<h4>Chapter 1149: Chapter 1146: So Damn Hypocritical</h4>


    Apanied by that resonantughter, a burly middle-aged man, nearly two meters tall, strode in with confidence.


    With sword-like brows and starry eyes, exuding a powerful vital energy, he greeted Xu Wendong with a casual salute: "I am Zhang Yunxiao, the County Commander of Carefree City!"


    The role of the County Commander involves overseeing the county’s public security and military affairs, akin to a police chief and military department head on Earth.


    This is definitely a position holding real power under the Carefree City Magistrate.


    Liu Zhengtong snorted coldly, his face displeased: "County Commander Zhang, you speak so boldly, do you intend to defy the authority above?"


    Zhang Yunxiao frowned, suspicion on his face: "Prefecture Chief Liu, when did I ever speak so boldly?"


    "Isn’t what I said true?"


    "None of the County Magistrates appointed to Carefree City have survived the three-month curse."


    "Lord Xu arriving early, isn’t it obvious he’s going to die?"


    "Though the words aren’t pleasant, they are indeed the truth."


    Saying this, he sped his fists towards Xu Wendong: "I speak candidly with no sugarcoating, hope Lord Xu won’t mind!"


    "Unlike some who feign sincerity and pretend to wee Lord Xu, while in reality, they do not wish for his appointment."


    "Such hypocrisy!"


    Liu Zhengtong growled: "Whom are you using of hypocrisy?"


    Zhang Yunxiao: "Whom I use, knows best deep down."


    Liu Zhengtong turned to Xu Wendong: "Lord Xu, I certainly don’t intend any unweing, don’t listen to this rogue’s nonsense."


    "Even if Lord Liu doesn’t wee me, it’s quite understandable, since with my arrival, you’ll now be the second-inmand in Carefree City. It’s human nature, I’m not offended." Xu Wendong wore a gentle smile, making it hard to discern whether his smile was genuine or false.


    Liu Zhengtong felt a sudden tremor within.


    Indeed, he hadn’t weed Xu Wendong’s appointment, having acted as an interim County Magistrate.


    However.


    He hadn’t expected Xu Wendong to voice his thoughts openly, making him think the man seemed foolish.


    For most would show a degree of respect towards others.


    Yet.


    Is he truly foolish?


    No, no!


    If he were foolish, how could he have refined the Superior Purity Mirror-Breaking Pill?


    Chu Ye and Zhang Yunxiao looked at Xu Wendong with intrigued smiles in their eyes.


    "Apologies for my tardiness, hope Lord Xu can be forgiving!"


    Then.


    An elder swayed in, reeking of alcohol. He nced at Liu Zhengtong, Chu Ye, and Zhang Yunxiao, then hupped, saying with a smile: "You all arrived quite swiftly!"


    Bowing towards Xu Wendong, he said: "Carefree City’s Historian Wang Jincheng, wishing Lord Xu supreme blessings and immortality!"


    Compared to the previous posts, the work of a Historian is much more rxed, handling logistics and warehousing, along with some judicial duties at the government office.


    Xu Wendong smiled and said: "Well then, I ept your blessings, striving to survive past three months!"


    Meanwhile.


    More government officials and constables arrived, totaling eighty-six people.


    The eighty-six gathered had azy demeanor, hardly looking like government office runners, but rather like local hoodlums.


    Even more had drunk untilpletely intoxicated.


    Xu Wendong wasn’t angry. Instead, he smiled and said: "I, Xu, am new here. Today, gathering you all is merely for introductions and familiarization. You may return to your work duties!"


    Then he added: "Furthermore, there’s a task for Miss Chu Ye. Please help me write invitation letters and send them to the prestigious families and affluent figures in Carefree City."


    "Invite them to dine at the government office in three days!"


    "Yes!" Chu Ye answered with respect, though inwardly indifferent.


    For previous County Magistrates upon appointment had simrly tried to invite those prestigious families and wealthy figures for dining.


    However.


    No one ever responded.


    As they didn’t consider a doomed individual worthy of their time.


    Xu Wendong waved his hand: "Alright, go about your business!"


    "Farewell!"


    Everyone bowed and then exited the hall, leaving Xu Wendong alone seated beneath the que of "Justice Above All."


    Once everyone left, his eyes grew deep and profound.


    The situation in Carefree City was even moreplicated than he had imagined, beyond the officer positions in the city itself, even the runners were poorlypetent.


    In simpler terms.


    The Carefree City County Office was utterly corrupted.


    Emitting decay from inside-out.


    "What you need to do now is refine the County Seal of Carefree City." The voice of the Dragon Soul echoed deep within Xu Wendong’s mind.


    "If you can refine the County Seal, it will be your foundation for staying in Carefree City."


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    "Relying solely on Red Flower Society isn’t enough to help you truly control Carefree City."


    Xu Wendong’s gaze immediately locked onto the red square wooden box on the table in front of him, the box was about twenty centimeters tall,yered with dust.


    He curiously opened the wooden box, revealing a yellowish Great Seal, engraved with a vividly fierce tiger, exuding a sense of dominance.


    He couldn’t tell the material of the Great Seal, but it was not only substantial in weight, it also emanated an icy aura.


    "Senior, why is this Great Seal so cold?" Xu Wendong asked curiously.


    Even with his Ancient Sacred Body, he could feel the cold; if an ordinary person touched this Great Seal, surely it would be bone-chilling.


    Dragon Soul responded: "This Great Seal symbolizes the authority of Carefree City and embodies the people’s beliefs; normally, it should feel warm as jade."


    "Its coldness is mainly due to the strands of ck mist within."


    Xu Wendong scrutinized, indeed finding ck mist-like substances within.


    Dragon Soul asked: "Do you know what this is?"


    Xu Wendongughed: "How would I know what this stuff is?"


    Dragon Soul: "It is Sinful Force; only Sinful Force can corrupt Virtue Power!"


    "Unexpectedly, the Sinful Force in Carefree City is so potent; the waters here run deep!"


    Dragon Soul’s voice also grew slightly solemn.


    Though Xu Wendong’s expression remained calm, he sensed the tension, realizing howplex the situation must be since even the Dragon Soul took it seriously.


    He gathered his thoughts and said: "Even if the waters here run deep, I refuse to believe they can drown me."


    "Since I, Xu Wendong, came to the forefront, what storms have I not faced? Why fear this trifling Carefree City?"


    "Anyone who dares offend me, I’ll ensure their destruction!"


    "Right! To live, one must be relentless."


    The Dragon Soul chuckledfortingughter: "Quickly, recognize the seal by blood and assimte it within, see if you can refine it!"


    "If not possible, no matter, for Lord Long himself will lend you aid!"


    Upon hearing Dragon Soul’s assurance, Xu Wendong’s eyes gleamed, knowing with the Dragon Soul’s help, refining the Great Seal would surely be manageable.