Chapter 222: Take Action

Four days later, Mr. Wang sent word that they were intercepting more and more telegrams lately. Even though they couldn’t decipher them since they were in code, the frequency revealed that the two groups were about to take action.

Based on the analysis of the intelligence experts in the Communications Department, they were most likely going to carry out their plan within two days.

The period between the end of October and the start of November was when various companies would come to Yangzhi City to discuss who would get Black Orchid Co.’s company building. The foreign companies’ representatives would arrive in the city via train a day or two before the meeting.

The timing lined up perfectly.

Chen Chuan was in his dorm. After ending his call with Guan Yuming, he checked the calendar. It was the 28th of October of the 93rd year of the Development and Order Era. There were two months left until the end of the year.

According to Cheng Zitong, the main campus’ approval of his application to Central City should arrive before the end of the year. That meant that he would be going to Central City next year.

This mission might be his last major mission in Yangzhi City.

Chen Chuan gave the situation some thought. In order to avoid the resistance group’s spies, he had to move to the wilderness ahead of time, so it was time to set out.

Chen Chuan picked up his phone and started calling his team members. Once he notified everyone, he went to the stand and grabbed the Frost King Saber. Then, he went to the sofa, removed the saber from its sheath, and spread the medicine he received when he served the country evenly over the blade.

The medicine was used to maintain his saber and was apparently able to increase its quality. When Chen Chuan used it the first time, he hadn’t felt anything, but after a few times, he noticed some effects. The time it took to warm up the saber had become shorter. Even though it was only a little, the improvement was still good.

Once he finished wiping the medicine on the blade, he held the saber in his hands and positioned it horizontally in front of him. After just a few breaths, he could sense his saber trembling lightly.

After a while, he brushed his hand along the blade, and it calmed down. Then, he put the saber back into its sheath.

Chen Chuan stood up and started inspecting what he needed to bring with him. This time, he had decided to take the Halberd Pistol and all his polished stones.

Once he was done, he put on his clothes.

First, he put on a dress shirt covered in arrays on the inside followed by a fitting, high-class protective shirt. Then, he put on a padded coat also covered in arrays. Lastly, he put on the stab proof trench coat he got from the National General Affairs Bureau. It, too, was covered in black arrays on the inside.

After that, he put on scarves and gloves with arrays. As for his mask, he set it aside for now. He intended to only wear it when he ran into enemies, since it was covered in ritual patterns on both sides.

When he finished inspecting all his items, it was already almost 4:30 p.m..

Since he had agreed to meet up with his team at 5 p.m., he could go downstairs. Chen Chuan grabbed the Frost King Saber and stood up. At the door, he grabbed a box and walked out.

The moment he stepped foot outside, he saw Feng Xiaoqi and Luo Kaiyuan waiting for him. “You’re ready?”

Both of them nodded at him, and he said, “Let’s go, then.”

The three of them walked out of the dorm and headed to the entrance. He Nan’s SUV fleet was already waiting there. Wei Changan’s team, Ren Xiaotian, Lin Xiaodi, Wu Han, and Wei Dong had also arrived ahead of time.

Chen Chuan looked ahead. The maple tree across from the square had turned a fiery shade of red. A strong gust of wind blew at them right then, and the branches swayed like waves. Red maple leaves broke off the branches and started swirling in the wind. The dancing leaves blended with the crimson setting sun and dyed the entire place in a dazzling shade of red.

Chen Chuan stared at the scenery for a while before looking away. “Let’s go, guys.”

He got into the first SUV, and the others got into the rest. Then, they drove down the main road.

An hour later, the SUV fleet entered the wilderness. This time, they didn’t head any further. Instead, they stopped at a space border and got out of their SUVs.

Chen Chuan called his team over. Due to the highly confidential nature of the mission, he hadn’t been able to tell them what exactly they needed to do back in the city. But now, he could. Chen Chuan shared their goals and targets.

Once he gave all the details, Wu Han’s eyes flew wide open. “So we aren’t wiping out some armed smuggling team this time, but fighting against a cult and the resistance group?”

Chen Chuan nodded.

Wu Han laughed. “Now I’m pumped up!”

Chen Chuan looked at the rest and said, “I’ll be in charge of the cultists and destroying their rituals. Please get rid of the resistance group. Someone will give us the specifics later, but we also need to scout out the situation beforehand.”

Just then, Chen Chuan’s gaze trailed over to Ren Xiaotian, who was standing a little further away from the rest of the group. “I’ll leave this to you, Senior Brother Ren.”

Even though it was getting darker, Ren Xiaotian still had his sunglasses on. In a steady tone, he said, “Alright.”

Chen Chuan gave them a few more specifics before going into his SUV and dragging out a heavy box. He opened it, revealing shirts covered in arrays. The Cult Investigation Bureau had prepared them for the group.

“These clothes are a precaution. If we accidentally enter a ritual’s area of effect, they can help preserve our sanity for a time. If that happens, retreat until you’re a safe distance away.”

He then turned to Wei Changan. “You can bring those things out now.”

Wei Changan grinned and said, “I was wondering why you asked me to bring so much stuff this time. So, it’s for this? You’re really going all out, Chen Chuan, and you even brought me along for the ride again. You’re a great friend.”

He asked some of his team members for help, and they went to his SUV to take out multiple boxes. They had firearms of various models, along with grenades, smoke bombs, crossbows, protective gear, stab proof vests, helmets, goggles, and other weapons and equipment.

“Everyone should have a set of protective gear. We’ve prepared the sets according to your sizes, and your names are already attached to them. We’ve been given permission to use them,” Chen Chuan said.

“They’re all good stuff...” Wu Han was so excited that his eyes were sparkling.

Both he and Wei Dong loved charging to the forefront, but they couldn’t go all out without risking their lives unnecessarily, which led to them never being fully satisfied with their fights. This time, though, things would be different due to having protective gear.

***

Bao Yuan’s gang had returned to their wilderness base outside Yangzhi City. Bao Yuan was currently distributing medicine that came from the Chaotic Land.

Any Second Limit martial artist who took it could temporarily gain fighting strength on par with a Third Limit martial artist.

But those without unique constitutions could only retain the boost of power between a few seconds to a few dozen seconds. After that, they would end up in an incredibly weakened state, perhaps even dead. Yet they needed this. Otherwise, if a Third Limit martial artist wearing protective gear attacked them, they would just get wiped out.

Once he finished distributing the medicine, he instructed, “After we bomb the railway, we need to capture the foreign companies’ representatives and all the passengers so that they can’t hold their meeting.”

His subordinates were quite disappointed.

“We’re just capturing them?”

“Yeah. Why can’t we just kill them? That’d be really satisfying!”

“Those people are much more useful alive than dead. If we kill them all, the government officials will pretend to be mad while secretly cheering at us for being so stupid. After that, they will chase us down without any fear. It’s only if those representatives are alive that they will be wary and have to give into our demands.”

He thought of something and turned to the side. “Is everything ready, Lao Fan?”

“It is. The moment you begin your speech, everyone in Yangzhi City, Central City, and the cities around the area will be able to hear you.

“If we’re lucky and the radio relay station we’ve set up in secret is able to receive our signal, then most of—no, the entire Great Shun Republic will hear your voice.”

“That’s good. That’s how it should be!”

Bao Yuan became incredibly excited, to the point that he started trembling. The last time he had this feeling was when he stood far away and watched bombs being detonated within Black Orchid Co. fourteen years ago at Central City.

“How’s Lao Tian’s side going? Has he sent word?” he asked.

“Lao Tian has been really busy lately. Those Constabulary hounds have been keeping a tight watch over the downtown area, so it’s been hard for him to find any chances to plant the bombs.”

“That’s alright. Just tell him to act according to the plan and not reveal himself. Also, send a telegram to Artist and ask him for his progress,” Bao Yuan instructed.

Artist was the key to their plan’s success. Due to the differences in opinions, the group didn’t provide him with a lot of support. Bao Yuan had to gather most of his weapons and subordinates himself.

Over the past decade, he had managed to form his current group and set up this stage with practically no help. Now, he was going to use what he had built to take a huge gamble.

The company representatives taking the train would not be coming without exceptional security guards. The representatives themselves might also have combat implants. The number of people Bao Yuan had on his side wasn’t enough.

But he had something to depend on—the ritual Artist had been preparing for a long time. The ritual would weaken those people, erode their sanity, and make them lose their sense of self.

He didn’t need to wait for long. A few minutes later, the telegraph clerk received a reply. Once he translated it, he handed the telegram over. “This is Artist’s reply.”

Bao Yuan went over and grabbed the telegram.

The drawing is finished. It will be revealed tomorrow.

“Good!”

He squeezed the telegram tightly in his hands and raised his head to the sparkling stars in the sky. “Tomorrow is the day!”

***

Back on Chen Chuan’s side, Lin Xiaodi sat in front of the telegraph set in an SUV with headphones on. Her expression changed, and she quickly recorded the frequency that received a transmission before translating the telegram according to the code book.

She listened to the message a few times to make sure she didn’t miss anything before removing her headphones and getting out of the SUV. Then, she ran to Chen Chuan and handed the telegram to him. “The telegram’s here, Chen Chuan.”

He took it and gave it a cursory glance before looking at his team. “Get ready, guys. We’re moving out tomorrow morning.”

He cast his glance southeast.

“We’re going to Spill Hill.”