Kyoto, Dragon Department Headquarters.
Since the Dragon Department was occupied by the four great families, its headquarters had become the focal point for their concentrated meetings.
The Qi family, which should have been annihilated by Ye Ling, had managed to preserve many of its members thanks to the covert protection of the other three families. Over the past month, they had rapidly grown in strength by consuming the Dragon Department's resources, re-establishing a significant presence in Kyoto. They now commanded a force of over a hundred high-level异士 (yìshì - extraordinary individuals) and numerous lesser fighters.
The other three great families, freed from the constraints of the Demon Palace and the Dragon Department, had become all-powerful, seemingly intent on transforming the entire nation into their personal dominion.
The shadow of the four great families loomed over Kyoto.
Many former Dragon Department employees were unwilling to work for the four great families. However, under their immense pressure, they were forced to submit and serve them, unable to resist the prevailing power.
After all, they had families to support and dared not openly confront the four great families.
The Dragon Department extraordinary individuals who had fled, like Wang Liren, were ultimately a minority.
Ye Ling once again arrived before the Dragon Department headquarters, gazing at the closed iron gates with a sense of profound emotion.
The last time he had been here, he had eliminated a group of Dragon Department high-ranking officials.
He never expected to have to clear out another batch this time.
Thinking of this, Ye Ling shook his head and chuckled, "I wonder if the Dragon Department and I share some kind of karmic connection."
Wang Liren stood beside Ye Ling, looking at the familiar Dragon Department base. He, too, felt a surge of emotion as he recalled his recent period of flight.
Although only a little over a month had passed since Ye Ling had fallen unconscious, Wang Liren felt as though he had lived through an eternity.
His escape had been a period of utter desolation, and now, as they were about to reclaim the Dragon Department, Wang Liren was filled with excitement.
Amidst his excitement, Wang Liren did not forget the main objective. He turned to Ye Ling and said, "Your Majesty, before you act, I have a request."
Ye Ling asked, "What is it?"
Wang Liren replied, "There are still many former Dragon Department employees within the base. Although they are working for the four great families, they are doing so under duress and out of necessity. I implore Your Majesty to consider them and spare their lives."
Wang Liren understood Ye Ling's character well and was acutely aware of his methods.
Ye Ling showed no mercy to his enemies. If he did not intercede for his former colleagues, Ye Ling might very well flatten the entire Dragon Department base with a single strike.
Ye Ling shook his head and said, "The four great families have crossed the bottom line of the Demon Palace. I am not in the mood to discern who willingly joined them and who was forced."
Wang Liren's heart tightened, and his expression immediately turned grim. "Your Majesty, but..."
Ye Ling waved his hand and continued, "I am not an unreasonable person. After all, this Dragon Department is your own. It wouldn't be good to eliminate everyone at once. Furthermore, I am merely settling a personal score. How about this: I will give you one hour. You can infiltrate the base and persuade them. Any Dragon Department members who emerge within this hour, I will let them go."
"Anyone still inside after one hour will be considered part of the four great families, and I will not leave a single one alive." Hearing Ye Ling's words, Wang Liren's heart trembled, as if he could already see the Dragon Department stained red with blood.
The Dragon Department had thousands of employees. It was an almost impossible task to persuade them all to defect within an hour!
However, Wang Liren also knew that this was the best he could hope for. If he delayed any longer, more people would die.
Suppressing his bitterness, Wang Liren thanked Ye Ling, "Thank you for your leniency, Your Majesty. We will go and rescue our brothers now!"
Ye Ling then asked, "Do you need me to open a back door for you? After all, the Dragon Department is currently under the control of the four great families, and you likely cannot enter openly."
Wang Liren replied, "There is no need to trouble you, Your Majesty. I know of a secret passage leading into the base. We can infiltrate through there."
Ye Ling nodded, "Very well. You go ahead, I will wait here."
"Yes!"
Wang Liren responded, then glanced at the Dragon Department extraordinary individuals present. "Brothers, follow me. It's time to save people. Please use your persuasive skills to convince our former colleagues as much as possible!"
The Dragon Department extraordinary individuals knew this was no time for jest. They quickly prepared their equipment and replied, "Brother Wang, you lead the way, and we will follow!"
However, Zuo Yuan, standing among the crowd, made no move.
Wang Liren cast a glance at Zuo Yuan, who remained still. A flicker of unspoken guilt crossed his eyes, but he said nothing. He then addressed the others, "Alright! Follow me this way!"
With that, Wang Liren led a few Dragon Department extraordinary individuals around the back and infiltrated the Dragon Department base.
However, only Zuo Yuan remained in his original position.
Ye Ling noticed the subtle look in Wang Liren's eyes earlier and then observed Zuo Yuan, who had not followed Wang Liren. He asked with curiosity, "Aren't you going with them?"
Zuo Yuan shook his head. "No... I am a new recruit to the Dragon Department. I don't have many friends inside, and I wouldn't be of much help. Instead, I would only be a hindrance."
Ye Ling asked with a smile, "That's strange. As a newcomer to the Dragon Department, you shouldn't have much emotional attachment to it. Why did you flee with Wang Liren?"
Zuo Yuan replied, "I joined the Dragon Department to defend its honor. The Dragon Department, occupied by the four great families, is corrupt. Even if I were to die, I would not help them!"
"What honor does a little kid like you have to defend?" Ye Ling said, half-jokingly.
However, Zuo Yuan seemed not to have caught Ye Ling's teasing. He replied with unwavering determination, "Your Majesty may not know, but my parents were both extraordinary individuals of the Dragon Department. They always taught me that the Dragon Department exists to maintain the peace of China. Dragon Department extraordinary individuals, like the Cang Yan Army defending the nation, should possess their own honor!"
"That is the honor I wish to uphold."
Ye Ling then asked, "And your parents?"
Zuo Yuan replied, "They perished in a Dragon Department mission not long ago. It was because of their deaths that Brother Wang invited me to join the Dragon Department."
Ye Ling: "..."
Ye Ling had not expected this passionate young man to have such a background. After a moment of stunned silence, he said, "I apologize, I did not intend to bring that up."
Zuo Yuan shook his head. "Your Majesty, there is no need to apologize. I do not grieve for my parents' deaths. On the contrary, they are my pride, and I aspire to live their lives."
"You..."
Looking at the spirited glow in Zuo Yuan's eyes, Ye Ling felt a stir in his heart. Just as he was about to say something to encourage Zuo Yuan, the roar of car engines from not far away caught Ye Ling's attention.
Ye Ling and Zuo Yuan concealed themselves. They saw a long convoy of vehicles traverse the wild forest and stop in front of the base.
The lead vehicle was a convertible jeep, driven by a man wearing camouflage and a scorpion tattoo on his left forehead.
Upon seeing the man, Zuo Yuan's eyes instantly changed, and he exclaimed, "Dad?"