"Since there is nothing else, all irrelevant parties may disperse."
Chen Mu swept his gaze around. Seeing no one speak, he said this calmly, then strolled back toward the City Guard.
The head runners and yamen runners looked at one another and hurriedly followed Chen Mu, leaving only the Zheng Family and the several hundred members of the Quicksand Gang gathered in the street. For a moment, none of them knew what to do, and they all looked to their respective leaders.
The Quicksand Gang's leader narrowed his eyes slightly and stared at the City Guard for a moment before turning to Zheng Hong. He cupped his hands toward him and said, "Master Zheng, I have urgent business to attend to, so I'll take my leave first. Another day, I shall invite Master Zheng for drinks."
With that said,
he turned and left.
The moment he departed, more than half of the several hundred people on the street dispersed in a great rush. They were mostly Quicksand Gang members, and before long, only the several dozen guards and servants Zheng Hong had brought remained.
He had originally come at Zheng Hong's invitation, supposedly to watch a good show and lend the Zheng Family some support, lest the City Guard and the Zheng Family come to blows. Yet not only had he failed to see any show, he had instead realized that this young new Runner Office chief was no simple character. He immediately lost interest in staying any longer.
Zheng Hong stared at the City Guard, his expression shifting between light and dark. Then he flicked his sleeve.
"Leave."
The guards under him followed Zheng Hong away.
But just then, among the scattered Thieves Guild members who had been standing at the very edge watching the excitement, someone holding a