The location where Sora was about to hold her concert was in Siracusa's largest Mobile City.
This Mobile City was under the administration of Sicily. The Sicily family headquarters and the Raythean Industries Siracusa branch company were also in this city, so the safety factor was basically maxed out.
No matter how much Sicily clashed with the other three families, it wouldn't possibly affect a core city like this. So, even though he knew Siracusa was currently in chaos, Lucas Reeve was still quite relieved.
Ursus and Yan were still posturing. Releasing the marquis just like that? Impossible. Conducting human experiments on Yan's territory was a serious crime. If they simply gave him a very light sentence, where would the face of Yan's True Dragon go?
Because Yan was handling the posturing, Lungmen, in contrast, didn't have much to do.
These past few days.
Under Wei Yenwu's authorization, Officer Ch'en used the suspicion that other dangerous experimental projects seriously harming Lungmen still existed in The Wastes as a reason to concentrate the L.G.D.'s police force to conduct a thorough sweep of The Wastes. However, The Wastes had its value. It was like a filter, ultimately gathering all the filth in one place. Therefore, this filter had to exist. If The Wastes didn't exist, then the sin that had gathered there would spread directly into the Civilian District and the slums.
This sweep cleared out the larger 'filth' in The Wastes, leaving only the small 'filth' that was visible to the naked eye. Moreover, they only cleaned out those who they had a justifiable reason for, such as discovering large quantities of explosives or dangerous human experiments in a gang's territory—though 80% of that was fabricated.
But this was just to let the others know. To let those small dark spots that survived the sweep know that the reason those gangs were cleared out was that they had crossed a line, creating the illusion that as long as they didn't cross the line, they wouldn't be cleared out.
Of course.
This was purely an illusion. In reality, even if they didn't cross the line, as long as they grew to a certain scale, they still couldn't escape the fate of being cleared out. The only reason this batch of cleared-out gangs had been allowed to exist for so long was the lack of a sufficient reason. As long as there was a reason, the cleanup was not a bit ambiguous.
As for the slums.
Officer Ch'en adopted a gentler strategy. Some of the gangs inside didn't need her to manage; there were special 'big shots' managing them. And Officer Ch'en was also trying to find ways to improve the living environment in the slums. Relying on outside donations was just a temporary fix. To truly improve it, they had to find a way to get some money into the hands of the people in the slums. Negotiations with many companies were unsuccessful. The vast majority of companies didn't want to open their factories in the slums. They were afraid something would happen; after all, people from the slums were known to be difficult to manage.
Since these companies were unwilling.
Officer Ch'en was out of ideas.
A few days later, seeing that everything was settled, Lin Qingyan and the other two also set off to return to Yan. However, before leaving, Lin Qingyan gave Lungmen a very poor rating regarding the management of The Wastes and the slums. This move almost left Swire speechless.
Yan's low-altitude shuttle slowly appeared in the distance.
Lucas Reeve and the others also followed them to the rooftop of the Lungmen L.G.D. headquarters to see the three of them off.
Before boarding the shuttle, Lin Qingyan didn't say much, just quietly looked at Lucas Reeve.
"Goodbye."
Just a simple farewell, and she turned and ducked into the shuttle, as if she wasn't familiar with Lucas Reeve.
The youngest, Zuo Le, on the other hand, waved enthusiastically at Lucas Reeve.
"Bye-bye, Lucas! Next time you come to Yan, remember to come find us to hang out~
In the few days Zuo Le was in Lungmen, although he didn't make a move and followed behind the group like a student, silently learning, these few days had indeed allowed Zuo Le to learn many things he couldn't learn in a private school. It was truly beneficial.
Lucas Reeve smiled and nodded.
Taihe also said goodbye to Lucas Reeve and the others before turning to board the shuttle.
After the shuttle slowly ascended, Lin Qingyan, who had been the first to board, finally came out of her state of resting with her eyes closed. She turned sideways, looking down from the shuttle's window. She watched for a long time, until the shuttle had completely flown away, so far that he could no longer be seen, before she finally retracted her gaze.
This scene was naturally witnessed by Zuo Le and Taihe.
Taihe said nothing. He was a man of few words. Plus, being a court official, some things were better left unsaid. Moreover, he and Lin Qingyan were just colleagues; it wasn't convenient for him to speak on some matters.
All he could say was...
Being *tsundere*... really can ruin a life.
Although...
This Mr. Reeve probably already had a wife, and more than one. In the few days they spent together, Taihe naturally and easily noticed that the women around this Mr. Reeve all held deep feelings for him. To be honest, since he already had more than one wife, it was actually easier. Maybe if Lin Qingyan was just a little more proactive, there might be a chance. But, Taihe knew Lin Qingyan's status well. She was of the noble Kylin clan, second only to the True Dragon. Plus, her master was the famous Great Celestial Master, and her grandmaster was Yan's national protector, the Old Celestial Master. Her own talent as a Celestial Master was also extremely strong.
When she was studying at the Tianshi Fu, she was basically the 'favored daughter of heaven'. And at such a young age, she was already a high official in the Dali Temple. When she was a bit older, it would be perfectly normal for her to climb above his own position. She was destined to be one of Yan's pillar Celestial Masters in the future. How could such a favored daughter of heaven choose to become someone's concubine?
However, that Mr. Reeve was also extremely impressive. He himself was a Divine Fragment, and even the Grand Tutor treated him amicably. It was clear how powerful he was.
——————
"Lord Wei... the Emissaries from Yan have left. Also, that Mr. Reeve and his companions have also left."
In the office of Lungmen's highest governor, a Blackcloak completely enveloped in darkness was kneeling on one knee before Wei Yenwu. He was black from head to toe, as if immersed in a black vortex. His voice was firm and sharp. Only in front of Wei Yenwu would he show some submission. Even while half-kneeling, the sharpness of his body could not be hidden. He was like an incomparably sharp blade.
"Mm..."
Wei Yenwu sat in the main seat and simply grunted in acknowledgment.
As expected.
Yan was truly Yan, and the Grand Tutor was still that same Grand Tutor.
The power under the Grand Tutor's command was truly terrifying. Wei Yenwu knew the strength of his own Blackcloaks. They were former Yan Imperial Guards. Although few in number, every one of them was incredibly powerful, to the point where they could be described as the peak of mortals. Even in Yan, their individual strength was top-tier. In all of Yan, apart from a few monsters, basically few were their match.
However, according to the Blackcloak's description, earlier, this Mr. Reeve had just glanced over casually, and it made the battle-hardened Blackcloak, who feared no death, feel his scalp tingle. It wasn't fear, but a dread that came from a higher level of life.
A deity...
Sure enough, in this day and age, mortal power has its limits. No matter how strong a mortal is, how can they contend with a deity? Even if it's just a Divine Fragment. Looking at the vastness of Yan, with its countless population, every era has countless geniuses who burst onto the scene. Yet, among these geniuses, often not even one in ten can transcend the limits of humanity and reach a new realm. Looking back at Yan's last hundred years, those who could contend with a Divine Fragment were very few.
This was the accumulation of Yan over hundreds of years. And those who could contend with a true deity, in several hundred years, there was only that one.
Wei Yenwu couldn't help but laugh at himself.
He, too, had been crowned with the name of a peerless genius back in the day. However, his current peak strength had only barely surpassed the limits of humanity; he had yet to reach that legendary realm.
"No wonder all the nations hope to use external forces to improve themselves."
"After all, humans have limits, but by borrowing external power, one can easily reach a realm that a genius might spend decades cultivating to reach."
The Blackcloak kneeling on the ground said nothing. After a long time, he finally spoke slowly.
"Lord Wei, the experimental equipment, data, and finished products confiscated from that marquis's residence have not yet been destroyed by the L.G.D. They are still being kept in the secret storage room."
The Blackcloak's meaning was very clear.
However, Wei Yenwu just smiled faintly.
"That kind of thing cannot be touched. Destroy it immediately."
"Yes!!"
After the Blackcloak left, Wei Yenwu got up from the sofa and walked to the massive floor-to-ceiling window, looking out over all of Lungmen. Big shots all love this kind of top-down view, the feeling that everything is under their control. It's very satisfying.
"I can resist the temptation, but others may not."
"Ursus is not the first, and it won't be the last."
As early as when the Siesta videos circulated among the world's nations, Wei Yenwu had already foreseen this day when the whole world would fall into madness. If not stopped, the entire world would sink because of this madness.
—————
"Hey hey hey! We're back!"
When [Stardust] landed in Columbia, Magallan was the first to run out of the cabin, habitually letting out her 'octave' cry.
Lucas Reeve sometimes even suspected.
Was it because Magallan ate too much Surströmming?
As an emperor penguin, Magallan had a very... very ridiculous hobby.
She likes to eat Surströmming.
This food, which was so ridiculous it opened the door for ridiculousness, so ridiculous it reached home—Lucas Reeve just couldn't understand why anyone would like to eat this stuff. Compared to this, even eating shit would be more fragrant.
Once, when Magallan recommended this 'delicacy' to Jessica and the others, the moment the can was opened, the smell directly turned Jessica's villa into a public toilet.
Lucas Reeve figured it was also because of this Surströmming that Magallan's 'eight-note' (Lao Ba) smell was getting stronger and stronger.
"Waaah!!!"
Just as Lucas Reeve and the others were heading down from the top floor, they heard Ceobe's miserable wail. The sound was so tragic, it was as if it could make snow fall in July. This was the first time Lucas Reeve had seen Ceobe cry. He hurried downstairs, but just as he reached the staircase, Ceobe's figure rushed over and pounced at Lucas Reeve. Since the Doctor's body had already been sent to Rhodes Island, he was in his soul state after returning. Lucas Reeve quickly materialized his body to catch the pouncing Ceobe.
Ceobe's tears were streaming down like a river.
"Wuwu! Brother Lucas!! Ceobe doesn't want to go to school!!! Is Ceobe really stupid!!"
Everyone: "???"
Jessica, who had run over, breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Lucas Reeve.
"What's wrong with Ceobe?"
"Er...."
Jessica explained: "She came in last on the test...."
Lucas Reeve hugged Ceobe and walked into the living room. Rosmontis and Shamare, the two kids, had full marks on their test papers. Ifrit was standing there proudly, her paper showing a 51. When it was finally Ceobe's turn, there was a big fat 1 written on it.
Jessica said, "Before, Ceobe and Ifrit were always at the bottom together, one in last place, one in second-to-last. Now... Ifrit scored a 51, moving from second-to-last to third-to-last. Seeing that no one was at the bottom with her... she... felt very unbalanced."
"......"
Everyone was speechless.
"Ceobe, be good, don't cry. Big brother will buy you cake. It's just one test, it doesn't count. As long as you study hard, next time you too can improve from last place to second-to-last."
"And don't count from the bottom. Even though you're last, from the other direction, you're 30th from the top. That's still pretty good."
"Mhm, mhm!"
Lucas Reeve put Ceobe down. Jessica walked over and asked with a smile.
"How did things go in Lungmen, Mr. Reeve?"
"Pretty simple. Although my luck was bad and I ran into Miss McCree, luckily nothing major happened."
Magallan: "???"
Are you being polite?
"Is that so."
"Oh, right, Mr. Reeve, Sora-chan just sent me an international email. She said she's preparing to hold her first international concert in Siracusa in a few days and wants to invite us over."