Arknightcraft Modpack
Chapter 508: Wei Yenwu
Steven's casual chat with Hoshiguma didn't last long before Ch'en finished her interrogation.
Mostima was soon released from the interrogation room. Judging by the stern look still lingering on Ch'en's small, serious face as she followed behind, it was obvious she hadn't managed to extract any useful information.
Just as Steven started walking toward Ch'en—who was gesturing for him to come over, clearly intending to interrogate him next—a figure stepped through the doors of the Guard Department, decisively interrupting everyone present.
"That's enough, Hui-chieh. They are not enemies of Lungmen. There's no need to continue these procedures."
A hoarse yet steady middle-aged male voice rang out. Along with it appeared a tall man dressed in a peculiar black coat, holding a long smoking pipe. His head looked strikingly like that of an eastern dragon.
"Chief Wei, you know this doesn't follow procedure. They're still suspects."
"Hui-chieh, some matters don't strictly require procedure. If you wish to command the Guard Department in the future, you must understand that."
The man known as Chief Wei shook his head and spoke earnestly to Ch'en, who was still quietly fuming. Only then did he turn his gaze toward Steven.
At a glance, he recognized this must be the person Kal'tsit had mentioned—the one who might bring him a "pleasant surprise." He couldn't sense any particularly powerful or extraordinary aura from the boy. Yet something about the young man's presence suggested he was anything but ordinary.
An odd feeling lingered in the middle-aged man's heart. On one hand, his instincts told him Steven was far from simple. On the other hand, the moment he shifted his gaze away, he found himself quickly forgetting about him.
The contradiction piqued his curiosity even more.
"I presume you are Mr. Steven, the one introduced by Ms. Kal'tsit?"
Suppressing his curiosity, Wei Yenwu stepped forward and politely greeted him.
"That would be me. So you must be the guy that old cat mentioned?"
Steven showed no sign of feeling pressured by the authority that naturally radiated from the dragon-headed man before him. Instead, he studied him with equal interest.
"You could say that," Wei Yenwu replied calmly. "I understand that being detained here may have caused you some dissatisfaction. However, if possible, there should at least be a necessary explanation. As Officer Ch'en said, there must be a process, and there must be an account given."
Wei Yenwu smiled faintly and nodded at Steven. The three of them were indeed from Rhodes Island, but what Steven had done was also a fact. Regardless, there had to be an explanation.
Guests were guests, but some matters had to be handled separately.
"A group that could hardly be considered stabilizing elements for Lungmen as a whole targeted my companion. And so, this was the outcome. I wonder, Mr. Wei, does that explanation satisfy you?"
Steven rubbed his chin and thought for a while before finally giving Wei Yenwu an answer that sounded somewhat cryptic. After spending so long around Kal'tsit, he might not have learned everything, but speaking in riddles was something he had definitely picked up.
Fortunately, to the middle-aged man before him. Steven's "riddle" wasn't particularly difficult to interpret, and it clearly conveyed the necessary stance. Naturally, Wei Yenwu had no reason to make things difficult for them any further.
"Of course. In fact, the Guard Department should thank you for your actions. As you said, most of those involved in these incidents were indeed destabilizing elements within Lungmen. Even if this had not happened, the Guard Department would have dealt with them eventually."
"So we're free to go?"
Steven stood up. However, when he asked the question, he deliberately turned his face toward Officer Ch'en, whose expression was less than pleased, as though specifically directing the question at her.
"Of course. Every guest who comes to Lungmen is free to leave. I hope you enjoy your time here."
Wei Yenwu subtly stepped sideways, positioning himself in front of Ch'en without drawing attention to it. Maintaining his composed, diplomatic smile, he answered Steven in a warm and cordial tone.
"It's already been quite enjoyable. Running into something this interesting on the very first day—just imagining what other surprises might be waiting for me is enough to make me look forward to it."
Steven had always been the type who thrived on chaos. If anything, he preferred being dragged into trouble. Getting detained on his first day in Lungmen over something like this? That only meant the excitement ahead would be off the charts.
He stood up alongside Centaurea, who was still glancing toward the blonde Feline outside. Steven then cast a questioning look at Mostima, who remained standing beside Officer Ch'en.
If Mostima felt that staying with the Guard Department was safer and wanted to remain, he had no objections. But as for himself, he certainly couldn't stay here any longer. His journey in this new city had only just begun, there was no way he was going to spend it lingering in a corner of the Guard Department.
After receiving Steven's look, Mostima quickly walked over to his side. Although she really didn't want to stay with someone whose brain seemed, more often than not, slightly unwell, Kal'tsit had given her clear instructions. At least until she reached her destination, she had no reason to leave his side.
"Then we won't disturb your work any longer. Of course, if you're truly feeling hospitable, treating us to a katsudon wouldn't be a problem either. I've actually been quite curious about the police department's exclusive menu."
Wei Yenwu couldn't help but pause for a moment before replying in a relatively tactful tone.
"Something like that would not be appropriate. It is generally reserved for detainees, and the Guard Department does not provide regular meals. If you are truly interested in Lungmen cuisine, you are more than welcome to explore the streets yourself."
Fortunately, after being refused, Steven didn't press the matter. With visible disappointment and regret, he left through the entrance of the Guard Department with Mostima and Centaurea.
Anyone unaware of the situation might think he had suffered a devastating blow. Realizing it was merely because he hadn't gotten to eat a police station meal, Hoshiguma couldn't help but chuckle softly.
But she quickly sensed that the atmosphere between her colleague and their superior was becoming tense. Promptly finding an excuse, she slipped out and left the space to the pair.
"Uh, I've got work to do too. You two carry on."
With her swift departure, only Wei Yenwu and Ch'en—standing behind him—remained at the interrogation room entrance. An odd silence settled in the air.
"Do you think my criticism of you was unreasonable? That I was deliberately undermining Lungmen's order?"
Wei Yenwu did not turn around. Almost as if speaking to himself, he murmured in a low voice audible only to Ch'en.
"Yes."
"Then that proves you are still looking at these matters solely from the perspective of an officer. You know perfectly well that the three of them did good deeds, and that the cause of this incident did not lie with them. Yet you continue to focus on the outcome. Even though you have likely guessed at some of the forces operating behind the scenes, you choose to pretend not to see them."
Wei Yenwu shook his head slightly, a trace of disappointment in his expression. He said nothing more.
After glancing back once at the blue-haired girl, who now seemed lost in thought, he turned and disappeared through the doors of the Guard Department.
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Note: Character Illustration is in this Google Drive:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1iuyfwNVFHzIi9H4rWNT_lAm7jTSiah_M
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