Chapter 644: On the Edge
Chapter 644: On the Edge
Chen Chuan was not surprised by Ji Xinmin and the other two's counter-accusations; such tactics were old hat, and even without the numerous precedents, he himself had encountered similar situations before.
Lack of evidence? Evidence could be created, and new evidence and witnesses could keep appearing, leading to lengthy verification and investigation processes, repeating in a never-ending cycle. With legal support, this matter could be dragged out indefinitely, never reaching a conclusion.
Director Wu noticed his calm demeanor and knew he had already anticipated this. However, he still offered a reminder, "The Gray Shell Agency and the Municipal Parliament are closely connected. You must remain vigilant."
These people have abundant financial resources and manpower. They might keep harassing you over this matter, constantly draining your energy and time.
They may secretly persuade people you know to convince you to back down, or they might resort to more underhanded tactics to pressure you until you either withdraw or concede."
"Do you have any suggestions, Director Wu?" Chen Chuan asked.
Director Wu replied, "In this matter, your opinion takes precedence. If you plan to persist to the end, the Bureau will support you. This isn't just my decision; it's the opinion of the other directors as well."
"The Bureau can act as a guarantor to prevent you from being summoned. We can also cover the costs of going to the High Court. In this matter, we are united in our decision to protect our agents.
However, this could take several years or even longer to resolve. Even if you aren't summoned, they'll find other ways to disrupt you. Don't underestimate them; over time, they could significantly drain your energy and time."
His voice deepened, "There have been similar cases before, not just one. Initially, they were also confident in their ability to fight to the end, but in the end, they either requested a transfer or agreed to certain conditions for reconciliation, which put the Bureau in a passive position."
Chen Chuan nodded slightly, understanding the situation. If the Bureau's support consistently failed, it would eventually become meaningless, and while it might not harm the Processing Bureau's reputation, it would significantly damage internal morale.
However, unlike those who were forced to compromise, Ji Xinmin and the other two were from the Refinement Sect. Despite knowing that Chen Chuan had joined the Pure Essence Sect, they still attempted to use various means to sway him, even resorting to additional methods. Therefore, this matter, when viewed from a broader perspective, had already escalated into a dispute between sects.
After using up his Pure Essence, Chen Chuan sent a telegram using the communication channel provided by Chang Dong. The other party promised to increase his supply of Pure Essence and also informed him that they would send someone to resolve the issue within the next couple of days, asking him to wait patiently.
In truth, even if no conclusion was reached, it wouldn't matter much. The Great Collision was approaching, and who knew how many years or more it would take? By then, the current rules might not even exist, and the ultimate deciding factor would be might.
Nonetheless, Chen Chuan was grateful for Director Wu's kind warning. He said, "Thank you, Director Wu."
Director Wu responded, "You're one of our Processing Bureau's agents, and this time, you hold the evidence and set the reasonable boundaries. The Bureau will definitely support you. But I must also say that while we can help you personally, we can't cover all bases. Manager Chen, you need to consider your next steps."
Chen Chuan nodded, "I believe I can find a solution."
Director Wu glanced at him and suddenly asked, "Do you know their identities?"
Chen Chuan understood that he was referring to the identities of the people behind this. He replied affirmatively, "I know."
Director Wu nodded and patted him on the shoulder, "As long as you're aware, that's good enough. If there's anything you can't handle on your own, remember to seek help of the Bureau."
"I will," Chen Chuan agreed.
After their conversation, Chen Chuan exited the conference room.
As he walked down the corridor, for some reason, he suddenly thought of the cold-mannered Manager Han he had met earlier. Despite her aloof demeanor, he couldn't shake the feeling that she harbored some hostility towards him.
He had a hunch and decided to check the files. The records only contained basic information about age and work experience. Manager Han was a local Wu Yi Academy graduate who had risen through the ranks from the bottom.
She had an impressive record of achievements but remained in the same position until she was thirty-five. Only in the last decade had she risen through the ranks, and she had been in her current managerial position for three years.
There wasn't much else to find.
Chen Chuan paused to think, then stood by the corridor window and contacted Ni Qianqian. After a moment, she answered, "Ni Qianqian here."
"You're still a manager at the Bureau, so it's better to use formal titles," she hurriedly added.
Chen Chuan smiled, "There's something I'd like to ask you about." He paused, "Do you know Manager Han?"
"Manager Han?" Ni Qianqian thought for a moment.
Chen Chuan heard the sound of her walking outside in high heels, and after a while, her voice came out again, "Manager Han was said to be quite famous when he was younger, but after being injured in an operation, he was transferred to a more relaxed position. It seems like he's been held back for more than a decade."
"But I heard that his grandfather once held a very high position, and he was specifically in charge of company affairs. It's because of this connection that he still has ties with some high-ranking company officials, even some from abroad..."
Chen Chuan listened attentively, knowing that Ni Qianqian didn't have much information, and most of it was unconfirmed gossip, but some parts were worth considering.
After listening, Chen Chuan thanked her and mentioned inviting Ni Qianqian for a meal another day. He then ended the communication and walked out of the corridor. As he stepped outside, he looked up and saw Qiu Ganshi waiting for him, smiling and saluting.
"Manager Chen, there are a few documents for your signature."
Chen Chuan took the documents and saw that they were related to the national mobilization and the exemption from mobilization in the Convergence Zone. As a Third Limitation Fighter, he was obligated to respond to such calls.
However, as the Investigation Director of the Processing Bureau, he was now considered an upper-middle-level official in Central City. Technically, he was no longer part of the front-line combat personnel.
Unless there was an emergency mobilization, a request for transfer, or voluntary participation, he would not be forced to engage in such activities again.
But in the event of an emergency, everyone in the Processing Bureau, regardless of their position, would be expected to join the fight as long as they possessed combat capabilities.
It could be said that they hadn't encountered such a situation yet.
After reviewing the documents, Chen Chuan took the pen offered by Qiu Ganshi and signed the two documents.
Qiu Ganshi returned the signed documents and handed him another one.
"Manager Chen, here's another one. Please sign this as well."
Chen Chuan took the document and saw that it was about the allocation of his cultivation resources, especially the special medicines. Even if he didn't go to the Convergence Zone, due to his current position, he still had a fixed allocation.
He sighed inwardly, knowing that those fighting on the front lines could gain a lot, but there was still a noticeable gap compared to the true managers, as the latter were the ones who controlled and allocated resources.
If he hadn't joined a sect or signed an agreement with the government or a company, the position he had reached would have been his peak.
He signed the document and returned it to Qiu Ganshi, who saluted again before leaving with the documents.
Chen Chuan walked outside, and after returning to his car, he thought about the medicine provided by the Fusion Boundary Company, which was sufficient for his daily cultivation.
In fact, his physical cultivation had already reached the limit of his true self's potential, but after consuming the Pure Essence, his potential increased once more. However, overall, he could already see the next step, perhaps just a matter of a few months, and the rest was purely mental refinement.
Of course, there was also the matter of his Second Self. His plan was to have his Second Self catch up to his current level, fuse with himself, and then take that final step beyond the limit, transcending the theoretically perfect.
If this was his goal, he needed not only cultivation but also qualified opponents. However, in Central City, this was probably the least of his concerns.
Moreover, in mid-to-late September, the Union and the Linaksa Federation's diplomatic teams were arriving, just a couple of weeks away. One could imagine that Central City would not remain peaceful during that time.
And once he no longer needed the special medicines, he could pass on the remaining medicine to suitable individuals with potential. Those who held resources naturally attracted strength.
Just as Chen Chuan was leaving the Processing Bureau, Wei Dong and Wu Han were heading towards an abandoned building on the outskirts of the Deep Uncharted Zone.
Today, they had received a commission to rescue a hostage taken by gang members. Both of them carried their preferred weapons, Wu Han with a short rifle and Wei Dong with a pair of specialized fist wraps, and they wore protective clothing.
After reaching the side of the building, Wu Han took cover and looked up. "Junior Brother, as usual, you'll attract their attention from the front, and I'll enter from the side to rescue the hostage."
They had completed many such commissions, and these bandits were unlikely to possess high combat skills. After all, if they had such skills, they wouldn't be bandits. Usually, a single assault was enough to resolve the issue.
However, Wei Dong, who was usually fearless, didn't respond as expected.
Wu Han looked at him curiously.
Wei Dong spoke up, "I have a bad feeling about this."
Wu Han was surprised, as Wei Dong was never afraid, but his intuition was always spot-on. If he said something felt wrong, there was likely something suspicious going on.
The two of them had executed many missions together and had faced numerous hazards. Wu Han trusted Wei Dong's instincts, and he suddenly remembered that Chen Chuan had recently reminded them to be extremely cautious.
So, Wu Han looked up and made a quick decision, "Let's not go in. We'll retreat!"
...
...
(End of Chapter)
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