Bannuo, Mohe, and others dragged the unconscious James William inside the office. Mohe looked around the room's furnishings and burst out laughing, "Wow, Boss, looks like the one who got Joann to spend big on you. Tsk tsk, this crystal chandelier—I think I saw one just like it when they renovated the Louvre."

Looking up at the massive, courtly crystal chandelier, Gu Xichen stroked his chin and chuckled,

"Hmm, they certainly spared no expense. Look at the patina on the bronze chain links—this thing must be centuries old! Tsk tsk, did they really pull this from some crumbling royal palace? Ostentatious, too ostentatious. I think at the next Federal Assembly, I’m going to strongly condemn this wasteful extravagance, unless Joann grants me significantly more authority. Otherwise, I'm absolutely lodging a motion to clear all luxuries out of the Federal Headquarters!"

The Federal employee who had led Gu Xichen and his group here rolled her eyes at Gu Xichen, then nervously glanced at the seven unconscious men strewn on the floor like dead pigs. If Gu Xichen hadn't presented a series of official electronic credentials and successfully passed the building’s rigorous security screening, she would never have dared to escort such a fearsome-looking group.

This middle-aged but still striking Federal employee, Mary, had worked in the Federal Headquarters for over thirty years; she had never encountered people so brutal.

"Your Excellency Gu Xichen, according to the notice I received from the Directorate of Routine Federal Council Affairs, you are entitled to designate two personal secretaries and eight confidential secretaries and clerks who will enjoy the benefits of formal Federal civil servants. If you do not have your own candidates, the Directorate will select and assign them for you."

Sneaking glances at the still-unconscious James William and the others, Mary said cautiously, "I hope you can finalize this matter quickly, as we need to prepare various documents for your staff."

Right, Gu Xichen recalled the promises Joann had made to him. Touching his nose, Gu Xichen reported the names Siren and the others to Mary. Siren and Aredia would become Gu Xichen’s personal secretaries, while Bannuo, Mohe, and the eight staff members from Hadde Corporation would serve as his confidential secretaries and clerks.

Personal files, even down to blood types and biometric data, were already backed up in the Federal database. Less than half an hour after Gu Xichen confirmed his selections, a stack of credentials arrived. The corresponding electronic identification documents were transmitted to everyone's communicators via a secure channel.

Originally, Gu Xichen intended for Penghua to be one of his aides as well, but Penghua had no record in the Federal population database—he was undocumented—so that plan had to be shelved for the time being.

In the office, which was antique and imposing yet housed the pinnacle of Federal technology, Gu Xichen performed a series of operations at his desk. After inputting the various electronic credentials and passwords transmitted by the Directorate of Routine Federal Council Affairs, Gu Xichen officially assumed the authority Joann had pledged him, becoming the head of the three-person supervisory team for the Special Affairs Committee.

The very second he keyed in the final digit of the confirmation password, two light screens abruptly popped up on the desk. Two portly, middle-aged men appeared, grinning widely.

"Esteemed Your Excellency Gu Xichen, I am Federal Representative Doldin!" one fatty smiled so wide his mouth seemed about to unhinge.

"Esteemed Your Excellency Gu Xichen, I am Federal Representative Hardman!" the other fatty smiled so hard his bald head wrinkled like a crumpled cloth.

Before Gu Xichen could react, the two fatties chuckled, "Welcome to your role as the head of the Federal Special Affairs Committee Supervisory Team. We are confident that under your brilliant leadership, the affairs of the Committee will be orderly, and its performance will flourish daily. We wish you smooth sailing in your work! We have already submitted our resignations to the Federal Council; it is truly a great pity that we cannot serve alongside you."

Swoosh! Swish! With two sounds, both light screens vanished simultaneously. Gu Xichen stared blankly at Bannuo and Mohe for a moment, then vigorously rubbed his ears.

"Did you hear that? Did I mishear?"

"Uh, it seems... you've taken on a very thorny position, at least the equivalent of grabbing a red-hot iron plate from the furnace!" Bannuo nodded with utmost seriousness. Knock, knock, knock. Just then, there was a loud rapping on the door. Gu Xichen’s office had four portals: one led to the secretaries' office, one to the confidential room, one opened directly onto the outer corridor, and the last led to a secret emergency passage. The door being knocked upon was the one leading to the corridor.

Mary scurried to the door, pulled it open, and walked out quickly without saying a word to Gu Xichen.

"Hey, are all Federal employees this ill-mannered?" Gu Xichen frowned.

A middle-aged, bald old man in a maintenance uniform strode in. This man had an exaggeratedly hooked nose, a thick patch of gray beard above his lip, and he clenched a corn-cob pipe tightly in his mouth, gripping it as if he intended to bite it to pieces before letting go. His gaze was as sharp as an unparalleled sword. He walked with his hands behind his back to Gu Xichen’s desk and looked down at Gu Xichen, who was seated in the office chair.

"And you are?" Gu Xichen frowned, displeased.

"Federal Special Services Bureau, Uria—some also call me Shan!" the old man growled deeply.

"You are the newly appointed Supervisory Team Leader, Gu Xichen? That lucky devil who found a treasure on Paradise Star? That opportunist who brought down 130 first-class battleships of the Roman faction through trickery and schemes? That little troublemaker who threw the Federal defense market into chaos? The arrogant swordsman who refuses to submit to the management of the Federal Special Services Bureau? Of course, the Federal media now calls you the model for the youth of the Federation, the Federation's newest hero!"

Taking a deep breath, Gu Xichen stood up. He towered over Uria by a full head, turning the tables so that he was now looking down on the other man.

"Uria? Shan?" Gu Xichen gave a strange smile. "How do I have so many nicknames? You storm in here like this, what is your business?"

Uria kept his hands behind his back, tilted his head up to look at Gu Xichen, and sneered, "A word of advice: keep your mouth shut as the head of this Supervisory Team. Your duty is to sign documents that arrive once per quarter. Sign off on everything. That is your sole utility. The Federal Special Services Bureau is not a place for a pretty-faced pretty boy like you to meddle in!"

Federal Special Services Bureau? Gu Xichen could swear on heaven he had never heard that name before.

Looking at Uria with surprise, Gu Xichen shrugged with a wry smile. "Your tirade has left me somewhat confused. The Federal Special Services Bureau? What does it have to do with me?"

What connection does the Federal Special Services Bureau have with Little Gu?

All the money—it has a lot to do with Pig Head!