Chapter 367: The Hill
Chapter 367: The Hill
The elevator's digital display flickered as it descended to the first floor, and the doors slowly parted to reveal Chen Chuan stepping out. As he strode down the corridor, he glanced out through the glass, catching a glimpse of the towering buildings and the slightly narrow sky beyond.
The deep blue canopy of the sky remained bright, but thick clouds loomed overhead, casting a shadow on the city below.
The mysteries of the first floor had been unveiled, but an even greater gloom seemed to envelop the world above.
Specialist Liang had shared a lot of information, but Chen Chuan felt that when it came to matters concerning the world's crisis, it was unlikely that everything would be disclosed to him. At most, he would be selectively informed.
Furthermore, Liang had only mentioned the government's stance, yet the world was jointly ruled by both the government and corporations. Neither side could afford to ignore the other, so what were the corporations' thoughts on this matter?
Regarding this issue and the path forward, Chen Chuan needed to give it some serious thought.
He walked down the lengthy corridor, and as he did, the light and scenery outside gradually faded behind him. Just as he was about to step out, a message suddenly appeared on his Boundary Token:
"Enforcement Agent Chen, an item has been placed in your personal storage cabinet. Please retrieve it at your earliest convenience."
Chen Chuan checked the subsequent route guidance on his token and followed it to the indicated location. Two minutes later, he arrived at a lounge area and received a set of keys from the attendant.
After signing for the keys, he made his way to a door at the back. It was labeled as a storage cabinet, but in reality, it was a six-square-meter storage room with the number '6002' on it.
He pushed open the door and found a metal table inside, with a tall corner cabinet against the wall. He inserted the key and opened it, revealing shelves dividing the space vertically and horizontally. In the center, a long wooden box with a carrying strap lay on one of the shelves.
Chen Chuan took out the box and placed it on the table behind him. He removed the sealed tape and opened the box to find a short knife resting on a soft cushion inside.
The knife matched the design he had ordered, measuring around sixty centimeters from tip to hilt. He lifted the knife from the box, gripping the handle and slowly drawing it out. The smooth, gleaming blade instantly reflected his face.
With a metallic clang, he fully unsheathed the blade and tested its balance, finding it perfectly suited to his needs, just as he had requested.
He could sense that this knife was also a transmutative weapon, capable of enhancing his abilities. Now, he had a versatile weapon for both close and long-range combat.
But most importantly, he now had a backup weapon.
During his previous fight with Wei Wusheng, his opponent had directly seized him with his body, forcing Chen Chuan to engage in hand-to-hand combat. If he had possessed a short knife like this, he would have had another option.
He slid the blade back into its sheath and placed it in the wooden box, then closed the cabinet door and left the storage room. With the knife in hand, he exited the Handling Bureau.
Chen Chuan made his way to the parking lot, retrieved his vehicle, and drove off. As he navigated the roads, his mind wandered to Specialist Liang's words. According to Liang, third-limit cultivation required special medications, and these were not provided upon recruitment but were contingent on contributions and achievements.
Even this was based on the needs of an average person, and Chen Chuan's requirements would undoubtedly be several times greater. This made his situation exceptionally constrained.
However, with limited information about the medications, Chen Chuan felt he could seek advice from other sources, such as Cao Guiqi. Perhaps they could offer some guidance.
Just then, Gao Ming contacted him.
Chen Chuan accepted the call and asked, "Gao Ming, what's up?"
Gao Ming replied, "Brother-in-law, yesterday, Fusion Boundary Corporation came looking for me. They want to meet with you."
"Fusion Boundary Corporation?"
Chen Chuan searched for the company on his Boundary Token. It was a company dedicated to producing high-strength biomaterials and biological components. They had partnerships with City Patrol, City Security Company, and the Handling Bureau, and many of the security protective clothing and bio-armor on the market were their products.
In Central City, Fusion Boundary Corporation occupied a middle-tier position. While they couldn't compare to the top-tier companies and mega-corporations, their scale rivaled that of the pre-decline Mo Lan Corporation, and they were currently on an upward trajectory.
Gao Ming smiled and said, "The person they sent is someone we know, an old classmate of ours."
Chen Chuan's eyes flickered. If there was one person in Central City who could be considered their old classmate, it would be her. He asked, "Meng Shu?"
"Yes, it's her," Gao Ming confirmed.
Chen Chuan had known that Meng Shu was originally from Central City, but her specific background had always been a mystery. It was evident, however, that she came from a well-off family, and now he knew it was Fusion Boundary Corporation.
He inquired, "What does she want to meet me for? Is it because I've become a third-limit fighter?"
Gao Ming explained, "I did some checking, and it seems that Fusion Boundary Corporation, like many other companies, has been investing in fighters for a long time. But the upper management of Fusion Boundary Corporation seems dissatisfied with the person in charge of this aspect and has changed the person in charge five times in a row."
Additionally, there is an unconfirmed report that Meng Lei, the founder of Fusion Boundary, is preparing to hand over the company's operations to his grandson, Meng Huang, due to his advanced age.
However, Meng Huang has not yet been officially announced as the successor, and it is said that our old classmate is also highly regarded by Meng Lei, who likely sees them both as potential heirs.
Meng Huang has been based in Central City for a long time, and at over thirty years old, he has been deeply involved in the company's business. Our classmate will face an uphill battle if he wants to compete with Meng Huang for the position, and the odds are not in his favor."
Chen Chuan nodded, not continuing the topic. Instead, he said, "Gao Ming, I went to the Handling Bureau today and learned some important information. It's best if we discuss this in person; it's not something I can share through the Boundary Token."
Gao Ming sensed the seriousness in his tone and responded decisively, "Alright, cousin. You are my top client, and I'll be right out."
Chen Chuan said, "I'll send you an address. Let's talk there." After sending the address, he ended the communication and drove directly to the area where Wu Lao lived.
Not long after, a silver-gray sedan arrived and stopped below the hill. Gao Ming stepped out of the car, straightened his collar, and approached Chen Chuan, saying, "Cousin, the wind is strong here."
Chen Chuan looked ahead and replied, "That's because there are fewer obstructions, allowing us to see farther."
Gao Ming joined him.
Chen Chuan handed over a prepared agreement, saying, "Please sign this. I need to report it back, and if you disclose it, we'll be held responsible."
Gao Ming signed without hesitation and then read the specific details. Finally, he asked, "What's this about?"
Chen Chuan informed him of the news he had learned that day.
[6◇9◇Book◇Bar]
This news can be shared with two relatives, but he felt it was unnecessary to worry his aunt with this information; it would only add to her concerns. However, as Gao Ming was his private attorney, it was essential for him to know.
After hearing the news, Gao Ming showed no fear, and the eyes behind his gold-rimmed glasses shone brightly. "Cousin, I've always felt that something was being hidden, but I never expected it to be like this," he smiled, "In fact, I'm looking forward to this change.
In this world, most paths to advancement are blocked. No matter who you are, you can only climb the fixed steps one by one, and it's difficult to surpass them. Once you reach a certain level, it becomes nearly impossible to advance even a single step further."
"However, this crisis has made the impossible possible. Under immense pressure, the tightly-knit threads that were once entangled and dense begin to loosen, creating gaps..."
Standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Chen Chuan, Gao Ming looked into the distance, "Cousin, you're right. Although the wind is strong here, it's because there are fewer obstructions, allowing us to see farther."
Chen Chuan slowly said, "The world's changes will likely intensify in the coming years."
Gao Ming adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, "Indeed, a new era is approaching, and we are fortunate to know in advance. We can make some preparations now; it's not too late."
Turning his head, he spoke earnestly, "Cousin, we must seize this opportunity. Judging by the government's attitude, they seem to be excluding those fighters who were not trained through orthodox means. They won't gain anything from this situation or in the future."
The closer one gets to the heart of the crisis, the greater the potential rewards. Those who stay away will gain nothing and can only be tossed about by the world's waves. It's better to take the initiative rather than passively accept."
Chen Chuan nodded slightly.
He then said, "What's your opinion on Meng Shu asking to meet with me?"
Gao Ming responded, "Cousin, I'm inclined to meet her. After all, we were classmates, and now she's one of the heirs to a major company. As fighters, our identities don't conflict. Even if you don't collaborate, you can still maintain a normal relationship."
"But now, there's an additional reason. You can inquire from her and see how much she knows about this matter. If she claims to be unaware, it means she's not valued by her family, and you can maintain a regular classmate relationship without getting too close."
"If she knows, we might be able to ask her about it. The same issue can have different implications for the company and the government."
"If she truly wants to recruit you, she might offer information that you couldn't get elsewhere. At the very least, we'll have an additional channel to gather information."
Chen Chuan considered this and nodded, "Then please arrange the meeting for me."
Gao Ming agreed, "Alright, cousin. I'll take care of it."
...
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(End of Chapter)
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