Chapter 547: Prioritize Resolving Public Opinion

Wei Gong did not rush to issue an order.

He first pushed the teacup to one side.

The cup bottom touched the tabletop.

It made no sound.

The meeting room, however, was extremely quiet.

Everyone was staring at him.

Wei Gong lifted his eyelids and looked toward that white-haired senior executive.

"You just said, the Federation's dignity cannot be lost."

The white-haired senior executive straightened his back.

"Yes."

"You also said, Zhou Ping must be eliminated immediately."

"Yes."

Wei Gong nodded.

"Good."

He reached out, took a black file folder from under the table, and pushed it forward.

The file folder slid across the tabletop and stopped in front of the white-haired senior executive.

There was no title on it.

Only a string of red authorization codes.

The white-haired senior executive's face twitched.

Wei Gong spoke.

"Open it."

The white-haired senior executive did not move.

Wei Gong looked at him.

"You care about dignity, don't you?"

"Open it."

Someone nearby frowned.

"Bureau Chief, we're discussing the Seven-Eyed King now; we shouldn't lay internal conflicts on the table......"

Wei Gong raised his hand.

That person fell silent.

The white-haired senior executive slowly reached out, his fingertips touching the file folder, but he dared not open it.

Wei Gong opened it for him.

First page.

A funds flow diagram.

Second page.

A list of three low-rank spirit controllers who were forcibly conscripted into the experimental group.

Third page.

Death report.

Fourth page.

Record of withheld family compensation.

In the meeting room, someone leaned back.

No one spoke.

Wei Gong pushed the file folder forward another half inch.

"Zhao Rong."

The white-haired senior executive's throat moved slightly.

"Bureau Chief, the source of these materials is unclear."

Wei Gong said: "The source is your secretary's personal terminal."

Zhao Rong's hand froze on the table.

Wei Gong continued: "You keep talking about the Federation's dignity."

"I ask you."

"When you took the death benefits and bought a safe house for your son, where was the dignity?"

Zhao Rong stood up.

"Slander!"

"This is slander!"

"I have worked for the Federation for thirty years!"

"I have merit!"

Wei Gong did not look at him, turning instead to another conservative representative.

"Liu Chengzhi."

The color also drained from that person's face.

Wei Gong then took out a second file folder and flung it before him.

The files scattered.

Encrypted communication screenshots, private lab photos, three altered casualty records, all spread out on the table.

Liu Chengzhi pressed down hard on the file.

Pressed too late.

L sat in the corner, added a sentence.

「Backup has been synced to the Review Department's intranet. Can't be deleted. Done. »

Liang Wen sat in the wheelchair, couldn't hold back.

「This is called on-site doxxing. »

Su Ming glanced at him.

「If you keep dubbing, the nurse will really shave you bald. »

Liang Wen raised his hand to cover his hair.

「This lord is entering seclusion. »

Lord Wei ignored them.

He stared at Zhao Rong and Liu Chengzhi.

「You two, you shouted the loudest just now. »

「We need face. »

「We need order. »

「We need to hit Zhou Ping right away. »

The old man pressed his palm on the tabletop.

「Because Zhou Ping's next strike could easily land on you. »

「You participated in the Special Advisory Group's decision. »

Zhao Rong's facial muscles twitched.

「Director, you can't deprive me of my speaking rights just because of a few unverified materials! »

「Verification? »

Lord Wei looked toward the door.

「Come in. »

The conference room door was pushed open.

Two squads of armed personnel walked in.

Black combat suits.

On their chests was the Investigation Bureau's internal inspection insignia.

They made no extra movements, going straight to stand behind Zhao Rong and Liu Chengzhi.

Zhao Rong widened his eyes.

「Wei Shanhe! »

He directly addressed Lord Wei by his given name for the first time.

「Are you planning an internal purge? »

Lord Wei sat there, ramrod straight.

「Not that. »

「It has already begun. »

Armed personnel pressed down on Zhao Rong's shoulder.

Zhao Rong struggled a bit, and his shoulder insignia was ripped off on the spot.

That metal insignia fell onto the table.

The sound was very soft.

But everyone heard it.

Liu Chengzhi gritted his teeth.

「You will regret it. »

Lord Wei said: 「I have many regrets. »

「But it won't include cleaning you up. »

Zhao Rong was dragged toward the door.

He was still cursing.

「Without us old-timers, what do you have to maintain the system? »

「Rely on Jiang Yuan and these kids? »

「Rely on this sort of broken-armed woman? »

Qin Zhixia raised her head.

The mechanical prosthetic arm hasn't been fully calibrated; its finger movements are a bit stiff.

She didn't get up.

She just placed her hand on the table.

The metal fingertip tapped twice.

「Old Zhao, turn right out the door, to the inspection room. »

「Don't get lost. »

Liang Wen whispered: 「Qin Team, that line has the right vibe. »

Su Ming: 「Eh, smash the old coot. »

Zhao Rong was dragged out the door.

Liu Chengzhi was also taken away.

The door closed.

The meeting room was missing two chairs.

No one dared to speak up again.

Wei Gong scanned the entire venue.

"Do you all still treat the crown as a public order case?"

"Wrong."

"This is a war for the survival of species."

He opened the main screen.

The pattern of the Seven-Eyed Crown appeared in the center of the screen.

The dark red pattern was turning.

"The gods dropped the crown not to help the lower classes seek justice."

"Nor was it to clean up rotten meat for the Federation."

"It is baiting us."

Wei Gong's finger pointed at the tabletop.

"Zhou Ping killed wicked people."

"The populace cheered."

"If we attack Zhou Ping, the populace will curse us."

"If we don't attack Zhou Ping, the Guile Masters will be afraid."

"If we launch a strong assault, S-Class Combat Power is restrained by the crown."

"If we delay, Zhou Ping's faith will rise."

He paused for half a second.

"This is a yang scheme."

Jiang Yuan sat below, and the wound on his chest seeped blood again.

He did not lower his head.

Every word Wei Gong said matched the suppressive force in the club.

The crown is not strong.

It is specially designed to dismantle their foundations.

The Guile Masters rely on fierce ghosts to survive.

The crown can seize fierce ghosts.

Placing this thing on the battlefield is like putting the whole system on the ground for judgment.

Wei Gong continued: "Once we exhaust our foundations to deadlock with Zhou Ping, the gods will have won the first step."

"Humanity will consume itself internally."

"The Investigation Bureau will lose the people's hearts."

"The Guile Masters' system will collapse."

"What's worse, the gods will gain time."

He lifted his eyes.

"Everyone, don't forget."

"What we truly have to face is not Zhou Ping."

"It is the thing that wrote the script."

As these words fell, many people in the meeting room lowered their heads.

Those who had just been arguing loudly now dare not respond.

Wei Gong's speech speed was not fast.

"The gods are growing stronger."

"Chu Men, Sai Men, Seven-Eyed Crown, Gospel Seed, High-Dimensional Observation."

"Every step forces humanity to make mistakes."

"If we follow its rhythm, we will lose even our underwear."

Liang Wen raised his head.

"Bureau Chief, the word 'underpants' is very down-to-earth."

Wei Gong glanced at him.

Liang Wen immediately sat upright.

"I reflect."

Wei Gong withdrew his gaze.

"So, the order has changed."

Everyone's spirits were shaken.

Wei Gong spoke up.

"Stop the meaningless consumption targeting Zhou Ping."

"Pause the large-scale strong assault plan."

"Retain surveillance, retain tracking, retain emergency beheading authority."

But the main mission has been changed to an internal audit.

He pressed the authorization button on the desktop.

The Red Command box popped up.

"Top-level internal audit."

"Codename: Purify Abyss Operation."

On the screen, four characters lit up.

Purify Abyss Operation.

Wei Gong's tone subdued the entire room.

"Special advisory team, first batch for review."

"Senior Weird‑handlers' private labs, second batch for review."

"Local branch funding chains, third batch for review."

"All usage records of Weird Containment Objects are to be re‑audited."

"Any involving loss of life, illicit profit transfer, falsified military merits, or private trade in Weird Objects shall be suspended and placed under control."

"Resisters will be suppressed on the spot."

The head of the Investigation Department stood up.

"Director, the scope is too wide; it will implicate many people."

Wei Gong said: "Then let it implicate."

"If we don't cut away the rotten flesh, Zhou Ping will do it for us."

"When the knife is in someone else's hand, whether it hurts or not will no longer be up to us."

Qin Zhixia lifted her head.

She understood those words.

It was not bowing her head to Zhou Ping.

It was snatching back the moral knife from Zhou Ping's hand.

The Federation must survive; it cannot rely on covering up shame.

In the end, covering up will only become a pawn in the hands of the gods.

Wei Gong continued: "Public Opinion Department."

"Within three hours, disclose the full investigation process of the Chen Huaiyuan case."

"Restore the files of the sixty‑three victims of Huai Shu Gou."

"Compensation to be delivered to each household."

"The families involved in the case shall be taken over by the Investigation Bureau's highest medical and security systems."

"Don't give me official‑speak."

The head of the Public Opinion Department stood up.

"Understood."

Wei Gong looked toward the Technology Department.

"L."

L pushed up his black‑frame glasses.

"Here."

"Track Zhou Ping's money flow, but don't cut it all off."

"Leave three lines."

"I want to see who is giving him money and who is lending him to launder."

L tapped the keyboard.

"Received. Phishing enforcement module activated. Note: legality questionable."

Wei Gong said: "I approve."

L nodded.

"Legality has been patched."

Su Ming whispered: "You really patched that fast."

L: "Off‑work demand drives efficiency."

Liang Wen almost laughed out loud.

Qin Zhixia glanced over.

He held back again.

Wei Gong looked toward Jiang Yuan.

"Action Department."

Jiang Yuan stood up.

"Present."

"The core team is fully armed."

"The target is not Zhou Ping."

"The target is an internal tumor."

Jiang Yuan's hand rested on the Card Bag.

"Understood."

Wei Gong added a sentence.

Jiang Yuan, don't be soft.

Jiang Yuan was silent for two seconds.

"I'll act according to the evidence."

Lord Wei nodded.

"Enough."

When the meeting dispersed, everyone left quickly.

No one mentioned official dignity again.

Dignity, that sort of thing, was just knocked back to its original form by two Files.

Even harsher than Zhou Ping's livestream.

At least Zhou Ping is separated by a screen.

Lord Wei was right by the table.

Only Lord Wei and Jiang Yuan remained in the conference room.

The door closed.

Lord Wei rose and walked to the tea table.

He poured a cup of tea for Jiang Yuan.

Jiang Yuan took it but didn't drink.

"Director, do you have any other orders?"

Lord Wei sat back down.

"What do you think of Zhou Ping?"

Jiang Yuan thought for a moment.

"Dangerous."

"He has a bottom line, but the bottom line may disappear at any time."

Lord Wei held the tea cup.

"Continue."

Jiang Yuan said, "He's not a lunatic."

"At least not now."

"He selects targets, investigates evidence, starts livestreams, controls public opinion."

"He's very clear-headed."

"A clear-headed destroyer is more troublesome than an out-of-control Weird."

Lord Wei nodded.

"So, we can't treat him solely as an enemy."

Jiang Yuan frowned.

"Director?"

Lord Wei took a sip of tea.

"Zhou Ping's obsession with evil is a disease."

"But a disease can also be medicated."

Jiang Yuan said nothing.

Lord Wei set the tea cup down.

"The gods want to use him to bite us."

"Then we must find a way to make this mad dog turn around and bite the gods."

Jiang Yuan lifted his eyes.

"He won't listen to us."

"We didn't let him listen."

Lord Wei said, "A mad dog doesn't need to obey."

"As long as we deliver the true scent of blood to its nose."

Jiang Yuan squeezed the tea cup.

He understood.

Zhou Ping hates privilege, hates the schemer, hates evil that wears the skin of order.

If one day the evidence points to the gods.

Points to the crown.

Points to the source of the scripts that push ordinary people into dead ends.

What would Zhou Ping choose?

The answer isn't difficult.

But this road is treacherous.

If used poorly, it will bite back at oneself.

Lord Wei looked at Jiang Yuan.

"Are you afraid?"

Jiang Yuan shook his head.

"I'm afraid he'll kill the wrong person."

Lord Wei said, "So you must be faster than him."

"First, find the crime."

"Then, find the person."

"Finally, find the god."

Jiang Yuan finished his tea.

The tea was a bit bitter.

He stood up.

"I understand."

Wei Gong waved his hand.

"Go."

Jiang Yuan walked to the doorway.

Wei Gong spoke again.

"Jiang Yuan."

Jiang Yuan stopped.

Wei Gong looked at the Red Command on the table.

"The Policeman - generic role, exclude. operation will offend many people."

"Some people once fought side by side with you."

"Some people have saved you."

"Some people's names are still beside the wall of merit."

Jiang Yuan did not look back.

"If the evidence is confirmed, I will act."

Wei Gong said, "Fine."

The door opened.

Outside the Corridor, red warning lights stretched along the wall into the distance.

At the same time.

Federation Headquarters.

Bu Lie Dian Branch.

North America.

Dongdao Quarantine Zone Outer Observation Post.

Southern Frontline.

All Investigation Bureau terminals simultaneously popped up the Highest Authorization Command.

The Policeman - generic role, exclude. operation was launched.

Authorization level: red.

Targets: internal weird corruption chain, privileged manipulators, illegal experimental organizations.

Operation principle.

First, gather evidence.

Then, control.

Resisters are to be suppressed on the spot.

In the medical area, Qin Zhixia reattached the shell of her mechanical prosthetic arm.

Her metal hand clenched and then released.

She stared at the list on the terminal and paused for two seconds.

She had seen the first name before.

Back then on the training platform, the other side had taught newcomers about the spirit of sacrifice.

Qin Zhixia picked up her coat.

"Let's go."

Su Ming inspected the magazine and the Time Marrow Worm stabilizer.

"This list is really filthy."

Liang Wen sat in a wheelchair, pushed by a nurse to the equipment room entrance.

He looked at his terminal, his expression unusually subdued.

Jiang Yuan walked from the direction of the conference room.

He readjusted his Black Combat Suit.

He fastened his Card Bag.

He looked at the crowd.

"The mission objectives have been issued."

"Today we won't deal with the Weird."

"We'll strike people."

Qin Zhixia pinned her credentials to her chest.

"Strike those wearing human skin."