They say when faced with this unprecedented terror, the Governor became furious, then furious again, and then he got furiously furious several more times.

In short, he was furious.

Very, very furious.

But before his impotent rage had subsided, the Power Armor was gone.

After crushing several of Lei Yaoxing's Chosen Ones, they hadn't even had the chance to flee before they were dispatched by the military's quick reaction forces.

No survivors, no negotiations, no attempts at persuasion.

The command from the military base headquarters in Hai Province had only one directive—[eliminate].

At the command, a combat team equipped with four Hurricane Level Power Armors descended from a Flying Airship, tearing the rebels and their fashion-forward hodgepodge suits into palm-sized pieces, evenly scattered over a three-hundred-meter radius.

Only a head was left, placed squarely amid the ruins.

A display for all those with sinister intentions of the consequences of crossing the line.

It was rumored that after Tong Shan returned from the governor's mansion, his complexion was exceptionally ghastly, while Supervisor Lu from the Nanlu District Security Bureau had said nothing, one of his team members had just posted a photo on their social circle.

The background was the largest gym in Cliff City, and the main subject of the photo, the mountainous stacks of barbell weights.

Each weighing twenty kilograms and piled over two meters high—all shattered, crushed into mush in a fit of fury!

The handprint was unmistakable.

One could only imagine whom Supervisor Lu had in mind while venting on these weights.

In the face of this dark war that was spiraling out of control, all parties were quickly losing patience...

[Wen Jie has asked me to tell you to stay put, avoid drawing attention, and don't stir up trouble. It'll all be over in a couple of days.]

[Okay.]

Ji Jue replied, attaching a GIF of a rose blooming with a pink halo to show compliance.

After turning off the screen, he saw his own serious reflection and couldn't help but sigh.

Life is exhausting.

Glancing back at Chen Yubo in the living room who was carefree, holding a cat and meowing, he felt a sudden surge of nameless anger and wanted to kick him, shouting:

You son of a bitch, I'm your fucking father!

If he were indeed his real father, would it be any different?

After you manage to wriggle out of this mess, you better damn well remember to be more filial, huh! If even one stick of incense is missing from your father's longevity plaque during the festivals, Ji Jue would charge over to give that pair a piece of his mind.

"What's wrong, Old Ji?"

Sensing his complicated gaze, Chen Yubo turned back in confusion. Ji Jue forced a gentle smile, shaking his head to indicate: Dad's fine, keep playing.

It was only after growing up that one realized a father's bitterness and tears must be shed in solitude.

.

"By the way, why don't you charge money, Brother Ji Jue?"

In the temporary workshop in the garage, Xiao An, who was playing with his phone behind Ji Jue, suddenly asked, "Brother Ji Jue, you're really in need of money, right? My dad once told me, never lend money to an Ember Chosen One, no matter how much, it's never enough, just like throwing money into a bottomless pit, you won't even get a thank you."

"Ah?"

Ji Jue turned around, confused, not sure whether to first correct Xiao An's 'misguided' impression about the Ember Chosen Ones or to answer the question.

Even from the strictest moral standpoint, at this juncture, it should be acceptable and even expected for Ji Jue to charge money for risking his own safety to save Chen Yubo.

Any amount wouldn't be excessive.

He could ask for even half, and if he wanted it all... according to his understanding of Chen Yubo's character, with proper pressure, reliance on trust, and skilled rhetoric, it wasn't entirely impossible to persuade him with a bit of effort.

This inheritance, at first glance, was an astronomical amount, seemingly enough for one man to squander in a lifetime.

But in reality, when it came to real action, it was barely a drop in the bucket, only enough to make a down payment to Professor Ye's commission for a workshop construction.

These days, building a single highway in the city cost more.

If Ji Jue really wanted money, he wouldn't need to bother with this; he could just sell a part of the invaluably rare materials he'd brought with him, or simply set up a Fluid Alchemy introductory course for millions, even billions. Plenty of Ember Chosen Ones on the market would vie to buy it.

But unfortunately, the former concerned Ji Jue's future development in Alchemy, and the latter his academic research and papers, perhaps even the key to mastering Alchemy; he was absolutely unwilling to give away even a hint.

And this money was about Chen Yubo's life.

"Do you know, Xiao An, trust is a very fragile thing, but doubt is very powerful."

Ji Jue sighed softly.

It's easy to make people believe a poor kid with holes in his shoes would steal, but it's hard to convince them of the kid's innocence.

Even if you lay the truth before them, they will scoff.

And continue to put the thief's label on the child.

Not until that kid reaches a height where they cannot go, and looks back with disdain, do those shrouded in the shadow lose the courage to doubt.

Or else, die of starvation in the snowy fields of winter—much quicker, much simpler.

Doubt is absolute.

Doubt needs no evidence, no clues, especially when such intangible trust is built on the foundation of rumors.

That's why he convinced Chen Yubo to donate all his inheritance.

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