Chapter 162: In Your Next Life, Watch Your Step

Night fell, Lin Yu got into his own black Buick sedan and slowly drove toward the French Concession.

The Public Administration Bureau Building of the French Concession stood at the end of Xiafei Road, a typical French-style building with red bricks and gray tiles, its pointed Gothic towers reaching straight for the night sky. The building was erected twenty years ago and was the symbol of French power in Shen City.

The car stopped in front of the building, and Lin Yu looked up at this edifice steeped in colonial colors. The three-story main structure had a huge arched window on its façade, with a bell tower on each side. On the stone steps of the entrance, two bronze lions stood guard, solemnly proclaiming the place's privileged status.

This building has witnessed the French Concession's development over twenty years. From the initial muddy lanes to today's lit streets; from a few scattered Western houses to now rows of Western-style buildings packed together. It has become, in effect, a "Little Paris," where the French, on this leased land, have built their "Eastern Empire."

The Public Administration Bureau is the ruling center of this "Empire." Here, the French enact decrees, collect taxes, and even possess independent police and judicial powers. On this land of Great Dry, they wield authority greater than that of the Great Dry government itself.

Lin Yu gazed at the bright lights on the building's second floor—that was Director General Lei Nuo's office. Over the past twenty years, how many Great Dry officials have bowed and scraped here, how many local merchants have yielded and obeyed. This building is like a thorn driven deep into the heart of Shen City.

"Tonight," Lin Yu said softly, "it's time to change its masters."

Lin Yu entered the building, and what met his eyes was a scene of chaos. Shattered glass and documents littered the luxurious marble floor. A few gendarmes in French uniforms huddled in the corners, with fully armed soldiers standing beside them.

These usually haughty foreign policemen were now like deflated balloons, not daring to lift their heads. Lin Yu noticed that one sergeant still bore fresh scars on his face—the price he paid for insisting on upholding "the dignity of France."

In the hall, a dozen or so French officials of the Public Administration Bureau were gathered together. Their attire was disheveled; some had wounds on their faces, others trembled. These men usually ran roughshod over Shen City, threatening with "extraterritorial jurisdiction" at the slightest provocation, but now they were like fish on a chopping board, at anyone's mercy.

"Reporting, sir," Feng An said quietly from the side, "three French officials refused to cooperate and were executed on the spot. The others have all been subdued."

Lin Yu nodded, his gaze sweeping over these foreigners. Some of them recognized him, and a flicker of fear crossed their eyes. Evidently, the reputation of the Fourth Bureau Chief for ruthlessness had long reached their ears.

"Let's go," Lin Yu said, stepping toward the stairs.

Along the way, the soldiers stood at attention, presenting arms. They were his finest troops, each equipped with a German-made Mauser rifle. In just two hours, they had seized control of the entire Public Administration Bureau, turning this French power center into a prison.

On the second-floor corridor, a few French clerks in Western suits crouched in the corners. Some were softly weeping, others murmuring prayers in French. Lin Yu recognized one as the usually most arrogant registrar, the man who constantly ordered Shen City merchants about. Now he trembled like a startled rabbit.

"Sir," Zhou Wei pointed to an oak door at the end of the corridor, "Lei Nuo is inside."

Lin Yu adjusted his collar, a cold smile touching his lips. Tonight, he would make this high-and-mighty French Concession Director General know who truly rules this land.

"Open the door," he said calmly.

The office door was pushed open, and Lin Yu walked in.

Lei Nuo sat behind a wide redwood desk, dressed in a well-tailored dark suit, his shoes polished to a shine, his hair immaculate, as if trying to preserve the last vestiges of dignity with this respectable appearance.

Yet the anxiety in his eyes could not be concealed, as two armed soldiers aimed their guns at his head.

The instant he saw Lin Yu, Lei Nuo sprang to his feet, slamming his hands on the desk: "Lin! You madman!" His voice trembled with anger, "Do you know what you're doing?"

Lin Yu unhurriedly approached the desk, gazing at the French Concession Director General as he exploded in rage.

"You killed our consul!" Lei Nuo shouted in broken Chinese, "You massacred our gendarmerie! Now you've sent troops to occupy the French Concession—you're provoking France!"

His Chinese pronunciation was painfully stiff, sounding even more grating in his anger. Lin Yu watched his face flush red, a feeling of disgust rising in him. These foreigners had lived in Shen City for years yet could not speak a decent word of Chinese, yet they presumed to lord it over this land.

"You will pay for this!" Lei Nuo continued to roar, "This is a serious diplomatic incident! It will provoke war between France and Great Dry! Do you understand the consequences? You madman!"

In his fury he even tried to go around the desk, but the soldiers struck him hard with the butt of their rifles and forced him back into his seat.

"War?" Lin Yu finally spoke, his voice laced with scorn, "Just because of you parasites who run rampant in the Concession?"

"You!" Lei Nuo pointed a trembling finger at Lin Yu, "I warn you, France will not let you off! Our warships will......"

"Shut up," Lin Yu coldly cut him off, "Your warships are still basking in the Mediterranean—don't try to scare me with them."

Lei Nuo's face turned ashen. This young Fourth Bureau Chief acted completely outside their familiar playbook. They were used to the obsequiousness of Great Dry officials, but facing this madman, they felt fear for the first time.

"Espèce d'idiot!" Lei Nuo suddenly burst out in French, "You ignorant fool! Cease your mad behavior at once, or......"

Lin Yu did not let him finish. He walked slowly forward, drew his Browning pistol from his waist, and clicked off the safety in Lei Nuo's sight.

The crisp click of the safety echoed in the office, and Lei Nuo's voice cut off. The French Concession Director General slumped in his chair, his face instantly paling. He stared at the black muzzle, his whole body beginning to tremble.

"Wait...... wait a moment......" Lei Nuo's voice trembled, "There's something...... we could talk it over, I could......"

"Talk it over?" Lin Yu snorted, "When you foreigners ran roughshod over Shen City, did you ever think about wanting to 'talk it over' with us?"

"I......"

"You people," Lin Yu's voice dripping with scorn, "are a bunch of utter worthlesss. You only bully the soft and fear the hard; you lord it over soft targets, but cringe like a dog when faced with toughness."

Lei Nuo's eyes widened, cold sweat beading on his forehead: "No...... don't......"

"In your next life," Lin Yu pressed the gun barrel to Lei Nuo's forehead, "remember to watch your step."

"No!"

Bang!

A gunshot exploded in the office. Lei Nuo's rear skull burst open in a blossom of blood, warm crimson spraying the wall behind him. This high-and-mighty French Concession Director General thus ended his reign over Shen City.

Lin Yu holstered his pistol, gazing at Lei Nuo's corpse slumped in the chair, his face showing no emotion. In this chaotic age, only bloodshed could make these foreigners understand that their era of oppressing Great Dry's people was over.