The female manager tapped her boundary credential. Above the parlor, a fixture shaped like a lotus lantern slowly bloomed open, and a moment later, a broad light screen projected downward from it.
Displayed upon it was the very scene where Chen Chuan defeated Wei Wusheng. Though there was no sound, the sheer destructive power displayed during their battle remained deeply shocking.
As the fight ended, the footage showed Chen Chuan standing alone with his back to the dazzling sun, looking down at Wei Wusheng, his face somewhat obscured in the glare.
"This Wuyi Main Academy trainee, Chen Chuan." The female manager looked at the screen. "He is only eighteen years old, yet he has already reached the third limit. We should do everything in our power to recruit a talent like him. If someone of his caliber joins our upcoming strategic plans, it will vastly enhance our competitive edge.
"Although our resources cannot compare to other corporations—which appears to be a disadvantage—it is also an advantage. That means our limited resources will be concentrated on only a select few individuals. Once a fighter joins us, they won't have to face fierce internal competition."
Meng Shu looked at the light screen. After a moment, she asked, "Aside from him, are there any other candidates?"
"There are," the female manager replied. "However, in every assessment—from age to potential—none can match this one. Miss, if you are determined to recruit him, we must act as quickly as possible. The company needs someone like him. More precisely, Miss, you need someone like him. Currently, most of the company's fighters are held firmly in your cousin's hands. Without capable, trustworthy people of our own, we will have no chance of winning the upcoming struggle against him."
Meng Shu asked, "How certain are you that we can recruit him?"
The manager answered seriously, "Although other corporations will certainly compete with us, we have an advantage that other corporations can hardly match. I have reviewed his background. He attended school in Yangzhi and was once your classmate. Miss, perhaps you can use that connection to extend an invitation to him."
Meng Shu shook her head. "I tried to recruit him once before, but he refused."
"Oh?" The manager was somewhat surprised. "May I ask why? Given your and his age at the time, he shouldn't have been a mature fighter yet and had not shown his true value. What did you see in him, Miss?"
Meng Shu said, "I wanted him to be my butler—to serve as my lead commissioner."
"Is that so?" The manager gave a slight smile. "Then it seems I should thank him for giving up this position to me. Hmm..." She assumed a thoughtful expression. "That adds yet another quality to his potential. We have even less reason to let him go."
She stepped forward two paces and said to Meng Shu, "In any case, the fact that you can speak to him directly is our advantage. If you permit it, Miss, I can spread word of this to let the other corporations know that you and this Mr. Chen have an established personal history. That will give them second thoughts; even if they recruit him, they won't place him in a key role."
Meng Shu immediately dismissed the suggestion. "Out of the question. Such tactics will only backfire."
"Understood." The manager dutifully made a note of it. "Scratched out. If I have any similar proposals in the future, I will consult you first, Miss."
At this point, Meng Shu asked, "Can we train fighters ourselves?"
The manager said, "As far as I know, the company does indeed have operations in that area, but the security clearance is extremely high; even your cousin doesn't seem to have full access right now.
"If we train them ourselves, the impending period of upheaval is drawing closer and closer, so we won't have enough time. Furthermore, the results would be slow to manifest. In truth, fighters are still treated as consumables. If we train them ourselves and exhaust them ourselves, we bear all the costs alone, which makes it a poor choice.
"It is far better to place our bets on fighters who have already been developed. That is what all the major corporations do; it's a thoroughly mature model by now.
"However, your idea is not without merit, Miss. Security personnel that we can truly trust must indeed be trained by ourselves, rather than being outsourced to security firms as they are now."
Meng Shu gave a light nod. Although the company had its own systematic security forces, she did not trust them, as there were far too many of her cousin's people among them.
After only a brief consideration, she looked up and said, "Arrange a time for me. I will meet with him."
"Very well, I will see to it right away."
The manager was very pleased with the attitude Meng Shu displayed. Being open to advice, willing to learn, and refusing to let personal likes, dislikes, or emotions interfere with practical matters—this was the ideal corporate successor in her eyes.
As for the young lady's cousin, he had ability, but his interests were far too wide-ranging; if he devoted even thirty percent of his attention to the company, that was considered good. In her view, several of his past decisions had been flawed, sustained only by the company's solid foundation.
That was why she preferred to join the comparatively weaker, seemingly hopeless Meng Shu rather than accept his overtures. And in the era soon to come, the old order would face powerful upheavals, making anything possible.
***
After taking a day off to rest, Chen Chuan went to the Disposal Bureau.
He remembered that the last time he came, the bureau had called him in for questioning regarding Zhao Qian. While they had treated him courteously back then, their strictly business demeanor had been unmistakable.
This time, however, the reception was worlds apart. The moment he entered the Disposal Bureau, he was escorted into a dedicated reception room, offered hot drinks and access to their internal information browsing terminal, with a dedicated attendant waiting just outside.
Such courtesies were not simply because he was now a third limit fighter.
Naturally, there were still those harboring jealousy or disdain, but they all concealed those petty thoughts, showing nothing but warm enthusiasm whenever they encountered him.
After waiting only briefly—perhaps two minutes at most—the attendant received instructions and guided Chen Chuan into a bright, spacious meeting room.
A smiling man in his thirties was already waiting there. Shaking hands with Chen Chuan, he introduced himself:
"I am Officer Qiu from the Disposal Bureau's Evaluation and Review Department, reporting directly to the Main Bureau. Trainee Chen, on behalf of the Main Bureau, I would like to express our gratitude for resolving the matter with Wei Wusheng."
Chen Chuan said, "I am a reserve enforcement officer of the Disposal Bureau. That makes me one of its members as well."
"I'm very glad to hear you say that."
Officer Qiu smiled, gesturing cordially. "Please, have a seat."
Once Chen Chuan sat down, he took his seat as well and said with a smile, "Because of the change in your circumstances, Trainee Chen, I have a few questions on behalf of the bureau. You may choose to answer or not; it will not affect your evaluation. It is merely a necessary procedure to fill out your file. Is that all right?"
Chen Chuan nodded. "Go ahead, Officer Qiu."
Officer Qiu picked up a recording slate, looked up, and asked, "Student Chen, when did you enter the third limit?"
Chen Chuan replied, "Just in the last couple of days."
"The last couple of days..."
Officer Qiu noted it down carefully and asked, "Then may I ask, did you take any performance-enhancing drugs before fighting Wei Wusheng, Trainee Chen?"
Chen Chuan said, "If you mean explosive stimulants, no. I only took medicines for routine cultivation."
"Mhm..."
Officer Qiu recorded this, then looked up again. "Then, Trainee Chen, do you have any plans to graduate early from Wuyi Academy at this stage?"
Chen Chuan answered firmly, "Not for the time being. I haven't been at the academy long, and there is still much for me to learn."
Officer Qiu nodded and followed up, "Trainee Chen, do you have any particular requests for the bureau? For instance, any expectations regarding position or compensation?"
Chen Chuan said, "I haven't thought about that yet."
Officer Qiu followed with several more questions, all routine and straightforward to answer. Once everything was recorded, he closed the slate, sat up straight, and smiled. "All right, that covers that part. Trainee Chen, let's talk about the internal commendations from the Disposal Bureau.
"For resolving the threat of Wei Wusheng, standard procedure dictates that the bureau awards a bounty for such major wanted criminals. This time is no exception."
At that moment, Chen Chuan noticed a bounty funds receipt form appear on his boundary credential. He signed it, and within moments, fifty thousand yuan was transferred into his platform account.
Officer Qiu added, "In addition, the bureau is granting you the status of an official enforcement officer, temporarily assigned to the Special Operations Enforcement Team. From now on, I can address you as Enforcement Officer Chen."
Chen Chuan saw his boundary credential flash again. On the Disposal Bureau's platform, his personal profile was swiftly updated, changing from reserve enforcement officer to official enforcement officer.
From this point forward, he would receive an official state stipend every month, with additional bonuses awarded upon the successful completion of special operations.
At the same time, he was allocated a personal locker at the Disposal Bureau, granted free access to the bureau's firearms and training grounds, and permitted to sign out official vehicles.
Furthermore, this status was tied to Wuyi Academy. As long as he remained enrolled, the credential would stay in effect. Once he graduated, whether he remained with the bureau or not, a new agreement would have to be signed.
"There is one more thing."
Waiting until Chen Chuan finished reviewing the terms, Officer Qiu walked to the side, set a case onto the table, and said with a smile, "As an official enforcement officer of the third limit, the bureau naturally provides you with upgraded equipment. After yesterday's battle against Wei Wusheng, Enforcement Officer Chen, your original pair of shoes must be almost completely worn through, right? This uniform differs from your previous one; it was specially crafted for the third limit."
Chen Chuan couldn't help but nod.
Whether issued by the State Administration Bureau or the Disposal Bureau, his clothing was specially treated to withstand tremendous forces. Still, the Disposal Bureau's previous issue had clearly fallen short; moreover, this fight had taken place on an asphalt road. Afterward, the soles of his shoes had suffered extensive wear, and he could feel that they were practically scorched through by the end of the bout.
A good set of combat attire offered a noticeable boost to practical fighting performance.
He said, "Thank you, then. I truly need this."
Officer Qiu smiled. "The uniform is easy enough to handle, but weapons require custom fabrication. What kind of weapon do you need, Trainee Chen? Even forging an exact duplicate of your blade is entirely possible, and its performance won't fall behind. What sort of weapon would you like?"
Chapter 348