Villain? No, I'll catch up with the protagonist after passing the civil service exam.

The crystal chandelier in the banquet hall cast a dazzling light, but it couldn't warm Lu Zhenhai's pale, paper-white face.

He stared intently at the thin A4 sheet of paper on the table, his eyes practically bulging out of their sockets. It wasn't just any ordinary letter; it was a "Notice of Assistance in Investigation" stamped with a bright red official seal, and the signature at the bottom clearly read: Economic Crime Investigation Division, Jinghai City Public Security Bureau.

The relatives who had been whispering and waiting to see Lu Jingyan make a fool of himself were now like ducks with their necks being choked, unable to utter a sound. Although they couldn't see the contents of the paper, they could tell from Lu Zhenhai's trembling body that it was definitely not a good thing.

"Second Uncle, don't let your hands shake."

Lu Jingyan held the glass of soda water, took a small sip, and said casually, as if chatting about everyday things, "The words on it aren't hard to read. If you can't see them clearly, shall I read them to you?"

"I don't believe it... I don't believe it..."

Lu Zhenhai suddenly raised his head, his eyes filled with the madness and struggle of a dying beast. "This is fake! You forged official documents! Lu Jingyan, you'd resort to such despicable means to seize power? I'm going to sue you! I'm going to report you to the provincial authorities!"

"A power grab?"

Lu Jingyan shook his head helplessly, as if he had heard an extremely absurd joke. He put down his cup, placed his hands on the table, and leaned forward slightly, instantly enveloping Lu Zhenhai with a suffocating sense of oppression.

"Second Uncle, you overestimate that position and underestimate me."

"I have absolutely no interest in controlling the Lu Group. If I did, my brother wouldn't have just spent five days in jail."

His voice wasn't loud, but it clearly penetrated the ears of everyone present, carrying a chill that went straight to the bone.

"As for the authenticity of this document..."

Lu Jingyan raised his hand and snapped his fingers crisply.

"Smack."

With a crisp sound, the side door of the banquet hall was pushed open. Two men in plainclothes, with sharp eyes, strode in. They weren't in police uniforms, but their capable and stern demeanor made it clear to anyone with eyes that they were there.

They were officers from the Economic Crime Investigation Division.

The two walked straight up to Lu Zhenhai, showed their identification, and their movements were standard and cold.

"Mr. Lu Zhenhai, this is Liu Qiang, the captain of the Economic Crime Investigation Division of the Municipal Public Security Bureau. Our investigation has revealed that you are suspected of embezzling company property, misappropriating funds, and engaging in commercial bribery, involving a substantial amount of money. We are now summoning you in accordance with the law. Please come with us to assist in the investigation."

At this moment, Lu Zhenhai's last psychological defense completely collapsed.

His legs gave way, and he slid down the edge of the table, collapsing to the ground. The momentum he had just displayed—the desire to "purge the court of corrupt officials" and seize power—had vanished completely, leaving only a pool of despair.

"Big brother! Big brother, save me!"

When the cold handcuffs actually touched his wrists, Lu Zhenhai finally broke down. He cried out and reached out to Lu Zhenhua, who was sitting in the main seat, tears streaming down his face, "I'm your own brother! You can't let them arrest me! This is all a misunderstanding! Jingyan framed me!"

Lu Zhenhua sat in the armchair, his hands gripping the armrests tightly, the veins on the back of his hands bulging.

He looked at his younger brother, who was being carried up by the police officers and looked disheveled. His lips trembled several times, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he closed his eyes in despair.

He may be old, but he's not stupid.

Since Lu Jingyan dared to take action in this setting and in front of so many people, it means the evidence is irrefutable and beyond redemption.

Moreover, he finally saw through his second brother, who was usually so respectful to him, and realized just how much he had been secretly undermining the Lu family.

"take away."

Lu Jingyan didn't waste any words, he simply waved his hand dismissively.

"No! I won't leave! I'm the second master of the Lu family! You can't arrest me..."

Lu Zhenhai's howls faded into the distance as the two economic crime investigators dragged him away until they disappeared completely outside the banquet hall doors.

As the doors closed again, the entire banquet hall fell into a deathly silence.

The hundreds of guests didn't dare to even breathe. They looked at the young police officer standing calmly under the lights, their eyes filled with unprecedented awe, even fear.

Is this the legendary "light of the rule of law"?

They even arrested their own uncle, and took him away right there at the family's annual party! This kind of ruthlessness and audacity is even more difficult to deal with than the King of Hell himself!

Those distant relatives who had just been making sarcastic remarks with Lu Zhenhai, trying to get a share of the Lu Group's profits, now wished they could bury their heads in their pants, afraid that Lu Jingyan's gaze would fall on them.

Lu Jingyan ignored the trembling quails.

He slowly walked to the stage at the front of the banquet hall and took the microphone from the emcee.

"Sizzle—"

The static from the microphone made everyone's heart skip a beat.

Lu Jingyan stood on the stage, his gaze calmly sweeping over the entire audience. In that instant, he was no longer the carefree rich kid, nor the inexperienced young policeman, but a superior in control of the entire situation.

"I apologize for interrupting everyone's enjoyment of the meal."

His voice resonated throughout the venue through the speakers, gentle yet with an undeniable firmness, "However, since it's a family annual meeting, it should be done cleanly and neatly. Some filth and dirt are just bad luck to keep over the New Year, so it's better to clean them up sooner rather than later."

The audience was completely silent, except for the sound of swallowing.

Lu Jingyan turned around, his gaze passing over the crowd and landing on his father at the main table, who seemed to have aged ten years in an instant.

"dad."

He called out, his tone less distant than usual and more earnest.

"Cleansing out the family is painful, but it's for the good of the Lu family. If we don't dig out these parasites, the Lu family's ship will sink sooner or later."

"If you feel bad about it, I'll ask the guys in the Economic Crime Investigation Department to speed up the interrogation and try to get him into the sewing machine as soon as possible. That way, I can find him a proper job."

Lu Zhenhua raised his head and looked at his son on the stage, who stood tall and exuded righteousness.

In a daze, he seemed to see in this unfilial son whom he had always regarded as "not doing his proper job" a hope and future that the Lu family had never had before.

It is a powerful force that transcends money and power, originating from rules and order.

"well……"

Lu Zhenhua shakily picked up his wine glass, his eyes slightly red, his voice choked with emotion, "Well done! The Lu family... really needs a good clean-up!"

With the old man's words, the tense atmosphere in the banquet hall finally eased a little.

The guests wiped away their cold sweat and forced smiles as they began to agree, though their smiles looked more like cries, at least the situation was salvaged.

Lu Jingyan put down the microphone and was about to go offstage to find something to eat. He had been busy all night and hadn't even had a hot meal.

However, just as he stepped onto the first step...

"boom--!!!"

A loud bang, and it exploded without warning!

The heavy, gilded doors of the banquet hall, which were as tall as a two-story building, were violently smashed open from the outside. The two door panels flew in like kites with broken strings, crashing heavily to the ground and kicking up a cloud of dust.

The screams instantly echoed through the sky.

The guests, who had just recovered from their shock, were terrified and ran around in panic, leaving broken glasses and plates scattered all over the floor.

The smoke and dust cleared.

A man covered in blood, as if he had just been pulled from a pool of blood, stood unsteadily at the gate.

He wore a tattered gray trench coat, carried a long, still-dripping knife, and exuded a nauseating stench of blood and murderous intent. His bloodshot eyes, like two will-o'-the-wisps, frantically searched through the crowd.

"Who...who is Lu Jingyan?!"

The man let out a hoarse roar, a sound like the cry of an owl, which sent chills down one's spine.

"Someone has put a $100 million bounty on the dark web... for your life!!"

"Get out here and face your death!!!"

The entire room fell silent.

Everyone's eyes instinctively turned to Lu Jingyan, who had just reached the edge of the steps.

Lu Jingyan stopped, pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses, and looked at the desperate man who was clearly bloodthirsty.

A cold yet excited smile slowly curved the corners of his mouth.

One hundred million US dollars?

It seems the game in the beginner's village is finally over.

The real "main story" is only just beginning.