Chapter 424: The Union Consortium
Chapter 424: The Union Consortium
The Union Consortium, a powerful organization, was established by numerous multinational corporations with the initial aim of countering external threats to their interests, as not all governments in the world were as dominant as the Da Shun Government.
As the Consortium's membership grew, so did its influence, eventually surpassing many national governments in power and reach. Chen Chuan, an Executor of the Handling Bureau, had access to the Consortium's information, a fact he couldn't ignore.
The Consortium's internal hierarchy was based on the size, location, and influence of its member companies. Its core members shared resources, intelligence, and risks, and collectively influenced government decisions.
Although Ferris Wheel Corporation couldn't match the giants in scale, its membership granted it immunity from international regulations, access to shared intelligence, lobbying power, and exclusive technologies not available to outsiders.
The Consortium's influence wasn't limited to the physical world; its jointly formed teams also played a crucial role in maintaining the World Ring's power, and their strength was formidable.
Major nations chose to tolerate the Consortium, as the impending Great Collision demanded unity, and internal conflicts would only weaken their collective might. Chen Chuan realized that if the Ferris Wheel deal went through, it would be virtually impossible to resolve the issue at the government level.
He didn't inquire about Wu Ju's plans, but he knew the Da Shun Government would try to obstruct it. However, the outcome was uncertain.
These matters were beyond his concern for now. His primary task was to fulfill the Defense Department's request, participate in the World Ring Defense mission, and then find a mentor to guide his next steps. No matter how the world changed, he relied solely on his own strength.
After ending the call with Wu Ju, Chen Chuan drove back to Wu Yi and unloaded the weapons from his car into the training room. The collection had grown, with various types of weapons taking up significant space. The room had simple weapon racks and empty cabinets, not ideal for display.
Indeed, the training room wasn't designed for weapon storage or maintenance. He decided it was time to move them to the mansion.
He placed the weapons into weapon bags, made two trips to the Gare Car, and then drove to the mansion, which was nearby, arriving in less than ten minutes.
Five Sword Guards, identified by their Boundary Tokens, stood watch at the mansion. After a quick communication, they opened the gate for him. Once he parked in the private garage, he single-handedly carried the weapons to the Armory.
The Armory was a stark contrast to the dormitory, divided into various display areas with wall mounts and racks for different weapons. There were recessed, embedded, and wall-mounted displays, each with lighting to showcase the weapons.
Chen Chuan meticulously cleaned each weapon before carefully selecting a spot for each one.
Stepping back to admire his work, he felt a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. The only regret was the limited number of weapons; his gaze quickly moved on.
What seemed like a substantial collection now occupied just a small corner of the Armory, leaving him with a desire to expand.
After appreciating his collection for a while, he left the semi-enclosed Armory, which was ideal for maintenance, as it didn't require constant supervision.
He went downstairs to the kitchen, made himself a cup of tea, and then ascended to the fourth-floor balcony. He fetched a chair and sat, gazing outward.
The surroundings were pleasant, filled with birdsong and lush greenery. There was even a wetland park nearby. If it weren't for the presence of Hong Fu as his sparring partner and the higher defense level at Wu Yi, this place would be ideal for residence.
To fortify the defense here, he would need a field domain interference organism to counter external biological field domain intrusions. For a large estate, without a Resonator as a guardian, there was little secrecy from the outside world.
If he were to move here, he'd need to acquire a field domain interference organism, a Resonance Nest, and a dedicated Resonator.
With this in mind, he activated the Boundary Token's holoscreen and casually searched.
His Tier Three Fighter status granted him access to platforms that were previously off-limits, revealing a plethora of products he'd never encountered before.
Soon, various advertisements popped up, including skill-based dolls recommended by sellers. These dolls, he noticed, were products of Paperman Corporation.
He was familiar with their work, as the Sword Guards below and the "Number Thirteen" were their creations.
These dolls, besides being guardians, also possessed Resonator skills, making them highly sought-after by the upper and middle classes.
Paper Man Corporation utilized a triple control system of hypnotic commands, implant keys, and medication to ensure that the puppets were absolutely loyal to their respective purchasers and would never betray them. They even guaranteed that the puppets would not disobey orders, even if instructed to attack the Paper Man Corporation itself.
In reality, the Original Human Corporation was the most technologically advanced in the field of puppet creation, but they catered to a high-end market, and puppets were not their primary focus. Paper Man Corporation, on the other hand, was the most prominent company in this industry within the country.
He pondered for a moment and recalled that the Original Human Corporation also had a branch in Jinbei Central City, located in the Wei Guang District among a cluster of giant corporations. They were also one of Wu Yi's significant sponsors, but they generally maintained a low profile.
Unless specifically mentioned, most people would overlook the existence of this company. However, the Original Human Corporation was once an essential member of the corporate union led by Wu Ju. It was an entity that couldn't be ignored among the multitude of companies.
He had a card from the Original Human Corporation, which seemed to suggest some connection between his parents and the company. However, the card had been invalidated over a decade ago.
There were still many mysteries surrounding this matter that he couldn't quite grasp yet.
But he wasn't in a hurry. He believed that as the memory-enhancing drugs delved deeper, he would uncover clues and eventually uncover the truth.
After finishing a cup of tea, he put on the Boundary Token that Officer Liang had given him and contacted the woman who had picked him up last time. He had learned that her surname was Ji.
After connecting, he said, "Officer Ji, Officer Liang asked me to report by the end of the month. I've completed the task at hand and am ready to receive new assignments."
Officer Ji immediately sent him a form, saying, "Executor Chen, please fill out this registration form and send it back to me. If you have any questions, you can contact me via message or direct call."
Chen Chuan acknowledged and took a glance at the form, recognizing it as a defense plan registration form. After filling it out, he sent it back to her.
After a brief wait, Officer Ji responded, "The form has been submitted. Please wait patiently, Executor Chen. Within three days, we will send you a mission assignment. During this time, please refrain from accepting other tasks or commissions."
Chen Chuan replied, "Thank you for the reminder. I understand."
As he was about to undertake a defense mission, he wasn't sure how long it would take. Based on Wu Ju's words, it probably wouldn't be too long, but it might not be a short-term engagement either. Therefore, he needed to inform those he frequently contacted.
He first contacted Gao Ming and gave him a quick update. Then, he reached out to Wu Bei and briefly touched base. Next, he contacted Tan Zhi and informed him that Zhao Ming might need to stay with him for a little longer.
Tan Zhi assured him that it wasn't a problem. He also mentioned that he had moved out of the dormitory and was renting a place of his own, which made it more convenient for him to follow a teacher's training. He invited Chen Chuan to visit anytime.
As he spoke, he sent Chen Chuan an address.
Chen Chuan took a look; the address was not far from Wu Yi, just fifty meters away from a famous Joyhop Bar, and within two kilometers of a dance drama theater.
He smiled; the location was indeed a great choice, befitting of Tan Zhi's residence.
At this point, he contacted Lao Qi, but the call took a while to connect, and when Lao Qi's voice came through, it sounded hoarse and tired.
Sensing something amiss, Chen Chuan asked, "Lao Qi, what's wrong?"
Lao Qi said, "Chen Xiao, I was actually planning to reach out to you. If you're asking about the Venomous Snake Sect materials, I'm having a hard time getting them recently..."
Chen Chuan raised an eyebrow. He had always purchased high-quality Venomous Snake Sect materials from Lao Qi, and the quantity was always sufficient, making it a reliable source.
However, even if Lao Qi couldn't supply the materials, it wasn't a significant issue. Chen Chuan now had access to Roadway Logistics, a channel that could provide many items from the lower city districts.
He was more concerned about Lao Qi's situation. "Lao Qi, is everything okay on your end?"
Lao Qi seemed to hesitate before finally speaking, "The friend who's been selling me the Venomous Snake Sect materials has been doing it on his own without the knowledge of his backers. He fled from the lower city district, and I found him a place to stay. But the gangs from the lower city district have come looking for him.
He was taken away by them, and it seems like the gang members aren't planning to let this go. They want to trace the materials' whereabouts, so I haven't been able to go home recently. I've been staying in the car with Xiao Qi for the past few days."
"How long has this been going on?" Chen Chuan asked.
"About four or five days," Lao Qi replied.
"Lao Qi, where are you now? Okay, don't worry. I'll come over shortly." Chen Chuan ended the call and finished his tea. He then got up, went downstairs, and called home to inform them that he would be executing a mission soon and might be out of contact for a while. He asked them to contact Gao Ming if they needed to reach him during this time.
After leaving the villa, he got into his Gare car and drove to the location Lao Qi had mentioned.
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Chapter end
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