https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-1068-Shadows-of-Doubt-in-a-Meeting/13228917/
Chapter 1069: A Moment of Clarity
Chapter 1069: A Moment of Clarity
Outside the collection room, two Resonators who had been waiting there had their eyes flicker with a sudden flash of light.
At that moment, Bian Zhijie became aware of something and turned to glance outside. The door was not closed, and when his gaze fell upon one of the Resonators, his body stiffened slightly.
"And this!"
Ge Jixiong spoke up, "Come and see this, you two."
Bian Zhijie's attention was drawn, and Jixiong quickly walked over to a tall cabinet, removing the cloth covering it. Inside was a glass display case containing a crimson humanoid object, approximately two meters tall. It resembled a skinned human, but its surface was smooth, and its facial features were somewhat peculiar.
Bian Zhijie examined it and asked, "What is this? Is it a creature from the Convergence Zone?"
"No," Jixiong replied, "We found it in a cave while searching for ancient plants. Unfortunately, its resistance was too fierce, and it was shot several times. By the time I got there, it was barely breathing."
Ge Jixiong continued, "This might be a resident of this ancient land, or perhaps a new species formed due to pollution. We analyzed its body tissue, and it falls between plant and animal. However, there are too many similar things in the Convergence Zone, so it holds little value. In the end, we could only preserve it as a specimen and display it here as a collectible."
"But I've discovered something peculiar..." Jixiong gazed at the object, his expression entranced. "Don't you find this thing beautiful and captivating?"
Wang Tongshan and Bian Zhijie exchanged glances, then looked at the object. They could sense something different about it, as if it possessed a power to amplify the field.
Just then, one of the Resonators outside turned around, and a flash of blue light flickered in their eyes. Jixiong seemed to receive a message, listened for a moment, and then excitedly said, "Oh, just a moment, it seems there's good news. I need to attend to something. Please excuse me for a while."
Wang Tongshan said, "If you have something to do, go ahead, Mr. Ge."
Jixiong apologized and called out, and a female secretary waiting outside entered the room. She took over the task of introducing the collection to the two men.
There were many intriguing items in the room, and the female secretary was an engaging storyteller, making the tour much more interesting than Jixiong's earlier explanations. The two men did not find the tour dull, and only a few minutes later, the secretary paused as if listening to something. She bowed slightly towards the two men and asked, "Which one of you is Mr. Bian?"
"That would be me," Bian Zhijie replied.
"Mr. Bian, the boss has a private matter he wishes to consult you about. Would you..."
"A private matter?"
Bian Zhijie pondered for a moment. The topics they had discussed earlier mostly involved breathing techniques and the self-coexistence of implants. Could this be related?
Although it didn't involve any secrets, since the owner had invited him personally, he didn't feel it was right to refuse. He nodded to Wang Tongshan and left the collection room.
Wang Tongshan watched him leave, his eyebrows furrowing slightly. The female secretary approached him and said, "Sir, please follow me. Allow me to introduce you to some of our more unique collections..."
In the air-raid shelter on the hill, the man wearing sunglasses had been observing the situation. He noticed that the two men had separated and clenched his fist, stretching his neck. Then he said, "Prepare for the next step..."
But at that moment, he sensed something amiss. The Resonators in the room sat motionless in their chairs, unresponsive to his words.
He spun around and saw someone sitting in the chair where he had been sitting moments ago, flipping through the comic book he had brought to pass the time.
When he saw the person's appearance, cold sweat broke out all over his body.
Chen Chuan flipped through a couple of pages. The art style of the comic book was typical of the Federation, with overly bright colors and rough character designs. He wasn't a fan, so he lost interest after a few pages and placed the book on the table.
He tapped the translation device on his Jieping and spoke in the language of Daxun, "Speak."
The man remained silent for a moment before replying in perfect Daxun, "I am a member of the Federation's Confidential Operations Bureau, carrying out a necessary surveillance mission under orders.
My identity can be verified by the documents in my shirt pocket and a spare uniform in your desk drawer."
Chen Chuan stared at the man's sunglasses and said calmly, "But what you've done has exceeded the scope of surveillance. A moment ago, your mental and physical state indicated that you were preparing for an attack. Don't tell me that was also ordered by the Confidential Operations Bureau."
The man fell silent again, then said, "Hakheke Shu."
"What?"
"Hakheke Shu. In the legends of the First People, it's a man-eating monster. If someone puts a coin in its mouth while it sleeps and says a person's name, the Hakheke Shu will go and eat that person the next day. There's a famous bounty platform in the Federation named after this monster. I accepted a commission from the platform to 'capture' a Daxun martial artist, by any means necessary."
"Chen Chuan raised an eyebrow, "What's the purpose?"
The man shook his head, "I don't know. Perhaps they need a martial artist as an experimental subject, or maybe as a sacrificial offering. It's also possible that a wealthy individual from the Federation wants to collect a Daxun martial artist as a trophy. All these are possibilities."
Chen Chuan asked, "What's the background of Hakheke Shu?"
"Although I'm the leader of the Confidential Operations Bureau's action team, my position doesn't grant me access to deeper information," the man replied.
"So, this was your arrangement?" Chen Chuan inquired.
The man didn't respond, implying consent.
"What about Ge Jixiong?" Chen Chuan asked.
"He wasn't aware of the situation. He just happened to be a convenient tool for our intervention. We modified one of his collection items into a field signal amplifier. Then, we repeatedly suggested and transmitted information to him through the field using a Resonator, altering his psychology and perception. This way, he'd act on our behalf."
"If something goes wrong along the way, the Resonator can make adjustments. Although his actions are his own, each step has been guided by us," the man explained.
Chen Chuan nodded, "It seems this isn't your first time doing something like this."
"The operation is called 'Trans-Dimensional Coordination Combat' by the Bureau. It's designed to coordinate and support our actions. However, it's only effective against martial artists and ordinary people with implants. It's not very effective against martial artists," the man clarified.
"Why invite two people instead of one? Wouldn't that make it more challenging?" Chen Chuan asked.
"I considered inviting only one person, but that would increase your vigilance. With Ge Jixiong's company's secret rituals, we can manipulate both the external and internal situations. A brief separation between the two of them will give me the opportunity I need," the man explained.
"You seem quite confident," Chen Chuan noted. "Taking down a martial artist in a short time isn't an easy task unless you possess overwhelming strength."
"I've made extensive preparations. To ensure success, my superior provided me with a one-time-use drug that boosts my strength and speed by a third for three seconds," the man revealed.
Chen Chuan acknowledged with a sound and stood up from his seat. "Since we're done here, it's time for you to depart, sir."
The man's expression changed slightly. He had a reason for being so cooperative; he wanted to make it clear that killing him would cause trouble due to his status. Moreover, his knowledge made him valuable.
"I haven't even started the operation yet, and our attack on you was just a plan. Even if you recorded my words, it's not enough to condemn me to death," the man said firmly.
Chen Chuan's tone remained calm, "You're mistaken. I could have killed you the moment you prepared to strike. I just wanted some information."
"You..." The man stomped his foot, and a black light burst from his body as he lunged forward. At that moment, the drug in his Xue Jiao quickly penetrated his heart, and his strength surged.
Even in his escape, he ensured a loud commotion to attract the attention of the Central City, making it difficult for his pursuers to openly kill him.
As he stomped, the hard ground, capable of withstanding bombings, exploded, and countless stones scattered. In that instant, a powerful force seemed to bind everything, including the man himself, as if they were frozen in amber, unable to make a sound.
Chen Chuan snapped his fingers, and a ray of light shot into the man's body. He then turned and left.
The man remained suspended in mid-air, and as Chen Chuan walked away, a dazzling platinum light exploded from the man's body.
This was followed by a clear and bright light that filled the entire space.
After a brief moment, the light dissipated, leaving nothing behind.
Chen Chuan had already exited the tunnel, which resembled an air-raid shelter. A strong and muffled gust of air blew from behind, causing his clothes to flutter.
This time, he had used Qingjing's spiritual light to eradicate all biological materials in the vicinity, leaving no traces behind.
He glanced upward, where Zhao Ming was circling above. After standing for a moment, Chen Chuan's figure flickered, and he disappeared from his original spot.
Soon after, he returned to the inn where he was staying. Upon entering his room, he made a connection, and after a while, a female voice answered, "Hello, Mr. Chen. Wansong Federal Branch is at your service."
"This is regarding information. I'd like to know about Hakheke Shu," Chen Chuan requested.
...
...
(End of Chapter)
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