Let Me Explain, Fairy
Chapter 994 - 615: Mu Qing

Chapter 994: Chapter 615: Mu Qing

The slanted sunlight streamed through the window lattice into the dim and silent hall.

Zhou Chen sat behind a rosewood desk, resting his chin in one hand while holding a dossier in the other, lazily skimming through it with drooping eyelids, exuding an air of indolence.

The dossier in his hand contained information sent from the neighboring Nanlong Continent.

The leader over there hoped their Xize State could, at its discretion, dispatch some silver taels or assign some personnel to assist them.

When he first received such a letter, it was not something he took lightly.

After all, the situation described in the dossier was extremely urgent, and without reinforcements, the overall plan might fail.

But after he prepared the personnel and resources and rushed overnight to report to Mr. Mu, he received a simple seven-word reply.

No money, no men, get lost.

Upon inquiring, Zhou Chen discovered that the request for aid was full of elaborate deceptions.

The neighboring allies were just trying to hoodwink him.

Since Xize State was not valued, the heads of the Black Scale Guards from several neighboring states would periodically eye their meager resources.

After all, the Black Scale division in Xize State was dispensable; it was better to allocate limited resources to other states.

Having read the last word and confirmed once again the use of elaborate deception, Zhou Chen directly burned the request for aid as waste paper.

Casually, he took a cigarette from a wooden box on the desk and lit it with a fire striker. Zhou Chen leaned back in his chair, half-closing his eyes and began to puff indulgently.

The rich tobacco entered his lungs and carried away his worries, only to be exhaled into the air.

Zhou Chen had been quite torn lately.

Perhaps because something big was brewing above, since the spring began, the entire Dayan’s Black Scale Guards had been operating at full capacity, and the middle and upper echelons everywhere had entered a work mode that ran on twelve-hour shifts. As for their Xize State, while it couldn’t be said there was nothing to do, they could finish work after just two hours each day.

If the Third Young Master hadn’t come to inspect Xize State, Zhou Chen might already have left work with peace of mind to visit brothels.

The bronze-skinned entertainers in the Western Desert had their own unique appeals.

But now, even with tasks completed, Zhou Chen had to patiently sit and continue his duty.

The last time the Third Young Master inquired, not knowing anything had already lost him quite a bit of favor. If the Third Young Master were to inspect again and find him enjoying pleasure at a brothel, he could probably kiss his job goodbye.

"Sigh..."

He exhaled another plume of smoke, flicked the ashes into a censer with a certain helplessness, and thought to himself:

"Even the cleverest housewife can’t cook without rice, let alone gather intelligence."

In the Fourteen States of Dayan, perhaps only the Black Scale Guards in Xize State had yet to establish a comprehensive intelligence network. There were many reasons for this result: a late start, limited funding, and new talents promoted were mostly poached by Black Scale heads from other state governments at the year-end banquets.

However, aside from these, Zhou Chen had also discerned some other indicators.

His direct superior, that Mr. Mu seemed to have given up on making an effort.

The Directors of the Black Scale Guards in each state had significant autonomy.

In the words of the Third Young Master, each Director could fully exert their subjective initiative.

As long as the tasks were completed and it didn’t involve the core interests of the Prime Minister’s Mansion, any means were acceptable.

In other words, you could use any underhanded methods to acquire money and manpower.

If capable, even putting your own people in the position of a state governor wouldn’t be hindered by the Prime Minister’s Mansion. Instead, they might even support you in the court.

And this Mr. Mu?

As far as Zhou Chen knew,

Although the tasks from Di’an were executed diligently by Mr. Mu, once the funds and materials were exhausted, they would have to wait for the following year to continue.

He hardly exerted any subjective initiative.

Over more than a decade, Mr. Mu never engaged in the most profitable Tartar Trade Market in the Western Desert, nor did he fully utilize the intelligence business of the Black Scale Guards, making no more than an extra hundred thousand Patterned Silver annually.

Upon initially discovering this, Zhou Chen was delighted for the leisure it provided.

Since the Third Young Master was presumed dead, Zhou Chen likely wouldn’t continue to ascend along this path. So having an understanding and undemanding superior seemed utterly enjoyable.

However, knowing the Third Young Master was still alive, Zhou Chen had begun to harbor some resentments toward this relaxed superior.

Lack of funds to conduct affairs? Then generate funds.

With the Black Scale Guards, an organ of power, there were numerous ways to generate funds.

If you’re not doing it, hand it over to Zhou Chen. A region’s worth could easily generate an annual income of two to three million Silver Taels.

Unfortunately, three days ago, Mr. Mu returned to the Prefecture City. When Zhou Chen visited him to express this desire, he was flatly refused.

Damn it.

You may not wish to advance, but I do.

Extinguishing the last remnants of his cigarette in the censer, Zhou Chen gently massaged his brow, his low voice tinged with contemplation:

"The powers of the Zhenxi Judicial Commissioner are quite substantial; perhaps I could take action first and report later through the connection with the Third Young Master, directly overstepping my bounds?"

"What bounds do you wish to overstep?"

"....."

The voice suddenly resonated from outside the door, warm and gentlemanly, prompted Zhou Chen to instinctively reach for the treasured sword on his desk, but recognizing the familiar voice, he quickly stepped forward to open the door, using spellcraft to sweep the room clear of smoke.

The afternoon sun cast its rays through the open doorway, and Zhou Chen, adjusting his eyes slightly to the light, looked at the person outside, then cleared his throat and smiled: