What do the common people seek?
Stability!
It was a simple word, yet one that many city lords failed to provide.
In their eyes, the people were not citizens, but bargaining chips, political achievements, and property.
Expecting such men to love the people as their own children?
Hah.
Even Su Baadao was primarily motivated by his own political record; otherwise, he wouldn't be bothering with all this.
On the very day the decree was issued, several major corporations in Mangliang City went to the Command Center to meet with Su Baadao.
Their message, couched in diplomatic terms, was singular.
If the redevelopment of the South District was just a ruse to fool the commoners, they were happy to play along.
But if he expected them to cough up actual money? In his dreams!
Su Baadao laughed after hearing them out.
“Rest assured, gentlemen. I have served as a city lord many times; I am well aware of the unwritten rules.”
The expressions of the group relaxed significantly. They thought to themselves that a Top Scholar was a Top Scholar after all—he understood how the world worked!
If he continued to be this sensible, they were even willing to hire some actors to put on a grand ten-mile send-off when his term ended.
But then, they heard Su Baadao chuckle.
“Before I arrived, I conducted a thorough investigation into all of you. For instance, you, of the Meng family—the evidence of you bribing officials and smuggling alcohol and tobacco is currently sitting in my safe.”
“And you, of the Liu family—I have the evidence of your market monopolies and price gouging right there as well.”
“The most interesting case is yours, of the Chen family. Your evidence isn't in the safe.”
Su Baadao looked at the men before him. He reached under his desk and pulled out a thick stack of A4 paper, his expression gradually turning cold.
“Because your family has done so many things that I haven't even finished reading through them all!”
“I'm sure you all know how busy I am. I only have time to review this evidence during my breaks.”
“Perhaps you gentlemen would like to help me look through it?”
This was a blatant threat, yet there was always someone foolish enough to push back.
The representative of the Chen family slammed his hand on the table and stood up.
“Heh, Mr. Su, you've certainly prepared a lot!”
“I know you're a Top Scholar, and I know who your backers are!”
“Since you've investigated my Chen family, I trust you also know who stands behind us?”
“Is that someone you can afford to provoke?!”
Hearing this, the others felt their courage grow. They rose one after another and stood behind the Chen family representative in a silent show of solidarity.
“Pfft.”
Su Baadao let out a disdainful laugh and pulled out a few sheets of paper.
“Chen Bainian. On March 16th of last year, you got into a dispute on your way home. You ordered your bodyguards to break the other party's legs and then drove your car into the ambulance when it arrived to help.”
“Afterward, you threatened his company to fire him and ordered him to become a beggar, or else you’d blow up his entire family.”
“You certainly kept your word. You really did blow them all up.”
Chen Bainian’s eyes narrowed as he heard this.
“Mr. Su, do you know where you are? Don't think that just because you're a Top Scholar, you can do whatever you want!”
Before he could finish his sentence, the air blurred. In the next instant, he was hoisted into the air.
Looking down, he saw a burly man holding him up—the one who had acted was none other than Wang Gen!
Su Baadao’s expression became even more contemptuous.
“Who do you think you're talking to?”
“Where is this? This is my city!”
Just as Chen Bainian was about to speak, Wang Gen slammed him violently onto the floor.
How could a pampered waste resist a Demigod? The impact knocked the wind right out of him.
Su Baadao walked to the refrigerator and casually took out a bottle of mineral water.
“Do you know why I didn't put his file in the safe? Because I intended to use him as the chicken to scare the monkeys from the start!”
“I didn't expect him to be so cooperative and jump out on his own.”
Su Baadao unscrewed the cap and poured the ice-cold water onto Chen Bainian’s face.
The shock woke Chen Bainian up, though his mind was still reeling.
Su Baadao sneered.
“Don't think you're anything more than an insignificant pawn. Even that so-called backer of yours wouldn't dare say those things to my face. Do you understand?”
“Scum!”
...
“Meow!”
“Meow~”
“Meow!”
“Meow~”
Canned Food was perched on a trash can, wearing sunglasses, giving a passionate speech to its subordinates.
The cats below the trash can listened intently, as if they truly understood every word.
The neighbors had long since grown used to this. This scene played out almost every morning, after which the cats would head out to catch rats on their own.
Supposedly, people from the South District had even come by, hoping to bring the cats over to serve as an internet-famous landmark to attract tourists, but the owner of the pest control company had refused.
After finishing its speech, Canned Food returned to the company office, feeling satisfied.
“Meow~”
“Good. With them as our eyes and ears, it'll be much easier to gather information.”
Yin Yang gave a smiling acknowledgement and continued writing in his notebook.
“Meow?”
Canned Food hopped onto the desk and looked at Yin Yang curiously.
Yin Yang rubbed its head and went back to writing furiously.
Lately, Yin Yang had been obsessively studying Su Baadao.
He had realized that Su Baadao’s presence here was a bit strange.
Given the man's track record, he should have been assigned to a much larger city.
The scale of Mangliang City was similar to that of Meng City, perhaps even slightly smaller.
It didn't make sense.
Unless his performance in Meng City hadn't actually been that good.
So, Yin Yang had investigated the intelligence from Meng City and all the rumors from Central City.
If he planned to ride Su Baadao’s coattails, he needed to understand the man perfectly.
In three days, he had filled half a notebook with intelligence on Su Baadao, almost as if he were writing the man's biography.
He had discovered a great deal, such as certain habits and weaknesses that even Su Baadao himself might not be aware of.
“Phew...”
Yin Yang let out a long breath and closed the notebook. With a snap of his fingers, the book vanished.
“That's enough.”
“Based on his habits, it's already been three days. It should be time for Wang Gen to make his move.”
...
“Are you sure that Su Baadao is really here?”
“Of course. It’s no secret. Not only is Su Baadao here, but that Security Bureau Chief named Wang Gen is here too.”
“Heh. After killing so many of our Demigods, he actually dares to become a city lord with such fanfare? He really doesn't take our True Knowledge Society seriously!”
Several figures in black stood before Mangliang City, conversing in low voices. Pedestrians bustled around them, yet it was as if no one could see them.
“Su Baadao is quite powerful. They say he killed several of our Demigods by himself. That Wang Gen isn't ordinary either.”
“Are we going to back off just because they're strong?”
“No. I think there's a better way to deal with people like them.”
“What way?”
“The more he cares about something, the more we destroy it. Wouldn't that be more interesting?”
“Cares about something? What does he care about?”
“His political record, of course!”
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