Cooperation

In the Upper District, inside a villa in the Yinglu District, Sister Huan once again assembled her team members before the light screen. "Word just arrived from the Lower District," she announced. "Our target has gone there." One team member's interest was instantly piqued. "Sister Huan, could we take this opportunity to eliminate him?" Sister Huan crossed her arms. "Very difficult. Although the company has partners with assets arranged down there, our squad was tasked with completing this operation independently. "If we want those partners to coordinate with us, we would first have to contact the higher-ups, who would then communicate across the channels. The efficiency is far too low, information leaks easily, unexpected variables could crop up, and there's no guarantee the target will even still be there by then. "I gathered you all today not to move against him immediately, but to have you watch this footage." With a flick of her finger across the light screen, she pulled up a video clip. "This is how the target performed yesterday in the Lower District. You can compare it to his fight against Wei Wusheng back then. "We couldn't find much useful information from the Viper Team incident, but this recording basically represents his current state and standard. It should serve as a solid reference." The video had been provided by certain specialized resonator teams operating in the Lower District. Although the boundary credential made it impossible to discern every fine detail, slowing the footage down allowed them to see virtually every movement clearly. The fight had unfolded at blistering speed. When the squad saw Chen Chuan directly halt the thrust of the three-section staff with his bare palm, subtle shifts stirred across their faces. Someone commented, "Last time against Wei Wusheng, it was hard to tell much, but from this, the target has definitely practiced external conditioning." The others nodded in agreement. Next, they saw Gai Er's power-laden whip strike, and several nodded inwardly in approval. The move was genuinely impressive and carried quite a reputation. Yet in the very next instant, they watched the staff slam flush into Chen Chuan's neck—only for Chen Chuan to stand there without budging an inch. That undeniable display further reinforced their earlier conclusion. Chen Chuan hadn't merely trained in external conditioning; he was an expert in it! "No, it's not that simple," Sister Huan broke in. She pondered for a moment before continuing, "When external conditioning encounters a blunt-force strike like that, the impact is usually repelled or absorbed by flexing. The way he took it looks more like he purely used a force-deflecting technique paired with vital essence reinforcing his mutated tissue." A team member asked, puzzled, "If he really used that method, to withstand an impact like that, his body's mutated tissue coverage would have to be at least eighty-five percent. Is that even possible?" Sister Huan was not entirely certain either. "Which is why it remains only a hypothesis." The squad continued watching. What came next was the scene where Chen Chuan matched Gai Er's retreating steps in a flash and clamped a hand around his throat. Sister Huan paused the video right there. "Did you see that? The instant he seized him, his opponent lost all physical control. That is a textbook demonstration of grappling force." Everyone nodded. Right after, they watched Gai Er get hurled straight into the earth, followed by his head bursting under Chen Chuan's boot. The sight tightened every face in the room, their muscles clenching as they unconsciously shifted into defensive postures. The footage ended there, freezing on that final frame. "Tell me what you think," Sister Huan said. After a brief pause, one member suggested, "Judging purely by this recording, compared to the clash with Wei Wusheng, he hasn't shown any glaring improvements aside from exposing a stronger resistance to damage. Or perhaps we should say his opponent's caliber was limited, so it failed to draw out his full strength. I suggest keeping our original plan for now, but we can incorporate weapons or methods specifically tailored to counter external conditioning masters." "Agreed," Sister Huan replied. "What else?" Another member chimed in, "The target possesses formidable combat prowess, especially in single combat, and he's exceptionally skilled at seizing fleeting openings. I just pulled up some data from his engagement with the Viper Team. According to tactical reconstruction, he likely broke the Viper Team apart and eliminated them one by one. "It was true for Wei Wusheng before, and it was true for this slain fighter just now. "So if we want to take him down, we cannot give him the opportunity to fight one-on-one. When confronting him, no one should engage alone; there must be at least one teammate flanking to provide support. "Or... we should recruit someone capable of restraining him head-on..." Sister Huan turned toward that member. "Do you have someone in mind?" The member looked up. "Sister Huan, I think we might be able to bring in Jiang Huowang for this." *** Lower District, the Lutong Logistics camp. Using the high-power signal Old Chi had rigged up, Chen Chuan contacted both the Disposal Bureau and Convergence Boundary. After officially taking over the company, Meng Shu still needed to handle massive handovers of operations and personnel while coordinating various matters. Her formal inauguration would not take place until next month, which was still a ways off. This meant he could rest at least until mid-month. And since he had just wrapped up an extended assignment, there was nothing pressing for him at the bureau for the time being. Director Wu merely reminded him once again not to forget to take part in a defense mission before the year ended. That was easy enough. He wouldn't remain here for long anyway; once he sorted out Yu Gang's implants, he would depart. In truth, when it came to fighter implants, the Secret Snake Cult offered such services with an outstanding reputation. Unfortunately, they did not cater to external clients. There was also a certain manager from Bolun Company who owed him a favor, but they barely knew each other, and Chen Chuan wasn't about to place much stock in a casual verbal promise. In the end, he decided to go through Convergence Boundary Company. The firm manufactured its own biological implant products, and he had raised the topic during their earlier correspondence. The company proved remarkably efficient. By the very next day, they reconnected with him via the high-power signal and dispatched an armored convoy from the Upper District, which rolled into the camp accompanied by Lan Xinnan, who had gone out to meet them. The man in charge stepped out of the vehicle and hurried over to shake Chen Chuan's hand, introducing himself, "Greetings, Consultant Chen. I am Tang Zhang, Deputy Director of External Affairs for the company. "Based on the information you provided, we brought several items manufactured with our latest proprietary technology. Once integrated, their reliance on suppressants is far lower than anything circulating on the open market. Furthermore, the young lady specifically instructed us to clear the implant cipher keys, ensuring they will cause no hidden repercussions for the recipient." This was precisely why Chen Chuan had chosen Convergence Boundary. Even with the Secret Snake Cult, it was hard to guarantee they wouldn't secretly leave an informational cipher key behind. Meng Shu, however, would never engage in such underhanded, pointless schemes, and would instead do everything possible to eliminate that risk. He considered for a moment, then asked, "I heard there are implants completely free of drug dependency?" Tang Zhang replied, "There are, but they require extensive compatibility trials beforehand, along with targeted bio-culturing for the specific implant sites. That process can take several years and incurs an exorbitant cost. The company has yet to master that level of technology." Chen Chuan nodded. It had merely been a passing inquiry. Since safety was the priority, trade-offs were inevitable. Tang Zhang turned to Lan Xinnan, who stood nearby. "Captain Lan, if your camp requires implant doctors and equipment, we can provide those as well." Lan Xinnan replied, "Thank you, but we have our own." Only at this moment did she truly fathom the sheer reach and influence of an Upper District third-limit fighter. Back when Lutong Logistics was at its peak, it had supported more than one third-limit fighter. Yet their primary function had been martial deterrence; outside of that, they never showed any extraordinary clout. While that had been more than enough for the team back then, it was entirely incomparable to what Chen Chuan demonstrated right now. With just a single transmission, he had summoned a corporate director in person, delivering high-grade implants right to their doorstep. By contrast, she had previously been forced to exhaust every angle searching for channels, trading countless favors and promises only to end up with ordinary, standard-grade implants at best. Yet those seemingly insurmountable obstacles didn't even exist before Chen Chuan. Chen Chuan spoke up then: "Captain Lan, it wouldn't be appropriate for me to appear before Master Yu, so it's best if you speak with him about this." Lan Xinnan gave a firm nod. "Leave it to me." Once she departed, Tang Zhang looked at Chen Chuan with a smile. "Consultant Chen, could we have a word in private?" Seeing that he had something to discuss, Chen Chuan accompanied him to an empty, quiet patch of ground nearby. "Director Tang, what did you want to say?" Tang Zhang smiled warmly. "This is my first time visiting the Lower District. On the road in, I chatted a bit with Captain Lan. It struck me that this place is remarkably well-suited for expanding the company's business. I just wanted to check whether this might affect you in any way, Consultant Chen. "Please don't misunderstand, Consultant Chen—this is purely commercial. The company takes state contracts every year, but we still need to explore new avenues for growth. "Back when Meng Huang ran things, he set his sights overseas. Honestly speaking, putting aside political complications, it was indeed a lucrative direction. But now that that route is barred, the only remaining blank slate is the Lower District." Chen Chuan glanced at him. "The Lower District has always been here. Why didn't the company expand operations here before?" Tang Zhang chuckled. "On one hand, there were regulatory hurdles that couldn't be bypassed. On the other, we lacked the right products and couldn't find a proper entry point. "We produce protective equipment, but the government forbids selling such gear to civilians, let alone undocumented populations in the Lower District. However, as you've seen, Consultant Chen, our company has now developed numerous biological implants, which makes establishing operations in the Lower District far more viable. "Even so, it requires the cooperation of local forces down here. I find Lutong Logistics to be a prime fit. They possess existing distribution channels and territory, making them ideal for promoting our products. Most importantly, they are eager to cooperate." Chen Chuan asked, "Is this your personal thought, Director Tang?" Tang Zhang smiled faintly. "In truth, the company drew up contingency plans for this long ago. Who wouldn't want a slice of the Lower District pie? Still, I'm aware the people at Lutong Logistics might be acquaintances of yours. That's why, before making any commitments, I wanted to ask for your thoughts. If you feel it's inappropriate, Consultant Chen, then please consider the matter unsaid."