Star Gate

Chapter 667: Not Looking For Anything (II)

“Even if we don’t fully agree with Li Hao’s actions, we’re not in a good position to oppose them. Opposing Li Hao is opposing ourselves. If even the Night Watchers and Inspectorate don’t support our own, what will outsiders think of us?” Yao Si coughed for a while before continuing with a slight smile. “It’s just an execution of one hundred juniors who’ve broken the law. It’s not that serious. You’ve elevated it to a level too high! So long as we are justified and have evidence, nothing is a problem when the law is on our side. What do you think, inspector general?”

The inspector general looked at him with a glint in his eye.

“You don’t understand, director!” Yellow Dragon agitated. “Not to mention, there’s no need to explain this much when it comes to removing Li Hao. There are so many people in this world who want his head. People will only applaud us, who will question us?”

“At the very least...” Yao Si hesitated, “at the very least, some civilians in Skystar City will question us...”

“Director...” Yellow Dragon started before snorting with laughter. “You think too much! It’s just a bunch of peasants! What do their words count for??”

Was Yao Si losing his mind in his old age? On one side was the inconsequential questioning of ordinary people, on the other were the protestations of the other eight ministries and possibly even the royal family. What was he even talking about??

Was he using his brain?? The old thing was getting more befuddled in his old age!

Yao Si took a deep look at this deputy director and inclined his head. He smiled, but said nothing further. Instead, he lifted his tea cup with an inscrutable expression.

Yellow Dragon thought that the old man had been won over by his logic from the reaction. He looked at the inspector general again. “I think we should take care of Li Hao first before the matter blows up in our faces. It’s best to take out even Hou Xiaochen, or the problems will be severe!”

The inspector general remained silent for a bit before saying, “Let us just observe the developments!”

“What?”

“I said we will observe!” The man frowned. “Are you deaf? You make sense and so does Ole Yao. We are caught between a rock and a hard place, with neither course of action being appropriate. In that case, we shall observe and leave it to Li Hao and the rest to handle their own problems. They can respond of their own accord. Is something wrong with your ears?”

Yellow Dragon’s heart jolted with shock and surprise. He wanted to break out in curses! You’re the one who summoned everyone for a discussion, so aren’t I discussing? Why are you picking at me instead??

The man said nothing further. It was likely that the inspector general would fly into an all-out rage if he continued talking.

The inspector general rose and heaved a slightly disdainful sigh. “Forget it, I stand by what I said. Either tell me when Li Hao executes one hundred nobles or tell me when he’s dead...”

He said those words to Xu Qing at their last meeting, and now he repeated them. His declaration drew internal grumbles from the assembly. What did their superior officer mean? It wasn’t a good decision to wash their hands of the matter at a time like this.

Sometimes, staying neutral was the most frightful decision. There were no benefits to be had whether the situation turned out to be a win or a loss. Was the inspector general growing confused lately?

The others didn’t have a chance to say anything before Yao Si rose with tea mug in hand and turned to leave. A frowning Yellow Dragon felt compelled to catch up to his superior. “Sir, although the inspector general’s given his take on the situation, we still need to bring Li Hao under control!”

Yao Si nodded with a smile.

“Then let’s hold a meeting when we get back and coordinate our actions,” Yellow Dragon continued upon seeing the old man’s reaction. “What do you say, director?”

“Whatever you wish.” Yao Si continued walking forward. He lifted his head to see someone majestically striding toward them. Yellow Dragon looked in the relevant direction as well. Uniformed inspectors on both sides immediately fell silent when they saw the newcomer. The entire Inspectorate seemed to turn quiet, deathly quiet.

The inspector general on his way out also stopped and looked back. Someone was making his way to the lobby, a dog by his side. No longer dressed in the comical trench coat and top hat, or holding the staff, he wore only silver armor with a sword equipped at his waist.

At the door, Li Hao announced himself without looking at Yellow Dragon. “Li Hao of the Skystar Commander Office from the Night Watchers greets the inspector general!” he boomed. “We eliminated the two poisonous nests of the Four Seas Company and Skystar Colosseum yesterday. As a result, we seized a great deal of illicit money and I have come to deliver it. There are five hundred thousand mysterious power stones, five drops of Water of Life, and ten origin weapons!”

His voice echoed through the premises, drawing looks from everyone in the Inspectorate.

Yellow Dragon frowned and looked at the young man. The distance between the two was very close, so he muttered frostily, “Li Hao, this matter needs to undergo Night Watcher approval first...”

Li Hao tilted his head at the man and shouted angrily, “Get out of my way!”

Yellow Dragon blinked with astonishment!

“Is there room for you to speak here?!” Li Hao rebuked. “The Skystar Commander Office is under the jurisdiction of only Director Yao and the Inspectorate! Who do you think you are to point fingers at us??”

“......” A livid Yellow Dragon glared hotly at the young man.

Li Hao looked coolly back at him and also muttered, “Don’t stick your nose where it doesn’t belong. The more you jump around in front of me, the more I’ll make sure I kill you before I die! You’re just a metamorphosis, I’m not afraid of whoever stands behind you. Be careful of dying without a complete corpse if you continue to poke at what you shouldn’t offend!”

Yellow Dragon’s face shifted rapidly through a variety of expressions. He sneered after a moment and didn’t make another sound. And let’s see how much longer you can jump around! When the heavens wish to end a person, they will drive them to the heights of ignorance first! Li Hao was completely lawless and godless!

“Trash!” A disdainful snort echoed upon the air—it came from Li Hao!

An exceedingly unpleasant expression hung on Yellow Dragon’s face as he stalked off. There was no need to say anything else. Li Hao was out of control with how cocky he was. As for the war spoils... it was up to the Inspectorate to see if they accepted it or not.

Li Hao possibly had a few ideas in mind with his delivery of the loot. If the Inspectorate accepted it, that meant they tacitly agreed to certain things. If they didn’t, then the ministry didn’t agree.

Yellow Dragon waited for the Inspectorate’s response as he walked. There were many people kneeling within the main plaza outside the building. They were all waiting for something and quite a few looked at Li Hao with eyes full of hate.

However, no one dared kick up a fuss. Li Hao was too brazen! Even Yellow Dragon had been hectored in such a manner. If they roused the young man’s temper with their words, it would be such a loss if he killed them on a whim.

Next to Li Hao, Yao Si briefly glanced at the young man before walking off without a word. Everyone seemed to be waiting for something.

Inside the Inspectorate lobby.

The inspector general halted his footsteps and contemplated something. The entire Inspectorate was eerily silent while they waited for response. Several long moments later, he declared faintly, “Take the items to the storerooms!”

Faces tightened with consternation!

“Li Hao has rendered exemplary meritorious service and accomplished great deeds upon his initial arrival at the Inspectorate,” the inspector general continued. “He is hereby awarded one million mysterious power stones and one sky rank origin weapon. I am not feeling well today and am not at liberty to receive guests. We can discuss any matters on the morrow!”

The assembly collectively blinked when they heard these words and vaguely grasped the inspector general’s meaning. This was an exchange of roughly equal value!

Five hundred thousand mysterious power stones and five drops of Water of Life were worth roughly one million stones. One sky rank origin weapon would only exceed the value of the ten that Li Hao had delivered.

I accept the items, but I return them to you again. I accept them because I approve of you eliminating two major organizations. But I bestow them to you again because I do not quite approve of you killing nobles.

I neither support nor set myself against you. Come find me again if you survive. I will not speak to you today.

These simple words held a great deal of meaning.

Li Hao smiled, not minding the outcome. “My thanks to the inspector general’s bequeathment!”

He turned and left instead of heading to the storerooms or truly handing in what he’d collected. Since he’d received rewards of equal value, then he just needed to register his gains, that was all. There was no need to make a trip on account of this matter.

He understood the Inspectorate’s intentions—they intended to remain neutral!

Some of the nobles kneeling on the ground outside the building relaxed with relief. It was enough that the Inspectorate didn’t condone Li Hao’s actions. Granted, there were also those indignant because they felt that the institution should suppress the young man instead!

......

The lobby of the Inspectorate.

The inspector general sank into deep thought when he saw Li Hao walk off. The young man was... too forthright. He didn’t insist on anything or voice any other words. He’d simply come to show himself before leaving. Was this good or bad for the inspector general?

“Li Hao ignores the rules a bit too much!” someone grumbled.

“Then you go capture Li Hao,” mentioned the inspector general upon flicking a glance at the speaker. “Teach him what the rules are. Go now, or I’ll kill you!”

The speaker blanched with dismay. “I... didn’t mean it that way, inspector general...”

“Then what did you mean? That you have a big mouth? Don’t you know how to shut it?” snapped the irritated man. “Get out of here! I don’t want to see any of those things outside either! I’ll kill anyone who continues to annoy me! Out of sight, do you hear me?!”

The speaker in front of him swiftly ran off. Alarmed expressions crossed the faces of the nobles outside as they quickly rose to leave. That one didn’t have a good temper. He hadn’t spoken before, but if they stayed now that he had, they might not be alive for much longer.

The inspector general snorted after everyone was gone, then headed to the rear yard. The backyard of the Inspectorate was his home. No one dared come, apart from his family.

He walked through the various hallways and minor streets of the residential complex until he came to a small house deep in the depths. Rather than a secret chamber, it was a small house open to access. An old man was reading inside it.

“Tell me, old man, did I decide correctly or incorrectly?” agitated the inspector general.

The old man turned to him with a smile. “What?”