Chapter 94: The Spoils of War (I)
Silver City.
July 19.
The downpour continued; another rainy day. It wasn’t as heavy as last night, however. Today, a fine drizzle added a refreshing trace to the summer heat. Everything that’d happened last night seemed to be a distant memory.
Of course, the citizenry didn’t actually forget about last night. The blazing sun that’d risen in the northern sky and its subsequent plunge and extinguishment were unforgettable.
No one knew what had happened.
They only knew that the city’s government still existed and that the Inspectorate conducted their usual rounds on this day. That was enough. The government was always dependable and trustworthy, particularly in troubled times. They had no one else to turn to other than the official authorities.
The big church in the city had already been razed. The area was off limits and a new forbidden zone. Not only that, but any place that a supernatural had died was taboo. Inspectors cordoned them off, forbidding entrance and egress.
The warehouse in the northern outskirts was most important of all! A premier existence beyond Sunflare laid there, dead by Yuan Shuo’s hands. Crisscrossed with ten thousand cuts, he was dead beyond a doubt.
......
Near the warehouse.
The structure was torn asunder after last night’s battle, revealing massive amounts of explosives buried underneath. There were also a few cannons hidden in the distance—more of Liu Long’s arrangements.
It was a pity that none of them had been brought into play. Of course, that was also a good thing as the situation might look different today if all contingencies were activated last night.
The surroundings teemed with people at where Divine Brokensky had fallen. Huang Yun, Wang Ming, Hu Hao, Li Meng...
Night Watcher powerhouses were all gathered together. Chubby Mu Sen was here as well; an injured Liu Long stood in the rain, his trench coat flapping around him as he waited for something.This material is rooted in n0velbin★
A figure manifested in the air when the rain suddenly paused. A short-haired man appeared with a tired expression. He didn’t even have time to rest after traveling a long distance.
Huang Yun was the first to discover his presence and walked up with joy. “Director Hao’s come in person!” He hadn’t thought that this personage would come so swiftly! It was a fast trip even if the director had come from White Moon City. It looked like Silver City’s events were making the province’s Night Watchers stir with restlessness.
The short-haired man landed on the ground. Roughly forty years old and a moderate height of one hundred and seventy centimeters, he inclined a tired head at Huang Yun and smiled at Mu Sen. “Inspector General Mu!”
Mu Sen ranked highly as he was a chief commissioner, the true boss of Silver City’s law enforcement agency. He was one rank higher than Huang Yun.
Huang Yun’s official title was that of a commissioner inspector—the same as Liu Long’s. Night Watcher ranks were higher than their peers of the Inspectorate, so Huang Yun could be regarded as the same rank as Mu Sen.
“Um...”
“Liu Long accomplished a deed of great valor and must be rewarded!” Mu Sen refused to give the director time to say anything. “While he isn’t supernatural, is that the only trait that matters to the Night Watchers? Do they not look at practical combat strength and achievements? If that is the case, then the agency is far too short-sighted!”
The inspector general chuckled. “If a promotion is in order, then this new branch needs to be equipped with at least ten Night Watchers! Either Starlight or Darkmoon are fine! I believe one hundred cubes of mysterious power a month is the basic standard for resources. However, Silver City teeters on the precipice, so I think the usual allotment does not work. We’ll need at least one thousand cubes a month!”
Director Hao’s jaw dropped, as did Huang Yun’s eyes bulge. Wang Ming and the others gaped with incomprehension. What was this?
“Other than that, we can go with whatever’s typically given to the other cities! Additionally, we killed a Solar and a Sunflare during this operation, so the Night Watchers need to dole out supplies and issue commendations according to individual contribution.
“Ah, Silver City suffered enormous losses, so it’s best if you send some aid, particularly ice crystals! We need large sums of them. It’d be best if we can encase the entire city with ice crystals!
“And supernatural weapons too, we need some of those!”
“......”
Silence!
The scene was dead silent from beginning to end. Director Hao stared at the inspector general for a very long time. “I’m only a deputy. I will relay your words to headquarters. I do not have the authority to make the decision in this!”
Stall for time first!
Fatty Mu Sen has gone crazy, hasn’t he?? Saying this as soon as he sees me... Does he think I’m immune to whatever message I deliver?!
“Then I take it that Director Hao has agreed!” Mu Sen responded blithely. “The Night Watchers have one principal and five deputies in Silver Moon. Since the director agrees, I’m sure the others won’t have any objections.”
Oh fuck you! The director almost spat out loud. When did I agree to anything? Those upstairs want to withdraw from Silver City and migrate the people elsewhere. If we establish a Night Watcher branch here, that means we will defend it to the last. He really didn’t dare promise anything.
It suddenly felt that he’d come at the worst possible time. He was sitting on pins and needles!
Damned fatty! The accursed fatty was... sublime when it came to inserting himself into every possible opportunity!
“I do not mean to put you in a difficult spot, director,” Mu Sen wasn’t done. “But we can’t afford to not establish a Silver City branch! Yuan Shuo has ascended to Dominator of Thousands and is a peak Dominator. He can also be regarded as a Solar after killing one of them. How can the home of a Solar lack a Night Watcher branch? That would dishearten him to no end!
“Silver City no longer seems as simple as before, what with the eight families and all. Just that alone is worthy of Night Watcher attention! In my view, not only does a branch need to be formed, but so is a Solar needed in residence! A dozen Sunflares wouldn’t be out of hand either...”
This was getting too ridiculous! But the fatty’s words did need to be taken into consideration. Director Hao contemplated for a moment before inclining his head. “I will pass this along, but I reiterate, I cannot make the decision!”
“Mmhmm!” Mu Sen ceased to put the director in a difficult spot. The man was a deputy, after all, so it was unrealistic to expect a snap decision. What was important was that everyone was on the same page.