Chapter Eighty-Seven: She Was the Leader

Maba Eiken had never imagined that even his greatest backer would one day collapse.

Yet when he called Matsuo Hisaura, the other man picked up and said only three sentences:

“All right, I know what you want to ask, Maba.”

“Whatever they want from you—self-criticism, suspension, transfer to the North Sea District to go freeze in the snow—comply without reservation.”

“The tide has turned. Have some dignity.”

Matsuo hung up. At last, an expression of utter disbelief spread across Maba Eiken’s face.

It was Mashima Mami who finally came to her senses and let out an awkward laugh.

“Um, I still have something to do...”

With her arms folded, Xia Qingyu did not even glance at Mashima Mami as she said coolly, “Mashima Mami, you’re fired too.”

“What for!” Mashima Mami shrieked. “I’m a civil servant. Without a valid reason, what right do you have to fire me!”

“Since March of the year before last,” Xia Qingyu said with a cold sneer, “leaving work an hour early every day without approval for more than nine months. That counts as a grave violation of labor discipline.”

“I was pregnant then!” Mashima Mami tried to argue. “Are pregnant women not allowed to feel unwell and still have to work through illness? That’s absurd!”

“You wanted a reason for dismissal. I gave you one.” Xia Qingyu said indifferently. “You will complete your resignation procedures today. Before work ends, I’ll have security clear out your desk and throw everything left behind out.”

Mashima Mami was instantly like a chicken with its throat cut, unable to make a sound for a long while.

“As for Maba Eiken,” Xia Qingyu said coolly, “you may resign voluntarily, or you may be dismissed. The choice is yours.”

“...Why?” Maba Eiken said with difficulty.

He had, after all, been the head of the Public Security Bureau for nearly ten years. Even if Matsuo Hisaura had fallen, by rights the people above should have given him a chance to switch sides, not simply cut him off so brutally... It was completely at odds with his nearly ten years of experience in the system.

“There is no why,” Xia Qingyu said coldly. “I don’t like the look of you.”

After a long silence, Maba Eiken finally understood the implication behind her words:

You didn’t like Chen Zi'ang and had him suspended; now that I don’t like you, I can make you get lost too.

“I choose to resign,” he said in a dazed voice, as though he had aged decades in an instant.

“Get out before work ends today.” Xia Qingyu had no patience for him. Turning away, she said, “Izumo, handle the rest.”

“Understood,” Yuki Izumo replied with a nod.

“Chen Zi'ang,” Xia Qingyu ordered, “take me to Countermeasures Section Six.”

“Yes.” Chen Zi'ang answered at once.

Leaving aside her sharp tongue, bad temper, and cutting manner, just for standing up for him, Chen Zi'ang was willing to accept her goodwill. Thinking that both Maba and Mashima had been taken down, he only felt a surge of satisfaction, happier even than if he had been rewarded for merit.

Of course, it would be even better if she could stop insulting people all the time.

After they left the bureau chief’s office, Xia Qingyu suddenly asked, “Does it feel good?”

“A little,” Chen Zi'ang admitted honestly.

“As a transcendent, being manipulated by an ordinary person through sheer authority—don’t you find that humiliating?” Xia Qingyu asked lightly.

“Transcendent?” Chen Zi'ang asked in surprise.

“So that’s how it is.” Xia Qingyu gave a cold laugh. “In your world, you still cling to that antiquated idea that an increase in spiritual sight is dangerous.”

“Isn’t it?” Chen Zi'ang said in confusion. “The higher your spiritual sight, the more likely your reason is to warp, your mind to break down, and the more often you encounter the uncanny...”

“Those are only the price of power,” Xia Qingyu interrupted. “From the moment you stepped into the mystical side of things, you became a transcendent.”

“Remember this: you may choose to continue living like an ordinary person, but you may not be bound by the rules like one.”

“With respect,” Chen Zi'ang explained, “first, no one manipulated me. Maba did suspend me, yes, but he soon asked me back. Aside from that, I didn’t suffer any loss.”

“Second, rules are not meant to bind people. They are an important part of society. If the strong can arbitrarily break the rules and trample others, then there will always be someone stronger to trample them in turn. In the end, everyone will only sink into a lawless jungle of killing.”

“Well said.” Xia Qingyu sighed.

“Uh, I was just speaking casually...” Chen Zi'ang said a little embarrassedly, only to hear Xia Qingyu add with visible disappointment,

“You should become a kindergarten teacher, not a public security officer.”

Chen Zi'ang: ...

Damn it, I should have realized she was mocking me!

The two arrived at Countermeasures Section Six, where Section Chief Takahashi Kousuke immediately came out to greet them.

“You’re the chief of Section Six?” Xia Qingyu asked coldly.

“Yes,” Takahashi Kousuke said gravely.

“Good.” Xia Qingyu nodded. “You’re fired.”

Takahashi Kousuke froze in shock.

“Complete your dismissal procedures before work ends.” Xia Qingyu tossed out the sentence, then turned to Chen Zi'ang. “Take me to the intelligence group first.”

The two entered the elevator going down underground. Chen Zi'ang could not help asking, “Why fire... Takahashi?”

“You think Maba Eiken apologized to you and asked you to come back of his own accord?” Xia Qingyu asked with a mocking smile.

“Uh.” Chen Zi'ang finally began to understand. “It was Takahashi’s idea?”

“A clumsy scheme to kill with a borrowed blade.” Xia Qingyu asked coldly in return. “And you couldn’t even see through that?”

“I just didn’t expect it,” Chen Zi'ang tried to defend himself. “After all, Takahashi and I don’t exactly have any feud...”

“Indeed.” Xia Qingyu sneered. “Perhaps you live in a universe where everyone is always open and sincere with you. Have you truly never considered changing careers and becoming a preschool teacher?”

Chen Zi'ang decided to keep quiet, though his feelings were mixed.

Old Chief Takahashi... deliberately had Maba apologize to him so that he would resent him and drive him out?

Why? I don’t think I ever offended him.

And yet, with Xia Qingyu’s arrogant personality, one that looked down on everyone, she probably would not bother lying to him either.

His phone suddenly rang. It was a message from Tsukimiya Suzuna:

“I overslept / crying. What are you doing, senpai?”

Chen Zi'ang sighed and typed back:

“Getting scolded.”

When they reached the great intelligence archive, Xia Qingyu frowned and asked, “Where is team leader Huo Feng Lixu?”

“She was previously ambushed by Nishikawa Miho in Lingyi Town, and after coming back she fell unconscious and still hasn’t woken up,” Chen Zi'ang blurted out in one breath, afraid Xia Qingyu would say, “Fine, she’s fired too.”

But Xia Qingyu was clearly able to distinguish between those who truly worked hard and those who harbored ill intent and schemed all day. So she only said coldly, “Go fetch Nishikawa Miho’s file for me.”

“Right away.” Chen Zi'ang set off at once.

Although he was a field operative, when he first joined the bureau he had interned under Huo Feng Lixu, so he was not unfamiliar with the great intelligence archive. He quickly found the relevant paper file and took it back to Xia Qingyu.

At this moment, the beautiful superior was sitting leisurely in Huo Feng Lixu’s office chair, elegantly crossing her right leg, revealing the flawless line of her figure beneath her fitted skirt and black stockings.

“Why did that take so long?” Xia Qingyu said with a frown. “If I threw a frisbee, even a dog could have brought it back for me.”

“The archive is fairly large,” Chen Zi'ang silently repeated to himself that she had driven Maba out several times, then explained evenly, “There’s a mountain of material in there. I’m not very familiar with the place.”

Xia Qingyu did not continue the sarcasm. She merely took the file and began to read.

Just as Chen Zi'ang thought she would spend ten or so minutes on it, Xia Qingyu suddenly asked without lifting her head, “What do you think of this witch?”

“I think Nishikawa Miho is a bit pitiful,” Chen Zi'ang said quickly. “Of course, I don’t support what she did. She should be brought to justice.”

“I think she’s an idiot,” Xia Qingyu said, tossing the file aside. “I truly can’t imagine how you were all played so completely by an idiot.”