```


    Clang~


    A mechanically modified corpse fell from the sky, landing directly on the street and creating a crater with its heavy metallic body.


    Once the passersby got a clear look at the body, they screamed and ran away as if they had seen a ghost.


    It’s not that the Inner City people are afraid of corpses.


    It’s the mechanically modified corpses they fear.


    How is this different from tossing a bomb into the street?


    But the Inner City security teams were not weak, and their response was quick.


    It wasn’t long before a three-person squad arrived, looking at the corpse from a distance, and their curses could be faintly heard.


    "Who’s this heartless, was their bomb a dud or what? How are we supposed to clean up this mess? Call in some cannon fodder."


    The squad leader grumbled.


    "No need for that, just collect it, I’ve already disabled his bomb."


    At this moment, Tao Yu came out of the apartment building entrance, dressed neatly and waving at the three people who stood far away.


    "Who...oh, isn’t this Mr. Tao? Welcome back, sir. This guy offended you, dying is too good for him. We’ll take care of it right away."


    The security team squad leader immediately changed his tune and jogged over, bowing and scraping.


    Their chief had ordered intensified patrols nearby, and several of Tao Yu’s relatives had been placed on the watch list.


    Along with the reputation of Tao Yu himself as the Eight-Armed Vajra, such security team squad leaders would take him very seriously.


    But the reason he was so humble was that he, as an insider, vaguely knew that their chief had been beaten by this guy and was in a very bad mood.


    The corpse on the ground was proof!


    To good people and upstanding individuals, he could actually afford to be a bit arrogant, handle things by the book. He wouldn’t fear even those stronger than him, since after all, his status as a member of the security team was there.


    But when dealing with someone like Tao Yu, he had to pick his words carefully and not suffer an immediate loss...@@@@


    Moreover, he knew about the incident with Tao Shi being beaten, although it was outside the city and unrelated to him, getting blamed and beaten would all be in vain.


    He heard that recently, their chief had been losing quite a bit of hair.


    This man was not one for reasoning, fiercely protective, powerful, and not one to play by the rules!


    The key issue was that he was highly talented, powerful, and backed by significant connections, all adding up to a major headache.


    At that moment, he couldn’t help but curse the family who had hurt Tao Yu’s younger brother.


    If it was just about making an appearance or lending support, he could shake out another group of people.


    But since he was about to leave for the State Capital, Tao Yu didn’t want to expend his favors on such trivial matters; it would be better to ask them to look after his family in his absence.


    As for a minor issue like the present one, he might as well deal with it himself.


    By the way, it would give everyone a fresh understanding of him...


    "You don’t know?"


    Tao Yu asked back.


    "No, their family lives in the ’Tiancheng Apartment’ in the West City District, one of the ’Three Families of Tiancheng.’ These days they seem to be hosting banquets there."


    "Heh, hosting banquets? To celebrate beating up my brother? Interesting."


    Tao Yu laughed, preemptively framing the situation, making even the captain’s mouth twitch. My lord, don’t be like this!


    "Probably not, it’s because they obtained leasing rights to a farm in the old Development Zone. They finally have their own steady production resources. Plus, it’s also a precaution in case you come knocking."


    Envy could be seen in the captain’s eyes as he spoke of the Yuan Force crop farm. It was something that could continuously generate money, with earnings directly proportional to the duration of the lease rights. These resources were what actually allowed families to sustain themselves over the long term.


    "Oh, do you know which family leased it to them?"


    Tao Yu raised an eyebrow, as if realizing something.


    It must be the ’reward’ they received for their eager appeasement and taking sides this time.


    "One of the big five families, the Fox family."


    The captain spoke cautiously, vaguely understanding why Tao Yu asked. However, since the matter involved one of the five major families, he wasn’t afraid to disclose it, for the Fox family wasn’t deeply involved anyway; they simply wanted to win the hearts of the Inner City noble families.


    "Thank you. Go inform your chief captain that he’ll need to come and clean up in a bit."


    Tao Yu patted his shoulder, speaking in a friendly tone.


    Unexpectedly, even the big families could fall from grace, no wonder.


    Previously, in the inner circle dubbed ’Seven Kings of the new Development Zone,’ five were from the five big families. These were the five clans with the most consolidated status in the Inner City, each with colossal influence.


    Because their status was secure enough, they indeed didn’t need to do anything against the Chaoyang Society.


    Thus, the head of the five major families, the Gans, could mediate in the last incident, earning Gu Qiu’s trust!


    This could also be why this Jin family was so eager to ingratiate themselves.


    Leasing a few farms to the smaller families that supported them was something only those like them could afford to do casually.


    Since they no longer had the energy to manage their assets personally, they preferred to deal with it through leasing and contracted management...


    ——