"No tracking, no surveillance, no vigilance, no defense."
In a small conference room in the Ancient Culture Research and Analysis Archival Room, a meeting was also taking place.
"The promotion and job transfer of Lu Zhengâs parents and Lin Wanâs mother are all reasonable, yes, although Lu Huiâs promotion to a senior position is a bit fast, it is based on the fact that his advancement was delayed for a long time before. With his ability and qualifications, there is no problem with advancing at this age."
"However, when three coincidences intersect, Lu Zheng and Lin Wan will easily notice something is off, not to mention Lin Wan is a second-level police chief."
"Our goal is to make them realize something is wrong, consider it a greeting, providing a buffer in case direct contact is inappropriate."
We trust Lin Wanâs character; however, we are more concerned about any misunderstandings Lu Zheng might have about us, so we need to proceed step by step."
...
"We are unclear about the intentions from above, and they are unclear about ours."
"Because we have shown an intention not to engage with them, even if they have discovered us, they wonât abruptly approach us."
Lin Wan explained to Lu Zheng with a smile, "This step is essentially saying hello, testing our attitude, observing how we react, and whether it is intense. If the reaction is intense, it means we resist interacting with higher-ups, leaving room for both sides to mitigate."
"Tsk tsk, so many schemes, those who play politics..."
"Who are you talking about~" Lin Wan gave Lu Zheng a coy glance, tightening her grip.
"I am wrong, I am wrong, you continue, my wife is the smartest!" Lu Zheng hurriedly said.
"From what we have done, itâs either for the benefit of the country and the people or a righteous act, although there are some regulations we didnât follow, circumstances were special, so exceptions are surely made."
Lin Wan chuckled softly, her gaze softened, relaxing her grip, clearly reminiscing about the time Lu Zheng avenged her.
Lu Zheng laughed heartily, hugging Lin Wanâs fragrant shoulder, "So the higher-ups are worried that I am concerned they will slice me up for research?"
Although it sounds convoluted, Lin Wan still laughed, "Of course, slicing up for research is not possible, given your displayed prowess itâs not going to happen, right? But surveillance, moral coercion, action restrictions, and character analysisâarenât you really worried about these occurring?"
Lu Zheng thought about it, nodded, "A bit, mainly it feels uncomfortable."
Lin Wan shrugged, "Hence, the first move from above shows a stance of trust without surveillance, it indirectly appeals to us, possibly expressing gratitude for past incidents, and I guess they are patiently awaiting our response now."
"I see..." Lu Zheng asked, "What do you suggest then?"
Lin Wan smiled gracefully, "My suggestion is no reaction."
"No reaction means accepting the goodwill they have sent, it doesnât matter to us if they are aware of our presence." Lin Wan shifted her gaze, contemplating, "However, no reaction clearly conveys we still donât want direct engagement."
"Donât initiate, donât reject, donât take responsibility." Lin Wan winked at Lu Zheng, "Isnât this your attitude?"
Lu Zheng smiled wryly, "Am I that bad?"
Lin Wan bared her teeth, "What do you think?"
...
A conference room in Beidu.
"I suspect they wonât react."
"Why do you say that?"
"Given their displayed capabilities, far exceeding ordinary cognition, you might as well call them immortals. Well, I suppose they are traditional immortals now.
Such people act according to their heart, naturally reluctant to be bound by external rules. By their previous conduct, there exist some minor matters... right... and officially, it is understandable that they are the institution setting and enforcing rules. Thus, under allowed circumstances, they inherently avoid official dealings."
"But surely there are rules in the heavens too, they canât all be living in a rule-free jungle world?"
"In a stable country, the officials are the largest force, similarly, the heavens set rules for immortal management, which certainly involves immortals, so the question is, are you an immortal?"
"I am not."
"Are you one?"
"I am not either."
"Do you want to go to the world of immortals?"
"We havenât figured out our world yet."
"Then there you go."
Everyone, "..."
"In fact, I donât expect them to react, based on their previous actions, thereâs no need to actively engage with us.
What they are willing to do, they have already done proactively, what they arenât, engaging with them is not going to compel them.
Our search for them stems from certain matters being overly mysterious, the unknown signifies danger, for safety, we must seek some understanding.
But now with limited awareness of the situation, with Lin Wan and Lu Zhengâs character being reliable, trusting their influence on Si Lingxi, Shen Ying and Liu Qingyan, why urgently establish connections now?"
...
On the bed in Hai Cityâs apartment, Lu Zheng and Lin Wan stopped their playful bickering for a mid-break analysis session.
Lin Wan pondered, "Maybe I underestimated the scope above, maybe theyâre not waiting for our reaction at all."
Lu Zheng blinked, "What do you think?"
"Because they donât actually need us," Lin Wan contemplated.
"Oh?" Lu Zheng raised an eyebrow.
"If they park a car with two people at our community entrance, you can definitely spot them."
"Certainly," Lu Zheng nodded.
"I believe they also know you are capable of this," Lin Wan nodded as well.
She carefully contemplated again, eyes flickering momentarily, hesitantly said, "I donât know if my assumption is correct, but their lack of personnel around us suggests they donât expect us to initiate."
Upon hearing, Lu Zheng blinked, "So..."
Lin Wan chuckled, nodded, "The officials are quite self-assured then!"
...
In a conference room in Beidu.
"From ancient times to the present, natural disasters, human-induced calamities, foreign invasions, over thousands of years, despite the vicissitudes, empires rise and fall, we have navigated through, never absent.
After enduring a century of humiliation, resisting aggressors aiding Korea, floods, earthquakes, confronting lighthouses step by step, we transformed from a semi-colonial, semi-feudal agricultural nation to an all-encompassing industrial nation, with economic rankings stably second and aspiring first, national morale immensely uplifted.
All this achieved through the efforts of our people, never due to immortals.
Yes, having immortals is goodâgetting to lighthouse planes, making it rain in drought, altering typhoon paths, accelerating floods; however, without immortals, we developed Number Twenty ourselves, ensured southern water diversion and myriad waterways, have our flood control troops and disaster relief forces!"
"Good!"
"Precisely!"
"Indeed!"
"Given this, let them maintain peaceful lives quietly, itâs the digital era, periodically checking internet activities suffices, no need for constant surveillance.
Regarding contact, opportunities abound in the futureâthe countryâs vast, numerous affairs, they live domestically, inevitable interventions will ensue, acknowledging them naturally leads to gradual exposure.
Moreover, we are uncertain about other mysterious figures, if mysterious events or figures arise, investigations must proceed."
"Agreed!"
"Any more matters? If not, letâs adjourn."
"Uh... leader..." someone raised a query, "ordinarily, immortals undoubtedly supplement, but what if malevolent mysterious forces emerge? Or other countries exploit mysterious forces against us?"
"..."
"Isnât it obvious? Certainly contact Lu Zheng and Lin Wan immediately!"