"Report! A suspected Martial Pillar has led a team into the Imperial Court. The department heads patrolling nearby have already led their teams to provide support!"
"Report! The grain depot in Chongbei Alley is on fire!"
"Report! Thieves have broken into the Ministry of Revenue and are burning the records!"
"Report! The warehouse in Zunnan Alley is requesting assistance!"
"Report! The Imperial Forest Left Guard, Right Guard, and Vanguard have sent out distress signals!"
"Report..."
The Statistics Department in Yanjing was in utter chaos late at night. One piece of bad news after another came from every direction, and the meeting room had erupted into a cacophony.
"The Ministry of Revenue, the Imperial Court, the military arsenal, and the grain depot—we have to send aid immediately!"
A burly man covered in scars slammed his fist onto the meeting-room table and roared, "At least three Martial Pillars from outside the district are burning, killing, and looting out there. Every one of those Gutter Rats has crawled out to cause trouble. The Statistics Department can't just stand by and do nothing!"
"I won't allow it!"
A short-haired woman clashed head-on with him. "Until the Director returns, no one is allowed to send a single person from the Statistics Department outside! The Patrol and Punishment Department and the Twelve Imperial Guards can deal with the rats out there. What does it have to do with us?"
"The Twelve Imperial Guards can barely take care of themselves, and the Patrol and Punishment Department has been useless for ages!"
"That still isn't our responsibility! The Statistics Department is only responsible for investigating and arresting rebellious factions!"
"This isn't the time to discuss responsibilities! Someone behind the scenes is throwing Yanjing into chaos. People are calling for help everywhere outside, and staying here is nothing but