Meanwhile, just as Fang Ze was about to set off for the Governing Hall, the councilors of Emerald City had also successively arrived there.
In Xida State, generally speaking, a high-level city would have 9-15 municipal councilors, each with different statuses.
Take Emerald City as an example.
Among the 13 municipal councilors, there were four full-time members such as Jiang Cheng and Commissioner Wang.
They were some of the most powerful people in the high-level cities, not only able to exercise the council's powers when it was not in session but also in charge of all the city's departments, which had to report to them and follow their directives.
Apart from these full-time councilors, there were also eight part-time members in the council, who were heads of the city's eight important departments.
These eight departments included the Security Bureau, the Investigation Bureau, the Federal Defense Team Commander stationed in Emerald City, and the representatives from the five lower-level cities.
All were truly powerful departments.
And every meeting, being a collision of the councilors' powers, the councilors were accustomed to probing each other's positions and exchanging information before the meeting at the Governing Hall.
Today was no exception.
The primary purpose of this meeting was to welcome the new Security Bureau Chief, attending the council for the first time after the position had been vacant for more than two years, so naturally, the councilors' topics revolved around this...
Governing Hall, top floor, a lounge with a sign that read "Investigation Bureau".
Director Peng of Emerald City's Investigation Bureau was chatting with a thin man who had a long face and appeared rather shrewd. "Commissioner Liu, I see that councilor Fang Ze's profile states he is from Qingshan City. Do you know anything about him?"
Upon hearing Director Peng's words, Commissioner Liu, seated on the couch, smiled and then said, "How should I know that."
"You are not unaware that councilor Fang Ze, although from Qingshan City, came from a poor area, a lawless zone."
"I hardly know more about him than what's on his profile."
Saying this, he paused and retorted, "Rather, it's Director Xie Peng who should be informed, with the Investigation Bureau being the department with the most personnel, you must have obtained some information about councilor Fang Ze, right?"
Director Peng flashed an unruffled smile, "This... I have very little information on hand as well."
"Initially, I wanted to send someone to Fang Ze's birthplace to investigate, to learn about his background."
"But, as you know, a new force has suddenly emerged in the poor area of Qingshan City. That force tightly controls the poor district, is watertight in its operations, and has many Disaster Creatures and Awakeners under its command, making it impossible to infiltrate."
"I even considered asking for assistance from the Security Bureau to eradicate that power."
Hearing Director Peng's words, Commissioner Liu couldn't help but smile.
Each holding a teacup, they took a sip of water and both inwardly cursed the other "old fox" simultaneously.
Clearly, they both knew that the other was definitely holding some undisclosed information about Fang Ze, but neither was willing to reveal it.
Just as the two harbored their own schemes, suddenly, "thump thump thump" came knocking at the lounge door.
Director Peng put down his tea, cleared his throat, and said, "Come in."
The door was pushed open, and in walked a middle-aged man in shabby clothing with a slightly exotic look.
Upon seeing him, Director Peng and Commissioner Liu couldn't hide a flicker of contempt on their faces.
However, despite their contempt, in the end, Director Peng was the one to speak first, saying, "Miao Clan Chief, long time no see."
The man was none other than the representative councilor of Miaohua City, the chief of the Miaohua Tribe, and the father of Nan Yi and Zhixi.
Though also a municipal councilor, Director Peng did not even bother to stand up to greet him, clearly not paying him much attention.
This was reasonable, since, after all, Miaohua City was too poor, with a poor economy, scarce resources, and little strength; it was practically at the bottom of the eight departments, with hardly any say.
If it were not for the requirement that a lower-level city must have a representative, Zhixi's father would likely not be able to be a municipal councilor at all. No wonder Director Peng did not think highly of him.
Perhaps used to such contempt, Zhixi's father seemed completely unfazed.
He approached the two councilors with a broad smile, found a spot to sit beside them, leaned in, and said, "Councilors, are you discussing councilor Fang Ze?"
Hearing his words, Director Peng and Commissioner Liu gave a faint "hmph" in response.
Zhixi's father smiled and said, "Well, I really can contribute to this topic, because I'm quite familiar with councilor Fang Ze."
Hearing his statement, Director Peng and Commissioner Liu exchanged a glance, noticing a touch of surprise in each other's eyes.
But surprise aside, they turned back, continuing to wear their composed façades as they looked at Zhixi's father and asked, "You're familiar with councilor Fang Ze? Why is that?"
Upon hearing their questions, Zhixi's father seemed to chuckle heartily and said, "Because my daughter just joined the Security Bureau this year and happens to be working under councilor Fang Ze."
At his words, Director Peng and Commissioner Liu suddenly became interested.
In these two years, despite the absence of its chief and a decline in power, the Security Bureau was still the strongest force in Emerald City. A lean camel is bigger than a horse. So, except for people with strong backgrounds like Jiang Cheng, it was very difficult for the other councilors to extend their reach into it.