Chapter 42: Shocking All of Shen City

A military truck sped through the night, with Lin Yu in the co‑driver seat, watching the towering flames reflected in the rearview mirror.

Ding! Congratulations, host, for setting fire to the Eastern Consulate, aligning with the hardline judgment, raising our nation's prestige, avenging the insult, reward: hardline value +1500 points!

The system prompt rang in his mind.

Lin Yu opened his personal panel and looked at the numbers displayed.

Hardline value: 3650 points.

This figure pleased him. The remaining 650 points from before, plus today's two actions: total annihilation of the Eastern Gendarmerie worth 1500 points, and the consulate fire another 1500 points.

"These Easterners really are a source of easy points," Lin Yu thought, a smile tugging at his mouth.

These hardline values are the most precious resource to him; as long as he keeps collecting them, he can exchange them for greater benefits.

As for the Easterners' retaliation?

Lin Yu let out a cold laugh. "Let them come; it's a perfect chance to grind another wave of hardline value!"

In Shen City, these short‑statured braggarts have no right to flaunt their might yet.

The Security Command Headquarters was brightly lit deep into the night.

"What?!" Qin Dong Zhi sprang to his feet. "What did you say? Lin Yu led troops to burn the Eastern Consulate?"

"Yes… yes," Li Mingze said, wiping cold sweat. "Not only did we burn the consulate, we also killed everyone inside, including Consul Mokumura; not a single survivor was left!"

"This madman!" Qin Dong Zhi slapped the table. "Does he know what consequences this will bring?"

He paced back and forth in the office, his complexion shifting unpredictably.

"First he annihilated the Eastern Gendarmerie, now he burned the consulate… This Lin Yu intends to turn Shen City upside down!"

Li Mingze said cautiously, "Commander, this matter might…"

"What might it be?" Qin Dong Zhi sneered. "The Easterners surely won't let this go unpunished! That's for sure."

He walked to the window and stared at the distant flames. "The Easterners have operated in Shen City for years, their influence tangled like roots. Burning the consulate is a public slap to their face. It would be strange if they didn't retaliate!"

"Then we…"

"The problem is," Qin Dong Zhi interrupted, "where did this Lin Yu get such a strong armed force? A director of the Action Bureau, and yet he can command such an elite unit?"

He turned to Li Mingze. "You think he might be sent by the court?"

"The court?" Li Mingze was taken aback.

"Besides the court, who else could grant him such power?" Qin Dong Zhi narrowed his eyes. "And he confronts the Easterners so brazenly, clearly without fear."

He continued his analysis. "The ramifications are huge. The Easterners will surely pressure the court to severely punish the murderer. But if Lin Yu truly was sent by the court…"

"Then it means the court is covertly backing him against the Easterners?" Li Mingze mused.

"Exactly!" Qin Dong Zhi nodded. "That complicates things. If so, how should we choose sides?"

He sat back down. "Supporting Lin Yu would mean tearing our faces from the Easterners. Over the years, a considerable portion of our interests in Shen City are tied to the Easterners. But if we don't support…"

"If he truly is a court agent, our refusal to support him would be opposing the court," Li Mingze added.

"That's the point!" Qin Dong Zhi sighed. "This Lin Yu really has given me a big dilemma!"

He thought for a moment. "No, we must quickly uncover this kid's background. What exactly is his origin? Does he truly have court backing? All of that must be clarified."

"Also," he continued, "keep an eye on the Easterners' movements. They will surely make a big move, maybe even dispatch troops directly."

"…" Li Mingze's face changed. "Then Shen City will descend into chaos?"

"That's why I say," Qin Dong Zhi sneered, "this Lin Yu intends to turn Shen City upside down!"

He stood up and went to the window. "Send out the orders, have all units stand ready. This storm has only just begun!"

Outside the window, the great fire at the Eastern Consulate still roared, reddening half the sky. That blaze might scorch the whole of Shen City into chaos!

The Public Administration Bureau Building in the French Concession was brightly lit.

Director General Lei Nuo sat at the head seat, his face grim. Deputy Director Du Bang, several French board members, and Chinese directors Shen Zhongyuan, Zhang Jingyao, among others, sat on either side. Police Department Chief Martin stood nearby, reporting the situation.

"Gentlemen," Martin said gravely, "the firefight on Xiafei Road this afternoon caused heavy casualties. Over a thousand Eastern Gendarmerie troops were almost completely wiped out."

"Mon Dieu!" Lei Nuo cursed in French. "Ten years! A full ten years! The French Concession has never seen a clash of this scale!"

"Even more shocking," Martin continued, "just now Lin Yu led troops into the Eastern Concession and burned the consulate! Not a single person inside was left alive!"

The conference room erupted in a clamor.

"This madman!" Du Bang slammed the table. "His audacity is outrageous! Burning a consulate? That's sheer madness!"

Shen Zhongyuan frowned and said, "Everyone, the problem now is that the Fourth Bureau is within our French Concession. Lin Yu's reckless boldness could at any moment…"

"Exactly," Zhang Jingyao replied, "he dared to burn the Eastern Consulate; who knows when he might target our French Concession's institutions?"

The conference room fell silent instantly. Everyone imagined that possibility.

"Impossible!" Lei Nuo stood up. "This is the French Concession! He wouldn't dare…"

"Director General," Shen Zhongyuan chuckled wryly, "to be blunt, if he dares to burn the Eastern Consulate, what else would he not dare?"

"…," Lei Nuo was at a loss for words.

"The key is," Police Department Chief Martin interjected, "our patrol units are no match for them. That force is equipped with advanced gear and fierce firepower. If they cause trouble in the French Concession…"

"No way!" Du Bang cut in. "We must find a way to restrain this madman! Otherwise the security of our French Concession will be ruined!"

"But how to restrain him?" Zhang Jingyao spread his hands. "Even Qin Dong Zhi's Security Command Headquarters can't handle him; what can we do?"

The conference room fell into silence again.

"I suggest," Shen Zhongyuan began, "we first negotiate with the Fourth Bureau. After all, they're within our French Concession; we need to set some rules."

"Negotiations? With a madman?" Du Bang sneered.

"At least it's better than waiting for death," Shen Zhongyuan said seriously, "otherwise the entire French Concession will be in panic!"

Lei Nuo pondered for a moment. "Alright, we'll follow Director Shen's suggestion. Shen Zhongyuan, you go contact the Fourth Bureau and negotiate with Lin Yu on my behalf."

"Yes, Director General."

The others exchanged glances, each seeing worry in the other's eyes. What further deeds might this audacious madman commit?

In one night, the entire Shen City boiled.

"Did you hear? The Fourth Bureau burned the Eastern Consulate!"

"Not only burned it, but also killed everyone inside!"

"Even Consul Kimura wasn't spared; he was shot dead on the spot!"

In teahouses, restaurants, and every street corner, people were discussing this earth‑shattering event.

"Director Lin is too fierce! He just crushed the Eastern Gendarmerie in the afternoon, and dared to burn the consulate in the evening!"

"Isn't that right! It's been years, and no one has dared to deal with Easterners like this!"

"I heard he has a unit under him with extremely fierce firepower!"

Many ordinary citizens privately applauded. These years Easterners have been ruling Shen City, and today finally someone dared to give them a splash of color!

But more people were terrified.

"Now the trouble is huge! Easterners certainly won't let it go peacefully!"

"They might even dispatch troops to Shen City!"

"Is that it? Isn't that raising an army?"

All major newspapers cranked up their presses to rush out special editions.

Shenbao front‑page headline: "Shocking! Fourth Bureau sets fire to the Eastern Consulate; no one survived!"

Xinwenbao: "Director Lin bloodied the consulate, Shen City's situation is about to face a storm!"

Times: "Eastern Consulate turned to ash in one night; Fourth Bureau may spark diplomatic turmoil!"

The business world is also full of anxiety.

"Stop it! Stop it! This is the rhythm of war!"

"All Eastern Trading Firms have closed, counting inventory through the night."

"Major money houses are watching, daring not to conduct business."

The Foreigners in the concession were even more talkative.

"Lin Yu is too crazy!"

"He actually dared to burn the consulate! This is a challenge to the international order!"

"If he dares to touch our consulate..."

Even underground gangs fell silent as if chilled.

"Lord Lin is too fierce! He even dared to burn the consulate!"

"From now on, if you meet someone from the Fourth Bureau, you must go around them!"

"Isn't that right! Whoever provokes gets unlucky!"

In one night, Lin Yu's name spread to every corner of Shen City. Some praised his daring, some marveled at his ruthlessness, and some worried he would cause greater turmoil.

But everyone knows: Shen City is about to change!

This suddenly emerged Fourth Bureau Chief, with a great fire, completely shattered Shen City's decade‑long peace. What will happen next, no one can say.

The only certainty is: this city is about to face an unprecedented storm!