Chapter 639: The Return Journey
Chapter 639: The Return Journey
Upon returning to Ro Wang Island, Chen Chuan sensed a newfound sense of order, as if the island had undergone a transformation. In the distance, a radio tower was under construction, clearly visible to the naked eye.
On one side of the dock, a security guard dressed in a company uniform was conducting a formation drill with indigenous people wearing the same uniform.
The back of the uniform bore a symbol resembling a ringed disk.
The center of the disk was slightly bulging, like a full blue water balloon, but with an opening at the bottom from which water flowed, resembling a droplet.
This was the logo of the Far Ocean Expansion Group, and everything before Chen Chuan's eyes indicated that the company's influence had truly reached this island. The old rules would likely be reshaped.
He turned around and looked towards the harbor, where a large ocean liner was docked. He had booked his ticket a few days ago, and this evening, the ship would take him back home.
He still had about a day's time.
On his previous visit, he hadn't explored the entire island, only wandering through the bustling areas. He had heard that the highest peak, Inverse Difference Mountain, offered the best scenery, so he decided to visit it before his departure.
Due to the considerable distance, he hired a horse-drawn carriage and took out his camera along the way, capturing some beautiful landscapes. As he neared noon, he arrived at the foot of the mountain, disembarked from the carriage, and began his ascent along the wide mountain path.
The main peak of Inverse Difference Mountain stood over two thousand meters tall, with numerous steep and rugged trails. He didn't rush, taking his time and reaching the summit in less than half an hour.
He gazed into the distance, and the entire Ro Wang Island seemed to float on the vast blue ocean. The island's silhouette was clearly visible, and the scattered reefs and lush greenery provided a feast for the eyes.
He picked up his camera and snapped away for a while. Nearby, he noticed a wooden resting bench with a half-height safety railing in front of it. He took a few steps and sat down, taking a few sips from his water bottle and leaning back against the chair, enjoying the breathtaking view.
After a few minutes, a man approached and glanced at the other side of the bench, asking, "May I?"
Chen Chuan gave him a quick glance. The man was in his forties, dressed in an imported suit and a sun hat, exuding an aura of authority.
Chen Chuan nodded slightly, "Sure."
The man sat down, fanning himself with his sun hat and wiping his sweat with a handkerchief. Then, he turned to face Chen Chuan and extended his hand.
"Hello, Chen Supervisor. My name is Zheng Hai, and I'm in charge of business management for the Far Ocean Expansion Group in this maritime area. I'm currently responsible for business development on Ro Island and the surrounding islands. I never expected to see you here on vacation."
Chen Chuan shook hands with him.
It wasn't surprising that the man knew his identity, as he had booked his ticket himself. Although he was an investigation supervisor, he no longer needed to report his status as a Third Limit Combatant. However, if the Far Ocean Expansion Group paid attention to its passengers, they could easily uncover his identity.
But this time, he didn't mind revealing his whereabouts.
Zheng Hai leaned back against the chair as well. He gestured towards the front, waving his hand as if encompassing the entire island.
"We plan to establish an information domain here, over there, oh... and also on this side..."
He pointed in several directions, "We'll deploy domain creatures in these locations to connect the island's communication and provide basic information services."
"That's quite an investment," Chen Chuan remarked.
While domain creatures didn't consume algae oil or electricity, they required high-energy nutrients, which were not cheap.
Zheng Hai smiled and said, "We won't do this on every island. Ro Wang Island and its surrounding seas have always been known for tourism and commerce. To manage this place well, maintaining security is essential, and that requires efficient communication and transportation."
He paused, "With these measures in place, the Great Prosperity's rule can be firmly established here."
"Of course, relying solely on commercial tourism may not be enough. I believe that in the future, the Canglong Corporation might establish a biological research facility here. These initial investments will be recouped through future returns."
"A biological research facility like the one in the Linenax Federation?" Chen Chuan inquired.
Zheng Hai smiled and replied, "No, this will be our own territory. We won't conduct experiments on our own land like the Linenax Federation. These experiments won't involve high-risk projects. We don't want to turn this beautiful island into a living hell."
Zheng Hai then reached into his pocket and took out a business card, presenting it to Chen Chuan with both hands. "Supervisor Chen, this is my business card. If you ever visit this maritime area for work or leisure in the future and have any suggestions or needs, please don't hesitate to contact me."
Chen Chuan took the card.
Zheng Hai noticed Chen Chuan's camera and smiled, "Oh, and this." He took out a refined envelope from his briefcase.
"These are postcards our company made featuring the scenery of the surrounding islands. This is the first edition, and we've only printed a hundred sets so far. They hold great commemorative value. Please keep a set, Supervisor Chen."
Chen Chuan was quite interested in this, and although he wasn't the one who took the photos, he acknowledged their significance. He thanked the speaker and took the postcards.
Zheng Hai put his hat back on, stood up, and bowed slightly, "Then, I wish you a smooth journey back." After another bow, he left the place.
After Zheng Hai's departure, Chen Chuan flipped through the postcards.
He understood the purpose of the visitor's arrival. As the Investigation Chief, his primary focus was on companies, not just independent enterprises but also state-owned enterprises.
This time, the visitor claimed to be here for leisure and vacation, but at this critical juncture, neither company could be certain if he was tasked with any surveillance or inspection duties. Therefore, they reached out to him, expressing their stance.
At that moment, Chen Chuan suddenly recalled that beyond the foreign seas, Da Shun's presence wasn't limited to these two companies. It was highly likely that his cousin, Nian Qian, was currently engaged in military operations on some island.
With the collapse of the Ferris Wheel Company and the Linax Federation's influence being purged, there was a chance that this year's holiday season could be spent at home.
Meanwhile, Zheng Hai rode the cable car down the mountain and returned to his office, where his deputy greeted him, "Sir, the requested materials are all packed and ready."
Zheng Hai paused, "Are they all inside?"
"Yes," the deputy confirmed, "including the old records from Fei Guang Island, the inspection data left by the Linax Federation, and some archives from the Ferris Wheel Company."
Zheng Hai whispered something to his deputy, who looked surprised but didn't question it, nodding and leaving.
Half an hour later, Zheng Hai's temporary office suddenly erupted in flames, followed by a chaotic scene of people rushing to extinguish the fire.
Zheng Hai and his deputy stood at a distance, observing. The deputy whispered, "Sir, why?"
Zheng Hai replied, "If there truly is that thing in these waters, peace may not return to this area anytime soon. I've put in a lot of preliminary work, and it wasn't easy to open up this situation. I don't want it all to be halted suddenly or for some reason."
The deputy felt the reason wasn't entirely convincing, but he didn't dare ask further questions.
After standing for a while, Zheng Hai returned to his residence and pulled out a telegraph machine from beneath it. He tuned into a secret frequency and began transmitting:
"All abnormal records have been destroyed as per the initial instructions. Awaiting further instructions. Sender: Inkfish. August 20th, 15:10, 95th year of Jianzhi."
Chen Chuan stayed on the mountain for over an hour. After returning, he didn't linger on the island and directly boarded the cruise ship for his journey back.
At 7 PM, after dinner, Chen Chuan left the ship's restaurant and headed to the open-air leisure area on the deck. He asked a waiter for the latest newspapers and reports from Jinbei Province's Central City.
Flipping through them, he found nothing new. Most of the content focused on the Linax Federation's biological experiments and their subsequent impact.
However, one news item caught his attention—the United Body's representative in Jinbei Province's Central City claimed that the Ferris Wheel Company had conducted business with them and signed numerous agreements.
Now, with the Ferris Wheel Company unable to fulfill its obligations due to the Government Hall, the United Body demanded compensation from the Government Hall and punishment for those involved.
Chen Chuan raised an eyebrow, as he knew that while the Ferris Wheel Company had proposed numerous business collaborations with the United Body, no agreements had been reached. The United Body was likely using this as a pretext to pressure the Government Hall.
If not for the evidence of the Ferris Wheel Company's collusion, there might have been even more accusations.
It was foreseeable that the Municipal Parliament would use this excuse to stir up trouble, and those companies that had suffered losses during the Vermouth split and opposed the expansion of government influence would likely take advantage of the situation.
This wasn't surprising, as the conflict between the Government Hall and the Parliament had always existed. As long as one side wasn't completely suppressed, this struggle would continue.
...
...
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
