Chapter 223: Some Lines Cannot Be Crossed

Not long after, Yang Fan found a hotel nearby and booked two rooms.

He arranged for the twin sister to stay in one, while he took the boy into the other.

The hotel environment was very good.

Soft beds, private bathrooms, and even an automatic climate control System.

It was at least countless times better than the old, dilapidated, and small place Yang Fan used to rent in Yang County.

In fact, the infrastructure of the entire Xiling Star was not bad, even far exceeding Yang County.

Yet, the people living here were poor to such an extent.

The door closed.

Yang Fan sat on a chair and asked directly, "Where is your father?"

The boy was silent for a few seconds before slowly opening his mouth, "He's dead."

The voice was calm, but the suppressed anger was almost squeezed out from between his teeth.

Yang Fan looked at him and got straight to the point.

"I am not from Xiling Star."

"Tell me, what exactly happened to this planet?"

Ning Bailian was silent for a moment, then slowly began to speak.

"Two years ago… it wasn't like this."

"Back then, everyone had work, food to eat, and hope."

"Although we weren't rich, we could at least survive."

"Until the Rao Family started constantly increasing taxes."

Speaking of this, Ning Bailian's voice gradually turned cold.

"At first, it was a war tax."

"Later, it became a poll tax."

"Housing tax."

"Urban maintenance tax."

"Environmental protection tax."

"Even breathing required paying an air usage fee."

"If you had no connections or background, the taxes became heavier and heavier."

"For every 100 Faith Points earned, you had to hand over 80."

By the end, Ning Bailian was almost gritting his teeth, his eyes filled with anger.

Yang Fan's mouth twitched slightly as he listened.

Coming from the bottom himself, he always felt that the tax burden in Yang County was already outrageous.

But compared to Xiling Star, Yang County was practically heaven.

"Because of the war?" Yang Fan asked.

Ning Bailian shook his head.

"The war is just an excuse."

"Everyone actually knows the real reason."

"The Rao Family… is leaving."

Yang Fan was slightly stunned upon hearing this.

Ning Bailian continued, "Xiling Star is just a planet under their management."

"Now they are transferring to a larger planet with a better location."

"So, before leaving, they naturally want to take everything they can."

"Taxes, resources, minerals, population…"

"By draining the entire Xiling Star dry and sending the resources up, their political performance will look very good."

"This is to exchange for a higher position."

"Anyway, they are leaving, so who cares what happens here later?"

Hearing this, Yang Fan understood instantly.

No wonder such a well-positioned place like Xiling Star could be messed up like this.

It turns out the Rao Family wasn't managing it at all; they were doing a final harvest.

Yang Fan sat on the chair, his right hand tapping the tabletop lightly.

He was no saint.

In this world, there is no absolute right or wrong.

When the water is too clear, there are no fish; many people stand in different positions, so their choices are naturally different.

For these Divine Beings on Xiling Star, Yang Fan did have some sympathy, but that was all.

What really concerned Yang Fan was, what exactly did Third Elder Gu Xuanting want him to do by sending him here?

Testing him?

Or was there another purpose?

Yang Fan suddenly remembered Gu Shaoqing's words, and his eyes gradually became firm.

"Forget it."

"Instead of guessing what these old monsters are thinking."

"It's better to act according to my heart."

"Anyway, the strongest of the Rao Family is only a Third-Order God."

"They cannot resist me."

"What is your name?" Yang Fan continued to ask.

"Reporting to you, My Lord, this humble one is Ning Bailian."

"That's a good name, 'Tempered into steel'." Yang Fan nodded.

Ning Bailian said in a low voice, "My great-grandfather, grandfather, and father all had forging-type talents."

"Our Family used to be in the weapons business."

"That's why my father gave me this name."

Speaking of this, Ning Bailian's eyes dimmed again.

"You're about to Awaken your Divine Kingdom, right?" Yang Fan continued to ask.

Ning Bailian nodded.

"I could have Awakened last year."

"But now, no one dares to go."

"The Awakening Stones are controlled by the Rao Family."

"If you Awaken now, you might be forced to hand over your Divine Kingdom coordinates and then be sold to other Star Domains."

"So, many young people who have just come of age are hidden away by their Elders."

"Everyone is waiting, waiting for the Rao Family to leave, waiting for a new God to uphold justice."

After listening, Yang Fan couldn't help but admire the Rao Family's audacity.

These weren't believers of a Divine Kingdom, but actual people; this was simply crossing the red line of Federation law.

"Aren't they afraid of being discovered?" Yang Fan asked, puzzled.

Ning Bailian smiled bitterly.

"Discovered?"

"Now, ordinary people cannot send out messages at all."

"Immigration channels have long been closed."

"Plus, the Rao Family has backers."

"Why would they be afraid?"

Speaking of this, Ning Bailian's voice grew lower and lower, leaving only helplessness on his face.

Yang Fan stood up slowly.

"I've booked this place for you for a month."

"Eat the food directly at the hotel."

"Perhaps…"

Yang Fan paused for a moment.

"It won't take long."

"You will be able to go and Awaken your Divine Kingdom."

After speaking, without giving the other party a chance to continue, Yang Fan turned and left.

After Yang Fan left the hotel, he did not linger and returned directly to the residence arranged by the Rao Family.

Just as he entered the courtyard, he arranged, "Ye Wen, call Gu Shaoqing over."

"Now?"

"Now."

A quarter of an hour later, the courtyard gate was pushed open.

Gu Shaoqing walked in with a bitter expression, his hair even slightly messy.

The few maids following behind him also had unnatural expressions.

"Brother Yang…"

Gu Shaoqing's face was full of resentment.

"No."

"I finally got some rest…"

"Do you know how much damage it does to a man to interrupt such things?"

Yang Fan glanced at him. "Continue after we finish the business."

Gu Shaoqing immediately felt even worse, but he sat down obediently.

"Brother Yang, tell me."

Yang Fan didn't waste words and spoke directly.

"I've made my decision."

Gu Shaoqing was slightly stunned. "Oh?"

Yang Fan said calmly, "I am going to wipe out this Rao Family."

The air went quiet for a moment.

Gu Shaoqing's face gradually faded of its playfulness, and then he nodded, seemingly not surprised by this.

"Actually, I guessed it."

While speaking, Gu Shaoqing raised his hand.

The next moment, a large amount of the Rao Family's criminal records were transmitted directly to Yang Fan.

Yang Fan scanned them slightly, his face gradually turning cold.

Illegal restriction of immigration, forced conscription, trafficking of Divine Kingdom coordinates, human smuggling, resource embezzlement, falsifying war losses…

Each piece of evidence was even more outrageous than what Ning Bailian had said.

Gu Shaoqing sat to the side and said casually, "Third Elder told me to tell you, there is no need to wait for the Federation Law Enforcement Team; Brother Yang, you can handle it yourself."

"The Rao Family won't dare to resist, and they can't."

Yang Fan looked up at him. "Is the Gu Family testing me?"

Gu Shaoqing scratched his head.

"You could say that, but not entirely."

"The Family leadership has always held a view."

"Resources can be fought for, benefits can be snatched, and being ruthless is fine too. But some lines cannot be crossed."

Speaking of this, Gu Shaoqing became rare and serious.

"If they dare to sell others today, they will dare to sell their own people tomorrow."

"There is no point in keeping such a Family."