Starforce Warriors

Chapter 307: Humiliation And Targeted Hostility

Li Xiaofei was surprised to find no mention of Tan Zhenwei's assassination on the forums, Light Wave Weibo, major video platforms, or even official websites. Similarly, there was no mention of the destruction of the Eye of the Northwest. It was as if neither event had ever happened.

"Interesting," Li Xiaofei muttered, rubbing his chin.

It was understandable if the general public hadn’t reacted yet. But the authorities had definitely received the news. Aside from Li Xiaofei, the Goddess, and others who knew the truth, even those who visited the wilderness would only conclude that Tan Zhenwei had been assassinated in the plane crash, and that the Eye of the Northwest had been destroyed by some unknown force during a battle between several Golden Body Realm experts.

Yet, there was not a single trace of these incidents online. Those unaware of the events naturally had no reason to think otherwise. But to someone like Li Xiaofei, who knew the truth, the silence on the internet seemed more like a deliberate information blackout.

It wasn’t that no one had reported it. Perhaps the authorities hadn’t reached a decision? Or maybe they were plotting something shady behind the scenes?

With these thoughts in mind, Li Xiaofei trained in the light core's simulation for a while before logging off. He then returned to his specially designed training room and continued his cultivation. Watching the battle between Golden Body Realm experts had given Li Xiaofei some insights that he needed to process and reflect upon.

In the afternoon, Yang Cheng came to visit him.

"Boss, there's a message from the city government. They've requested your presence at a meeting," Yang Cheng informed him.

Li Xiaofei thought about it for a moment and decided it was time to meet this new city leader face to face.

Twenty minutes later, Li Xiaofei’s heavy motorcycle roared as it came to a stop outside the city government compound. The atmosphere had changed significantly from when Tan Zhenwei was in charge.

The most obvious difference was the increased security. There were more guards at the gate, more patrol teams and power armor units inside the compound, and even the street patrols around the area had multiplied.

Li Xiaofei handed his motorcycle to his right-hand man, Li Junjie, and walked towards the entrance. After his identification documents were carefully checked, a stone-faced guard led him into the city government compound. Once Li Yunjie had parked the bike, Li Xiaofei headed towards the main office building.

Suddenly, his eyes narrowed. In the distance, a man in a janitor’s uniform limped as he swept a small plaza. The vast front yard of the city government compound was empty, except for this hunched figure, moving slowly and forlornly under the gloomy winter sky.

Li Xiaofei recognized him immediately. It was Tan Zhenwei’s former secretary. A highly respected chief secretary had been reduced to a janitor?

Li Xiaofei walked over and the janitor slowly lifted his head.

"Why are you doing this job?" Li Xiaofei asked. "Is someone deliberately targeting you?"

Secretary Song smiled bitterly. "When a new emperor takes the throne, his ministers change too. The situation is beyond my control. If I want to stay within the system, I have no choice but to follow the orders of the new secretary."

This was deliberate humiliation. But what could be done? A higher rank in the hierarchy crushes those below.

Li Xiaofei paused for a moment and suddenly asked, "Did you send that anonymous message?"

Secretary Song’s body stiffened slightly. He lowered his head and continued sweeping, replying quietly, "I don’t know what President Li is talking about."

Li Xiaofei pressed, "How did you know they were going to ambush Uncle Tan?"

Secretary Song remained silent.

Li Xiaofei continued, "I arrived too late. I couldn’t save him."

Secretary Song’s body froze completely. He abruptly lifted his head, staring at Li Xiaofei with eyes full of despair and madness. His breathing grew heavy, as if he was waiting for a confirmation of his worst fears.

Li Xiaofei said calmly, "You’ll never see him again."

The last glimmer of hope in Secretary Song’s eyes faded.

He collapsed helplessly to the ground, and then suddenly started laughing. Laughing turned into crying, and in his mad sobbing, he scattered the pile of trash he had just swept into the air.

This caught the attention of everyone around. That afternoon’s city government meeting had invited many of the city’s powerful elites. Many of the guests looked over, each with a different expression.

How could one not sigh in pity to see the former chief secretary of the city government reduced to such a pitiful state? However, most of the attention remained focused on Li Xiaofei. As the rising star once heavily supported by the former city leader, it was well known that Li Xiaofei and Secretary Song had a close relationship.

One could only imagine how bitter Li Xiaofei must be feeling to see his former comrade fall into such a deep abyss. As the saying goes, when the lips are gone, the teeth feel the cold. Without the city leader to back him, could Li Xiaofei continue to enjoy as smooth a path as he once had?

The new city leader, Xie Renyu, had already made it clear that he intended to crack down on the gang world’s chaos. This was obviously aimed at Li Xiaofei. This afternoon’s meeting could very well be a trap. Most people believed that Li Xiaofei was now like a clay Bodhisattva crossing a river, barely able to protect himself. The eyes watching him were filled with a mix of pity and sympathy.

"Song Yun, have you lost your mind?" A young official quickly ran out of the city hall and started shouting, "You were told to clean up, so why are you acting crazy? Are you looking for death?"

But Secretary Song continued laughing and crying without a care for what was happening around him.

"Dammit, pretending to be insane, are you?" said the young official who grew angry, stepping forward to kick him.

Li Xiaofei blocked the kick. "Who do you think you are? How can you just kick someone?"

The young man sneered, "Who the hell are you to stop me? I’m Chief Secretary Yang’s clerk. What’s wrong with teaching this disgraceful janitor a lesson? It's none of your business." n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Smack.

Li Xiaofei’s hand shot out and slapped him hard. The clerk spun midair, turning a full 1080 degrees before crashing to the ground. Blood covered his face.

The force of that slap shocked everyone watching. Unbelievable. Even after his powerful backer had fallen, Li Xiaofei was more arrogant and defiant than ever.

"You... you dare hit me?" exclaimed the young clerk as he clutched his face, his eyes filled with disbelief. He had never imagined that he would still get slapped after revealing his identity.

"Just wait, you’ll be carried out of the city hall on a stretcher today!" He shouted as he turned and ran off.

Clearly, he was going to report the incident. Li Xiaofei didn’t bother paying him any more attention.

He looked at Secretary Song and said, "Stop pretending. A job in this system isn’t worth it. Come join the Cloudy Sky Gang and you won't have to put up with this crap."

Li Xiaofei grabbed Secretary Song by the collar and lightly tossed him. Secretary Song flew over forty meters, landing softly outside the city government compound right in front of Li Junjie and the other lackeys.

"Take him back to the gang and let him recover," Li Xiaofei ordered.

"Yes, boss."

Li Junjie quickly arranged for the confused and disoriented Secretary Song to be taken away. He, along with several dozen loyal men, remained outside the compound, ready for anything.

Li Xiaofei turned and walked into the office building. He walked with the other attendees into the conference room.

The room had already been set up, with nameplates at each seat. Li Xiaofei’s seat was arranged in the far back corner, on the left. The intentional slight was obvious. The atmosphere of targeted hostility was palpable.