"Whatever." I said, "They can go wherever they want. There's no drugs in the south of the city anyway. I'll break the legs of anyone who dares to hide or sell them. I've also fallen out with Shorty Mule. It's either me or him in Beiyuan City. Sooner or later, we'll have a fight."

Li Zhengyang didn't say anything else. Instead, he lowered his head and continued writing at his desk, as if he didn't want to pay attention to me anymore.

I was on pins and needles, wondering if I had said something wrong or done something wrong? I was against drugs, was that wrong?

After a while, Li Zhengyang still ignored me. I asked cautiously, "Uncle, Director Pang said last time that you had something to talk to me about?"

Li Zhengyang looked up at me but didn't say anything. He lowered his head and wrote again. I was even more embarrassed. I didn't know what was going on. Suddenly, a thought flashed through my mind, and I was immediately sweating all over. The short mule has been making and selling drugs for years. It is said that he has strong connections and a deep background, and is backed by government officials. Could it be... I looked at Li Zhengyang cautiously.

Could it be him?

If Li Zhengyang is the backer of Ayamule, and Ayamule cannot ship goods in the south of the city, Li Zhengyang will definitely make less money.

If so, then what should I do?

I clenched my fists, not knowing what to do. Should I give in now and allow drugs to be allowed in the south of the city?

Just as I was thinking about it, Li Zhengyang suddenly raised his head and said, "Do you know why Director Pang let you go?"

"I know." I nodded. "You played a role in this."

"It's useless for me to say a few words. Pang Guohong is a stubborn person who never takes other people's pleas seriously. The reason why he is willing to let you go is because I made a deal with him. This deal needs you to complete. I'm sorry that I made the decision for you."

I said blankly: "What deal?" I remembered that the last time Pang Guohong saw me, he asked me "how that thing went."

Could that be the content of the deal? Li Zhengyang hadn't told me yet, so I couldn't reply to Pang Guohong.

"The only condition for releasing you is that you have to conquer the north of the city and kill the drug lord Short Mule. To Pang Guohong, Short Mule is much more attractive than you. Short Mule has made Beiyuan a mess. Killing him will make Beiyuan much cleaner."

I was stunned for a full minute before I excitedly said, "Okay, I will, I will do it!" How could I not be excited when a personal grudge suddenly became a government order? Even revenge had a legitimate reason, and it was a great thing for the country and the people!

"Don't be too happy yet. This is not an easy task. Let me tell you, when I asked you to kill the short mule, I didn't simply want you to kill him and take away his territory. I wanted you to get evidence of his crime, to prove that the drug factory was indeed owned by him, and that all the drugs flowing into the city came from him. In the end, he will be punished by law."

"Ah?" I was a little stunned, feeling complicated. Why bother? Killing the dwarf mule and burning down the drug factory would achieve the same goal, wouldn't it? But then I thought about it and quickly understood that if I didn't do it this way, how would Pang Guohong and Li Zhengyang gain merit and be promoted? Killing the dwarf mule would become a very important political achievement for them.

Li Zhengyang used this point to tempt Pang Guohong.

"I understand." I nodded heavily. Although I didn't know where to start, I had decided to do it.

"If you want to get hold of these evidences, you must get close to the dwarf mule and make him trust you, then you can take advantage of the opportunity. So you made a mistake from the beginning. You shouldn't have been so decisive and you shouldn't have had such a bad relationship with the dwarf mule. It's very difficult for you to get close to him now. You must find another way and think of another way." Li Zhengyang shook his head and sighed.

I understood why Li Zhengyang ignored me before. My previous actions had almost blocked this path. I had never had any contact with the short mule, so how could I get close to him and get evidence of his crimes?

"Although it is difficult, you must do it well." Li Zhengyang said, "If you do this, Pang Guohong will look at you differently, and you two will be in the same boat. Do you know what this means to you?"

It means a strong umbrella of protection! My blood was boiling and I nodded vigorously: "Uncle, I will definitely do it."