Supervisor Han looked over from inside the car, his tone as flat and even as ever.
"Supervisor Wen, I came here specifically to wait for you."
Supervisor Wen was momentarily taken aback, but then chuckled and said, "If you needed me, Supervisor Han, just send word and I'd be there in a flash. Why go through all the trouble yourself?"
Supervisor Han said, "There are simply a few matters I wished to discuss with you in private, Supervisor Wen."
"Is that so..." Supervisor Wen raised his wrist and glanced at his watch. Supervisor Han said nothing, merely watching him.
Wen gave a soft chuckle and lowered his hand. "Well, since you went out of your way to find me here, Supervisor Han, I have to give you some face, don't I? Shall we find somewhere to talk? Not too far, though—both of us have duties to attend to and can't stray too far."
Supervisor Han said, "Somewhere nearby will do."
The two stepped out of their cars. After a quick look around, they walked toward the distant embankment, gesturing for all their guards and armed personnel not to follow.
Both men had backgrounds as exceptional fighters. Even if neither had fought on the front lines in a long time, their prowess was not to be underestimated. In terms of pure combat capability, all the armed guards present combined would likely be no match for the two of them, so letting the guards stay behind posed no concern.
They reached the edge of the embankment. The crash of the ocean waves grew strikingly clear. The sea breeze ruffled the cloaks draped behind them like capes, while foamy white waves surged and broke against the embankment beneath their feet.
It was past five in the afternoon, and rain seemed imminent. Far out over the sea, gray and white clouds drifted and blended together, hanging remarkably low over the water and blocking out all sunlight.
The two gazed at the rolling clouds and surging waves before them. After a moment, Supervisor Han said, "I invited you here, Supervisor Wen, because I recently received intelligence that the Corporate United Syndicate and the Linax Federation are likely joining hands this time."
Supervisor Wen grew serious. He asked, "Supervisor Han, is this intelligence verified?"
Supervisor Han replied, "The information came through a covert channel. It hasn't been fully confirmed yet, but confirmation could take a long time, and a hundred percent certainty is impossible to achieve anyway. If the news is true, waiting until then to react would leave us far too late. I believe we need to act in advance to contain and disrupt what may unfold."
Wen said with skepticism, "The Linax Federation teaming up with the Syndicate? Reconciling their conflicting interests isn't something their two delegations alone can decide."
Even if the Linax Federation was often described as more of a corporation than a national government, it was still a unified entity. That set it apart from a conglomerate alliance like the Corporate United Syndicate. While the two cooperated, they were also wary of each other.
Supervisor Han said, "Yet right now, they share a common enemy. I consider it plausible."
Wen pondered for a moment, then asked, "Has this been reported to Chief Wu?"
Supervisor Han answered, "I only received the news recently. I was about to contact Chief Wu earlier, but because he allowed the criminal who killed the Linax diplomatic personnel to escape, he is currently undergoing questioning. He likely has no time to take our report right now. And before heading into the inquiry, he stated that all matters are left to the three of us to handle as we see fit."
Wen had heard about this earlier as well. He said, "Chief Wu handled that situation without a single misstep."
Supervisor Han said, "That is not our concern. We only need to see to our own responsibilities—especially the tasks Chief Wu assigned to us beforehand."
Supervisor Wen looked at him, then walked off to the side by himself. He used his boundary credential to inquire with the bureau. After verifying that Chief Wu was indeed undergoing questioning, he asked when it would conclude, only to be told that standard procedures were being followed and the timing remained uncertain.
Having finished his inquiry, he seemed deep in thought.
Supervisor Han waited quietly, his face devoid of expression. After a while, Wen walked back and said, "Apologies, Supervisor Han, sorry to keep you waiting. You know how it is—higher-ups have their procedures, and I have to follow mine too. Just asking out of curiosity, Supervisor Han, what exactly do you propose we do?"
Supervisor Han said, "Assuming the intelligence is true, then as I just said, we must disrupt their operation. If the enemy has joined forces while we act separately, that places us at a disadvantage. We need to concentrate our strength as well. I have a plan..."
He tapped his boundary credential, establishing an exclusive transmission frequency between them, and forwarded a plan document over.
Supervisor Wen examined it. The plan involved deliberately loosening surveillance and control over one of the channels into the Confluence, allowing their counterparts through, and then concentrating forces to encircle and eliminate them. Naturally, there was deliberate calculation behind which target they would strike first.
Surprised, Wen asked, "Targeting primarily the Linax Federation?"
Supervisor Han said, "Due to the relationship between the Linax Federation and the Great Shun government, most Linax personnel attempting to enter the Confluence are doing so illegally, barring a few who are invited under special circumstances. We have ample justification to wipe them out. Furthermore, launching a targeted strike against the Linax side without provoking the Syndicate first will work in our favor. Once one side is severed, dealing with the remaining party will be simple."
A slightly exaggerated look of astonishment crossed Wen's face. Half questioning and half joking, he said, "Supervisor Han, dealing with the Linax Federation is my responsibility. Aren't you worried that doing this is just doing me a favor?"
In an entirely flat voice, Supervisor Han replied, "I am not doing this for your sake. If the two of them join forces, neither of us will accomplish anything. Only by dealing a heavy blow to one side can we handle the other. I help you first, and I expect you to assist me afterward. It is a mutually beneficial arrangement, is it not?"
Wen considered it, then shook his head. "It's a fine plan, but we still don't have enough personnel."
The greatest predicament facing Jibei Dao was the breach in the Ring of the World, which demanded several times the normal workforce to hold the line. The Disposal Bureau and the Defense Department had strained every nerve, redeploying substantial manpower to that sector.
The breach was expected to be sealed around the end of the year at the earliest, but those personnel clearly could not be pulled back right now.
Moreover, to prevent the Municipal Council from sabotaging or dragging their feet, forces had to be stationed to guard against them. Add to that the substantial security presence and reserves that had to be maintained within Center City, and resources were stretched thin at every turn.
With only the manpower at their disposal, executing this plan held some chance of success, but it was far from reliable.
Supervisor Han said, "Other Center Cities have already sent us a batch of reinforcements. Some arrived over the past few days, and more are en route. Although Chief Wu is unavailable, we can apply for an emergency reallocation. I trust the bureau will approve it."
Wen calculated for a moment and said, "It's still stretching it. We received plenty of personnel, but high-end combatants are limited. Captain Xu departed this afternoon, taking a portion of the bureau's elite fighters with him. Not many remain. Those two factions are another story. Even with reinforcements, it will be cutting it close."
As a fighter himself, he knew very well that in armed conflicts, a single formidable combatant could turn the tide. Strength could hardly be measured by the sheer number of armed personnel.
And whether it was the Syndicate or the Linax Federation, both had undoubtedly gathered numerous elite fighters for this occasion.
While other Center Cities had provided reinforcements, they had their own difficulties and responsibilities to uphold. They rarely dispatched their top-tier fighters; having mid-level forces sent over was already quite generous.
Supervisor Han said, "If you feel our strength is insufficient, Supervisor Wen, we could perhaps join forces with Supervisor Chen. Don't forget, Supervisor Chen is formidable in his own right."
Wen rejected the idea immediately. "For the two of us to join forces, there's at least some justification, since Chief Wu assigned the two factions to us individually. But Supervisor Chen is in charge of maintaining security within the city. I believe that assignment is entirely appropriate—matters within the city require oversight just as much. If Supervisor Chen joins us, it goes against Chief Wu's intentions. Operationally speaking, it would violate orders and standard procedure." He shook his head. "That is improper."
Supervisor Han said, "Nothing is a hundred percent certain. I hope you will give my suggestion serious consideration, Supervisor Wen. If necessary, we can step up and take the front line ourselves."
He looked at Wen. "Ordinary times are different from the present. If we follow procedure in every single matter, we won't accomplish a thing. Supervisor Wen, we were both full of hot blood when we were young. We may have grown older, but our blood hasn't gone cold yet."
Though his tone remained flat and unemotional, when those words reached Wen's ears, Wen's expression stirred for a fleeting instant.
"Furthermore, Supervisor Wen, I know you distrust the personnel sent from other Center Cities and haven't paid much attention to them. But I hope you will review their dossiers closely. You might find something interesting. That will be all. I await your reply."
Having said his piece, Supervisor Han nodded to him, turned, and walked away.
Supervisor Wen remained standing where he was. He gazed out at the distant sea. After a while, he took off his hat, smoothed down his slightly disheveled hair, patted the hat lightly, and set it straight on his head once more.
Just then, he felt a few icy drops of water strike his face. He lingered no longer, turning and walking back to his car. No sooner had he settled into his seat than the pitter-patter of raindrops began drumming against the windows.
He instructed the telegraph operator in the front: "Activate my secret frequency and send a telegram to the other side. Inquire about something for me—regarding the matter of the Syndicate and the Linax Federation joining forces..."
He would not act rashly over unverified news. Even though Han's plan could indeed break the deadlock if executed well, all of it hinged upon accurate intelligence. If the intelligence was flawed, things could easily backfire.
Therefore, he needed the covert department's cooperation and confirmation. If there truly were signs of an alliance, it would be worth pursuing; if not, he would abandon the idea.
In any case, there was still time. He could afford at least a few days.
At this point, he recalled Supervisor Han's parting words. He pulled up the files of some of the reinforcement personnel on his boundary credential and began reading through them. When his eyes caught certain dossiers, his gaze paused, and he mused inwardly, *If that's the case, Old Han's plan might actually be doable after all...*
Chapter 695