Chapter 22: This is a declaration of war ceremony

At this moment, the entire banquet hall fell silent.

Liao Weifeng watched the scene before him, feeling a chill down his spine.

A few days earlier in the police station, this young man dared to stand up for an ordinary civilian, going head-to-head with the Health Union Association people. He even pointed a gun at his own deputy superintendent!

Back then he still thought Lin Yu was an ignorant hothead.

But now...

Seeing Mitsukawa lying on the ground and Cheng Hu with a gun pointed at him, Liao Weifeng finally understood.

This is no mere hothead—he's clearly a complete lunatic!

In an age when foreigners called the shots, in Shen City where the Great Powers ran rampant, this young man dared to publicly slap the face of the Health Union Association's chief and even threaten the boss of the Green Gang...

"That lunatic......" Liao Weifeng muttered, "He's really gone mad......"

The several directors of the Public Administration Bureau stared at each other, unsure how to react. They had never seen anyone dare to be so brazen in the French Concession.

Even Commander Qin sucked his breath in silently. After so many years in Shen City, this was the first time he'd seen someone dare to slight the Great Powers and the gangs.

This Lin Yu—is he overconfident, or does he really have a death wish?

"This kid is finished," said Chen Guotai of the Third Bureau, holding his wine cup, a cold smile curling his lips. "Young people just don't understand—now he's stirred up a huge hornet's nest."

Sun Zhiyuan of the Fifth Bureau leaned in, lowering his voice: "This Lin Yu probably doesn't know how deep the Health Union Association's background goes. Mitsukawa has sway at the Japanese Consulate."

"No kidding," Zhao Hongfei of the Sixth Bureau chimed in, "Cheng Hu of the Green Gang is even harder to mess with. He's operated in the French Concession for years—who knows how many forces back him? This kid just went and offended everyone, truly asking for death."

"What do you say?" Chen Guotai narrowed his eyes. "Does he really think that just because he has a bureau chief's title he can swagger around the French Concession?"

"Heh," Sun Zhiyuan scoffed, "Maybe he's been addled by that imperial appointment notice. These days, the court's seal really doesn't carry much weight."

"I think," Zhao Hongfei said, shaking his head, "Director Lin is a blunt brute who doesn't understand human relations. In a place like the French Concession, brute force alone won't cut it."

"Exactly," Chen Guotai nodded. "Which of us bureau chiefs isn't adept at both sides? Give face when due, bow when needed—that's how you survive in Shen City."

"This kid's got guts," Zhao Hongfei sneered, "He's managed to offend both the Health Union Association and the Green Gang right off the bat—what else is that if not suicide?"

"Just wait and see," Zhao Hongfei said gloated, "Within three days the Japanese Consulate will be knocking on his door. Then we'll see how long he can stay arrogant."

"I don't think it'll take three days," Chen Guotai scoffed, "Tomorrow morning the Works Bureau will be filing a complaint at the Security Command Headquarters. Commander Qin won't risk offending the Great Powers over such a hothead."

The bureau chiefs exchanged remarks, their faces wearing the look of those watching a good show. In their view, this ignorant youngster would soon pay for today's recklessness.

"Come on," Chen Guotai raised his cup, "Let's drink, let's drink. The chief of the Fourth Bureau probably won't last long."

The other two also laughed and clinked glasses, as if they'd already seen Lin Yu's fate.

In their eyes, this clueless brute was destined not to survive the week.

"Gentlemen," an English director stood up, his face ashen, "I think coming to this banquet was a mistake."

The other foreign directors also rose one after another, preparing to leave.

"Wrong?" Lin Yu suddenly laughed, shrugging his shoulders, "On the contrary, this is the most correct decision imaginable."

He looked around, his gaze sweeping over everyone present: "I invited you all here so that everyone could see exactly what the Fourth Bureau is."

"You......" the English director still wanted to say something.

"Hold on," Lin Yu interrupted him, "I know what you want to say. The Public Administration Bureau's rules? The French Empire's interests?"

He gave a cold chuckle: "But I want to tell you this: starting today, the heavens of the French Concession have changed."

【Ding! Host's strong declaration, despising the Great Powers, gains 100 points of resolve!】

【Current resolve: 600 points】

"I don't need to consider your feelings," Lin Yu said word by word, "nor do I need to care about your sentiments."

He pointed at Mitsukawa and Cheng Hu on the ground: "Just like how I'm treating these two."

"This... this is naked provocation!" the French director said angrily.

"No," Lin Yu shook his head, "This is an announcement."

His voice echoed in the banquet hall: "Announcing the return of the Fourth Bureau, announcing a new order for the French Concession."

The foreign directors stared at each other, having never seen such an arrogant Chinese official.

But Lin Yu's gaze told them, this young man means what he says.

At this moment, they finally realized that the true purpose of this banquet was never mere socializing.

But rather a naked... declaration of war ceremony.

Lin Yu crouched down, looking at Mitsukawa, his face covered in blood: "Do you know what I'm going to do tomorrow?"

Mitsukawa swallowed his anger, not daring to speak.

"Tomorrow," Lin Yu grinned, "I'll bring people to sweep clean the Health Union Association's premises—gambling dens, opium houses, brothels—not a single one left."

He leaned close to Mitsukawa's ear: "Including your headquarters in the French Concession."

"You... you dare!" Mitsukawa trembled all over.

"What do I have to fear?" Lin Yu sneered, "Even if your Amaterasu Ōmikami came, she couldn't save the Health Union Association."

He rose, looking around: "What I, Lin Yu, say!"

【Ding! Host's domineering intimidation, eyes above all, gains 150 points of resolve!】

【Current resolve: 750 points】

Mitsukawa's face turned green with rage, yet before this lunatic he dared not act rashly.

Cheng Hu's face still bore the burn marks from a cigarette, his expression grimly dark. But he also knew that tonight this situation was not the time to make a move.

"Listen up," Lin Yu's voice reverberated through the banquet hall, "From today on, there's only one rule in the French Concession—my rule, Lin Yu's rule, the Fourth Bureau's rule!"

His eyes flashed like lightning as he swept over everyone present: "Whoever dares not to obey, I'll take them on. No room for negotiation!"

The banquet hall fell into dead silence.

Everyone could see that this young bureau chief truly intended to stir up a storm of blood in the French Concession.

And they understood all the more that this madman really does say what he'll do and then do it.

"See you tomorrow," Lin Yu looked at Mitsukawa and Cheng Hu, "Hope you can cooperate well."

This isn't any hope; it's clearly a naked threat.

But at this moment, even the people of the Health Union Association and the Green Gang couldn't help but admit a fact:

This lunatic really dares to do anything.