With three superpowers at his fingertips, he could dominate the 1970s.

The next morning, Jiang Zhiyu went downstairs and had breakfast in the small dining room.

She put down her chopsticks, wiped her hands, and was about to tell Grandpa Song that she was going out for a walk when the old man raised his hand to stop her.

"Girl, we're not going out today."

Grandpa Song's voice wasn't loud, but his tone was unwavering and authoritative. He put down the newspaper he was holding, slammed it on the table, and looked up at her.

"Things are in chaos right now. You probably know what's going on."

Jiang Zhiyu paused in her teacup-holding motion. She looked up at the old man.

"Wait until those people upstairs have dealt with their messes before you go out. Otherwise, you might get caught in the crossfire."

Grandpa Song spoke calmly. He reached out and pushed the teacup on the table forward, gesturing for her to take a sip of the hot tea.

"Some people, after a couple of days of good food, forget the hardships they once endured. It's time for a cleanup."

Jiang Zhiyu held her teacup without moving. The old man's words, though seemingly casual, resonated deeply with anyone who understood.

She instantly understood what her former boss meant by what he had said to her in the hospital room the night before.

She didn't ask who was cleaning up or when they started at the time, but now, after hearing Grandpa Song's words, she understood.

The people the old leader arranged have already been mobilized.

---

The sound of crying had just come from the end of the corridor when, almost simultaneously, lights came on in several courtyards at the other end.

The low hum of car engines echoed almost simultaneously from all three streets. The task force members had been waiting outside for who knows how long, and upon receiving the notification, none of them uttered a word; they simply pushed open the door and went inside.

The first person taken away was from the Ministry of Public Security. He had just been woken up by a phone call and hadn't even put on his clothes when the person was already standing in front of his bed. He looked up and froze for a moment, the color draining from his face inch by inch. In the end, he said nothing and followed them away.

The second was a section chief from **. This man reacted quickly; as soon as he heard the noise at the door, he tried to dial the phone, but as soon as he picked up the receiver, he heard a busy tone. He looked up at the person at the door, his Adam's apple bobbing twice, but he obediently put the receiver back down.

---

Jiang Zhiyu sat at the dining table, feeling somewhat bored. The old man picked up the newspaper again and spread it out.

"If you're hungry, ask Sister Yang to make you something to eat."

Jiang Zhiyu responded and took a sip of tea.

But man proposes, God disposes. She hadn't even sat there for a full hour when she heard a car stop in the front yard. Sister Yang went out to check and came back to report.

"A vehicle from the Second Administration Bureau."

Jiang Zhiyu put down her teacup and stood up.

Grandpa Song looked up at her and slowly nodded.

"What's meant to happen can't be stopped. Go ahead."

Grandma reached out and tugged at her arm, saying nothing, her eyes filled with obvious heartache. Jiang Zhiyu bent down and patted the old lady's hand reassuringly before turning and leaving.

The car outside was still running. Before getting in, she glanced back at the old house entrance. Grandpa Song stood on the porch and gestured to her.

-

"Little Jiang, you're here."

Zhuge Yunhe walked over and, without saying much, led her to the innermost office on the second basement floor.

Jiang Zhiyu walked behind the desk and sat down. Old Zhuge also sat down in the chair opposite her, his hands on his knees, his voice sounding as tired as if he had just been pulled out of the water.

"You didn't see outside," he said. "From the moment he breathed his last, the entire capital was turned upside down by those with ulterior motives."

Jiang Zhiyu remained silent.

"This is the moment our old leader has been waiting for."

Old Zhuge slowly raised his eyes to look at her.

"When he was around, those people didn't dare to move. The moment he left, they thought their time had come. The old leader was just waiting for them to make their move."

Jiang Zhiyu lowered her eyes and didn't reply. She knew what her old leader meant.

Zhong Dingwen then placed a thick briefing in front of her.

"The events of last night are all here."

Jiang Zhiyu reached out and opened the briefing.

It's all lists of people who have been arrested.

Jiang Zhiyu's fingertips lingered on one of the pages for a long time.

On that page was the name of the elderly man who had been in the far corner of the meeting room last night. She still remembered the hint of suspicion in his eyes as he exchanged glances with the person next to him across the table. Now, his name was followed by "Suspended from duty, awaiting investigation at home."

She closed the briefing and looked up at Old Zhuge.

"Were these lists all prepared by the former leader before his death?"

Old Zhuge nodded.

"The investigation started six months ago. Every name has concrete evidence. The old leader said that once he's recovered from his shock, it will be time to take action."

Jiang Zhiyu lowered her eyes.

"Six months."

She repeated the sentence softly.

At this moment, Old Zhuge picked up a cup of hot tea from the side, walked to the chair by the window, sat down, and placed the teacup on the small table next to him.

"Girl," he looked up at her, "Do you understand now?"

Jiang Zhiyu did not look up.

"This is what the old leader truly left for you," Old Zhuge's voice was as slow as ever. "The notes in that box are for your long journey. This list is for your shortcut."

"With the shortcut cleared away, you'll be able to keep your secrets safe here in the capital."

She looked up at the old Zhuge Liang, her throat moving slightly.

"I see."

Old Zhuge nodded, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said nothing more.

Footsteps echoed down the corridor. One after another, people from the Administration Bureau knocked on the door, some to report, some to deliver documents, and some to ask her to review lists—all in an orderly fashion.

Zhong Dingwen stood by her side, offering brief explanations whenever Jiang Zhiyu encountered unfamiliar procedures. She barely got up all day.

Around noon, several newspapers from Beijing were delivered to her desk. The front pages were unassuming, but those in the know could immediately discern the weight behind those few lines of text.

Jiang Zhiyu folded the newspapers and placed them on the corner of the table before leaning back in her chair and letting out a long sigh.

Old Zhuge got up from the window and patted her on the shoulder as he passed by her.

"That's how it'll be from now on. Come visit from time to time, and help out us old folks."

Jiang Zhiyu gripped the edge of the table and bowed her head in response.

Zhong Dingwen then closed the last document.

"Xiao Jiang, take a break! You just need to familiarize yourself with the process. From now on, keep Ji Buzhi by your side and let him handle things."

Jiang Zhiyu nodded.

The office door was gently closed from the outside. The room fell silent instantly, with only the teacup on the corner of the table still emitting wisps of steam.

She closed her eyes for a moment before opening them again.

She was ultimately placed in this position. Is it too late to regret it now?