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Chapter 216 - 192nd - [The Price!]

Chapter 216: 192nd Chapter [The Price!]

Dusk had descended, and the sky over Dong Hai was still a murky gray. The raindrops increased in size, shrouding the entire city under a gloom, making people feel a chill that led many to believe: this year, Dong Hai had no autumn—it had leapt straight from summer to winter!

For the common folk, the cold brought by this autumn rain was merely skin-deep, yet for those within the administrative system of Dong Hai, the chill of this ’autumn rain’ penetrated deep into their bones.

In the past few hours, rumors were rampant across the political scene of Dong Hai, with everyone feeling insecure.

At six o’clock, Bai Luo, after finishing work, did not drive home but instead headed straight for the municipal committee family courtyard.

Shortly before seven o’clock, Bai Luo drove up to the entrance of the municipal committee family courtyard, took out his ID, and was smoothly let inside by the armed police on duty.

Entering the courtyard, Bai Luo drove expertly to the front of Villa No. 1.

Through the villa’s iron gate, Bai Luo immediately spotted the car with Dong Hai’s most prestigious official license plate parked inside. Consequently, he hurriedly got out of his car and ran into the villa without even using an umbrella.

In the villa’s living room, Guan Yi was sitting on the sofa, his suit soaked and his hair dripping wet.

He did not mind all this but silently smoked a cigarette, until he heard footsteps outside and then listlessly lifted his head.

Seeing that the visitor was Bai Luo, his facial expression remained unchanged, as if he had anticipated Bai Luo’s arrival.

Hmm?

Seeing Guan Yi looking as wilted as a frostbitten eggplant, Bai Luo couldn’t help but be taken aback.

As the major steward of Dong Hai City’s government and the designated successor of the fourth generation of the Bai family, Bai Luo had a wide information network. He was the first to know about some issues in certain departments of Dong Hai, subconsciously thinking that the Ye Family had made a move. He had intended to call Guan Yi to inquire, but felt it inappropriate, so he held back his curiosity and rushed over after work.

Now, seeing Guan Yi looking utterly disheartened, Bai Luo became even more certain of his suspicions, yet he couldn’t help but ask, "Uncle Guan, today both the head of the police and the national security chief were replaced. Did the Ye Family make their move?"

No answer came back; Guan Yi silently lit a cigarette and took a deep drag, as if trying to dispel the inner gloom this way.

Silence spoke louder than words at this moment.

Bai Luo took Guan Yi’s silence as an answer.

As the elder son of the Ye Family and marked to be the successor of the fourth generation, Bai Luo’s capability, depth of cunning, and vision were top-notch among his peers, thanks to his upbringing in an emperor’s family!

He was well aware that the head of the police had traditionally been the confidant of provincial governors, even tantamount to being their right and left arms!

Now, with Luo Chun being treated as a scapegoat, what did this mean for Guan Yi?

It was as good as being crippled!

Understanding all this, Bai Luo did not further embarrass himself with questions but, like Guan Yi, silently took a seat on the sofa.

"Uncle Guan, can nothing be done to save it?"

After a while, seeing that Guan Yi showed no inclination to speak, Bai Luo couldn’t help asking again. In his view, Luo Chun was currently only suspended for investigation, not yet officially dismissed, and there might still be a chance for salvation.

"Salvation?"

Hearing this word, Guan Yi couldn’t help laughing, his laugh filled with sarcasm and more so with bitterness, "Who would save him?"

"Even if we can’t save the situation, Uncle Guan, it won’t cripple our essential strength..." Bai Luo said, realizing that Luo Chun’s downfall was inevitable, no longer dwelled on it but tried to console Guan Yi.

"Xiao Luo, you’re still too green." This time, before Bai Luo could finish, Guan Yi slowly extinguished his cigarette and sighed, "This time, the price we’ve paid is no less destructive than when your great grandfather died!"

"Uh..." Bai Luo was startled by Guan Yi’s words!

As the designated successor of the fourth generation of the Bai Family, he was well aware that a decade ago, following his great grandfather’s death, the Bai Family, erstwhile on par with the Ye Family, had been severely struck down in collusion with other forces, severely wounded in its vitality, taking over a decade to recover.

Now, Guan Yi was telling Bai Luo that this blow was comparable to that one, the horror of this revelation was beyond imagination.

"No... it can’t be?" Despite his father Bai Guotao’s prior warnings and Guan Yi’s straightforward words, Bai Luo couldn’t believe it; he refused to accept that the thriving Bai Group would repeat the disaster of a decade ago!

"Xiao Luo, next month I’ll be leaving Dong Hai," Guan Yi said weakly, leaning back on the sofa and staring at the ceiling, his answer irrelevant to the earlier discussion.

"Where to?" Bai Luo asked spontaneously.

"Find a place to retire," Guan Yi replied with self-mocking laughter.

Retire?!

Hearing this word, Bai Luo was stunned once more—he was well aware what ’retire’ meant for Guan Yi!

Staring in shock, with wide eyes and an incredulous look, Bai Luo seemed to be asking: How... how is this possible?

Ignoring Bai Luo’s shocked demeanor, Guan Yi seemed to age years in that moment, devoid of the sharpness and the aura typical of those in power, resembling an elderly man on the verge of death.

Seeing this, a heaviness inexplicably settled in Bai Luo’s heart!

Despite believing in the supernatural, Bai Luo could not believe that Guan Yi would retire, but reason told him Guan Yi wouldn’t joke about such matters.

"How... how could this be??" Unable to avoid accepting this horrifying reality, Bai Luo asked, full of confusion.

Guan Yi seemed resigned, his face showing no regret: "Yan intervened."

"Yan?!" Bai Luo exclaimed once again.

After the shock, he fell silent.

He understood why Bai Guotao, whom he had always regarded as an idol and target, was worried, and he also understood why Guan Yi, the deputy flag-bearer of the Bai Group, would retire!

As far as he knew, although that first strong person of Huaxia who secretly controlled the Yanhuang Organization did not concern himself with worldly affairs and spent most of his time in closed-door cultivation, he possessed a terrifying influence throughout Huaxia and was even hailed as the Guardian of Huaxia!

In such circumstances, one could imagine the power of Yan acting together with the number one wealthy Ye Family!

"Xiao Luo, you just arrived in Dong hai City not long ago, and with what happened, you definitely can’t mobilize forces in the short term."

Seeing that Bai Luo was so frightened by the truth behind the scenes that he dared not utter a word, Guan Yi could not help but caution, "After I leave, my replacement will not be one of our people. For the time being, everything will depend on you. You must be careful and overcome this difficulty."

"Yes."

Bai Luo subconsciously nodded, filled with frustration in his heart.

That’s right...

It was frustration!

As the fourth-generation successor of the Ye Family, his transfer from a deputy position in a city of Nansu to Dong hai City was entirely to leverage the support of Guan Yi and the Bai Family for a rapid ascent!

But now, with Guan Yi retiring, his plan for ascent had completely failed!

Even more importantly, besides being his support in Dong hai City, Guan Yi was also his future father-in-law!

Originally, in his plans, both his father Bai Guotao and Guan Yi would squeeze into the top of the pyramid, allowing him to smoothly take over the Bai Family’s flag and stand at the peak!

Even, at one point, he thought that the highest peak was very close to him... very close, but now it became unattainably distant.

"Had I known earlier, I would have just killed that wild breed from the Ye Family and forced Ye Wenhao into desperate action!" Out of frustration, Bai Luo was filled with regret, wishing he could mercilessly slaughter Ye Fan right then and there.

But... that was just talk.

He knew there was no medicine for regret in this world.

"You can go, I need to be alone for a while."

Seeing Bai Luo’s agitated emotions, Guan Yi didn’t say more, but felt an unprecedented tiredness.

"Uncle Guan..."

"Go."

Guan Yi stood up and walked toward the staircase.

Seeing this, Bai Luo opened his mouth, but ultimately said nothing and tactfully turned to leave the hall.

Outside the villa, the rain grew heavier. As soon as Bai Luo stepped out, he was drenched to the bone, but he didn’t care and gritted his teeth as he walked toward his car.

"Buzz... Buzz..."

After getting into the car, before Bai Luo could start the engine, the phone he had thrown onto the passenger seat vibrated.

Bai Luo didn’t want to answer it, but, catching sight of Lin Tianyi’s call from the corner of his eye, he hesitated for a moment before picking up the phone and pressing the answer button.

"Lord Bai, what has happened?" As soon as the call connected, Lin Tianyi asked first, his tone no longer flattering but filled with unease.

Although he was still unaware of Guan Yi’s retirement, he knew of some personnel changes in Dong hai City, which led him to perceive the situation developing in the opposite direction and smell a strong crisis!

"Are you brain-dead? Can’t you think for yourself?"

Upon hearing this, Bai Luo scolded him head-on, forgetting his praise for Lin Tianyi the previous morning for possessing the cunning of a wolf and the craftiness of a fox, and better suiting the title of a treacherous hero than Du Yuekui. Instead, he vented his inner frustration and anger through the kick-the-cat effect.

"I know the Ye Family might have turned things around."

Facing Bai Luo’s insults, Lin Tianyi was frustrated but could only swallow the bitter pill, saying, "I mean, how did the Ye Family turn things around?"

"Two witnesses, who had been reduced to vegetative states, suddenly woke up and testified for that bastard from the Ye Family!"

Hating to his core, Bai Luo thought if it wasn’t for Situ Ruoshui and Jin Ye waking up to testify, how could things have developed to this stage?

"They suffered spiritual attacks from martial artists, their consciousness severely damaged, how could they possibly have woken up?"

Bai Luo’s reply dumbstruck Lin Tian Yi. As a Peak stage Innate high-level martial artist, he was well aware that ordinary people with damaged consciousness were almost unsolvable, even if Chu Xuanji took action, he might not be able to heal them.

"You being a Peak Innate martial artist don’t know, how the hell would I know?!" Bai Luo, upon hearing this, was so furious he felt like slapping Lin Tianyi.

"—"

Lin Tianyi was so choked up he couldn’t speak.

"Bang bang—"

Just then, the door to the study was knocked, and before Lin Tianyi could give instructions, it was pushed open. Lin Tianyi’s bodyguard stepped briskly into the study, his expression grave as he reported, "Mr. Lin, I have just received news that the Yanhuang Organization, in collaboration with the police, has conducted a secret raid on our forces in the mainland, taking away almost all the local leaders!"

"What... WHAT??"

Lin Tianyi was originally displeased with his bodyguard for barging into the study, but as soon as he heard the bodyguard’s report, he was so startled that he jumped right out of his chair!

...

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PS: The second update, with a third to follow!

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