Chapter 27: Transformation of Force

"Here is your iced cocoa, young Jinyiwei officer." Palka placed a glass of iced cocoa in front of Wen Yuan, the table already crowded with other empty cocoa vessels.

"You are the sovereign of Chichen Itza? My respects." Wen Yuan identified him immediately.

The office was the same cold, desolate place it had been the day before. After displaying his Jinyiwei badge downstairs, Wen Yuan had been escorted directly here. After all, the appearance of a Jinyiwei in public inevitably sparked panic—the mere sight of them signaled that something grave had occurred nearby.

"You know who I am?"

"I am here on a mission, so I have reviewed your file. You are the sovereign of Chichen Itza, or in your own language, the K’uhul Ajaw of Chichen Itza. When your late father passed, he left you a nation burdened by mountains of debt. You were forced to abandon your studies in Nanjing and return to the underdeveloped Chichen Itza to oversee state affairs. Yet, accustomed to city life, you could not endure the pre-modern existence of the jungle. Thus, you struck a deal with the United Fruit Company to launch an aggressive modernization campaign. Following certain 'accidents,' you were branded the architect of the chaos and exiled by a coalition of city-states, leading you here. It has been twenty-nine years."

Wen Yuan recounted the story of Palka’s life with the ease of a man listing his own possessions. He spoke without a single pause, with more fluency than Palka himself could have managed.

"..."

Palka walked behind his desk, pulled out a chair, and sat down to face Wen Yuan.

"Indeed, I am the K’uhul Ajaw of Chichen Itza."

"Quite right. And we also know that you sold the imperial edicts required for tribute to the United Fruit Company for 5.2 million taels annually," Wen Yuan continued, not waiting for Palka to speak.

"You know about that as well?" Palka froze, his eyes darting around the room.

"Stop looking. We haven't deployed intelligence officers here; the Jinyiwei aren't that idle. As for the source, let's just say it is classified. As for the private sale of those edicts, that depends entirely on your cooperation moving forward." Wen Yuan took a sip of his cocoa.

Palka immediately straightened his posture. "Respected Jinyiwei officer, what task requires my cooperation? I notice you are not wearing the flying-fish robe, so you are likely not here specifically for me. I know that when the Jinyiwei conduct official enforcement, an officer in a flying-fish robe must be present."

"True." Wen Yuan set down his cup. "You truly are well-versed, having studied in Nanjing. This cocoa is just as authentic as the newspapers claim."

"Then, what is the purpose of your visit?"

"I am looking for someone. A Han man, slightly shorter than me, carrying a Jinyiwei badge. He checked in here. I need a clear answer, and remember: do not attempt to deceive a Jinyiwei."

"He is not here."

Wen Yuan leaned forward. "Oh? Given that your sale of those edicts is still under investigation, I suggest you remain honest. We have the authority to initiate a formal inquiry at any time. I will ask again: is he here?"

"He is not," Palka replied without hesitation.

"So he is here. Very well, that is all I needed to know. I shall return to my room; I am one of your guests, after all."

Wen Yuan stood up to leave, still holding his glass of cocoa.

"Please, wait!" Palka stood as well. "Are all you Jinyiwei... possessed of such extraordinary skills?"

"Why do you ask? Did he... did he demonstrate something to you?"

"No, no." Palka shook his head like a rattle.

"So he did. What, do you wish to see mine?"

Palka hesitated for a moment before nodding. "We need help. Since the Jinyiwei are aware of our situation, you must realize that we were cheated by the United Fruit Company."

"Everything done at the time was within standard protocol; the Ministry of Rites issued the approvals. The entire process was normal. It was you who pawned the edicts afterward, which is where you truly violated the Great Ming Code."

"But there must have been something suspicious about it!"

"I cannot issue a ruling in your favor based on 'suspicion.' The law requires evidence. This case was closed decades ago. You would need substantial proof to overturn the original decision—and coming to me is useless. While the Jinyiwei send representatives to observe the Three Judicial Offices' joint trials, the adjudication of cases ultimately rests with the Censorate, the Ministry of Justice, and the Grand Court of Revision. If you truly have a grievance, you should find a secretary to submit it to the Cabinet. Whether it is discussed in a court session or follows the administrative review process, that is for later."

Wen Yuan gave a clear answer. Regarding an event that took place before he was even born, he lacked the power to resolve it, yet he still provided guidance based on what he knew.

"That is all I know," Wen Yuan said, holding his cup. "After all, don't let my rank as a Baihu fool you; I did not earn this through military merit. It is a hereditary title. I have not officially joined the ranks, so I can only offer advice based on what I have observed. Personally, I sympathize with you. But I cannot act on personal feelings."

"I... thank you."

"As for wanting to see my 'skills'... I don't know what he showed you, but this should suffice."

With that, Wen Yuan extended his right hand and gave the glass a sharp, sudden jolt. A burst of internal force from his wrist sent the cocoa flying into the air. It rose in a perfect column, leaving not a drop of residue in the glass. The vessel was cleaner than if it had been through a dishwasher five times.

Taking a step back, Wen Yuan thrust his hand forward once more—the falling cocoa caught perfectly back into the glass. After swirling violently within the cup, the liquid was brought to a sudden halt by another sharp vibration of his wrist. The cocoa became as still as if nothing had happened, not a single drop spilled.

Palka stared blankly. He had been lost the moment the cocoa took flight, and by the time it returned to the glass, he was in a state of profound shock.

This level of physical control was nothing short of supernatural. It was not the kind of thing an ordinary person could practice, unless they possessed the uncanny, practiced dexterity of an oil peddler.

Even more absurd was that the Jinyiwei before him appeared to be a mere youth; even if he had been practicing since birth, it would not be enough. This level of control required not just skill, but a foundation of immense physical capability. Palka reasoned that the Jinyiwei could not possibly spend all day, every day, doing nothing but practicing how to toss and catch water in a cup.