Travel through time, and then establish an anomaly management bureau!

Page 21

"Shh!"

The living room door was suddenly pushed open, slamming against the wall with a dull thud.

A figure swept in like a whirlwind!

It's Yuan Hao Qiu! Mingyuan's father, and Yuanzhi's elder brother.

His chest heaved violently as he gasped for breath. His dark coat was soaked with sweat and dust, his hair was disheveled, and his eyes were filled with worry for the safety of his family.

It's obvious they ran back at breakneck speed!

When his gaze swept across the living room and he saw his four siblings, Yuanfeng, Yuanhai, Yuanping, and Yuanzhi, standing there safely, along with his son Mingyuan, his body, which had been tense to the limit, suddenly relaxed. He swayed for a moment and then steadied himself by holding onto the door frame.

"Thank goodness... thank goodness you're all here..." His voice was hoarse, filled with immense relief at surviving such a disaster, his gaze urgently sweeping across everyone's faces, "What... what happened?! Why did you suddenly summon with a blood talisman?! Did your family encounter some formidable enemy?"

When Mingyuan Qiu saw her father return safely, her heart ached, and she was about to explain again.

Suddenly, an aged, deep, yet authoritative voice rang out behind Yuan Hao Qiu, clearly reaching the ears of everyone in the living room:

"Relax your mind."

Apart from Zhang Su, everyone else—Yuan Hao, Yuan Feng, Yuan Hai, Yuan Ping, Yuan Zhi, Ming Yuan, and Ming Xue—all subconsciously looked in the direction of the sound, towards the doorway behind Yuan Hao!

Yuan Hao himself suddenly turned around!

An elderly man with a hunched back, wearing a faded, old-fashioned dark gray robe, had silently appeared behind the door.

It is the true pillar of the Qiu family—Dongyuan Qiu.

His wrinkled face showed deep weariness, but his cloudy eyes shone with an astonishing light as they slowly swept over each of his children and grandchildren present.

Without a word, just as everyone's eyes were focused, Dongyuan Qiu slowly raised his right hand, which was as withered as a tree branch, and brought his index and middle fingers together like a sword.

A faint, pale blue light suddenly appeared at the fingertip, yet it seemed to contain a myriad of information!

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh..."

Several almost imperceptible streams of azure light shot out from his fingertips with perfect precision, instantly entering the brows of every member of the Qiu family except Zhang Su and Ming Yuan!

Yuan Hao, Yuan Feng, Yuan Hai, Yuan Ping, and Yuan Zhi all shuddered at the same time!

Their eyes vacant for a moment, then countless lights and shadows flashed and swirled in the depths of their pupils—all the information about Zhang Su's visit that day flooded into their minds.

The belated Yuan Hao Qiu even included an extra section, which concerned the argument between Mingyuan and Yuanzhi.

They instantly understood everything.

Then, Dongyuan Qiu slowly lowered his hand, the light at his fingertips had gone out, his face visibly paled, and his breathing became heavier.

But his back remained straight, his gaze as firm as a rock, as he swept over his five children one by one, and said in a low, slow voice:

“I heard what Yuanzhi and the others said just now. I understand your determination to protect this family business and survive in this world of wolves and jackals.

"But... if you still regard me as your father—then listen to me and abandon them!"

"Abandon this Tai Sui that is called 'power' but is in reality 'shackles'!"

Dongyuan Qiu's voice was resolute and carried the absolute authority of the head of the family.

"Although I, Dongyuan Qiu, am old and nearing my end, I would not allow my children and grandchildren to become prisoners of this curse for generations just to protect this little bit of family property!"

Seeing the astonished and confused looks on his children's faces, he softened his tone, but became even more resolute, as he uttered his final and most weighty words:

"Because I have paved the way for you even without Tai Sui! You don't need to sacrifice yourselves!"

Volume 1: Chapter 20: Conditions That Cannot Be Refused

Dongyuan Qiu's words were like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, instantly stirring up a thousand waves in the living room.

"The road ahead is paved without the Tai Sui?!"

These words exploded in the minds of Yuan Hao, Yuan Feng, Yuan Hai, Yuan Ping, and Yuan Zhi. Despair and hope, two completely opposite emotions, collided violently, making them forget to breathe for a moment, and they just stared at their father.

"Dad, what did you say?!" Yuan Hao Qiu was the first to recover, his voice trembling slightly with excitement. He rushed to Dong Yuan's side. "A way out? What way out? Is there really a way for us to both break free of the curse and preserve the family?!"

His eyes shone with an unprecedented light, an instinctive yearning for life in the face of despair.

Even Yuanzhi Qiu's usually calm eyes were filled with shock and urgency: "Dad! This... how is this possible? When... when did you prepare this? What kind of road is that?!" He couldn't imagine what road could possibly lead them to a safe landing under the double shackles of family curse and racial discrimination.

Yuanfeng, Yuanhai, and Yuanping also gathered around, bombarding them with questions:

"Father! Tell us what it is!"

"Yes, Grandfather! What exactly is the backup plan?"

"How can we survive without superhuman abilities? Is that path really feasible?"

Even Mingyuan Qiu, who had just been in despair, suddenly raised his head, and the flame of hope rekindled in his eyes!

Could there really be a turning point? Has Grandpa found the right direction?!

Seeing the fervent, mixed emotions of ecstasy and profound skepticism in the eyes of his children and grandchildren, Dongyuan Qiu merely raised his hand slightly, signaling for silence, before slowly speaking:

"It was the authorities of Muyun Port, I... made a deal with them."

The living room fell silent once more, broken only by heavy breathing. A deal with the authorities? Everyone's hearts leaped into their throats.

"What deal?" Yuan Haoqiu asked, his Adam's apple bobbing, his voice dry.

“A white glove.” Dongyuan Qiu’s voice was unusually calm, as if he were stating something perfectly ordinary. “The Qiu family will become the white glove for the official organizations of Muyun Port. From now on, we will do some things for them… things that they are not comfortable doing themselves. We will clear away some obstacles and check and balance 'certain' forces that are too likely to threaten the stability of the port city.”

He paused, his gaze sweeping over his children whose expressions instantly turned complicated, and continued, “In exchange, they will grant us higher-level political status. We will obtain a formal, powerful seat in the ‘Concession Chamber’ or ‘Port Advisory Committee,’ possessing some power to participate in politics—no longer just businessmen, doing business and paying taxes.”

"At the same time, all members of our family will receive official 'honorary citizen' status, enjoying certain legal immunity. They will also provide us with security and protection, and send people to protect us secretly. They will ensure that our Qiu family will not be besieged by 'jackals' after losing our supernatural powers."

"From now on, the family will not only have security and be fearless of most threats, but its political status in Muyun Port will also rise accordingly. This is the backup plan I have prepared for you."

After listening, everyone fell silent again.

"They actually said they'd let us participate in politics?!" Yuan Hao Qiu exclaimed, his newly ignited hope suddenly doused with ice water, his face turning extremely pale. He angrily said, "Father! You...you've been deceived by them! Or have you gone mad?!"

His voice suddenly rose, filled with racial resentment suppressed for centuries: "Lackeys! From now on, we are their dogs! Whoever they tell us to bite, we have to pounce on and bite! Is that right, Father?" His question was like the roar of a wounded beast.

Dongyuan Qiu met the eldest son's angry and pained gaze without flinching, and simply nodded heavily: "Though the words are harsh, that's the essence of it. On this chessboard, we can only choose to be a useful piece in exchange for survival."

"But will they keep their promise?!"

Yuan Hao Qiu practically roared, waving his arms as if he wanted to unleash the blood and tears that had weighed on the rare race for the past six eras.

“From the time of the ‘First Era: Kingdoms in Coexistence’, we rare people have always been rare people! We were ostracized by all nations and most races, with nowhere to settle down, and we wandered from place to place.”

"Even if we are fortunate enough to be granted permission to live in some countries, which of those countries established by the majority of the population has ever allowed us, rare people, to participate in politics?! Which one doesn't treat us as aliens and plagues, wantonly driving us away, plundering us, and even slaughtering us?"

"So many attempts to establish a home have only resulted in more thorough ethnic cleansing! We've managed to survive until now by being as low-key, patient, and dispersed as rats! And now the authorities of Twilight Harbor are suddenly willing to give us this kind of 'gift'? This is simply a fantasy!"

"This is a trap! Father! They only care that the Qiu family is still somewhat useful, and they want to squeeze every last drop of value out of us! Once we've finished biting people for them, or once we're no longer of any use, they'll throw us away like a rag! They might even be the first to attack us to silence us! Rare people participating in politics? This is just bait! A bait that will make us willingly jump into a pot of boiling oil!"

Yuan Hao's analysis was like a cold steel needle, piercing the bubble of hope that had just risen among everyone.

Yuanzhi Qiu's face was ashen, and he nodded heavily: "Eldest brother is right. Grandfather, this matter is too risky. The official promises, especially those for us rare people, are far too unreliable... There are too many bloody lessons in history." He recalled the deliberately concealed fragments of rare people's history that he had come across in the private school, and felt a chill run down his spine.

Yuanfeng Qiu also advised, "Father, my elder brother and Yuanzhi's concerns are very reasonable. This sounds more like a high-stakes gamble, and what we're betting is the survival of the entire family. Rather than entrusting our fate to the government's vague promises, we should... maintain the status quo." His voice was filled with pain, a resignation to the harsh reality.

Yuanping and Qi (2) (3) Ling Su Jiu (7) Shan Shi Yuanhai also echoed and expressed their opposition. Although they longed to get rid of the curse, they were even more afraid that this would lead their entire family to their deaths.

The light in Mingyuan Qiu's eyes was completely extinguished.

The glimmer of hope that had just begun to rise was crushed by his father and uncle's cold and cruel analysis. He lowered his head in despair, feeling a deeper chill spreading from the bottom of his heart, as if even the pain in his internal organs had become numb.

So... there's no way out? He thought desperately, his nails digging deep into his palms.

Only Yuan Hao's heavy breathing and the suppressed silence of the others filled the living room. Everyone looked at Dong Yuan Qiu, waiting for his response, whether it be a rebuke or an explanation.

However, Dongyuan Qiu did not refute anyone's words.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, he slowly, step by step, walked up to Zhang Su, who had been observing from the sidelines the whole time.

Then, to everyone's utter astonishment—

This pillar of the Qiu family, a once-prominent figure in the business world of Muyun Port, suddenly knelt down before Zhang Su with both knees bent!

"Father!" "Dad!" "Grandpa!" Several exclamations rang out at the same time.

Yuan Hao Qiu's expression changed drastically, and he took a step forward as if to rush over and help her up: "What are you doing?!"

His shock far outweighed his bewilderment. Even if Zhang Su's methods were mysterious and his identity was that of a 'first-class mark' from another rare family, his father, as the head of the family, shouldn't have shown him such a grand gesture!

Dong Yuan Qiu raised his withered hand to stop Yuan Hao from approaching.

His aged head was bowed deeply, his forehead almost touching the cold floor, and he said to Zhang Su with a guilty voice, "Your Excellency Zhang Su, I am ashamed before you! It was I... who betrayed you! I bought this way out."

"?!?!" These words were like a thunderclap from a clear sky, leaving all the Qiu family members present, including Zhang Su, the person involved, dumbfounded!

Betraying Zhang Su to secure their own future? What's going on here?!

Zhang Su thought to himself, "I was just enjoying watching the family debate, how did I suddenly get myself into this mess?"

He looked at the old man kneeling before him, radiating an aura of sorrow, and countless thoughts flashed through his mind, but on the surface he still maintained that detached demeanor.

He even casually picked up the lukewarm tea on the table, took a small sip, and then slowly spoke, his voice calm yet carrying an invisible pressure:

"Oh? You betrayed me?" He looked down at Dongyuan Qiu, who was kneeling on the ground, his eyes as deep as an abyss. "What do you mean by that? Please explain."

Dongyuan Qiu did not rise, remaining in the bowing posture, and said:

"It's just that when I was sorting through those extraordinary items in the containment room, an uninvited guest sneaked in and met with me."

"The person who came was Randolph Stone, the chief secretary of the mayor's office in Twilight Harbor."

A chilling silence filled the living room, almost enough to make the dust settle. Zhang Su's gaze shifted from Dong Yuan Qiu, who was kneeling on the ground, and he picked up the cup of tea on the table again, which had long since gone cold. He didn't drink it, but instead slowly rubbed the rough cup with his fingertips.

“So,” Zhang Su’s voice was not loud, but it clearly drowned out everyone’s suppressed breathing, carrying an all-knowing calm, “Mr. Dongyuan Qiu, you already know who I am, right?”

Dongyuan Qiu lowered his head even further, his voice hoarse with guilt: "Yes, Your Excellency Zhang Su. Mr. Randolph Stone has told me what he knows about what happened before your visit to me."

“Oh…” Zhang Su’s tone was unreadable. “What did he say about me? Did he see me as a threat that needed to be eliminated?”

"He didn't explain this to me in detail; he only said that you are a powerful and mysterious person." He truthfully relayed Randolph's seemingly flattering but actually probing and wary assessment.

Just then, Yuan Hao Qiu, who had been in shock and confusion, was struck as if by lightning!

He suddenly widened his eyes and stared intently at Zhang Su's young, calm face, which at this moment seemed incredibly glaring.

Fragments of memory are pieced together in an instant—the cold benches of the police station, Raymond Stone's aggressive questioning, and that repeatedly displayed, cold-lined sketch!

"It's you!" Yuan Hao exclaimed, his face turning deathly pale, cold sweat soaking his back.

He was so preoccupied with worrying about his family and arguing with his father that he completely ignored the face that had just been identified at the police station!

The bureau chief's chilling words rang in his mind like an alarm bell: "'Endangering national security,' 'Suspected core member of an evil god organization,' 'Extremely dangerous superhuman!'"

The instinct to protect his family overwhelmed everything. Almost without thinking, Yuan Hao took a step forward, spread his arms wide, and like a raptor protecting its young, he shielded Yuan Feng, Yuan Hai, Yuan Ping, Yuan Zhi, and Ming Yuan on the chair behind him with his burly body!

His muscles were tense, the power of a Sequence 9 Listener surged within him, and a faint blue energy glow flickered between his fingers. His eyes were filled with extreme vigilance and hostility as he locked onto Zhang Su, ready to pounce and fight to the death at any moment!

"Big brother?!" "Dad!" The people protected behind him were shocked and completely did not understand why Yuan Hao suddenly acted this way.

Dong Yuan Qiu suddenly raised his head, his aged face revealing a stern expression of anger for the first time. His voice boomed like thunder in the living room: "Yuan Hao, do not be rude! Step back!"

“But Father!” Yuan Hao’s voice trembled with anxiety as he frantically darted between Zhang Su and his father. “He’s on the police’s wanted list, the chief himself said he’s extremely dangerous! How could he be here? He…”

"I told you to step back!" Dong Yuan's voice was filled with unyielding anger, carrying the authority of a family head. His murky gaze pierced Yuan Hao like a tangible object. "Obey my command!"

Yuan Hao's body trembled violently. When he met his father's stern, almost unfamiliar gaze, his fighting spirit deflated like a punctured balloon.

He gritted his teeth and finally took two slow, extremely reluctant steps back, but his taut muscles did not relax, and his vigilant gaze remained fixed on Zhang Su, ready to strike at any moment.

Zhang Su took in Yuan Hao's reaction, but simply smiled calmly, without the slightest fear.

He looked at Dongyuan again, put down his teacup, and said coldly, "Powerful and mysterious? That Mr. Stone's assessment is quite apt."

"And then? What else did he say to you that made you feel like he 'betrayed' me?"

Dongyuan felt the pressure of that gaze, and his voice became even lower and hoarseer: "Because... he said that as long as I can let him meet with you, he can represent Mayor Chang Leng Liu (four) Lu Qi He Er (eight) Qun to offer our Qiu family an offer that we cannot refuse - which is the backup plan I just mentioned."

"And I... agreed."

“Oh…” Zhang Su nodded gently, letting out a long, meaningful sound.

Then, he remained silent for a moment.

Everyone's hearts were in their throats, awaiting the judgment of this mysterious and powerful figure.

Finally, Zhang Su spoke again, his voice still calm: "So, how do you plan to convince me to see him?"

At this point, he laughed: "Or are you planning to take direct action against me and kidnap me?"