Bureau Director Lei set down the telephone. Taking a moment to compose himself, he returned to the sofa, turned to Chen Chuan, and said solemnly, "Student Chen, finding my son was all thanks to you. If there is anything I can help you with, please don't hesitate to say so. As long as it is within my power, I will spare no effort on your behalf."
Chen Chuan replied candidly, "There is indeed something I need your help with, Director Lei. However, you've only just gotten your son back. Perhaps we should discuss this another time."
Director Lei glanced at his watch. "We still have a bit of time." He added earnestly, "Student Chen, I am a man who repays kindness and settles scores. If you need anything of me, please say so."
Seeing his firm insistence, Chen Chuan thought for a moment before speaking. "I need to obtain an evaluation from a government administrative department."
Director Lei immediately understood. Staring at him intently, he asked, "You are a student of Wuyi College. Administrative department evaluations are only useful for going to Center City. Do you intend to go there?"
Chen Chuan nodded.
Director Lei spoke slowly. "The Esoteric Cult Examination Bureau can issue a departmental evaluation, but on the condition that you take on a commission."
Chen Chuan answered without hesitation, "Of course. What would I need to do?"
Director Lei looked at Chen Chuan and said, "'Lei Guangcheng, Director of the Esoteric Cult Examination Bureau, had his temporary residence compromised, and his son, Lei Ying, was seized by cultists and bound by a ritual. Thus, he commissioned Chen Chuan, a student of Wuyi College, to rescue the boy and dismantle the ritual...'
Pausing briefly, he continued, "'Today, upon confirmation by Lei Guangcheng, Director of the Esoteric Cult Examination Bureau, Lei Ying has been rescued and the ritual shattered.' Student Chen, your commission is already complete. Tomorrow, when I return to the bureau, I will write you a comprehensive departmental evaluation."
Listening to him, Chen Chuan grasped his meaning. Without false modesty, he thanked him, "Thank you, Director Lei."
Director Lei waved a hand. "It's nothing." He hesitated, then mused, "If you want to head to Center City, a single departmental evaluation might not be enough. I know you can get internal evaluations from the Disposal Bureau, but since you aren't a recommended student, having only two evaluations might still leave things uncertain. What would you say to an evaluation from the Foreign Affairs Bureau as well?"
Chen Chuan was quite surprised. "The Foreign Affairs Bureau? Can you arrange an evaluation from them, Director Lei?"
Every department within the Municipal Administration strictly looked after its own sphere, entrenched in their conservative ways, making it exceedingly difficult for outside departments to intervene. Had Director Lei suggested this because the Esoteric Cult Examination Bureau held sway over Foreign Affairs, or did he possess a grander personal background and other connections?
Director Lei explained, "You don't realize this, but many departments in Yangzhi City exist simply because the bureaucratic structure requires them to be there—it won't do to leave them empty, not because they hold any real importance. The only reason the Foreign Affairs Bureau here has any presence at all is that the ancestral homeland of Maka legend lies within this region, which created a need for bilateral exchanges.
"Now that this incident has unfolded among the Maka, relations between our two nations are bound to sour, and diplomatic exchanges over the next few years will inevitably be obstructed. The Foreign Affairs Bureau's presence will dwindle even further.
"The Esoteric Cult Examination Bureau, on the other hand, is primarily tasked with investigating and banning foreign esoteric cults. We constantly communicate and liaise abroad. When necessary, we call on the Foreign Affairs Bureau to assist us. So our two departments rely on mutual support and cooperation."
Chen Chuan understood. While termed "mutual support and cooperation," in truth, whether Foreign Affairs was invited to take part depended entirely on the stance of the Esoteric Cult Examination Bureau. As a semi-violent enforcement agency dealing directly with foreign entities, the Cult Bureau naturally had its own communication channels. If they felt no need for help, they could easily push Foreign Affairs aside.
With relations between the Maka and Great Shun plummeting to freezing point, the Yangzhi City Foreign Affairs Bureau was reduced to an entirely negligible fringe office. In light of their past cooperation, they would naturally jump at any chance for the Cult Bureau to give them a boost.
Director Lei continued, "You killed a Maka fugitive during the exchange event. Strictly speaking, that should have been enough to earn you an evaluation from the Foreign Affairs Bureau, but from their perspective, it still might fall short."
Chen Chuan asked directly, "What do I need to do?"
Director Lei said, "If the item stolen from Foreign Affairs can be recovered, it will earn them some goodwill with their superiors. That failure wouldn't necessarily remain a bad thing; it might even turn into an opportunity for advancement. I will speak with Liu Zhan about this. As long as you can find a way to retrieve that oak leaf, I can guarantee you an evaluation from the Foreign Affairs Bureau as well."
Chen Chuan weighed the proposal. If it was something within his power, he would certainly pursue it; but if it proved beyond him, he would not force matters and would rather let it go.
At the moment, he had no clues regarding the matter, and with a resistance organization entangled in it, the situation was far from simple. So he asked, "Director Lei, do you have any suggestions?"
Director Lei offered an approving nod at his sharpness. "That oak leaf may serve a very distinct purpose for the Maka. What that purpose is doesn't matter right now; let's discuss what comes next.
"If the Maka who took the item truly held status as exchange students, it would have benefited the resistance organization that received them. The two sides would have shared a basis for cooperation; even if relations weren't warm, they wouldn't turn hostile in the short term.
"Yet now it has been made public that they are merely a band of fugitives, and the Maka government has washed its hands of them. As a result, they hold no special value to the resistance anymore. In fact, they risk being threatened and exploited. They must realize this themselves, so they will certainly try to leave before their identities are thoroughly exposed.
"Having obtained what they came for, they can't afford to linger in Yangzhi City. They must return and deliver it to their homeland. That is something they cannot accomplish on their own. Therefore, if they wish to return, only one avenue remains to them."
Chen Chuan's gaze shifted. "The delegation!"
Director Lei nodded, his voice turning cold. "Indeed. What fugitives? How could an entire delegation of Maka be held captive by a handful of outlaws? To go half a month without any reaction, without even a single telegram sent back home—this is blatantly a drama staged by their own hands.
"Now that they have what they wanted, their immediate priority is to leave. But even if that oak leaf was originally a gift they presented to the government of Great Shun, if they wanted it back, it could only be returned or bestowed by our nation, not taken by force."
With that, he looked at Chen Chuan. "Student Chen, I've laid out the situation for you. If you are willing to take this on, I can call Liu Zhan today."
Chen Chuan gave it careful thought, then raised his head and said, "I'd like to try."
Director Lei looked at him appreciatively. "Then it's settled! Don't feel burdened by it. For me, it's just making a phone call—I'm not even spending any favors, and in fact, we're doing Liu Zhan a courtesy. If it doesn't work out, it won't matter. Even if this opportunity falls through, I'll find another way to repay you."
Since this endeavor was advantageous to him, Chen Chuan accepted openly. "Thank you for your help, Director Lei."
Director Lei said in a low, heavy voice, "This pales in comparison to what you have done for me. Xiao Ying is everything to me. You saved his life, and that matters more than anything."
Chen Chuan paused, then asked, "Director Lei, there is one thing I would like to ask."
Director Lei said, "Go ahead."
Chen Chuan looked at him. "One can see how vicious that ritual was—it cost your late wife her life. You must have been affected by it as well, Director Lei. How did you manage to avoid its lethal harm?"
Director Lei answered, "A reasonable question. I can tell you this: as the Director of the Esoteric Cult Examination Bureau, I carry an esoteric reflective ward upon me. Even if urban legend phenomena can influence my mind, they cannot harm my life. It was precisely because of this that I placed too much confidence in myself."
Chen Chuan understood. Although he was intrigued by these rituals, he knew today was not the time to pry further. He said, "Director Lei, I've stayed for quite a while, and I need to get back to school soon. I won't disturb your reunion with your son any longer."
Director Lei said, "Very well, I won't keep you today. I'll treat you to dinner another day—you must come. Xiao Ying and I want to thank you properly together."
Chen Chuan agreed. Just as he turned to leave, he remembered something. "Right, Director Lei, may I take the wooden puppet's remains with me?"
Without asking questions, Director Lei replied, "Even if you didn't ask, I would have had to dispose of it. It's best that you take it. You are an expert in these matters, so I'm sure you know the proper way to handle it."
Chen Chuan went back upstairs, gathered the fragments of the wooden puppet, borrowed a parcel to pack them into, and carried it out. Director Lei walked him to the door.
Stepping outside, Chen Chuan looked up and was surprised to see He Nan standing there, with another car parked behind her.
Her eyes were fixed on Director Lei. "Old Lei, I heard about the boy. I called Doctor Li; he's exceptionally skilled at nursing the body back to health."
Director Lei fell silent for a moment before speaking. "Thank you for caring. I'll thank you on Xiao Ying's behalf."
He Nan stepped forward and gently embraced him. "Why be so distant with me? Come now, it's all over."
Director Lei raised his hand, gave her a brief hug, and let go. He looked at Chen Chuan. "Student Chen, wait for my call."
He Nan looked over as well, her voice full of gratitude. "Junior Brother Chen, Old Lei has been tormented by this for so long. Thankfully Martial Uncle Cheng had you come today. Your senior sister thanks you as well."
Chen Chuan replied, "You're welcome, Senior Sister. Senior Sister, Director Lei, I'll take my leave now."
"Junior Brother, why not take my car back?"
Chen Chuan did not decline. The location was very remote; while he could jog back, it would waste too much time. After bidding farewell to the two of them, he got into the car and headed back toward the school.
Sitting in the car, he reflected on what had just transpired. When he arrived today, he hadn't anticipated things progressing this far, yielding an evaluation from the Esoteric Cult Examination Bureau directly.
As for the Foreign Affairs Bureau, nothing was certain yet. But if he could secure that one as well, combined with the evaluation from the constabulary, that would make three evaluations. While perhaps not an overwhelming advantage, it carried substantial weight.
And if he added the Disposal Bureau's evaluation on top of that, his record would look all the more impressive.
The Yufu Lan sedan brought him all the way back to the school. Bidding farewell to the driver, he headed straight to his dormitory, picked up the receiver, and dialed Cheng Zitong to recount everything that had happened today.
Upon hearing the story, Cheng Zitong was deeply moved and overjoyed for him.
"Xiao Chuan, securing an evaluation from the Esoteric Cult Examination Bureau is wonderful news. You must also do your utmost to secure the one from Foreign Affairs. Opportunities like this are exceedingly rare; you might never come across another."
Chen Chuan said, "Yes, Director Lei told me to wait for his call."
Cheng Zitong pondered for a moment before saying, "Regarding the delegation, if Foreign Affairs commissions you to handle it, they should be able to provide their precise itinerary. However, the delegation has numerous Maka security guards, and they are authorized to use firearms.
"If the Maka who took the oak leaf has already rendezvoused with them, retrieving it will be very difficult. Moreover, this commission involves many moving parts; you'll likely struggle to pull it off alone."
Chen Chuan said, "Yes, Teacher. I plan to recruit some trustworthy classmates to tackle this commission together. Also, Teacher, if possible, could you ask Senior Brother Ren to lend a hand?"
Cheng Zitong said, "Xiaotian? All right, I'll ask him. You start preparing on your end."
Chen Chuan agreed and hung up the phone. Considering the matter carefully, he knew that since the opposition was a foreign delegation, there was no telling if someone of Douma's caliber was among them. Therefore, if possible, he intended to bring Senior Wu, Wei Chang'an, and his dormitory mates along to complete this commission together!
Chapter 127