The Charm of Composure

Section 25: The Charm of Composure

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

He staggered toward Vice Chief Jiang and reached out to take a talisman paper for a closer look.

The vice chief raised a hand to block him, watching him warily.

The chief walked over and took the talisman paper, examining it closely.

After a long while,

he sighed inwardly, then held up the talisman paper and announced to everyone, "It is indeed an Earth-Shaking Talisman. Everyone will receive an extra six months' bonus this month."

The room erupted in cheers, and all the guards applauded enthusiastically.

The chief turned to the vice chief and added, "I'll personally go to headquarters to put in a good word for the challengers who entered the tower."

The four strapping young men behind Vice Chief Jiang immediately beamed with delight. Their injuries seemed to hurt a little less.

Everyone had received the rewards they deserved.

Everyone looked happy.

Everyone except...

The vice chief's gaze shifted to the figure in the distance, quietly fishing pieces of meat out of the hot pot by himself.

The chief knew what he was thinking.

This was a hurdle they couldn't avoid.

The greatest contributor, the real hero, should have been the person who'd been arrested on suspicion of murder.

The chief pondered for a moment, then softened his expression and walked over to Wang Wen. In a warm tone, he said, "Wang Wen, thank you for providing the information. The Guard Department will always remember your help. Tomorrow, I'll take these items to headquarters and apply for a commendation and a certain amount of material rewards for you. Do you have any special requests?"

Hearing this attempt to "play down the matter," the vice chief frowned and glanced at the chief, but said nothing.

Material rewards?

With intelligence this valuable, what couldn't he trade it for elsewhere?

Did he really need the Guard Department's meager little reward?

Wang Wen fished the last piece of meat out of the pot, ate it, set down his bowl and chopsticks, and wiped his mouth. Then he told the chief, "I don't want anything. I just want to prove my innocence."

"Your innocence!" The chief hurriedly nodded. "Absolutely! The information was completely accurate!"

"Can I leave now?" Wang Wen asked.

"Of course!" The chief nodded over and over. "You're completely free to go whenever you like. And you're welcome to come back anytime. The doors of the Regional Security Department will always be open to you."

Hearing words he'd practically grown tired of in his previous life, Wang Wen smiled.

Slowly. There was no rush.

The things he hadn't heard in a long time would all be said again.

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

He turned and warmly shook the vice chief's hand as well. The vice chief seemed to feel somewhat guilty; he opened his mouth, but no words came out.

Wang Wen smiled. Without lingering, he raised both hands and waved goodbye to the guards in the hall. "Everyone, I'll be heading out now! See you again!"

After spending more than ten days together, the guards had grown used to Wang Wen being around.

His sudden departure dampened their high spirits with an inexplicable sadness.

It also jolted many of them awake.

Only now did they remember that the person before them wasn't actually a fellow guard who worked there!

Wang Wen's optimism, composure, and the faint smile that always played on his lips had made everyone unconsciously forget—or perhaps overlook—one thing.

He hadn't come here for a pleasant vacation.

He was simply an innocent man being held at the Guard Department, doing everything he could to prove his innocence!

The guards who understood this were filled with conflicting emotions.

It was almost impossible to imagine!

In the face of such an undeserved ordeal, in such a helpless situation, how had a suspect—who should have been terrified, loudly protesting his innocence, angry and resentful, or anxious and restless—managed to stay so calm, even getting along so well with everyone?

What kind of strength did it take to have a heart like that?

"Xiao Wang..." Some of the more sentimental female guards could no longer hold back their sobs.

A guard in charge of the files murmured, almost absentmindedly, "I remember his parents died in an accident in the World Tower."

"That's right." Someone nearby nodded in agreement. "He escaped the attack of fifteen locals thanks to the Earth-Shaking Talismans his parents left him."

"So young, studying alone, with no father or mother and no one to rely on." The file clerk carefully glanced toward the chief and muttered softly, "Even when he was falsely accused, all he could do was grit his teeth and endure it alone, trying to save himself."

"How did he manage to get through it?"

"How tragic!" The guards huddled together, all groaning in sympathy.

"I've never heard him complain."

"I would've fallen apart ages ago!"

"And he used what little tuition money he had to treat us to an expensive hot pot meal!"

"I..."

A red-eyed male guard suddenly pushed through the crowd, stepped forward, and gave Wang Wen a tight hug.

Then one person after another lined up to hug him.

Their positions were low, and they were powerless to change many things. This was the only clumsy way they could express their apologies.

I'm sorry for being human.

No one could explain exactly why they felt guilty.

They just felt so sorry for the slender yet steadfast boy before them.

Wang Wen stood at the center of the crowd.

At first, he was surprised.

Then he slowly understood, and smiled.

In the end, he was the one comforting the guards, one after another.

The chief, standing outside the crowd, was just the opposite.

His expression had started out understanding and smiling.

Then came surprise and confusion.

By the end, his face had darkened as if rain were about to pour from it.

Every hug was like a slap across his face.

He couldn't dodge them, but couldn't lash out either.

All he could do was take them.

Meanwhile, Vice Chief Jiang turned to the Four Vajras beside him and said with feeling, "You're always asking why I like chatting with him. Look, this is his unique personal charm. He makes everyone around him reluctant to see him go."

The Four Vajras nodded in deep agreement.

Each of them shared what they'd noticed since getting to know Wang Wen.

"He's so lively every day, always cheerful no matter what!"

"I have to admit, sometimes I forget he isn't one of my colleagues. Every time I see him, I feel better!"

"You only forget sometimes? I didn't realize it until just now!"

"What a wonderful young man. I wish he were one of us."

"Yeah. He's so optimistic and cheerful, as if nothing could ever trouble him."

"And he's so humble and polite! No matter how small a favor you do for him, he always gives you a sincere thank-you!"

"Talented, too! He understands so many World Tower mechanisms that I can't figure out!"

"..."

All good things had to come to an end.

No matter how reluctant the guards were, they couldn't bring themselves to stop Wang Wen again.

After all, the Guard Department had already kept him from going home for more than ten days.

Everyone reluctantly let go of Wang Wen. They agreed that he'd come back to the Guard Department another day, and that they would treat him to a meal this time. Only then did their farewell finally draw to a close.

Just before turning away, Wang Wen spotted the lead guard huddled in a corner. He smiled faintly and said, "Sir, after eleven days, I think I've had plenty of time to consider it. I acted in self-defense. I didn't kill anyone."

The lead guard still wasn't satisfied. He stiffly asked, "What exactly did you do? Why couldn't my people find the item in the World Tower, but the vice chief and his team could?"

Wang Wen shook his head. "You'll have to ask yourself. Maybe next time, instead of sending some sworn brothers to their deaths, you should go there in person?"

He gave the lead guard a long look, then waved and turned to leave:

"But before that, you'd better figure out how to explain losing the fifty Earth-Shaking Talismans."

"Sir, stay safe."