Chapter 15 The Crossroads

Inside the municipal building's command center, Su Tianyu looked at Mayor Li Mingsheng's "kind" face, his heart still resisting the idea of returning to the banquet hall with a tracking chip.

The ruthlessness of the Chi Army was evident in the massacre that had just occurred. These people would open fire without hesitation or remorse. If he were to secretly cause trouble and get caught, his life would certainly be forfeit.

What good was the opportunity to enter the system if he was dead?!

Su Tianyu glanced at Li Mingsheng, hesitated for a moment, and was about to refuse again.

Li Mingsheng seemed to sense Su Tianyu's hesitation and immediately waved his hand at the idle personnel around him.

Most of the people in the room left, leaving only a special forces captain to protect Li Mingsheng's safety.

Li Mingsheng pulled up a chair, leaned forward, and sat in front of Su Tianyu. "Lin You has told me about your situation. I know a little about the Yu family's affairs."

Su Tianyu was silent upon hearing this.

"You've caused quite a stir in Zha Nan and Tianhong Port," Li Mingsheng said in a low voice. "Taking detours in your career can be understood during certain times, but! If you choose the wrong direction in terms of political stance, it will lead to big problems."

Su Tianyu's heart skipped a beat upon hearing this. The soft approach was over; now came the hard sell.

"With a single word from me, the leader of the Zha Nan longshoremen's union will be replaced. With another word, the various incidents in Tianhong Port will be reinvestigated." Li Mingsheng pointed at Su Tianyu and said succinctly, "You want to take the civil service exam. You should understand what I mean."

"…!" Su Tianyu stared blankly at him, knowing he had no choice.

Li Mingsheng's words were very clear. If you listen to us, the terrible things you did in Zha Nan and Tianhong Port during the struggle with Xu Hu will be forgotten. But if you don't listen to us and go against us, then don't even think about entering the system. When this is all over, it's uncertain whether you'll even be free.

The Chi Army had hijacked the regulatory commission with hundreds of men. In this emergency situation, personal emotions and personal safety were insignificant. After offering the carrot, Li Mingsheng delivered a blunt threat, leaving Su Tianyu with almost no choice.

Su Tianyu looked at him and immediately replied with a smile, "Yes, you're right, Mayor. Cooperating with the municipal government is a citizen's duty."

Li Mingsheng slowly stood up and nodded with satisfaction. "You have a high level of awareness. Su, I'm a man of my word. As long as you fully cooperate with the special forces to rescue the hostages in this incident, I personally guarantee your entry into the system."

"Yes, Mayor!"

…

Fifteen minutes later, the special forces embedded a square chip about the size of a soybean in Su Tianyu's oral mucosa, before sending him back to the regulatory commission.

Before leaving, the special forces captain told Su Tianyu that after returning, he should superficially deceive the Chi Army, giving them the false impression that the municipal government had compromised. He was to propose two trivial conditions to them, which Su Tianyu had no choice but to agree to.

Sitting in the car, Su Tianyu's brain raced, analyzing his current situation.

First, if he chose to fully cooperate with the city command's actions, carrying the chip back to the banquet hall to act as an inside man, paving the way for the special forces' operation, even if the chip wasn't immediately discovered, the Chi Army would still suspect him as soon as the fighting started and they realized that the special forces' attack targets were so clear. At that time, not only would Su Tianyu die, but Yu Mingyuan might also face the risk of being shot.

Second, if Su Tianyu chose not to cooperate with the city command's actions and immediately told the Chi Army that a tracking chip had been implanted in his mouth, the Chi Army would definitely prepare in advance, looking for an opportunity to counterattack the special forces. If that happened, the special forces' plan would fail, the Chi Army would massacre the hostages again, and Gou Liuzi would be finished as well.

As long as Li Mingsheng and his people weren't fools, they would certainly guess that Gou Liuzi had deliberately leaked the information, leading to the failed rescue.

Betraying the municipal government would doom the Yu and Su families, because the upper echelons would not tolerate any dissent when dealing with extremist organizations. Su Tianyu might even be labeled as an accomplice of violent terrorist elements.

What to do?!

Su Tianyu seemed to be trapped in a dead end. No matter what he chose, he would offend one side and put himself on the fire.

Lin You said that crisis often coexists with opportunity, and that sounded reasonable. However, Su Tianyu couldn't see his opportunity at the moment. All he saw was being caught between a rock and a hard place, facing danger from both sides.

Su Tianyu pondered his options and thought of solutions the whole way.

He didn't know how long it had been, but as Su Tianyu was deep in thought, a member of the special forces suddenly patted him. "We're here. Get out of the car."

Su Tianyu nodded woodenly, opened the door, and followed the man out.

Lin You came to greet him, pointed at Su Tianyu, and asked, "The higher-ups have explained the situation to you clearly, right?"

"They have."

"Then you know what to do?" Lin You asked.

"I know," Su Tianyu nodded.

"Don't be confused! The Chi Army will run away sooner or later, but the Dragon City government will never leave." Lin You lowered his voice to remind him. "Your position is crucial. Many people's political futures are tied to you right now. A single mistake could bring down countless people."

Su Tianyu smiled wryly. "I know, Director Lin."

"Good, go back then." Lin You nodded, waved his hand, and shouted at the surrounding police officers, "Prepare to disperse and let him in!"

"Phew!"

Su Tianyu adjusted his breathing, with the Chi Army's explosives strapped to his body and the chip given by the city command in his mouth. Looking like a two-faced spy, he raised his hands and slowly walked into the courtyard. "It's me, I'm back, don't shoot!"

"Tap, tap!"

A series of footsteps sounded, and soldiers from the Chi Army rushed out, grabbed Su Tianyu, and immediately took him back to the main building.

It had only been less than an hour from his departure to his return, but Su Tianyu felt as if he had been away for a year.

In the first floor lobby, the hostages were still crouching in the corner with their heads lowered, just as before.

As Su Tianyu and the Chi Army soldiers walked upstairs, he suddenly noticed a familiar face from the longshoremen's union squatting near the staircase. When he looked at that person, his originally confused mind, tangled thoughts, and hesitant ideas instantly became clear.

Two minutes later, in the corridor on the third floor, Su Tianyu once again saw Zhao Weihu's guard battalion commander, the man wearing the Pigsy mask.

"You've been turned by the city command? Hehe!" Pigsy asked with a sinister smile.

…

Outside.

More than one hundred and fifty special forces members under the Weishui Garrison, along with more than fifty elite members of the special police force, had gathered for a meeting, preparing to receive the information given by Su Tianyu in order to carry out an armed rescue.