Bai Zhi handled things fairly competently as she directly stated, "I've tried everything, but I can't get through."
"However, since something big just happened in Emerald City, everyone is too preoccupied with their own issues, and since the communication cut-off was brief, it didn't draw much attention."
If it had only been Bai Ling or the Special Case Team that were unreachable, one might have optimistically speculated there was a problem with the Security Bureau's communication, or that something had happened to the team.
But now that Miaohua City itself was out of reach. Fang Ze suddenly felt that perhaps... the worst had happened!
Should this possibility come to pass, not only would Bai Ling, Miaomiao, and Zhixi find themselves in danger, but millions of residents in the entire city of Miaohua City might all be in deep peril!
With this in mind, Fang Ze pondered for a moment then couldn't help but ask, "Is there any other special way to contact Miaohua City?"
"I need one with high priority. Not the regular communication channels."
"I need to confirm the current situation in Miaohua City!
Upon hearing Fang Ze's words, Bai Zhi pondered briefly, then solemnly said, "Yes, there is! But..."
Fang Ze looked at her.
Bai Zhi spoke with some difficulty, "It's with Jiang Cheng, the First Commissioner of the Governing Hall."
She explained, "Just as our Security Bureau has a secret communicator with our superiors. Higher-level cities and their subordinate lower-level cities also have a secret dedicated line."
"That line is unique, even higher in rank than that of the Security Bureau. It is usually activated only in the event of a major incident. It can override over 99% of signal blocking capabilities. It could theoretically make contact even if one is in an Alternate Space."
"So, it should be possible to reach Miaohua City."
After hearing Bai Zhi's words, Fang Ze didn't hesitate at all, and said to Bai Zhi directly, "Take a team of Executive Commissioners. We're going to the Governing Hall."
Hearing Fang Ze's words, Bai Zhi hesitated for a moment, worried that making such a big fuss without confirmation might cause issues, but when she saw Fang Ze's stern face, she agreed, "Alright!"
Whatever... If Fang Ze wants to go crazy, then I'll go crazy with him! After all, he has never failed before!
Half an hour later, Fang Ze and Bai Zhi, accompanied by a team of Executive Commissioners, went striding into the Emerald City Governing Hall.
It had been less than a week since Fang Ze last came to the Governing Hall to take away several commissioners.
And it had been less than two months since the time before that when Fang Ze came to the Governing Hall and took away several high-ranking officials.
So, when they saw Fang Ze return to the Governing Hall with a group in tow, the multitude of public officials in the Governing Hall were once again reminded of the fear that Fang Ze instilled in them.
And when they saw Fang Ze leading his group straight to the fourth floor, they felt somewhat numb: Arrest them, arrest them, after all, there are only a couple of commissioners left.
Arriving on the fourth floor of the Governing Hall, Fang Ze surveyed the corridors on either side of the staircase, then asked Bai Zhi, "Which room?"
After a moment's thought, Bai Zhi said, "It should be in the First Commissioner's office. There are people from Jiang Cheng on guard."
Hearing Bai Zhi's words, Fang Ze led the way to the First Commissioner's office.
He knocked on the office door.
The door was quickly opened. An elegantly poised female official stood at the entrance and politely said, "Hello, Commissioner Jiang is currently resting in the resting room. For the time being..."
She had barely gotten halfway through her scripted response when she saw Fang Ze and the people following him. The rest of her words got stuck in her throat, her face turning deathly pale.
Is my reputation in the Governing Hall that bad?
While thinking this, Fang Ze looked at the female official indifferently and said, "I need to use the Governing Hall's secret line to call Miaohua City."
Hearing this, the female official was nearly in tears as she spoke with a sobbing tone, "The secret line is only authorized for use by the First Commissioner when a major incident occurs."
"You, you can't use it."
Fang Ze said expressionlessly, "Then go call Jiang Cheng back here and get his authorization."
Just as Fang Ze was saying this, a commotion of footsteps could be heard from downstairs in the Governing Hall.
Shortly after, a group of people came up from the lower floors, led by none other than Jiang Cheng, who looked unruffled. Clearly, he had been notified after Fang Ze's arrival at the Governing Hall and had hurried over.
After reaching the fourth floor and seeing Fang Ze giving his own female official a difficult time from a distance, Jiang Cheng frowned slightly, then called out loudly, "Director Fang, with the Flower God matter, the whole city needs stability. Why have you brought people to the Governing Hall again?"
As he and his people reached the office door, they faced off against Fang Ze and his group.
Fang Ze glanced at Jiang Cheng and then said expressionlessly, "I have a major case that needs verification, so I want to use the Governing Hall's secret line. Could Commissioner Jiang oblige?"
Hearing Fang Ze's words, Jiang Cheng frowned deeply and scolded, "Nonsense! The secret line is the most vital channel for every city's Governing Hall, intended only for liaising over significant matters!"
"It's not for your Security Bureau to use for handling cases or for you to verify cases!"
"If you need to verify, use your own internal secret lines from the Security Bureau!"
Fang Ze said bluntly, "It is precisely because our secret lines are unreachable. That's why I want to use the Governing Hall's higher-authority line for verification."