Liu Zihao, the Second Executive Officer of the Jiangbei Military District, stepped forward first and met Chen Xiao and A Yao with a cold smile.
As A Yao walked up, her expression instantly hardened. "Address me as Officer."
Liu Zihao froze for a moment. This girl wasn't afraid of numbers at all — she was clearly used to the capital. But how dare she be so arrogant with only one attendant beside her?
Still, he kept his composure and raised his voice. "Welcome, Officer A Yao!"
"Welcome, Officer A Yao!"
"Welcome, Officer A Yao!"
The voices of the seven or eight men rang out like thunder, deliberately putting on pressure.
But A Yao remained completely calm. She was a dual-awakener with two SSS-level talents, a rare genius once in a million. More importantly, Chen Xiao was standing right beside her.
Zhao Huan stepped forward. "Officer A Yao, I am Zhao Huan, First Executive Officer of the Jiangbei Military District. According to the transfer order, you will now serve as the Second Executive Officer, on equal footing with Liu Zihao."
Liu Zihao nodded. "Pleased to meet you. We'll be colleagues from now on." He shot Wang Yan a glance.
Wang Yan immediately followed up. "That's right. We have a district rule: new leadership must work at the grassroots level for a period of time first."
A Yao raised an eyebrow. "Who made that rule? You?"
Liu Zihao laughed lightly. "Officer A Yao, it's the apocalypse. Extra rules are only natural."
A Yao's expression turned cold. "So you're saying I'm not really the Second Executive Officer, even with this posting?"
Zhao Huan tried to smooth things over. "Of course you are, it's just that—"
"Just that she has to start with clerical work," Wang Yan finished.
A Yao's temper flared. "Where's the transfer order? I want to see what Pei Tianyuan has to say. Did he actually approve this nonsense?"
Liu Zihao shook his head. "The order is classified internal information. You don't have the authority to view it."
Zhao Huan was trapped between both sides. He couldn't disobey the capital's order, but he also didn't want to give up control of the district that he had fought so hard to maintain.
Then a blunt voice cut through the tension.
"Classified? Keep it. Leave it for Yama to see."
The entire group froze, stunned into silence.
This was the gate of the Jiangbei Military District. Who dared speak like that?
And when they realized the speaker was only the so-called attendant, their anger instantly exploded.
Liu Zihao snapped, "You're just Officer A Yao's attendant! Do you know your place? How dare you—"
Buzz—
In an instant, Liu Zihao felt as if he had been dragged into a vortex of death. The hairs on his body stood on end, every instinct screaming danger.
Bang—
Before he could even react, he was sent crashing into the gate a dozen meters away. Blood streamed from the back of his head as the world spun around him.
"Fuck! He's insane! He just struck the Second Executive Officer at the gate!"
"That's no attendant — that's a god-tier powerhouse!"
"Liu Zihao is an S-level defense awakener. How did he get taken out so easily?!"
The onlookers were stunned. Only then did they realize the capital had sent an absurdly terrifying escort for A Yao.
Zhao Huan's face burned with humiliation. This was a direct slap to his authority.
He shouted, "Wang Hao! Take him down!"
He had thought Wang Hao, the district's top young talent and bearer of the SS-level strength talent Ant God Descends, could handle the cloaked man.
But Wang Hao, having already witnessed Chen Xiao's impossible speed, looked awkward. "Chief Zhao, the apocalypse changed everything. I've already submitted my retirement request. I can't take on high-risk missions anymore."
Zhao Huan stared. "Retirement?!"
In the apocalypse, the military had opened retirement quotas because it could no longer guarantee everyone's safety.
But Wang Hao was supposed to be one of their best cards.
Wang Hao clenched his fists. "I just want to live, Chief. I'm joining the Jiangbei Triad. I'll help you anytime you need, I swear."
Zhao Huan's expression darkened. All their good talent was running to the Triad.
He finally let out a defeated sigh. "Fine. Go. That place is better for you anyway."
Then he turned to Chen Xiao. "Brother, let Zihao go. Thank you for not killing him. He was blinded by greed. Send him to the grassroots to reflect. Officer A Yao will be the Second Executive Officer, as ordered."
He handed A Yao a transfer document clearly marked: Flat Transfer — Second Executive Officer.
A Yao smiled and glanced at Chen Xiao. Chen Xiao nodded, then released Liu Zihao, letting him collapse to the ground.
Liu Zihao understood at last that he had made a fatal mistake. He had underestimated just how seriously the capital valued A Yao — so seriously that they had sent a god-level guardian to escort her.
Chen Xiao took the order and frowned slightly. "Looks like Old Pei didn't understand what I wanted."
Zhao Huan froze. Old Pei?
Could he be referring to Pei Tianyuan?
Even the top Huaxia gods wouldn't dare call him that. What exactly was this man's identity?
And he still wasn't satisfied with the Second Executive Officer position?
A Yao snatched the order from him and said, "Enough. Second Executive Officer is fine. I don't want to be First — that would be too much work, and I wouldn't have time to hang out with the girls, right?"
Chen Xiao nodded and let the matter drop.
Zhao Huan stared at him in awe. "May I ask... are you one of the Ten Great Huaxia Gods?"