Chapter 44

Lin Yu led his men away from the Green Gang headquarters in a swaggering manner, leaving behind a scene of bloodshed and wails.

After returning to the Fourth Bureau, he leaned back in his chair, lit a cigarette, and gazed at the night outside the window.

In just a single day, he completely reshaped Shen City's landscape with blood and fire.

That afternoon on Xiafei Road, he annihilated the foreign constabulary; over a thousand men, none survived.

At dusk he stormed the Eastern Concession, set fire to the consulate in one blaze, and personally gunned down Consul Mucun.

That night he again bloodbathed the Green Gang headquarters, turning Cheng Hu into a blind, crippled beggar.

"Lin Madman..." he softly murmured, this new nickname that had recently been circulating in Shen City, and the corner of his mouth curled into a cold smile.

Yes, he is indeed a madman—one who plays by no rules, dares to provoke anyone, and breaks any regulation.

The entire underground world of Shen City was saying: the newly appointed Fourth Bureau Chief is a complete madman. He does whatever he wants, caring nothing for consequences.

He even dares to burn the foreigners' consulate—what else wouldn't he dare to do?

"Lin Madman"—this epithet has become the most dreaded presence in Shen City, striking fear at the mere mention.

But this is only just beginning.

Lin Yu stubbed out his cigarette, a flash of cold light flickering in his eyes.

Since he's going to be a madman, he'll go all the way!

In this Shen City teeming with chaos, he will redefine the rules in his own way!

【Ding! Host overwhelmingly swept the Green Gang headquarters, displaying his toughness, meeting the system's toughness judgment, and earning a Hardness Value Reward of 200 points.】

"Chief," Zhou Wei pushed the door open and entered, "Commander Qin has arrived."

Lin Yu's mouth twitched slightly. At this time, coming over could only be to raise an accusation and, incidentally, test his limits.

"Please have him come up."

Not long after, Qin Dong Zhi strode into the office. Seeing Lin Yu leisurely leaning back in his chair smoking, he let out a cold snort.

"Heh," Qin Dong Zhi said with a sarcastic tone, "Director Lin, you're really putting on airs now. Those who don't know might think you're the Defense Army Commander of Shen City in the Great Dry Dynasty."

Lin Yu exhaled a smoke ring: "What do you mean by that, Commander Qin?"

"What do you mean?" Qin Dong Zhi sneered, "This afternoon on Xiafei Road you opened a killing spree, tonight you burned the foreign consulate, and just now you bloodbathed the Green Gang headquarters."

He said each word deliberately: "Director Lin, who do you think you are? By what right do you act so lawlessly in Shen City?"

"Lawlessly?" Lin Yu laughed, "I call this acting according to the law."

"According to the law?" Qin Dong Zhi snorted angrily, "You burned the foreign consulate—is that also acting according to the law?"

"How so?" Lin Yu narrowed his eyes, "Are you speaking up for the foreigners, Commander Qin?"

"You!" Qin Dong Zhi's voice faltered.

This young man speaks too harshly. Bringing up "speaking for the foreigners" at a time like this is practically slapping him in the face.

"Lin Yu," Qin Dong Zhi lowered his voice, "don't go too far! This is Shen City—not a place where you can do whatever you want!"

"Oh?" Lin Yu stood up, "Then Commander Qin, tell me, how should Shen City be?"

He stepped toward Qin Dong Zhi: "Should we let the foreigners swagger on the streets? Or let gangster forces run rampant?"

"You..."

"Or rather," Lin Yu sneered, "do you think, Commander Qin, that we should maintain the status quo and peacefully split the spoils?"

Qin Dong Zhi's face turned ashen. This Lin Yu, his words leave no room for maneuver!

"I warn you," Qin Dong Zhi gritted his teeth, "enough is enough! Otherwise..."

"Otherwise what?" Lin Yu interrupted, "Are you going to send troops to besiege the Fourth Bureau?"

Qin Dong Zhi was at a loss for words. He indeed lacked the courage. This madman dares to burn the foreign consulate—who knows what other tricks he has up his sleeve?

"Commander Qin," Lin Yu sat back down in his chair, "I know what you want to say. But..."

He stubbed out his cigarette: "This is the Fourth Bureau, not the Security Command Headquarters. You have no authority here."

Qin Dong Zhi trembled with rage, yet could do nothing about it.

This madman no longer regards anyone at all!

【Ding! Host defied his superior, neither humble nor arrogant, struck back forcefully, earning 100 Hardness Value points.】

【Current Hardness Value: 3950 points】

Lin Yu glanced at the System Prompt, the corner of his mouth turning up slightly.

From wiping out the Health Union Association, to annihilating the foreign constabulary, then burning the consulate and bloodbathing the Green Gang headquarters, each step accumulated his Hardness Value.

Now even defying Qin Dong Zhi can earn Hardness Value.

It seems this system just wants him to run roughshod over Shen City.

If that's the case...

Lin Yu looked at Qin Dong Zhi, who was so angry he could not speak, and a glint of cold light flashed in his eyes.

Then let's keep being crazy!

Qin Dong Zhi took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the anger rising in his chest.

As the esteemed Defense Army Commander, being driven near to losing composure by a greenhorn—if word got out, wouldn't that be a laughingstock?

After adjusting his emotions, Qin Dong Zhi resumed his Old Fox demeanor.

"Director Lin," he said slowly, "do you know how many years I've served as Defense Army Commander in Shen City?"

Without waiting for Lin Yu's reply, he continued, "Fifteen years. In these fifteen years I have commanded thirty thousand troops, yet I have never dared to lightly break Shen City's rules."

He gave Lin Yu a meaningful look: "You say I lack the courage, or the strength?"

Lin Yu smiled noncommittally.

"Don't think I can't deal with you," Qin Dong Zhi narrowed his eyes, "with my thirty thousand troops, taking on your Fourth Bureau would be a piece of cake."

He paused: "But I won't do that. Why? Because you too are an official of the court, and also count as part of the Defense Army Command Headquarters. I don't want to turn on my own people."

Speaking of this, Qin Dong Zhi suddenly shifted the conversation: "Speaking of which, Director Lin, where are you from? The court sent you to Shen City just to monitor me, this Defense Army Commander?"

Qin Dong Zhi stared intently at Lin Yu's expression: "With your reckless behavior, you must have the court's backing, right? Otherwise, how could a mere Bureau Chief have such audacity?"

The Old Fox finally revealed their true colors.

It turned out Qin Dong Zhi had been suspecting all along that they were a pawn planted by the court in Shen City.

Lin Yu smiled meaningfully, took out a cigarette from the cigarette case, and lit it slowly and deliberately.

"Commander Qin," he exhaled a smoke ring, "You say I'm a court person—does that matter?"

He looked into Qin Dong Zhi's eyes: "If you want to deal with me, bring it on. However..."

Lin Yu's voice suddenly turned cold: "I want to remind Commander Qin that I, Lin Yu, always repay grudges. If you can't handle me..."

He chuckled lightly: "The nickname 'Lin Madman' is not for nothing."

Qin Dong Zhi narrowed their eyes, carefully pondering Lin Yu's words.

This kid's words are watertight, neither admitting nor denying being a court person. But this ambiguous attitude makes people even more wary.

If Qin Dong Zhi really is a court-planted pawn, then acting rashly would be playing right into the court's hands.

But if Lin Yu isn't... where does this kid's confidence come from?

A madman who could challenge foreigners and underground forces in just a few days—who knows what other tricks he has hidden?

Qin Dong Zhi suddenly realized they could not see through this young person.

This feeling made Qin Dong Zhi very uncomfortable.

Lin Yu stubbed out the cigarette, looking at Commander Qin: "Commander Qin, let me speak from the heart."

"Currently, I harbor no hostility toward you." He leaned back in the chair, "I do not offend those who do not offend me; this is my principle."

"As for my dislike of foreigners acting recklessly in Shen City, that's my own affair." Lin Yu's tone turned serious, "I don't need Commander Qin's interference, but I also don't want you to hinder me."

Qin Dong Zhi pondered for a moment, then suddenly snorted coldly.

"You little brat," Qin Dong Zhi shook their head, "Originally just listening to the tune but not the proclamation—I, as commander, can't control you either."

Qin Dong Zhi stood up, adjusted their uniform: "Then go ahead as you wish. But remember, you must bear any consequences you bring upon yourself."

Having said that, Qin Dong Zhi strode out of the office and slammed the door shut.

Watching Qin Dong Zhi's retreating back, Lin Yu's lips curled up slightly.

The Old Fox finally understood. In Shen City, they are an untamed wild horse that no one can control.

As for the consequences?

He has never feared any consequences.