https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-1173-Obstructed-and-Seeking-a-Way-Out/13467214/
Chapter 1174: New Bronze, Old Stories
Chapter 1174: New Bronze, Old Stories
At the headquarters of the Federation's Original Humans Corporation, Chief Security Advisor Xiang Boqing sat in his office, looking at a newly arrived publication.
He didn't pay much attention to the text but focused on the photographs inside.
In one of the photos, Chen Chuan stood holding a long sword, with a headless body kneeling before him.
The photo was meticulously composed from a side angle, with the flat ground serving as the baseline and the kneeling headless body and Chen Chuan's upright figure forming a triangular composition.
The photo also deliberately left space for the red scarf, which added a dynamic touch to the scene with its fluttering motion, making the image highly impactful.
Fortunately, the body was headless, and the photographer did not capture the head or mention the name, so those who didn't recognize the person would have no idea who it was, sparing the victim a bit of dignity.
But only a little.
In the elite fighter circles, this was no secret.
Xiang Boqing's eyes flickered. The limb he had dispatched earlier had also been eliminated by Chen Chuan.
Although few knew about it, some were aware, but that incident didn't cause much of a stir because Fan Zhentong had also been there. People assumed it was due to Fan Zhentong's interference.
But Xiang Boqing could clearly feel from the mental power that it was entirely Chen Chuan who had defeated them head-on.
At that moment, the dedicated line on his desk rang.
He glanced at it, and the receiver floated up to his ear. Mr. Gao's voice came through, tinged with skepticism: "Mr. Xiang, is the situation true?"
Xiang Boqing gave a clear response: "The International Fighter Council's publication is always verified internally before release. It won't be wrong."
The other end fell silent.
Xiang Boqing remained calm, waiting. He knew the other party had more to say.
After a while, the other end spoke: "The delegation is heading towards Central City. Can you eliminate him before they arrive?"
Xiang Boqing replied, "Mr. Gao, after the last operation, Fan Zhentong has been watching me closely. I can't make a move. Moreover, last time we had permission from the West Coast. This time, I have no reason."
"I can persuade the council to grant you another permit, bypassing the agreement."
Xiang Boqing said, "Mr. Gao, the boss will definitely find out."
There was another silence, and then the other end slowly said, "Mr. Xiang, since you can't make a move, I hope you can at least prevent him from meeting my brother."
Xiang Boqing said firmly, "Mr. Gao, I'm sorry, but I can't do that either. This person is the Director of Security for Jibei Province. As you know, the company's main business in Da Shun is in Jibei Province. As the Director of Security, we can't bypass him. Returning to the Eastern Continent has always been the boss's strategic plan. The boss will definitely arrange a meeting, and I can't stop it."
The other end's voice carried a subtle sense of unease and anxiety, "Is there no chance at all? Mr. Xiang, you must have a way."
Xiang Boqing said solemnly, "Mr. Gao, the Federation is highly focused on the negotiations. Any issues are not allowed to arise during this period. I can't make any promises, but if I see an opportunity, I will give you an answer."
The other end said, "Mr. Xiang, I hope you do your best. I will fulfill my promises to you."
The train carrying the delegation traveled for five days, passing through the Central Rift Mountains, the famous Calon Plains, and the Wandolin Hills, finally arriving at the headquarters of the Federation, one of the five continents of the Federation, El-Kalvinia.
Located in the northeast of the East Coast, it borders the vast and magnificent Triclan Great Lake, offering a highly advantageous geographical position.
The vast lake surface of Triclan Great Lake occupies nearly one-third of the northern part of El-Kalvinia, with a coastline stretching thousands of kilometers. The port cities surrounding the lake form a busy network of waterways, railways, and air transport.
This region is not only the most prosperous area of the East Coast but also the core of the entire Federation.
As Chen Chuan traveled, he paid particular attention to the surroundings.
The Federation's territory is vast, but its population is far less than that of the Eastern Continent. Outside of Central City on the West Coast, the regions often give an impression of being wild and chaotic. However, the East Coast is different, with a sense of order and regularity that becomes more pronounced as one approaches the East Coast.
In fact, with the Great Collision approaching, the world is becoming increasingly unstable. In recent decades, various places around the world have experienced different issues, affecting both Da Shun and the Federation to some extent.
Due to its special status, Central City is a focal point for countries worldwide. The remote or peripheral regions outside Central City are often considered secondary and are generally neglected.
If the Skyline Plan in Da Shun can proceed smoothly, it will not only integrate the scattered and underdeveloped regions with the major Central Cities but also comprehensively strengthen the nation's overall power. The improvement it would bring is immeasurable.
At three in the afternoon, the train entered Lunovilla Central City, situated by the Great Lake, and slowly came to a stop at the station.
Chen Chuan and the members of the visiting team got off the train, passed through the security checkpoint, and entered the grand, classically styled station hall. Through the tall glass walls, they could see the distant silhouettes of skyscrapers.
This Central City is one of the few that allows fighters to enter directly. Moreover, the most powerful fighters in the entire Federation are likely to be here.
This includes the Dongxuan Temple fighter that once attacked him, suspected to belong to the Original Human Company, and Mr. Crossal himself, who is also here.
Oddly, there was no sense of a vast, overwhelming presence like in Vijiazia, but if such a force exists in Vijiazia, it is impossible that it doesn't exist here.
At this moment, he noticed a bronze fountain sculpture in the center of the hall. The main figure of the sculpture was a mermaid emerging from the water.
Around her were five children, two of whom she held with her hands, one resting on her neck, one tightly hugging her waist, and another pulling her hair.
The entire sculpture was vivid and dynamic, filled with movement. The mermaid and the five children were intricately detailed, and the sculptor's skill was evident in the water droplets splashing as she broke the surface. Standing there, one felt as if they might get wet.
At the base of the fountain was a plaque inscribed with the sculpture's origin.
He was familiar with this story. According to legend, a group of devout followers of the god came here and cleared the land, cut down trees, and hunted to create a better life for themselves. However, they were often troubled by the attacks of the ugly natives.
One day, five young children got lost. When the people were at a loss, the mermaid appeared in the lake and rescued the children who had been taken by the natives for sacrifice, returning them to their families.
This act moved all the residents, and to commemorate her kindness, the people later built this sculpture, which became a symbol of the city.
Chen Chuan gazed at the sculpture, unsure if the story was true, but he had heard another version with a different ending.
After the children were returned, the greedy villagers tried to capture the mermaid, but she possessed formidable combat skills, and many villagers were injured. Eventually, a clergyman killed her.
Notably, even then, the mermaid did not kill a single villager.
The five children, believed to be tainted by heretical influences, were sent to the church for purification rituals, and none of them survived to adulthood.
Whether this was the truth, he did not know, but one thing became clear to him after coming here.
For various reasons, including curiosity, colonizers had been hunting mermaids extensively, leading to the extinction of a species that had coexisted with the First People for over ten thousand years in just a hundred years. When the city decided to create the sculpture, there were no mermaids left, so the sculptor had to rely on drawings.
Fortunately, the mermaid that had been killed was preserved as a specimen in the local museum. The museum donated it to the sculptor, who incorporated it into the statue.
He could sense that the skeleton was indeed inside.
As he was examining the sculpture, a white Yingzhou Giant Dove suddenly flew in, landing on the top of the mermaid's head. It gently pecked at the sculpture, making a tapping sound, and then spoke:
"See, a smooth and hard exterior, a dry and decaying interior. Doesn't the sanitized bloody past of this city and this country sound familiar?"
Chen Chuan glanced at it and said, "That's a question for the people here."
The bird replied, "Ah, the people are usually ignorant and need strong leaders to guide them." It puffed out its chest, as if suddenly feeling a noble mission, "I can—"
Suddenly, it spread its wings and soared into the air, its voice booming like the opening of a poem:
"Move forward, move forward, I am—"
Mid-sentence, the sound of gunfire erupted around them. The bird trembled in the sky, and blood and feathers scattered.
Finally, it fell with a thud in front of him, twitching as it said, "Ah, another splendid life has ended. It seems this city still doesn't welcome me..."
Chen Chuan ignored it and looked back at the mermaid statue. A thin stream of blood trickled from her golden hair, gradually spreading to the five children's sculptures, whether by design or chance.
At that moment, the sound of neat and hurried footsteps approached from both sides, surrounding him.
...
...
(End of Chapter)
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