After quieting the crowd, the selection process resumed. With the initial intimidation done, the remaining task didn’t take long.

To be fair, calling it a "selection process" was a stretch.

“Didn’t I say to pick only seven?”

At my words, the remaining candidates stiffened.

Gone were their earlier expressions of discontent and anger, replaced with palpable tension.

How amusing. A small demonstration of power was enough to change their attitude so drastically.

‘This is exactly why I can’t stand Zhongyuan.’

Everything starts and ends with power.

It’s efficient, but it’s also unbearably primitive.

Not that I’m in any position to …