Waiting

Inside the Defense Department office, the female assistant received several reports in succession, each routed in through separate intelligence channels. She gave them a quick scan, organized the contents, and passed them directly to Commissioner Liang. "Commissioner, Captain Chen passed the screening without any issues. The Crisis Affairs Center tried to find an excuse to hold him back, but Mr. Xue stepped forward to vouch for him in the end. He has left safely now." Commissioner Liang was somewhat surprised. "Mr. Xue vouched for him?" Yet thinking it over, it wasn't all that strange. Xue Shou was from the Main Academy, after all; if Chen Chuan was studying under him, it was entirely natural for him to intervene. Factions and inner circles dictated matters everywhere in the world, not to mention that the talent and strength Chen Chuan had displayed made him well worth the effort. This was the best possible outcome. His relief was short-lived, however. As his eyes continued down the page, his brow furrowed again. "Wang Weiguang?" Given Wang Weiguang's abilities and the assignment he had shouldered at the time, there was no way he could have had the leisure to absorb pure substance—much less after the Heavenly Gate had closed. This was obviously engineered by the Municipal Council to counterattack them. A foul maneuver, but undeniably effective. Particularly since the leakage of pure substance now appeared highly likely to be Chen Bitong's doing. If that were tied to subordinate personnel within the government departments, it would be a major demerit on their record. The upper echelons of the government would question their trust in the Jibei Dao administrative branch as well as the competence of people like him. Even their achievements in crushing the Ferris Wheel Company and eliminating the entity on the other side would hardly wipe the slate clean. Right then, an encrypted signal chimed on his boundary credential. He glanced at it, accepted the call, and said, "Director Wu?" Director Wu's voice came through: "Commissioner, I assume you've seen it?" "I have," Commissioner Liang replied. Director Wu said, "It is clear that their original plan was to find an opening through Captain Chen, dragging the Defense Department and the Disposal Bureau into the mud to use as their weapon for a counterblow. "They likely feared we would back Captain Chen to the hilt and weren't completely certain they could bring him down, so they lined up Wang Weiguang as a backup. They just didn't expect Mr. Xue to step forward out of nowhere, forcing them to hastily push Wang Weiguang into the spotlight. "Still, Wang Weiguang simply lacks weight. Even when thrown into the pond, a pebble like him won't kick up much of a splash. There is only so much mileage they can get out of this." Commissioner Liang said, "I know Wang Weiguang. He has a fierce ambition to climb, and perhaps he felt that without a background in the Wuyi academies or the military, he had no other way up." Director Wu concurred. Wang Weiguang was talent they had recruited from outside, not someone groomed within the government system. For someone like him, making enforcement captain was practically the ceiling. This time, he had probably decided his upward path was blocked, and whatever terms the council offered convinced him to switch allegiances. "Even without Wang Weiguang, the council could have found someone else; it was merely a matter of how high a price they offered," Wu said. "If not for the pure substance leak, our handling of the entire incident would have been thoroughly satisfactory. Who would have guessed Old Chen would make his move at such a juncture? He truly caught us flat-footed." Commissioner Liang sighed. "Matters must be taken one step at a time. Chen Bitong's desire for change was well-intentioned, but far too radical." "Neither you nor I have experienced what Chen Bitong went through," Director Wu said. "I do not know his exact thoughts, but for him to have dared to step forward and do this—and actually succeed—earns my personal admiration." Commissioner Liang remarked, "An individual is insignificant." Director Wu countered firmly, "Yet an individual can also be great." Commissioner Liang fell silent for a moment, then shook his head. "For now, let us focus on doing everything we can to handle the fallout. The council will not stay idle." "Didn't we already anticipate that? It would be stranger if they didn't react. I am waiting for their next move." Commissioner Liang nodded. "Director Wu, there is one more thing to tell you: Captain Chen declined that proposal." "It is for the best that he declined," Director Wu said. "Captain Chen is still young, and he has already drawn more than enough attention. There is no need to keep roasting him over the fire. But if not him, we will have to find someone else. "Well, Old Xu is about the only one without much ambition. Otherwise, he would be the best fit." Commissioner Liang gave it some thought. "I still believe it has to be Old Xu. With his seniority and age, he is the only one who can carry that kind of reputation and honor. If not him, then who? In my view, we will just have to impose upon him a bit." Director Wu considered this and said, "Then I will speak to him." *** After parting with Teacher Xue, Chen Chuan drove back toward the Wuyi Academy. As he drew near the Xuangong Building, he noticed a familiar car parked nearby. Counselor Pei was standing beside it. Chen Chuan pulled into the parking lot, stepped out, and walked over. "Counselor Pei? Were you looking for me?" Counselor Pei said, "Commissioner Liang asked me to come explain the screening earlier. The test was unavoidable, and the Defense Department had no way to prevent it, because it touches upon a matter of paramount importance." He looked at Chen Chuan. "I wonder if Mr. Xue mentioned anything to you?" Chen Chuan answered, "Teacher Xue didn't speak of it." "In that case, allow me to explain it to you, Captain Chen." Since Chen Chuan had passed the screening with flying colors, they concluded he had not absorbed any pure substance. However, the breach in the Ring of the World had not yet been sealed, and someone might refuse to give up and try to implicate Chen Chuan again. Given the post Chen Chuan was about to be promoted to, he was entitled to know about these things anyway, so Pei had simply come to lay it bare. Standing there in the plaza, Counselor Pei gave a general outline of pure substance. Listening to him, Chen Chuan recognized some of what Chen Bitong had told him, along with details that had gone unmentioned that day. "In the past, before the Ring of the World blocked it off, pure substance would scatter across the globe during every Period of Flux, free for many to discover. But that also gave rise to numerous regional factions and warlords. "Whenever dynasties changed, these individuals were always the most active. While some were prudent and circumspect, the vast majority acted with reckless abandon. "Such people possessed enormous destructive power and faced few restraints, inflicting severe harm upon those below. This problem didn't just exist in Great Shun; it spanned the entire world, and quite a few harbored ambitions of restoring the old empire. "Therefore, during the era of the Grand Alliance, once the Ring of the World was erected, the governments and corporations formed a consensus to lock down pure substance. From then on, it could only be granted through formal applications and rigorous vetting. "That remains one of the few statutes still upheld and defended by every nation after the Grand Alliance collapsed. "The thinking back then may have been noble and suited the conditions of the time. But now..." Counselor Pei sighed. "The situation may have changed." He spoke veiledly, but combined with what Chen Bitong had revealed, Chen Chuan understood the implication. He nodded and asked, "Counselor Pei, what are the conditions for obtaining pure substance?" Counselor Pei said, "You must sign an agreement. Certain stipulations within it are exceptionally harsh, and many find them impossible to accept. However, Captain Chen..." He looked squarely at Chen Chuan. "If you wish to advance further and cannot bring yourself to accept the agreement, my advice is to wait." Chen Chuan looked at him. "Wait?" Counselor Pei nodded. "Because you are still young, and your strength has likely not yet been honed to its absolute limit, has it?" Chen Chuan nodded. "That is true." Counselor Pei leaned back against his car, looked upward, and pointed a finger toward the sky. "The Great Impact is approaching. It could be a few years, or perhaps over a decade, but during this period the world order will inevitably shift. "Many people are currently striving to change the present state of affairs in order to weather the crisis, though resistance is considerable. Yet even if nothing changes beforehand, once the Great Impact arrives, I fear many rules will cease to be rules." He fixed Chen Chuan with a solemn gaze. "Therefore, you do not need to rush into any decision right now, nor should you butt heads directly with certain people or powers. Hold on, and an opportunity will present itself." Chen Chuan nodded. If pure substance truly could not be obtained through standard or accessible channels, waiting was indeed a viable path. Yet massive upheavals loomed on the horizon. No one could foresee what would happen when the time came; only by attaining greater strength beforehand would one have the capacity to face it. Moreover, he remembered that he had banished the presence on the other side twice. If the two worlds ever connected, that entity might well come looking for him. When that day came, he had to possess the power to protect himself, rather than relying on wishful thinking. Seeing him nod, Counselor Pei felt reassured, believing Chen Chuan had taken his words to heart. After a moment's thought, he added, "There is one more thing you should know, Captain Chen. This matter is far from over. The Municipal Council is seeking a counterstrike. As I was leaving, I heard they were holding a vote on inviting major multinational corporations into the Jibei Dao Center City. "Since the Consortium's delegation is currently in Bainiao District, we suspect they are very likely to invite Consortium members to establish a presence here." He sighed softly. "Ever since the founding of Great Shun, these corporations have been deeply involved in the construction of Center City. It is a legacy issue dating back to our early years, one exceedingly difficult to resolve. The higher-ups have always wanted to reclaim full control, but the task is fraught with obstacles. There is external resistance, internal entanglement—and sometimes the internal pushback is the hardest of all. We may soon face an even grimmer situation. "So my advice remains: bide your time and watch for shifts. The advantage lies with you. Across the world today, resources poured into cultivating fighters are growing, more civilian students are gaining admission, and the status of fighters climbs higher year after year. As I said before, you are still young; there is no need to rush." At this, he offered a warm smile. "When I first took this post, a predecessor shared a thought with me, and now I give it to you. "We may not live to see the fruit of our efforts, but so long as young people like you are here, there is hope for this world."