As soon as the Human Emperor Banner came out, I became the Lord of the Old Ones

Chapter 225 Let the Sun Rise As Usual

"Now that Captain Long has seen through the murderer's trick, can't he stay out of it?"

Xu Yan said, "Or you could hand the clues over to your colleagues and superiors; I'm sure they'll handle it properly, right?"

"It's difficult. The situation in the border region is very complex. If the Security Bureau wants to maintain order here, it's hard not to have intricate relationships with the deeply entrenched local bullies, just like the relationship between the Rolling Stone Fortress patrol and the big boss."

Long Jianhuan smiled bitterly, "Now I understand why the chief and the others cleaned up the crime scene so thoroughly. Sheikh Krat has really gotten involved with too many people and things. Who knows how big a cover we'll uncover, how deep a hole we'll expose, how many people we'll offend, and how much trouble we'll cause if we follow this lead all the way?"

"That--"

Xu Yan said, "If even your colleagues and superiors can't do anything about it, why should Captain Long make trouble for himself?"
"Can't we just pretend we never saw this coin and that letter?"

Long Jianhuan stared at him, seemingly seriously considering the suggestion.

Half a minute later, she slowly shook her head.

“No, you’ve seen how much trouble just one Sheikh Krat’s attempt to abscond with the money caused.”

She sighed and said, "The membership fees that countless members just paid, the life savings of countless employees, the money of a large number of suppliers and sponsors, and even some bank loans have all disappeared."

"If the Shattered Star Club really closes down, many people and businesses will be affected, falling one after another like dominoes."

"The economic situation in Dawn City was already not good. If it really triggers such a terrible chain reaction, it will only make matters worse. I don't know how many people will go bankrupt or how many people will lose their jobs."

"And this is just the tip of the iceberg."

"If this money laundering industry chain really exists, it means that many companies will follow in the footsteps of the Shattered Star Club."

"Even within Dawn Heavy Industry, there are quite a few high-level managers who are trying to abscond with the city's most valuable assets."

"At that time, all they will leave behind is a mess of debt, leaving ordinary citizens to survive."

"No, I can't just stand by and watch this happen."

"Dawn City belongs to Sheikh Krat and those high-ranking figures, but it also belongs to the millions of ordinary citizens who have devoted their blood and sweat to the city's development and worked hard all their lives."

"Over the past few decades, with the help of ordinary citizens, big shots have accumulated astronomical wealth and gained unimaginable glory, status and power."

"Dawn City is facing an unprecedented crisis. Instead of working together with ordinary citizens to overcome this difficult time, they want to cheat and swindle, pull off a big heist, and then run away? It's not that easy!"

Long Jianhuan told Xu Yan that this was not just a matter of money.

More importantly, it's about confidence.

When she returned to her hometown from the Security Bureau, she had already heard rumors that the Heroic Spirit Alliance's finances were becoming increasingly strained, making it difficult to continue supporting those low-yield border cities.

Next, will the alliance continue to expand its territory to fulfill the sacred vow made a hundred years ago to "save all mankind"?

Faced with reality, we had no choice but to make a painful decision and undertake a temporary strategic contraction.

It remains a hotly debated issue. In this situation, every border city, especially resource-depleted mining cities like Dawn City, must do everything in its power to demonstrate its value.

The reason why Dawn City is still able to maintain its current situation is because all the citizens still hold onto hope.

Hope, even unrealistic aspirations, can bring confidence more precious than crystals, enabling people to grit their teeth and persevere to the end, even in the most difficult circumstances.

However, if those well-informed bigwigs really did manage to slip away with the wealth accumulated by Dawn City over decades in some clandestine manner...

This already precarious border city is truly on the verge of collapse.

"The so-called 'collapse' is not simply about ordinary citizens living in poverty."

Long Jianhuan said with concern, "I received intelligence that the Black Dream organization has been very active in the southeastern border area recently, as if they are planning a large-scale infiltration of Dawn City."

"Once the economy and order of Dawn City continue to deteriorate, especially if various scandals are exposed, it will be easy for the Black Dream Organization to find an opportunity to exploit it."

"I still don't know what the Black Dream organization is planning to do here."

"The only thing that can be certain is that the Black Dream organization's plan is extremely dangerous and could potentially cause chaos that could instantly engulf the entire city."

"At that time, it will not only affect the ordinary citizens of Dawn City, but also everyone living in the dozens of satellite towns around it. Even the living environment in the surrounding wilderness areas will become more severe. Hundreds of thousands or even millions of innocent people will die tragically, or even be invaded by the ancients and become spirit-corroding bodies that are neither human nor ghost, ending up in a situation where they can neither live nor die!"
"Therefore, no matter how sensitive and dangerous this matter is, I will investigate it thoroughly, find out what kind of predicament Dawn City is facing, and then work together with everyone who is willing to stay here to fight to the end."

"only……"

Long Jianhuan was caught in a deep dilemma.

She told Xu Yan that she had originally admired him very much and hoped that he could join the Security Bureau to help her.

Little did anyone expect that such a complex vortex was hidden behind Sheikh Krat's death.

She herself didn't care.

She was a native of Dawn City, and her father had also died a heroic death in his post as the head of the Dawn City Security Bureau.

Even if she followed in her father's footsteps and sacrificed her life for her homeland, it would be a matter of course.

But Xu Yan is an outsider.

I've only been in Dawn City for two months.

It seems unnecessary to step into an unfathomable vortex.

"Captain Long, aren't you underestimating me? Don't forget I grew up in the Shadow Ruins adjacent to the contaminated zone. Is there any 'unfathomable vortex' that could be more dangerous than the depths of the wilderness invaded by the old?"

Xu Yan replied, "Besides, I've finally managed to save up some money, made some friends, and invested all my savings. I'm ready to make a name for myself in Dawn City."

"Now you're telling me that Dawn City is very likely to face an unprecedented crisis, how can I stand by and wait for my doom?"
"No matter what, I will stand with Captain Long and make sure the truth comes to light, so that tomorrow's sun will rise on the horizon of Dawn City as usual!"

(End of this chapter)