........

Lu Ding handed the severed head of Li Zhicun backwards.

From within the ranks of the team.

Xing Xing stepped forward and received it with both hands.

Then they heard Lu Ding say, "Seal it properly, then hang it out later for public display to everyone."

As soon as these words were uttered.

*Thud!*

Deputy Bureau Chief Shen Kuai of Lady's Temple 749 instantly fell to his knees on the ground.

He began slapping his own face fiercely with loud *whaps*.

"I am not a human, I am a beast, Grand Duke Lu, I know I have done wrong, I surrender, I will confess everything!!!"

"I had already written my own written confession long ago, I originally planned to submit it voluntarily as soon as you, Grand Duke Lu, returned!!!"

"But Special Envoy She arrived first!!!"

"For a period before that, you were also not here."

"Now I submit it voluntarily, I only hope Grand Duke Lu can show leniency in my punishment!"

"I am still useful."

"I can still contribute to your consolidation of Lady's Temple!!!"

"I beg Grand Duke Lu for mercy!!!"

Shen Kuai kowtowed on the ground.

He presented his written confession.

It was even dated.

Fu Xinghe took it, checked it over, then nodded in confirmation. It was indeed written in advance.

Of course, it could only have been written in advance.

After all, they couldn't have received news of Lu Ding's return.

Lu Ding glanced at Shen Kuai's confession.

It appeared to be an admission of guilt.

But in reality, reading through the entire thing, Lu Ding only saw eight words.

Retreat in order to advance, sever a limb to save the body.

Did he still think Lu Ding was the Lu Ding of before, with no one usable at his side!?

Even if there truly was no one usable.

Lu Ding would only use people like Qian Jin, who were very skilled at skirting the edge, committing basically no major mistakes, but minor ones almost constantly.

Or people like Hou Dehai, who wanted to make mistakes but previously had no opportunity, and now didn't dare.

As for someone like Shen Kuai.

Lu Ding cast a look.

Fu Xinghe began the formal procedure with his confession.

"Deputy Bureau Chief Shen Kuai of Lady's Temple 749, oppressed the common people, accepted bribes..."

At this moment, Shen Kuai's heart still clung to the fantasy that after Fu Xinghe finished reading, he would add a final line about punishment to be determined later.

Fu Xinghe's voice continued to ring out: "Oppressed the common people, colluded with the Fierce Pursuit Hall, engaged in illegal and disciplinary activities, used his own power and influence to act as a protective umbrella for forces including, but not limited to, the Fierce Pursuit Hall, covering up their illegal and disciplinary activities."

"Knowingly broke the law while being an enforcer of it, multiple crimes combined for punishment. Now, after review by Hanjing 749 investigator, New City 749 Special Envoy Lu Ding, the judgment is as follows!"

"Death penalty!"

"Immediate execution!!!"

Shen Kuai, kneeling on the ground, jerked his head up: "Didn't I already surrender!!!?

"How can it still be death penalty, immediate..."

A Slash Attack swept past.

His head shot upwards.

It landed steadily in the palm of Lu Ding's hand, was again handed backwards, and entrusted to Xing Xing for sealing, to be displayed publicly later.

From beginning to end, apart from the necessary procedural steps, Lu Ding didn't utter a single unnecessary word.

After finishing all this, his gaze swept over those Lady's Temple investigators present who had already frozen stiff.

"The chief culprits have been brought to justice!"

"Next, Lady's Temple 749 will be taken over by me. Every single one of you, from this moment on, are not permitted to leave Lady's Temple 749. Be ready at all times to cooperate with the investigation."

"Additionally, I will give you one day."

"Write your own situation reports."

"I will decide based on the actual circumstances. Those who conceal information will be penalized; others who report them will be rewarded."

"However, you also don't need to worry too much. Li Zhicun and Shen Kuai received severe punishment, while yours will be lenient. After self-reporting, those with serious circumstances will be assigned to the vanguard department; they can enjoy martyr status after death."

"Those with lighter circumstances, after accepting punishment, can still retain their investigator status, but the specific severity of punishment is to be determined!"

"This is my promise."

The situation going forward would still require a large number of people. While new investigators could be recruited.

Training them also takes time.

These old hands could perfectly well be used temporarily, sent charging into the most dangerous missions.

This would be their opportunity.

If they didn't want to take the risk.

That was also fine.

They could simply be dealt with according to their crimes—the serious ones executed, the lighter ones imprisoned and reformed. Anyway, future infrastructure projects and such would also need manpower.

Knowingly breaking the law while being an enforcer.

They deserved it!

Instantly, the group of Lady's Temple investigators felt as if half the sky had collapsed.

The other half could still remain because of Lu Ding's words about lenient punishment.

She Fei and his group, who had originally gone to pack their things and prepare to move, had stopped their footsteps and actions when Lu Ding first took action against Li Zhicun. They had watched the entire process until now.

In terms of methods.

She Fei sighed again with feeling: "I am not his match."

Someone beside him comforted him: "Special Envoy She, you needn't be like this. Your situation and Special Envoy Lu's are different."

"He has reserve personnel and resources from White Ridge and the Path of Dry Bones, plus a pre-established network of connections, which can support him in doing these things. Even if he completely empties out Lady's Temple, he can afford to be indifferent."

"After all, he also brought so many Fourth Restriction and Fifth Restriction investigators with him."

"But we cannot."

"If we did this, we would have no one usable, unable to maintain the normal operation of Lady's Temple. At that point, forget expansion; just the matters within Lady's Temple's jurisdiction alone would be enough to keep us overwhelmed and busy, actually affecting efficiency instead."

"The root cause is still that he arrived early. Before we even got the news, Special Envoy Lu had already arrived in New City ahead of time to lay out his plans, building a solid foundation for himself."

"Not only the 749 within his jurisdiction, but even other forces within his jurisdiction have been governed by him in perfect order. So now that New City is in chaos, he doesn't need to consider anything; he only needs to boldly expand outward."

"Newly acquired territory can be completely replicated according to the original model, waiting until whenever he wants to pause and consolidate before reintegrating the territory and refining the details."

A powerful figure couldn't possibly be without strategists.

A person's energy is limited.

She Fei sighed: "This is also what he deserves. A special merit award medal holder... it's only right..."

His tone held no other emotion, only envy. If he had a special merit award medal, he could also have come early to lay out plans.

By the time things developed to this point, his territory would definitely be larger than Lu Ding's current one.

After all, his cultivation level when he arrived in New City was much higher than Lu Ding's had been.

But opportunities, factors, and conditions are just like that.

Everything has its imperfections.

Now Lu Ding had grown strong. Among the many investigators specially dispatched here currently, those who could contend with him could be counted on one hand.

She Fei no longer felt any attachment: "Let's go."

He turned to finish packing his things.

The investigators who had accompanied Lu Ding from Hanjing also withdrew their imposing auras.

Soon.

After being notified by Fu Xinghe, White Ridge quickly dispatched many investigators to take over the situation.

Among them were many fresh faces.

They were all newcomers recruited by Qian Jin while stabilizing his territory after Lu Ding left.

He had been working around the clock, twenty-four hours a day.

So when he brought Zhan Tingzhou, Qin Jinghao, Shen Qixue, and others to see Lu Ding.

Qian Jin couldn't hold it in anymore.

"Grand Guardian, oh Grand Guardian~~~"