Composed Charm

The Charisma of Composure

"No!" The lead guard's face drained of color. "Impossible!"

He approached Vice Chief Jiang with trembling steps, reaching out as if to inspect one of the talismans.

The Vice Chief raised his hand to block him, his gaze fixed on the man with wary intensity.

The Chief walked over and took the talisman to examine it closely.

A long silence followed.

He sighed inwardly, held the talisman up, and announced to everyone, "It is indeed an Earth-Shaking Talisman. Everyone will receive a six-month bonus this month."

The room erupted in cheers, and all the guards clapped vigorously.

The Chief turned to the Vice Chief and said, "I will personally go to headquarters to request commendations for you and the validators who entered the World Tower."

The four young men behind the Vice Chief beamed with joy, their delight so great that even their injuries seemed to ache far less.

Everyone had received the rewards they deserved.

Everyone appeared to be in high spirits.

Everyone, that is, except for one.

The Vice Chief's gaze drifted toward the figure in the distance, who was eating hotpot all by himself.

The Chief knew exactly what he was thinking.

This was a hurdle that could not be avoided.

The greatest, true hero of the hour should have been the very person brought in under "suspicion of murder."

The Chief pondered for a moment, softened his expression, and walked over to Wang Wen. In a cordial tone, he said, "Wang Wen, thank you for the intelligence you provided. The Regional Security Department will always remember your help. I will take these items to headquarters tomorrow, and at that time, I will apply for a commendation and a certain amount of material reward for you. Do you have any special requests?"

Hearing such a dismissive attempt to "downplay a major issue," the Vice Chief frowned, glanced at the Chief, but remained silent.

Material rewards?

With intelligence this precious, what couldn't one trade for it on the outside?

Did he really need the meager, pitiful rewards of the Regional Security Department?

Wang Wen finished the last piece of meat in the pot, set down his bowl and chopsticks, wiped his mouth, and said to the Chief, "I don't want anything. I just want to prove my innocence."

"Innocence!" The Chief nodded repeatedly without hesitation. "Absolutely innocent! The intelligence was completely accurate!"

"Then can I leave now?" Wang Wen asked.

"Of course!" The Chief nodded again and again. "You are completely free. You can leave whenever you like, and you are also welcome to come back and visit anytime. The doors of the Regional Security Department will always be open to you."

Suddenly hearing this phrase, which he had grown tired of hearing in his past life, Wang Wen smiled.

Take it slow. No need to rush.

Those words he hadn't heard for quite some time would all ring out once again.

He nodded at the Chief and said, "Thank you, sir."

He turned back to shake hands with the Vice Chief, who seemed to feel a sense of guilt and opened his mouth, unable to find words.

Wang Wen smiled, didn't linger, and raised his hands to wave goodbye to the guards in the hall. "Everyone, I'm heading out! See you later!"

Having spent over ten days together, the guards had grown accustomed to Wang Wen's presence.

This sudden parting made the previously high spirits turn inexplicably melancholic.

It also caused many to wake up with a start.

Only at this very moment did they remember that the man before them was not actually a colleague stationed at the Regional Security Department!

Wang Wen's optimism, his composure, and the faint smile he wore every day had caused everyone to unconsciously forget, or perhaps ignore, one issue.

He was not here for a pleasant vacation.

He was merely a poor soul who was clearly innocent yet detained at the Regional Security Department, constantly struggling to prove his own innocence!

Every guard who realized this felt a complex mix of emotions in their hearts.

It was simply unimaginable!

In such an unjust encounter, in such a helpless environment, how did a suspect—who should have been trembling with fear, crying out in grievance, filled with angry resentment, or anxious and uneasy—manage to remain as calm as water, and even converse happily with everyone?

How strong a heart must one possess for that?

"Little Wang..." Some of the more sentimental female guards couldn't help but choke up.

A guard in charge of files remarked inadvertently, "I remember his parents passed away after meeting with disaster inside the World Tower."

"That's right," someone nearby nodded in agreement. "He relied on the Earth-Shaking Talisman left behind by his parents to escape the siege of fifteen local thugs."

"At such a young age, studying alone, with no parents, no kin, and no one to rely on." The guard in charge of files carefully glanced at the Chief's position and whispered, "Even when wronged, he could only grit his teeth and endure it alone, struggling to save himself."

"How on earth did he hold on?"

"So pitiful!" The huddled guards wailed.

"I never once heard him complain."

"If it were me, I would have broken down long ago!"

"He even used his meager tuition money to treat us to expensive hot pot!"

"I..."

A male guard with reddened eyes suddenly stepped out from the crowd and walked up to give Wang Wen a firm hug.

Following that, a long line of people formed, waiting to offer their own hugs.

They held low positions and were powerless to change many things, so they could only express their apologies through this clumsy method.

Born as humans, we are sorry.

No one could clearly explain why such a sense of guilt had arisen within them.

They only felt an overwhelming sense of remorse toward the thin yet resolute boy before them.

Wang Wen, at the center of the crowd.

From initial surprise.

To gradual understanding and a smile.

And finally, to comforting each guard in turn.

The Chief, standing outside the crowd, felt the exact opposite.

His expression went from initial understanding and a smile.

To gradual surprise and confusion.

And finally, to a gloominess so heavy it seemed ready to drip water.

Every hug felt like a slap across his face.

He couldn't dodge it, nor could he vent his frustration.

He could only endure it.

On the other side, Vice Chief Jiang remarked to the Four Vajras beside him: "You always ask me why I enjoy chatting with him, don't you? Look, this is his unique personal charm; it makes those around him involuntarily reluctant to let him go."

The Four Vajras nodded in deep agreement.

Each shared the various aspects they had felt since coming into contact with Wang Wen.

"He's lively every day, always cheerful no matter the time!"

"I have to say, I occasionally hallucinated that he was just one of our colleagues; my mood improves every time I see him!"

"You say occasionally, but I've only just realized it now!"

"What a wonderful young man; if only he were one of our own."

"Indeed, optimistic and cheerful, as if no difficulty could ever trouble him."

"And humble and polite! No matter how big or small the favor, he always offers a sincere thank you!"

"He's overflowing with talent! He understands so many World Tower mechanisms that I can't solve!"

"..."

All good things must come to an end.

No matter how reluctant the guards were, they couldn't keep blocking Wang Wen.

After all, this Guard Department had already held him for over ten days, preventing him from returning home.

The crowd reluctantly let go of Wang Wen, making him promise to return to the Guard Department another day so they could treat him to a meal, which finally brought the farewell to a close.

Just before turning away, Wang Wen saw the lead guard cowering in the corner. He smiled slightly and said to him: "Officer, after eleven days, I think I've thought it through clearly: I acted in self-defense, and I did not commit murder."

The lead guard, still unwilling to yield, stiffened his neck and asked: "What kind of trick did you pull? Why is it that when my men enter the World Tower they can't find any items, but when the Vice Chief and the others enter, they can?"

Wang Wen shook his head: "You'll have to ask yourself that question. Perhaps, next time, instead of relying on your 'brothers-in-arms,' you should go in yourself?"

He took one last deep look at the lead guard, then waved his hand and turned to leave:

"But before that, you'd better figure out how to explain the fifty *Earth-Shaking Talisman*s you lost."

"Officer, I wish you peace."