He Yishan was well aware of what a martial artist was capable of; he knew that under Chen Chuan's watchful eyes, he had no hope of doing anything. His face contorted for a moment before he slumped dejectedly against the wooden crates behind him and slowly slid down to the floor.
Chen Chuan paid him no mind, simply sitting there in silence and waiting.
Half an hour later, Delegation Leader Xie walked into the training hall. He nodded to Chen Chuan, then walked straight over to He Yishan, who was sitting slumped with his head hanging low. Xie looked at him and asked, "Why?"
He Yishan seemed to come back to his senses slightly. His body gave a shudder at the sound of the voice. Slowly raising his head, he replied indifferently, "No reason."
Pausing briefly, he sighed. "In the beginning, I just wanted a little money. But once I did it that first time, they had leverage over me. After that, I couldn't stop even if I wanted to."
Delegation Leader Xie looked at him for a moment and said, "It isn't that simple." He added, "If you don't want to talk, I'll speak for you."
He stepped to the side. An assistant took a document from a briefcase and handed it to him. Xie took it and glanced over it. "According to our verification, He Yishan, native of Guanhe County, Hedong Dao. Paternal grandfather: Cai Zhongsu, Minister of the Inner Court of the former imperial household."
At the sound of that name, He Yishan jerked his head up, his expression turning to one of sheer panic and disbelief.
"After the collapse of the former imperial household, Cai Zhongsu surrendered the accounts and various assets of the inner treasury. In recognition of his surrender, the State Government granted him amnesty.
"However, during an audit in the thirty-eighth year of Jianzhi, it was discovered that he had concealed a vast amount of wealth, handing over only a third of what remained in the inner treasury to the state coffers. Consequently, the Tribunal convicted him, confiscated his estate, and exiled him to Haixi Dao.
"He died of illness along the road into exile. His son, Cai Zigui, also contracted an illness and died the following year. Cai Zigui's wife, Madame Yuan, had divorced him prior to that, during which time she came into contact with a Federation sleeper agent codenamed 'Far-Sight.' Under this agent's arrangement, she remarried a local civil official named He Huaidong—who later became Section Chief He of the National Propaganda and Management Department's First Section."
Having said this, he cast another glance at the silent He Yishan.
"Madame Yuan was already pregnant before her remarriage. Eight months later, she gave birth to a son, whom she named He Yishan.
"Under the deliberate instigation of sleeper agents like Far-Sight and the upbringing instilled by Madame Yuan, He Yishan knew his true heritage from childhood, harboring deep hatred and a desire for vengeance against Great Shun.
"Over the course of his thirty-five-year career, he leaked intelligence a total of twenty-seven times. And under Far-Sight's arrangements, he joined this diplomatic delegation..."
Hearing this, He Yishan's expression shifted through several shades of dismay. He had never anticipated that Delegation Leader Xie's people would possess such an exhaustive grasp of his background. To have obtained documentation this detailed, his domestic contact and handler back home must have been arrested; otherwise, given that most of the people involved in those early years were dead and the records had long been destroyed, it would have been utterly impossible to piece it all together so clearly.
At this point, however, his former dejection vanished, replaced by cold defiance. "Since you already know everything, what is there left to ask?"
The assistant brought over a chair, and Delegation Leader Xie sat down in front of him. "Tell us in detail about your contact protocols, every Federation intelligence operative you know, and all the information in your possession. Old He, I hope you'll confess truthfully, and more importantly, cooperate. That way, I can personally vouch for your family."
He Yishan fell silent.
Delegation Leader Xie did not press him too hard, merely waiting for him to speak.
After a long while, He Yishan looked up at Delegation Leader Xie. "I don't trust you." He turned his eyes toward Chen Chuan. "I need Section Chief Chen to guarantee it."
Chen Chuan said in a flat tone, "I will not vouch for you. Talk if you wish, or keep quiet if you don't."
Delegation Leader Xie addressed him, "Old He, you spent so many years in the Propaganda and Management Department. There are plenty of things I shouldn't need to explain to you. You ought to know full well that prying information out of your head is exceedingly simple. Asking for your cooperation is offering you a chance, and it saves us a bit of effort. You don't have the bargaining chips you think you do."
A flicker of inner struggle crossed He Yishan's face. Finally, drawing a breath, he said in a low voice, "Even if they survive, they'll spend the rest of their lives spat upon by everyone."
Wang Tongshan chimed in at that moment, "Not at all. Once they're exiled, who's going to know who they are?"
He Yishan's face twitched.
Delegation Leader Xie said, "At the very least, you'll know they're alive, won't you?"
"Fine..." After another round of internal conflict, He Yishan finally relented. Just as Xie had said, even if he refused, it would achieve nothing. It was better to place his faith in Xie. "I'll cooperate," he said.
Hearing this, Chen Chuan stood up. "Delegation Leader Xie, I won't take part in what follows."
Delegation Leader Xie said, "Section Chief Chen, thank you for your trouble this time."
Chen Chuan gave a nod and walked out. Yet neither the security personnel within the villa nor the Strategic Affairs Department surveillance teams stationed outside could sense his presence at all.
His spiritual power had completely cloaked their perception. He knew such an act could fool ordinary operatives, but it would never escape the notice of the Federation's higher echelons. Still, since he had been granted permission to move about during this period, wherever he went now was entirely within the rules, so long as he avoided strictly prohibited zones.
Leaving the villa behind, he arrived at the railway station in a matter of moments, just as the delegation vehicle that had set off earlier pulled in.
Once there, he used his relic to conjure a new simulacrum, having it step out of the car in full view of the watching Strategic Affairs Department agents. Then, walking right past those surveillance operatives, Chen Chuan merged seamlessly into the simulacrum.
No one in the vicinity noticed anything amiss.
Accompanied by his guards, Chen Chuan walked into the waiting hall. A group of young men and women led by Vegadov was already waiting there, backed by a large formation of security personnel in matching uniforms.
Vegadov wore dark formal attire, carrying a cane and sporting a top hat. He stood out conspicuously in the crowd, bearing the unmistakable aura of someone of high standing. The youths around him were likewise dressed in exquisite formal wear.
Upon spotting Chen Chuan, his eyes lit up. Beaming, he stepped forward briskly, tipped his hat, and greeted him, "Good day, Mr. Chen."
Chen Chuan nodded in return.
Vegadov gestured toward a person behind him. "Allow me to introduce him to you, Mr. Chen. This is Mr. Joam, a ritual specialist within our faction. He is of Eastern Continent descent."
He was the only elderly person in the group, appearing to be in his seventies. Lean and trim, he sported a neatly kept, thick grizzled beard. Though his countenance was stern, his manner of speaking was gentle and courteous.
He tipped his hat. "Greetings, Mr. Chen."
Vegadov then introduced the remaining young men and women, all of whom were official members of the Purist Faction. Every single one of them looked upon Chen Chuan with eyes brimming with worship and excitement.
This was a martial artist capable of fighting against a Throne! Even the fissures belonging to the New Light Cult and Primitive Cult, factions they clashed with constantly, had been forcibly eradicated under his overwhelming pressure. Moreover, he was about the same age as them, matching their ideals in both presence and demeanor, and was exceedingly polite to each of them. Their hearts thudded so furiously with excitement that they felt as if their chests might burst.
Vegadov specifically took the opportunity to explain, "Mr. Chen, although they are young, every one of them is a fighter, and each possesses specialized skills and expertise. They will be able to assist us."
Chen Chuan nodded. He agreed with this reasoning; division of labor was far more efficient. While he could provide the primary combat power, tasks like communications, esoteric rituals, equipment maintenance, and mechanical repairs were impossible for a single person to handle alone.
Furthermore, these people clearly hailed from privileged backgrounds. When operating within the Federation, having them along would prevent a great deal of trouble.
Vegadov checked his pocket watch. "Mr. Chen, it's about time. Shall we board the train?"
Chen Chuan agreed, and surrounded by Vegadov and the others, under the escort of the security personnel, he boarded the train.
After stowing his luggage and taking his seat, Chen Chuan gazed into the distance. Duwan State lay east of the Central Mountain Range, so this journey would take two days at most. That happened to be somewhat close to the area where his seed was active.
Meanwhile, elsewhere, Puppet had been searching for a way into the Melded Lands ever since leaving Alantawa Center City.
Legitimate channels were closed to him, but certain cult organizations and illegal biological laboratories possessed routes there. However, many cults had reined themselves in considerably of late, as word had it an International Investigation Delegation member was conducting inspections all around. Consequently, his only option was to seek out biological laboratories.
These laboratories had needs of their own. They frequently hired mercenaries to hunt rare creatures within territories controlled by the government and mega-corporations, both to procure experimental materials and to run smuggling operations on the side.
Puppet was not alone this time. Several key members of the Blood Staff Mercenary Group had stayed with him, eager to follow him out into the wider world. Upon learning that he wished to enter the Melded Lands, every one of them was rubbing their fists in eager anticipation.
At its peak, the mercenary group had boasted some forty members, with even more peripheral operatives. Now only seven remained, yet most of those who had followed him from the very beginning were among them.
Puppet had not turned them away. He needed people to handle matters on his behalf, and having them around made gathering intelligence and contacting intermediaries far more convenient.
After more than half a month of feeling their way around and establishing contacts, they finally found a laboratory willing to hire them.
In the absence of the Skyline, Center Cities were isolated from one another, information transfer lagged, and wanted notices fluttered everywhere. Even if someone was targeted by the Covert Operations Directorate, until they were actually spotted, few resources would be poured into an all-out manhunt. Thus, the laboratory did not care in the slightest.
In fact, the laboratory favored outlaws like them even more, as its own activities were equally illicit. Moreover, if the hired team was wiped out entirely, the laboratory wouldn't bat an eye—it would simply save them the hiring fee.
All the laboratory had to shoulder was the cost of transit into the Melded Lands, and provided there were returns, such an investment was hardly worth mentioning.
Thus, on this very same day of March 3rd, the Blood Staff Mercenary Group officially entered the Melded Lands. Their first mission was to infiltrate the hunting grounds of a martial artist and harvest a rare mutated plant.
Chapter 1207