Chapter 68: No One May Snore Beside the Couch?

Lin Yu did not get up to see him off, but signaled Zhou Wei to escort Qin Dongzhi away.

He lifted his teacup and quietly watched the night view outside the window. Shen City's lights were splendid, yet beneath this bustling façade, hidden currents surged.

"Bureau Chief," Zhou Wei said after sending Qin Dongzhi away and returning to the private room, "you revealed the Inspection Envoy's identity tonight; although its rank and status are not as high as Qin Dongzhi's, it is a great deterrent to that Old Fox. At least he won't dare to meddle with us any longer."

Lin Yu took a light sip of tea, a faint cold smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.

"Secretary Zhou, you're too naive," he said, setting down his teacup, "Qin Dongzhi is a high-ranking official in Shen City. Although on the surface the Garrison Office still keeps him in check, in reality, with military power in his hands, he is the undisputed boss."

"Then why do you..."

"My identity as an Inspection Envoy represents a signal," Lin Yu's voice deepened, "a signal that the court no longer trusts him. Previously, no matter how recklessly I acted, I was not considered a close threat in Qin Dongzhi's eyes. But from now on..."

He paused, a cold glint flashing in his eyes: "That Old Fox probably wants to kill me at every moment."

"This..." Zhou Wei's face changed, "doesn't that make it very dangerous?"

"Dangerous?" Lin Yu sneered, "did you think he never wanted to deal with us before? He just hadn't found the right opportunity."

He stood up and walked to the window: "But now is not the time to settle scores with him. Wait, after we deal with that Japanese brigade, we'll have a proper talk with that Old Fox."

"You mean..." Zhou Wei's eyes lit up.

"Exactly," Lin Yu's eyes flashed with murderous intent, "first make him paranoid and restless there. After we eliminate the Japanese, we'll deal with this Shen City local tyrant!"

Zhou Wei watched Lin Yu's confident demeanor and suddenly understood something.

This game has only just begun.

And Qin Dongzhi is merely the next target.

The sedan slowly pulled away from the Great Three Yuan Restaurant.

Qin Dongzhi sat in the back seat, his expression dreadfully grim. Throughout the ride, he said nothing, only repeatedly tapping the armrest with his fingers.

Li Mingze sat beside him, watching his own Commander's expression, his heart pounding. He had followed Qin Dongzhi for years and had never seen the Commander so out of sorts.

"Commander," he finally couldn't hold back, "what did Lin Yu... say?"

Qin Dongzhi let out a cold laugh: "What did he say? He actually gave me a tremendous surprise."

"Surprise?"

"Take a guess," Qin Dongzhi turned his head toward Li Mingze, "what exactly is this madman's identity?"

Li Mingze was startled: "Isn't he the Fourth Bureau Chief?"

"Ha," Qin Dongzhi said coldly, "he produced a commission from the Military Affairs Office, appointing him as the Security Army Inspection Envoy of Shen City! An imperial envoy of the court!"

"What?!" Li Mingze was so shocked he nearly jumped up, "the court's Inspection Envoy?"

"Exactly," Qin Dongzhi squinted, "a high-ranking imperial envoy who appeared from nowhere."

"But..." Li Mingze, his face full of confusion, "what about his troops..."

"That's the most troubling part," Qin Dongzhi said coldly, "since when does the court have such an elite unit?"

"Could it be..."

"Stop guessing," Qin Dongzhi cut him off, "whether he's real or not, this madman now bearing the Inspection Envoy title is a sword hanging over our heads!"

Li Mingze inhaled a sharp breath of cold air.

He knows his Commander all too well. Over the years, Qin Dongzhi has thrived in Shen City, wielding massive forces, and even the Garrison Office has to give him some respect.

But now, an unknown Inspection Envoy has suddenly emerged, bringing a powerful force...

Isn't this aimed directly at the Commander?

"Go back and have someone investigate," Qin Dongzhi suddenly said, "find out everything about Lin Yu. All court factions, the Military Affairs Office's movements, any possible leads—everything must be investigated!"

"Yes!"

The sedan vanished into Shen City's night.

And this night was destined to be sleepless.

Inside the sedan, Qin Dongzhi closed his eyes and contemplated.

The court's Inspection Envoy?

He sneered inwardly. This identity came too suddenly, too suspiciously.

If the court intends to send an Inspection Envoy, why didn't it inform this Security Commander in advance? Why let an unknown person bring a mysterious unit into Shen City?

Unless... the court has grown suspicious of me.

Over the years, he has thrived in Shen City. With thirty thousand Security Army troops, six major operation bureaus, the entire military‑civil authority of Shen City lies in his hands. Even the Garrison Office has to give him some thin respect.

Such power indeed easily arouses the court's suspicion.

Yet even so, the court shouldn't send such a madman. A massacre of the concession, killing the Japanese consul—none of that resembles the court's methods.

Could it be someone from a faction?

Qin Dongzhi furrowed his brows. Court factions vie openly and covertly; perhaps someone wants to control the strategic stronghold of Shen City. And he himself is the stumbling block.

Regardless, Lin Yu is a threat.

No One May Snore Beside the Couch?

Whether the court doubts me or I am merely guarding myself, I dislike having such a nail stuck in Shen City.

It seems the time has come to face the Lin Yu issue. This nail must be pulled out!

Only... a hint of gloom flickered in Qin Dongzhi's eyes.

At least on the surface, Lin Yu is the court's imperial envoy. I can't openly move against him.

"Japanese are truly useless!" he muttered inwardly, "they can't even handle a madman."

"Li Mingze."

"Present, Commander."

"Go back and have people prepare," Qin Dongzhi's eyes flashed coldly, "I need all intelligence from the Fourth Bureau—personnel composition, weapons, daily activities—everything must be under control!"

"Yes!"

Qin Dong Zhi has already started calculating, wondering how to eliminate this serious threat.

"Old Fox," Lin Yu gazed at the table full of delicious dishes, "Not even moving his chopsticks— isn't that a waste?"

He leisurely picked up a piece of braised pork, savoring it slowly. The culinary skill of Great Three Elements truly lives up to its reputation; this braised pork is cooked to perfection— fatty but not greasy, melting in the mouth.

"Secretary Zhou," Lin Yu wiped his mouth, "Let's settle the bill."

"Yes."

Hong Yuan had been waiting outside; seeing Lin Yu about to leave, he hurried forward, sweat beading on his forehead.

"Director Lin," he bowed and scraped, "It's an honor to be able to come; this meal is on me..."

Lin Yu slipped his hands into his pockets and gave Hong Yuan a faint glance.

Just that glance almost made Hong Yuan collapse to the ground. He felt a chill run through his body, as if a fierce beast had fixed its gaze on him.

"Boss Hong," Lin Yu sneered, "Do you think I'm the kind of person who eats and doesn't pay?"

"No, no, no," Hong Yuan hastily waved his hands, "I didn't mean that; I meant..."

"However," Lin Yu shifted his tone, "I can't refuse your goodwill. In that case, I'll give you two silver dollars."

Zhou Wei understood, took out two silver dollars from his pocket, and placed them in Hong Yuan's hand.

"Director Lin, you're too polite," Hong Yuan, treating it as a treasure, bowed repeatedly, "I couldn't possibly accept..."

"Just keep it," Lin Yu said calmly.

Hong Yuan instantly felt grateful and kept thanking him.

In Shen City, who doesn't know Lin Yu is a lunatic? To earn his favor is a tremendous blessing! Those two silver dollars are worth far more than a meal.

Watching Hong Yuan's obsequious demeanor, Lin Yu curled his lip in a contemptuous smile.

This is Shen City— everyone is scheming, everyone is pondering.

But he, Lin Yu, never follows conventional tactics.

"Let's go," he turned and headed downstairs, "Tonight's show should wrap up now."