Book 3, Chapter 370: Wait

Back in the World Ring Defense System’s office, an assistant received a few reports. All of them were sent individually via several information channels. Quickly, she skimmed through them and organized them before sending them to Liang Guanghai.

“Sir, there’s nothing wrong with Captain Chen’s examination. The Crisis Management Center wanted to detain him anyway, but Mr. Xue stepped forward at the last second to be his guarantor. He has already left.”

“Mr. Xue came out to be his guarantor?” Liang Guanghai was quite surprised.

After some thinking, he realized it made sense. Xue Shou was from the highest central institute. Since Chen Chuan studied under him, it was not strange that he would step forward to be his guarantor.

After all, social circles were really important, and that was without considering Chen Chuan’s talent and strength.

This outcome was the best.

But he didn’t get to relax for long. After reading the next paragraph, he frowned. “Wang Weiguang?”

With Wang Weiguang’s strength and duties, he would have had no time to absorb pure essence, much less think about it after the Gate to Heaven shut.

The municipal government had clearly pulled strings to counterattack the governmental departments. It was a disgusting move, but it was useful, especially since Chen Bitong was highly likely to be the one behind the pure essence spilling out. If someone associated with one of the government departments absorbed pure essence, it would damage their influence.

The central government would start doubting the government departments in Jibei Road’s Central City and may even suspect their abilities. Even if they destroyed Ferris Wheel and the existence from the other world, it wouldn’t wipe out all their suspicions.

An encoded call came, and he answered it. “Director Wu?”

“Did you read the report?” Wu Quan asked.

“I did,” Liang Guanghai replied.

“They clearly wanted to attack the Department of Administrative Affairs through Captain Chen, then drag the World Ring Defense System and the Resolution Department into the mess as well. He was supposed to become their weapon.

“But they must have been worried about us protecting Captain Chen and were not confident in making him the scapegoat. That’s why they prepared Wang Weiguang as backup. I’m sure that they didn’t expect Mr. Xue to show up, which was why they shoved Wang Weiguang into the line of fire in such a hurry.

“Still, Wang Weiguang doesn’t carry enough weight. Even if they use him as a scapegoat, they won’t be able to draw much blood. They’ll only be able to cause minimal trouble through him.”

“I know Wang Weiguang. He’s highly motivated to become stronger, and he might think that this is his only choice, since he’s not from Martial Valor University and the military,” Liang Guanghai pointed out.

Wu Quan acknowledged that. Wang Weiguang didn’t graduate from the national education system. Instead, he was recruited from one of the martial arts schools outside it. Because of it, becoming a squad captain was as far as he could go. That was the fate of people like him. Since he had no path upward and the municipal government promised him something, he switched sides.

“Even if Wang Weiguang refused them, the municipal government could find someone else. It all depends on what they’re willing to offer. Without pure essence spilling out, everyone would have been satisfied with how things ended. I wasn’t expecting Lao Chen to act. He really caught us unawares,” he remarked.

“We need to take things one step at a time. Chen Bitong’s desire for change was good and all, but it was a little too extreme,” Liang Guanghai lamented.

“We haven’t gone through what Chen Bitong had. I don’t know his precise thoughts, but he had the courage to do this and actually saw it through. I’m quite impressed, to be honest,” Wu Quan confessed.

“But what can a singular person do? Their efforts are minuscule,” Liang Guanghai pointed out.

“They can be great too,” Wu Quan insisted.

Liang Guanghai was silent for a while before shaking his head. “Right now, we need to think of something to wrap this up nicely. The municipal government isn’t going to stop with their tricks.”

“Didn’t we predict this? We even said that it’d be strange if they didn’t do anything. I’m waiting for their tricks.”

Liang Guanghai nodded in agreement before saying, “I also need to tell you that Captain Chen turned down the offer.”

“It’s good that he did. Captain Chen is young, and he already has too much attention on him. We shouldn’t shove him to the front lines. But if he doesn’t take that position, we need someone else to take it.

“Honestly, it’s a pity that Lao Xu has no desire for greater things, or he’d be perfect for it.”

Liang Guanghai considered it before saying, “I still think that it has to be Lao Xu. Only someone with his experience and age can shoulder that sort of reputation and honor. If he doesn’t take it up, who else can? He’ll need to put up with this.”

“I’ll talk to him,” Wu Quan said after some thinking.

***

After saying goodbye to Xue Shou, Chen Chuan drove back to Martial Valor University.

When he was about to reach the Arcane Palace, he saw a familiar car. Advisor Pei was standing by it.

Chen Chuan parked his own car and walked over. “Do you need me for something, Advisor Pei?”

“Special Officer Liang asked me to explain to you what happened during the examination. You couldn't avoid it, and the World Ring Defense System couldn’t stop it, because this concerns something really important.

“Has Mr. Xue said anything to you?” he asked while watching Chen Chuan.

“He didn’t,” Chen Chuan answered.

“If that’s the case, let me tell you about it,” Advisor Pei stated.

Since Chen Chuan had shown no abnormalities during the examination, it was confirmed that he hadn’t absorbed any pure essence.

The gap in the World Ring had yet to be closed, so some people might not give up. They could continue using it to drag Chen Chuan into the mess. Besides, considering the position Chen Chuan was about to get, it was about time for him to learn about it, so they decided to just tell him.

So, while standing in the square, Advisor Pei gave Chen Chuan the general gist about pure essence.

Chen Chuan listened. Some of it he had heard before, but the rest was new to him because Chen Bitong hadn’t had the time to tell him everything in detail.

“In the past, when there was no World Ring to act as a barrier, pure essence would spread through the world whenever the era of change arrived. Everyone could get it, because of which many local forces of power and influential figures rose to power.

“Whenever there was a change in regime, these people played an active role in causing chaos. Even though many remained cautious, others did whatever they wanted.

“Such people are highly destructive and hard to control, so they brought severe damage to the commoners. This wasn’t limited to the Great Shun Republic. The entire world faced this problem. Some of them still harbor thoughts of restoring the royal families.

“Hence, once the mega alliance was formed and the World Ring was set up, the companies and governments came to a mutual agreement to seal off pure essence. After that, all those who want to get pure essence need to apply for it and have to go through a number of reviews before they’re permitted to get some.

“This is one of the few rules all the countries persist on maintaining even after the mega alliance collapsed.

“While the idea was great and suited the situation back then, now, things might change.” Advisor Pei sighed.

He was being cryptic, but Chen Chuan connected his words with what Chen Bitong had told him, and he could understand the underlying meaning. He gave a nod and asked, “What are the conditions for getting pure essence?”

Advisor Pei looked straight into Chen Chuan’s eyes. “You need to sign an agreement, but since some of the clauses are quite strict, many people can’t accept it. If you want to continue getting stronger and can’t accept the agreement, I suggest waiting a little longer.”

“What do you mean?” Chen Chuan met his gaze.

“You’re still young, so you shouldn’t have reached the peak of your strength, have you?” Advisor Pei asked rhetorically.

“That’s true.” Chen Chuan nodded.

Advisor Pei leaned against his car and looked ahead before pointing up. “The Great Crash is about to arrive. It might be in a few years’ time, but it could also come in more than a decade. Once that happens, though, the global political situation is bound to change.

“Right now, many people are trying to change it to prepare themselves for the upcoming dangers, but they’re facing a lot of resistance. Even if they can’t change anything, many rules will disappear after the Great Crash.

“So, don’t be in a hurry to make your decision. Don’t fight head-on against some people and certain forces of power. Just wait, and you’ll get your chance.”

Chen Chuan nodded.

If he couldn’t get pure essence through the normal way and couldn’t find any other way to get it, waiting might be a good idea.

The world was about to change, so no one knew what was going to happen. The only way to survive was to become stronger before that happened. It was the only way to be ready for whatever may come.

Besides, Chen Chuan had defeated two existences from the other world. When the worlds crashed, the two beings might come for him, so he had to make sure he was strong enough to protect himself instead of wishing for luck.

When Advisor Pei saw him nodding, he thought that Chen Chuan was going to listen to his advice, and he felt glad.

“I’m also going to tell you something else you need to know. This matter isn’t over. The municipal government is trying to counterattack. Before I left, I heard that they were doing a vote to see whether they can bring international companies into Jibei Road’s Central City.

“The Union’s review team is still in White Bird District, so we suspect that the municipal government might just ask some of their members to come to the city.”

He sighed. “These companies were deeply involved in the building of our Central Cities, and they’re as old as the Great Shun Republic. This is a problem from a long time ago. The central government wants to reclaim control of the Central Cities, but it has been hard. They’re facing a lot of external resistance, and many of the politicians are involved with various companies. Sometimes, they create the greatest difficulties and toughest situations.

“That’s why I suggest you wait things out. You’re the one with the upper hand. All countries are throwing more energy into training up their martial artists and increasing the intake of commoner students. The quality of martial artists is also getting better by the year. I’m going to repeat myself. You’re still young. You don’t have to be in too much of a hurry.”

At this point, he chuckled. “When I joined the World Ring Defense System, a senior of mine said something to me, and I’m going to repeat it to you.

“We might be unable to see the results of our hard work, but as long as youngsters like you are around, the world still has hope.”