The Cleaners.
This was an organization specializing in handling the aftermath of murders. With their involvement, most crime scenes would become cold cases, with very few ever being solved.
The Dragon Investigation Bureau focused on evidence, but they specialized in destroying it, allowing many murderers to escape justice.
Crucially, this was a nationwide organization with members all over the country.
As long as they weren't all eliminated at once, this organization would never be eradicated, making them incredibly difficult to deal with.
Of course, the Cleaners also had departments that could resolve troubles for people.
"Heh, it's quite ironic that Elder Wang, one of the power holders of the Supreme Ministry's Round Table Conference, would agree to his son hiring the Cleaners," a voice suddenly sounded in their ears.
Wang Hanyuan's expression changed drastically, while Wang Yanwen's remained calm.
"Since you're here, come on in. Eavesdropping outside the door is not a good habit," Wang Yanwen said with a smile, pressing the button on the electric kettle on the table to boil water for tea.
A figure slowly entered the villa.
Ye Longlin, dressed in casual wear, wore a smile on his lips. "Elder Wang, long time no see."
Upon seeing Ye Longlin, Wang Yanwen's smile faltered for a moment before he recovered his composure and continued preparing the tea.
"Indeed. I never expected the powerful hand in Southern Province to be you."
After speaking, he looked at Wang Hanyuan. "You go out first."
Although Wang Hanyuan had a lot he wanted to ask, given the situation, he couldn't say much and could only leave with gritted teeth.
Only the two of them remained in the living room.
"If I'm not mistaken, the Dragon Pavilion soldiers have already surrounded the entire villa, haven't they? It's your doing, Ye Longlin, and I have no doubt about your methods."
Wang Yanwen placed a cup of tea before Ye Longlin, speaking with a smile, seemingly without any intention of opposing him.
Ye Longlin took a sip of the tea. "The tea is good, but the person is a bit… dark. Elder Wang, you wish to cover the sky with one hand, but you can't achieve that. After all, this King is still in Southern Province!"
He finished the tea in one gulp and slammed the cup heavily onto the table, shattering the porcelain.
Wang Yanwen's expression remained unchanged as he continued to sip his tea. "As a superior, one should consider the populace."
"Da Xia has a history of five thousand years since the establishment of the first dynasty. Both you and I are merely dust in history. There have been many like you throughout history. Champions like Huo Qubing, God of Slaughter Bai Qi, and Martial Saint Guan Yu were all outstanding heroes of their eras, but they all shared one common characteristic: none of them died a natural death. Does King Ye also intend to follow the ancients and not have a good end?"
Ye Longlin smiled thinly. His words were already a threat. While his influence might not be able to harm Ye Longlin directly, it could create unnecessary trouble. And he, fundamentally, detested trouble.
"Therefore, my methods have always been iron-fisted, crushing troubles in their cradle!"
"Many in the Hall of Glory criticize me, calling me bloodthirsty and unruly. Some even want to kill me, but… do you think I care? As you said, as superiors, we should consider the populace, but how often do you condescend to look at the people's livelihood? Throughout history, the people's livelihood has been a very important issue. Do you think there are no problems now? Merchants, given 100% profit, will risk everything. Given 200% profit, they will dare to ignore the law. If given 300% profit, they will trample on the law. Like Wang Hanyuan, I wonder if you, Elder Wang, agree with this philosophy or not?"
Ye Longlin rarely spoke so much. If the other party weren't from the Supreme Ministry, he wouldn't have even shown up here, let alone spoken so much. Merchants prioritize profit!
Wang Yanwen fell silent. His last statement was a fact, albeit a frustrating one. This was the current environment, and it was why the Hall of Glory was often troubled.
"Since you agree, you should consider it carefully. Also, people today are under a lot of pressure. Imagine what would happen if young people didn't have the pressure of marriage, mortgage, or buying a car and a house. Would they travel the world? Or focus on doing what they love? Or would there be a flourishing of industries, bringing vitality to all sectors, whether in research or manufacturing? Our great Da Xia, why should it be constrained by a country with only two hundred years of history? Our ancient nation, with five thousand years of heritage, is one of the few truly ancient countries in the world. Why can't we stand at the pinnacle of the world?"
This… Elder Wang was again rendered speechless. He had come to discuss politics, but undeniably, his arguments were flawless.
Elder Wang sighed. "Do you think it's really that easy? What you're saying is merely your imagined utopia. To achieve these goals, we first need to be at least a hundred years ahead in scientific research, or there needs to be something that can replace real estate and fulfill its value…"
Ye Longlin interrupted his long discourse with a wave of his hand before he could finish.
"I am not here to discuss politics with you. These are your issues. The issue I can manage is the military!"
"This King handles the killing but not the aftermath. Do you understand what I mean by that?"
The topic had returned to the core issue, and Wang Yanwen found it difficult to react. From Ye Longlin's words, it was clear he wanted Wang Hanyuan handed over.
Wang Yanwen's expression turned serious for the first time. "I believe I still have some face. Even if you are a Heavenly King and Dragon Lord, so what? I don't believe you dare to kill me!"
His status was different. If he were killed, the Hall of Glory would surely launch a thorough investigation. Even Ye Longlin would face severe consequences. Through various power plays, there would be opportunities to remove Ye Longlin from both his positions! Once removed, Ye Longlin's situation would become extremely difficult.
Ye Longlin chuckled softly. "Does the Hall of Glory dare?"
"The Dragon Pavilion is only an effective weapon against external forces in my hands. No matter who it falls into, the Dragon Pavilion will be a scattered force."
"With me here, the Dragon Pavilion has faith. If I'm gone, the faith disappears. What do you think the fate of the Dragon Pavilion will be?"
Wang Yanwen frowned deeply, his eyes filled with surprise. If this were true, it would be very troublesome. The other party was clearly confident, and what he relied on was proving unreliable. If that were the case…
"What do you want?"
Wang Yanwen had no choice but to yield under Ye Longlin's statement. Neither the power struggles behind the scenes nor the immediate situation were something he could resolve.
Ye Longlin tapped the table and said calmly, "Ultimately, the Supreme Ministry is merely a branch of the Hall of Glory!"