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Pang Jin was one of Li Chen's staunchest confidants, and the first official with real power whom Li Chen had promoted after becoming emperor.

The Minister of Justice did not hold a particularly high rank, but wielded enormous power within the Imperial Court. Anyone appointed to the position had to earn the emperor's trust and be utterly loyal to him.

The position's special nature meant offending many people. Only the emperor's firm protection could keep its holder afloat in the Imperial Court.

Pang Jin had been impeached quite a few times lately. Li Chen had reviewed the accusations and found no serious wrongdoing. In many cases, he simply gave both sides fifty strokes of the paddle, and that was the end of it.

Upon hearing Li Chen's summons, Pang Jin walked straight inside.

Eunuch Cui tactfully withdrew from the hall, closing the doors behind him.

Pang Jin was no outsider to His Majesty. Had a foreign official like Charles come for an audience, Eunuch Cui would certainly have stayed nearby to stand guard.

"Greetings, Your Majesty." Pang Jin bowed, his face showing traces of exhaustion. Clearly, he had spent days laboring over the case.

Li Chen waved a hand. "Dispense with the formalities. What is it?"

Pang Jin lowered his voice. "Your Majesty, we have made progress in the attack on the Eternal Day Delegation. The assailant was indeed a Saint Realm expert, from an organization called the Starfall Pavilion."

Li Chen's brows furrowed slightly. "The Starfall Pavilion? What is their background?"

He knew something about many of Heavenly Strategy's sects, even the Hidden Sects, but this was the first time he had heard of the Starfall Pavilion.

Pang Jin took a confidential report from his sleeve. "This organization is extremely mysterious. Its members come from many races-not just the