Chapter 21: My rules are the rules

"; Ladies and gentlemen,"; Lin Yu stood on the stage, voice steady and powerful; "; After three rounds of drinks, it's time to discuss the main matter.";

The banquet hall fell silent instantly.

"; The Fourth Bureau has been suspended for many years, and many things have happened in the French Concession."; Lin Yu looked around; "; In the past, however it was, I didn't inquire. But from today onward......";

His voice suddenly turned stern: "; The Fourth Bureau is reactivated; we will exercise our rightful authority.";

The crowd below had varied expressions; a few directors of the Works Bureau frowned slightly, and Mitsukawa flashed a hint of coldness in his eyes.

"; First of all,"; Lin Yu said word by word, "; The French Concession is not a lawless zone. No matter who, if they violate the laws of the Great Dry Dynasty, the Fourth Bureau will arrest them according to law.";

As soon as he said that, the banquet hall erupted in an uproar.

【Ding! Host publicly took a hardline stance, unafraid of the Great Powers, upholding national dignity, gained 100 Hardline Points!】

【Current Hardline Points: 100】

"; This kid, what a big mouth!";

"; Does he know what he's saying?";

"; Is it still the Great Dry Dynasty's call these days?";

Qin Dongzhi, seated downstream, narrowed his eyes and gazed thoughtfully at the young man on stage.

The Great Dry Dynasty today is no longer what it once was. Even he, as Security Commander, must smile when seeing foreigners. How dare this young man speak such words?

"; I know what you're thinking,"; Lin Yu continued, "; but this is my stance. Although the Fourth Bureau only oversees the French Concession, on this land the dynasty's law is the bottom line.";

His gaze swept over everyone present: "; No one can stand above the law. I hope you all keep this in mind.";

【Ding! Host again took a hardline stance, upholding the national position, gained 50 Hardline Points!】

【Current Hardline Points: 150】

As his words fell, the entire banquet hall fell dead silent.

Everyone was sizing up the young man on stage. They didn't know where Lin Yu got the nerve to say such things at this time.

Yet they all saw in his eyes an unquestionable resolve.

What kind of waves will this newly appointed Fourth Bureau Chief stir up?

"; Hah,"; Mitsukawa suddenly snorted coldly, breaking the banquet hall's silence, "; Director Lin, what a big mouth you have.";

Everyone's gaze turned to the head of the Health Union Association.

"; I don't know if Director Lin understands,"; Mitsukawa said with a slightly mocking tone, "; but the French Concession nowadays isn't something a tiny Fourth Bureau can call the shots on.";

He swirled the glass in his hand: "; Here we have the Public Administration Bureau, the consulates, and special privileges of the French Empire. Director Lin says he'll enforce Great Dry law? I'm afraid......";

He drew out his tone: "; I'm afraid it's a bit overambitious, isn't it?";

"; Exactly,"; a foreign merchant beside him also spoke up, "; This is a concession, not a place where your Great Dry gets to call the shots.";

Mitsukawa continued: "; Director Lin is young and perhaps doesn't grasp the ways of the world. Shen City now is no longer what it used to be.";

His gaze carried contempt: "; Even the Security Command Headquarters has to be polite when seeing our Health Union Association. Director Lin, one person, thinks he can revive the Fourth Bureau's might in the French Concession?";

"; Young people having ambition is a good thing,"; Mitsukawa raised his glass, his tone full of mockery, "; but you also need to see the situation clearly. This era is no longer when the Great Dry gets to call the shots.";

"; Director Lin,"; he stared directly at Lin Yu, "; I advise you not to be too idealistic. In the French Concession, you still need to understand......";

He added emphasis: "; Know the times.";

The atmosphere in the banquet hall instantly turned tense, swords drawn and bows bent. Everyone awaited Lin Yu's reaction.

How will this young bureau chief respond to this naked provocation?

"; You're right,"; the Green Gang's elder Cheng Hu suddenly spoke, tapping his glass lightly with a finger, "; Director Lin, you might not yet understand the rules of the French Concession.";

He rose to his feet, his burly frame exuding the unique aura of a jianghu big boss: "; This place, since its opening, has had its own set of rules.";

"; The Public Administration Bureau calls the shots,"; Cheng Hu looked around, "; the consulates call the shots, and we local snakes also call the shots.";

His voice gradually rose: "; What gives a Fourth Bureau like you the right to change these rules?";

"; Exactly,"; several gang leaders beside him also chimed in, "; This is a concession, not a place where your Fourth Bureau gets to call the shots!";

Cheng Hu snorted coldly: "; Director Lin, I know you're appointed by the imperial court. But this is the French Concession, not the court's turf.";

He swirled his glass: "; To stand firm in this place, you must know the rules. Otherwise......";

He gave Lin Yu a meaningful look: "; You're likely to suffer a big loss.";

As soon as he said that, many gang members revealed meaningful smiles. In their view, this young bureau chief clearly doesn't know how deep the waters of the French Concession run.

Lin Yu smiled, holding his glass, and walked calmly toward Mitsukawa.

Before anyone could react, the red wine in his hand was splashed onto Mitsukawa's face.

"; You......"; Mitsukawa hadn't finished speaking when the stemmed glass smashed heavily onto his forehead, with a "crash" it shattered.

Mitsukawa collapsed on the spot, blood instantly streaming from his forehead.

The entire venue erupted in an uproar.

Lin Yu stepped on Mitsukawa's face with one foot, his voice icy: "; Damn you foreign devil, when did it become your turn to interrupt my speech?";

【Ding! Host publicly suppressed with force, unafraid of the Great Powers, gained 200 Hardline Points!】

【Current Hardline Points: 350】

Mitsukawa struggled to rise, but Lin Yu ruthlessly kept him pinned down.

"; You love to wreck the stage, huh?"; Lin Yu sneered, "; Believe it or not, I'll break your legs right now.";

A few of Mitsukawa's subordinates tried to step forward, but were held at gunpoint by soldiers of the German-equipped guard squad, unable to move.

The banquet hall fell into utter silence.

Everyone stared, dumbstruck. No one expected this young bureau chief to dare lay such a heavy hand on the head of the Health Union Association.

Even Commander Qin was stunned. This Lin Yu really is...... incredibly bold.

Mitsukawa's face was smeared with red wine and blood, a sorry sight. He never imagined that in such a setting, the other side would dare to lay hands on him.

Lin Yu released Mitsukawa, walked slowly to Cheng Hu, and said: "; What did you just say? Say it again?";

Cheng Hu's face turned ashen, he jumped to his feet: "Lin Yu, don't go too far!"

"Pa!"

"Pa!"

Two sharp cocking sounds rang out.

Zhang Zhi Yuan and Zhou Wei had somehow already stood behind Cheng Hu, two Browning pistols pressed directly against his temples.

Cheng Hu froze instantly on the spot.

Lin Yu leisurely took out a cigarette, lit it, took a deep drag, then...

"Hiss!"

The cigarette butt was pressed hard against Cheng Hu's left cheek.

""; Ah!""; Cheng Hu let out a miserable scream.

【Ding! Host consecutively suppressed with force, gained 150 Stubbornness points!】

【Current Stubbornness points: 500】

""; What bullshit rules??"; Lin Yu sneered, ""; What the hell are you? You dare to boss me around?""

Cheng Hu broke out in a cold sweat, blue smoke still rising from his face.

""; Let me tell you,"; Lin Yu grabbed his collar, ""; From today on, the French Concession has only one rule——the Fourth Bureau's rule!""

The entire venue fell silent as if cicadas in hibernation.

Those gang members who had just been making noise now all lowered their heads, not daring to breathe.

No one expected that this young bureau chief would be so overbearing, so... unreasonable.