Otherworld Advance Team
Chapter 1157 - 1150: Accountability from the Higher-Ups

Chapter 1157: Chapter 1150: Accountability from the Higher-Ups

"Bang bang bang bang!!"

The noble below fired several shots in quick succession, and Luo’er instinctively raised his hand to block them. What happened next stunned everyone present.

The bullets from the pistol stopped about ten centimeters away from Luo’er then floated in mid-air, as if bound by some kind of force. The crowd fell into a brief silence, while Luo’er opened his eyes to witness this miraculous scene.

He quickly realized it was Fulajie’er’s handiwork and regained his composure from the panic. Facing the astonished crowd below, he coldly ordered Feng, "Feng, leave one alive!"

"Yes!"

Feng stepped forward expressionlessly, then drew the longsword from his waist with a backward motion, unleashing a series of dragon-like roars. Then, a heart-wrenching scream echoed from below.

The noble who had just fired the gun had not yet grasped what was happening when his palm fell to the ground without warning, the cut surface smooth and even, with the severed arteries suddenly spurting scarlet blood.

As his hand hit the floor, the empty gun caught by the trigger guard clattered down as well—that was a chrome-plated M1911 pistol, the body shining with silver and carved with intricate and beautiful patterns, complemented by an ivory inlaid grip, truly exquisite.

Clearly, Feng’s actions had always been decisive, with only life or death as the outcomes. If it weren’t for Luo’er’s request, she likely would have cut the attacker in two with a single stroke.

The attacker’s agonizing screams shook the resolve of the wavering centrists. After witnessing the scene, some began to sheepishly move to the left.

Feigning composure, Luo’er reached out to grab the bullets suspended in the air, which were still somewhat hot and carried a faint smell of gunpowder. As he picked up one bullet, the remaining bullets floating in the air suddenly and silently dropped to the ground.

Gazing at the marks etched by rifling on the bullet in his hand, he tossed it aside, then narrowed his eyes at the crowd and loudly challenged, "Does anyone else oppose? This is the consequence of opposition, the consequence of defying the Lipei District government. We’ve been merciful. It’s either live or die; this isn’t a joke, we mean business, and it’s not just talk!"

The sight of their comrade’s dire state and Luo’er’s threat shook all those present. After a complex internal struggle, the nobles standing in the middle finally began to move to the left one by one. Watching their dejected demeanor, Luo’er revealed a satisfied smile.

Thus, the speech ended in such a bewildering manner. Luo’er had directly forced these feudal forces to relinquish their vested interests and accept the rule and management of the Lipei District government through threats and enticement.

However, some were greatly dissatisfied with this. Not only were these feudal forces unhappy, but there was also considerable antipathy within the country itself.

In the conference room of Shenghua Academy, Wang Xu and Li Si sat at the conference table listening to a young man in his thirties scolding angrily. Across from them, Lin Wei, a high-ranking executive at the headquarters, listened to the reprimand with his arms folded.

"This is outrageous, sheer banditry, absolutely lawless. Why didn’t he read from our script, why did he use such a nearly robber-like method to demand from these nobles, why did he have to escalate things and cause a noble to lose a hand. This Luo’er is completely lawless, he’s nothing but a bandit leader!" The young man became so angry that his vocabulary started to become impoverished.

This person was a representative from an even higher level, sent specifically to demand accountability for this incident. From their point of view, such behavior was utterly damaging to the nation’s reputation.

"This Luo’er, relying on the fact that his grandfather is a general and his father a martyr, dares to be so reckless and presumptuous. He should be severely punished. Why did you let him serve as a representative this time? Why give him so many privileges?" the representative questioned angrily.

"Young man, even in anger, you should watch your language," Lin Wei said calmly, "Luo’er’s achievements today come from his own efforts, not his family background. The Advance Team led by Luo’er has gone through many challenges in the Otherworld, making remarkable contributions to the expansion of the headquarters’ power, for the benefit of our nation. You completely ignore his contributions and instead focus on his lineage, what exactly are you trying to accomplish?"

"This..." the representative’s face changed, and after stammering for a while, he tried to smooth things over, "Of course I know about his contributions, but if he has made so many, he should be more aware of the headquarters’ interests and should not have done something so irrational and brainless."

Then, changing his tone, he pointed his accusation at Wang Xu and his companion, "At the beginning of the speech, you two were in Lipei. Having seen Luo’er behaving outrageously, why didn’t you step in to stop it? Instead, you silently condoned his actions. Were you trying to protect him, or did you have other motives?"

Wang Xu and Li Si did not seem flustered. Looking at each other with composure, they remained silent, infuriating the representative to the point of anger, yet leaving him helpless.

Clearly, the three were in a tacit agreement of silence because they were waiting for someone’s arrival to refute the representative’s point of view.

Before long, the conference room door opened automatically, and a robust figure appeared in everyone’s view. General Zhang came into the room, followed by a secretary, and walked toward the representative.

"I apologize for my lateness. I just went to the Lipei Health Clinic to see the noble whose hand was chopped off, so I was slightly delayed," General Zhang said as he walked straight to Lin Wei, and then pulled out a chair to sit.

"General Zhang, as you’ve seen, Luo’er is simply tarnishing the headquarters’ reputation and undermining the public’s trust in the Lipei government," the representative quickly brightened up upon seeing General Zhang and complained to him.

General Zhang commanded considerable respect in the military, so even the high-ranking delegate had to show him some deference, and he didn’t dare to rebuke loudly as before.

"Young man," General Zhang ignored his words, took a thick stack of papers from his secretary, tossed it to the representative and said, "These are the drafts you’ve prepared; read them to us."

"What does this have to do with Luo’er?" the representative asked, puzzled.

"Nothing, I just want you to read it. What, are you unwilling?" General Zhang stared at him, expressionless as he asked.

"Yes, yes, I’ll read it," the representative wiped the sweat from his brow, then picked up the papers and bowed his head.

"Hmm, okay," General Zhang adjusted his posture and said to everyone, "Let’s not get distracted. Everyone listen carefully to this speech. Please begin."

"Yes, yes..." The representative picked up the papers, cleared his throat, and began, "In this season of high winds and clear skies, we gather here... on behalf of the Lipei government, I would like to make this solemn declaration. We suggest..."

The document was lengthy, and the representative read for almost two hours. Even though General Zhang initially told everyone not to get distracted, most, including him, didn’t manage to adhere to it. Wang Xu and Li Si dozed off on the table, while General Zhang casually chatted with Lin Wei, not always paying attention. Even the secretary beside him wasn’t interested in continuing to listen, as he stared down at his smartphone.

After almost three hours of reading, the document finally came to an end. The representative was out of breath, his throat becoming hoarse. After reading the last word, he picked up the water cup on the table and drank several large gulps, nearly choking.

Once he had finished reading, General Zhang sat up straight again and had his secretary wake up Wang Xu and Li Si. Looking at them, he asked, "What was said in the speech, did you all understand it clearly?"

"Uh..." The two of them fell into a state of supreme embarrassment.

"And you, Lin Wei?" General Zhang turned and asked Lin Wei.

As if he had anticipated the question, Lin Wei appeared calm, shook his head, and said with a smile, "I wasn’t really paying attention."

"If even these soldiers, known for their discipline, couldn’t pay attention, let alone those landlord nobles. When you were drafting this speech, did you ever consider whether anyone could stay engaged for a three-hour monologue, or was it that you just wanted to go through the motions?" General Zhang turned to look at the representative, calmly issuing his query.