Chapter 883: Chapter 881: Pacify the Interior Before Repelling External Threats
After a long time, Long Mei’er gently closed Cheka’s eyes with his hand, helping him to rest in peace. He then turned to face everyone in the conference room and solemnly announced, "Inspector Cheka has sacrificed himself."
The crowd wore different expressions.
Long Mei’er wasn’t particularly concerned, just turned his hand, and from the golden ring he wore, he retrieved a two-meter-long black stone coffin—as if he had been prepared for it all along.
He then placed Cheka’s corpse into the coffin, put it back into the Space Iron Ring, and spoke, "The sacrifice of Inspector Cheka was clearly an accident, and I will report this to headquarters, so everyone need not worry."
Pausing for a moment, Long Mei’er continued, "Proceeding to the inquiry meeting is now considered closed, everyone may leave. Wizard Richard, you can return as well. However, I hope you can submit a detailed report later, clearly accounting everything in the mining field, including the events when Inspector Cheka inspected your mine. On one hand, to keep records, and on the other, to prepare for a possible higher-level inquiry meeting by headquarters."
"Yes," Richard nodded and replied, saying no more and left the conference room along with everyone else.
Soon, only Long Mei’er and Canon were left in the conference room.
...
Canon glanced at Long Mei’er, hesitated to speak, and finally couldn’t help but ask, "Supervisor Long Mei’er, is this matter with Inspector Cheka really over?"
"What else?" Long Mei’er retorted, "He was merely sustained by a Soul Fragment, unable to entirely represent a person. Now that his Soul Fragment has dispersed, what’s the point of pursuing further?"
"Yes," Canon nodded, but something inside him felt off.
No matter what, he felt that Inspector Cheka’s death was too abrupt. Although the other party was angered by Richard to the point of vomiting blood, it shouldn’t have led to losing his life within just a few minutes.
Additionally, the other party used the Angel Feather, a strange artifact, to sustain the Soul Fragment and prolong his life. When the Balance was disrupted, his inability to help was understandable due to his limited capabilities. However, the fact that Long Mei’er was equally unable to help was a bit surprising.
After all, Long Mei’er is the Supervisor managing the entire Southern Free Federation, wearing a golden ring, ranking just below the few with Colorful Rings. The abilities possessed are very close to the upper limits of the world’s power structure, even possessing some methods of Divine Favored Punishment. Is the Angel Feather so miraculous that even Long Mei’er couldn’t intervene?
Thinking about the several noticeable changes in Inspector Cheka’s body being somewhat associated with Long Mei’er, makes one contemplate deeply.
The deeper the thought, the more terrifying it felt.
Maybe it was all overthinking, but in case...
Canon’s heart was a bit conflicted.
Long Mei’er noticed Canon’s expression and asked, "You have some doubts?"
"Well..." Canon didn’t know what to say, his gaze averted, not daring to meet Long Mei’er’s eyes. Reasonably speaking, he was Long Mei’er’s confidant, belonging to Long Mei’er’s camp. But if what he thought was true, he really didn’t know how to face it.
Long Mei’er seemed to read Canon’s mind with a kind of mind-reading technique and said meaningfully, "Don’t overthink things; some matters aren’t that complicated. No matter what, there’s one thing about me that won’t change, and that’s my absolute loyalty to the organization."
"Loyalty to the organization takes many forms," Long Mei’er said softly, "Canon Steward, you should be aware of the capabilities our organization possesses and the immense power it holds. To a certain extent, we could easily change the world—only if we chose to.
Under such a premise, almost no one could defeat us, except ourselves. Have you heard the phrase, the strongest fortress is always breached from within? And I absolutely do not want our organization to become a fortress breached from within.
Therefore, safeguarding the organization’s interests and ensuring its relative stability is crucial. Just as a continually ill person can never truly become strong, an organization embroiled in conflicts can hardly remain prosperous. Although there is a True God watching over us from above, He surely doesn’t watch over everyone.
In some situations, it’s necessary to eradicate factors affecting the organization’s stability. Only by ensuring internal tranquility can we fully concentrate on external enemies and develop effectively.
Too much time and effort have been invested in the Southern Free Federation, and following the failure of the East Coast plan, this place has become even more crucial. Those from above might have thoughts of implementing changes here, but I absolutely cannot allow that.
Because I understand very well that maintaining the current situation and continuing to develop according to plan aligns with the organization’s maximum interests and aligns with the True God’s will. Even if a Colorful Ring Lord is discontent, I will not retreat or fear. This Colorful Ring could be Lord Gray Mist, or Lord Fen Feng, or even any of the Lords, my stance remains the same.
Long ago, some considered me a confidant of Lord Dead Sea. Later, they thought I was a confidant of Lord Red Moon. After that, they figured I was a confidant of Lord Fen Feng, even Lord Fen Feng personally said so. But in truth, I belong to no one’s inner circle, I do not stand in any Lord’s camp, I only kneel at the True God’s feet and consider only for the True God’s sake.
Do you know why I have always enjoyed astonishing Divine Favored? The sheer quantity surpasses other golden rings of the same level, even arousing envy among several Colorful Ring Lords? I’ll tell you, this is why."
Upon hearing Long Mei’er’s words, Canon’s eyes widened, he felt less worried and more shaken inside. He couldn’t help but speak up, daringly asking, "Then Supervisor Long Mei’er, Inspector Cheka, what exactly happened to him..."
"Cheka, believe me, I didn’t strike him," Long Mei’er said, "In fact, I even helped him maintain the Soul Fragment."
Hearing this, Canon couldn’t help but feel relieved, but then tensed up again upon hearing the latter part of Long Mei’er’s words.
"However..." Long Mei’er smiled, "However, he might not have understood that foreign Soul Fragments would repel the body they occupied. Typically it’s fine, but during special occasions, the stronger the Soul Fragment, the stronger the body’s repulsion, causing greater damage. When the body ultimately dies, the Soul Fragment that cannot transfer will dissipate with it."
Canon was shocked, completely at a loss for words, and only after a long time did he murmur, "Supervisor, in that case, we truly won’t know the truth about the mine now. Supposing Wizard Richard has issues, we..."
"He certainly has issues," Long Mei’er replied.
Canon was shocked again, "He has issues?"
"Of course, he has issues," Long Mei’er said rightfully, "Not to mention other things, the fact that he had the capability to grievously harm or even kill Inspector Cheka is already very dubious. Moreover, he is a member of the Prolo Society, even as a fringe member without inheritance, he certainly shouldn’t be underestimated."
"Then why did you let him leave?"
"It doesn’t matter," Long Mei’er said indifferently, "Although he has problems, being a fringe member, at least, he’s not currently showing any malice toward the organization. Besides, as he himself said, he’s also made numerous contributions. Such a person, when controlled to a certain extent and used, is not unacceptable.
Trust me, our greatest threat currently will never come from outside, but from within. Therefore, for external enemies and peripheral non-core members, we allow a certain margin for error and can display a degree of tolerance.
Because they simply aren’t capable of competing with us, and if they show significant threat, we completely have the time to focus all our strength, easily crushing them. The core internal part, however, tolerates no negligence. Any negligence is like a cabbage beginning to rot from the core, potentially affecting everything in a very short period of time."
"This... alright." After contemplating for a long time, Canon was ultimately persuaded, nodding in agreement.