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Officials who supported the guilt verdict seemed to occupy the moral high ground.

Most of those who refuted the guilty verdict were members of the military, who served their country and detested the self-interested rhetoric of politicians.

Although they didn’t know Pei Jinye, it didn’t stop them from arguing with reason in this debate.

Xie Zuxin sat among the crowd and had also just discovered that Mr. Xu from the Judgement Place hadn’t come.

In a moment of silence, someone suddenly questioned, “Who exactly arranged for Pei Jinye to join the investigation team? How did he pass his ideological assessment? How much money did the person who arranged this take?”

Zhou Weiren couldn’t help but look up upon hearing the question.

He knew the answer, but he wondered if the other party would still be as indignant if he told them.

“He was recommended through campus recruitment, there shouldn’t be any issue with the procedures…” someone responded, “As for joining the investigation team, it truly was a coincidence.”

Some frowned, clearly unsatisfied with this response.

“Has Xing Tian begun the in-depth verification?”

“It’s currently underway…”

“Why don’t we just call that kid over?” a senior official frowned and said, “I really don’t know what you are all being so cautious about? Just pull him over and let him face all of us, I want to see if he can still remain calm.”

“The truth detector has already proven he didn’t lie. Moreover, the question now is… under the specific conditions at the time, was the order to retreat too dismissive of the combat members’ lives?”

People looked towards Xie Zuxin, who was the commander-in-chief of the operation at the time.

“Xie Zuxin, what’s your take?”

“I’ve already submitted all the necessary reports,” Xie Zuxin said with an unchanged expression, his arms crossed over his chest, “At that time, I received a notification from the city government and immediately reacted according to the relevant procedures… however, the combat team members didn’t hear the notification in time because they were affected by the geomagnetic field of the terrain then.

The existing surveillance footage is sufficient to show that a retreat was possible in that specific environment at the time.”

People began to whisper amongst themselves.

A middle-aged official who supported the guilty verdict suddenly questioned, “Old Xie, since Pei Jinye served under your command, why don’t you share your opinion on him?”

All eyes were on Xie Zuxin.

Including Zhou Weiren’s.

But Xie Zuxin adjusted his glasses, pondered for a moment, scanned the attendees, gauged the situation, and then carefully chose how to express his views on Pei Jinye.

The earlier part of what he said was pretty normal… talking about how Pei Jinye was young, energetic, and committed to his work.

But as the talk went on, even Zhou Weiren couldn’t help but frown.

Why did it sound like he was suggesting that Pei Jinye had possibly heard the orders but chose to ignore them on purpose?

Zhou Weiren initially thought he might be reading too much into it until the advocates for the guilty verdict directly pressed Xie Zuxin on whether he agreed that Pei Jinye had ideological tendencies, and Xie Zuxin actually hesitated before affirming.

Zhou Weiren’s brows furrowed deeply.

He gave Xie Zuxin a significant look.

He had heard of Xie Zuxin’s deeds; he was an unequivocal utilitarian.

In his eyes, it was clear he judged that Pei Jinye was completely out of favor and thus didn’t want to offend the vassals of the Jiang family.

“What does Governor Zhou think?”

Someone finally turned the spotlight on the silent Zhou Weiren.

Zhou Weiren remained calm. Well-versed in bureaucratic maneuvers and having weathered many storms, he responded to the pressing inquiries with a dispassionate tone, “My opinion isn’t important. What matters is what Xing Tian says.”

He lifted his wrist, glanced at the time, “It won’t be long now. Gentlemen, you might as well wait a bit.”

People showed various reactions to Zhou Weiren’s reply – some frowned in dissatisfaction, some scoffed, while others, like Xie Zuxin, watched Zhou Weiren’s expression closely, trying to discern something.

But unfortunately…

Zhou Weiren was an old fox.

Before the vassals of the Jiang family could say anything, the conference room screen suddenly activated.

[Respected gentlemen, good evening.]

The voice of Xing Tian suddenly came through.

Everyone sat up straight.

Some couldn’t wait to hear a verdict.

After a twelve-minute review of the events by Xing Tian, when some senior officials were already showing impatience, Xing Tian finally announced the result.

[After verification, team member Pei Jinye has been found to have no violations or risky behavior during the incident at the 13th Research Institute. The matter has been concluded by the Central Continent Special Committee.]

The instant the results were known, the entire conference erupted into uproar.

Pei Jinye was declared innocent?

Wouldn’t that mean the special pardon from the Jiang family had become a joke?

Unconvinced, someone wanted to challenge the verdict.

Speaking loudly about requesting arbitration from the Federation Headquarters, trying to bypass Central Continent, but before they could finish their more outrageous claims, Zhou Weiren suddenly stood up.

“Gentlemen, I understand your feelings, but I must remind you that Mr. Han is already aware of this matter, and he personally gave me a response just now. He said, ‘Do not let any meritorious officer be wronged, nor allow the Federation’s law enforcement to become a tool for the abuse of power by the privileged. Starting today, Da Peng City will begin a self-investigation.’

The expressions of those present changed on the spot.

Zhou Weiren’s statement was akin to a resounding slap to their faces.

This was too sudden!

In the crowd, Xie Zuxin’s expression didn’t change much. Behind his thin glasses, his thinking eyes were now fixed on Zhou Weiren.

[He must know!]

[He knows everything, but he’s not willing to say a word…]

[Such a ruthless heart!]

“Since that’s the case, Pei Jinye should certainly be innocent!” Xie Zuxin’s comment caught Zhou Weiren’s attention, and as if oblivious to anything, he started making excuses, bringing up statements to patch up the situation about Pei Jinye being young and full of vitality.

Too bad, if he had said these things before the conclusion was sealed, then Zhou Weiren might have reconsidered his previously not-so-friendly attitude towards him.

Now that the matter has concluded, speaking these obvious words is, for Zhou Weiren, tantamount to having no effect.

“Ladies and gentlemen, do you have any other questions?”

Zhou Weiren looked up and said indifferently.

The crowd was still caught in a state of shock and uncertainty and for a moment they didn’t know what to say.

Those military high-ranking officials who originally supported the not-guilty argument were also slightly surprised, it seemed they hadn’t expected Zhou Weiren to be able to involve Mr. Han.

If that were really the case, then they would have to reassess the strength of this Governor.

This meeting was purely a senior-level conference of the investigation team and the units involved in combat; otherwise, Major General Wang, who had participated in the initial elite assessment, would definitely have supported Pei Jinye wholeheartedly had he been here.

There weren’t many who had witnessed Pei Jinye being stopped by Mr. Han for a conversation that day, and those who had were mainly the invigilators transferred from the Central Continent Headquarters.

One could say that in Da Peng City, no one else at tonight’s meeting knew the real situation other than Zhou Weiren himself.

“If there is nothing else, let’s adjourn the meeting.”

Just as Zhou Weiren was about to declare the meeting over, someone rushed in from outside, “A big incident has occurred, Governor, there’s been a fire at the Jiang ancestral home.”

“A fire?” Several people were stunned, “Then put it out, what’s the fuss about?”

The person hastened to say, “According to the surveillance, fluctuations resembling those of a Transcendent have been detected, and they are continuous… so we suspect that the Jiang family has been invaded…”

“What?” The crowd was utterly shocked.

“Has someone been sent over?” Although Zhou Weiren didn’t like the Jiang family much, he couldn’t ignore this incident for the safety of Da Peng City.

In his mind, he couldn’t help but find the timing of the fire highly suspicious.

“The nearby Night Patrol Department has already rushed over…” the person reported.

Zhou Weiren nodded at this news and chose not to inquire further, “I have a TV report to give. The related units will take care of the matters below.”

“Yes!”

“Governor Zhou, take care.”

The crowd respectfully watched Zhou Weiren leave.

It seemed that Zhou Weiren’s relay of Mr. Han’s words had already cast him in an uncommon light in everyone’s eyes, and their reverence for the Governor Zhou, a master of bureaucratic schemes, was genuine or not, it was certainly greater than before.

“Don’t give him the chance to catch his breath!” Jiang Xinrun shouted angrily, “Whoever wounds him gets a million in cash from me!”

The Jiang family’s Black Armor Death Warriors were all seeing red.

Pei Jinye’s face was expressionless as he swung his sword, leaving gaping wounds, and at times snatching spears to counterattack or using his bare hands to remove heads up close.

He was like a demon incarnate, standing atop a river of blood.

Witnessing the one-sided slaughter with his own eyes, Jiang Xinrun was horrified, yet sneered, “Black Armors, retreat ten meters, Element Masters bombard him from range! I refuse to believe he’s immune to fire and water, as if he really is a Martial Saint!”

The Black Armor Death Warriors previously tangled up with Pei Jinye immediately retreated, and a second wave of supporting Transcendents in silver armor, a group of ten, raised their magic wands and instantly sparked with a rainbow of elemental powers, coalescing into a formidable force.

Pei Jinye drove his sword forward, undeterred.

He grasped the broken spear in his left hand, and just as the Element Masters waved their wands, he threw it with force. This wasn’t a casual toss; it was loaded with the power of a Transcendent amplified threefold, along with the Terrifying Power provided by Blood Lotus.

In that instant, the two pieces of spear hurled by Pei Jinye exploded with terrifying energy, sending forth a sonic boom that seemed to tear through the air.

The Black Armor Death Warriors quickly turned with spears to block, for in the Jiang family, the lives of these warriors were always the cheapest, thus they were the ones prepared to shield the Silver Armor Element Masters with their flesh and blood.

The force of the thrown spears roared as they cut through the air, embodying immense power.

The sky above the Jiang ancestral home brightened for a moment, as fireballs and hail rained down.

At this critical moment, clarity was restored.

Pei Jinye stacked hand signs, and just as the light shone down, performed a perilous Dark Shadow Flicker, suddenly appearing before the Black Armor Death Warriors to evade the elemental bombardment, his sword swiping close to the face.

Though these Black Armor Death Warriors were clad in heavy armor and slightly cumbersome, they were far from being mere charlatans, having been carefully cultivated by the Jiang family over the years.

Apart from those previously hit by the thrown spears and blown apart, the remaining Black Armor Death Warriors managed to stabilize themselves and thrust their spears with force. However, their defense had been torn apart by the previous Terrifying Power, and signs of exhaustion began to show.

Five sword-wielding Warriors charged from the doorway, slipping through the gaps between the Death Warriors, swords drawn simultaneously.

However, almost instantly, one of the sword-wielding Warriors didn’t even manage to see how the other’s sword was raised before it pierced his chest, lifting him in the path of the second and third Warrior’s blade.

The incoming besiegement encountered immediate resistance.

The fourth Warrior bellowed and charged, blade at the ready as if prepared for death, finally stopping Pei Jinye’s sword, and the fifth took the rare chance to cleave through the air.

He made contact!

The warriors of the Jiang family, frustrated until now, were almost moved to tears.

But to their surprise, the blade drew no blood!

Shock hit them head-on.

A hand suddenly pressed against his face, and a horrific force smashed him into the ground, dead beyond doubt.

The Element Masters then redirected, launching another wave of attacks.

Pei Jinye admitted they had accurately seized the opportunity as his Vitality slipped.

But in the next moment,

Transcendence enveloped the scene, and time seemed to freeze.

A streak of silver light suddenly burst forth, as if tearing through the void, extinguishing all elemental assaults rushing towards Pei Jinye within three feet of him.

In this moment,

The night was silent under a silver-clad figure.

Silver Art.

It was a face-to-face encounter in a narrow space.

Jiang Xinrun sucked in a breath of cold air from a distance, and said solemnly, “Black List number 17, Silver Art! You’re actually not dead!”