Chapter 273: I Also Want

Chen Mo Zhi also stepped forward immediately; he isn't used to being the focus of everyone's attention, but he knows he must step up.

"Judge Chi, Ying Duo and Shen Zexi are my guests and also my teammates; if you have any questions about my guests, you can speak directly with me."

"On the Chen Family's territory, applying undue pressure on my friends... even the Judgment Court must give the Chen Family an answer."

Even though the Chen Family is now wavering, a starved camel is still larger than a horse.

Moreover, he has heard Min Tianyou and Meng Kexin say that Shen Zexi and Ying Duo are coming here to see if they can be of any help.

Putting Ying Duo aside for now, he has personally experienced how considerate Shen Zexi is in his actions.

"An answer?"

Chi Jinan scoffed, finally shifting his gaze away from Ying Duo; his look at the others was laced with contempt.

"Do you think I can't afford to crush the Chen Family? Or do you believe your current situation gives you the right to demand an answer from me?"

Those words were extremely harsh, practically trampling the Chen Family's dignity into the ground.

Chen Mo Zhi's expression grew even darker; he knows Chi Jinan despises those nobles, and even many high‑ranking nobles in Tianmian City deliberately avoid Chi Jinan.

Beyond the family behind Chi Jinan, the more important fact is that everyone knows he's mentally unstable, yet he has risen to a high position in the Church, and no one can cure him.

Min Tianyou also sensed Chi Jinan's growing murderous intent.

"This isn't a matter of whether you can afford it; the Crown has always been lenient toward you regarding that incident, but that can't justify you slaughtering the innocent."

The Crown is especially tolerant of those who gamble their lives for a future, yet in the Crown's eyes, the most important are always the ordinary citizens of Tianmian City.

If Chi Jinan were to completely discard all rules, even the Crown would not be lenient with him.

"Innocent?"

Chi Jinan didn't argue with Min Tianyou, merely acting as if he'd heard something amusing; his gaze drifted back to Ying Duo, who remained leisurely seated on the sofa, as if detached from the matter.

"He's not without innocence; just verify and you'll know. Rest assured, I'll be measured in my strike; he won't die... probably."

Those light, floating words "probably" sent Shen Zexi's heart plummeting to the bottom of a valley.

This madman doesn't care about the consequences at all.

He's even too lazy to give a perfunctory response.

Fortunately, the conflict didn't actually erupt.

Chi Jinan narrowed his eyes; he won't be satisfied with a simple end, but Min Tianyou also made his stance clear—if he dares to make a move, Min Tianyou can turn around and report him to the Crown.

"Fine then, since Captain Min and the head of the Chen Family are so protective of their classmates, let's verify this Ying Duo fellow's innocence in another way."

A smileless curve lifted the corner of his mouth as he said slowly,

"The latest intel I received shows Co-Absorption has abnormal activity in the surface Slum, possibly linked to the previous chain explosions and Mutation contamination incidents; the Crown has specially authorized me to lead a team down for investigation."

His gaze swept over Ying Duo, Shen Zexi, and finally rested on Min Tianyou's face.

"Since this Ying Guang Lu fellow happens to be connected to several incident sites, and his teammate is also here... why not have them ride the Church's Teleportation Array with me for a trip to the surface?"

It's a bright scheme.

Refuse?

That would amount to admitting cowardice, and Chi Jinan would instantly have a reason to take harsher measures.

Accept?

That's no different from voluntarily jumping into the trap Chi Jinan set; with travel between the surface and Tianmian City now difficult, if something happens to them in the Slum, no one can stop it.

Min Tianyou's expression shifted, as if asking what difference there is between sending a few students into the current Slum and sending a lamb into the tiger's mouth.

But he also knows Chi Jinan has already backed off; if they forcefully refuse again, given Chi Jinan's temperament, he would indeed act on the spot without regard for anything.

"I'm going."

Ying Duo's calm voice rang out, cutting off everyone's thoughts.

Everyone turned to look at him.

"Ying Duo!" Shen Zexi hurried.

Ying Duo seemed not to hear, but added, "Shen Zexi is also going; we're teammates."

Shen Zexi's affection for him was evident; at a crucial moment, Shen's mother would surely always pamper him.

Shen Zexi was startled, then understood Ying Duo's meaning—rather than argue, it's better to bind directly.

He nodded immediately, his tone resolute:

"Right, we'll go together!"

Chen Mo Zhi opened his mouth, intending to say he would also go, but recalling the mess his family currently faces that still requires his handling, he swallowed the words and merely watched them with worry.

Meng Kexin lowered her head, her fingers unconsciously sinking into a plush teddy bear.

Those who know understand they're heading to the Slum for investigation; those who don't might think they're going to accompany each other on the road to the afterlife.

Clearly, they barely spent any time together, yet the wasteland folk place such importance on friendship?

Chi Jinan was quite pleased with Ying Duo's eager agreement; Ying Duo could now be considered his primary suspect—he's been searching for the Flame City Cannon for far too long, and his brutal thoughts only lack an outlet.

He hopes the people behind Co-Absorption can take a few hits.

He glanced at Min Tianyou: "Captain Min, shall we go together?"

Min Tianyou gritted his teeth and finally nodded:

"I'm going."

No matter what Shen Zexi says, he is a genuine Fate Oracle; the current plan is proceeding fairly smoothly, but the presence of the Divine Oracle cannot be ignored either.

"Then let the head of the Chen Family and this little sidekick stay here to handle your Chen Family's 'family affairs'; we have no time to wait."

Chen Mo Zhi's complexion turned sour, yet he could not refute it.

Chi Jinan said no more, turned and walked toward the doorway, seemingly in a good mood.

Min Tianyou rubbed his temples, looked at Ying Duo and Shen Zexi, "You're too impulsive; Chi Jinan… you have no idea how dangerous he truly is."

Even his sister often reminds him to stay far from Chi Jinan; Chi Jinan's "destruction" tendency is extremely severe, but if it weren't for that, he wouldn't have been chosen.

Impulsive?

Not necessarily.

Ying Duo was being simultaneously attacked and lectured by Min Tianyou and Shen Zexi, yet Yang Yixie's eyes had already moved away from the computer screen that kept spawning dialogue boxes.

Chi Jinan had murderous intent toward him; did he not feel the same toward Chi Jinan?

Indeed, due to various factors, Ying Duo cannot act as recklessly as Chi Jinan.

But the crux of the issue is that Ying Duo truly is the wanted criminal they speak of—sigh—so rather than devising ways to hide his own problems, it would be better to directly eliminate the one who raised the issue.

Anyway, a teacher you get for free shouldn't be left unused.

The key issue is how to get the message to Fang Zhiyan?