Once, I wanted to be a good person

Chapter 1138: Chapter 323: King of the Eastern District! (Part 2)

Hearing the call from the elder councilor, Fang Ze couldn’t help but stop, then turned around to look.

Seeing the elder councilor, Fang Ze pretended to think for a moment, then said in realization, “Oh, Councilor Chen, right? I remember you’re the council member responsible for the urban planning and rating of the entire administrative region, correct?”

Seeing the elder councilor nod, Fang Ze asked with feigned curiosity, “What’s the matter? Do you have any work you need to report to me?” Discover more novels at noⅴelfire.net

At this point, Fang Ze waved his hand and comforted, “You are a senior, a veteran. If it’s just a small matter, you can decide on your own. No need to report to me, I trust you.”

Elder Councilor Chen, truly an old fox, didn’t feel the slightest embarrassment at Fang Ze’s words, which seemed both polite and teasing. He laughed heartily and said, “How can that be? Chairperson Fang, talented and accomplished at such a young age, taking on such a major role in the Eastern Administrative Region, I’ve long wanted to learn from you, but never had the chance.”

“Now there’s finally a chance, so of course, I want to hear your guidance.”

Although Elder Councilor Chen’s words were all bureaucratic cliches, the intention of drawing closer and showing goodwill was exceedingly clear.

So hearing him say this, Fang Ze did not continue to berate him, but rather glanced at others with a teasing smile, then nodded, “Alright, since Elder Chen is interested, I’ll have a chat with you once Black Shark’s minister finishes.”

Seeing Fang Ze relent, Elder Councilor Chen’s face immediately showed a look of surprise and delight.

With Elder Councilor Chen successfully securing the chance for a private conversation with Fang Ze, the other council members who had been hesitating finally couldn’t sit still and began to express goodwill toward Fang Ze one after another.

As a result, the corridor became noisy again in no time, filled with voices trying to get on good terms with Fang Ze and arrange private conversations.

Fang Ze had always intended to select a few reliable assistants from this batch of council members, so he did not reject anyone, and arranged times with all of them.

Thus…. even though it was already late at night, everyone present seemed to have forgotten the time and was ready to stay until dawn…..

…..

Five minutes later, inside the guest room of Fang Ze’s room.

Fang Ze and Black Shark sat opposite each other.

Facing He Weidao’s right-hand man, also the minister of the entire Eastern Administrative Region’s Special Service Department, Fang Ze took this very seriously.

After all, the primary duties of the Special Service Department include war investigation and counter-espionage, with supervisory authority externally and investigative authority internally, making it one of the most core violent departments of the Federation. The head of each administrative region is certainly one of the elders most trusted by the Federation.

However, the aristocratic forces in the Eastern Administrative Region were too strong and there were few external wars, so Black Shark remained low-profile. If placed in another region, with his position, he would certainly be among the top three prominent figures.

Recalling the duties and powers of the Special Service Department, Fang Ze couldn’t help but look at Black Shark and then asked, “Minister Black, you’ve been looking for me these past few days. Is there something you need?”

As the minister of the Special Service Department, Black Shark will be promoted to Absolute Pinnacle in the future as long as there are no major faults. So, knowing this, the two of them tacitly did not bring up the matter of drawing closer, but simply talked about business.

Upon hearing Fang Ze’s question, Black Shark produced a document, handed it to Fang Ze, and said, “Yes, Chairperson Fang. This is an invitation received from the Federation’s Central four days ago. It requires your personal response.”

Hearing Black Shark’s words, Fang Ze reached out for the document and began to review it carefully.

The document was indeed an invitation, inviting Fang Ze to visit and learn from the Federation Council and the Polaris base. The Federation’s parliamentary chairperson and several elders would also have a discussion and communication with Fang Ze then.

After seeing the invitation, Fang Ze’s mind quickly speculated on the purpose of the Federation’s central authority.

First, he ruled out the old tricks of a Hongmen Banquet or stripping of military power after a banquet. After all, he didn’t have any territory or power worth the Federation concerning itself with, and personally, he was like a walking aircraft carrier. The Federation’s top leaders should be the ones scared if he went to the Central State, not him.

Next, he ruled out simple goodwill. After all, the Federation’s various measures during this period have already proven their support for Fang Ze. What should follow is sustained cooperation to build up trust, rather than calling him over to show goodwill in person.

Excluding these two most common possibilities, there weren’t many choices left.

‘To show me their strength and latest technology?’

‘To let me see the true state of the Human Race now?’

‘Or to have a face-to-face discussion about the future direction of the Human Race with me?’

After thinking it over, Fang Ze believed only these three possibilities were the most likely.

After all…. that group of elders wouldn’t seriously call him over to study, right?

With that in mind, Fang Ze looked up at Black Shark and said, “I’ve read the document. You can respond to the central authority that I accept the invitation.”

With that, Fang Ze glanced at the date and said, “Let’s tentatively set the time for 10 days later?”

Hearing Fang Ze’s words, Black Shark nodded and said, “Alright, I will respond to the Federation’s central authority now.”

Because they belonged to different factions, after finishing talking about business, there wasn’t much else to discuss. Black Shark saw the situation and took the initiative to leave Fang Ze’s room.

After exiting the room, Black Shark saw the ten or so councilors still waiting in the corridor.

They stood in the dark, whispering to each other. But upon seeing Black Shark, they voluntarily stopped their discussions and looked at Black Shark with an indistinct gaze.

Black Shark walked past them expressionlessly toward the end of the corridor.

Even though there was no exchange, both Black Shark and these councilors knew that from the moment these councilors chose to stay behind, they were no longer on the same side.

Reaching the end of the corridor, turning the corner, under the light, Black Shark slowly stopped his footsteps. He looked back, seeing the reflections of those councilors through the glass, and a sense of crisis arose in his heart.

Just a few days ago, when Fang Ze became chairperson, there was no response whatsoever. Although high on the ranks in meetings, he was essentially alone. Yet, merely days later, he had opened up the situation, attracting a quarter of the council members to his side.

So given time, would the entire Eastern Administrative Region truly come to know only Fang Ze and neglect the Federation?

By then, how would this differ from truly splitting territories and dividing the country?

Thinking this, Black Shark couldn’t help but think of the now-deceased He Weidao….

He looked up at the light in the corridor, his eyes filled with confusion.

‘Old He, you suppressed the aristocracy for so many years, personally reclaiming all the power of the Eastern Administrative Region to the Federation. But why in the end did you voluntarily deliver the entire Eastern Administrative Region into Fang Ze’s hands?’

‘Is it just because he’s good at fighting?’

‘Do you really trust him?’

As a talent with unique skills, Black Shark reached his position today due to his loyalty to the Federation, formidable strength, and excellent professional skills.

So upon realizing he could no longer understand the entire political situation and his old friend’s choices, he could only let out a slight sigh, leaving the council building with a sense of melancholy and discomfort with the changes of the times….

….

Although Black Shark was not well-versed in politics, as a Special Service Department officer, he understood human nature. So in the following days, things indeed unfolded as he expected.

After Fang Ze met with those ten or so council members one by one, the situation in the entire Eastern Administrative Region quickly changed in many ways:

Some of Fang Ze’s commands began to be smoothly implemented in the Eastern Administrative Region and each state, the Legitimate Lineage of the Si and Bai families started gradually entering the management layers of the region and states, and some mid-level officials who leaned toward Fang Ze also gradually stepped onto the core stage of the administrative region.

The chain reaction from this was that some council members who originally did not take sides, as well as some who were from the aristocratic faction but became powerless due to the death of the demigod, turned towards Fang Ze.

As a result, Fang Ze’s prestige in the Eastern Administrative Region soared. Coupled with his personal strength to suppress an entire region, he immediately transformed from merely a powerful yet influence-lacking “mascot” to the true king of the Eastern Administrative Region….

In this manner, day by day passed, and soon it was time for Fang Ze to go to the Federation’s Central State.

Just that night.

In the Late-Night Investigation Room.

Fang Ze and Elder Councilor Chen sat facing each other, and Fang Ze looked at the elder councilor in front of him and slowly asked, “Elder Chen, are you ready?”