Flandre looked on warily. "Who are you!"
The other party took a step forward. "Your Excellency, please come with us!"
Flandre naturally would not agree. She extended both hands, looking ready to strike at any moment. "I don't even know you, why should I go with you!"
Seeing Flandre's movements, several people behind the speaker slowly drew long blades from their waists. "The Ministry of Justice is handling a case. If you come with us obediently, there is still a glimmer of hope; if you resist, death is certain."
"What a 'death is certain.' Since when has the Ministry of Justice's hand reached into my Lungmen?"
Just then, a low, cold snort rang out. Wei Yenwu walked out from a nearby street corner with a cold expression. Upon seeing him, the face of the man blocking Flandre changed drastically. He had clearly made ample arrangements and confirmed that Wei Yenwu would absolutely not have the time before taking action, so why did he appear here?
"Hmph, did you think I really wouldn't know you were secretly entering Lungmen disguised as merchants? Did you think the people you arranged at the Governor's Mansion could hold me back?"
Wei Yenwu gave a cold laugh and then slightly raised his brows. The killing intent in his eyes caused a cold sweat to break out on the other man's back, even in this freezing winter.
"Lord Governor, this person is very likely related to the murder of our Vice Minister of Justice. According to the Laws of Yan, my Ministry of Justice naturally has the right to detain suspects." The man swallowed hard, then thinking of the person backing him, he suppressed his fear and spoke.
"Nonsense. Arresting someone without evidence, and you're an official of the Ministry of Justice? What a joke. Tell me then, which article of the Yan laws states that someone can be taken based on mere suspicion?"
Wei Yenwu didn't give the other party any face at all. Simultaneously, dark shadows appeared around them, surrounding them tightly. The newcomers were none other than the Black Cloak Shadow Guards, the armed forces under Wei Yenwu's command.
"Governor Wei, do you truly intend to make an enemy of the Imperial Court?" Seeing this, the man asked with a darkened face.
"You? You think you're worthy of representing the Imperial Court! Take them!"
As Wei Yenwu's voice fell, the Black Cloak Shadow Guards moved simultaneously. The people from the Ministry of Justice were disarmed before they could even react. The man from the Ministry of Justice's pupils shrank as he watched the Black Cloak Shadow Guards' movements. Because he recognized that the techniques used by these Shadow Guards were the secret arts of the Great Yan Imperial Guards.
In other words, the people under this Governor's command were actually Great Yan Imperial Guards. At this moment, his face began to fill with terror. If these people were Great Yan Imperial Guards, it meant that Wei Yenwu's identity was definitely extraordinary. Coupled with the fact that the Imperial Court had been impeaching him for decades, yet he could still sit firmly in the position of Lungmen Governor—in an instant, fine sweat covered his forehead.
"Take them all to the Governor's Mansion, then instruct Fumizuki to ask them to leave Lungmen. Lungmen does not welcome such people."
The Black Cloak Shadow Guards led the group away from the area. Only then did Wei Yenwu look at Flandre. "You weren't frightened, were you?"
Flandre shook her head. "No, they were too weak. They can't scare Flan!" This was the truth, but hearing it made Wei Yenwu feel a bit helpless. Considering Flandre's age, however, he didn't criticize her. Instead, he spoke with a kind expression.
"New Year is in a few days. Why don't you come to the Governor's Mansion then? Fumizuki is already preparing the New Year's Eve dinner."
"Just me?" Flandre pointed at her own nose.
"Of course, little Chen and the others will be there too."
"Yay!" Flandre spun around happily.
"Alright, go play. If you run into anyone else looking for trouble, just run toward the Governor's Mansion, and I'll settle it for you."
Flandre nodded, said her goodbyes, and left the area. After leaving, she told Alina about what had happened. After hearing it, Alina suggested that they probably didn't want to cause trouble for Flandre herself, but rather wanted to use her to create trouble for Governor Wei.
[Then why didn't they just go straight to Governor Wei?] Flandre was puzzled.
[It's simple, because they can't beat him. Precisely because they can't defeat Governor Wei, they look for other methods.] Alina replied.
[But why me?] Flandre still didn't quite understand.
[Hmm... is it possible, Flan, that you are just too strong?] Alina said after pondering for a while.
[Flan was always strong, so what about it?]
[Because you are strong and Governor Wei is also strong, bad people are afraid of you two joining forces to make Lungmen even more powerful. If that happens, they won't have a chance to seize Lungmen. Talulah said there's another reason: you're not only strong but also very young, and you're not part of Yan's bureaucratic system. In the eyes of outsiders, you are Governor Wei's private army. Plus, Governor Wei has been constantly raising your reputation lately. So even if they managed to get rid of Governor Wei, as long as you are still in Lungmen, Lungmen wouldn't actually fall under their control. That's why they targeted you. Because if they can't find a way to drive you out of Lungmen while your foothold is still unstable... Once you take root in Lungmen, you'll become a thorn in their side that they might need a lifetime to remove.]
Alina's words left Flandre completely dazed. These twists and turns of interpersonal relationships were much harder than Magic. Forget it, forget it. She should just stick to studying Magic! At least that wasn't difficult for her.
After shaking her head, she began to consider where to go play. The Lee's Detective Agency? No, Waai Fu's grades are supposed to come out in these couple of days. I don't know if she did well or poorly. If she did poorly and I went to play with her... Wouldn't I be seen as a bad influence leading others astray? So it's better to wait a couple more days. Penguin Logistics? That won't work either. Exusiai and the others seem to be out delivering packages and haven't returned yet. As for Emperor, that penguin... ever since the last time they played too hard, he slips away as soon as he sees her. He runs so fast that even Flandre can't keep up.
Can it be that in a city as large as Lungmen, I, Flandre, can't find a single friend? She pondered as she walked, and after walking for who knows how long, she stopped. Where had she ended up?
Flandre looked around and saw a candy shop not far away. Why did she notice the candy shop? Because the other shops around it looked ordinary; it was clearly a place where common people gathered. But the candy shop's decor caught the eye immediately. Although candy couldn't provide much energy, the sweet and sour taste was quite nice. And it could be given as a gift. She had seen in another memory that during the New Year, every household would prepare some candy for visiting guests. Thinking of this, she walked inside.
Entering the candy shop, she found it was quite crowded. Everyone was holding bags and picking out their selections. Flandre didn't know which ones were good and which weren't, so she followed the principle that if you don't know, take a little of everything. She picked a bit of every kind. Then, cradling a large bag of assorted candies, she walked to the back of the line to pay.
Seeing the massive bag of miscellaneous candies in Flandre's arms, quite a few people couldn't help but smile. Soon, it was Flandre's turn.
"Uh, little one, do you know that candies with different prices need to be bagged separately?" An elderly voice came from behind the counter.
Flandre looked up. A rat-faced man was looking at her with a kind expression.
"Ah!" Startled by his appearance, Flandre threw her hands up in a standard Gaulish salute... "Pfft~" Seeing Flandre like this, many people nearly burst out laughing.
Lin Gerui looked helplessly at the little girl before him, then turned and called into the back room. "Sigh, Yuxia, come help this little one sort these out."
"Coming!" a voice familiar to Flandre called from inside.
Flandre looked up as Lin Yuxia walked out. Currently, she was wearing a floral padded jacket, looking nothing like her usual fashionable self. She looked at the huge pile of candy Flandre was holding and covered her forehead. "Good heavens, you really didn't sort them at all. Come with me!"
Without waiting for a response, she pulled Flandre into the back room. Inside, it was a clean little room filled with many things. The most eye-catching thing was the oven in the middle. Lin Yuxia had Flandre sit down and stuffed a tangerine into her hand. "Have something to eat while I help you sort the candy."
She brought out a huge metal tray, poured all the candy into it, and then began picking them out one by one into several bags.
"Is this your home?" Flandre asked curiously.
"No!" Lin Yuxia shook her head and pointed around. "Look, there are no beds here. Aside from a sofa you can lie on, there's nowhere to sleep at night. This is my father's candy shop. We don't usually live here."
Flandre looked around; it was indeed as she said.
"Then aren't you working?" Flandre remembered that she was a lecturer at Lungmen United University.
"It's the holidays. The university breaks quite early. I've been back for over a week. Since I had nothing to do, I came here to help out." Lin Yuxia spoke while sorting with very nimble movements.
Seeing her reminded Flandre of the Cautus who had escorted her out of the Slums before. "How is that Cautus sister named Rope, the one I met in the Slums before, doing now?"
"Her? She's sitting in a cell at the Guard Department." Lin Yuxia replied with a chuckle.
"Ah? Did she do something wrong? Do I need to help?" Flandre stood up upon hearing this. She always adhered to the principle of repaying kindness, and she remembered the other woman's previous goodwill. In her eyes, the other person was a good person. So hearing that Rope was in prison made her a bit anxious, worrying if she had been framed by bad people.
"Don't worry, she went in on purpose." Seeing Flandre's nervous look, Lin Yuxia reached out and pressed her shoulder, making her sit back down.
"Why? Why would Rope go to prison on purpose?" Flandre asked with a look of confusion.
"Because it's too cold outside these days. The Guard Department's prison has 24-hour air conditioning, bedding, and they provide three meals a day. For her, it's a much better life than being outside."