Chapter 242: Brandishing a Tiger‑Skin Flag

Chen Shicheng ignored the young man, turned his head toward Zhao Lei, who was calling him, and said, "Explain the specifics; according to the regulations, how should we handle this?"

Zhao Lei glanced awkwardly at the surrounding crowd, leaned close to Chen Shicheng's ear and whispered.

"According to the red‑line principle set by the state and the major guild forces, the state has supervisory control rights. Because of limited manpower, it cannot cover everything, so ordinarily, as long as it doesn't become a big incident and the state doesn't notice, it will be swept under the rug, and the guild forces will also try to avoid escalating the matter."

"Now it's clear the other side has already blown the matter up. After our people arrived, we asked them to yield according to the regulations, but they remained indifferent and even confronted us in the bustling market district!"

Alright, the argument was solid.

Chen Shicheng looked at the smiling young man opposite him and said, "Now, stop your passive resistance, surrender and come with us to the Cultural Tourism Bureau Logistics Department."

"I can't decide that."

The young man knew it was best to follow Chen Shicheng's instructions, but he also knew that once they went to the Cultural Tourism Bureau Logistics Department, the plan would fall apart, so he politely declined, "I already said that the items those three people hold are ours; if we make them hand them over, we'll withdraw naturally."

Chen Shicheng didn't argue, simply waved his hand and said, "Zhao Lei, disperse the onlookers, set up a warning line, call the troops, and prepare for combat."

Zhao Lei froze on the spot, thinking, 'Is our consultant really this aggressive, calling for troop support at the drop of a hat?' But the highest‑ranking person on the scene was Chen Shicheng, the order had been given, so it had to be carried out. After exchanging glances with the other Cultural Tourism Bureau Logistics members, everyone's expression hardened and they prepared for battle.

Zhao Lei stepped back two paces, pulled out his phone, and prepared to call for support.

The young man saw this, his complexion changed instantly; the situation had unfolded beyond his expectations.

Put simply, the trouble had escalated! He knew the call must not be placed, because whatever the outcome, he would be the one taking the blame. Only by resolving it on the spot could he hope to save himself.

The young man lunged forward a large step and swung his hand at Zhao Lei's phone.

Although his move was sudden, to Chen Shicheng it seemed in slow motion; he showed no reaction, merely sneering inwardly as he watched the attack.

No one else expected such a move, and Zhao Lei was even slower to react.

He instinctively flinched, causing both of them to lose their grip; the phone went "clack" and fell to the ground.

Fortunately it was a custom‑made phone; after bouncing twice on the floor, the screen remained intact and still glowed brightly.

But with one acting deliberately and the other unintentionally, their reaction speeds differed; while Zhao Lei was still stunned, a black combat boot stepped on the phone.

Even a specially made phone couldn't withstand a player's stomp; under everyone's gaze the screen shattered.

"How dare you strike!"

Chen Shicheng had been waiting for this; even if the other side didn't block the call, he would intercept Zhao Lei at the crucial moment to force the other side to act. After all, the consultant could not let things get out of hand, but the outcome was as he expected, the situation turned out as he thought.

While feeling relieved, his expression darkened; the Taiyin Cold Ice Curse activated instantly, and white mist began to spread across the ground.

The other members of the Cultural Tourism Bureau Logistics Department, also inflamed with anger, drew their weapons, and a melee seemed inevitable. "No one may move; stay where you are!"

Cold sweat streamed down the young man's face; he hurried to stop his own side, and when he looked at Chen Shicheng, he saw the opposite side restless, the icy chill already coiling around his feet.

"Leader, I can compensate for the phone, we can discuss going to the Logistics Department, there's really no need to resort to force."

Chen Shicheng pointed at the shattered screen on the ground and said coldly, "Do you think this is a game? You say 'strike' and you strike; you say 'stop' and you stop?"

"Consultant, I'll keep calling!"

Another member of the Logistics Department, in front of the young man, brandished a phone and said angrily, "Try snatching another one!"

"No, don't misunderstand, Leader, it's just a minor dispute; we can resolve it right away."

The young man dared not repeat his earlier action, and he also saw who the real decision‑maker was, so he quickly explained to Chen Shicheng, "Let's all calm down first; we'll sit and talk properly. We'll handle it according to the regulations, and those who need to go to the Logistics Department can go."

After saying that, he turned to the three protected individuals and said, "The ownership of that item can be negotiated; later I'll have our superiors contact you, and I'll apologize for the previous chase."

He still didn't know what that so‑called thing actually was, and even now the young man didn't relent; his words still hinted that he wouldn't give up on that thing.

"Pah."

One of the three men spat on the ground, turned his head away, and didn't even glance at the young man.

Chen Shicheng remained silent, staring coldly at the young man, but he didn't continue to press the phone issue.

Zhao Lei, watching the tense standoff, leaned close to Chen Shicheng and whispered, "Consultant, what should we do now? Director Song should be on his way; should we wait until he arrives before acting?"

Chen Shicheng glanced at Zhao Lei, noting that the kid had only joined the Logistics Department after that recruitment fair and hadn't been hardened yet, yet was already thinking about taking action. He looked at the newcomer and projected, "These people are already backing down; I guess when Song Bingyuan arrives he'll just settle things, unlikely to fight. Take it easy."

"What are you doing, what are you doing!"

As soon as Chen Shicheng finished speaking, Song Bingyuan's voice rang from the crowd's edge, and with his arrival the Logistics Department's crowd split like water, and the young man's expression relaxed as if a weight had been lifted.

The moment he reached the scene, Song Bingyuan looked at Chen Shicheng, his eyes asking, "What happened here? Why is the atmosphere so tense?"

Chen Shicheng:???

His gaze was that complicated; who could understand it?

He smoothly withdrew the Taiyin Cold Ice Curse, walked to Song Bingyuan's side, patted his shoulder, and whispered quickly, "I've already scared the people; just be firm and take them back."

Hearing that, Song Bingyuan's expression hardened; with a sweeping gesture he immediately carried out Chen Shicheng's directive.

"Take everyone back; putting on a show in the street like this—" (End of chapter)