Chapter 597: Security Inspection
Chapter 597: Security Inspection
As Chen Chuan stepped into the vehicle, he spotted a tall, robust figure seated in the backseat, his muscles taut beneath his clothing.
Upon seeing this person, Chen Chuan instantly recalled the time when he had accompanied Commissioner Feng on a task; he had met this man once before, and it turned out to be Mr. Chu.
The backseat of the armored vehicle was spacious, and Chen Chuan took a seat opposite him. The door was closed from the outside.
Mr. Chu said, "Captain Chen, it's not easy to get hold of you."
Chen Chuan replied, "Is that so? It seems like Mr. Chu has only invited me once before."
Mr. Chu explained, "Captain Chen, I understand if you have some reservations about us. We have our duties and matters we must investigate, which inevitably infringes upon many people's interests. But this is precisely why the Special Action Task Force exists."
Chen Chuan asked, "Is Mr. Chu calling me here today also regarding Chen Bitong's matter?"
Mr. Chu responded, "That's not important. The Chen Bitong incident is in the past now, and the current handling method is the best. We are not unaware of the need for flexibility."
Looking at Chen Chuan, Mr. Chu continued, "The reason I invited you here, Captain Chen, is for your personal benefit."
"Me?" Chen Chuan asked, puzzled. "What guidance does Mr. Chu have for me?"
Mr. Chu said, "Captain Chen, I've admired you ever since Yangzhi City. You should deal with those company people decisively, leaving no room for survival and no future troubles. In Central City, you once again demonstrated your stance and value, which is precisely what our Temporary Action Task Force needs."
Chen Chuan's expression remained calm.
Mr. Chu stated, "The current enemy of the Great Harmony is the corporations of various countries. They control vast resources and possess military forces that rival national governments, hindering the development and progress of nations.
This is a lingering issue left over from the dynasty's revolution and the collapse of the Great Alliance. However, we cannot turn a blind eye to it. Someone must rectify this situation, not just compromise endlessly.
I believe that after spending so much time in Central City, you should understand what I'm saying."
Chen Chuan remained silent.
Mr. Chu continued, "I've reviewed your resume. In Yangzhi City, you relied on your own abilities and skillfully utilized the situation to turn an impossible scenario around. You opened a breach in that wall, and I admire your efforts and your fearless courage."
"But have you ever considered," Mr. Chu asked, "that when you break through one high wall, what awaits you on the other side might not be the vast expanse you imagine but an even higher and larger wall?"
"Is Mr. Chu referring to Central City?" Chen Chuan inquired.
"Central City?" Mr. Chu shook his head. "Perhaps Captain Chen doesn't feel it yet because the path you're currently on is one they allow."
He extended his finger and pointed, "You haven't crossed the line they've drawn yet, but you're not far from it.
I can share some news with you. Your promotion file is already on the desks of the Handling Bureau and the Defense Department.
As expected, you might become the youngest investigation supervisor in the Jinbei Province Handling Bureau, equivalent to a deputy director, which is quite impressive.
But soon, you'll discover that when you want to climb higher or acquire more resources to enhance your strength, you'll find it challenging to move forward. There's an invisible glass ceiling above."
Mr. Chu spoke with a meaningful tone, "For those who rise from the bottom, without meeting certain conditions or being accepted and allowed into certain circles, this is as far as they can go."
As he spoke, he glanced at Chen Chuan, seemingly waiting for him to digest and contemplate his words. After a while, he continued with added emphasis:
"However, this doesn't mean there's no other path. The Special Action Task Force can provide that path, and it doesn't require those things.
Of course, if you choose to stop here and have no further ambitions or desire to enhance your strength, this position is sufficient for you until retirement.
But are you content with that? Your abilities are no less than anyone else's. Among the young people I've met, you are among the best. Your talents should be utilized appropriately, not wasted and squandered here."
At this moment, Mr. Chu reached into his pocket, took out a name card, and handed it to Chen Chuan. "This is my name card. You'll soon understand what I mean. If you want to break through that high wall, you can come find me."
Chen Chuan took the name card, examined it, and accepted it after a moment's thought.
Mr. Chu seemed pleased that Chen Chuan took the name card. "Then let's end our conversation here, Captain Chen. Consider what I've said; I'm not in a rush, and you don't need to make a hasty decision."
The armored vehicle convoy circled outside and returned to the square in front of the Xuan Palace Building.
The car door opened, and Chen Chuan stepped out.
"Oh, Captain Chen," Mr. Chu called out from the backseat as the car window slowly descended. "In a few days, there will be a security inspection at the Government Hall. The Municipal Parliament proposed this in the name of Central City's safety. All personnel who have come into contact with the split entities and that existence must attend."
Captain Chen Chuan, you were the last person to see Chen Bitong, so you'll be the focus of this inspection. No matter what trouble you get into, if you're willing, the Special Operations Committee can help you resolve it."
After speaking, the car window rose again, and the armed vehicles drove out one after the other.
Chen Chuan turned his thoughts, "A safety inspection...?"
If his guess was correct, this matter was likely related to the leak of Pure Essence.
The upper echelons of the Government Hall and various companies might not be able to definitively determine that Chen Bitong was the one who tore open that rift, but they would certainly suspect him. After all, his behavior was the most suspicious.
As the last person to have contact with Chen Bitong, he would undoubtedly be suspected as well. From another perspective, any ambitious fighter who learned about this matter would not be able to resist the temptation of absorbing Pure Essence.
However, he had already considered this possibility.
He had a second self, which could reduce his physical state, even to the point of expressing a state where psychic power didn't exist. He could even use his second self to block certain field domain scans; as for the specific situation, he could see when the time came.
After considering this, he walked into the building. Along the way, he noticed that the students greeted each other, unlike the usual hurried and unbothered atmosphere.
He thought this might be because the students and teachers had participated in a battle together a few days ago, forging a different kind of camaraderie.
Upon returning to his dormitory via the elevator, he was about to continue his afternoon training when he heard a notification from his second self.
He took a glance and saw it was a voice message from Tan Zhi. He opened it, and a voice came through:
"Chen, how have you been these days? Teacher Wei asked me to tell you to be careful recently."
"Teacher Wei?"
Chen Chuan's heart stirred slightly. He remembered Teacher Wei as Tan Zhi's personal coach, rumored to have a good relationship with a certain parliamentarian.
A parliamentarian...
After a moment's thought, he sent a voice message: "Tan, thank you, and please thank Teacher Wei for me."
He could guess why Teacher Wei had warned him, and with what Scholar Chu had said earlier, it seemed this time, the visitors were indeed unfriendly and wanted to uncover something.
Scholar Pei's suggestion for him to take a break and travel for a while might have been for this reason.
However, if the issue wasn't resolved, even if he left, he might not be able to truly escape suspicion.
Although the various companies and governments competed with each other, they were likely united in their stance on blocking the leak of Pure Essence.
Perhaps this was an opportunity to resolve this problem.
The news came very quickly. On the very same afternoon, he received a notification from the Government Hall and the Handling Bureau, requesting that he and the others involved in that day's operation go to the Emergency Operations Center in Weiguang District the next day for a safety inspection.
He took a glance and, while drinking a hot beverage, swallowed a strand of Pure Essence he had just captured.
Although Pure Essence was becoming harder to find, as long as one paid attention, there was always something to be gained.
After finishing the hot drink and metabolizing the Pure Essence, he continued his daily cultivation.
The next day, he put on the Handling Bureau's uniform and drove to the Emergency Operations Center.
When he arrived, he saw patrol airships flying overhead and fully armed guard forces on both sides of the road.
The soldiers wore protective goggles and thick black protective suits, equipped with both hot and cold weapons. Their exposed faces showed embedded lines, giving them a very tough appearance.
This was a unit under the exclusive command of the Municipal Parliament. With ample funding, this unit had the most advanced equipment and implants.
However, whether it was maintaining city security or during the Shengmu Split, this unit had never been seen. The reason was that at that time, this unit was responsible for protecting the safety of every parliamentarian.
There might be another unspoken reason: when necessary, they could be used to guard against and counter the government's military forces.
After arriving, he heard the voice of a dormant consciousness entity in his ear, guiding him to park in the designated area.
After parking, he looked at the tall building of the Emergency Operations Center, its semi-transparent glass walls reflecting half the sky and the building across from it.
On the holographic screen in front, a rotating web-like structure was displayed, with an eyeball-shaped reflective object seemingly staring at every person passing by or entering.
He averted his gaze and followed the marked path into the building.
Just then, a middle-aged man in imported formal wear standing at the entrance looked in his direction and spoke into his second self: "Report, the key focus target has entered the central area. Initiate Level Two Security Protocol..."
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(End of Chapter)
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