Chapter 272 - 108: Next Month
SPLASH!
The torrential rain came down in sheets, cascading over the fish-scale tiles to form a curtain of water that drummed against the stone steps below.
Indoors.
Across from Fang Rui sat Niu Bajin and Xun Buhe. On the table between them was an assortment of snacks: dried fruits, candied fruits, pastries, and melon seeds.
"So, what’s the big emergency? You two came rushing over in such a hurry?" Fang Rui asked, sprawled in his rattan chair as he eyed the two men.
The two exchanged a look, and Xun Buhe was the one to speak up. "Chief, I heard... the Divine Capture Bureau has a new Director."
"Is that so?"
Fang Rui grabbed a handful of melon seeds and started cracking them between his teeth. CRACK. CRACK. He grunted. "And?"
Seeing Fang Rui’s lazy attitude, Niu Bajin couldn’t hold back any longer. "No, Chief, aren’t you worried? A new ruler brings a new court! We need to start preparing!"
When Zhou Changfa was the Director of the Divine Capture Bureau, he gave Fang Rui preferential treatment because of his connection to Ge Changgeng. The Southeast Branch also benefited greatly, making countless people within the Divine Capture Bureau green with envy.
Fang Rui’s popularity was partly due to his easygoing, approachable personality, but a much larger part of it was due to his connection with Director Zhou.
Now, in everyone else’s eyes, his backer... POOF! Was gone.
"Rumors have been flying around the other Branch Offices for the past two days. They’re saying you’re finished, and that our Branch Office is in for a hard time. It used to be easy to get cooperation on inter-jurisdictional cases, but not anymore. This reflects a shift in the attitude of the other Silver Seal Chief Constables..."
Xun Buhe decided to lay all his cards on the table, speaking more plainly. "Chief, you were a trusted subordinate of Director Zhou, and you’re a Silver Seal Chief Constable. That’s a high rank, but it’s nothing compared to a Golden Seal Renowned Hunter or a Jade Seal Divine Hunter."
"If the new Director wants to make a statement, he’ll likely make an example of you. The other Silver Seal Chief Constables who were jealous of you before might even kick you while you’re down... Chief, you have to guard against this!"
"Mm, Old Gou, you make a lot of sense."
Fang Rui set down a handful of melon seed shells and nodded slightly. "Alright. I’m aware of the situation."
’After all, I’ve met Zhen Daoji and Zhen Yi. I wouldn’t say I have a lot of pull with them, but they certainly won’t single me out as a target to be made an example of or given a hard time.’
’Those people hoping to watch a good show, the ones who can’t stand to see others do well, are probably in for a disappointment.’
Of course, he couldn’t say any of this out loud.
’Alright. I’m aware of the situation.’ What kind of attitude was that?
Niu Bajin was dumbfounded. He started to speak, then stopped himself, but finally said, "Chief, I’ve been keeping an eye on Dadan’s family, haven’t I? I discovered that Li Tieniu has been running around giving gifts these past two days. He’s most likely arranging a fallback plan..."
His expression all but screamed: ’Chief, things are already this serious! Can’t you be a little more concerned?!’
"What will be, will be. Let him go his own way."
Fang Rui waved his hand dismissively, his attitude still as nonchalant and casual as ever.
Just then, the head maid, Qing Yun, came over. "Master, dinner is ready. The Old Madam, Madam, and Young Miss are asking you to join them!"
"Alright, I’ll be right there."
Fang Rui stood up. "Bajin, Old Gou, why don’t you stay for a bite?"
"Ahem..."
Niu Bajin was just about to speak.
"No thanks, Chief. You’re busy. Bajin and I have some things to discuss, so we’ll be on our way."
Xun Buhe pulled Niu Bajin away with him.
After seeing the two of them out, Fang Rui really did just go to dinner, not giving another thought to things like ’the new Director of the Divine Capture Bureau taking office’ or ’being ostracized by his colleagues’.
Indeed, what Niu Bajin and Xun Buhe saw as a world-shattering crisis was, in his eyes, truly a trivial matter.
’It’s not just that I’ve met Zhen Daoji and Zhen Yi. Even if I didn’t know them, so what? If I reveal my Fifth Grade strength, all these problems will solve themselves.’
If a nineteen-year-old Sixth Grade practitioner from a non-major family could be considered to have crossed the threshold of a genius, then a nineteen-year-old Fifth Grade practitioner was already a standout among geniuses.
That kind of potential was more than enough to make people want to win him over. If his colleagues knew, they would only be friendlier than before. After all, how could preferential treatment born from a great figure’s extended favor compare to one’s own strength?
However, after meeting Zhen Yi and Zhen Daoji and deducing that Zhen Daoji would be the new Director, Fang Rui had already ruled out this option. He didn’t want to attract that kind of attention.
...
「Outside the Fang Mansion.」
"Old Gou, why’d you pull me away just now?" Niu Bajin grumbled.
"The offer to stay for dinner was just the Chief being polite. Don’t you get it?"
Xun Buhe fell silent for a moment, then said, "Bajin, haven’t you noticed? Ever since Dadan died, the Chief has been consciously keeping his distance from his subordinates. That includes us."
"No, it’s not that you can’t see it. It’s that you’re in the habit of trying to please the Chief, and you haven’t been able to switch gears," he said, staring into Niu Bajin’s eyes.
Upon hearing this,
the playful look on Niu Bajin’s face vanished instantly. He grew serious and thought for a long while before saying, "So that’s how it is!"
A long silence followed.
Then he spoke again, "About what happened today... Old Gou, what do you think?"
"What is there to think about? The Chief clearly has a plan. It’s not a big deal."
"Old Gou, you’re still the one who sees things clearly!"
"Aren’t you the same? You act all goofy on the outside, but you understand perfectly well on the inside!"
Xun Buhe sighed. "Only Li Tieniu, who seems the shrewdest, is actually the dumbest of all... He’s not even as smart as Dadan was!"
...
「Two days later, at the new Director’s first meeting with his subordinates.」
The Jade Seal Divine Hunters, Golden Seal Renowned Hunters, and Silver Seal Chief Constables all arrived early, eager to make a good impression on the new Director.
When Fang Rui arrived, the area outside was already a teeming crowd. What was even more awkward was that the moment he appeared, the originally noisy crowd instantly fell quiet.