“Tell me, Lord Chi, how long are you planning to keep this woman locked up?”

Red Grape Mansion in Rhine City was built thirty years ago, a landmark building designed to rival Grand Capital’s Splendor Tower.

Therefore, the underground of Red Grape Mansion is also a secret base for transcendents.

The ninth floor underground here is an airtight secret prison.

Through the screen in front, one can check the real-time scene inside the prison. Now, the entire underground of the Red Grape Mansion has been emptied, just to imprison one person—

Yekaterina, the Rose of Wind City.

"I have the right to detain her until the Upper City issues a clear execution order."

Chi Shou looked expressionlessly at the man beside him. Gu Li had been appointed by the Red Grape Group to temporarily take over Rhine's privileges, in a sense making him a temporary divine official who was "on par" with himself.

"You and I both know that the Upper City wants her dead."

Gu Li wore a loose robe, looking languid, holding a wine glass in his hand, and said with a smile, "Moreover, as far as I know... the Upper City has sent orders more than once to execute this traitor."

He paused slightly.

He continued with a smile, "The Holy Cross Academy has urged us repeatedly... If you hadn't insisted on keeping this woman in the secret prison, she would have been beheaded even if she had nine lives. I wonder, if this news gets back to the Upper City, will it have any adverse effects on Lord Chi?"

"Say what you want."

"As a divine official of the Origin Spire, I must abide by the oracle of the Origin Spire. I follow the rules, acting upright and sitting straight."

Chi Shou said calmly, "Since Lord Sky Throne has not personally issued an 'execution order,' according to the Origin Spire's divine official regulations, executing a prisoner of Yekaterina's level cannot be decided by the Academy with just a few words. If an execution is truly to be carried out, she must be sent to the Upper City... Neither you nor I have the right to 'execute' her using our personal authority."

"..."

Gu Li was speechless.

These words were impeccable, and he really couldn't refute them...

Chi Shou was acting strictly according to the rules of the Origin Spire, and even if someone from above came, they couldn't blame him. As for needing a personal edict from the Sky Throne to execute someone, that was simply a pipe dream.

Lord Sky Throne hasn't issued an order in a long time.

If it were in the past.

Yekaterina would have died long ago. On the day this traitor was arrested, a supervisor would have come to either escort her to the Upper City for execution or execute her on the spot.

But now is a special period.

Central Continent is already in chaos.

With the advent of the transcendent era, the order in Central Continent almost "collapsed." [Deep Sea] invested a large amount of computing power to barely stabilize the situation.

Every day, a large number of transcendents spontaneously awaken, connecting to the Deep Water Zone to begin their mental self-assessment...

All the divine officials conferred by the Origin Spire have been dispatched from the Upper City to various districts to be responsible for receiving and guiding the newly promoted transcendents who have completed their awakening through the [Deep Sea] connection.

In this situation, dealing with the remnants of the Ancient Text Society is not considered an important matter...

It is enough that Yekaterina has been imprisoned.

Gu Li could see that Chi Shou was deliberately delaying.

If it were two years ago, he wouldn't have been so calm.

Now, his attitude has changed.

The reason is simple.

The transcendent era has arrived, and almost everyone can become a transcendent.

The Red Dragon divine envoy of the Origin Spire rebelled, and Xuan Wu and Bai Hu died in battle... Among the four divine envoys, only the newly promoted Zhu Que remains, and all other positions are vacant.

The entire Upper City is in a turbulent and chaotic era unseen in a century.

Under this background, the Origin Spire will do its best to cultivate "geniuses."

Gu Li's self-awareness is very clear.

He knows that he is not a genius. Reaching the fourth level of cultivation is already his limit. There is almost no hope of continuing to advance in this life.

In this case, struggling desperately is meaningless.

Chi Shou is fully responsible for Yekaterina's arrest... This kid's cultivation talent is much better than his, and his lineage is still in the Upper City. He will definitely leave this remote district of Rhine in the future and return to the Upper City to hold a high position.

As a mere "temporary divine official," there is no need for him to conflict with Chi Shou.

If this case is successfully concluded, he, as the deputy, will definitely receive a reward from the higher-ups.

If Chi Shou really goes crazy and betrays the Upper City for a woman, ruining this case, then it won't be his responsibility.

"Lord Chi is joking."

Gu Li held the wine glass and said lightly, "I haven't said a word about what happened in the secret prison."

Because of the change in his position, he is turning a blind eye to Yekaterina's case.

It doesn't matter whether this woman lives or dies anymore.

Could the Origin Spire possibly "reinstate" her?

In any case, she no longer poses a threat to him.

As long as he can live comfortably as a "temporary divine official," why should he fight to the death for the Red Grape Group?

"Tomorrow, I plan to go to the Upper City."

Chi Shou stopped looking at the monitoring screen.

He saw Gu Li's change in attitude, and he understood the reason for it in his heart.

After the Awakening Act was promulgated... this "hireling" who works for the Red Grape Group began to get closer to him.

With the advent of the transcendent era, the status of hirelings will be extraordinary.

But the divine officials of the Origin Spire are completely different.

Commissioned by the Sky Throne, serving the Origin Spire... Even the lowest-ranking divine official has Qing Long as their backer, which the hirelings would never dare to offend.

With the successful promulgation of the Awakening Act, a large number of transcendents have emerged. The Origin Spire's resources are limited, so the number of divine officials will not expand as a result.

But hirelings... are just the opposite.

In the future, there will definitely be countless hirelings vying to join the ranks of large financial groups.

If Gu Li doesn't find a reliable "backer" soon, then his good days will only last for a few more years.

"Go to the Upper City?"

Gu Li frowned, puzzled. "What are you going there for? Don't tell me you want to report on the 'Yekaterina' case to the higher-ups."

"..."

Chi Shou was silent for two seconds and said, "It's not a solution to keep delaying this matter."

He came from the Holy Cross Academy, and the reason he came to Rhine a few years ago was to complete the law enforcement task assigned by the Academy.

In the past few years, Chi Shou's mission has been very smooth.

He shone brightly in Rhine City.

Some people are outstanding from the beginning, while others seem ordinary at first, not showing their potential, but steadily rise higher and higher.

Chi Shou belongs to the latter. Due to his "outstanding performance" in recent years, the Academy's higher-ups have noticed this young man who was the first to advance to the fourth level after graduation.

Clatter!

Gu Li's eyes widened, and he couldn't hold the wine glass in his hand, dropping it on the ground, shattering into pieces.

"Are you crazy? You're really going to plead with the higher-ups?"

"This time, the Upper City is actively summoning me to return."

Chi Shou shook his head and said, "The Academy should have other tasks to assign to me... Perhaps it's about Yekaterina, perhaps it's something else. In any case, I will definitely be able to see the higher-ups in charge of this matter."

"Chi—"

Gu Li has been working with Chi Shou for some time.

Although there used to be hidden conflicts, the conflicts between the two have become less intense since the promulgation of the Awakening Act.

Now that the matter is of great importance, he no longer uses a strange tone, jokingly and sarcastically calling him "Lord Chi," but instead changed his tone and solemnly warned, "You should be clear about our identities and the identities of those big shots in the Upper City... I know that you come from a proper background, unlike us commoners, but in the eyes of the real 'upper-class people,' you and I are actually no different."

Now that the matter is of great importance, he no longer uses a strange tone, jokingly and sarcastically calling him "Lord Chi," but instead changed his tone and solemnly warned, "You should be clear about our identities and the identities of those big shots in the Upper City... I know that you come from a proper background, unlike us commoners, but in the eyes of the real 'upper-class people,' you and I are actually no different."

"Ha..."

Chi Shou saw Gu Li's serious face for the first time. He smiled faintly and mocked himself, "What proper background? My background is similar to yours."

Both are small people without a background.

It's just that...

He is more diligent and has better luck, so he can enter the Origin Spire and stand in his current position.

"If I'm not mistaken, you're likely to be 'promoted' this time you go to the Upper City."

Gu Li lowered his voice and pressed his hands on Chi Shou's shoulders. "I know that our friendship is not deep enough to confide in each other. But I'm telling you the truth from the bottom of my heart now, defying the Upper City's orders is a capital crime. The people above see what's happening in Rhine and know it better than anyone else."

"..."

"If you go to the Upper City this time and meet the high-level power holders, you must 'conclude' this case cleanly and neatly. Don't try to defend this woman. Once you anger them, your future and career will all be ruined."

Gu Li is not only concerned about Chi Shou.

But also himself.

Only when the situation in Rhine City is stable can his good days last.

"How I choose... is none of your concern."

Chi Shou replied coldly.

Although his tone was indifferent.

He felt a bit of bitterness in his heart.

He didn't expect that someone would say these words to him before he left.

"During this period, the affairs of Rhine City will be left to you to manage... The divine officials sent by the Upper City will also be under your command."

Chi Shou hesitated for two seconds and said solemnly, "If I am fortunate enough to be 'promoted' this time I go to the Upper City, I will recommend you to the Origin Spire. At that time, you can change your 'hireling' status and truly become a member of the divine official team."

"...?" Gu Li was stunned, and then a look of surprise appeared in his eyes.

He has been speculating all his life, but the words he just spoke did not have the slightest intention of opportunism.

"I take your words seriously. Lord Chi must be promoted."

Gu Li quickly agreed. He wouldn't miss such an opportunity.

"But when I return, I must see her safe and sound."

Changing the subject, Chi Shou looked in the direction of Yekaterina and put on a cold face, "While I'm away, no matter who comes from the Upper City, don't bring them to see Yekaterina. Even if she is guilty, even if she is to be executed, it should be done by my own hands."

Hearing this.

The smile on Gu Li's face froze.

He always felt that this Chi kid was good at everything, but he suffered from being "cultured," too compliant with the system, too disciplined, and too humane.

Exchanging a head for a golden future, how many people would seek that?

If it were him, he wouldn't hesitate for even a second.

……

……

After a series of instructions, Chi Shou left Rhine overnight.

He wasn't worried that Gu Li would execute Yekaterina... He knew Gu Li's character very well after spending time with him during this period.

Some people in this world are as clear as rivers, while others are as turbid as silt.

Gu Li is that kind of "small person" who is as turbid as silt. These people are born in the bottom class and rely on struggling to survive. The reason why they "sell their lives" to climb up is simply to make their lives better.

Seemingly ruthless and able to give up everything, but it's just a disguise.

These people cherish their lives the most.

These people also cherish opportunities the most.

And now, he is the only opportunity that Gu Li can grasp.

Behind Gu Li is the Red Grape Group.

The Red Grape gave Gu Li the status of "temporary divine official" and temporary jurisdiction over Rhine City... Seemingly glamorous, but these things with the word "temporary" indicate that this is not genuine importance.

In fact, there is no such thing as importance in a hireling relationship.

Gu Li knows in his heart that he is just a dog of the Red Grape Group.

When the cunning rabbit dies, the hunting dog is cooked.

If they were truly sincere, they should give him the title of "formal divine official."

Now, the things that Red Grape didn't give him.

Chi Shou gave...

Although it's just a promise.

But this promise is enough.

Gu Li is very good at playing "Tai Chi." Now that things are busy, even if the Upper City sends envoys to supervise this case during this period, he has plenty of ways to delay the "Yekaterina case" until Chi Shou returns to handle it.

……

……

He hadn't returned to the Upper City in five years.

This time, Chi Shou felt a sense of unfamiliarity with the city before him.

Perhaps it was because of the Awakening Act.

There weren't many pedestrians walking on the streets, and a large number of micro-crafts were suspended high in the air, but most of these micro-crafts were empty...

Neon lights flickered, and the streets at night seemed prosperous, but in reality, they were extremely deserted.

The Upper City wasn't like this five years ago. Chi Shou remembered that the night he left was also a night like this. At that time, the streets of the Upper City were full of pedestrians, and the noisy voices of people have now been replaced by the pattering of rain.

Rain?

Chi Shou remembered that it never rained in the Upper City.

He raised his head and looked at the gray sky dome. The starlight could no longer be seen, and thousands of strands of rain fell like needles.

"Bang," a muffled sound.

A black umbrella opened above Chi Shou's head.

Chi Shou turned around and was stunned for a second.

"...Teacher."

Chi Shou's voice was a little hoarse. He stepped out from under the umbrella and gave his teacher a respectful salute.

He studied at the Holy Cross Academy.

This academy has cultivated more than half of the elite of Central Continent, and Chi Shou's teacher is the titled transcendent famed alongside [Giant Moon] Meriz, [Sky Blade] Wang Chong.

Central Continent has always discriminated against skin color, so Chi Shou was often bullied.

Wang Chong, who had half Eastern Continent blood, took him in and carefully cultivated him.

It can be said...

Without Wang Chong, there would be no him.

Chi Shou didn't expect that his teacher would personally greet him when he arrived in the Upper City.

Returning after five years.

The Upper City before him was already a completely unfamiliar city.

But the only fortunate thing was that his teacher's face was still that familiar face.