After Qi Weizhao finished reading the announcement and the appointed hour arrived, the meeting officially commenced.
The Security Decision-Making Conference primarily addressed numerous security matters—such as the strategic direction of Center City, Center City defense, military deployments and mobilizations, and internal public security—without touching upon general administration.
The very first topic brought up in the meeting concerned the airship company.
In the past, Center City's airship companies had been almost exclusively privately established. Whenever airships were required, they were leased or requisitioned in emergencies. However, during Fumu's schism, numerous issues had been exposed.
Furthermore, with economic exchanges across the Outer Ocean increasing nowadays, a large number of transport airships were required. Consequently, Center City had already formed a state-owned airship company over the past few months.
Aside from that, there were specific considerations regarding defensive security. Because the Municipal Council possessed monster airships and a handful of combat airships, they posed a tremendous threat in any confrontation against the council; thus, a combat airship squadron had naturally been organized as well.
However, there was still disagreement over where this combat force should ultimately be placed. Commissioner Liang of the Defense Department believed the unit could be placed under the Defense Department. That way, it would remain free from interference during ordinary times, and if any trouble arose in the Confluence, it could be dispatched to the Confluence immediately to assist in defense.
The Government Affairs Department, on the other hand, wanted it placed under its own name. Their reasoning was that the Confluence already possessed independent airship formations, and major fighting there had ceased for now. In contrast, the Government Affairs Department had to contend with the armed forces of the Municipal Council, the Consortium, and the various major corporations, so it had to possess direct administrative command authority.
Chen Chuan had reviewed some materials provided by Fumu beforehand. In his view, since this airship force was originally meant for urban defense, it naturally ought to fall under the Security Defense Office.
Previously, the Defense Office had been an empty shell and its personnel were not their own people, so the Government Affairs Department certainly wouldn't have agreed to place it under the Defense Office's administration, nor would forcing it onto the City Patrol have been appropriate. But circumstances were different now.
Just two days ago, Secretary Qiao Yang had also consulted with him in advance regarding this matter.
At this moment, Qi Weizhao formally proposed at the meeting that the airship squadron be placed under the administration of the Defense Office. Qiao Weiting voiced no objection, and Commissioner Liang remained silent this time as well.
Naturally, Chen Chuan had no objections either, and so the first agenda item was decided just like that.
The second agenda item concerned esoteric cults. On the field screen, Director Qian of the Examination Bureau stood up to report on the specific situation.
Had Chen Chuan not attended this meeting, he truly wouldn't have realized how rampant cults had become. Just this month alone, fifteen new cult organizations had emerged within Center City, five of which were confirmed to have originated from abroad.
Qian Shushan said, "There is a cult worthy of particular attention: the New Light Cult. This is an international cult organization from the Linax Federation, and the federation itself is almost certainly tied to it behind the scenes. At present, their strongholds within the urban district have already been rooted out by us, but their most important stronghold is located in the Lower City, where penetrating deep is exceedingly difficult. Therefore, I request approval from the Security Decision-Making Group to launch a clearance operation there."
Qi Weizhao turned to look at Chen Chuan. "Director Chen, what is your opinion?"
Chen Chuan did not immediately voice his opinion. Instead, he examined the briefing and threat assessment sent over regarding this cult, discovering that it had reached the Level 2 public security threat standard. This was a remarkably dangerous rating, typically reserved for events involving mass casualties and large-scale riots.
He quickly connected this to what the Great Shun government was currently doing on the Linax Federation's West Coast. It seemed the federation was sparing no effort in infiltrating and staging actions within Great Shun in return. In all likelihood, this wasn't limited to Jibei Dao either; other coastal Center Cities were probably experiencing similar operations.
After considering it, he said, "The Defense Office can cooperate by organizing an elite tactical squad to launch a focused raid on that stronghold. Can the Examination Bureau identify the stronghold's exact location?"
The Lower City spanned a vast area with complex, shifting terrain. The gangs and local factions there were all connected to surface companies, and weapons, narcotics, implants, and various contraband ran rampant, entangling untold economic interests. This zone was currently an intractable problem, so their target had to be pinpointed before they could act.
Director Qian had come prepared: "We have an informant inside the cult who has already provided the exact location. But to be safe, I will have someone verify it once more."
Chen Chuan said, "Very well. After the meeting, I will have the Disposal Bureau mobilize an elite unit. Once your bureau has confirmed the details, we will cooperate immediately in the operation."
Director Qian looked at Chen Chuan and said gratefully, "Thank you for your support, Director Chen."
Although the Esoteric Cult Examination Bureau was considered an armed enforcement agency, most of its armed personnel were not martial artists, merely equipped with combat implants. Conversely, many cultists possessed extraordinarily extreme modifications and implants, some even of military grade.
Even with esoteric rituals providing coordinated assistance, the cultists likewise possessed esoteric knowledge. Without overwhelming numbers, contending with them was actually quite grueling.
However, with the Disposal Bureau coordinating and assisting, things would be completely different. In the past, the Disposal Bureau only cared about its own affairs and rarely lent support. Fortunately, this Director Chen seemed well aware of the perils of esoteric rituals and gave them his full backing.
The next agenda item, the third, was about resistance organizations.
A resistance organization was broadly defined as a violent organization that had risen across the world to oppose governments and corporations.
Though they were all called resistance organizations, their origins varied in reality. The largest among them was undoubtedly the International United Resistance Front.
During the era of the Grand Alliance, many non-governmental civil armed groups had joined its ranks. These organizations had likewise contributed significantly to overthrowing the world's Old Dynasties and establishing Center Cities.
Yet after the Grand Alliance fractured, governments and corporations carved up the vast majority of the spoils, while these non-governmental organizations were abandoned and suppressed. Consequently, they later banded together to form the United Resistance Front. Today, it was active all over the globe, and its headquarters was said to be located in the Sanmawojia Continental Association.
Apart from this international organization, many so-called resistance organizations within individual nations were actually funded and propped up by foreign powers, with some even backed directly by corporations. Since multiple corporations and megacorporations were soon to enter Center City, one could foresee that resistance organizations would emerge alongside them.
This required the Security Defense Office to make early preparations and step up clearance efforts.
Chen Chuan said, "The Defense Office will make appropriate arrangements for this matter. I will submit a concrete security deployment plan and report at the next meeting."
The other attendees had no dissenting views on this, and so the meeting moved on to its final agenda item.
Qi Weizhao said, "A month ago, Canglong and the Ocean Exploration Group submitted an application requesting to establish an information exchange network with our Jibei Dao Center City.
"I spoke previously with the special commissioners from the capital; they also endorsed this proposal and hoped we would support it, though without making it mandatory.
"I have already explored its feasibility within the Government Affairs Department, and based on the aggregated assessments from various sides, we currently satisfy the conditions."
As he spoke, he tapped his boundary credential, transmitting several files and reports into the hands of each Decision-Making Group member.
Qi Weizhao continued, "However, conflict with the Municipal Council on this matter is inevitable, nor will the Consortium and the Linax Federation allow us to advance smoothly. Administrative power alone is insufficient to see this through completely, which is why the Government Affairs Department requires the full support and cooperation of every department."
Commissioner Liang was the first to speak: "Seamless information exchange between Center Cities will benefit the defense of the Ring of the World. The Defense Department supports this proposal."
Qiao Weiting followed with a solemn voice, "The Confluence garrison stands ready day and night to respond to any contingency."
After all three voiced their stances in turn, they looked at Chen Chuan, waiting for his declaration.
As high-end combat power, martial artists held what could be called decisive influence in Center City; in this endeavor, their backing was utterly indispensable.
Chen Chuan met their gazes and said, "I agree with and support this proposal, and I cast an affirmative vote on behalf of Principal Yao."
Even though prior communication had already made the outcome known, hearing his official commitment at the meeting allowed Qi Weizhao to finally put his mind completely at ease. He spoke up: "Then this proposal is approved and incorporated into Center City's governmental decision-making plan. A detailed report will tentatively be submitted to the Decision-Making Group next month, and if there are no objections, implementation will proceed starting after February of next year."
With that topic concluded, the meeting came to an end. Chen Chuan logged out, and the light on the field screen slowly faded.
He gave it some thought. Now that official business was finished, he could handle his personal affairs.
He immediately submitted his travel plans to higher authorities for filing. Because his destination was the Outer Ocean, approval and clearance were granted in just one day.
After arranging the office's affairs in advance, when the twenty-third arrived, he stepped out of his villa and boarded the airship sent to convey him to the Outer Ocean.
This time, he was no longer traveling on an airship provided by the Martial Arts Council; instead, it was arranged once again by the Ocean Exploration Group. Canglong Company and the Exploration Group clearly already knew the meeting's results. They were immensely grateful for his support and sent word that all of his operational expenses overseas would be covered by the two companies.
Holding the Xuejun Saber, Chen Chuan walked up the boarding bridge. Just as he reached the airship's hatch, his footsteps suddenly paused. The attendant at the doorway asked nervously and with concern, "Mr. Chen, is something wrong?"
Chen Chuan said, "It's nothing."
He stepped inside the airship and walked toward his private cabin. A faint glint of light flickered in his eyes; just moments ago, he had felt that the physical transformation following his breakthrough to the fourth limit was finally complete.
At this very moment, he could completely restrain the dispersion of his biological field and mental presence. That way, unless he intentionally projected these forces outward, nearby martial artists would no longer feel that sensation of extreme danger.
With the transformation complete, his raw strength did not appear to have increased much on the surface, but his combat effectiveness had taken a massive leap forward. After all, he had not truly been able to wield his full power before. It wasn't that the strength he exerted previously was weak, but rather that the power he mobilized hadn't operated as a unified whole. Now, that had changed.
Of course, that was secondary. The conclusion of his transformation meant that, starting from this moment, he could begin his practice of the Great Azure Sky Style.
Chapter 837