Something’s Wrong with This Game — I Became a God by Mining!

At the Xiangfeng Prefectural Capital Ironclad Department, over a thousand constables stood in the front courtyard.

Among them were members of the Bandit Apprehension Division, the Public Security Division, and also the Inspection Division.

The constables of the Third Division all wore grave expressions.

After all, that Xu Wenjun standing at the front was a big shot from the Capital!

Shi Xin, Zhao Qing, along with the Bandit Apprehension Division Director and the Inspection Division Director, all stood respectfully on both sides.

Yang Ling was also in the courtyard, but given his special status, he had chosen a shaded corner to stand in.

"I am Xu Wenjun, Director of the Third Division, Command Division, Capital Ironclad Department."

Xu Wenjun's voice rang out slowly.

"We pay our respects to Director Xu!"

Many constables couldn't help but steal glances at Xu Wenjun.

This was the kind of big shot they might only have the chance to see once in their entire lives.

The Command Division - to Ironclad Constables, this was a true place of legend.

The Ironclad Departments of Zhao State's three Princely Capitals, seven Provincial Capitals, and ninety-seven Prefectural Capitals all fell under the command of the Capital's Command Division.

Although the Command Division normally didn't interfere with lower levels, every time it appeared, it meant a major case was at hand.

A case so significant that His Majesty himself had taken notice, prompting the Command Division to act.

It could be said that behind the Command Division stood not only the Department Head, but also that majestic figure seated upon the dragon throne.

A Director of the Third Division of the Command Division had already reached Fourth-Rank in official standing - a true high-ranking official of Fourth-Rank!

Anyone who understood the intricacies of such matters knew that Xu Wenjun's presence here today could not be viewed through the lens of an ordinary Fourth-Rank official.

Shi Xin understood this best, so in his eyes, Xu Wenjun might as well have been the Department Head himself, or even His Majesty...

"Your spirit and bearing are passable, which shows you train regularly. Not bad."

Xu Wenjun gave a slight nod, glancing at Zhao Qing.

Zhao Qing's heart swelled with joy, and he immediately cupped his fists:

"Our department operates under strict discipline, and those below us dare not slack off. Only in this way can we remain ready at all times to carry out your orders!"

Shi Xin didn't look down on Zhao Qing for this display.

The three Bandit Apprehension Division Directors and the three Inspection Division Directors also understood Zhao Qing's actions quite well.

"A Fourth-Rank official with Upper Fifth-Rank martial arts cultivation, backed by a Third-Rank Grandmaster Supreme behind him.

So a royal member like Zhao Qing, facing such an existence, shows not a trace of the arrogance that comes with carrying the Zhao bloodline."

Yang Ling mused inwardly, gaining a deeper understanding of Zhao State's hierarchy.

This was a place where strength reigned supreme.

And this kind of strength wasn't purely about martial power - it was a comprehensive measure of everything.

"All three divisions of the Command Division require Fourth-Rank officials to lead them. I'm currently a Sixth-Rank Ironclad, but once I advance to Fifth-Rank and earn a few merits, promotion to Fifth-Rank Ironclad is well within reach."

"His current position... it's not like I have no chance of sitting there myself."

Just then, Xu Wenjun's tone suddenly shifted, his face darkening:

"But that doesn't change the fact that you're all a bunch of trash."

"..."

The vast courtyard fell into dead silence.

Zhao Qing hung his head and said nothing.

Shi Xin and the others all pretended to be deaf, as if they hadn't heard those words at all.

"Kong Xinghu was a Vice Director of the Merit Evaluation Division under the Ministry of Personnel - a Fifth-Rank official!

Even our Ironclad promotions have to pass through their hands."

"Yet a dignified Fifth-Rank official actually died here in your Xiangfeng Prefectural Capital, without a single clue to show for it, and now His Majesty is furious!"

"Tell me, aren't you all trash?"

Xu Wenjun's gaze swept across the constables present, finally landing on Yang Ling.

Why's he looking at me?

Yang Ling stared right back without hesitation.

So what if he's Upper Fifth-Rank?

He had already estimated Xu Wenjun's strength - even if Xu Wenjun was stronger than him, it wasn't to the point of crushing him outright.

Factoring in all his skills, he figured he had at least a twenty to thirty percent chance of defeating this man!

Zhao Qing and the others secretly glanced up, and upon witnessing this scene, their expressions turned somewhat strange.

"Oh my dear Director Yang!"

Shi Xin lamented inwardly, frantically signaling Yang Ling with his eyes.

Zhao Qing suddenly felt a sense of relief.

"This kid... he's got some spine, doesn't he? He's not even afraid of Xu Wenjun?"

"Even his backer Zhao Zheng would have to be courteous in front of Xu Wenjun, wouldn't he?"

"Speaking of which, Zhao Zheng didn't come back? And Zhao Fu ran off too..."

Zhao Qing suddenly understood something.

These two princes clearly didn't want to lose face as princes in front of Xu Wenjun, so they simply made up excuses to leave, refusing to meet with him at all!

"Yang Ling, you're from the Changhe Prefectural Capital Ironclad Department. What are you doing here today?"

Xu Wenjun suddenly asked.

"Director Xu, the Fourth Prince mentioned that a major case had occurred here and asked me to come by and see if there was anything I could help with."

Yang Ling smiled and cupped his fists:

"From what I can see now, with you here presiding over this matter, Director Xu, this subordinate's presence is merely a waste of time. If there's nothing else, this subordinate will take his leave."

Xu Wenjun's eyes flickered: "The Fourth Prince sent you here..."

He nodded thoughtfully:

"That makes sense. You've been solving cases like a divine judge lately, and your reputation has already spread all the way to the Capital. While I was at the Command Division, I heard several of my subordinates mention your name.

They said a legendary constable had emerged from Yunwen Provincial Capital - one whose martial arts cultivation was not only impressive, but who also excelled at cracking cases.

The Fourth Prince wouldn't speak without reason. Since that's the case, you'll stay here and assist me in solving this case."

Yang Ling replied without hesitation: "This subordinate accepts the order!"

Zhao Qing felt a twinge of unease, but upon further reflection, since the other party hadn't publicly exposed his fire oil dealings, he probably wouldn't bring it up at this critical juncture either, right?

"After all, Kong Xinghu's death has nothing to do with fire oil..."

Zhao Qing thought to himself, and immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

A few breaths later, the sound of footsteps approached.

A group of Xu Wenjun's subordinates carried the corpses of Kong Xinghu and Blood Hand Scholar into the front courtyard.

A pungent smell of scorched flesh wafted through the air.

"All directors present, come take a look at these two corpses. I want to hear your assessments."

Xu Wenjun said calmly: "Director Yang, you come as well."

The directors present all gathered before the two corpses.

Yang Ling was extremely familiar with these two bodies, but at this moment, he had to put on a show of carefully examining them.

"Hmm, there's no smell of fire oil. This matches our earlier assessment - the deaths of these two are unrelated to fire oil."

Zhao Qing was the first to offer his opinion.

Yang Ling glanced at him, and he glanced back at Yang Ling. The look in his eyes was no longer as hostile as before, carrying instead a hint of concession.

Yang Ling gave a slight nod: "Indeed, there's no smell of fire oil."

Zhao Qing let out a long, relieved breath.

Shi Xin muttered softly to himself: "Director Kong was a Fifth-Rank master with the terrifying recovery abilities of a Lesser Master.

Yet now, his body bears numerous external wounds, suggesting he was beaten to death, and then the fire was used to burn the corpse."

"And this one here - we've already confirmed he's Blood Hand Scholar, a wanted criminal ranked 23rd on the Black List. An Upper Sixth-Rank master, dead together with Director Kong..."

The Director of the Bandit Apprehension Division's First Division here let his gaze fall upon Blood Hand Scholar:

"It can be deduced that Director Kong must have discovered Blood Hand Scholar's trail, and while pursuing him, was killed by Blood Hand Scholar's accomplices.

Killing an official is a grave crime. If Black List experts really did this, they would need to silence everyone involved."

Everyone felt this reasoning made some sense. Though Black List fugitives were wanted criminals, the manhunt against them wasn't actually that intense.

But if they truly committed the crime of killing an official and rebelling against the state...

Then they might very well provoke a Third-Rank Grandmaster Supreme to personally hunt them down!

"Director Yang, what do you think?"

Xu Wenjun nodded thoughtfully once more, then turned to Yang Ling again.

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