The entire world kept its eyes on Hualan’s upcoming conference. Major western media outlets analyzed the potential outcomes, trying to predict how the historic meeting would resolve.

“No matter the results, this conference will carry deep consequences for a great nation like Hualan…”

“For countries and atavists around the globe, this meeting serves as a historical preview…”

“It is common knowledge that the atavist families were founding pillars of Hualan. They played vital roles in building and stabilizing the nation after the Great Cosmic Convergence. Any perceived injustice will provoke their fury, which would threaten national stability…”

“…”

Inside the Great Hall, a thick tension filled the air even before the state leaders arrived. The atavist representatives sat stiffly in defensive postures, while those on the opposite side stood poised for a political offensive.

Both sides understood the high stakes. The purpose of today’s gathering was clear: the government aimed to amend the Atavist Management Regulations and strip the atavists of their age-old privileges.

But the elite clans would never surrender without a fight. A thousand years of absolute privilege had bred a sense of supremacy deep into their bones. Stripping their rights meant bringing them down to the level of ordinary citizens—something they found impossible to tolerate.

Whether the administration could succeed in its ambitious goal remained a complete mystery.

Jing Pei sat in the very last row, choosing the highest vantage point to observe the scene below. Her slender fingers idly toyed with the tail of the little mutt resting on her desk. With her chin propped on the dog’s head, her bright, feline eyes scanned the hall, occasionally glancing at her phone.

On-site, Mo Weiwei’s eyes absorbed vast streams of information. Miles away in his hotel room, his hands flew across the keyboard, sending real-time reports to Jing Pei.

Liao Yi’an, Chief of the National Security Prevention Department from Intelligence Division Nine, fired the opening volley.

He was an old acquaintance. He had once brought his team to the Long estate, trying to persuade Jing Pei to sacrifice herself for the “greater good” by betraying the atavist families to support the regulations. After Jing Pei exposed his schemes on the spot, he had slunk away in disgrace. His self-righteous look of disappointment back then had been really memorable.

“After the Great Cosmic Convergence, atavists indeed played a major part in building this country,” Liao Yi’an declared. “But a thousand years of special privileges should be more than enough! The Atavist Management Regulations do not just let you govern your own kind. They give you massive tax breaks and advantages in commercial biddings, allowing your clans to grow wealthy and powerful. Do you honestly believe your brains are biologically superior to ordinary citizens?”

Already irritable from a sleepless night due to the near-disaster at Bubble 109, the atavist representatives flared up instantly at his blunt words.

“What is that supposed to mean? Are you claiming we owe everything we have to special favors?”

“Is that not the truth?”

“Just because you say so does not make it real!”

“Then why do you cling to those privileges so desperately?”

“These are things we deserve! Our ancestors earned this glory with their blood! Why on earth should we give it up?”

Dozens of people stood up, trading insults and shouting until the entire room became a chaotic shouting match.

Jing Pei took the earplugs Chu Xusheng offered and stuffed them into her ears.

She had expected this session to turn into a circus.

Polite debate? Elegant verbal sparring? Nonexistent. The atavist families were not the only ones furious. The government officials had also spent a sleepless night gripped by dread over Bubble 109—even the President had heavy, dark bags under her eyes. As for the conspirators from the secret organization hiding among them, their rage was surely even worse.

When everyone was exhausted and angry, nobody had the patience for diplomatic pleasantries. Screaming was the easiest option, and a physical brawl seemed imminent.

A teacup sailed through the air. Jing Pei’s eyes widened, shining with amusement at the spectacle.

“Do not cross the line! What kind of society do you think we live in?!” Liao Yi’an roared, now soaked in tea. The agents of Division Nine already harbored intense resentment toward the atavists, and this insult pushed them over the edge.

“Madam President, there is no point in continuing this meeting! Let us just abolish the Atavist Management Regulations by force!”

“Bullshit! You bite the hand that feeds you. When enemies threaten us, we never see your people fighting on the front lines!”

“Fine! Abolish it, then! But do not expect us to lift a finger to protect Hualan ever again!”

Fingers pointed right at noses, spit flying into faces. The verbal attacks peaked, and a full-blown brawl was about to erupt.

“Let us see who else here has forgotten how to speak like a civil human being.”

A deep, powerful voice cut through the noise, carrying a heavy pressure that made everyone’s heart sink. The rowdy room fell dead silent.

Every head turned toward the entrance of the Great Hall.

Qiu Fa stood there in his black uniform, his expression flat. He tapped his tactical baton against his palm. His cold, amber eyes scanned the room like a predator watching its prey. If anyone dared to make a move, he would strike without hesitation.

Nobody doubted that Qiu Fa would thrash them in public. A massive brawl was one thing, but getting singled out and beaten by him was another.

The raised fingers quickly retracted. People smoothed down their suits, muttered resentful scoffs, and slumped back into their seats.

The fight was over. Jing Pei lowered her eyelashes, feeling slightly disappointed.

Mo Weiwei, noticing her shift in mood, twitched his snout. No wonder she’s working with our boss. Both of them just want to watch the world burn.

With Qiu Fa keeping the peace, fists and profanity became useless. Tempers cooled, and the meeting finally began in earnest.

Like a guardian deity of death, Qiu Fa sat in the chair brought by his subordinate, facing the crowd. His gaze swept over everyone, passing smoothly over Jing Pei in the back row before snapping back to lock onto her face.

Jing Pei offered a tiny wave and a calm smile.

Qiu Fa stared back without moving, his brow creasing in confusion.

---

In the secret organization’s meeting room, several high-ranking members sat around a circular table. A device broadcasted the live audio from the Great Hall. The moment they heard Qiu Fa’s voice, their faces darkened.

“If not for Qiu Fa, there would be no meeting today—only war!”

“Without the destruction of Bubble 109 to push things along, will this conference end the way we want?”

“The incidents with Zhang Simiao and Mei Yanlan nearly destroyed two of our subsidiary organizations, causing us massive losses. The atavist families played a major role in that. Without them, the government alone could never have dealt us such a blow. We used to think those families were just arrogant traditionalists who wouldn’t pose a threat. Who knew they would become such a massive obstacle? If we don’t drive a wedge between them and the government, our future plans will be constantly disrupted.”

“You worry too much,” one member spoke up. “Those families have spent a thousand years standing on the necks of ordinary citizens. They won’t accept even the slightest reduction in their rights. But the government must achieve its goal today, or they lose this perfect opportunity. In the end, the government will have no choice but to push through the cuts unilaterally.”

“Exactly! The families will never back down,” another high-ranking member slapped the table. “The government will be forced to take a hard line. That creates conflict. Once the rift is open, our people can stir the pot and turn them against each other. It might not be as fast as destroying Bubble 109, but it will get the job done.”

The tense mood in the room eased slightly.

---

The Great Hall.

“Let us talk about what happened last night,” Liao Yi’an said. “If Director Qiu hadn’t intervened at Bubble 109 when the criminals Shi Gang and Qiao Ming attacked, how many lives would have been lost? Since atavists possess far greater power than ordinary people, they should be subjected to tighter regulations, not granted more freedom.”

“That is nonsense. Why don’t you mention that the officer who almost caught Qiao Ming back then was also an atavist? Or that the man who saved everyone yesterday, Qiu Fa, is an atavist? Every group has good and bad people. You can’t just judge us all by the actions of a few.”

“Is that so?” Liao Yi’an stood up and took a stack of files from his assistant. “Let’s look at recent events. What was the real reason the Huang and Bai families nearly went to war in Changhai Prefecture earlier this year? It was because innocent people were harmed without anyone being punished. The victims took the law into their own hands because the system failed to deliver justice. The injured baby from the Bai family ended up suffering for the sins committed by adults!”

The representatives of the atavist families looked grim. The members of the Huang and Bai families looked even worse. Bai Xinran bit her lip, thinking of her daughter, whose pinky and tongue had been sliced off by her husband.

“And after the crimes of the Zhou family were exposed, what did you families do? You either stood by or meddled—not for justice, but to recruit Chu Xusheng as a retainer!

“And in the Wu family arena, under the broad daylight of a civilized society, such lethal combat games still exist. You all watched as an innocent victim was nearly killed!

“All of this stems from the excessive freedom granted by the Atavist Management Regulations. It makes you despise life and exploit the weak!”

“We exploit the weak?” The head of the Peacock family, speaking on behalf of the clans, stood up. “So you only focus on the few bad apples? In the first half of this year alone, who took down the illegal atavist serum and genetics organizations? It was us! Since those organizations were crushed, look at how much the number of mutants and casualties has dropped.”

“And before the summer break, when foreign atavist mercenaries tried to stir up trouble and a horde of monsters almost breached the city, who stopped them? Our actions were documented clearly in the Great Families documentary!”

Tang Qiaoqiao clutched her head in agony. “It’s so loud. My brain hurts. I don’t want to listen to this. It has nothing to do with us anyway. Can we slip out early?”

She was used to having no say in major events. Most of the young people in the room felt the same; their opinions carried no weight, and the elders only brought them along to gain experience. So, they spent the time distracting themselves.

Chen Mo muttered, “Shut up, or your dad will smack you if he hears.”

“Hmph, my dad would never.”

As the trio always stuck together, Chen Mo looked over at Feng Yilian. “Do you think they’ll reach a conclusion today?”

“No idea,” Feng Yilian replied, solving a Rubik’s cube under the table.

Chen Mo sighed. “But if they don’t reach an agreement today, the government basically loses.”

“Why?” Tang Qiaoqiao asked.

“Are you stupid? The only reason we’re having this meeting today is because Bubble 109 almost collapsed last night. If they delay it to a second session, another disaster might strike, and we might not get lucky enough to have Qiu Fa save us again.”

Therefore, to prevent another Bubble 109 catastrophe, the government had to force a result today. It would likely mean unilateral cuts, knowing how stubborn the family elders were. No matter the outcome of the struggle at the top, the common people would suffer the most.

Jing Pei suddenly received a text from Wu Ying.

It read: Why does Qiu Fa keep staring at you? Did you do something and get caught?

Jing Pei glanced toward the entrance, meeting Qiu Fa’s gaze. Her heart fluttered slightly, but her face remained calm.

She replied: He probably just thinks I’m pretty.

Wu Ying didn’t reply, perhaps speechless or reassured.

Jing Pei thought for a moment and typed on her phone.

Just then, the little mutt started tugging at her sleeve. She looked down and saw Mo Weiwei’s eyes full of panic. He knew the time was running out; glancing at the clock on the wall, only twenty minutes were left before Jin Ji’s ability ran out. If he didn’t leave now, his eyes would be stuck on the dog forever.

Jing Pei checked the time. It was indeed time to send him out; getting out of the Great Hall to meet Jin Ji would take about ten minutes.

Luckily, the meeting took a break.

Mo Weiwei, in a rush, leapt off the table and dashed toward the exit.

The little dog was small and fast, weaving through the crowd to the door, only for its leash to be stepped on by a black leather boot.

Before Mo Weiwei could recover from the tumble and the choking tug on his collar, he was lifted by the scruff of his neck. Facing a pair of amber, predatory eyes, the hair on his neck stood on end, and his legs went completely numb.

Jing Pei’s pulse quickened. While others might miss the strange nature of this dog, she couldn’t guarantee Qiu Fa would.

“Excuse me, it really needs to use the restroom,” Jing Pei said, walking over and reaching out to take the dog.

The little mutt trembled in fear, which actually made it look like it was desperately holding in its bladder.

But Jing Pei’s hands met empty air. Qiu Fa held the dog away from her, treating it like a hostage.

Qiu Fa stared at her face, while the people inside the Great Hall watched them.

“Big Cat?” Jing Pei tilted her head. “Why do you keep staring at me today? Is there something on my face?”

Qiu Fa tilted his head slightly, as if listening closely to her voice, trying to identify something.

“It is indeed strange,” Qiu Fa murmured. Keeping his eyes on her, he fished out his phone and dialed a number.

Jing Pei felt a slight warmth on her wrist. Qiu Fa was calling the information broker. Fortunately, she had disabled the vibration earlier, switching it to thermal feedback; otherwise, with Qiu Fa’s keen senses, he would have heard it vibrate.

Besides, she had prepared a backup plan.

“Hello there, Director Qiu,” the “information broker” answered. A familiar, casual voice came through the line. “Calling and texting me so early… are you really that eager to get your gloves back?”

Perhaps because he hadn’t expected anyone to answer, or because of the modified voice, Qiu Fa paused.

In front of him, Jing Pei kept her puzzled look.

Mo Weiwei stared at the ticking clock, barking in panic. “Woof woof woof!”

“Could you please let it go first?” Jing Pei sighed. “My dog is so desperate it’s about to speak human language.”

Confusion flickered in Qiu Fa’s eyes. He glanced at her face once more, tossed the barking dog into her arms, and walked out with his phone.

Jing Pei handed the leash to Chu Xusheng, who quickly hurried Mo Weiwei out of the hall.

Mo Weiwei dashed forward, slipping and scrambling. Back in the hotel, his actual body was drenched in sweat. Anyone watching would be shocked, wondering just how badly the dog needed to relieve itself.

“Hurry, hurry! Ten minutes left, or my eyes will stay on this dog forever!”

They avoided the main entrance of the Great Hall, which was swarming with reporters. Leaving through there risked being followed. Instead, they headed for a distant side exit.

Since running inside the Great Hall was forbidden, Chu Xusheng couldn’t carry the dog and run. He could only let the dog sprint while he walked briskly behind, keeping a close eye on it.

This used up precious minutes.

“Five minutes left,” Tao Ze grew nervous back at the hotel.

Mo Weiwei finally reached the exit, his tongue lolling as he panted heavily. He cursed both his boss and Jing Pei in his head. Those two women are heartless! How can they be so irresponsible, making me work without caring about the consequences? I don’t want to be a dog!

The staff verified it was Jing Pei’s dog and opened the door, revealing a luxury car bearing the dragon emblem waiting outside. The passenger door opened from within, showing a young man in a baseball cap in the driver’s seat, his gold earring glittering in the light.

It was Jin Ji!

Tears nearly burst from Mo Weiwei’s eyes as his short legs jumped onto the passenger seat.

Jin Ji nodded briefly to Chu Xusheng in the distance, closed the door, and drove off with Mo Weiwei.

Back in the hotel, both the young man and the boy let out a massive sigh of relief. This escape was just as nerve-wracking as sneaking in. Is doing secret work always this thrilling?

Meanwhile, Qiu Fa stood at the end of the corridor, watching Chu Xusheng and the dog leave while listening to the information broker.

“Since you’ve already shown your face to me, there’s no need to use a voice changer anymore.”

“That won’t do,” replied the voice on the other end, which was actually another of Jing Pei’s subordinates using a voice modulator. It produced the exact same pitch and tone regardless of who spoke, making it an easy deception. “Who knows if someone is with you, Director Qiu, and might overhear my voice? I know some atavists have the ability to track people through voice waves.”

Before the break, Jing Pei had realized Qiu Fa suspected her, so she messaged her subordinate to arrange this performance. While a few lines were easy to fake, a longer conversation would risk exposure. So, Jing Pei sat in the meeting hall, wearing headphones, listening in and texting real-time scripts to her subordinate to read aloud.

“Oh, so now you know fear,” Qiu Fa scoffed.

“Yes, I am very timid. Please be gentle with me, Director Qiu,” the subordinate recited. Back in the hall, a grin spread across Jing Pei’s face as she typed. For some reason, teasing Qiu Fa brought her immense joy.

Thinking of the woman’s behavior last night, especially her wicked actions in his apartment, Qiu Fa’s lips curled. “When are you returning my gloves?”

“When would you like them?”

Without hesitation, Qiu Fa said, “Tonight.”

“Fine, tonight it is.”

Just before hanging up, Qiu Fa added coldly, “If you’re busy, you don’t have to answer. I have no interest in broadcasting our conversation to a third party.”

Jing Pei: “…”

Subordinate: “…”

He actually figured it out?

Before Jing Pei could send another line, Qiu Fa hung up, seemingly annoyed. Probably just my imagination, she thought.

Worried that Qiu Fa might come back in, she quickly hid her phone.

Chu Xusheng came back alone after dropping off the dog. But just like when the dog arrived, its leaving went completely unnoticed.

After a brief break, the meeting resumed, though Qiu Fa did not return. Everyone was focused now, and his intimidating presence likely wouldn’t be needed again until the final results in the afternoon.

The morning session ended. As expected, the atavist families didn’t give an inch. They were betting the government wouldn’t dare make cuts on their own, worried it could upset social stability and put people’s safety at risk.

Besides, they weren’t afraid of the government making cuts on their own. If anything, they welcomed it. Everyone was holding a grudge and wanted to teach both the government and the public a lesson. If the government forced the cuts, they could say it wasn’t their fault for any social problems. They wanted everyone to see how hard life would be without the atavist families keeping things in order, proving that biting the hand that feeds you would only backfire.

When that happened, both the government and the noisy netizens who disrespected the great families would have to bow their heads, apologize, and beg them to take back their privileges and positions.

They needed to teach these people a lesson!

“I am going to the restroom,” Jing Pei told Long Yiming after lunch, standing up and heading out.

Just as she reached the door, a worker dressed as a janitor stopped her. “This restroom is under maintenance. Please walk straight and turn right; there is another restroom you can use.”

Jing Pei raised an eyebrow but wasn’t surprised. She continued down the corridor, turned right, and found another female restroom. Pushing the door open, she saw a woman standing with her back to her.

The lady turned around. Her dark hair was swept up, salted with a few silver strands. When she smiled, every line on her face exuded warmth.

“Madam President,” Jing Pei greeted.

The woman before her was the nineteenth president of Hualan.

“My apologies for meeting you for the first time in a place like this,” the President said, her calm and graceful voice carrying quiet strength. “But right now, if anyone found out we met in private, it would cause trouble for you.”