The night sky was already pitch-black, with dark clouds crushing down upon the heavens, concealing the moonlight.
In Yan Chen's study, however, not even the ceiling light was turned on; only the small desk lamp remained alight.
Thus, the whole study resembled a giant dark beast with a gaping bloody maw, ready to choose its prey and devour!
With Yan Chen suddenly revealing such shocking news, the atmosphere in the study instantly tensed up!
But amidst this tension, Jia Shu...no, it should be said Jia Wei, suddenly burst into an unrestrained laugh with a loud "haha".
While laughing, he exaggeratedly clapped his hands, "My brother said you would see through my disguise, and I didn't believe it at the time."
"Now it seems I really underestimated you, Director Yan."
In the face of Jia Wei's disrespectful and even somewhat contemptuous demeanor, Yan Chen's aged face showed no expression.
He first took out a cigarette and placed it in his mouth.
Next, he reached out with his dry hand and groped for a matchbox on the mahogany desk.
He opened the matchbox and took out a match.
As the sound of the match scraping echoed, a burst of flame blossomed in the dim study.
Yan Chen brought the flame close and lit his cigarette, then gently shook the matchstick as he spoke in an even tone, "All these years have passed, and you're still clinging to your brother."
"Back then, you caused so much trouble in the Sanctuary."
"If it weren't for your brother cleaning up your mess, you would probably have been executed by now."
"Why don't you ever learn your lesson?"
Hearing Yan Chen's words, Jia Wei's emotions clearly became unstable.
His eyes bloodshot, he stared intently at Yan Chen and roared, "I'll say it again! I didn't kill those people!"
"You just don't believe me! Don't believe me!"
"If it weren't for your botched handling of cases, maybe I wouldn't be doing worse than my brother right now!"
Compared to him, Yan Chen seemed ever more relaxed. He let out a "hehe" and countered, "If not you, who could it be?"
"At that time, you were the only one at the scene, your fingerprints were on the weapon, and the blood on your body matched the splatter pattern."
Hearing Yan Chen's words, Jia Wei's expression grew even more manic, glaring fiercely at Yan Chen as if he would pounce and tear at Yan Chen at any second.
But...just when he was about to lose control of his emotions, suddenly, his entire demeanor halted.
He was like someone who had been hit with a "restart" button, his mood receding as quickly as the tide.
He resumed his flippant attitude once more.
He then looked at Yan Chen with raised eyebrows and said nonchalantly, "Old man, don't always try to provoke my emotions and trick me. I have come here this time because I have a matter to discuss with you."
Seeing that Jia Wei hadn't lost control, a fleeting disappointment flickered through Yan Chen's eyes before vanishing.
With drooping eyelids, he quietly smoked as he asked in a calm voice, "What's the matter?"
Jia Wei said, "We want to make a deal with you—a mutually beneficial deal."
The smile on Jia Wei's face was slightly wicked, "Yes, us."
He continued, "You must have already received the news a few days ago, right?"
"In order to better rebuild the Planning Area and to allow the three major authorities to integrate more effectively, those old men above are considering establishing a higher-level administrative unit in the Planning Area."
Yan Chen hummed noncommittally, and a plume of white smoke rose up, obscuring his visage.
Jia Wei said, "The exact information we got is that Xinjie City, Eastern City, Jingnan City, Xingye City, and 12 other cities will be merged into one state—Dongye State!"
"At that time, Dongye State will establish a State Council, modeled after the Sanctuary."
"The State Council will be the highest authority in the entire state, second to none."
"The top officials from your 12 cities and 3 major institutions will automatically become council members, meaning the most powerful people in the state."
"However...among these members, a Speaker and three Deputy Speakers will emerge."
At this point, Jia Wei paused in his speech. His eyes, red as blood, brimmed with confidence, "And we...are sure we can at least bolster you into the position of Deputy Speaker!"
Hearing Jia Wei's words, an expression finally crossed Yan Chen's face.
He looked up, his face filled with emotion, "You can help me become Deputy Speaker?"
"You all...what makes you so sure you can do this?"
With a grin, Jia Wei said, "Old man, don't try to test me. Unless you agree to us, I won't reveal anything."
After finishing, he stared intensely at Yan Chen, "I'm just here to ask on behalf of the people behind me, are you willing to make this deal?"
With Jia Wei's words, the study fell silent for a moment.
Yan Chen didn't speak for a long time. He quietly smoked the last bit of his cigarette, then extinguished the butt in the ashtray.
Only then did he look up and inquire, "What do you want?"
Seeing that Yan Chen was tempted, Jia Wei's smile deepened, "Actually, we don't want much."
"I remember, a new Moonlight Lake is forming in the middle region between Xinjie City and Eastern City, where it's said to produce roughly 1.3 tons of Cataclysmic Material: Tears of Moonlight..."
At Jia Wei's words, Yan Chen jerked his head up, a look of surprise on his face.
Still smiling, Jia Wei said, "We want half of that yield."
Hearing this, Yan Chen was so exasperated that he laughed, "Do you think I own that Moonlight Lake as my private property?"
"You think if I say I'll give it to you, then I can give it to you?"