Chapter 129: Gathering
Chapter 129: Gathering
Director Lei was known for his efficiency, and by the next day at noon, he had already called Chen Chuan to inform him that the matter with the Foreign Affairs Bureau had been settled, and Director Liu had agreed to the request.
The retrieval mission for the Oak Leaf would soon be assigned to Chen Chuan, with a compelling reason being that he was the first to pursue the fugitive and bravely took down Duma alone on the road, despite the risk of being shot.
Given the complexity of this mission, Director Lei had to negotiate hard with the Foreign Affairs Bureau, who had no choice but to invest heavily. As a result, the reward for this mission would be substantial.
The Foreign Affairs Bureau would provide all necessary information, but the execution would be up to Chen Chuan and his team.
Director Lei also informed Chen Chuan that the Secret Sect Review Bureau would use the Flying Head Sect case as a pretext to delay the Makah Exchange Delegation's schedule, buying Chen Chuan more time to prepare.
Upon hearing this, Chen Chuan felt more at ease. After asking for further details, he ended the call.
The next step was to gather his team. Even with the Secret Sect Review Bureau's delay, the Exchange Delegation wouldn't linger for too long, especially after obtaining the item. They would undoubtedly find a way to return it, so time was of the essence.
During lunch, Chen Chuan approached Luo Kaiyuan, Feng Xiaoqi, and Wei Dong, informing them that he needed to discuss something important.
The three, sensing the urgency, joined him in his dormitory after their meal.
Once they were seated, Chen Chuan shared the news about the Oak Leaf retrieval mission and invited them to join him.
Feng Xiaoqi, who had never undertaken a mission before, eagerly accepted. He knew that Chen Chuan had been taking on external assignments and envied his opportunities.
Typically, students had to wait until their second or even third year to gain such experience due to their lack of combat skills. But with a significant mission at hand, he was keen to participate.
"Chen, Luo, I couldn't make it to the exchange conference last time, but I'm eager to join you this time. Please count me in!" Feng Xiaoqi pleaded.
Luo Kaiyuan, in a serious tone, said, "Retrieving the item is the right thing to do. Since you trust me, Chen, I'm willing to join and will do my best to support you."
Wei Dong's eyes lit up with excitement. "Who are we fighting against? Count me in!"
With everyone on board, Chen Chuan now had the foundation of his team. "Great, once we receive more details, we'll meet again. Since we might encounter the Makah Exchange Delegation, our strength alone won't be enough. I'll reach out to others for assistance and will keep you updated."
The three agreed, as they lacked experience, and Chen Chuan was the leader. He had taken the initiative to include them in such a significant mission, so they would follow his lead.
After they left, Chen Chuan called Wei Chang'an. After a brief chat, he informed him about the mission.
"Impressive, my junior. You're far more capable than I am. To receive such a mission is remarkable." Wei Chang'an was genuinely surprised. As a mission assigner, he understood the challenges of securing missions. It required extensive connections and networks, and by the time the scent of a mission reached the various mission companies, it was often too late.
A mission like this was a rare opportunity, and Wei Chang'an was eager to participate, even without compensation. He felt grateful for Chen Chuan's invitation and assured him, "Junior, once again, you've taken care of me. I won't speak falsely; I'll put all other missions on hold and await your instructions. Just give me the word, and I'll be there!"
Chen Chuan smiled and said, "Alright, Wei, let's make it so."
In the afternoon, Cheng Zitong called Chen Chuan to inform him that Ren Xiaotian had agreed to meet at the school in the next few days.
Chen Chuan felt relieved upon hearing this, as Ren Xiaotian's experience and reliability increased their chances of success.
The only one left to contact was Wu Han. Chen Chuan headed to the training hall, where he expected Wu Han to be, and after an hour of sparring, they sat down with water bottles. During their conversation, Chen Chuan extended the invitation to Wu Han.
Wu Han, excited, said, "Junior, I must be a part of this. Just tell me what to do, and I'll make it happen!"
Wu Han had a weapon permit and could legally carry firearms, which was a significant advantage. Chen Chuan was pleased to have him on board.
With no specific information or timeline yet, Chen Chuan asked Wu Han to refrain from taking on other missions for the next few days and to await his instructions. Wu Han readily agreed.
Back in his dormitory, Chen Chuan began considering other practical matters. With a large team and the possibility of leaving Yangzhi City, they would need to arrange for vehicles and essential supplies. These could be easily obtained with the company's help.
However, as this was a personal mission unrelated to the company, Chen Chuan planned to borrow the necessary items and repay the costs later or deduct them from his future earnings.
While vehicles and supplies were manageable, firearms presented a challenge. Cheng Zitong might have a solution, but if not, Chen Chuan could seek assistance from the Foreign Affairs Bureau for a permit and then approach the Patrol Bureau.
The Foreign Affairs Bureau may not hold much influence over the Patrol Bureau, but by providing operational backing, the Patrol Bureau could openly issue weapons to Chen Chuan, especially with his connection as the son of a Patrol Bureau official, and more importantly, as a weapon permit holder. This task wasn't particularly challenging.
For the next two days, Chen Chuan was occupied with these arrangements. On the third day, Director Lei called again, informing him that the delegation would depart in no more than five days.
The Review Bureau had initially planned to delay further, but the delegation's firm stance left no room for hesitation. Staying a day or two longer wouldn't have been an issue, but their determination indicated that they had a predetermined deadline and could wait no longer.
After sharing some updates, Director Lei offered a suggestion: to keep an eye on the checkpoint near the port, as it might yield some valuable insights.
Chen Chuan thanked him and made a note of it.
Director Lei added, "Liu Zhan asked me to pass on a message to you, which I think is necessary. After all, this is an exchange delegation, and our countries haven't had a falling out. Let's not make it too ugly."
"However, if the situation is urgent or endangers your safety, don't hold back. Implicating the delegation and the Flying Head Sect shouldn't be too difficult."
"Director Lei, rest assured. I'll handle it with care," Chen Chuan assured him.
"Go all out. If you need any help, call me, and I'll do my best to assist," Director Lei said.
Chen Chuan thanked him again and hung up.
By noon that day, he received a thick package containing all the information the Foreign Affairs Bureau had on the Maraka delegation, including their itinerary and a contact number for direct communication with the Foreign Affairs Bureau to confirm specific travel plans.
In the 1619th chapter of the novel, a thorough review of the documents revealed no errors.
After carefully studying the materials, Chen Chuan picked up the phone and started calling each person involved in the mission, instructing them to gather at his dorm that evening.
At 6:10 pm, everyone except Ren Xiaotian arrived: Luo Kaiyuan, Feng Xiaoqi, Wei Dong, Wu Han, and Wei Chang'an.
Chen Chuan had known Ren Xiaotian wouldn't make it in time, so he didn't wait. He laid out a map and began explaining the situation.
"The Maraka delegation wants to return home, and after leaving Yangzhi City, they'll need to go to Farview Port to board a ship. Due to the mudslide in Xieshan, the railway line has been out of service since last year. So, heading east from Yangzhi, there's only one route left." He pointed to a long line on the map, "The National Highway."
"After considering the situation, I believe the delegation has two possible plans after obtaining the item. One is to use connections to send the item directly to the port. Since the port is relatively independent, they won't face strict inspections once they leave Yangzhi City."
"However, this scenario is less likely. Firstly, there are checkpoints on the National Highway, and they've intensified checks in recent days, making it impossible for them to pass. The areas on both sides of the road are vast, uninhabited wildernesses with complex conditions, including numerous smuggling groups and wilderness wanderers.
As foreigners, they would likely avoid these areas to prevent losing the item. Even if they reached the port early, without proper identification, prolonged stay could lead to exposure, especially since Maraka's ocean liners can't return at this time.
Therefore, the most probable choice is that they are currently hiding in a remote area outside Yangzhi City, waiting for the delegation to join them before heading to the port together."
At this moment, Luo Kaiyuan looked up and asked, "Is it possible that the item is already in the hands of the delegation?"
Chen Chuan replied, "I've considered this possibility, but based on the information from the foreign affairs department, it's unlikely.
Currently, the Government Hall is suspicious of them and has sent a security team to 'protect' the delegation on the pretext of potential attacks.
With constant surveillance and controlled movements, any items they carry are subject to inspection. So, they wouldn't dare to keep the item with them, at least not until they leave Yangzhi. The critical moment will be after they set off towards the port."
Wei Chang'an studied the map, pondering, "The best approach is to find those hidden Maraka students."
"Yes," Chen Chuan agreed, "The Maraka delegation consists of forty-eight people, and the security team has twenty members, all equipped with weapons and armored vehicles. During their journey, it's nearly impossible to stop them without using heavy weaponry.
Even with the capability, for everyone's safety and to minimize the impact, we should avoid direct confrontation. This limits our options, and intercepting the party with the Oak Leaf before they join forces may be our only chance."
Feng Xiaoqi suddenly had an idea and spoke up, "Everyone, I have a thought."
Chen Chuan gestured for him to continue, "Feng, please share your idea."
Feng Xiaoqi clenched his fist and said, "Can we spread the news that the Oak Leaf has been found and let the Maraka delegation know about it? If they have a way to communicate with the Maraka students, they might try to confirm it. Then, we just need to keep an eye on them, and they might even help us find the person!"
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(End of Chapter)
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