# Chapter 6: This Is a Councilor?
Walking along the street, Su Xiao gained an understanding of Ango City's technological level. Supernatural steam technology hadn't been fully popularized yet; the fuel used to drive steam cores was too expensive, and electricity was only popularized in certain areas, serving mainly for lighting. This was a derivative product of supernatural steam technology, without corresponding supporting technologies having been developed.
The current major situation was that steam weapons were gradually replacing cold weapons, primarily serving heavy industry. To achieve universal popularization, it would take at least several decades, or even a century.
The supernatural steam science of this world had hit a bottleneck; resources didn't allow for widespread adoption of this technology.
The early spring weather was still somewhat cold. Pedestrians wore thicker clothing, and some alleys still had accumulated snow.
Baha swooped down from above and landed on Su Xiao's shoulder.
"Boss, no suspicious people nearby, but there are way too many thieves. In just this short while, I've seen over a dozen."
Baha looked at the passing crowd, a hint of confusion in his eyes. Ango City was so prosperous, yet thieves were rampant to the point of overflowing.
Su Xiao had already anticipated this situation. The Council wasn't a nation; it didn't control many troops. Its military force came from Secret Arts Masters, who couldn't possibly patrol everywhere. As for the city's public security officers, expecting anything from them was hopeless.
Superficially prosperous, but actually chaotic—this was Ango City's true face. It was indeed the center of power, but the Four Kingdoms were suppressing its development to prevent the Council from breaking the balance. The Secret Arts Masters were powerful, but they couldn't eliminate petty theft. The polarization was severe.
Su Xiao hadn't walked far before stopping. Someone was following him, without obvious malicious intent.
Seeming to realize they'd been detected, the follower emerged from a clothing store. This was an old man wearing a black vest, with loose white sleeves rolled up, a walking cane in hand, and neatly trimmed beard.
"Kukulin Bai Ye, I've been waiting for you. I'm Asaz, representing the Council to welcome your arrival."
Asaz was fairly warm in his greeting. His right leg had an old injury, requiring him to walk with a cane. After following Su Xiao for just a few minutes, he was already out of breath, occasionally coughing dryly. His physical condition wasn't good.
"It's already afternoon. Have you had afternoon tea?"
Asaz smiled meaningfully, putting Baha on alert. It felt the other party had ill intentions.
Before long, under Asaz's guidance, Su Xiao arrived at the entrance of a luxurious restaurant. The reason Asaz had smiled meaningfully earlier was that the expenses for welcoming Su Xiao could be reimbursed by the Council. Of course, he wanted to take the opportunity to splurge.
Asaz clearly wasn't a regular here. He was stopped before even entering. This place operated on a lifetime membership system, only serving high-ranking members of the Kingdoms and Council.
At the entrance of the luxurious restaurant, from Asaz's even more limping right leg, it was clear he was trying to conceal his embarrassment. Finally having a chance to splurge, only to be turned away at the door.
Failing to splurge along the way, Asaz wasn't too disappointed. Under his guidance, after weaving through several alleys, they arrived at the main entrance of the Council.
The Council was a very imposing building, over forty meters tall overall. White stone pillars stood at the main entrance. Guards in armor, holding spike spears, were stationed around the Council, totaling several hundred people.
These several hundred guards constantly scanned their surroundings, not missing a single corner. Each person's aura was very strong, with average combat power at Seventh Rank. Even if a large Seventh Rank adventure group came, they wouldn't be able to storm the Council. What was visible was just the tip of the iceberg of the guard force. If this place were attacked, Ango City would be like a hornet's nest violently poked.
Clang! Two spike spears blocked the way.
"Lord Asaz, please present the authorization document."
The guard's voice was very cold. Aside from the eight Councilors and four Kings, anyone wanting to enter the Council needed authorization.
Asaz pulled the authorization document from his bosom. The guard in full armor merely took it, glanced at it, and let them through. The inspection wasn't strict; he clearly recognized Asaz.
"Two people are permitted to enter, but... you are an Alchemist, so you may bring your Alchemical Creature."
The guard nodded in acknowledgment. Rules were dead, but people were alive. Having the opportunity to befriend an Alchemy Master, this guard captain didn't want to miss it.
Su Xiao entered the main gate of the Council. The interior wasn't opulent; the style was very solemn. After entering, there was a several hundred square meter hall, with two staircases leading to the upper floors.
Only a few people were in the hall, quietly discussing something.
Asaz walked toward the staircase with his cane, Su Xiao following behind. Based on his experience, Contractors would gradually converge on Ango City, and then things would get chaotic here.
Within three days, he needed to find clues about the behind-the-scenes person. He always had a feeling that Ango City was just a springboard. The final location indicated by the first part of the main quest would be where the danger truly began.
Following Asaz up to the third floor, after winding through several corridors, Su Xiao stopped in front of a door.
Knock, knock, knock.
Asaz lightly knocked on the door. There was no response from inside for a long time. Seeing this, Asaz gently pushed the door.
Creak, the door swung open, and a faint "smell of blood" wafted out.
A man covered in bloodstains was hanging upside down. Blood dripped from his fingers. His once splendid clothes were tattered, the result of rapid slashes from a sharp weapon.
"Puli..."
Asaz was stunned for a moment, then gripped his cane tightly. Veins bulged on his neck. In that instant, Asaz looked like a demon.
"Someone come! Councilor Puli has been murdered!"
No sooner had Asaz shouted this than the glass window in the room shattered. Several guards in full armor leaped into the room—five in total. They quickly surrounded Councilor Puli's body, with two checking his heartbeat and carotid pulse respectively.
"Asaz, were you sad just now?"
The "corpse" hanging upside down suddenly opened its eyes. The five guards quickly retreated, all kneeling on one knee, heads bowed.
"You, you, you..."
Asaz raised his cane, trembling uncontrollably. From the look of it, this already sickly old man was about to be so angry he'd drop dead on the spot.
"Hurry and let me down. My brain's congested, and I've been holding in a piss. I'm about to burst."
"Yes, my lord."
A guard quickly stepped forward, flicking his hand to cut the rope, and helped Councilor Puli stand steady. This Councilor had nothing to do with seriousness or dignity. He actually played dead for fun, and while holding in his piss at that.
"The Alchemy Master who traveled from afar, not bad welcome ceremony, right?"
Councilor Puli shook the blood plasma off his hands, walking briskly past Su Xiao, heading straight for the public restroom on the third floor. But just after running a few meters, his pace gradually slowed. Seeing this, Asaz's eyes showed "horror."
"No, Puli, you hold on. You're the Acting Councilor!"
Asaz, as a cripple, suddenly erupted with speed that didn't belong to a cripple.
About ten minutes later, Acting Councilor Puli, having changed clothes, returned to the room, looking completely relieved. He had almost pissed his pants just now.
"Sorry for the wait, Kukulin."
Puli sat in the seat beside Su Xiao, crossing his legs. He didn't look like a Councilor at all. Or rather, he wasn't a formal Councilor at all, but a Councilor's proxy.
"This time I invited you because there's something very important. That old undying of my family..." Seeming to notice Asaz's unfriendly gaze beside him, Puli immediately changed his words: "My family's old, old father is critically ill. The doctors have no way at all. That's why I invited you. Thank you for coming all the way from Leiman Kingdom. Sincere thanks."
Puli put down his crossed legs, his expression becoming serious. His father was the actual Councilor; he was just the Acting Councilor now. Asaz was the old Councilor's trusted aide.
The critically ill old Councilor, the undignified Acting Councilor Puli, and Asaz, whose strength couldn't be gauged—these three had invited Su Xiao to the Council. Among them might be the behind-the-scenes person behind the train hijacking incident.