After repeatedly confirming that they hadn't misheard, everyone stared at Bai Feifei in shock, and the training hall instantly erupted into a noisy clamor.
The students of the Elite Class were still young and couldn't keep their feelings bottled up, excitedly discussing the news.
“Wait... she can actually serve as a representative and have voting rights?”
“Even though they said she'll be dealt with later, judging by their current attitude, she's being treated very favorably!”
“This doesn't sound like a punishment at all!”
Ye Yu's mouth twitched. She had been worried sick over the past two days, plagued by a lingering sense of guilt and fearing that Bai Feifei would bring a fatal disaster upon herself because of this incident.
But the outcome didn't seem nearly as dire as her father had claimed. Could the organization behind Bai Feifei have exerted its influence?
Why didn't she say so earlier... (╬▔皿▔)╯
Bai Feifei herself was also stunned.
She stood frozen, a dazed look on her face as a single thought looped in her mind—this isn't right, is it?
Logically, according to the Old-Timer, if anyone in the Inner City truly wanted to protect her, it should have been Prophet Liu Yun.
Yet the reality was that while Liu Yun had made a statement, she only said she “cannot confirm if there is a problem with the potion itself.” This was essentially failing to speak up for her, and even subtly siding with the pharmaceutical companies.
Instead, it was the City Lord, whom she had never even met, who not only held off on punishing her but also directly granted her representative status and voting rights.
What is going on... Bai Feifei asked quietly in her mind. It seems the situation is much better than expected.
And I've even become a representative. What should I say when the time comes? Do I just propose banning the current research on the potion?
In her mind, Xu Mo's voice carried a rare hint of doubt:
“I don't know. Tsk, something feels off...”
What? Bai Feifei was taken aback.
Xu Mo just found it strange. It had been a long time since he had followed a somewhat serious storyline.
This time, since the storyline started progressing because of the 【Calamity of Dawn】 task, he noticed that this City Lord was getting significantly more screen time.
Previously, the man had been practically invisible, like a mere background character. This sudden intervention was quite unexpected.
“Nothing, it's no big deal. Since you're made a representative, just go,” Xu Mo's tone returned to its usual self. “If there are any problems, we can just start killing again when the time comes.”
Bai Feifei: ...
She looked up, her gaze meeting Assistant Lin's.
Assistant Lin put away her tablet device and sighed.
“If there are no issues, this announcement will be broadcasted shortly. During this period, you are not allowed to contact the outside world.”
“Also, when you go to the Voting Assembly, my personal advice is... you should rein in your temper.”
“Understood,” Bai Feifei nodded.
Assistant Lin glanced at her, then turned and left the training hall.
The moment the door closed, Ye Yu was the first to rush over. She instinctively reached out to grab Bai Feifei's arm, her face filled with a mixture of shock and joy.
“How did you pull this off? It looks like the City Lord is temporarily on your side, you—”
Before she could finish her sentence, she was pushed back by the ruler.
Preventing these students from touching her had already become an instinctive reflex for Bai Feifei. The challenge Xu Mo had proposed earlier wasn't just for the students; it was also for her.
Ye Yu and Bai Feifei stared at each other, both somewhat speechless.
...
The news was announced.
The major top-tier forces immediately caught wind of the situation. After Bai Feifei's outrageous actions, the City Lord actually seemed to show signs of favoring her.
Many were deeply perplexed by this.
“What is the meaning behind the City Lord's move?”
When the news reached United Pharmaceuticals, the meeting room was so quiet that one could hear everyone's breathing. The directors all looked extremely solemn.
Liu Qing sat in the head seat. The teacup in front of him had gone completely cold, untouched.
He kept his head lowered, remaining silent for a long time. It was impossible to read his expression, and no one knew what he was thinking.
Since he wasn't speaking, someone had to. One of the directors spoke up tentatively:
“The decision is out.”
“The City Lord has declared that she will be one of the representatives this time, and she will also have voting rights.”
The atmosphere in the meeting room was as oppressive as the sky before a thunderstorm. Other directors slowly chimed in.
“This completely violates the rules. How can this be?”
“Even if the City Lord truly suspects there is a problem with our pharmaceuticals, she killed people. She should have been dealt with directly.”
“What on earth is...”
Just as the oppressive atmosphere peaked, a sudden laugh interrupted their discussion.
The laughter was very faint at first, then grew louder and louder. Everyone shut their mouths, looking strangely toward the source of the sound.
It was Liu Qing.
“Hahahahaha!”
He stood up abruptly, propping his hands on the table, his face twisted into a warped smile.
“I get it!” His voice suddenly went up an octave. “I'm gradually understanding everything!”
All the directors looked up, staring at him in horror.
“Director Liu, please calm down. We know this is hard to accept, but...”
“What do you mean hard to accept?!” Liu Qing interrupted sharply, spit flying as he spoke. “I already understand the City Lord's intention! Have none of you realized it yet?”
“Our potion is meant to change the world, yet the City Lord has acted so unreasonably now.”
“And he even forbade her from contacting the outside world during this time! What does that indicate?”
A stir went through the meeting room.
One director asked tentatively, “You mean...?”
“A hint! This is a hint!” Liu Qing spun around abruptly, his hands waving in the air. “He is hinting for us to make our move quickly! To shut her up forever!”
The directors: ?
Is that how you fucking interpret this?
Can that interpretation even possibly be right?
“Are you sure? If we commit murder in the Inner City...”
“What's wrong with murder? She killed, so why can't I?” Liu Qing's eyes gleamed with pure madness. “Right! This might also be a hint from the City Lord!”
“By not punishing her for killing, it means we can kill too!”
The directors were all somewhat speechless, exchanging glances.
Although they hadn't ruled out the possibility of assassinating Bai Feifei, Liu Qing's current state made him look like a complete lunatic.
“Think about it. How could we possibly let her cast that vote and spout nonsense to the entire city?”
“Once she's dead, we can spin the story however we want. Dead people can't talk. Let's kill her first. Even if it seems unreasonable now, we can always manufacture a reasonable explanation afterward.”
A few directors in the meeting room furrowed their brows.
Even though Liu Qing seemed crazy, his logic was actually sound.
As long as Bai Feifei died, there would be virtually no influential voice left in the Inner City to oppose the pharmaceutical companies.
At that point, they could easily pin the aberration issue on her, and forging evidence would be simple.
“But... time is running out, and she isn't weak either.”
“This won't be easy. If...”
“Well said!” Liu Qing pointed at the person who raised the question, a sinister grin playing on his lips.
“But who said we have to act alone?”
“I recall that the Huang and Li families are extremely dissatisfied with her, aren't they?”
“I've already come up with a plan. This should be... a Joint Strangling!”
Rate on N.U.
