On November 29th, at 8:10 a.m., the clear, bright sunlight of an autumn morning streamed into the room.
Chen Chuan put on his Disposal Bureau Investigation Supervisor uniform. After inspecting it to ensure there were no wrinkles or blemishes, he draped the outermost cloak over his shoulders, fastened the brass buttons, took up his peaked cap, and set it squarely upon his head. Finally, his gloved hand took the Xuejun Saber from the sword stand, and he walked out of the residence.
The dedicated car from the Government Affairs Department had already arrived ahead of time. Seeing him come out, the orderly immediately opened the car door for him.
Once Chen Chuan got inside, the door closed smoothly behind him. Through the car windows and rearview mirror, armored vehicles were visible both ahead and behind. The driver in front glanced back. "Supervisor?"
Chen Chuan nodded. "Drive."
As his car slowly pulled away, the armored vehicles in front and behind all moved in unison. The long motorcade drove toward Weiguang District along roads that had long since been sealed off.
Three-quarters of an hour later, the motorcade arrived in the core area of Center City, halting before the Jibei Dao Government Affairs Department Administrative Office Building. On every side of the plaza stood uniformed armed guards and patrolling security personnel, while armed airships hovered overhead on either flank.
Stepping out of the vehicle, Chen Chuan looked up at this building—the tallest in Weiguang District and the third tallest in Center City. Guided by the welcoming personnel sent in advance by the Government Affairs Department, he entered the building and took the elevator straight to the presentation hall on the thirtieth floor.
The officials of the Government Affairs Department, led by Director-General Qi Weizhao, were already waiting here in advance. Commissioner Liang of the Defense Department, Director Wei Huan of the Disposal Bureau, Director Qian Shushan of the Esoteric Cult Examination Bureau, and others were also present. Standing alongside them in the front row were commissioning officials from the capital, who stood there at this moment with solemn expressions.
Today, nearly half of Center City's mid-level and senior officials had arrived. Even Speaker Quan of the Municipal Council had come in person, accompanied by several prominent councilors.
Just then, a crisp chime sounded, and the spacious elevator doors slid smoothly open. The crowd turned to look and saw a tall, straight-backed, handsome, and martial young man standing there. His eyes held a luminous, clear radiance of high resolve, and in his hand he gripped a long saber.
When he stepped out of the elevator and strode toward them, everyone's breath involuntarily caught, and some even felt a prickling sensation on their skin like needles.
The security personnel on both flanks visibly tensed up. This was an involuntary reflex; even knowing full well that Chen Chuan was not an enemy, when a martial artist possessing immense destructive power drew near, no amount of mental preparation could overcome the physical discomfort triggered by their survival instincts.
Reaching the group, Chen Chuan greeted Qi Weizhao, Commissioner Liang, and the others waiting there. After a succession of brief pleasantries from the officials behind them, Qi Weizhao said to the commissioning official from the capital, "Commissioner Cheng, Supervisor Chen has arrived. Shall we begin?"
Commissioner Cheng nodded in agreement and invited Chen Chuan to stand in the center. The murmur that had begun to stir around them instantly quieted.
He took an appointment document from his briefcase and read it aloud on the spot:
"Decree of the Executive Government of the Republic of Great Shun: Chen Chuan, Investigation Supervisor of the Disposal Bureau of Jibei Dao Center City, having demonstrated courage in undertaking duty, scrupulous dedication to office, and outstanding meritorious service during his tenure, is hereby promoted to Section Chief of the Jibei Dao Security Defense Department, appointed Member of the Jibei Dao Center City Security Decision-Making Group, and conferred the post of Committee Member of the Jibei Dao Melded Lands Military Advisory Committee.
"By this order, the Executive Government of the Republic of Great Shun:
Chief Executive Tao Changru.
Privy Speaker Gu Mingxiang.
Counselor Member of the Supreme Security Advisory Group: Pei Xiyan.
November 29, Year 95 of Jianzhi, Republic of Great Shun."
Having finished reading, he lowered the document, stepped forward a few paces, and presented the appointment certificate to Chen Chuan. Then, from a box held by an attendant at his side, he took out an exquisitely crafted cane sword and placed it into his hands as well.
"Section Chief Chen." Only now did Commissioner Cheng shed his solemn demeanor, breaking into a smile and shaking hands with both of his. "Congratulations."
Qi Weizhao led the way with gentle applause, and a wave of applause immediately rippled through the surrounding crowd.
Speaker Quan watched with a somber gaze. Although he had anticipated this, Chen Chuan's elevation to this post still sent a chill through him, and the councilors beside him showed faint traces of unease.
The Security Defense Department—full name the Jibei Dao City Security Defense Department—was, in theory, the superior authority over both City Patrol and the Disposal Bureau. Its chief was responsible for overseeing both departments and answered to the Director-General, yet held equal rank in official grading.
The position of member on the Security Decision-Making Group carried even greater weight. This group comprised Director-General Qi Weizhao, Commissioner Liang Guanghai of the Defense Department, Garrison Commander Qiao Weiting of the Melded Lands, Headmaster Yao Zhiyi of Wuyi, and others.
Setting aside the Municipal Council, this group represented the highest decision-making authority for Center City's governmental affairs. More importantly, every single one of them wielded a portion of Fumu's authority. And now, Chen Chuan had joined their ranks...
Meanwhile, out on the floor, Commissioner Cheng spoke up again: "Furthermore, we have another credential to present to you. In view of its sensitive nature and your current status, we will not hold a special ceremony for it. We hope you understand."
As he spoke, he took a briefcase from an attendant, drew out a rigid folio document, and handed both over to him.
Chen Chuan first handed what he held to the orderly who stepped forward, then opened the rigid folio to find a single line written inside:
"National-Rank Fighter Chen Chuan is hereby specially granted the authority of unlimited defense. Note: This authority has no expiration date and takes effect immediately. Signatory: Liang Yonghang, Head of the National Review Group."
Chen Chuan glanced into the briefcase. Inside lay what was presumably the Class-A unlimited defense license.
He now understood that not all martial artists graduating from Wuyi were awarded this credential. To receive it, one's restriction agreement had to be at Level 5 or above, and one had to have performed significant meritorious service for the nation.
His being granted this was likely because his achievement in slaying Wei Guochan—which had brought about the collapse of the Old Imperial Household's power in the Jibei Dao Melded Lands—had now been officially recognized by the Great Shun government.
He lowered the folio and shook Commissioner Cheng's hand once more. "Thank you, Commissioner Cheng."
Commissioner Cheng smiled. "You need not thank me, Section Chief Chen. You have rendered meritorious service to the nation; you fully deserve this honor."
After he stepped back, Chen Chuan shook hands one by one with Qi Weizhao, Commissioner Liang, Director Wei, and the rest. The various officials of the Government Affairs Department crowded forward in succession to offer congratulations. Every one of them knew that Center City's governmental power structure was likely in for another shift.
In the past, to defend the Melded Lands, personnel had to be frequently shifted between the Disposal Bureau and the Defense Department. This special operational need, combined with deliberate maneuvering by the higher-ups of the Government Affairs Department, had left the Security Defense Department with virtually no real power; it only oversaw the City Patrol. Communication between the Disposal Bureau and the Government Affairs Department bypassed them entirely, at most passing through their hands for routine procedural rubber-stamping and paperwork.
The former Section Chief Bei, though holding a high official rank, had possessed an exceedingly weak presence in practice.
Yet it was entirely different with Chen Chuan taking the post. First of all, he had served as an Investigation Supervisor in the Disposal Bureau, had virtually directed the bureau's overall operations during his tenure, and had brought back Supervisor Wen's remains, earning deep respect and loyalty throughout the bureau.
Now that he had become head of the superior department, anyone could see that his orders would penetrate straight down to the Disposal Bureau's middle and lower tiers. One could say that before even assuming office, he was already a section chief wielding genuine authority.
After handling the pleasantries, Chen Chuan declined Qi Weizhao's invitation to attend a ceremonial banquet, explaining that having just returned, he still had matters to attend to and could not stay long.
Qi Weizhao was understanding. Had Chen Chuan been an ordinary person, it would have been fine, but as a martial artist possessing terrifying destructive might, lingering here would only make everyone uncomfortable. Thus, he immediately called Secretary Qiao Yang over and instructed him to arrange a dedicated car to take Chen Chuan back.
After bidding farewell to Qi Weizhao, Commissioner Liang, and the others one by one, Chen Chuan took his new belongings, left the presentation hall, rode the elevator down, and departed the administrative building.
Once inside the dedicated car that had brought him, he tapped his boundary credential. His permissions had already been updated, though a few critical areas still required login verification.
Glancing through, he first pulled up the files on the Security Defense Department. From a broad scan, the previous Section Chief Bei had sat in this seat for more than a decade with virtually nothing to show for it. Administrative orders issued from the Security Defense Department were practically scrap paper; the Disposal Bureau had only ever answered directly to the Government Affairs Department.
Though Section Chief Bei had held the title of defense chief, an outsider would have mistaken him for a mere head of city patrols. Logically, things should not have been that way, leading Chen Chuan to suspect that Bei likely hailed from another government faction and had consequently been frozen out by coordinated maneuvering between the Government Affairs Department and the Disposal Bureau.
Now that he sat in this seat, however, things were different. The Disposal Bureau could no longer easily bypass him—nor would they need to. In the past, this position was so pivotal that if it failed to align with the Government Affairs Department, it could easily introduce vulnerabilities into Center City's security.
Beneath the section chief, the Security Defense Department had three deputy chiefs. Two of them had clearly been shunted here to bide their time in retirement after losing political struggles. The one specifically responsible for day-to-day operations was a Deputy Chief Lü. Setting aside this man's abilities, Chen Chuan remembered that his son seemed to have some issues.
Checking his past records, his performance appeared utterly mediocre—though in this role, achieving anything notable was virtually impossible anyway. Yet this man had pocketed a substantial share of annual donations from civil organizations and corporations, making it impossible to rule out collusion with corporate interests, and perhaps even ties to the Municipal Council.
Given the current circumstances, a showdown with the Municipal Council was inevitable sooner or later. He could not afford to leave a nail planted in his flank, so he planned to have this man reassigned the moment he returned.
As Section Chief of the Security Defense Department, he lacked the authority to do so; but as a member of the Center City Security Decision-Making Group, he possessed ample power.
For a security agency, armed forces were paramount. What lay immediately ahead was establishing a directly subordinate armed unit answering only to him.
While the Security Defense Department had previously maintained armed personnel, they had merely cobbled together an operational skeleton by drawing sparse capable personnel from the City Patrol and hiring private security guards.
He had no use for them. His plan was to transfer over his former squad in full, forging a dedicated armed force within the department that answered exclusively to his command.
……
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Chapter 821