A calm voice interrupted the Director mid-sentence.
Everyone froze, thrown completely off-guard. 'Who would have the audacity to oppose the Director, especially at a moment like this?'
But when they looked in the direction of the voice, their shock only deepenedâit was Fang Xiu himself.
Ambitious fourth-tier psychics in the crowd perked up, feeling a surge of hope. They figured Fang Xiu mustâve decided he didnât have the confidence to command, and that he was turning down the Captain position. Maybe they had a chance after all.
The Directorâs expression initially darkened when he heard the objection. But as he recognized the source, his face softened, even breaking into a warm, approving smile. âFang Xiu, why do you object?â
Fang Xiuâs voice remained steady as he replied, âWith my achievements, I can't accept the position of Captain of headquarters.â
A hush fell over the crowd, and Fang Xiuâs reputation only grew in their minds.
'Heâs the real deal,' they thought. 'Not driven by titles or power.'
Here was the hero whoâd saved headquarters, standing before an offer of rank and respect, and choosing to turn it down. Few people would refuse such an honor with so much support behind them.
The Directorâs gaze grew even more approving, his resolve strengthening to make Fang Xiu a Captain.
âFang Xiu, donât be so humble. I know you may feel that, as a third-tier psychic, the position of Captain isnât fitting. But weâve all seen what youâre capable of. Without you, headquarters might not even be standing. This position is yours by right, and no one elseââ
âI think you misunderstand,â Fang Xiu interrupted, his tone unchanging.
âWhat I mean is, with my achievements, I deserve more than that. I should be⦠the Chief Commander.â
CLINK!
The Directorâs pen slipped from his fingers, clattering against the table and echoing throughout the room.
The smile vanished from his face, replaced by a stunned silence.
Everyone else was equally floored, staring at Fang Xiu as if heâd just claimed to rule the world. They even began to wonder if theyâd heard him correctly.
'Did he actually just say⦠Chief Commander?'
"Is he serious? A third-tier psychic, pushing straight for the highest command?"
âFa⦠Fang Xiu, Iâm not sure I heard you correctly. Could you repeat that?â the Director stammered, trying to wrap his mind around Fang Xiuâs words.
Fang Xiuâs expression didnât waver. âI said, with my achievements, I should be the Chief Commander.â
The room dropped into dead silence. Shock ran through everyone like a chill, shattering the modest image theyâd held of him.
It turned out, he hadnât rejected the Captain position out of modestyâhe simply didnât want it. He was after the very top.
Fang Xiu was, in fact, an entirely confident, even audacious figure, ready to stake his claim on what he felt heâd earned.
âUm⦠Fang Xiu,â the Director finally said, forcing a polite, strained smile, âyouâre still young, and this is your first time at headquarters. Youâre not fully acquainted with all of our operationsâ¦â
Fang Xiuâs calm reply sliced through the Directorâs hesitation. âDidnât you just say that without me, headquarters wouldnât be standing right now? So if I saved headquarters, isnât it only fair for me to take the role of Chief Commander?â
The Director was momentarily stunned, left with no immediate response.
Inside, he was cursing himself. 'Why did I say all that? I practically handed him the perfect argument!'
"That's true, I canât deny your achievements," the Director replied, doing his best to sound both encouraging and reasonable. "With merits like yours, becoming Chief Commander isnât impossible. But itâs too early for that. Start as a Captain, gain experience, and when the timeâs right, we can revisit the discussion about you taking on Chief Commander.â
The Directorâs words were sincere; he wasnât trying to hold the role back for someone else. In his eyes, Fang Xiu, while incredibly skilled, was just too new. This was Fang Xiuâs first time even setting foot in headquartersâhe hadnât led even a single division of the city Investigation Bureaus, much less held a leadership role here, let alone the mantle of Chief Commander.
After all, Chief Commander wasnât just a title; it was a position that demanded exceptional judgment and strategic vision.
The Chief Commander was the mastermind behind the Investigation Bureau, guiding it on a national level, making high-stakes decisions in the heat of critical situations.
Without years of experience, even someone as powerful as Fang Xiu would struggle.
The Director had, in fact, considered that Fang Xiu might someday grow into the role. With his future-sight ability, he had the potential to become an unmatched leaderâbut not yet. He needed time.
But seeing the Directorâs hesitation, Fang Xiu decided it was time to raise the stakes.
âDo you think Iâm incapable of being Chief Commander?â Fang Xiu asked, his tone firm.
The Director looked slightly uncomfortable, choosing his words carefully. He didnât want to risk offending the hero of headquarters. âItâs not a matter of capability,â he replied diplomatically. âI just believe you need more experience, more familiarity with headquartersâ¦â
âNo need to go on,â Fang Xiu interrupted, his voice calm yet brimming with confidence. âIâve already seen the future.â
Silence fell over the hall, tension thickening in the air.
âIn the future, only if I am Chief Commander can headquarters defeat the Specters and bring peace back to the world.â
Everyone in the room stared, stunned by his bold words. For the first time, they felt the true weight of his phrase, 'Iâve already seen the future.'
'Wait, future-sight can be used like this?' the crowd wondered, exchanging tense glances. No one knew if Fang Xiu was bluffing.
If he was lying, it was a brilliant moveâa calculated way to leverage his foresight for power. But if he was telling the truthâ¦
The Director, caught in a difficult position, remained silent, weighing his options. Even with his years of wisdom, he couldnât tell if Fang Xiuâs vision was genuine or a clever way to claim the top spot.
After a long, loaded pause, he spoke at last, his tone serious. âFang Xiu, are you saying that youâve seen a future where only you as Chief Commander can lead headquarters to defeat the Specters?â
Fang Xiuâs expression didnât flinch. He scanned the faces of everyone in the room, his calm gaze unwavering. And with every eye locked on him, he replied in a steady, resolute voice:
âMy foresight has never been wrong. I⦠am the future.â
Translator's note: And how convenient is that!