Designated Assignment

After hanging up the telephone, Chen Chuan said, "Aunt, it looks like I won't be able to stay for dinner after all. My teacher wants me back." Yu Wan hurried to say, "Business comes first. Your aunt can manage things at home, don't worry about it." Chen Chuan hummed in acknowledgement. He fetched his coat and put it on. Yu Wan came over to help smooth and adjust it, saying, "Chan'er, take care of yourself too." Chen Chuan nodded, put on his cap, and walked to the door. "Aunt, I'll be off then. I'll come over for a meal on my next rest day." With that, he pushed open the door and stepped out. Fetching his bicycle from the yard, he rode directly back to the academy. When he reached the foot of the dormitory building, he saw Cheng Zitong waiting by his car. "You're here. Get in, we'll talk inside." Chen Chuan promptly climbed in. As soon as he sat down, he noticed a radio sitting by Cheng Zitong's driver's seat, broadcasting follow-up reports on the breaking news from earlier. After robbing the bank, the criminals had retreated all the way, exchanging heavy gunfire with responding constabulary patrol officers. Casualties had been sustained on both sides. The group had now pulled back outside the city, and the constabulary was in hot pursuit. Cheng Zitong did not start the car. Only after listening for a while did he say, "That's Fang Dawei's gang." Chen Chuan had already suspected as much, and now it was confirmed. He asked, "Robbing a bank? Was it for the money, or to draw attention? And why target a member of the Consultative Council? Did he have something they wanted?" Cheng Zitong replied, "You're right. The crew that robbed the bank was most likely used by Fang Dawei's gang to distract the constabulary. "Councilor Fang's private residence had what they were after. That councilor has recently been involved in the approval process for a batch of contraband pharmaceuticals, and the security at his estate uses implants as well. That gang definitely went there for anti-alienation drugs." Chen Chuan thought about it. This was very likely the fallout from Scarface's arrest. With Scarface's supply line severed, no one was supplying Fang Dawei's gang with medicine anymore, forcing them to take desperate measures. These men truly were reckless outlaws. Knocking over a bank and storming the private estate of a Consultative Council member—the commotion they had stirred up was monumental. Cheng Zitong said, "I called you back to tell you this not just because you were involved with this case before. Word reached me that the Municipal Administration is determined to wipe out Fang Dawei's gang this time, so the Review Committee is very likely designating this operation as an assignment for the weapons license." *No wonder,* Chen Chuan thought. The selection exams issued designated assignments based on key tasks inside or outside the city. These missions were not one-off ultimatums; an applicant could decline to participate and wait for the next assignment. One or two such tasks would appear every month until the six-month evaluation period ended. Naturally, if someone decided to participate and subsequently felt outmatched, they could choose to withdraw—but doing so meant they would be barred from ever taking any examination related to a weapons license in the future. Cheng Zitong said, "Judging from their past actions, several members in Fang Dawei's gang likely possess military implants. Not only are they armed with guns, but they also have body armor. When they exchanged fire with the constabulary near the bank earlier, they didn't even fall at a disadvantage. They're exceptionally tough to handle. If this truly becomes a designated assignment, it won't be easy to complete." Chen Chuan said, "Teacher, I've been wanting to ask: where did they get their implants? And those firearms—someone must have supplied them, right?" Cheng Zitong shook his head and replied, "There's no definitive confirmation at present, but there is one plausible source..." He paused thoughtfully. "The resistance organization." "The resistance organization..." Chen Chuan nodded. That organization had existed for years. It was said they roamed outside the city while maintaining secret strongholds within, dedicated to sabotage and overthrowing the Great Shun government. They frequently launched attacks against vital departments and high-ranking officials, and they reportedly had a substantial presence in Center City as well. If it was that organization, they certainly had both the capability and the motive to do so. Cheng Zitong looked at him and asked, "So what are your thoughts? If this turns out to be a designated assignment, it will undoubtedly be extremely dangerous. Are you willing to take it?" Chen Chuan said seriously, "Teacher, I'm not afraid. If this is indeed a designated assignment, I am willing to take it." Cheng Zitong said, "Good. Then let's wait a bit longer; we should have an answer soon. Oh, right, go upstairs and bring down your saber. If this becomes a designated assignment, you'll be granted temporary weapon-bearing privileges for the duration of the mission. That saber of yours might just come in handy." Chen Chuan's spirits rose slightly. "Understood." He got out of the car right away and took the elevator up to his dorm room. Entering his bedroom, he took the Xuejun Saber from its rack, drew a section of the blade to inspect it, and then slid it back into the scabbard. After a moment's thought, he grabbed a satchel, packed a few items he might need, and quickly hurried back downstairs. When he walked out of the dormitory building, he saw someone speaking with Cheng Zitong. The person handed Cheng Zitong a document, shook hands, and departed. Chen Chuan walked over. Cheng Zitong looked up and said, "The paperwork is here. The committee did indeed designate it as an assignment." He handed it over. "Take a look. If you have no objections and your mind is made up, sign your name. I'll have someone deliver it back, and you will be officially enrolled in this assignment." Chen Chuan took it. The document clearly stated that those accepting the designated assignment were required to cooperate with the constabulary in capturing Fang Dawei and his crew. He asked, "Teacher, for a designated assignment like this, we won't be the only ones, will we?" Cheng Zitong said, "The constabulary will definitely have commissioned companies assisting them. As for our academy, the Municipal Administration issued the commission through the Review Committee. Any student who registered for the weapons license can take it. However, to keep everyone from working against one another, you'll need to operate alongside the upperclassmen who also accepted the assignment. "The Review Committee will score each individual based on their specific performance. Even if your score falls short this time, it won't matter as long as the mission succeeds—you'll still have another chance later." Chen Chuan understood. He signed his name, and seeing that a seal was required—which he had happened to bring along in his satchel—he retrieved his personal seal, stamped the paper, and handed it back to Cheng Zitong. As his supervising instructor, Cheng Zitong also signed and stamped his own seal on the document before saying, "I'll submit this to the Review Committee. Head over to the Grand Auditorium and rendezvous with the other upperclassmen taking part in the assignment." Chen Chuan nodded to show he understood. He stepped away from the car and walked alone to the Grand Auditorium up front. Inside, he found three upperclassmen—two young men and a young woman—already waiting. Each had a handy weapon at their side: the two male students carried a bow with arrows and a short spear respectively, while the female student held a specially crafted protective umbrella. When they saw Chen Chuan walk in carrying the Xuejun Saber, they were somewhat surprised. One of the male students asked, "You look unfamiliar. You're a newly enrolled junior, aren't you? What, you're taking part in this designated assignment too? Isn't that a bit too reckless?" The female student chimed in, "It only comes once every three years. If he doesn't test this year, he won't get another chance later. Since the opportunity is here, why not give it a shot? Who knows, maybe this junior has real strength." The first male student shrugged disapprovingly. "What's the rush? We're in the Weapons Division, so we have to get our weapons licenses as early as possible. Students outside the Weapons Division can take their sweet time." The other male student said, "Do you really not recognize him? This junior is no pushover. Remember the freshman who beat Zhong Wu into a vegetative state during orientation? That's him." Hearing this, the first male student's expression shifted slightly, and the female student looked at Chen Chuan in astonishment. They knew all too well how terrifying Zhong Wu was; unarmed, they would never stand a chance against him. Yet that monster had been beaten into such a state with bare hands by a fresh recruit. Accomplishing that without innate genius was simply impossible. It turned out he truly had the backing to apply for the weapons license. Their previous bantering and joking vanished, replaced by grave, solemn expressions. Just then, footsteps sounded outside. A stern-faced woman with short hair walked in. Appearing to be in her early thirties, she wore an imported Western-style dress and glasses. Although quite attractive, her rigid, inflexible demeanor completely detracted from her natural beauty, making her appear utterly unapproachable at first glance. Behind her, two more upperclassmen followed into the hall. She signaled the two students to stand in front before speaking: "I am Han Guo from the Review Committee. You may address me as Committee Member Han. I am responsible for recording and evaluating your actions during this operation. I should remind you now: do not bother trying to curry favor with me during the mission. I am not the only one keeping records, so such efforts are pointless. "Now let me ask: does anyone wish to withdraw? It's not too late to back out now. Your forms can still be pulled before they are officially archived with the committee." No one made a sound. Everyone present today had already mentally prepared themselves; none of them had made this choice on a reckless whim, and certainly none would withdraw at the eleventh hour. "No one, then." Han Guo nodded. "Then we depart immediately."