Chapter 455: The Ferris Wheel
Chapter 455: The Ferris Wheel
In the Luminous Zone, within the headquarters of the Ferris Wheel Corporation, a massive holographic display dominates the conference room, presenting a vast oceanic landscape.
Beneath the swirling white clouds and azure waves, countless islands are scattered across the ocean, each labeled with its name, representing the various Oceanic Nations.
The exact number of islands is difficult to count, but there are over thirty thousand in total.
In today's world, as the impending Great Collision looms, while powerful nations like the Daxun Republic, the Linax Federation, and the Norros Theocracy dominate one pole of the world, the remaining countries and regions have strengthened their connections and cooperation, gradually forming regional alliances.
For example, the Western Nordland Northern Alliance, located at the intersection of the West and East continental plates, the Paranio Faith Region, and the Samawoga Continental Alliance, which faces the West Continent across the ocean.
In the Eastern Ocean, there is also the Oceanic Union, a loose alliance of numerous Oceanic Nations. Compared to other regional alliances, this union is quite relaxed.
When the Daxun Republic overthrew the Ancient Imperial House, most of the Oceanic Nations sided with the Imperial House. As a result, even after the House's fall, the enmity between them has not subsided. The Daxun Republic has been suppressing and dividing them for decades, leading to internal conflicts within the Oceanic Nations.
To break free from this situation, twenty-eight island nations formed a high-level conference, and with the help and support of certain external forces, they established the Ferris Wheel Corporation. On the massive, ever-rotating Ferris wheel at the company's headquarters, each of the twenty-eight cabins represents one of these nations.
The concept of the Ferris Wheel Corporation existed before the Old Era, but it has only been less than a decade since its announcement and establishment.
Over the past ten years, the company has developed rapidly through a parallel strategy of self-research and technology acquisition from around the world. It has excelled in various fields, particularly in island agriculture, ocean ranching, artificial landscape creation, regional transportation, waste processing, and recycling.
In today's conference room, all twenty-eight primary directors are present, standing before the holographic display. The meeting leader speaks:
"The Consortium's representatives are currently observing and evaluating our Ferris Wheel Corporation for a period of three months to a year. This is crucial to our potential inclusion in the Consortium, and we will face significant challenges if we succeed."
All the company directors have solemn expressions, as they stand at a crossroads. This step determines whether the company can continue, whether the capital and technology they have gathered can find a way forward, and more importantly, it concerns the fate and future of the island nations as they perceive it.
Before the Great Collision arrives, they must prepare for every possible scenario.
"Directors, you should be aware that once the application process begins, we will undoubtedly provoke hostility from the Daxun government and domestic companies. The veil of harmony and warmth will be torn away, and they will spare no effort to suppress and marginalize us..."
The meeting leader's voice rises in intensity, "They will devise ways to bring us down, to kill us, to feast on our flesh, and to absorb nutrients from our corpses. We cannot fail; we must ensure success!"
After the Empire War and the fall of the Imperial House, the Daxun government, with the help of the Canglong Corporation and the Oceangoing Expansion Group, has been infiltrating and suppressing us for decades."
Our biologics, algae cultivation and refinement, mineral exploration and mining, oceanic transportation, military weapons, and implant technology—all these lifelines are controlled by Daxun's state-owned enterprises and capital groups.
By joining the Consortium, we can break through the technological blockade and gain military support. If we falter at this step, the Oceanic Nations will forever be at the mercy of the Daxun government and the world's corporations.
The meeting leader addresses the directors, "The Consortium has its own demands, but our advantage is that they need us. They require a stable foothold in Daxun, but the prerequisite is... our continued existence."
He reaches out and touches the Boundary Token, then taps on the holographic display, which immediately shows countless figures with brief annotations of their information.
These individuals include company executives, government officials, military personnel, agents, gang members, and seemingly ordinary drivers, warehouse managers, and even the unemployed.
"After Wuqi's analysis, these are the individuals who have posed a threat to the company in recent years, and among them, the most critical figures are..."
The scene shifts, and many figures fade away, leaving only seven. Among them are three individuals, including Chen Chuan, as Huan Jie had discovered.
"To ensure that our plan to join the Consortium is not disrupted, we must eliminate these seven threats," the meeting leader declares.
One of the directors glances at the display and speaks up, "I recall that we sent a team to eliminate a target, but the mission failed. As the target was a member of the Processing Bureau, they increased their surveillance of us, and our legal team is still dealing with the aftermath."
"This further highlights the threat this individual poses to us and the fact that we haven't taken this matter seriously enough."
The meeting's leader spoke up, "We should rearrange our personnel and the enemy elimination team. We must eliminate these targets at all costs and hope to see results within a short timeframe."
One of the directors spoke up, "The fighters currently gathered by the company are under the watchful eye of the Processing Bureau. It's challenging to mobilize additional personnel. Given the targets' exceptional abilities, I suggest we seek assistance from the Wave Pavilion. This situation requires the involvement of the Gong Clan."
The Wave Pavilion was the most renowned fighting arena on the ocean, having produced numerous famous fighters.
When the arena was initially established, it was granted land by the royal family of the Gong Clan. Therefore, only the direct heirs of the Gong Clan would invite the true experts to take action.
The meeting leader said, "Then let Gong Zhanxin go there."
He turned to the directors on both sides of the table, "In the next three months to a year, for the company's interests and the future of the nations, we must eliminate all the individuals listed by Wu Yi Academy. Let's get rid of them all!"
In the Wu Yi Academy dormitory, Chen Chuan had finished packing everything. Time flew by, and it was already the 28th. He planned to leave for Yangzhi that evening.
However, he remembered the task given to him by Commissioner Liang, so he checked the platform and indeed found scattered discussions about Chen Biting.
Most of the conversations revolved around Chen Biting's plan to establish a training guidance class in Central City, and someone proudly displayed an invitation letter, which elicited envy from many.
Upon closer inspection, Chen Chuan realized that the person who posted the letter was likely the son of a Central City government official, and most of the comments below were from young people of similar backgrounds.
It was evident that Chen Biting's influence extended beyond the Convergence Zone, not only due to his own reputation but also the power of his faction.
Chen Chuan noticed that the invitation letter was for February, which coincided with the start of the new semester at Wu Yi Academy. That would be around the time he returned to Yangzhi.
After a brief moment of thought, he exited the platform and headed to the training room to continue his daily practice.
At 8 p.m., he carried his suitcase out of the dormitory and drove the Canglong car out of the Xuan Gong Tower. As he left, he waved to the Vermillion Whisker standing on the roof of the tower, who bid him farewell with a gaze from behind the veil.
Since he had arranged to return to Yangzhi with Lu Fang, he first headed towards the deeper parts of the Deep Unseen District. After an hour, they arrived at the underground fighting arena.
The center of the city was aglow with various lights, even on this quiet street, where neon lights and beams crisscrossed.
Lu Fang was already waiting there with his luggage, and when he saw the car approaching, he waved and walked over.
Chen Chuan opened the passenger door, and after Lu Fang got in, he went to the back to open the trunk for him. Lu Fang placed his luggage in the trunk, and then Chen Chuan returned to the driver's seat.
As Lu Fang sat down, he noticed a creature perched on the back seat, and he was taken aback. "This is..."
"His name is Chao Ming," Chen Chuan introduced.
Chao Ming chirped and greeted Lu Fang with a sound.
Lu Fang smiled and said, "Hello."
Chen Chuan asked, "Have you taken care of the matters with the senior?"
Lu Fang turned around and replied, "Yes, I've handled everything. There are two seniors at the fighting arena who won't be returning home for the holidays. And during that time, not many people will be training. As for Thirteen, she won't be taking on any commissions during the holidays."
Chen Chuan nodded. Previously, Lu Fang had mentioned that although Thirteen had resonance technology, her lack of identity often led to clients not paying up. Sometimes, Lu Fang would step in to help her, and she would share the rewards with him. It was a mutually beneficial arrangement.
Chen Chuan started the car and drove towards the highway.
At that moment, he couldn't help but recall the words Ni Qianxi had told him a few days ago.
He couldn't understand why the Ferris Wheel Corporation was targeting him, and perhaps the usual logic didn't apply in this situation.
Attacking him in Central City would be challenging, but it would be relatively easier outside.
However, if the Ferris Wheel Corporation wanted to make a move, it was unlikely to happen in Yangzhi. Instead, they might choose the National Highway, a spacious and secluded area with no support and convenient for arranging personnel.
But from the time he left to now, he hadn't noticed any signs of being followed or watched. His itinerary had been concealed, so the road back should be safe.
It was more likely that they would make a move when he returned to Central City, as someone with ill intentions could deduce his return time based on his telegrams and past patterns.
So, if they wanted to strike, it would probably be then.
However, this was just his assumption, as he didn't know their purpose or determination. It was also possible that he was overthinking things.
But regardless, it's always better to be prepared."
...
...
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
