Undercurrents

Chen Chuan stared at the map on the large field screen. Although Andun supported his assessment and had roughly outlined several areas where personnel might be concealed, tracking them down based solely on that would not be easy. After all, these areas were vast, and most were wedged into the seams between districts. Many spots lacked even field creatures; they were almost entirely gathering grounds for non-citizens, teeming with fugitives and criminals. Conducting a thorough sweep without sufficient personnel was virtually impossible. Unless Andun dedicated all of its resources exclusively to him, monitoring these locations twenty-four hours a day without pause, it might be possible to flush out the suspicious targets. Yet that was impossible. The Handling Bureau's entire information network, situational analyses, field detections, tactical planning, personnel coordination, weapons allocation, and every other affair depended on Andun's support. As an Investigation Supervisor, Chen Chuan could draw upon substantial resources, but they were still limited; only during emergencies could he submit requests to mobilize more. And Lianwei Heavy Control clearly did not warrant that priority level yet. Therefore, to track these people down, he needed to find another way. Normally, the Handling Bureau would spearhead an operation and mobilize municipal security personnel to conduct coordinated sweeps. However, that approach was inefficient and drew far too much attention, and over an extended period, it could hardly be relied upon. Other urgent, impromptu, or higher-priority tasks were constantly cropping up to take precedence; even now, municipal security had a staggering backlog of pending duties. So that route was a dead end. Fortunately, there was another option. Namely, hiring contracting agencies and independent contractors. That was indeed far more convenient. As long as you paid well, reputable contractors would handle the assignment cleanly. You wouldn't need to waste excessive manpower or resources, nor would you bear responsibility for whatever fallout arose during the execution of their contract. He considered it for a moment. In this matter, it was worth a try. After all, until his own personnel were deployed in place, this seemed to be the only viable solution. He directly instructed Andun to pull profiles from the Handling Bureau's archives that met his requirements. Instantly, figures and video feeds flashed across the screen. In truth, finding a contractor or agency was no trivial matter, as the backings and relationships behind these individuals and companies were deeply tangled, and the waters ran exceedingly deep. While others might need to weigh their options repeatedly with great caution, it was different for him. The Handling Bureau was a powerful government branch and an apparatus of violence; regardless of their background, any contractor or agency had to learn how to deal with the bureau, rather than requiring him to bend to their rules. After browsing through them, his gaze finally settled on the image of a bald man. Visible implant tracer lines ran across the man's scalp; from his lower jaw hung several neatly braided whiskers; his lips were full, his nose long, his jaw square, and his frame broad and muscular. He looked to be in his forties, and his name was Huang Weiyi. This contractor had once been a high-ranking executive at a well-known contracting firm before going independent. He had a reputation for having standards; he rarely skimmed payments from subcontractors, and if an assignment fell through, he would rather cover the losses out of his own pocket. Consequently, he enjoyed a solid reputation in the trade. Of course, those working in this industry spent their lives in the gray zone, and none had a spotless record. But that wasn't Chen Chuan's concern. Reviewing the man's commission history, credit rating, and past completed assignments, he decided on him and immediately instructed Andun to connect to the man's signal. On the screen, an icon of a chubby gecko clinging to a wall appeared first. Moments later, the line connected, and Huang Weiyi's distinctive bald head came into view. "Huang Weiyi, at your service." Chen Chuan said, "I'm Chen Chuan." As a contractor, Huang Weiyi naturally knew his name. A wide grin instantly spread across his face. "The moment I saw the incoming signal, I knew it had to be an important figure. So it's Supervisor Chen! Supervisor Chen, what can Huang do for you? Please, command me as you see fit." Chen Chuan transmitted his requirements over. "Mr. Huang, I need you to investigate these areas and locate any suspicious individuals that might be hiding there. Can you take this commission?" "Heh, since you're the one asking, Supervisor Chen, say no more! Even if it costs Huang his big head, I'll see it done right!" Huang Weiyi knew that an Investigation Supervisor from the Handling Bureau would never seek him out for routine matters. Glancing over the contents, he immediately realized this might involve a clash between the government and some major corporation. Though he was considered an exalted figure among low-tier mercenary teams and freelance contractors, he was nothing compared to the government or corporate conglomerates. A petty contractor like him couldn't afford to offend either; one false step could grind him to dust. In that brief instant, cold sweat drenched his back. Yet he couldn't utter a single word of refusal. An Investigation Supervisor from the Handling Bureau had approached him personally—did he dare fail to show respect? Besides, danger came hand-in-hand with opportunity. If he handled this well, he might establish a connection with Chen Chuan. Chen Chuan was an Investigation Supervisor in charge of bureau operations. If Huang could build a solid relationship with him, whatever scraps spilled through Chen Chuan's fingers would be enough to multiply his business several times over, not to mention the countless invisible perks. Chen Chuan said, "Since you can take it, it's yours. But remember, keep to your principles. Send me a quote later." Huang Weiyi hastily replied, "Supervisor Chen flatters me. For our very first job, consider it free of charge." Chen Chuan said, "Unnecessary. Follow the rules." Who would put their back into a job without pay? That wasn't how things were done. "Supervisor Chen is a man of honor." Huang Weiyi's tone involuntarily lifted. "Is there anything else you require?" Chen Chuan said, "Find the information as soon as possible, and ensure no leaks." "Understood, rest assured, Supervisor Chen! Every word is noted! I will deliver spotless results!" "That will be all, then." On Huang Weiyi's end, hearing the call disconnect, he grabbed a cloth to wipe the sweat from his head and promptly dialed a contact. After waiting a while, the call went through, and a lazy, complaining voice answered, "Boss, what is it? I just went to sleep." "Sleep? What sleep?! Get your ass up right now! If you can't, take two gray tabs to perk up! I'm telling you, a huge job just came in! Listen, if we pull this off, we'll be living large under a major boss from here on out!" On Chen Chuan's side, he faced another dilemma: once the targets were located, how to neutralize them swiftly. Andun had suggested mobilizing enforcement captains. It was a good recommendation, but only a recommendation. Enforcement captains were mobilized and directly assigned by the bureau directors and the Defense Department during emergencies; they were not lightly deployed for routine operations. Just like when Chen Chuan had served as an enforcement captain, unless an operation was exceptionally unusual, he was never called upon, and the one coordinating with him had always been Chief Wu. If an Investigation Supervisor wanted to deploy them, an application was required, and there was no guarantee it would be approved or allocated in time. Of course, if he could cultivate his own personnel, or if an enforcement captain willingly cooperated, that would be another matter. However, doing that could easily incur favors. Therefore, he intended to handle it personally. In any case, it wouldn't take much time. If the opponents were capable, they could provide valuable reference experience for his jin and temper his second self—something he would actually welcome. Having considered all this, he checked other briefings. Aside from Lianwei Heavy Control Company, the Handling Bureau had also tasked him with keeping an eye on Luyuan Ecological Company. However, this company operated much more covertly, and its hidden power in Center City was even deeper than Lianwei Heavy Control's. With the resources currently at his disposal, tackling both simultaneously was impossible. He could only focus his primary efforts on one company for now while maintaining passive surveillance on the other. As he was thinking, an incoming call chime sounded from his boundary credential. He glanced at it and accepted the connection. "Counselor Pei?" Counselor Pei's voice sounded in his ear: "Supervisor Chen, the authorization you requested has been approved. The official documents will be delivered to you shortly, but please use it with discretion." A notification tone sounded. Chen Chuan glanced down and saw the text display of the authorization certificate, stamped by the Defense Department. He said, "Counselor Pei, thank you. However, I might not have the time to attend to this matter in the immediate future." Counselor Pei said, "I know you have a lot on your plate. The Defense Department is keeping an eye on this matter, and the covert division is conducting a secret investigation. If any leads surface, I will notify you promptly. Also, the commissioner has approved your personnel transfer request. Your squad members should arrive within the next day or two." Chen Chuan said, "Thank you, Counselor Pei, and please convey my thanks to the commissioner." He had recently received internal intel from within the Handling Bureau indicating major stirrings in the Confluence, with various departments actively mobilizing personnel there. Recalling three Third Limit fighters at a time like this was certainly no easy task; it could only have been made possible by Commissioner Liang's special authorization. Still, he truly needed manpower on his end; otherwise, many tasks simply could not get off the ground. Counselor Pei said, "No need for thanks, Supervisor Chen. We share a common goal. That will be all, then. Talk soon." "Understood. Talk soon." Chen Chuan nodded and ended the call. Seeing that there was nothing else pressing for now, he shut down the field screen and went upstairs to the training hall to practice. Barely over an hour had passed, however, when a message arrived from Lu Fang. Lu Fang rarely contacted him without cause. Sensing something might be wrong, Chen Chuan immediately connected with him and asked, "Senior Lu, is something the matter?" Lu Fang's rather tense voice came from the other end: "Junior, people have been watching outside the martial arts hall these past two days. I kept an eye out and noticed someone seems to be targeting Xiao Jin. I felt something was off, so I wanted to let you know. I told Xiao Jin not to come to the hall today." Chen Chuan was slightly surprised. His mind raced, bringing numerous possibilities to the fore, though he couldn't piece them together just yet. He said, "I understand, Senior Lu. If anything else happens on your end, please let me know right away." …… ……