Chapter 60: The Mission Arrives

Inside the Security Command Headquarters office.

Qin Dong Zhi sat in a wide rosewood chair, his fingers continuously tapping the desk. Sunlight streamed in through the window, falling on his fickle face.

"A little patrolman......" He narrowed his eyes, his tone tinged with disbelief, "How could he possibly have grown to this extent？"

The secretary stood aside, speaking cautiously: "Commander, regarding Lin Yu's background, we've investigated again."

"What did you find？"

"Besides his previous stint at the police outpost, we found nothing." The secretary wiped sweat from his forehead, "It's... it's as if he appeared out of nowhere."

"Appeared out of nowhere?" Qin Dong Zhi let out a cold laugh, "Who in this world appears out of nowhere?"

He stood up and walked to the window. In the distance, black smoke could still be seen rising toward Zhenglin Road.

"That battalion-sized unit, I already knew." Qin Dong Zhi's eyes flickered, "But I never imagined it would be this strong. In one night, it annihilated five thousand Eastern troops......"

"And furthermore......" He suddenly turned, his eyes sharp as a blade, "What's the deal with that regiment-sized unit?"

The secretary lowered his head to look at the documents: "According to intelligence, it's about two thousand strong, equipment ordinary but training solid. This unit had zero prior intelligence, as if it suddenly appeared out of nowhere."

"Again, appearing out of nowhere?" Qin Dong Zhi gave a heavy snort.

He sat back down, his fingers tapping the desk again: "Lin Yu is simply a riddle. His background is untraceable, his subordinates suddenly gained a regiment-sized unit, that battalion-sized unit's strength far exceeds expectations, and now he's even wiped out the Eastern troops that entered the city, daring to execute the new consul......"

"Commander, should we......" the secretary probed.

"Don't act rashly!" Qin Dong Zhi shouted, cutting him off, startling the secretary into a shudder, "People like this cannot be gauged by common sense. Keep watching, keep a close eye on him!"

"Yes!"

Watching the secretary's hurriedly retreating back, Qin Dong Zhi's gaze grew deeper.

He knew all too well that anyone capable of annihilating five thousand Eastern troops in a single night is no ordinary person.

Moreover, that regiment-sized unit that suddenly appeared......

Lin Yu, just what is his origin?

Inside the meeting room of the French Concession Public Administration Bureau.

Director General Lei Nuo sat in the chief seat, his face grim. His fingers unconsciously rubbed the coffee cup before him, his eyes hinting at unease.

"Gentlemen," he tapped the table, breaking the silence in the meeting room, "We must confront an issue."

"What issue?" the Deputy Director General frowned and asked.

"The Fourth Bureau." Lei Nuo took a deep breath, "Although they work in our concession, they are fundamentally an institution of the Great Dry Dynasty, a subordinate unit of the Security Command Headquarters. We have never had the authority to control them."

"And now......" his voice suddenly dropped, "Lin Yu has displayed such terrifying strength."

The meeting room fell silent. Everyone knew what happened last night. Five thousand Eastern troops were annihilated, even the new consul of the Eastern Concession was executed. Such methods, such strength, are chilling.

"Our concession only has two thousand French garrison troops." Lei Nuo stood up and paced to the window, "Moreover, their equipment and training are quite ordinary. If Lin Yu truly intends to act against us......"

He didn't finish, but everyone understood his meaning. Last night's battle already fully demonstrated Lin Yu's strength. The firepower of that battalion-sized unit is simply shocking to hear. The coordination of that regiment-sized unit is even more astonishing.

"Therefore," Lei Nuo turned and scanned the room, "I suggest that in concession affairs we try to avoid conflict with the Fourth Bureau. As long as their actions aren't too out of line, we should not interfere."

"Wouldn't this make us look too weak?" the Deputy Director General frowned, though his tone already carried some wavering.

"Weak?" Lei Nuo snorted, "Do you want to go head-to-head like the Easterners did? Five thousand men—gone in a single night. Do you think our two thousand garrison could beat them?"

The meeting room fell silent again. Indeed, no one thought the French garrison could match Lin Yu's forces. That firepower, that tactical proficiency, are far beyond what these troops can compare to.

Soon, everyone agreed with Lei Nuo's suggestion. This is already the wisest choice. It's far better than the Easterners' approach of losing their entire force.

After the meeting adjourned, Lei Nuo stood alone by the window, gazing at the distant street. He knew that from today on, their relationship with the Fourth Bureau must be more cautious.

Sometimes, assessing the situation is more valuable than blind obstinacy.

This, is reality!

Outside the gate of the Fourth Bureau.

Early in the morning a long queue had formed. The shop owners, all in suits, kept their heads down, like pilgrims awaiting worship.

"Director Lin, this is our shop's monthly security fee."

The plump merchant Boss Zhang beamed, both hands reverently pushing a stack of silver dollars onto the table. His hand trembled slightly, fine beads of sweat appearing on his forehead.

Just yesterday, this Boss Zhang was still spouting off in the teahouse.

"The Fourth Bureau? Even worthy of standing up to the Easterners?"

"Five thousand elite troops—surely they'll beat Lin Yu black and blue."

But now he stands here like a grandson.

Lin Yu looked at the plump merchant before him, the corner of his mouth curling into a meaningful smile: "Boss Zhang, you spoke quite lively yesterday in the teahouse."

"Ah?" Boss Zhang's face instantly turned pale, "Lin... Director Lin, please let me explain......"

"No need to explain." Lin Yu lightly brushed it off, "I don't hold grudges. However......"

"However what?" Boss Zhang's heart leapt to his throat.

"This month's fee must be doubled."

"Yes yes yes! It should be!" Boss Zhang hastily produced another stack of silver dollars and placed it on the table, "Director Lin, you are magnanimous!"

Watching Boss Zhang's embarrassed retreat, the other shop owners fell silent like cicadas in winter.

"Director Lin, this is the security fee."

"This is the stability fee."

Stacks of silver dollars piled up on the table into a little hill. Everyone's smiles were more grim than tears.

Who could have imagined that the arrogant Eastern consul, leading five thousand elite troops into the city, would be annihilated in a single night?

What kind of security chief is this? This is clearly a killing god!

"Director Lin, our shop wants to contribute more." a merchant said obsequiously, placing two more stacks of silver dollars on the table.

"Yes yes, we also want to contribute more." others chimed in.

Fearing that contributing too little would make them a second Pierre.

Lin Yu sat behind his desk, looking at these fawning faces, a hint of a cold smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

This is human nature.

This is reality.

In the face of absolute strength, all rules and decorum are nothing but a joke.

"Starting next month," he said lightly, "Just pay the silver dollars on time."

"Yes, yes, yes!" everyone nodded repeatedly.

Just then, the familiar system prompt sounded.

【Host strength meets standards, mission system activated!】

Lin Yu's eyes narrowed. Mission system? That's quite a novelty.

【Mission One: Blood Debt Blood Repayment】

He watched the words appear on the system panel, his eyes gradually sharpening.

Require the host to repay in kind, blood-wash the Eastern Concession.

Within three months, annihilate an Eastern division stationed near Shen City.

Reward: Advanced lottery chance ×1

"Blood-wash the Eastern Concession?" Lin Yu curled the corner of his mouth in a cold smile, "Interesting."

【Mission Two: King's Return】

Require the host to establish hegemony over Shen City within three months.

Make the Great Powers understand this is Great Dry's land.

Reward: Advanced lottery chance ×1

"Establish hegemony?" Lin Yu stood up and walked to the window.

In the distance, the direction of the French Concession's edge still drifted with wisps of black smoke—traces of last night's battle.

"Looks like," he murmured softly, "this is just the beginning."

Blood-wash the Eastern Concession.

Annihilate a division.

Establish hegemony.

Each of these three things alone would be enough to shake Shen City, but now the system demands he complete all of them within three months.

"Interesting."

Lin Yu turned around, looking at the pile of silver dollars stacked like a mountain in the office, a flash of cold light passing through his eyes.

Looking ahead, Shen City, the Pearl of the East, will become even more vibrant and colorful.

And he, Lin Yu, will be the protagonist of this grand show!