Chapter 175: The Strong Must Humiliate the Weak Fiercely! - It’s the Cyber Age—Still Playing a Traditional Villain?

### Chapter 175: The Strong Must Humiliate the Weak Fiercely! The feeling of sneaking around and indulging in something forbidden is indeed exhilarating. Early the next morning, Xu Shi awoke on an unfamiliar bed with Jiang Chengcheng nestled in his arms. His first reaction was a craving for a cigarette. It had truly been a liberating release. “Feeling much better, aren't you?” Jiang Chengcheng was already awake, drawing lazy circles on his chest with her small hand, “Seems like you’ve been holding it in for a while now.” Xu Shi couldn't argue with her observation, though he couldn't help but roll his eyes internally. Recently, he indeed had accumulated a lot of stress due to all the work he had to attend to... He believed Jiang Chengcheng meant it that way, but her words could easily be misinterpreted, potentially leading astray the young and innocent with such suggestive remarks. “Do you have any plans today? If not, why not stay with me a little longer?” Jiang Chengcheng didn’t care about anything else; she just wanted to prolong her stay in Xu Shi’s embrace. “...I actually do. I have to attend a meeting at the city hall.” Xu Shi offered an apologetic smile, “Several major consortiums are convening to quickly come up with a resolution for this mess.” It seemed a bit rushed, but no one wanted to procrastinate; the blood on the streets was barely dry, yet it didn't hinder the division of the spoils of victory. Xu Shi also had the same intention, but not for other reasons; he wanted to force Tang Shuang into action. After all, aside from the four major consortiums, only the governor of the city hall could have a seat at the table. Will she come or not? “Alright then.” Jiang Chengcheng pouted a bit, feeling somewhat disappointed but understanding nonetheless, “How about breakfast before you leave? I’ll cook for you. What would you like to eat?” “Something simple would do—two fried eggs with toast, sunny side up?” “I’ll make you three, give you a good boost.” Jiang Chengcheng kissed him, then got up to make breakfast. Feeling the residual warmth Jiang Chengcheng left behind, Xu Shi sighed inwardly. Should he say that she’s genuinely suited to be a lover? Gentle, understanding, and always able to stir things up a bit... The key is that she's content, right? No need to worry about her vying for attention or anything. Probably not, right? She's so well-behaved... Yes. Regardless of Jiang Chengcheng's demeanor, someone's behavior today was bound to be unexpectedly obedient. “Yo, good morning, have you had breakfast yet?” After breakfast, arriving at the city hall, Xu Shi encountered a radiant Xie Qingyan outside. The mischievous woman greeted him with a cheerful smile. “It looks like our Director Xu didn’t get a good rest... Want to postpone the meeting by two days?” Her enthusiasm carried a hint of mockery, targeting not only her nominal fiancé but also Su Lin beside him. In truth, Su Lin hadn’t had a good rest either, but she couldn’t skip the meeting and had to accompany, even needing to pick up her young master from Jiang Chengcheng’s place... It felt a bit tragic no matter how you looked at it. Especially when others misunderstood the situation, leaving her at a loss for words. Explain? She could only keep her head down in silence. “Not bad.” Xu Shi chuckled, teasing back with his words, “You seem to have had a good rest, Qingyan… Isn’t it much more relaxing not scheming behind people’s backs?” “Seems like it.” Xie Qingyan surprisingly agreed without bickering, a slight grievance in her tone, “What, in your eyes, am I only someone who schemes behind the scenes?” “I didn’t say that.” Xu Shi spread his hands, looking utterly innocent. “Get lost.” Xie Qingyan rolled her eyes at him. In actuality, her mood might even surpass Xu Shi’s in delight, as “Prism” managed to achieve a win effortlessly—providing medical and logistical support was not as consuming as engaging in direct combat, yet the benefits remained intact. Therefore, she had no desire to argue with Xu Shi, playing a compliant kitten for a few days wouldn’t be bad... Even if Xu Shi’s passive-aggressive remarks persisted, she could just pretend not to hear. However, she had to admit, her teasing stemmed purely from jealousy. The phenomenon was challenging—Xie Qingyan, owning her position as the consortium’s president for years, believed her heart had become as cold as a scalpel, yet lately, her feelings towards Xu Shi had taken an increasingly erratic turn. If he was truly a worthless scoundrel, she wouldn't mind even if he partied with a hundred girls. But as he got increasingly excellent, nearing the pinnacle unknowingly, she found it difficult to ignore his personal life. After all, she bore the title, "Xu Shi's fiancée," and seeing him affectionate with other girls was infuriating. However, speaking out seemed odd, considering she hadn’t cared before... Wouldn’t it make her seem a bit pathetic? Hmm... Yet this wasn’t the time for such dilemmas, so Xie Qingyan changed the topic to business, “Can you leave He Yuzhao to me? That guy dared to betray us, and I want to deal with him personally.” “Of course, no problem. He’s still with Qi Maoyang, just go and get him.” Xu Shi didn’t mind at all, even feeling a tinge of sympathy for the ordeal awaiting He Yuzhao. While he hadn't paid much attention, he knew that when the malicious woman got serious, her methods were not to be underestimated. At least, the accounts in the original novel were quite explosive. Seeing her gritting her teeth with that indignant look, He Yuzhao was certainly in for a rough time. Indeed, the most vicious are the hearts of women. “In that case, thank you.” The venomous woman sweetly smiled, “Not just me, but someone else wants to thank you too.” “Hmm?” Before Xu Shi could react, Xie Qingyan presented Ye Shanshan from behind her. “And this is?” Xu Shi was baffled, listening to the curly-haired girl’s halting explanation before realizing what had happened. Turned out she was a “God’s Descent” enthusiast, having her thoughts unknowingly influenced by Shen He. Had Xu Shi not intervened to thwart his plans, she might have joined the others in causing chaos. However, Xie Qingyan learned through her that Xu Shi was keeping such a trump card hidden—truth is, Xia Ke'an's prophecy was never shared outside, and to this day, no one knew who had saved them. Initially, Ye Shanshan didn’t know either, as she was blissfully unaware during her virtual escapade at work. When she finally regained clarity, she pieced it together post hoc. As for how she realized it, much like Shen He, it was detecting that signature cunning smile which made her realize who he really was. “Oh, so you play 'God’s Descent' too.” Xu Shi casually brushed it off, waving his hand, “Was just lending a hand, it wasn’t just you I saved, Miss Ye.” “But I should still thank you...” Ye Shanshan bashfully looked at her hands, her voice shy, “In the past, I held some biases against you, Director Xu, please, please don’t mind…” Due to the “victim mentality implant,” she was never able to truly dislike Xu Shi, but “not disliking” and “being grateful” are, after all, two separate feelings. She even found herself a bit timid now, realizing this person was actually quite handsome, both handsome and mischievous... “Alright, alright, in that case... you’re welcome?” Xu Shi genuinely didn’t care, but he appreciated the curly-haired girl’s stance, “By the way, there's something for me to thank you guys for, such as... Leader Song?” “Had Leader Song not been so discerning, things wouldn't have gone so smoothly, right?” And this was true, remembering when Yu Xingchuan reported back, mentioning a fraction of people who switched sides amidst the chaos outside the city? That group was under Song Chen, not blindly following Shen He’s orders like the others, as Song Chen had already given them a heads up, lying in wait for the right moment to strike a knife into their fellows’ backs. While perhaps a minor detail in the grand scheme, an impeccable victory is forged through countless such nuances. “No, Director Xu, you flatter me.” Song Chen, ever present, not just as “Xie Qingyan’s subordinate,” but also as a representative of the “Forgotten Ones,” hurriedly bowed and gestured humbly, his smile utterly self-effacing. “How could it be flattery? I mean every word of it.” Xu Shi shook his head, thinking this guy was overdoing it, but still exchanged a few more pleasantries, “Were those other two as perceptive and well-versed as Leader Song, maybe the City of Night Crimes wouldn’t have witnessed such bloodshed, don’t you think?” “Indeed, indeed.” Song Chen agreed eagerly, painting himself modest even amidst advantage-taking, “They certainly adopted flawed strategies, and as a former ally, not realizing it sooner was partly my fault. In hindsight, it’s truly heart-wrenching.” The statement drew laughter from the crowd, lightening the mood instantly. As they stepped into the conference room, the remaining parties had already gathered— “Imaginary Numbers” was represented personally by Chairman Qi Kang, reflecting serious investment in the matter. As for “Feather Pen,” it was different. The old Wen didn’t come himself, delegating Ning Wei to attend in his stead. This doesn't mean "Feather Pen" wasn't treating the matter seriously, but rather because Wen Shengkui was physically overtaxed from the previous day's events and was unable to attend. Everyone understood this, especially considering Ning Wei held significant status as well—even if he was nominally just a steward-secretary, anyone privy to the internal workings knew that without considering Xu Shi, the future successor of "Feather Pen" would likely be a choice between Ning Wei or He Yuxia. Additionally, given that He Yuxia was affected by "Shark Tooth's" downfall, Ning Wei was certainly up to the task. “How is grandfather doing now?” Xu Shi asked with concern. "… He's alright, nothing serious, just that at his age, using his abilities always takes a toll." Ning Wei replied earnestly, “He needs some time for observation… So, if anything comes up in the future, please consider carefully, Director Xu.” “I'll visit him soon, so he can scold me in person.” Xu Shi didn’t take the matter further. It wasn't really about careful consideration or not—if he could avoid involving his grandfather, he would. But the issue was only his grandfather had the ability to eliminate S-rank “Ascenders” in an instant. Without him, someone like Long Tianding would have been a significant hurdle, possibly prolonging the battle indefinitely. What else could he do? (sigh) Additionally, there was the current inspector general, Tang Shuang, along with her deputy, Yu Xingchuan. Their presence didn’t surprise anyone—though Xu Shi’s previous arrangements were unknown, Tang Shuang’s detainment of Yue Chizheng was hardly a secret. Someone had to fill that position, and Tang Shuang's presence now made her stance clear. “Good morning, Director Tang.” Xu Shi greeted her cheerfully without a care. Unfortunately, Tang Shuang returned only a chilly glare—You dare to greet me? Get lost, you annoying brat. Instead, Yu Xingchuan was eager to approach, “Director Xu…” Before she could finish, Su Lin intercepted her, prompting Yu Xingchuan to sheepishly withdraw, sticking her tongue out playfully. “Since everyone’s here, shall we get to the point?” Qi Kang watched the younger generation's interactions with interest before initiating the discussion. The meeting's agenda was straightforward—to divide the spoils. With "Shark Tooth’s" fall, both its assets and the private wealth of the He family presented an enviable bounty. This included the personal reserves of figures like Yue Chizheng and Lin Wenhua. Consensus was easily reached here: the cash would be divided equally, and the assorted businesses distributed according to each party’s needs. While "Shark Tooth" primarily dealt in military goods, its diversified ventures provided ample opportunities for each party to strengthen their respective holdings. Xu Shi had no qualms about sharing, even though everyone now had to consider his position on matters. Some things required compromise before gain—everyone contributed significantly, and it was in no one's interest for all spoils to end up solely in his hands. It was detrimental to unity. Furthermore, given "Shark Tooth's" primary focus was on military affairs, the lion’s share of those assets logically fell to "Serpent Ring." However, the issue of Sin City warranted discussion. There, new rules had to be established. “Old Sir Wen wanted this conveyed—before Dragon City was destroyed, we developed cooperative projects with ‘Feather Pen’ concerning infrastructure development, and he hopes these efforts can continue.” Ning Wei spoke earnestly, his tone solemn. “I agree.” Xu Shi followed, “I share that sentiment. For too long, the chaos in Sin City has been a significant problem, impacting Night City and representing a waste of resources.” "Breaking down barriers and integrating the twenty-two districts would benefit everyone." Indeed, Sin City held untapped resources, both mineral and human, lying dormant due to Long Tianding's restrictions. Seizing the current opportunity for utilization was crucial. “I agree as well.” Xie Qingyan and Tang Shuang echoed in support. “I have no objections, but we need to clarify something upfront.” Qi Kang tapped his fingers on the table, “How will we govern Sin City moving forward? No one wants to continue Dragon City’s practices. Do we each manage our parts, or does the city hall oversee it? We can’t just leave the smaller remaining factions hanging.” “That’s simple.” Xu Shi, with a smile, calmed the room, “Though Dragon City has fallen, several influential gangs remain, such as ‘White Iron,’ ‘Long Knife Gang,’ and ‘Spark.’ Why don’t we let them continue management? This avoids disruption from large-scale personnel changes. We and the city hall can exercise supervisory roles.” “No need to worry about a new ‘Dragon City’ emerging—eventually, everyone will develop Sin City, leading to inevitable integration. It's only a matter of time.” This was the optimal solution, at least for him. What Xu Shi proposed was sound—among the surviving gangs, two were under his hidden control. Xie Qingyan could have a share, but it wouldn’t impact him significantly. In essence, post-negotiation, Sin City would effectively remain within his sphere of influence. Everyone was aware of this dynamic. Even if they didn’t know his ties with ‘Spark,’ his connections with ‘Long Knife Gang’ were well-known, and in such circumstances, the decision was unanimous. No one raised objections—firstly, "Serpent Ring” held sway over the others, and secondly, this arrangement was largely acceptable. “Prism” could utilize “White Iron,” while “Feather Pen” focused on public welfare—power struggles took a backseat. The only potential dissent came from "Imaginary Numbers," especially from Uncle Qi, who felt a twinge of nostalgia. The "Long Knife Gang" had been theirs once upon a time, and Xu Shi's forceful takeover hadn’t seemed problematic until now, when it was being reclaimed... But Qi Kang was pragmatic—he knew their influence was limited here. They’d secured enough gains, so pressing further could be unwise. Future entry and development remained possible. It's simply a matter of acceptance. “Agreed, then?” Having reached his objectives, Xu Shi moved on, “By the way, Uncle Qi, regarding the ‘Forgotten Ones,’ has ‘Imaginary Numbers’ begun addressing it?” “Of course, Mao Yang isn’t here today because I’ve tasked him with it.” Qi Kang adjusted his mindset before responding with a sigh. Handling it wasn’t about explaining to the general public—the incident was clearly attributed to the ‘Forgotten Ones,’ with no escaping that blame. However, proper guidance was necessary—it was the heroic consortia who uncovered the despicable outsiders’ conspiracy and saved the day. If not for the hassle, he would have considered letting the chaos grow larger. A timeless strategy in Machiavellianism involves creating demands through orchestrated chaos—a hole in the pot means twice the repair work, yielding greater returns. Here, too, the ‘Forgotten Ones’ stirring things up only enhanced the consortia's impact, coupled with ongoing publicist efforts, rendering the group perpetually marginalized. The consensus here was familiar, quickly setting forth laws and ordinances relegating the ‘Forgotten Ones’ to second-class status—with strict limitations on living conditions and rights. “Seems we’ve been too lenient on them, haven’t we?” Xie Qingyan teased, offering her opinion while grinning. “Indeed. Descendants of exiled criminals shouldn’t be allowed to ruin Night City’s favorable environment.” Xu Shi chimed in, supporting her quip. Around this table, no sympathy for the ‘Forgotten Ones’ existed. Everyone preferred it this way—gaining access to their resources without significant cost was ideal. Even Song Chen, the leader appearing among the ‘Forgotten Ones,’ voiced his endorsement—after all, his direct affiliations weren’t affected by the sanctions. This was long stipulated; as for Shen Qin’s and Zhao Yuan’s followers? Let them be damned. With matters mostly addressed, the meeting approached its conclusion. Only one major decision remained. “Yue Chizheng’s crimes leave him beyond redemption, yet the city hall requires governance.” Xu Shi stated calmly, “Regarding who assumes the role of the new governor, does anyone have candidates in mind?” “Well, the new governor’s already sitting here, isn’t she?” Qi Kang glanced towards Tang Shuang. Everyone tacitly agreed that Tang Shuang was undoubtedly the most suitable candidate. Not only were the consortiums satisfied with her, but her previous conduct had consistently kept her public approval ratings high. There was no opposition to her appointment; otherwise, why would she have been invited to the meeting? Her presence alone was a clear indication of the collective stance. However, formalities had to be observed, so everyone went through the motions of a show of hands vote. Xu Shi even added some drama by seriously casting a dissenting vote. Enough was enough. "…Thank you all for your support," Tang Shuang said, feeling a bit embarrassed. She wasn't accustomed to participating in such theatrics, and witnessing it firsthand felt somewhat childish to her. "Since you've given me this opportunity, I won't let you down. Together, we will ensure Night City thrives." While saying this, her gaze never left Xu Shi, as if she would devour him whole. Xu Shi feigned ignorance, childishly refraining from joining the others in applauding her. Fine, if you don’t want to thank me, but glaring at me instead? That’s enough, Tang. Alongside her appointment, Yu Xingchuan took over the role of inspector general. With this, Xu Shi fulfilled all his promises. "Seems like there's nothing else left. Let's adjourn," Xu Shi stated, standing up and straightening his clothes with an air of authority—though, given how things stood, it didn't need to be feigned. Decisions about appointments were his to finalize, irrespective of the votes. "If old master could see you now, I'm sure he'd be quite pleased," Su Lin remarked sincerely as they left the meeting room. Who would have imagined that in less than a year, the once aimless young master would rise to his current position? "And what about you? Are you happy?" Xu Shi teased. "I... guess I should be happy?" "What do you mean by ‘should be’? Either you're happy or you're not." "Then consider me not happy," Su Lin retorted, a bit annoyed. "Coincidentally, I'm not very happy either," Xu Shi grinned. "Or rather, I'm not happy enough." "Hmm?" "Because there are still people waiting for me to settle accounts," Xu Shi said, stretching. "Come on, let’s go meet some old friends." Fiercely humiliating the protagonist—that’s the antagonist’s favorite pastime, isn’t it? At the thought of it, Xu Shi could feel the itch in his palms. (End of chapter)