Star Gate

Chapter 806: Mishaps at Inauguration (II)

More attendees arrived while a low hum of conversation buzzed through the vicinity. The newcomers broke through the air in the blink of an eye and revealed themselves to be very young when they landed. Representatives from the City of Supernaturals!

They didn’t speak after their arrival and simply walked straight to the front, locating their seats after quickly scanning the area. Satisfied that they were seated in the same row as the most distinguished, they took their places.

There were still people standing outside the doors—those were just here for the show. Those who dared linger for the proceedings were personages of uncommon note themselves. There were some old men present who were veteran martial masters of Silver Moon’s martial world. Some other martial seniors also dawdled—wandering rogues as opposed to government officials. They craned their necks from outside the door. Perhaps there would be some fighting later on! Although it would be dangerous to be nearby, there was never a shortage of people unafraid of death.

Some in the crowd outside looked like scouts, possibly from the three great organizations or seven divine mountains. No one minded their presence and permitted them to observe as they would.

A different group walked out of the rear yard of the Skystar Commander complex at this time.

......

Li Hao was clad in armor; he’d changed its color today as the golden color was very conspicuous. He opted for red, finding it to be more festive. To outsiders, however, it looked to be the color of blood!

Hong Yitang and the others followed by his side. They headed to the front with Li Hao and dropped into their seats.

“Thank you everyone for the honor of your presence today.” Li Hao smiled at the crowd beneath him. “It has exceeded my expectations that so many people have come!” He frowned slightly. “Why is there no food or drink when our esteemed guests have already arrived?”

Seated on the wing of the stage, Deputy Zhou glanced at Li Hao. “Bring out the food and drink!”

The declaration caused a ripple of surprise that grew more pronounced when the food was brought out. A dozen soldiers lifted a platform with a massive roc bird on it.

“This is an Arcanus level major monster spirit,” Li Hao chuckled. “Its flesh and blood are highly nutritious! Men, cut off pieces for our guests! It tastes the best and is chewier when raw. Enjoy this uncommon delicacy, everyone!”

Certain eyes widened among the crowd. This was the lord of Sky Roc Mountain! Li Hao had outright delivered the mountain lord’s carcass on a platter! This fellow was... truly vicious! At the same time, some in the crowd were completely unmoved.

Soldiers cut up pieces of monster spirit flesh and served bloody portions to the tables. The audience behind them could only put their plates on their legs. No one dared say anything. They stared at the cold smoke rising from the bloody flesh. Some closed their eyes while others snorted with laughter and dug in with fork and knife.

“Does it not suit some of your appetites?” Li Hao smiled. “I hear that phoenix meat is even more tasty. Why don’t I serve a different selection for everyone next time?”

“Is Commander Li going to kill the lord of Phoenix Mountain?” The Valiant Duke smiled before anyone else could answer. “I’m actually rather looking forward to that. Save me a piece when you take out that monster spirit!”

“Those are heroic words!” laughed Li Hao. “That is most certainly part of my plans and I will save you some! I showed them face today, but they rejected me. There is a spot arranged for them, but they are not here. I’ll raze that mountain to the ground when I have time!”

Cold pricked at the spines of some in the crowd! This guy truly spoke like a crazed martial blockhead. Representatives from Phoenix Mountain might have ended up with the same grisly fate had they attended today. Maybe... maybe Li Hao was just blowing hot air!

The young man laughed for a bit; a portion of meat appeared in front of him—it was cooked!

His guests inwardly cursed him out when they saw the sight. You serve us raw meat while you eat a cooked portion yourself!

“It’s my first time doing something like this, so I’m not sure what the proper procedure is,” Li Hao laughed. “Establishing the Skystar Commander Office... is frankly just going through the formalities. But since everyone is here, I’ll say a few words for the inauguration!

“First, from today henceforth, the Night Watchers are officially joining the Skystar Commander Office. Director Yao Si will continue to be the director, as well as a vice commander in the Skystar Commander Office!

“Second, the commanders of the four directions fall under the jurisdiction of this Office. Hou Xiaochen will be assigned the commander of the north, Southern Fist He Yong will be assigned the commander of the south! Light Sword Hu Jiao is assigned to the east and Yang Shan is assigned to the west!”

A ringing silence answered his words.

“Third, the Skystar Martial Academy will be built with Earthturner Sword Hong Yitang as the headmaster!

“Fourth, there will be an administrative wing of the Skystar Commander Office with Zhou Chuan as the administrative director general!

“Fifth, the Demon Hunter Army is to be reorganized with Liu Long as its commander!” Li Hao concluded faintly. “This will be the operating system of the Skystar Commander Office to come. The commanders of the four cardinal directions will administer the affairs of supernaturals in their territory. The administrative wing is in charge of establishing the laws of the land. It will handle all civil duties!

“The Night Watchers are to be divided into five divisions—headquarters and the four cardinal directions to be directed by their respective commanders.

“The Skystar Martial Academy will propagate martial dao and accept civilians as students. Ordinary students will have a chance to practice martial dao as well!” Li Hao smiled. “What does everyone think of my arrangements? I am quite young and do not understand this, so I have casually delineated responsibilities. Does anyone have any advice to offer?”

The audience was still digesting the announcements. The Tranquil Duke smiled at this time. “We naturally have no opinion about the commander’s internal arrangements. However... I do have a small question to ask...”

“Ask away!”

“This Yang Shan... used to be an expert in residence in my household. He stole a precious treasure from my complex and has been on the run since. He even killed some people when he ran. The commander says that you will strictly administer the law as your guiding principle.

“This Yang Shan has committed murder in pursuit of another’s property, but now he swaggers forward with the righteousness of the southern commander under the Skystar Commander Office. I don’t know how Commander Li has been hoodwinked—how can a criminal qualify to enforce the law on the commander’s behalf?”

Li Hao looked at Yang Shan.

“In response to the commander.” Yang Shan bowed. “I fled because I was unwilling to comply with the collusion between the duke and pirates. I killed the pirate leader and the collaborators from the duke’s side. I was then pursued by his powerhouses and had to go into hiding...”

“Collusion with pirates?” laughed the Tranquil Duke. “Is this the story you come up with since you have no evidence at all? Do you know what awaits you for falsely accusing a duke? I do not mind, but this will be a stain on the Skystar Commander Office’s reputation.

"Commander Li reveres the law, but you hold it in contempt and easily slander others. You’ll bring about the downfall of the Skystar Commander Office if this continues! You have indeed murdered people and stolen treasure. You admit to it yourself!” The duke looked at Li Hao. “Commander Li, you should not appoint him as the western commander even if you don’t thoroughly investigate him. Otherwise, your inauguration ceremony will become an occasion of criticism!”

Li Hao looked steadily at him. The Tranquil Duke was the first and only person to raise a fuss today. He made complete sense and presented a well reasoned argument. Li Hao could not force him to be quiet. If he did, the strict adherence to the law that he preached would become a joke. It was the foundation of his legitimacy! If that was shaken, he would lose the trust of the outside world.

Even if the Tranquil Duke really had colluded with pirates, was there any evidence to prove his actions?

“Do you have proof, Yang Shan?” Li Hao turned to the man with a smile. “If not, falsely accusing the duke is no small matter! If you do have proof, I’ll arrest the duke on the spot and behead him as an example to others. This will be my announcement to the world that collusion with pirates will result in no mercy!”

The duke’s eyes widened, but he quickly regained his calm. Li Hao was so out of control! But where is your evidence going to come from? What a joke! He naturally had his own plans in mind with sticking his neck out at a time like this. It wasn’t worth telling others about it. Although Li Hao was a difficult person to deal with, there was nothing the duke was afraid of.

“I do! I have recorded images of the duke’s people conversing with the leader of the pirates...” Yang Shan replied.

“That proves nothing.” The duke frowned. A recording? That technology was banned many years ago. To think that the bastard would have that in his pocket!

“My wife once worked in the duke’s household and was in charge of matters in the rear residence.” Yang Shan ignored the duke’s interjection. “She once saw the leader of the pirates enter the duke’s complex for a secret meeting and recorded the entire process...”

The Tranquil Duke’s frown deepened. How was that possible?? Qin Lian’s betrayal was a spontaneous decision, how could she have recorded that such a long time ago? Is Yang Shan... bluffing?

Many were growing nervous at this point and didn’t understand what the duke wanted to accomplish. This was just an inauguration ceremony, just be quiet and listen! Why did he have to rush over from the west and involve himself? Did he really think that Li Hao wouldn’t dare kill him?

“Is that so? Then let us broadcast the recording,” Li Hao laughed. “If your words prove true, then no matter how the duke argues, I can arrest him since he is a superhuman. Although we do not have direct evidence, we’ll be able to seal off his complex first and investigate him later!”

The young man looked at the duke with increasing bafflement. The eight ministries and royal family aren’t making a peep, but you’ve come all the way from the west to pick a bone with me. What are you cooking? Or do you have shit for brains? Or are you sticking your neck out for someone else to get a big payday?

I don’t get it, but I don’t mind that someone’s offering their head up for me to use. Who knows if Yang Shan really has a recording? I’m just gonna bluff first!

Indeed, Li Hao wasn’t aware of the truth of the situation either. No one had anticipated that the Tranquil Duke would fire the first shot. The young man hadn’t expected anyone to come from the three dukes, and even if a representative was present, it wouldn't be the dukes themselves.

Hence, Li Hao wasn’t sure what the Tranquil and Valiant Dukes wished to accomplish here. Therefore, he wasn’t certain either if Yang Shan spoke the truth or just wanted to intimidate his old employer. Recordings were a technology that the government had banned long ago. What a coincidence that he happened to have it on him. Even Li Hao felt that this was a bluff!