Chapter Ninety-Five: Controversy

Administrative Hall.

As the city’s most important administrative body, the Administrative Hall is responsible for a wide range of matters, both large and small.

Following the bizarre incidents that swept through the city, there were even more issues demanding attention, including repairs to damaged buildings, calming the public, and managing the narrative—troublesome tasks that would take considerable time to resolve.

At this moment, in a private room within the Administrative Hall, the four remaining administrators, left behind after Director Li’s departure from the city, had gathered together. Besides them, the highest-ranking official of the Anomaly Handling Department, Fu Ying, was also present.

The room was decorated predominantly in black. At the front was a long table where the administrators sat, while in the center stood a solitary desk, currently occupied by Fu Ying.

“What are you all thinking? Is calling Captain Fu here some sort of interrogation?” The short-haired administrator seated at the far left spoke first, but directed his sharp words at his colleagues. Though his hair was entirely silver, he remained spirited and sharp-eyed.

“Old Guan, no need to be so fiery right off the bat. Who said this is an interrogation? We just wanted to get some information from young Fu,” responded a bald, pot-bellied administrator with an innocent, Buddha-like smile, dispelling Old Guan’s suspicion.

Having addressed Old Guan, the bald administrator naturally moved on to the main topic. Turning to Fu Ying with a cheerful smile, he said:

“Little Fu, please don’t take offense at us. We called you here mainly to ask about the recent large-scale anomaly incident that swept through the city.”

Throughout, Fu Ying showed no sign of agitation. She sat calmly, quietly awaiting the questions, though her gaze continually flickered among the administrators.

By now, it was clear that the traitor leader within the city must be someone of high rank and authority. This person had managed to smuggle a large number of anomalous weapons into the city undetected, obtained the uniforms and arms of the special operations team, and manipulated the oversight department to restrain the Anomaly Handling Department—all without leaving any trace.

Frankly, only the administrators could meet all these conditions simultaneously.

Yet each administrator was a veteran of the city, having served longer than Fu Ying herself.

Despite the reluctance to accept this fact, it was the only plausible conclusion Fu Ying could draw.

---

“Director Chen, may I answer?” Fu Ying spoke softly.

“I reviewed your recent reports,” Chen began, “which state that you had early intelligence about the enemy secretly placing anomalous weapons. Why didn’t you inform us of such critical information? Why did you send the anomaly operatives alone to handle it?”

Fu Ying hesitated. She had only reported this intelligence privately to Director Li out of fear that the traitor among the leadership might leak it. Clearly, she could not say this now.

“Because at the time, I couldn’t confirm the intelligence’s validity. The first task of the operatives sent was to verify its authenticity. Later, the situation became urgent, and I was engaged on the frontline dealing with the remnants of the Vert-Eyed Sect in Shangfu City, so I forgot to report to you all.”

The bald Director Chen was not fully satisfied but laughed it off and continued:

“Even so, we can understand. But by regulations, I think some disciplinary action is still necessary. How about giving you a break—a leave of absence?”

“Hmph!” Old Guan, responsible for the city guards, snorted angrily, flames of fury in his eyes. “Leave of absence? You mean suspend her? Director Li hasn’t returned yet. With such major personnel decisions, I don’t think any of us have the right to act.”

“Heh, when did our city become a dictatorship? Are we mere figureheads?” retorted bald Director Chen bluntly, unyielding. “Rules must be followed, or how can we maintain credibility? Look how chaotic our city has become—shouldn’t someone be held accountable?”

“Accountable? Those who should be accountable are the lunatics causing destruction outside the city and the traitors colluding with them—not our own people!”

As the argument threatened to escalate, the sole female administrator stepped forward to mediate, raising her hand to halt the quarrel.

“It’s all for the good of the city. Can we all just calm down?”

Fu Ying observed everything as a detached bystander.

As a senior official herself, she was well aware of the factional divisions among the city’s leadership.

This was not an unreasonable realization but rather quite normal.

In fact, even within the alliance, unity was far from absolute. Each main city operated around its own core interests, and the administrators naturally did not share perfectly aligned agendas—only generally similar directions.

---

Thanks to Director Li’s presence, the city had long maintained relative unity, but internal divisions did exist.

Old Guan was Director Li’s staunch supporter; they had entered the Administrative Hall around the same time. Bald Director Chen and the stern middle-aged Director Qin were closer allies, while the female Director Li had always played the role of mediator.

“I understand Old Chen’s suggestion,” Qin said, somewhat unexpectedly, “but this time, I believe we need not strictly follow regulations.”

“Special times call for special measures. Captain Fu surely has her considerations and difficulties. We shouldn’t be rigid in our demands, right? Besides, the nature of the Anomaly Handling Department’s work is so unique that if we let her take leave, we wouldn’t find anyone suitable to take on such a crucial role.”

Qin’s words won nods from the others.

“Actually, rather than how we question Captain Fu, I’m more interested in a newcomer from the Anomaly Handling Department,” Qin added, gazing deeply at Fu Ying. “The one who single-handedly neutralized the anomaly in the Civic Commerce Mall—can you tell us about him?”

Fu Ying was taken aback; she hadn’t expected the administrators to inquire about Qi Chen.

Qin’s next words plunged her into deep contemplation:

“I want to know if that anomaly operative, code-named ‘Mask,’ is still controllable. We will certainly commend his achievements, but we must also ensure the threat he embodies is under control. I believe Captain Fu can understand this.”

“An anomaly operative we neither truly understand nor control... what if he turns into a threat to the city’s safety?”

“Could you tell us more about him?”

...