Upon hearing this response, the figure hesitated for a moment, then spoke with uncertainty:
"...Really not going to save the Seven Major Districts?"
"Save? How?"
Tan Xin shook his head. "The Aurora Monarch is nearing its limit. The entire realm is contracting... The Seven Major Districts are located at the outermost edge of the realm. The Aurora will eventually retreat. Even if we could send people to clear those disasters now, could we permanently block the intersection of the Gray Realm?
In just a few days, it will be the same as outside the realm, completely becoming part of the Gray Realm."
"But there are still nearly 300,000 people living in the Seven Major Districts..."
"Which is more important, 300,000 people or the three million people in Aurora City?" He gently sipped the hot tea in his cup and slowly said, "Aurora City is already struggling. We don't have the extra strength to stubbornly defend those outside. Since that's the case, why waste effort?"
The figure wanted to say something else, but Tan Xin looked at him and slowly spoke:
"Shi Duo, you must know that humanity today is like a pack of wolves drifting on an ice sheet... We can't guarantee that all the wolves will survive to walk to the other end of the ice sheet. When necessary, we must make sacrifices.
Even if only one wolf survives to the end, the victory belongs to all the 'wolves'."
Chu Shi Duo lowered his head and fell silent.
Just then, a law enforcement officer hurriedly entered the room. Seeing the two people inside, he immediately spoke:
"Sir, Han Meng has come to Aurora City."
"What?"
Chu Shi Duo lifted his head in surprise.
Tan Xin, on the side, squinted slightly and leisurely sipped his tea, then asked, "Where is he now?"
"At the city gate, in a stalemate with the law enforcement officer guarding the city... It seems he has advanced to the fifth stage."
"Already fifth stage?" A hint of surprise flashed across Tan Xin's face, followed by a sigh,
"Just a few years, and he's already reached the fifth stage... This kind of talent, even in Aurora City, is quite rare."
"He came at this time, presumably because there was no response to his communication, and he came directly to ask for help." Chu Shi Duo's mind was clear, and he immediately analyzed Han Meng's intention. "Sir, what should we do now?"
The corners of Tan Xin's mouth slightly curved upward,
"I was thinking before whether to bring him into Aurora City ahead of time. It would be too unfortunate if such a genius died outside the city... But his personality is too stubborn. Even if I ordered him to enter the city, he probably wouldn't. Unexpectedly, he came to us himself."
"You mean..."
"Let him enter the city." Tan Xin calmly replied, "Just... don't let him leave after he comes in."
"Understood." The law enforcement officer immediately nodded and prepared to leave the room.
"Wait."
Tan Xin pondered for a moment, "Get me a list of all law enforcement officers and law enforcement agents from District One and District Three."
As the law enforcement officer left to carry out the order, Chu Shi Duo asked with confusion:
"Sir, what are you planning to do?"
"Since District One and District Three have endured until now, it means there are still many talented people in the law enforcement system... If I remember correctly, the trains from those two districts to Aurora City can still accommodate thirty people." Tan Xin calmly replied, "We can't afford to take care of 300,000 people, but thirty people, we can manage."
"You want to select a group of people from these two districts at the last moment to share the burden of Aurora City?"
"Correct. We lost too many people in the Ancient Battleground of the Way. We have to replenish them."
As they spoke, a list was handed to Tan Xin.
Tan Xin scanned the list, circled all the law enforcement agents on it, and then handed the rest to Chu Shi Duo.
"All law enforcement agents will occupy one seat. For the other law enforcement officers... let those below choose first. After they finish choosing, the remaining spots will be selected randomly."
"Those below..." Chu Shi Duo thought for a moment, "You mean, among these people, there will be those from the law enforcement forces of Aurora City?"
"Naturally. Every year when new people enter the Ancient Battleground of the Way, there will be law enforcement officers from the major districts who establish connections with forces within Aurora City... If these law enforcement officers have good talent, they will be recruited into Aurora City. Even if their talent is insufficient, they will become the eyes and ears of various forces left in the Seven Major Districts."
"Sir, it's just a few law enforcement officers. Will they really care?"
"Whether they care or not is not important. What's important is that this is the goodwill I am voluntarily expressing." Tan Xin said slowly, "Times have changed. If Aurora City continues to be chaotic and divided like this, everyone will die..."
Chu Shi Duo seemed to understand something and nodded slightly.
"Sir, the Starry Sky Merchant Association has sent a message." Chu Shi Duo took a letter out of his pocket and handed it to Tan Xin, "It's the result of the Soul-Crushing Investigation. It's said that Jian Changsheng has endured three rounds of Soul-Crushing Investigation and hasn't lost his sanity yet."
"Another prodigy who endured three rounds of Soul-Crushing Investigation?" Tan Xin's eyebrows slightly raised.
"Yes, sir. His talent doesn't seem to be inferior to Han Meng's... Aren't you going to protect him?"
"This time, the anger of the Starry Sky Merchant Association is difficult to quell. I can't protect Jian Changsheng. It all depends on his own destiny."
Tan Xin took the letter, unfolded it, and after scanning it, a look of surprise emerged in his eyes...
"Did you find something?" Chu Shi Duo asked curiously.
"...Yes." Tan Xin folded the letter, and his eyes sparkled as he seemed to be thinking about something, "Interesting... It seems that there's an extraordinary person mixed into District Three. If it weren't for the Soul-Crushing Investigation, he might have really fooled us."
"An interesting person? Who?"
Tan Xin didn't answer but directly handed the letter to him. After reading it for a few moments, Chu Shi Duo's eyes widened in shock.
"Fake death to escape, secretly plot, and strike when the iron is hot, wiping out everyone... Chen Yifei, the only one who walked out of the Ancient Battleground alive, is actually the initiator?" Chu Shi Duo turned to look at Tan Xin, "Sir, who is this person?"
"The target is also the foundation of the Ancient Battleground of the Way. It's undoubtedly someone from those organizations, but which one specifically is no longer important."
"Should I immediately issue an arrest warrant?"
Upon hearing this, Chu Shi Duo also realized it was inappropriate. Now that the Seven Major Districts were about to fall, how could they issue any arrest warrants?
"Forget it, nevermind." Tan Xin waved his hand and casually said, "Chen Yifei is just a small fry. At this crucial moment, there's no need to waste energy on him."
"A small fry?"
"Those above the fourth stage can't enter the Ancient Battleground of the Way. Moreover, do you think he can stably leave the Ancient Battleground's territory with a fragment of the foundation? Without the three law enforcement agents noticing?
He's just a 'hand' that entered the Ancient Battleground to retrieve the foundation. The real troublesome person should be the one who is meeting him."
"...I see."
"Remove Chen Yifei's name from that list. That way, those below will have one more spot." Tan Xin paused for a moment, "If I remember correctly, besides Han Meng and this Chen Yifei, there should be one more law enforcement agent in District Three?"
"Yes, there's a two-stripe law enforcement agent named Xi Renjie."
"When you send the list, give him an order as well." Tan Xin put down his tea cup and leisurely walked out of the room,
"Regardless of the method, eliminate Chen Yifei."