After a quick cleanup at the docks, Chen Chuan and Old Feng took Luo Qi’s body and suitcase, then drove away.

Less than ten minutes after they left, another black sedan pulled up.

The car stopped, and a man in a white mask got out. He walked to the edge of the dock and scanned the area, but all he found were signs of destruction on the ground. After a moment of silence, he turned and left.

On the drive back, Old Feng kept a vigilant watch. Fortunately, the trip was uneventful. But just as they were about to reach the city, they suddenly heard a boom that seemed to echo from far away. Both of them instinctively looked in the direction of the sound.

Old Feng reacted quickly, his voice a mixture of melancholy and excitement. "Looks like Old Cao has made his move."

Chen Chuan asked, "Was that cannon fire?"

Old Feng grunted in affirmation. "Do you know why Molan Company suddenly pulled out? We leaked some intel: two warships were approaching from the north, one of them a troop transport. The part about the transport was true, but it wasn’t carrying nearly as many soldiers as they’d fear. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

But Molan Company couldn’t afford to take that chance. Even if the first wave of troops was small, there was no guarantee that more wouldn’t follow. If they were to be surrounded by the military, not a single one of them would escape.

So they had to get out!

Based on previously gathered intelligence, combined with information from our inside man at Molan Company, we determined they would choose to evacuate to the north, most likely using some form of aircraft.

To take them down with minimal casualties, we coordinated with the military over a year ago. We had them extend the railway tracks all the way to the outskirts of Zhang Mountain and move a sufficient number of railway cannons into position to bombard them.

If the plan succeeded, the moment the shells hit, we should have annihilated the vast majority of Molan Company’s personnel and top elites. Even if a few managed to slip through the cracks, they wouldn’t pose a significant threat."

Chen Chuan nodded. The plan didn’t sound complicated; aside from the inter-departmental coordination, it all came down to good intelligence.

’The final step was the most critical,’ he thought. ’The timing of the bombardment had to be perfect, which means someone had to report their exact location. That must have been the mole’s contribution.’

’But if that’s the case, the mole probably didn’t make it out alive.’

Old Feng stepped on the gas, speeding up. "We should be getting an update soon," he said. "If the plan was a success, our mission from the higher-ups is more than halfway complete."

Chen Chuan glanced at him. ’More than halfway...’ Even wiping out Molan Company’s leadership was just "more than halfway." ’Looks like I was right. This operation has other important objectives beyond just taking down Molan Company.’

Inside a garden estate in Yangzhi’s South City, Elder Yi had remained at home for the past few days, but the situation outside was changing at a dizzying pace.

After he returned that day, he’d heard news from the Judgement Court and was stunned to discover that Chen Chuan had emerged completely unscathed, with public opinion entirely on his side.

It was then that he sensed something was wrong.

As a Yangzhi local, he was keenly aware of the influence that Molan Company and the powerful local families held over the city. But now, they had apparently lost control of the narrative; everyone could openly condemn them, yet Molan Company didn’t react at all. It was deeply abnormal.

He knew Molan Company had been in a tight spot since its headquarters was attacked a few years ago, but a starved camel is still bigger than a horse. At least in Yangzhi, it was no exaggeration to say that Molan Company’s power was absolute.

That was precisely why he had backed down in front of the Judgement Court; it simply wasn’t worth offending such a behemoth over a single person like Chen Chuan.

But now, hearing the news of Molan Company’s withdrawal, how could he not understand? A greater power must have made a move against them; otherwise, they would never have abandoned the nest they had occupied for so long.

And who could accomplish such a feat on Molan’s home turf? There was only one answer: the Dashun Republic Government.

He frowned deeply. ’In that case, was Chen Chuan being at the forefront of all this a sign that he was connected to the higher-ups all along? Or was it just a coincidence...’

He mulled it over and concluded it had to be a coincidence. Chen Chuan had spent his entire life in Yangzhi, and his record was clean. Besides, they would never entrust such a crucial role—the very tip of the spear—to a teenage student.

’What incredible luck he has...’

He couldn’t help feeling a pang of regret. If he had known about Molan’s dire situation, why would he have backed down? He could have easily earned a favor, and the young miss’s affair might have been settled by now.

’No, there’s still a chance...’

He picked up a teacup from his desk and set it down before him. ’There’s no hope of recruiting him before he graduates from Wuyi. After this incident with Molan Company, he’ll probably look down on corporations, convinced that he made the right choice.’

’It’s normal for a young man to think that way. But this world is ultimately ruled by both the megacorps and the government. Even if he joins the government, without a patron or connections, his potential for advancement is limited, no matter how capable he is. Once he hits a few walls, he’ll surely gain a clearer understanding of how things work.’

’At that time...’

Just then, a muffled sound like rolling thunder rumbled in the distance. The sound was so abrupt that the hand holding his teacup trembled, spilling tea down his front.

"What was that?"

His initial annoyance gave way to a solemn expression. "Is that... the sound of artillery?"

’Has the government started its move against Molan Company?’

As a corporate man, even a retired one, the thought filled him with a vague sense of unease. He muttered, "I should probably give the young miss a call..."

By now, Old Feng and Chen Chuan had driven back to the Patrol Bureau Headquarters.

After they got out of the car, Old Feng found a captain he knew and gave some brief instructions before leading Chen Chuan directly to the operations room.

Specialist Cao was standing behind a table, waiting for final confirmation. When he saw the two of them enter, his sharp gaze relaxed slightly. "Is he taken care of? Did you bring the item back?"

Old Feng held up Luo Qi’s suitcase. "It’s all in here. Hasn’t been opened. We brought Luo Qi’s body back, too. I had Old Zhao take care of it."

Specialist Cao nodded.

Old Feng said, "Chen took care of Luo Qi in just over fifteen minutes. That’s no easy feat."

Specialist Cao looked at Chen Chuan and said, "As I told you, I won’t put this in any official record, and no one will ever know you were the one who killed Luo Qi. However, I’m not one to let a man work for nothing. I will compensate you for this. You can submit a request form for whatever you want, and I’ll approve it as long as it’s within reason."

Old Feng chuckled. "It’s rare to see Old Cao being so generous. You should think carefully about what you want. There’s no need to rush."

Chen Chuan nodded and asked, "Specialist Cao, do I have any further orders?"

Specialist Cao replied, "Not for now. You’re dismissed, but don’t leave Yangzhi. When the national conscription ends, someone will come to notify you officially."

Chen Chuan figured that, whether the Molan Company issue was truly resolved or not, he likely wouldn’t be involved in the next phase of the operation. He bid the two men farewell and walked out, carrying his Snow Monarch Blade.

As they watched him go, Old Feng remarked with a sigh, "He’s a fine young man."

Then, his tone grew serious. "Old Cao, you weren’t there to see it. He took a lot of potential-draining stimulants for that fight. He fought Luo Qi with complete disregard for his own life. It reminded me of when we were young, all hot-blooded and passionate. A young man like that deserves a proper reward."

"You don’t need to tell me that," Specialist Cao said. "I’ll make the arrangements."

Old Feng glanced at him, then asked, "Is it confirmed?"

"Results confirmed," said Specialist Cao. "The bombardment and subsequent explosions have essentially wiped out Molan Company’s Blood Ink Guard and combat bio-weapons that were on site. Almost no one survived. One of their two airships crashed. The other, which hadn’t yet docked, saw the explosions and retreated immediately. Its likely destination is the Land of Chaos."

Old Feng let out a huge sigh of relief at the news. He thought for a moment, then took a few steps closer and asked in a low voice, "Were we able to get it?"

Specialist Cao replied in a low, heavy voice, "I’ve already sent a team. That thing isn’t easily destroyed. If someone was carrying it on them, we’ll definitely find it."

Old Feng asked, "And you’re just staying here? You’re not worried?"

"I sent Old Hong with a team," Specialist Cao said.

Old Feng nodded. "That’s good. The other corporations probably haven’t reacted yet, have they? Once Old Hong brings it back, this whole affair will finally be settled."

The two of them waited from dusk until midnight, with no news. Just as the clock hands were approaching twelve, the sound of hurried footsteps came from outside. A burly, stocky man entered, carrying a metal case still smudged with soot that hadn’t been completely wiped away.

Specialist Cao looked at him. "How did it go? Any trouble on the way?"

"None. The trip was smooth both ways," the man replied. He lifted the metal case, set it on the table, and said solemnly, "Specialist, the item should be in here."

"And one more thing..." He hesitated.

"What is it?"

"On our way here, we noticed that the ground in that area... it seems to have turned red."

"Turned red?"

Old Feng looked up. "Old Cao, it could be that stuff. I heard Molan Company has been collecting it. This area used to be the ancestral land of the Maka People. If that substance were to leak, it could very well cause something like this."

Specialist Cao asked, "Is the site sealed off?"

Old Hong replied, "It is. The roads leading to the area are being patrolled by the Patrol Bureau."

Specialist Cao asked no more questions, his gaze falling upon the case. He seemed to already know the combination, stepping forward and slowly turning the dials. A few minutes later, there was a CLICK, and the case sprang open.

He slowly lifted the lid. Inside lay a square, blueprint-like object. Its surface reflected a faint light, resembling a thin, transparent Jade Plate. It was covered in countless tiny, complex diagrams; one would seemingly need a magnifying glass to make out any detail. Just looking at it was enough to make one’s head spin.

He stared at the object and said slowly, "Back then, Tianhe Mining was broken up into more than twenty different companies. Its business manager at the time, Sun Shang, returned home and founded the Molan Gaoling Company. It was suspected that he inherited part of Tianhe Mining’s legacy. Now, it seems those suspicions were true."

...

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