Through his discussion with Fumizuki, Wei Yenwu surmised that things hadn't reached the absolute worst-case scenario. Perhaps the current Talulah hadn't completely inherited Kashchey's ideology and was still the child he once knew.
This was good news, both for them and for Lungmen. Perhaps there was still a possibility of reconciling their relationship; perhaps there was still a chance they could sit at the same table and share a meal.
"Then, how do you plan to make contact with that child? It's possible she didn't come to this city with the intention of looking for you, or even with the thought of telling us about Talulah's situation."
If Talulah truly wanted to reunite with them, she had many opportunities over the years to send a message, and she always had the chance to return to Lungmen. Although Fumizuki didn't know Talulah's current situation, the fact that they could move freely in Chernobog meant their freedom wasn't restricted. Under such circumstances, contacting them was merely a matter of a single letter. Yet, the lack of contact for so many years spoke volumes.
However, even if those unspoken words represented a fight to the death, they still hoped to hear it with their own ears, if only to stop their hearts from wandering into the realm of imagination.
"How to make contact... honestly, there aren't many ways. Either go to her directly and ask, rely on the penguin's help, or as a last resort, let little Ch'en step forward. Even if she can't forgive me, she surely hasn't forgotten little Ch'en."
Wei Yenwu pondered for a moment before giving his answer. He temporarily shelved his more hardline methods, hoping not to cause any unpleasantness. However, if a special situation arose—for instance, if Jeanne truly did something that threatened Lungmen—he wouldn't abandon the plan to use forceful means.
"Little Ch'en... that could be considered a good choice. But what about confirming she won't harm Lungmen? Should I have Shirayuki follow her for a while?"
Fumizuki was quite supportive of this decision. After all, Ch'en's relationship with Talulah as a sister was different from theirs; Talulah was unlikely to implicate her out of resentment. Just as Ch'en still hoped for Talulah's return, Fumizuki believed that no matter what was in Talulah's heart, she must still care for the younger sister she had always protected.
"It will be little Ch'en. This matter involves Talulah and suspicious Ursus activity; either one is something she worries about. It would be better to give her full authority to decide this matter."
Hearing his words, Fumizuki wore an "I knew it" expression and shook her head slightly.
"Aren't you afraid Ch'en will start a fight with you once she finds out? With her temper, the moment she realizes you suspect Talulah—or worse, that you're using her to test Talulah—she might just draw her sword and slash you on the spot."
It was precisely because she understood Ch'en's temper and her devotion to Talulah that Fumizuki had proactively suggested letting her own loyal ninja track Jeanne.
"She needs to face these things eventually. If she doesn't experience this once, she will never grow. This matter has no downsides for her. Either she learns of Talulah's situation and they have a chance to reunite, or she makes a decision right here on which side to choose."
Wei Yenwu's tone was calm, even carrying a hint of coldness. In truth, he had held this idea for a long time: using this event to forge the successor he had meticulously cultivated. No matter the final result, it would be a form of growth for Ch'en. Even if it met his worst-case scenario, it would be a metamorphosis for her.
While it sounded good in theory, for the responsible Ch'en Huijie, this would not be easy to accept. There were things involved that she wouldn't be able to fully understand immediately.
"Since you've made up your mind, I won't say more. But I still want to remind you: with little Ch'en's current personality, she might not be able to remain calm throughout this."
Seeing that Wei Yenwu had made a deliberate decision, Fumizuki offered a couple of reminders but did not interfere further, out of respect for him. No matter how much Wei Yenwu "feared" his wife or how low his household status was, the power of Lungmen was in his hands. Within this city, his word was law.
Seeing Wei Yenwu regain his composure, Fumizuki rose and left the office. She had only come to deliver a message and hadn't expected to encounter so many complications. As for the rest, it had nothing to do with her. She trusted Wei Yenwu's ability to handle such affairs; he had always been highly capable in this regard.
Wei Yenwu watched Fumizuki leave and sat alone in thought for a long while. Suddenly, he remembered something. His tobacco pipe was still in her hand! Whether she forgot or did it on purpose, she hadn't returned it before leaving.
Looking at the departing Fumizuki, he realized it wasn't realistic to chase her down to ask for it back—it might even earn him another lecture tonight. He could only pull a spare pipe from a very hidden drawer. As he lit it, he sighed, finding it nowhere near as smooth as his usual one.
However, during this moment when Wei Yenwu's spirit was relaxed, a pair of eyes was secretly observing him through the window from a distance, recording something in a notebook. It was a white-haired ninja from Higashi. After jotting down a few notes and ensuring Wei Yenwu hadn't noticed, she immediately packed up and vanished over the rooftops.
The Black Raincoats protecting the building from the shadows did not react to this ninja's intelligence gathering. Instead, they allowed her to leave after she finished recording. They knew she was the City Ruler's wife's personal bodyguard, a loyal subordinate who had followed her from her hometown to Lungmen, and one of the rare names on the Black Raincoats' "white list."
As for the spying—that was just a matter between the City Ruler and his wife. As long as it didn't threaten Wei Yenwu's safety, they preferred to stay out of it.
Pity poor Wei Yenwu; he likely didn't expect that Fumizuki had remembered the pipe and sent her ninja, Shirayuki, to check his reaction. One wonders what kind of punishment the City Ruler will face tonight? Will Wei Yenwu choose the washboard or durian skins? Perhaps a processed Originium Slug shell wouldn't be out of the question either.
Unaware of these impending doom, Wei Yenwu finished the tobacco in the bowl, set the pipe aside, and dialed a number.
"Hello, Officer Swire? Have Officer Ch'en Huijie come to my office in a moment. Tell her I have urgent matters to discuss and that she should drop her current work and get here immediately!"
After hearing Swire's affirmation over the receiver, Wei Yenwu turned back to look at the Lungmen outside. This time, his mood was entirely different from his usual overlooks.
"I hope she can understand me. Lungmen is far too fragile on this continent, so we must always view matters from the worst-case scenario. Only then can we find the corresponding solutions for various emergencies."
As he stood there reflecting on all the changes and the scene when he first took over Lungmen, a sense of pride and resolve surged from his heart. This was the miracle he and his old friends had risked their lives to recreate. They had lost far too much for this; he would not allow anyone to let this city slide back to what it once was.
Several knocks sounded at the door. It seemed Officer Ch'en had arrived from the L.G.D. to the government building remarkably fast, likely rushing over the moment she received the word.