Chapter 133 Settled

Li, the secretary of Grand Elder Di Hong, proactively stood up, holding a remote control in his hand, and said, "Let me briefly explain the whole story to everyone. A few days ago, Yuanshi Tianzun applied to the headquarters to use the Yin-Yang Wheel, claiming it was for developing a gang dungeon. After exiting the dungeon, he falsely claimed that the Yin-Yang Wheel was lost inside. Yesterday, Detective Chang Lao from the Huaihai branch and I went to inquire about the details, but he refused to answer and was unwilling to pay the agreed compensation. At that time, Detective Chang Lao and I realized something was wrong, so we had the headquarters' finance department check Yuanshi Tianzun's account. We discovered that after borrowing the Yin-Yang Wheel, he immediately withdrew the cash from his account and transferred a villa in Songhai under his name to Fu Qingyang. Detective Chang Lao and I immediately realized that this was a premeditated act of embezzling official assets, so we telegraphed the headquarters for an arrest warrant and brought Yuanshi Tianzun back to the Huaihai branch for interrogation."

Speaking of this, he raised his hand and pressed the remote control. "After interrogation by the Huaihai branch headquarters, Yuanshi Tianzun has confessed. Please take a look."

As the curtain behind Cai Chang Lao slowly descended, the projector emitted a azure beam of light, projecting a twenty-second video onto the screen. In the video, Yuanshi Tianzun was sitting in an interrogation chair, looking straight ahead.

Detective Chang Lao's voice sounded: Yuanshi Tianzun, look at my token. I'm asking you now, was the Yin-Yang Wheel actually lost?

No, it wasn't lost.

Why did you lie?

I wanted to embezzle the Yin-Yang Wheel.

The video ended there, ironclad evidence.

Cai Chang Lao said calmly, "According to official law, how should embezzling public property be handled?"

Secretary Li answered, "The Yin-Yang Wheel is a Saint Realm supreme-grade item, its value is inestimable, convertible to at least one *yi* in cash, and it's priceless. According to the law, Yuanshi Tianzun has met the standard for the death penalty."

"I question the authenticity of the video!" Dog Chang Lao was the first to speak. "That day, the Huaihai branch wanted to get the Yin-Yang Wheel from Yuanshi Tianzun at a low price or for free. The two sides had a very unpleasant dispute. I have reason to suspect that Yuanshi Tianzun was influenced. The content in the video is not enough to serve as evidence. Cai Chang Lao, I propose a retrial of this matter, jointly witnessed by the Chang Laos of the Songhai branch and the Huaihai branch."

"Free? You old dog, how dare you insult us like that." A Chang Lao from the Huaihai branch snorted coldly, "Then how do you explain Yuanshi Tianzun's transfer of assets? Also, his written statement regarding the loss of the Yin-Yang Wheel was vague, and he was unwilling to reveal the information of gang members. There is no witness who can prove that he really lost the Yin-Yang Wheel."

Detective Chang Lao chimed in, "I have a complete chain of evidence. This is not a small matter. Every step should be repeatedly confirmed, instead of the Huaihai branch taking people away and acting arbitrarily, then presenting so-called ironclad evidence."

"I'm sorry, if that's the case, our Songhai branch is not convinced." Huangsha Baizhan Chang Lao expressed his opinion in an icy tone, "Okay, but I suggest first detaining him, asking the Taiyi Sect's Chang Lao to purify him, and by the way, asking Elder Fu to request a tiger tally from the Marshal, only then will it be fair and just."

The black-robed old man from the Huaihai branch said in a strange tone, "What do you mean by that?"

Mieshi Tianhuo from Songhai slammed the table. "Want to fight? Do you want to fight? You set a time and place, if I don't send you back to the Lingjing, I'll resign from my position as Chang Lao."

The two sides began to argue, only Fu Qingyang remained silent, sitting there coldly like an observer.

Miao Chang Lao's secretary tapped on the table, interrupting the quarrel of the large branches. This was a middle-aged man wearing Hanfu, refined and amiable. "There's no need to mention the death penalty. Let's talk about something practical. First of all, embezzling official assets is a very serious matter. Headquarters will not allow this kind of thing to happen."

He picked up his teacup and took a sip, unhurriedly, filled with the aura of a person in a high position, handling the situation with ease. He put down the teacup and continued, "The Huaihai branch has already obtained a complete chain of evidence. They should have been able to pass judgment, but the headquarters still decided to hold this meeting today, a private meeting, there will be no video recordings, so let's speak frankly. Everyone knows what's going on here, so let's not argue. I'm giving a plan on behalf of Miao Chang Lao, you can refer to it." The secretary looked around at everyone and said, "Let Yuanshi Tianzun return the Yin-Yang Wheel and compensate with an item of equal value. This matter will be considered settled, not announced to the public, and no statement will be issued."

"The Yin-Yang Wheel is a Saint Realm supreme-grade item, an item of equal value? Is it something that can be compensated just like that? What if Yuanshi Tianzun doesn't have it?" Mieshi Tianhuo said angrily.

Dog Chang Lao raised his melon seeds, signaling him to calm down, tidied his buttons, and stared at the refined and amiable middle-aged man, and said slowly, "Secretary Yang, what do you want, or rather, what does the headquarters want?"

Secretary Yang didn't speak. Secretary Li beside him said calmly, "Doesn't Yuanshi Tianzun have a Sacrificial Heaven Set? If he's willing to compensate with that, then the Yin-Yang Wheel can be considered lost. The headquarters will not pursue the matter."

Dog Chang Lao slowly glanced over Cai Chang Lao, glanced over the two secretaries. He understood what the headquarters was thinking. Evidence was not important. The video recording was just a reason for the headquarters to make things difficult. The headquarters' attitude was very clear: the Yin-Yang Wheel is official property, it was before, and it will be in the future. Whoever moves official assets will have to pay the price. In addition, there was another signal, the headquarters wanted the Sacrificial Heaven Set.

Dog Chang Lao didn't know what was so magical about the Sacrificial Heaven Set, but the headquarters had repeatedly wanted to obtain it, indicating that the set concealed something very important, the degree of importance exceeded the set itself. Compared to the headquarters' zero-tolerance attitude towards embezzling official assets, the ten elders were even more interested in the Sacrificial Heaven Set.

Fortunately, as of now, this level of interest had not yet reached the point of being imperative, otherwise the attendees of the meeting would not be secretaries, but elders.

"It's impossible to compensate the Huaihai branch with the Sacrificial Heaven Set," Dog Chang Lao refused outright.

"Don't be in a hurry to refuse." Secretary Li smiled and began to speak, "This matter was caused by Yuanshi Tianzun's greed, so he should pay the price. The several Chang Laos of the Songhai branch, you don't need to bear responsibility for his mistakes. The headquarters is taking face into consideration, that's why we proposed a private settlement. Of course, you can refuse, but next time it might be an official document."

This was a threat. An official document was a formal written order from the headquarters, like an ancient imperial edict. Once it was issued, refusing it would mean betraying the officialdom. At that time, you would either be forcibly executed or become a wanted criminal. There was no second possibility. The elders of the Songhai branch fell silent.

Officials of a higher rank could crush people to death, especially since this was a decision made by the headquarters, a decision made by the Central District. How could a branch resist the central authority?

"I don't care anymore." Elder Mieshi Tianhuo angrily went offline. The figure disappeared in the azure beam of light, leaving it empty. Luo Shen and Huangsha Baizhan sighed softly. Dog Chang Lao remained silent.

On the other hand, on the Huaihai branch's side, Detective Chang Lao and the others revealed smiles. Before the meeting started, they had already predicted the outcome. The Huaihai branch was just a pawn, the one who truly wanted to deal with Yuanshi Tianzun was the headquarters. The Sacrificial Heaven Set was said to be compensated to the Huaihai branch, but in the end it would definitely be taken away by the headquarters. However, the Huaihai branch would be able to obtain a huge compensation and an item no less than the Yin-Yang Wheel.

*Tok tok!*

Crisp and forceful knocking sounds echoed in the conference room, breaking the silence.

Everyone looked towards the sound. Fu Qingyang, who hadn't said a word since the beginning of the meeting, this young master of the Fu family wearing a snow-white suit, with facial features so handsome that they were suffocating, slowly opened his mouth, "I remember when Fu Qingxuan was promoted to Demigod and took over the position of Marshal, Huaihai sent gifts. I remember what she said when she received the gifts."

This sentence had nothing to do with this meeting, but the faces of several secretaries changed drastically. Cai Chang Lao's surrounding mist suddenly trembled. This scene made the Chang Laos of the big branches even more curious and puzzled. What did the Marshal say back then?

Fu Qingyang's one sentence caused several people from the headquarters to change their expressions. Even Cai Chang Lao was wary. "Fu Qingyang," Secretary Li said with great anger, "Do you know what you're saying?"

The other eight Chang Lao secretaries also stared at Fu Qingyang with unkind expressions, the coldness in their eyes undisguised.

"What the Marshal said back then was, 'Let me think about whether you ten old guys have been included in my must-kill list!' The Marshal's implication was, 'It's fortunate that you didn't offend me to the death, otherwise my first sword after becoming a god would be to chop you guys down.'"

Now Fu Qingyang brought up the old matter again, as if he was warning the headquarters, warning the ten elders, not to offend a young man who had the potential to become an alliance master to the death, a blatant threat.

"What I want to say is, the ten elders of the headquarters are highly respected, they have always been kind and generous to the younger generation, and they will definitely forgive Yuanshi Tianzun for losing the Yin-Yang Wheel by mistake. Perhaps in a moment, the ten elders will pardon him." Fu Qingyang was saying nonsense that no one believed with a cold expression.

Secretary Li sneered, "I think you are..."

Before he could say the words "daydreaming", he saw Cai Chang Lao tilting his head, as if he was listening to something, and then said, "The meeting is suspended." Immediately, he disappeared into the azure beam of light. This change caught everyone off guard.

Detective Chang Lao frowned. What happened to Cai Chang Lao? He suddenly reacted, glared at Fu Qingyang, and said through gritted teeth, "What trick are you playing now?"

The Chang Laos of the Huaihai branch also cast cold glances at Fu Qingyang.

Things were feared to be prolonged and complicated. Nearing the end of the meeting, Cai Chang Lao suddenly left, which made them have a bad premonition. The four Chang Laos of the Songhai branch, on the other hand, had faces full of curiosity and anticipation.

The middle-aged male secretary frowned and pondered.

Fu Qingyang still sat there silently, neither happy nor sad, like a playboy who didn't let a single leaf touch his body while passing through a sea of flowers. The Casanova stirred up the elders' meticulously planned intentions with just a few words.

Time passed quietly. Half an hour later, the azure light on the head seat flickered, and Cai Chang Lao's figure appeared in the conference room. He swept his gaze over the Chang Laos, paused on Fu Qingyang for a few seconds, and slowly announced, "Regarding the matter of Yuanshi Tianzun losing the Yin-Yang Wheel, the headquarters has made a decision. The punishment result is as follows: deduct one A-level and one B-level merit point, a fine of five million, and a Saint Realm-quality item must be paid within three days."

The conference room was silent, everyone was stunned. Detective Chang Lao's face was stiff, sitting on the backrest chair like a sculpture, the expression on the faces of the Chang Laos in the Huaihai branch was exactly the same as his. The Dog Chang Lao and others in the Songhai branch were both surprised and delighted and confused!

"Meeting adjourned," Cai Chang Lao said in a deep voice after a few seconds.

In the top floor office of the Huaihai branch, Detective Chang Lao smashed the expensive office table with one palm. Documents, books, computers, and office supplies exploded, the huge noise attracted the assistant from the neighboring office, who hurriedly pushed open the leader's office.

"Chang Lao, what happened?" The assistant suddenly paused, a look of horror on his face. Detective Chang Lao's face was twisted, his eyeballs were bloodshot, and the veins on his forehead were bulging, he was on the verge of exploding out of anger.

He had never seen his leader so angry, so he dared not ask any further.

Detective Chang Lao said word by word, "Get out."

The assistant hurriedly exited the office, closing the door.

Detective Chang Lao stood in the office for a moment, took a deep breath and suppressed his negative emotions. He expressionlessly dialed Secretary Li's phone, but the other side hung up. Then, a message came, saying that he was in a meeting. After half an hour, Secretary Li returned a call.

"What's going on at the headquarters? Are you just going to watch Yuanshi Tianzun embezzle the Yin-Yang Wheel? And what's with the fine? Five million yuan to send away a beggar?" Detective Chang Lao was already very restrained, but his tone still uncontrollably became agitated.

Secretary Li was silent for a few seconds, and sighed, "Let's stop here, there's no follow-up."

The anger that Detective Chang Lao had just suppressed surged again.

"What's the reason?"

"Fu Qingyang gave the headquarters a compensation." Secretary Li lowered his voice, "A compensation that the ten elders couldn't refuse. Compared to that, the Yin-Yang Wheel is not something that can't be given up."

"What compensation?"

"It's still a secret, I can't reveal it. What about the set? The headquarters wanted the Sacrificial Heaven Set, are we just going to waste this opportunity?"

"Don't say such angry words." Secretary Li's tone became serious, "Forcibly taking the Sacrificial Heaven Set is tantamount to forcing Yuanshi Tianzun to rebel. At that time, the alliance masters will definitely intervene, and we won't be able to gain anything." He paused, and sighed, "Fu Qingyang gave too much. If this kid enters the headquarters in the future, we probably won't have a good time."

"What about the fine!" Detective Chang Lao gritted his teeth, "Five million yuan, not a cent less. Don't mention money, Grand Elder has already knocked on me, he knows about the eighty million, Fu Qingyang didn't mention this matter to warn us that he has our handle."

Secretary Li said in a deep voice, "Bribing eighty million, that's enough for us to drink a pot of it."

Detective Chang Lao almost crushed his teeth. He silently hung up the phone. After a moment, the sound of smashing things came from the office again.

The employees outside shivered, not daring to breathe loudly.

In the study of the Fu family's mansion, Zhang Yuanshi said happily, "It's over? The Yin-Yang Wheel is really mine again?"

He had just returned from the Huaihai branch and received the good news from Fu Qingyang. This was consistent with the deduction results of astrology, but the results were inaccurate because it involved the Peak Master, a powerhouse of this level was not included in the deduction range.

Fu Qingyang sat high at the desk, nodding coldly.

"Boss, how did you talk to the headquarters?" Zhang Yuanshi asked curiously.

He knew that Fu Qingyang wanted to take advantage of this situation to solve the matter of the Yin-Yang Wheel for him, but he didn't know the specific content of the transaction between Young Master Qian and the headquarters.