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Chapter 857: The Battle's Aftermath
Chapter 857: The Battle's Aftermath
As the massive pillar of smoke and dust erupted, a shockwave rippled outward, causing the surrounding trees to sway and emit a roaring sound like a surging tide. The two hovering airships nearby shook violently and drifted away from the epicenter.
However, neither side knew the outcome, as the two combatants' movements were too swift. Just before the final blow, it seemed that one of them was lifted by the other's single-handed grip, followed by a deafening explosion that shook the land.
Director Bao, witnessing the nearby airship turning, its machine gun turret rotating, immediately instructed, "Get ready. If they open fire, we will too."
Despite the mutual vigilance and aimed guns, neither side took action, maintaining a considerable distance as they awaited the outcome below.
After a while, the rolling smoke and dust settled, revealing the scene below. Director Bao took a few glances, his expression brightening.
In the center of the battle site, a large shallow pit had formed, with Chen Chuan standing in the middle and Qi Hui Shi lying at the bottom.
It was clear who had emerged victorious.
Qi Hui Shi's chest rose and fell slightly, and white light emanated from his body, seeping out in strands. At this moment, his body was permeated by divergent organizations, rendering him immobile.
He knew that Chen Chuan had held back, as the previous strike alone could have taken his life. Yet, on the surface, he appeared uninjured.
Spitting out some dirt, Qi Hui Shi spoke weakly, "Director Chen, you win. I concede. Take the person and the key."
He felt a twinge of heartache, as the high-energy nutritional ingredients he had painstakingly collected over time were now gone. Especially the limited-supply medicines, which were not easily obtainable. However, after returning from this battle, he would demand double compensation.
Chen Chuan glanced at one side, and the key emerged from the scattered dirt, floating towards him. He reached out and grasped it, saying, "Mr. Qi, we'll have another sparring session in the future."
After saying this, he turned and walked towards the white-haired woman, lifting her up and heading towards the airship.
As he approached, the airship slowly descended to a low altitude, and the elevator board lowered. Chen Chuan stepped onto it, turned around, and watched the other airship accelerate towards Qi Hui Shi's location.
The elevator board gradually retracted, and the scene faded as it returned to the interior of the airship. With a loud bang, the elevator board closed, and Director Bao approached. "Director Chen, are you alright?"
"I'm fine," Chen Chuan replied. "It was just a friendly sparring session."
Director Bao observed Chen Chuan, his throat moving slightly. With such a grand spectacle, how could it be just a simple sparring session? What would their real fight look like?
At this moment, Chen Chuan placed the white-haired woman down, and Director Bao signaled for her to be restrained. He stepped closer and whispered, "Mr. Chen, regarding this matter, do you think there's a connection between the Chaos Territory and Haisi Province...?"
Chen Chuan nodded. The shattered airship belonged to the Chaos Territory, which had an ambiguous relationship with Haisi Province. Some individuals or forces within Haisi Province might even be the instigators or participants in this incident.
Furthermore, the involvement of a martial artist indicated that the government might also have a hand in this matter.
However, there was no need to delve deeper into this issue, nor could it be thoroughly investigated. Chen Chuan had no interest in it; as long as he brought the person back, the matter could be concluded.
"Let's leave it at that," he said.
Director Bao silently nodded. This matter was beyond his small frame's capability; it required the intervention of the headquarters. He would simply report the process and let them handle it.
After their airship departed, Qi Hui Shi lay there for a while. Then, someone from the other airship approached and asked, "Mr. Qi, are you alright?"
Qi Hui Shi, covered in dust, stood up from the pit. In reality, he had already recovered during that short time, but he felt embarrassed to get up while Chen Chuan was there.
Reflecting on the battle, Qi Hui Shi realized that Chen Chuan's strength and speed were not much different from his own. Chen Chuan's techniques were not particularly remarkable, but he excelled at creating and seizing opportunities.
Additionally, Qi Hui Shi was deeply impressed by Chen Chuan's formidable true strength. If not for this foundation, he doubted he would have lost so easily. However, with Chen Chuan's weapons in play, he had no complaints about the outcome. Battles rarely adhered to absolute fairness.
This time, he had been thoroughly defeated.
"Let's go," he said, walking towards the airship.
The crew member followed a few steps behind, asking, "Sir, what about those items?"
Qi Hui Shi gave him a cold look, causing the man's heart to skip a beat. He dared not say another word and silently followed.
On the Yu Hai Corporation's airship, Chen Chuan returned to the cabin, where the white-haired woman was being held. She looked up as he entered, her blue eyes fixing on him. "You are very strong," she said.
Chen Chuan paused, his gaze falling as the white-haired woman raised her head and spoke, "I witnessed your battle with another warrior, but if I regain my strength, you both stand no chance against me."
Chen Chuan could tell she wasn't boasting or being arrogant; she genuinely believed this and stated it openly.
Now, Chen Chuan understood how to communicate with such individuals. He replied, "Battles between fighters are never fair, and you've already lost. As the victor, I can decide your fate and take everything from you."
The white-haired woman's expression immediately turned despondent. She seemed to acknowledge this rhetoric, her face growing serious as she said, "Do you intend to enslave me? As a hunter warrior, I would never become a slave, but you have the power to take my life and my possessions."
Chen Chuan said, "I don't need your life. Just return what you took from us, and that will suffice."
The white-haired woman became agitated upon hearing this. She raised her voice, saying, "That is our hard-earned loot, carrying the honor and hope of our tribe. I can compensate you with livestock and people from my tribe."
Chen Chuan said, "Centuries have passed, and your tribe has likely ceased to exist. Moreover, this loot now belongs to me, so you have no right to make such demands."
Upon hearing these words, the woman's face flushed red with anger, but she remained silent, sitting without a word as if protesting through her attitude.
The return journey proceeded without incident, and the airship arrived in Yangzhi the next day. This time, they didn't go to the Civil Affairs Bureau but landed at the Yuanan Branch in the city center.
The building that once served as the headquarters of the Mo Lan Corporation had undergone minimal changes in its architectural layout, but its interior was entirely different. Chen Chuan looked down, observing a familiar yet unfamiliar exterior.
As the airship came to a halt, a group of people awaited below. Leading them was a middle-aged man in his fifties, well-mannered and refined. Upon seeing Chen Chuan, he approached and politely inquired about his well-being.
"Director Chen, I'm Liao Donghai, the special affairs officer assigned by the Yuanan Corporation to handle this matter. Director Chen, the company is deeply grateful for your assistance.
We've also heard that during your mission to retrieve another person, you encountered a fighter from Haisi Province. Rest assured, the company will cover all expenses incurred during your mission."
As the branch manager, Director Bao was unfamiliar with this situation and unaware of the fighter's needs. He treated Chen Chuan as a security director, unable to make any promises. However, the Yuanan Corporation understood the situation, so Liao Donghai promptly expressed his stance.
Chen Chuan said, "I'm the director of security for Jinbei Province, and this incident occurred within its jurisdiction. I can't ignore it. I'd like to ask if your company can handle this matter properly?"
Liao Donghai earnestly replied, "The company initially concealed the excavation results, intending to conduct research independently. It turned out to be a mistake, so the corporation has already reported the matter to the national authorities. Soon, they will dispatch personnel to supervise us in handling this appropriately."
This approach was wise. Since Chen Chuan had intervened, it was futile to attempt to conceal the matter. Upon his return, he would undoubtedly report to his superiors. Rather than waiting for him to report upwards, it was better to acknowledge the mistake proactively. After all, Yuanan was still a state-owned enterprise.
At that moment, the telegraph operator from the airship hurriedly ran down, calling out, "Director Chen..."
His voice drew the attention of everyone in the area, including the armed security personnel and various company managers. Startled by the attention, he took a moment to compose himself, raising his hand and speaking softly, "Director Chen, a telegram from the National Security Bureau."
The entire gathering fell silent, including Liao Donghai, who also became quiet.
Chen Chuan turned and walked over, taking the telegram from the operator's hand.
The National Security Bureau was the superior authority to the Defense Bureau, responsible for handling world ring affairs and external defense. The National Security Bureau, on the other hand, managed domestic security activities and oversaw domestic and international companies.
Chen Chuan glanced at the telegram, which instructed him to track and participate in subsequent matters, reporting the details to the Affairs Bureau. It also informed him that the Affairs Bureau had already sent a formal letter to the Yuanan Corporation regarding this matter.
Chen Chuan looked up and said, "Mr. Liao, according to the instructions from above, I may need to inquire about this matter at any time. I hope your company will cooperate fully."
At that moment, Mr. Liao also received a telegram from his assistant. After reading it, he raised his head and sincerely assured Chen Chuan, "Director Chen, the company will cooperate to the fullest extent."
...
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(End of Chapter)
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