Chen Chuan had dealt with Lianwei Heavy Control's branch in Jibei Dao, severing the tentacle it had reached outward. However, the company itself had not suffered much damage. From what he knew, they were still attempting to pursue legal action at the state level. The Security Defense Department had even received a formal complaint directed against the Disposal Bureau. Clearly, they were not willing to abandon expanding their business in Jibei Dao.
As the airship carrying Chen Chuan departed Shannan, a meeting of more than a dozen key directors was taking place inside the Lianwei Heavy Control headquarters building in Shannan Dao's Center City.
One director directed an inquiry to the chief information analyst standing before them: "How much impact will this incident have on the company's business?"
The chief analyst replied, "If the local garrison ceases selling arms to the various resistance organizations, under normal circumstances we could ship arms into Shannan Dao from outside. However, now that the internal issues within the garrison have been purged, their next step will inevitably be to intensify the encirclement and suppression of the resistance organizations while cutting off all their arms supply channels. The company is very likely not only to make no profit from this, but to suffer even greater losses as a result.
"As for the exact extent of the impact, we still need to assess it based on subsequent developments and the progression of events."
The dozen or so directors immediately began conferring among themselves, discussing how to adjust their business going forward and how to minimize their own losses.
At that moment, a director tapped on the table and addressed the directors present in the room and on the screens: "Gentlemen, allow me to interject. Rather than immediate interests, we need to focus on long-term plans. And among those, there is one person we particularly need to keep our eyes on."
He gave a signal, and an image of Chen Chuan's upper body appeared on the screen. It was a photograph taken from a high angle. The subject seemed to have noticed something at that moment and looked over, his gaze cold and chilling, a long blade held in his hand. The freeze-frame sent a chill through the hearts of everyone who saw it.
"Chen Chuan. Chief of the Jibei Dao Security Defense Department, martial artist, former Investigation Supervisor of the Jibei Dao Disposal Bureau."
The director continued, "This individual also played a pivotal role in the recent operation in Shannan Dao. It was precisely because he severely wounded Consultant Bai that the Government Affairs Hall and the Defense Department were able to thoroughly resolve the garrison issue."
"He has already left, hasn't he? What else is there to pay attention to? Director Xing, are you saying he will return?"
Director Xing said, "Allow me to state clearly: this is not his first time dealing with Lianwei Heavy Control." He pointed to the photograph on the screen. "It was precisely him, during his tenure as Investigation Supervisor, who dismantled the company's arrangements in Jibei Dao! And as he became a martial artist and rose to Chief of the Security Defense Department, the prospect of our company returning to Jibei Dao has been pushed into an indefinite future, stalling our strategic expansion."
As a transportation and security corporation, Lianwei Heavy Control's primary business had historically been concentrated in the interior, across the vast expanses of central and western Great Shun and the borderlands between the eastern and western continents.
Yet the company was not content with that and had consistently sought to expand its markets. Its original strategy was to establish operations in Jibei Dao, as Jibei Dao was the waist of the east. With Jibei Dao as a fulcrum, it would effectively connect the entire eastern seaboard.
Director Xing continued, "At present, Jibei Dao is in the process of forming an airship transport company. Once that is established and a mature transport corridor is built, the modest share of the eastern transport market we currently hold will be seized by them. We are very likely to lose that market forever, and our company will remain confined to the interior. Therefore, we must implement a targeted strategy.
"This is of paramount importance to the company's future development!"
A director in attendance asked, "Director Xing, do you have a specific plan in mind?"
Director Xing held up a document, shook it lightly, and said, "Gentlemen, we have received a letter from our commercial partners in Jibei Dao. They are equally dissatisfied with the pressure exerted on them by the Jibei Dao Government Affairs Hall. Internationally, the Consortium, the Linax Federation, and numerous foreign corporations are all exceedingly discontent with the current state of affairs and are seeking to bring about a change. I believe we can join their efforts."
The seated directors conversed among themselves for a moment before one spoke up cautiously: "Director Xing, I noticed the crux of what you mentioned lies with that Chief Chen. You are talking about a martial artist. There is nothing wrong with uniting various factions and forging alliances, but none of that solves the problem you outlined. What do you intend to do—persuade him personally? I am afraid that path will not work."
Director Xing said, "Regarding this matter, my view is that an ambitious martial artist cannot possibly remain in Center City for long. He is bound to go to the Confluence." He paused briefly. "If he stays there and never returns, I believe that would be advantageous for us, and an outcome everyone wishes to see."
Though he did not say it outright, the directors present understood his meaning: they wanted to find a way to keep Chen Chuan stranded in the Confluence so he could no longer interfere with Center City's affairs. Considering the "commercial partners" mentioned earlier, this method might prove quite radical.
The directors' expressions grew tense and solemn. They were discussing a plot against a martial artist. Becoming involved in something like that carried immense risks for Lianwei Heavy Control itself. Consequently, everyone remained silent, and for a time no one spoke.
Director Xing did not demand an immediate stance from them. His purpose today was merely to put the topic on the table. Some matters did not require unanimous approval—it was enough that no one openly opposed it.
The matter was not raised again for the remainder of the meeting. Once the session ended, Director Xing returned to a lounge, where a middle-aged man had already been waiting for him.
After sitting down, Director Xing said, "Mr. Wang, I have raised the matter during the board meeting as your side requested. Next, I will secure the board's consent as soon as possible."
The middle-aged man smiled and offered his thanks. "Director Xing, thank you for your support. I have a newly acquired piece of information here that might be helpful to you." He paused before continuing, "Chief Chen belongs to the Purist Faction, the very same faction as our garrison martial artist, Chang Shuyu."
Director Xing's eyelid twitched. The image of a resolute military man immediately surfaced in his mind. With a solemn expression, he said, "Is that so?" He pondered for a moment. "If they belong to the same faction, then this recent operation makes sense."
Mr. Wang said, "Therefore, we deduce that his trip to Shannan Dao was not simply to visit relatives, but was a premeditated collaboration. And since they could collaborate once, there will be a second time. That poses a threat to both of us."
Director Xing leaned back, appearing deep in thought. After a moment, he looked up and said, "I can continue pushing forward the matter of the active conscious entity on my end. However, even if the board approves it, your people will have to deliver it into the Confluence yourselves. Our company will not participate in any direct action."
Mr. Wang smiled. "Of course. We will handle that part ourselves. All we require from your company is technical support."
Director Xing's expression relaxed slightly, and he nodded. "Let us leave it at that, then."
The middle-aged man smiled. "Then we will trouble you to see to it, Director Xing. We can assure you that once the greatest obstacle is gone, Jibei Dao will welcome your company's return."
On January 29, the airship carrying Chen Chuan returned to Jibei Dao Center City. The massive airship glided across the sky above Center City, heading straight toward Weiguang District.
Nian Fuli and his family stood by the porthole, looking out at the scenery below.
Previously, when they went shopping in Shannan Dao's Center City, they had spent most of their time riding in cars, surrounded by towering skyscrapers, bustling sounds, and flashing lights—an overwhelming blur. A hurried glimpse like that had left them unable to truly grasp what Center City was like. Looking down from above now, however, made them feel as though everything was laid out plainly before their eyes.
As Chen Chuan arrived back, Fumu's voice rang out: "Chief Chen, welcome back. You currently have one hundred twenty-seven pending messages and thirty-nine communications from unidentified sources. Would you like to process them now...?"
He immediately instructed Fumu to filter out the unidentified contacts, then reviewed the remaining messages, prioritizing the important ones for replies. Most of them were work reports from the Security Defense Department.
Even during the New Year holiday, violent apparatuses like the City Patrol and the Disposal Bureau could not completely grind to a halt. There were also important documents requiring his signature that could not be decided by the deputy chiefs alone.
After handling those matters briefly, the airship arrived above Golden Maple Court, where he resided, and slowly touched down onto the mooring tower.
Once it came to a complete halt, Chen Chuan and his aunt's family stepped out of the airship, descended from the tower, and entered the villa.
Passing through the main entrance, what first met their eyes was a grand living room spacious enough to host a small athletic competition. Seeing such a massive house, the two little ones let out cries of amazement and began running around happily inside.
Nian Fuli and Yu Wan were equally astonished. Chen Chuan had told them his residence was not small, but they had assumed that a place where he lived alone would at most be slightly larger than Han Kuang's villa. They had not anticipated it would be this vast; calling it an estate was no exaggeration at all. Having lived through everything that had just occurred, however, they were able to accept it calmly now.
At that moment, the villa's attendants stepped forward to take their luggage and set it away for them. Chen Chuan then led his aunt's family to select their rooms, and after choosing, each of them went to take a bath first.
Nian Qian was the first to finish bathing and come downstairs. Finding that an attendant had already prepared some delicate afternoon tea pastries for him, and feeling hungry, he immediately walked over, took a piece, and ate it, finding the flavor exquisite. He joked to Chen Chuan, who was standing nearby replying to messages, "Cousin, do you think it's too late for me to switch to learning martial arts now?"
Chen Chuan happened to end a call just then. Turning around with a smile, he said, "Cousin, while this place is certainly large enough, there are quite a lot of things I need to handle as well."
"True enough."
Nian Qian leaned back against the chair behind him. Looking up, he said abruptly, "During my training, the military kept telling us to be prepared for the Great Impact at all times. But no one can clearly explain what the Great Impact actually is. Cousin, what do you think it will be?"
Chen Chuan glanced outside. To his eyes, the vortex perched high at the upper reaches of the firmament felt as though it had drawn a bit closer. He took a few steps toward the floor-to-ceiling glass, came to a halt, and gazed up at the sky. "Whatever it is, when the time comes, I will stand there and see it with my own eyes."
Chapter 869