Chapter 684: Chapter 4: Steadfast and Tenacious

"So, he managed to get support from both sides, while working for the nobles, he also made many friends, not only gaining backing from the military, but also help from the Apprentice Death God Organization."

"His power skyrocketed within a few decades to a level unimaginable even by the nobles."

"The Mayor of Three Cities... a position that had never existed before."

"The mayor already had significant power, like the feudal kings of ancient times, able to completely control the district under their jurisdiction, truly becoming a regional Overlord, whereas the joint mayor was akin to the Lord of the Nest."

"It was only then that the nobles finally sensed something amiss. Some quick-witted individuals wanted to prevent my father’s rise, but not because they understood my father’s true intentions, but simply because... those Upper City People couldn’t stand to see the ants they once crushed underfoot now able to easily decide their fate."

"But they were unable to stop it, as my father’s power was simply too great, and they could only watch as my father triumphed over other candidates with overwhelming momentum."

"That day, my father was so spirited and triumphant."

Chen Zaikun shook his head, unconsciously recalling a scene—a bright morning where a middle-aged man who had played the villain all his life finally straightened his back, standing proudly before everyone, gazing down at a city soon to be his.

"He no longer needed to please the nobles or do anything against his conscience... he could issue laws for the prosperity and well-being of the people of Nest City! Although these laws might not take effect immediately or seem perfect initially, still..."

"At least their lives could see some improvement, no longer living and struggling like insects."

"By that time, when the folks saw the numbers on their tax bill slashed by dozens of times, no longer worrying about filling their bellies or selling their children..."

"They would eventually realize how great my father was, how many sacrifices he made."

"But..."

Chen Zaikun paused, sighed deeply.

"That chance never came."

"Just the day after my father took office, an Apprentice Death God with justice in his heart found him and took his life."

"That Apprentice Death God was named Elrond Gold."

At this point, Chen Zaikun’s throat choked up, swallowing several times but unable to speak.

After a while, he composed himself slightly, murmuring...

"Later, I wondered if it might have been a conspiracy by the nobles, that they saw through my father’s intentions and deliberately bribed some commoners, sending them to find Jin, then... hired Jin to assassinate my father."

"But later, after thorough investigation, I realized things weren’t that complicated."

"The ones who hired the master were just a few ordinary people, and they didn’t offer any so-called ’reward,’ they simply complained to the master about being exploited by my father and pleaded for his intervention, thus... with his passion then, the master took action."

"That’s how simple it was."

"The assassination process was similarly straightforward, by then the master was already a Tier Five Peak power, facing my father who was a mere mortal, with just one strike the battle was over."

"I still remember that day, March 9th, 2043, my father, the first Mayor of Three Cities in Nest City, Chen Fangjia, fell at his own home, beside him lay the beautiful vision and future plans he conceived."

"Isn’t it quite ironic, Ah You?"

"..."

Yun You remained silent.

Though not very old, she had already experienced many things.

Yet facing Chen Fangjia’s fate, even she, who had seen a lot, couldn’t help but lament the capriciousness of fate, how it plays tricks on people...

A man who played the villain all his life, enduring humiliation, clearly seeing hope and dawn yet at the edge of the stage where he could display his talents, was inadvertently killed by a strong figure with a similarly grand dream and even aligned stance.

He could never realize his grand ambitions, could never redeem his reputation, he would carry his past name in disgrace, passed down as a joke until... even his name would be forgotten.

Yun You recalled something Jin had said to her before—"The world’s tragedy isn’t in people’s death, but in all efforts going to waste."

For Chen Fangjia, this may be a complete tragedy.

"Honestly, I don’t resent the master."

Chen Zaikun looked up at the starry sky, murmuring:"Father taught me to see issues from the other’s perspective."

"And from the master’s point of view, my father was always a villain, made his fortune by being a white glove for the nobles, ascended in the council because every decree favored the upper echelon."

"Such a person becoming joint mayor would most likely continue his previous governance style, further exploiting the common folk."

"Therefore, the master’s action seemed justified... at least from his own standpoint."

"Fate is such a damn... elusive thing."

"When my father chose to be an unscrupulous villain, he thrived, progressed faster than anyone."

"But when he decided to return to his true self, to be a good person... he lost his life."

"And afterwards..."

Chen Zaikun paused slightly, pointing to himself.

"In the year father passed, I was only 5 years old."

"As mentioned before, the Chen Family wasn’t a major family; we started rising from my grandfather’s generation, with my grandfather having only one child, my father, and similarly, my father only had me as his sole child."

"After both father and grandfather passed away, the otherwise thriving Chen Family almost collapsed within just a few months."

"Those who once depended on and supported my father quickly switched sides, finding a new master."

"And the assets and political resources of the Chen Family became their proof of loyalty."

"They swarmed like flies, using every means available to quickly divide everything we had, leaving behind not even enough money to live on."

"Mother couldn’t bear the heavy blow... she was born into a renowned family, now with the Chen Family in decline and her family unwilling to take a ’hot potato,’ she ended up scavenging to support my life."

"Before long, mother passed away due to excessive grief, leaving just 5-year-old me to struggle in the Lower City."

"However... I differ from my father in one thing, that is—my luck is far better than my father’s."

"I met Jin just like him, but the difference was, Jin sought him to kill him, while he sought me to help me."

"Back then, the master was like a ’Ranger,’ he loved fighting for justice, and seeing me just 5 years old relying on scavenging to survive, perhaps out of compassion, he adopted me."

"At that time he told me, ’Chen Hou’ is a good name but not special enough, hence bestowed upon me the more resounding name of ’Chen Zaikun."

"But he would never know, the character ’Hou’ was given to me by the father he killed, meant to remind me to be kind, like the earth heavy and resilient, to remember we come from the bottom as we climb step by step, to remember to fight for the ordinary folk of the Lower City."

"My father was not a vile villain, he was a truly upright and staunch man, just... lacking a bit of luck."