Endless Winter: My Camp Upgrades Infinitely Chapter 1249 - 414: Birthday, Painter Dwelling in Xia City, Population Surge, Disheartened

Just as she lowered her brush, applying the final detail...

Inside the side hall, Yuan Shao was busy swinging an axe, unaware that three vertical, blood-red cloud patterns had manifested on his brow. Neither he nor the other 27 children present noticed the sudden phenomenon.

Hiss...

The instant those crimson symbols surfaced upon Yuan Shao’s forehead, Chu Yan’er, standing outside, became transfixed. Her brush hung merely half an inch from the canvas, frozen in place, unable to proceed.

"To awaken such a bloodline at only six years old, this is..."

Upon witnessing the sacred markings on Yuan Shao, a dark cloud passed over Chu Yan’er’s features. Before she could process the implications, a sudden, sharp intuition made her body turn rigid.

"Miss Chu, is everything alright?"

"Miss Chu, why have you stopped painting?"

Cold perspiration beaded on the woman's brow, and she found herself unable to answer the inquiries of the two maids. She felt three distinct pairs of eyes watching her from the shadows with intense focus.

Thinking quickly, she hid the black brush within her robes, retrieved another one, and proceeded to finalize the eyes of the 28 children depicted in the scroll.

This time, no abnormalities occurred; the eyes of all 28 figures were completed without issue.

As the final strokes settled, the painting transformed into a remarkably lifelike scene of children playing.

"Incredible!"

"What a vivid masterpiece. Wait, Qing’er, move to the side; the figures in the art are actually moving!"

The maids soon realized the masterpiece’s unique quality, watching with wide-eyed shock as the 28 children in the scroll tracked their movements. They looked back at the plain-looking Chu Yan’er with newfound awe.

"Miss Chu, the Madam will surely cherish this gift."

"Your artistic talent is truly beyond compare, Miss Chu."

Receiving their praises with a forced smile, Chu Yan’er nodded, secured the scroll, and trailed them toward the main hall to make her presentation.

......

High atop the Yuan Mansion, three individuals stood by the window, observing the scene below.

Their gaze was predatory as they focused on Chu Yan’er. Xia Hong stood in front of the group, with a visibly anxious Yuan Cheng trailing behind, joined by a grim-faced Xia Chuan.

"That woman is suspicious. Her identity is fraudulent, her Earth-digging Realm cultivation is a sham, and those six escorts of hers must be interrogated. Investigate them thoroughly!"

"As you command!"

Only after Chu Yan’er had departed did Yuan Cheng’s tension ease. He bowed deeply toward Xia Hong with a look of regret, stating, "As the Department Director, I have failed in my duties by allowing an infiltrator into the Inner City. I await your judgment, my lord!"

"Very well. Since we have chosen to embrace openness, we cannot guard against everything. If not her, someone else would have likely breached our defenses eventually."

Xia Hong gestured dismissively before adding, "However, your kin, Shi Lu, should never have permitted a stranger to interact with so many children, particularly those of such sensitive standing. We will have to discuss this."

Though he didn't fully grasp the purpose of the painting, Xia Hong understood that the final touch was a malicious act, fortunately offset by the protective holy patterns on the children. Had that woman succeeded, the tragedy would have been unspeakable.

"Rest assured, my lord. I shall certainly reprimand her!"

Fury burned in Yuan Cheng’s eyes; he recognized the gravity of his mistake. Not only his own son, Yuan Shao, but the children of major figures like Xu Ning, Lin Kai, Yue Feng, and Lu Yang were in that room. Had the plot unfolded, he would have doomed himself eternally.

"Enough. The scolding can be reserved for another day. Today is your son’s coming-of-age ceremony; do not dampen the festivities. You have returned through such hardships; enjoy yourself today."

With those words, Xia Hong vanished, leaving behind a seething Yuan Cheng and a pensive Xia Chuan.

"Keep this Chu Yan’er within your quarters for now. I will ensure her six companions are watched, and I shall return shortly."

"Your will be done!"

After delivering his commands, Xia Chuan cast one last look at Chu Yan’er before exiting the mansion and heading swiftly toward the main hall.

"How many administrative district offices currently exist in the Outer City?"

"Twenty-two in total."

Inside the Political Debate Hall, the top floor of the main residence, Xia Chuan entered to hear Xia Hong’s inquiry. Answering immediately, he smiled, assuming the lord was concerned with population metrics.

"Since the migration to Bashang concluded, the population of Xia City has surged to 2.58 million. The 18 districts of East City are now saturated. Currently, we are populating North City, where four districts have been established."

[Population: 2,589,134]

Xia Hong offered a slight shake of his head. Thanks to the system, his own data on Great Xia was far more accurate than Xia Chuan’s reports. His question about the districts was not about population scale.

"Twenty-two districts? Each office typically requires a staff of over a hundred, which means our total number of officials across all external locations should be approaching a thousand, correct?"

Xia Chuan hesitated before nodding. "That is about right. At present, 892 individuals hold official ranks."

These "official" counts only accounted for those with formal titles. Beyond the Eight Departments and various bureaus, a massive workforce handled daily administration. Taking them into account, the actual administrative body was likely three or four times larger.