Center City of Serranocha State was one of the major center cities on the southern end of the Federation's West Coast.
In truth, when it came to prosperity, Pacifica State farther south noticeably surpassed it—that was the true heart of the West Coast.
The delegation had deliberately chosen this place as their first stop to steer clear of the West Coast's economic and cultural hub, making their diplomatic activities much more manageable.
Moreover, owing to the state government's weak control over this center city, Great Shun had invested heavily here, infiltrating deeply into various sectors.
Midway through the flight, Chen Chuan noticed airships distinctly different from government vessels joining the escort formation. Inquiries revealed that these had been dispatched by the local branches of Great Shun's state-owned enterprises, prominently featuring renowned corporations such as Yuangan Company, Longde Foods, and Tiancong Baicao.
Looking at just these three companies, their operations spanned everything from foodstuffs and pharmaceuticals to munitions; in addition, a myriad of other Great Shun businesses, large and small, were active within the city.
By now, the southwestern corner of Serranocha State's Center City had virtually become an "autonomous district" for Great Shun companies. Over seventy percent of its residents were Great Shun nationals or people of mixed Great Shun and local heritage. According to the briefing materials, the lifestyle, cultural atmosphere, and even linguistic habits in this district differed little from those in Great Shun itself.
It could be said that Great Shun held immense interests here. After more than an hour of flight, the delegation finally caught sight of Center City's outline, and here, the group was to temporarily part ways.
As a martial artist—and one of immense destructive power who had attained the Longevity View—it was inappropriate for Chen Chuan to enter Center City directly. During the visit, his airship, along with those of the other three martial artists, would remain moored at a designated location outside the city, receiving the exact same treatment Prabhakar had once been accorded. However, this was standard international practice, leaving no room for complaint.
Meanwhile, the local state enterprises provided the entire delegation with various gear required for their activities within Center City's limits.
Boundary credentials were not used within the Federation; accessing field information channels required an implant known as a "cochlear worm."
Chen Chuan examined it. The creature directly parasitized the human body as an internal implant. Its virtue lay in resilience against damage as well as rapid, steady data transmission; its drawback was the difficulty of removal, and in the event of an informational attack, it would directly strike at the host's nervous system and mental state.
The other item was a respiratory filtration mask.
A persistent pale blue haze hung year-round over the urban area of Serranocha's Center City and its nearby industrial zones.
Following the Algae Revolution, the Eastern Continent adopted domestically bred red algae, characterized by low pollution and by-products that degraded rapidly or could be reclaimed and reused.
The Ying Continent, on the other hand, had taken a more radical approach by employing blue algae. Though it provided greater energy output and found wider application, it discharged dense clouds of spores. Mixed with other airborne microorganisms, these spores formed heavy plumes of biopollutant gas above the industrial zones.
Citizens both inside and outside the city had to wear masks and filters when traveling outdoors, and civilians suffering from bodily deformities or tissue hyperplasia from inhaling excess spores were a common sight on the streets. Perhaps only a few affluent neighborhoods and the central core were somewhat better off, as they were typically encircled by massive biological purification communities known as "Green Lungs."
Supervision over biotechnological experiments was also comparatively lax here; many projects easily secured approval with nothing more than a bribe to a congressman. Consequently, biological laboratories flourished everywhere, spanning legitimate pharmaceutical research and development to gray-market bio-modification experiments; even research into taboo disciplines was hardly out of the ordinary.
This was why Great Shun had consistently censured the Federation for conducting biological experiments that caused rampant biopollution, and why the public believed it without doubt—because that was precisely the truth.
On the other side, watching the airship gradually draw near Center City, the attendant beside Prabhakar looked visibly relieved. He said with delight, "Master, now that this mission is accomplished, you can return to Little Awakening Temple and practice meditation in peace."
Prabhakar sighed. "There is no peace to be had."
The attendant asked in confusion, "Master, now that you have returned to the Federation and relinquished your mission, is there still something you must do?"
Prabhakar said, "Am I on the East Coast, or on the West Coast?"
Puzzled, the attendant replied, "On the West Coast, of course."
Prabhakar said, "Am I a person of the East Coast, or a person of the West Coast?"
The attendant hesitated. "Aren't you a meditation master of Little Awakening Temple, Master?"
Prabhakar shook his head. "Yet after this affair, in the eyes of the West Coast, I am a man of the East Coast. And thus, I have no choice but to be a man of the East Coast."
The attendant thought for a moment and came to an understanding. "Is this what you meant, Master, when you said: who I am is merely who the world perceives me to be?"
Prabhakar said, "Indeed. There is no escaping it."
Although Little Awakening Temple possessed great strength and influence within the Federation, it never inquired into the whereabouts or loyalties of its meditation masters; moreover, perhaps due to lessons learned in the past, it was deeply engaged in worldly affairs.
Consequently, it was not uncommon for practitioners who hailed from the very same temple to stand opposed as bitter enemies.
From the moment he accepted the assignment, he had anticipated this outcome. Whether willing or not, he had to embrace his new identity.
Looking back at the airship carrying Chen Chuan, he gave a quiet sigh, brought his palms together, and silently recited the Meditation Sutra.
After parting ways with the diplomatic delegation, Chen Chuan's airship docked at a mooring tower under the guidance of an escort.
Although outside the city proper, this was nevertheless a flourishing commercial district packed with service and commission agencies. So long as one had ample money, one could enjoy every service available inside Center City.
Bian Zhijie, Wang Tongshan, and Gui Zihan had already disembarked and checked into the designated seaside luxury hotel.
However, as martial artists, they were not only accompanied by delegation personnel, but also watched around the clock by Federation intelligence operatives stationed outside.
Chen Chuan was in no rush to head down. He sent Gao Ming to handle the check-in formalities and obtain his identification papers, while he remained in the main cabin reviewing the tasks he needed to address during this trip.
Among these matters were several key priorities marked for special vigilance, their significance and urgency capable of taking precedence even over the delegation under special circumstances.
One matter worthy of immediate attention concerned the First People. Under the deliberate purges and oppression of the Federation government and corporations, the First People had been pushed back to the margins.
Their largest settlement lay in the vast, sparsely populated Arcana State to the north, which harbored several of their remaining large tribes.
The remaining tribes, large and small, were on the brink of collapse under Federation pressure. Rough estimates suggested that fewer than two hundred thousand people remained scattered across external settlements.
Starting two years ago, the Federation—or more accurately, the West Coast Faction—had begun scheming to seize Kawatua, the ancestral land of the First People.
While not strictly a religious holy ground, legends held that the ancestors of the First People had emerged from this very place. Furthermore, every succession ceremony for the emperors of the ancient Itza Dynasty had been held there, imbuing it with a distinct significance. Given the First People's present dire straits, calling it their spiritual pillar was no exaggeration; its importance was truly irreplaceable.
Its geographic location was crucial as well: situated atop Mount Turama, it commanded a view of the entire Life Plateau.
Yet these factors alone would not have drawn the West Coast Faction's covetous interest; the primary reason was that it very likely concealed Cuyanakka, the legendary Eternal Land of the First People.
According to lore, an island amidst the clouds existed there, home to a colossal sacred tree named Itzaka whose branches bridged the heavens and the mortal realm. Even setting legends aside, it held the accumulated treasures of the Itza royal dynasty across successive generations.
Such a prize had long been coveted by the West Coast Faction. However, several Sacred Land Warriors of the First People were gathered there, bolstered by ancient rituals, making it a formidable nut to crack. Thus, the West Coast Faction had previously directed its focus toward the Outer Ocean and had not turned its attention here.
Following their failed backing of the Ferris Wheel Company, however, the West Coast Faction redirected its gaze, seeking to recoup its losses from the First People.
According to incoming intelligence, several cult sects, multiple corporations, mercenary outfits, and bounty hunter syndicates had joined forces with West Coast governmental backing to form a joint task force—one boasting several powerful martial artists—with the intention of conquering the land in a single stroke.
Perhaps sensing the impending threat, the First People settlements had previously appealed to Great Shun for aid on several occasions. Great Shun had responded favorably, channeling extensive shipments of implants, pharmaceuticals, and even vast quantities of munitions through local firms.
Nevertheless, the First People's lack of top-tier martial power remained a critical vulnerability. Although they could count on illustrious figures like the martial artist Akhtawa, the forces committed by the West Coast Faction were not to be underestimated. While Chen Chuan had not yet received detailed reports, piecing together earlier dispatches suggested the Federation had likely deployed military assets.
Moreover, according to analyses of scattered intelligence, more than one martial artist who had reached the Secret Hall level—the realm of the Longevity View—was likely participating in the operation.
A note appended below reminded him that if conditions allowed, he could lend a hand to the First People and the government would back him up; however, should the endeavor prove impossible, he was to disengage promptly without becoming entangled, prioritizing his own safety above all else.
Chen Chuan glanced at the map. Mount Turama was not far from here—roughly three to four days by airship.
Yet this was not something he could aid merely out of personal inclination. While the First People accepted aid from Great Shun, that hardly meant they regarded Great Shun as their own; they undoubtedly understood very well why Great Shun supported them.
Furthermore, there was another factor he had to take into account.
The Progenitor Company.
His invitation to visit the Federation was very likely orchestrated by them, perhaps specifically to make him easier to target. Within the limits of Center City, he remained relatively secure, but if he stepped outside, he was exceedingly likely to become a prime target.
Granted, he had come to the Federation to resolve the issue of the Progenitor Company once and for all, but in the absence of clear and reliable intelligence, he would not act recklessly.
Chapter 1064