After Qin Siyang finished speaking, everyone attending the meeting turned even paler.
His words made it clear that everyone present had once sided with Zone 1, but had committed no major mistakes afterward and had been extremely cautious.
Yet Qin Siyang had called them all to this meeting today, presumably to wipe them out once and for all.
"They say a new official lights three fires when he takes office. I've lit all three of mine, and I think I handled the timing and intensity pretty well. Just about all the rubbish that needed burning has been burned away."
Qin Siyang leaned back, his tone relaxed. "Those connected to Zone 1 have been arrested or sentenced. Of course, a few utterly depraved ones were executed, too. You lot are the last few who slipped through the cracks."
After saying that, Qin Siyang fell silent for a moment.
But no one else present responded. They simply waited quietly for him to continue.
Yu Renjie stared at Qin Siyang on the screen. Cold sweat had already soaked his back, and his thoughts began to wander, but like the others, he remained seated upright in front of his camera.
Qin Siyang nodded. "As expected of people untouched by all three fires. Every one of you has a steady head. Even with disaster looming, you haven't completely fallen apart or given up on yourselves. Nor have you shouted at me during the meeting to vent your anger, or spoken to me with cold hostility."
Under their gazes, Qin Siyang continued his monologue. "I once thought the United Government's talent selection system was riddled with flaws, nothing more than officials covering for one another. It couldn't select anyone genuinely capable. Apart from a handful of people, they were all loose sand that would be washed