my guess is correct, Yang Haoran's purpose in having Bai Xue join the Spirit Police, besides making our Administrative Courtyard a protective umbrella for Bai Xue, must have had other objectives. It's just that for these past few years, Bai Xue has been exceptionally well-behaved, and Yang Haoran hasn't made any suspicious moves. This makes it difficult for me to discern his true intentions."
The Administrative Chief frowned deeply, took a deep breath, then rose from his chair. With his hands clasped behind his back, he walked a few steps and continued.
Vice-Captain Zhou thought for a moment, then responded.
"Could it be that Bai Xue herself doesn't want to leave the Spirit Police? I can tell that Bai Xue has a lot of affection for our Spirit Police now. I've carried out many missions with her; I wouldn't be mistaken about this."
The Administrative Chief didn't reply directly. He furrowed his brows in thought, then finally sighed and spoke.
"Alas, perhaps. But Bai Xue is still Yang Haoran's person; that's an undeniable fact. Yang Haoran might have been using us by having Bai Xue join the Spirit Police, but aren't we also using him? We similarly need his and the Underworld Office's power, especially in the current situation. Yang Haoran is even more crucial to us now."
These words from the Administrative Chief stirred confusion in Vice-Captain Zhou's mind. Since they needed Yang Haoran and the Underworld Office's power, yet had now decided to act against Bai Xue, such an action, in his view, would surely anger Yang Haoran. The cooperation between the Underworld Office and their Spirit Police might very well cease as a result. The Administrative Chief's statements and actions seemed highly contradictory.
"Administrative Chief, you yourself said that Yang Haoran is extremely important to us right now. But if we act against Bai Xue, we will not only lose an ally but also gain an enemy. This. . ."
Before Vice-Captain Zhou could finish, the Administrative Chief waved his hand, cutting him off.
"I know what you're trying to say. Before I answer you, let me ask you three questions first."
Vice-Captain Zhou remained silent, merely frowning and nodding slightly.
"If the two Demon Hunters who arrived suddenly attacked our Administrative Courtyard, do you think Yang Haoran would help us?"
Vice-Captain Zhou considered it, then replied.
"As long as Bai Xue is involved in this battle, given Yang Haoran's relationship with Bai Xue, he certainly wouldn't stand by. I think he would probably help."
The Administrative Chief smiled, but the emotion revealed in that smile was not joy, but bitterness.
"'Probably' means uncertain; even you aren't sure Yang Haoran would definitely help. Now, let's assume Yang Haoran would definitely help. Under that premise, I'll ask you my second question: Even if Yang Haoran helps, do you think Yang Haoran would be a match for these two Demon Hunters?"
Vice-Captain Zhou did not immediately answer the Administrative Chief's question, but instead retorted with a question of his own.
"What is the strength of these two Demon Hunters?"
The reason for this question was simple: if one didn't even know the strength of the two Demon Hunters, how could one judge whether Yang Haoran was their match?
The Administrative Chief gave a bitter smile, then held up three fingers to Vice-Captain Zhou.
"Three-star. When these two Demon Hunters threatened me, they revealed their Star Seals. There were three Star Seals on their foreheads. Although I am just an ordinary person with no power within me, as the Administrative Chief of Lecheng, I at least have some insight. I know what a three-star Demon Hunter on the forehead signifies, and I believe you do too."
Upon hearing the Administrative Chief's words, Vice-Captain Zhou couldn't help but gasp. Just as the Administrative Chief said, he was well aware of what three Star Seals on a Demon Hunter's forehead meant.
With his current strength, he could handle ordinary two-star Demon Hunters, but against powerful two-star Demon Hunters, he was no match at all. If he encountered such enemies, there would be only one outcome: death.
Among the entire Spirit Police team, only the current Bai Xue had the ability to contend with a powerful two-star Demon Hunter; even Captain Luo's strength was a notch below hers.
However, if Bai Xue encountered a three-star Demon Hunter, she would definitely be no match and would very likely die at their hands, even if the opponent had only just broken through to the three-star level; she would absolutely not be able to handle them.
"Yang Haoran has only been an Emissary of Death for a few years. Although he opened his Heaven Soul and became the Emissary of Death for the Lecheng Underworld Office not long after becoming a Night Watcher, which is indeed surprising. But it has only been a short few years. Do you think, in such a brief period, he has the ability to contend with two three-star Demon Hunters?"
After explaining and analyzing, the Administrative Chief once again asked Vice-Captain Zhou the same question as before.
This time, Vice-Captain Zhou said nothing, nor did he ask anything. He simply shook his head at the Administrative Chief.
Although he didn't speak, his shake of the head conveyed everything. He didn't believe Yang Haoran would be a match for two three-star Demon Hunters, because, in his opinion, it was simply impossible.
Not only did he think this, but the Administrative Chief thought the same.
After receiving Vice-Captain Zhou's affirmative response, the Administrative Chief continued.
"Now I ask you my third question, and also the final one: If I refuse the Demon Hunters' demands, do you think these two Demon Hunters would kill me on the spot?"
These words from the Administrative Chief caused Vice-Captain Zhou to be stunned once more.
If this were before the dissolution of the Supreme Administrative Council, even if these two Demon Hunters had several times their courage, they wouldn't dare to do such a thing. Killing an Administrative Chief was a grave crime, and the Supreme Administrative Council would certainly not let it go. At that time, not only would their lives be forfeit, but their entire Demon Hunter Guild would be severely impacted. After all, the Supreme Administrative Council then held sway over the entire New Beginning Realm; without significant power, how could they have held that position firmly?
However, things were different now. Although the Administrative Chief was still the highest local official, without the protection of the Supreme Administrative Council, no one would care about their lives or deaths except those close to them. If they died, they died. Barring any unexpected circumstances, no other forces would step forward to champion their cause.
It was precisely because of this that other forces now completely disregarded local Administrative Courtyards and Administrative Chiefs. As long as they possessed the strength, what was the harm in capturing and killing a few Administrative Chiefs just for fun?
Therefore, regarding the question posed by the Administrative Chief, Vice-Captain Zhou thought for a moment, then nodded.
Although he said nothing, just as before, his nod also gave the Administrative Chief an affirmative answer, and the Administrative Chief knew what his nod meant.
Watching Vice-Captain Zhou nod, the Administrative Chief chuckled self-deprecatingly, then continued to ask Vice-Captain Zhou.
"Now do you understand why I made this decision?"
Vice-Captain Zhou remained silent, still nodding, but his face was not pleasant.
"Alas, if those two Demon Hunters had known about Yang Haoran's close relationship with Bai Xue back then, they would have certainly gone directly to Yang Haoran instead of putting me in such a difficult position. It's just a pity that as soon as they arrived in Lecheng, they first sought out me, the Administrative Chief, and immediately began aggressively questioning me about demons, so. . . alas!"
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