Chapter 730 - 646: The Best Actor Is in the Room

Hou Wendong felt a chill in his heart, as if he had fallen into an ice cave. Indeed, at the table of power, there are no friends, only interests.

Seeing the dark clouds gathering on Wang Xinfa’s face, almost dripping ink, Hou Wendong hurriedly stepped forward and spoke:

"President Lu’s idea is quite fascinating, but personally, I think that Captain Li’s car being parked at the entrance of Jade Garden, still a distance from the commissioner’s villa, does not necessarily imply any inevitable connection between the two.

Perhaps... it’s just an unfortunate coincidence?"

Lu Chenjia heard this and slowly inhaled a puff of his cigar, exhaling a perfectly round smoke ring.

He neither refuted nor agreed, maintaining a kind of silence that sent a shiver down everyone’s spine.

This reserved attitude was far more unpredictable than fierce debate, and even more unsettling.

Wang Xinfa put his glasses back on, the lenses hiding the cold gleam in his eyes as he smiled faintly:

"President Lu, what do you mean, are you suspecting Li Shang, or are you suspecting me, Wang Xinfa?"

The last sentence dropped in tone, like a cold winter wind sweeping through, instantly causing the room’s temperature to drop several degrees.

Li Hanyu’s body visibly shrank away, and Hou Wendong felt his heart skip a beat.

Lu Chenjia put down his cigar, the smile on his face instantly restrained:

"You misunderstand me, Member. How could I doubt you?

My trust in you is absolutely one hundred percent. After so many years of cooperation, we both know very well who we are.

The commissioner from Upper City is just a mascot, completely unrelated to us, let alone any conflict of interest.

So, even if something did happen to the commissioner, I am absolutely certain it has nothing to do with you."

However, the gloom on Wang Xinfa’s face did not improve one bit due to Lu Chenjia’s attempt to mend, and instead, it deepened further, almost freezing over.

Sure enough, the next moment, he heard Lu Chenjia’s tone become sincere, as if every word was aimed at helping Wang Xinfa "relieve worries and solve problems":

"Mr. Wang, with the endless responsibilities of the Executive Government awaiting your decision, how can you be expected to know every person’s innermost thoughts under your command?"

He sighed, probing:

"What if... I’m just saying what if, Li Shang did something privately without your knowledge... something potentially dangerous?

Or, was there ever some unknown grudge between him and the commissioner? These trivial things you might have overlooked and couldn’t all be blamed on you."

Wang Xinfa pondered for a moment, then let out a mocking laugh:

"Ha! President Lu really overestimates Li Shang. He is nothing more than a small Chief Constable, even if he handles some cases, even if the courage of a thousand men were lent to him, what could he possibly do to the commissioner?

He simply doesn’t have that capability."

Lu Chenjia feigned a sudden realization:

"You’re right, Member, I was overthinking it."

He leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice,

"I’m just worried... we know Captain Li doesn’t have the means, nor the motive, but others might not believe that; some might want to make a fuss about it."

He paused and then whispered a name:

"For example... you know Councilor Zhang Deming’s methods best.

He loves to magnify trivial matters and spread rumors to attack opponents. I’m worried he might seize this opportunity..."

The words were not finished, but the meaning was very clear.

Wang Xinfa was infuriated by Lu Chenjia’s words, his temples throbbing, yet unable to break out.

He took a sip from his teacup, the scalding tea numbing his tongue, but it was nothing compared to the fury in his heart.

Even more annoying, the implication in Lu Chenjia’s words was not unreasonable.

He was very aware of Zhang Deming, that political shark, just as Lu Chenjia said, once the old fox sniffed even the slightest possible link between the "commissioner’s disappearance" and "Li Shang’s losing contact."

Even if the connection was as fragile as a spider’s web, the latter would use all his strength to weave it into a noose strong enough to strangle him.

The latter would use his controlled media to spread all sorts of true and false, confusing rumors and initiate tricky inquiries at Executive Government meetings;

he would amplify any slightest evidence, distort it meticulously, ultimately constructing heinous charges of "negligence," "condoning," or even "masterminding" against him.

Despite Wang Xinfa not believing deep in his heart that mere dirt-throwing could topple him.

Within the Executive Government, though not as deeply rooted as Zhang Deming, the years he spent building his strength were no fragile egg.

However, he understood even more, to attack an opponent, one doesn’t always need to bring them to ruin, the process of attack itself is a huge drain and a victory.

Water dripping wears through stone!

Every time a rumor starts, every ferment of public opinion, every tricky inquiry is releasing a signal in the political ecosystem of "the east wind overwhelms the west wind."

And all the big and small officials in the Executive Government are best at waiting for the wind to come and going with it in their lives.

Wang Xinfa sneered repeatedly in his heart, took a deep look at Lu Chenjia, a hypocritical smile on his face:

"President Lu’s reminder is not without reason. Zhang Deming, that man, is accustomed to stirring up waves, and indeed cannot be ignored, I will pay attention."

He nodded slightly as if sincerely accepting the reminder from his meal partner, but the turn in his words carried undeniable firmness: