Chen Ping'an, dressed in a black scale armor, appeared even more handsome and extraordinary. If one were to only look at his appearance, it would be impossible to associate him with a Commander wielding great power over an entire city. He looked more like an exceptional young master from a noble Family.

“Baishi City Commander!”

Chen Ping'an sat in the large chair in the office, his expression unruffled.

He hadn't expected that in the end, the Weishui Town Pacification Bureau would still give him this position as the top leader! It seemed that the continuous events of the past few days had indeed made things difficult for the Weishui Town Pacification Bureau.

The Baishi City Commander holds the power of an entire city, and countless forces within the city must bow to his will. The profits from the industries of various forces must all pass through his hands! With a single word, Baishi City would tremble three times!

Of course, this was the ideal state of a city’s Commander.

Given the current situation in Baishi City, it was far from achieving that.

“Chief Warrant Officer level!”

Chen Ping'an slowly rose from his seat.

Unconsciously, he had grown from an unregistered temporary Yamen Runner to someone on equal footing with Mu Wanjun.

It really was fast…

Chen Ping'an felt a slight sense of Feelings.

Inside the office, he didn't linger in his emotions for too long before a knock came from outside the door.

“Lord Chen! The promotion ceremony is about to begin. It’s time for you to come out,” Cheng Renjing’s voice sounded from outside the door.

“Alright!” Chen Ping'an responded and walked towards the door.

Since he had already taken the position of Baishi City Commander, according to custom, the Zhenfu Division would hold a promotion ceremony.

While called a ceremony, its scale was not particularly large. With the deaths of Feng Shixian and Fu Wanyu, Chen Ping'an's promotion ceremony this time was simplified.

Although this ceremony was held within the Zhenfu Division, considering Chen Ping'an’s status, invitations would still be extended to the major forces within Baishi City.

The Chu Family, He Family, Song Family, Chamber of Commerce Alliance, Shaxie Alliance, Iron Fist Gang, and other forces… all had representatives attending the promotion ceremony.

“Congratulations, Lord Chen, on your promotion!”

“Congratulations, Lord Chen!”

“……”

Regardless of what everyone thought in their hearts, at the celebration, there were cheers and congratulations like a mountain tsunami. Chen Ping'an smiled, looked around, and waved to greet everyone.

The ceremony proceeded smoothly according to the process.

“The Family heads of the three major Families, the Alliance leaders of the Chamber of Commerce Alliance and the Shaxie Alliance, and the Gang leader of the Iron Fist Gang… did none of them come?” As he descended from the high platform, Chen Ping'an’s smile gradually faded.

The forces he had just mentioned only sent their second or third-in-command; their top leaders did not appear.

Cheng Renjing noticed Chen Ping'an’s displeasure: “Replying to Lord Chen, the reason given by each Family was that they were busy with affairs and truly unable to get away.”

“Busy with affairs?” Chen Ping'an stopped, turned, and looked at Cheng Renjing. “Did all the Families use this reason?”

Cheng Renjing quickly stopped and stood behind Chen Ping'an: “Lord Chen, yes, they all did.”

“They really have quite the tacit understanding!” Chen Ping'an sneered: “Busy with affairs? I’m curious what exactly they are busy with.”

The Baishi City Garrison Command is a true violent institution. In terms of legitimacy and authority, it controls all forces within the city.

Now, at the promotion ceremony of its top leader, the various forces not only didn’t bother to curry favor, but their top leaders didn’t even deign to show up.

This truly is…

Quite interesting!

…

Inside a small courtyard pavilion in Baishi City.

This was a property under the Baishi City Chamber of Commerce Alliance, exceptionally quiet, and always used only for high-end banquets. At this moment, the core members of the three major Families, the Chamber of Commerce Alliance, the Shaxie Alliance, and the Iron Fist Gang were all gathered here.

“To let a young man who hasn’t even reached Perfection in Internal Energy’s second Realm take the position of Commander, and they still want to rely on him to suppress us? Ridiculous!”

“Hahaha, indeed. Perhaps the Weishui Town Pacification Bureau also can’t spare suitable personnel. A greenhorn is a greenhorn, just make do, what else can they do!”

“Don’t call him a greenhorn, greenhorn like that. He still has some tricks up his sleeve!”

“What if he has tricks? If his Martial Artist Realm isn’t high enough, nothing matters!”

“That’s true. Speaking of which, he didn’t see us at the promotion ceremony, I wonder what he’ll think?” Song Huajie, the Song Family head, said with a smile, stroking his round belly.

“He’s probably going to be furious! Our lack of Face is practically blatant,” He Xuan, the He Family head, laughed from the side.

“He’s just a greenhorn, why give him Face!” Lu Guanghong chugged a bowl of wine heartily and roared loudly. “No matter how displeased he is, can he declare war on us?”

“Hahaha, you’re right, no matter how displeased he is, he can only hold it in!” A core member of the Chamber of Commerce Alliance said with a laugh.

“Indeed! If he’s displeased, he can just hold it in. If he can’t hold it in and loses his mind, wanting to seek an explanation, then don’t blame me if I blast his head off with one punch!” Lu Guanghong said roughly.

To be honest, he truly didn’t put Chen Ping'an in his eyes.

Even if Chen Ping'an had successively killed Yin Zisheng, Shen Taiyuan, and Guan Baxian, he didn’t pay much attention to it. Given the right timing, he could do the same.

Also, he had seen that Chen Ping'an; his thin physique was unbearable to look at. He clearly seemed like a weak Martial Artist who relied on technique. For such a person, as long as the terrain was restricted and it was a head-on fight, Lu Guanghong was confident he could make the opponent vomit blood with one punch, make them beg for mercy with two, and take their life directly with three!

Not worth mentioning!

“Old Lu!” Luan Xiong reprimanded Lu Guanghong: “The Commander of the Zhenfu Division, you say you’ll blast his head off just like that! What kind of talk is that!”

“Heh heh.” Lu Guanghong chuckled twice, not refuting, and lowered his head to drink.

If it were anyone else who dared to reprimand him like that, he would have directly made a move on the spot. But Luan Xiong was someone he truly admired. He just lowered his head and endured it.

Chu Mingwei sat to the side, watching the two, saying little. The current weakness of the Zhenfu Division was visible to the naked eye. Even the Weishui Town Pacification Bureau’s support for Baishi City was likely extremely limited.

This could be easily seen from the successive deaths of two Commanders.

Under such circumstances, they naturally couldn’t remain unresponsive. Previously, due to the pressure from the Weishui Town Pacification Bureau, the properties of the Liusha Gang and Crocodile Gang were taken by the Baishi City Garrison Command.

But now…

The Zhenfu Division would have to spit them back out!

The main topic of discussion among their various forces gathered here was precisely this matter.

Not only the properties left behind by the two major Gangs, but also some properties under the Zhenfu Division’s name, the tax quota, and the share of profits—all needed to be renegotiated!

“Gentlemen, the Zhenfu Division’s decline is evident. From now on, Baishi City will be our world! Come, let us raise our glasses together, to the future!”

“The future, it will all be our world! Cheers!”

“Cheers! To the future!”