A farce!

This is definitely an absurd farce!

The applause from below the stage seemed to escalate as if in competition, with the Eastern Camp and the Western Faction refusing to back down, neither willing to stop first.

On stage, Uncle Dong was completely dumbfounded, while backstage, the members of the Cold Winter Squad, along with all the retired veterans who came to give lectures, were all frozen with bewildered expressions.

Wha-what happened?

No one knew what happened.

Even Cheng Ye, the one who initiated this, was slightly stunned, but he managed to suppress it without showing any abnormalities that could be linked to the situation.

After a while.

It was only after Uncle Dong bowed repeatedly and then hurriedly retreated backstage that the applause gradually subsided, bringing the farce to a close.

"Cheng Ye, do you already have some special connection with the Westerners...?"

Matthew Lee looked grim, motioning with his eyes for him to look at Dario Haven.

He couldn't believe Dario Haven would support an obscure Eastern warrior just to set the mood for this study session.

"No, you're imagining things."

Cheng Ye shook his head immediately after sitting down.

He didn't want to be misunderstood as having joined the Westerner's faction simply because he was the first to be assigned duty at North Station.

Besides, when Dario Haven came in, there was something off; he was looking at him with fervent eyes.

"Good, because I don't want to deal with those who pick sides."

Matthew Lee shrunk his head, saying so, but his body involuntarily moved to the side.

Instinctively, he felt it was best to stay away from Cheng Ye at this moment, lest he get affected by some unknown AOE.

Reality soon validated his premonition.

Just as the study session ended and before the dismissal was announced, a staff member walked straight over: "Inspector Cheng, Inspector Havin would like to invite you over to discuss dealing with hydrophilic infected bodies, do you have time now?"

"Take me there."

Cheng Ye nodded, deciding to take measures as needed.

Though he still didn't understand why the Westerners' attitude had changed, he instinctively felt that it wasn't a bad thing and didn't go against the initial plan.

To survive the struggle between the Eastern and Western factions, the key was to have the strength to stand firm.

And this strength, he actually already possessed now.

Though perhaps not outstanding, it was certainly enough to protect himself, no longer the naive Intern Inspector.

With this strength, he could proceed with the next plan.

Picking a side.

Matthew Lee's pragmatic view might suit others within the checkpoint, but it was definitely not applicable to him.

Before understanding what the two factions were fighting over, Cheng Ye had considered staying out of it.

But once he realized that they were fighting over the extraordinary opportunity, he knew there was no retreat; the situation between the Eastern and Western factions had become one of life and death.

Unless Harlem was willing to give up this once-every-six-years extraordinary baptism, waiting for the next cycle.

And risk Ding Yishan failing to awaken again, leading to another round of struggle.

Otherwise, a decisive outcome between the Eastern and Western factions was inevitable this time.

"Siding with the Easterners is the best choice, and it was my initial plan."

"Aligning with the Westerners is too risky and not feasible, but meeting them can show Ding Yishan how I've changed."

This was a risky move.

Cheng Ye might have hesitated before, but now he was eager to try.

With increased strength, his courage had grown as well.

Before even reaching South Station, he was already itching to confront Station Chief Ding.

"But now, simply standing firm is not enough with just strength; a merit of sufficient weight is missing."

"Only with a show of allegiance can one gain the protection of a faction!"

Cheng Ye contemplated while walking.

Following the staff to the adjacent room of the venue, he was surprised to find the entire floor had been renovated overnight.

A room originally used for actors' resting was cleared out to serve as a meeting room.

Opening the door.

Where racks of costumes once stood, there was now a silver-gray desktop air conditioner, silently blowing cool air through the white vents, keeping the summer heat at bay outside the door.

Two dark gray fabric sofas were arranged in an L-shape, with a walnut coffee table in the center, its corners polished smooth and round.

On the tabletop, three white porcelain cups were placed in a row, while the purple clay teapot was emitting wisps of steam.

"Please have a seat, Inspector Cheng."

Dario Haven gestured with his hand, wearing a perfectly cordial smile.

From a normal person's perspective, ignoring factional struggles, this demeanor could easily attract goodwill.

Cheng Ye sat down on the sofa opposite and before he could speak, Dario raised his hand and began pouring tea.

"I really like Eastern culture, especially its tea culture."

"You should know that in our Stone Province, all plants gradually lose their characteristics. These tea bricks were traded through various provinces and are considered...luxuries."

Indeed luxurious.

The faint scent of tea might not be obvious in modern times.

But after drinking bland nutrient paste for two consecutive months, the refreshing aroma lingering at the tip of Cheng Ye's nose felt incredibly soothing.

In a daze, he seemed to fall into a lush green tea field, greedily inhaling the fresh, moist fragrance of nature.

Truly magical.

Yet the next moment, Cheng Ye suddenly came to his senses, "This shouldn't be ordinary tea leaves, right?"

"You're right, these tea leaves are imbued with an extraordinary aura."

Dario showed a pleased look, as if appreciating Cheng Ye's insight, and slowly introduced, "We have the extraordinary curse in Stone Province, and naturally, other provinces are not spared, but some curses, if used well, like 'sick stones,' can turn waste into treasure."

"Try some, this is a specialty of Sand Province, Cloud Mist Tea."

"Thank you."

Cheng Ye nodded, not standing on ceremony, and straightforwardly picked up a white porcelain cup to take a sip.

Sss.

So refreshing, is this the life of the upper class!

An indescribable sense of freshness exploded on his tongue, spreading along the taste buds.

It felt like I had taken ten times the effect of a herbal throat candy, the coolness rushed down my throat while another part spread out from my seven orifices.

"Refreshing!"

The piercing freshness that permeated my lungs dissipated.

Cheng Ye exhaled a breath of white air, creating a cold mist phenomenon typically seen in winter.

This is the source of the Cloud Mist.

"Since you like it, here's an unbrewed tea cake. Inspector Cheng, take it with you later."

Dario reached under the table and took out a palm-sized aluminum foil package.

He unfolded a corner, revealing a green compressed tea cake inside.

"I invited you here today mainly to get to know each other. Station Chief Harlem admires young talents like you with great potential and hopes you can contribute more at the North Station and also help Happiness City."

Dario lightly tapped the edge of the tea cup with his fingertips, a smile tinted with deeper meanings: "My Defense Communication identification code is 2217. If you face any trouble in the future, I'm always willing to help talents like you."

"Thank you."

Realizing it was time to leave, Cheng Ye expressed his thanks once more, picked up the tea package, nodded, and stepped out.

Uh-oh, this is a master at winning people over, not much below Ding Yishan, I'd say.

Standing outside the door, Cheng Ye felt a tinge of alarm.

If Dario had stated his purpose outright, forcing Cheng Ye to pick a side, he would have had an excuse to think it over at home.

Yet the other party chose this unhurried approach, making it hard to refuse and not even allowing the chance to say no.

Well, that's fine too.

Cheng Ye rubbed his fingertips over the folding creases on the aluminum foil. Since you're not in a hurry, neither am I. Let's see who blinks first.

He didn't believe for a second that the commotion at the venue just now, coupled with the meeting with Dario, would go unnoticed by Ding Yishan.

...

The door closed.

Dario gulped down the Cloud Mist Tea in his cup, swiftly refilled it with the teapot.

Like a cow chewing peonies, he only let out a long breath filled with tea fragrance after the teapot was empty, slumping back into the sofa completely relaxed.

However, upon closer inspection, a trace of pained reluctance still lingered on his face.

Cloud Mist Tea is no common commodity; the piece Cheng Ye took would cost at least 50 Contribution Points.

And crucially, the distance between Sand Province and Stone Province is vast, the trade caravans might not even come once a year.

This thing is really one package less for every package drunk!

"Chief."

Dario picked up the Defense Communication and dialed the phone.

"Have you made contact?"

"He is capable and composed, that previous information must have been compiled by some fool, completely inaccurate."

"Normal." Harlem's laughter came through the receiver, "Neither Cheng Wu nor Cheng Long had Extraordinary Genes, they couldn't awaken abilities in this lifetime, but their tactics were brutal, and the number of enemies they made could circle Happiness City. If his precious son wasn't a 'waste,' he would have been killed long ago, how else could he inherit the Inspectorship?"

"So, is there a chance he can't awaken into the Extraordinary?"

"Hard to say." Harlem pondered for a moment, "Can he be won over?"

"Difficult!"

Rapidly, Dario recounted their conversation.

After a long silence, a voice finally came from the other end, "Then keep an eye on him. Cheng Wu and Cheng Long still have sentimental ties, it's too troublesome for us to take action, don't let him die at North Station. Wait until he's sent to South Station; besides, getting through Inner City isn't easy unless Ding Yishan is willing to protect him at all costs."

"Alright."

The call ended.

Soon after.

The door opened, and a Western Inspector walked in, sitting down where Cheng Ye had sat before.

"Sir, we've already let the Eastern People know we met with Cheng Ye. Station Chief Ding should find out soon."

"Mm..." Dario nodded lightly, "What's the relationship between Matthew Lee and him, why so close?"

"He's probably aware he can't hold out much longer, once autumn passes he'll have to pick a side, so he's seeking an Eastern connection early to pressure us into letting him remain as a fence-sitter. But he's too cautious to go overboard, afraid we'll react aggressively, so he chose an Intern Inspector."

"Him, putting pressure on us?"

Dario sneered disdainfully, "In that case, don't bother with him. For the next five days I'll assign you to partner up with Cheng Ye, keep a close eye on him, don't let the Eastern People act hastily, forcing us into a passive position."

"Rest assured, sir."

The Western Inspector nodded, but hesitated before speaking, "But is an Intern Inspector really worth our..."

"Worth it, absolutely worth it."

Dario abruptly cut him off, "Cheng Long left behind so many favors, he could die anywhere, just not at our Western North Station, lest Clouded Leopard and Changyuan band together against me for the position of Duty Station Chief, understood?!"

...

"Chief!"

"Mm."

"Liu Bi didn't say it, I did, the situation's now mostly clear."

"Mm?"

"Cheng Long is indeed hiding, and hiding well enough to fool everyone."

"Cheng Ye doesn't match any of the information we had, he's ruthless in his tactics, steady in temperament, a person who pursues individual extremes, not much interested in factional disputes; he's clueless about past grievances at the station, especially the tangled affairs of Cheng Wu's generation, and he's not curious either."

"Are you sure?"

"Sure, otherwise why would Inner City let us handle him?"

"Good, did you tell him the benefits of choosing a side?"

"Told him, he's not resistant to siding, I think we could try, maybe he could raise the flag for the station's young generation, like Cheng Long once did... but the pressure from Inner City..."

"Mm, I understand, leave the next steps to me."

"What about the prior favors?"

"All cleared clean. Also...I'm pleased to see someone like you among the Initial Heart Faction still in the station today."

"Sir jests. I'm just an old punk, no 'Initial Heart'... I simply feel that becoming a dog for the Extraordinary is a bit too much of a betrayal to the previous generation's efforts."

On the uncleared third floor of the theater, Matthew Lee hung up the phone, his gaze casually pierced through the hole in the wall, landing on Cheng Ye as he walked away.

A glint flashed through his eyes as if he had found a rare treasure.

But soon, the glint faded, and he resumed his usual lazy, blurry dullness.

...

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