Three days later, Chen Chuan received a call from Director Lei. He packed some things and headed to He Nan’s private training hall beside the White River.

After getting out of the car, he walked into the hall’s front lobby where He Nan was waiting for him. He greeted her, "Senior."

He Nan smiled. "Go on in. Old Lei and the others are waiting for you."

Chen Chuan nodded at her and walked inside. Past a decorative screen, he saw Director Lei, Guan Yuming, and a heavyset man in his fifties sitting there.

The man had an amiable smile and slightly thinning hair, but judging by his expression and posture, he was clearly an official of the same rank.

Director Lei spoke. "Chen, you’re here. Let me make the introductions. You already know Director Guan. This is Director Wang of the Communications Bureau."

Director Wang looked over, his eyes crinkling into a smile. "Chen, our Communications Bureau’s invitation at your review hearing the other day was completely sincere. If you were to join us, we would absolutely give you the best benefits and compensation. Plus," he sighed dramatically, "we have many young, beautiful female employees. I’m sure you young people would have a lot to talk about."

Guan Yuming joked, "Wang, trying to poach someone right in front of me? You’ve got a lot of nerve."

With a nonchalant expression, Director Wang replied, "If you’re not shameless, you don’t get to eat the meat."

Director Lei gestured to Chen Chuan. "Come, have a seat."

Chen Chuan thanked him, nodded to Director Guan and Director Wang in turn, and took a seat opposite the three of them. He Nan entered to pour him some tea and refill the others’ cups before exiting and gently closing the door.

Guan Yuming spoke then. "Mayor Zhu reached out to you?"

Chen Chuan nodded.

Director Wang chuckled. "Our new Mayor Zhu certainly has his own ideas."

"If he can solve the problems his predecessor couldn’t, it will be to his benefit," Guan Yuming said.

Their plan to form a multi-departmental joint force against Esoteric Buddhism and the resistance organization meant they couldn’t bypass the Mayor. He hadn’t officially stated his position before, but summoning Chen Chuan was a sign of his tacit support. They understood his approach. He had just taken office and the situation was still murky, so he was being extremely cautious to protect himself.

But for this matter, that was enough. As long as he didn’t create obstacles or hold them back, they could handle things on their own.

Director Lei said to Chen Chuan, "Everyone present here was on the team that dealt with Molan. You can trust them, so feel free to speak your mind."

Director Wang smiled. "My Communications Bureau took advantage of the situation. While the channels for inter-agency cooperation were open, we worked with the bureaus in several other cities to cast a wide net. Our efforts paid off. Over the past few days, we successfully intercepted a telegram from the resistance organization."

"Though the deciphered content only consists of code words, the transmission frequency is far higher than usual. They’re undoubtedly planning to make a move soon. Based on analysis from our intelligence experts, their target is most likely a key transportation route."

He looked at Director Lei. "This aligns with the intelligence you provided, Director."

Guan Yuming also spoke up. "Explosives have been frequently discovered near the city center these past few days. The objective is painfully obvious: to tie up the Patrol Bureau’s resources and attention."

He turned to Chen Chuan. "Our strategy this time is to let them make their move, then capture them all in one fell swoop. We will eradicate this chronic disease that has plagued Yangzhi City for years!"

"However, we can’t mobilize too many people. Over the years, the resistance organization has certainly planted moles in various departments. Our own familiar faces are undoubtedly under their surveillance, so we can’t make any large-scale, overt moves."

"Furthermore, there are very few people on the inside who are both trustworthy and competent enough for this job. But Chen, you were able to deal with Tan Wang, a Third Limit master, all by yourself. Your skills are more than sufficient. So, this time, we’ve decided to have you be the primary agent for this operation. What are your thoughts?"

Director Wang added with a smile, "Our departments will jointly issue a commission and assign it specifically to you. How does that sound? Feel free to voice any concerns you might have."

Chen Chuan’s stance was clear. He replied decisively, "It is my duty to contribute." ’Right now, I’m short on money and opportunities to increase my overlap time. If I can eliminate some hostile elements in the process, I couldn’t ask for a better deal.’

At this, Guan Yuming gave him a solemn reminder. "Ordinary people are no match for you, but this time, your enemies might be different. You must be careful."

Chen Chuan nodded. ’Aside from the resistance members, I’ll also be facing an Esoteric Ritual. I definitely need to be cautious.’ After a moment of thought, he said, "I’d like to bring a team to act with me this time."

He looked at Guan Yuming. "They are people I trust implicitly. They helped me eliminate an armed group in the wilderness last time, and they also coordinated with me on a certain state-sanctioned operation. The Patrol Bureau should have it on file."

Guan Yuming agreed at once. "Permitted. In fact, that’s even better. To be honest, we were a little uneasy about you fighting this battle alone."

"I also need to request support from the Patrol Bureau in the form of equipment and special clearances," Chen Chuan added. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Guan Yuming waved his hand dismissively. "Whatever equipment, weapons, or clearances you require, the Patrol Bureau will make them all available to you this time. Furthermore, I can give you your parameters right now..."

He looked at Chen Chuan. "The primary objective is to annihilate the resistance organization and that Esoteric Buddhism expert. Any... collateral damage... incurred in the process is within acceptable limits. We can live with it. Sometimes, it’s necessary."

His voice grew somber. "Xiaochuan, sometimes you can’t afford to hesitate. Doing so would be irresponsible... to yourself."

Chen Chuan understood. ’The primary mission is to annihilate those two targets. Anyone else encountered along the way is not a priority for protection. They can be abandoned if necessary.’

He understood this reasoning. ’It’s impossible to predict what situations will arise. Sometimes, the more you try to save, the more you end up losing. You have to make trade-offs.’

He said, "Director Guan, I understand."

’As for any innocent bystanders, I’ll protect them if I can. But if I can’t, my priority has to be the survival of myself and my team.’

Director Wang chuckled. "Chen, your fame has spread far and wide. You took down Fang Dawei’s gang all on your own. You’re probably a marked man for the resistance organization by now. They might be watching your movements, so before you begin your preparations, it would be best to find an excuse to leave Yangzhi City for a while."

Guan Yuming said, "The Patrol Bureau will issue bounties for some armed groups in the wilderness. You and your team can head out to the badlands as a cover. Take a radio with you. When the time is right, you’ll divert to the target’s location. The specific arrangements are up to you. I’ll have my deputy, Xiaobei, act as your liaison for whatever you need."

Chen Chuan agreed.

Director Lei spoke at this point. "Regarding the Esoteric Ritual you may encounter, I and the bureau’s analysts will be responsible for handling it when the time comes. However, this particular Esoteric Ritual is unlike any we’ve seen before. It may not match our predictions, so there will be some risk involved. You may need to solve problems on your own."

"For the next two days, you’ll stay here. I will teach you a few simple methods for disrupting Esoteric Rituals, as well as some counter-rituals. They might prove useful."

Hearing this, Chen Chuan was involuntarily intrigued. ’I’ve read plenty of reference materials before, but due to a lack of practical components, I’ve never actually tried to perform any of it. Since Director Lei is willing to teach me, this is the perfect opportunity.’

’I don’t expect to become an expert, but being able to use the basics would be more than enough.’

Seeing that the three men might have more to discuss, he didn’t linger. He bid them farewell and took his leave.

After he left, Director Wang remarked with admiration, "Chen is very composed. He’s an impressive young man."

"There’s no doubting Chen’s strength," Guan Yuming said. "He also holds a Class B Unlimited Defense Certificate. I’ve never before seen a Wuyi first-year obtain that certificate."

Director Wang nodded. This was also why he endorsed Chen Chuan as the lead agent for the operation. After so many years as the director of the Communications Bureau, he was privy to a wide range of information, but he had never once heard of a first-year student obtaining a Class B Unlimited Defense Certificate.

"The crucial part is that he defeated a Three-Limited Fighter from Central City in combat. That’s extraordinary. Setting aside his future potential, his current power alone places him among the top countable assets in all of Yangzhi City."

Guan Yuming added, "Additionally, I will have the bureau’s top instructors on standby as an insurance policy, to ensure a flawless outcome."

Director Wang was now completely reassured. "Excellent. Once we eliminate this group, we should have peace for a few years."

Guan Yuming didn’t respond, merely lifting his cup and taking a silent sip of tea.

「Meanwhile」 After leaving the living room, Chen Chuan was led by He Nan to a study. It was filled with numerous books on Esoteric Rituals. As he was browsing the titles, Director Lei walked in and gestured for him to sit down.

After taking a seat himself, Director Lei got straight to the point. "I’ve been observing Xieshan these past few days. I have a general idea of what that person intends to do."

He said gravely, "A ritual on such a massive scale requires countless details to be filled in. He currently lacks the manpower and resources, so he can only borrow power from elsewhere."

"Xieshan was once a stronghold for several esoteric sects, and it’s also a hotbed for strange folklore. This person most likely intends to leverage old, forgotten rituals left behind from a bygone era—rituals that may still linger there. He’ll use them as catalytic nodes to power his own. This saves him the effort of preparation and adds an element of surprise."

Chen Chuan suddenly recalled the Esoteric Ritual he’d found trapping the Mountain Ghost during one of his commissions. ’That makes perfect sense,’ he thought, nodding involuntarily. Director Lei was perceptive. He looked at Chen and asked, "Have you seen something similar?"

Chen Chuan didn’t hide it, describing the ritual he had witnessed.

Director Lei mulled it over for a moment before speaking slowly. "What you encountered was likely a ritual of the ancient Head Worship Sect, not the Flying Head Sect. Strictly speaking, the Flying Head Sect isn’t a form of Esoteric Buddhism. It’s more of a mass social phenomenon sparked by folklore, which eventually evolved into religious worship born from fear and helplessness."

"The Head Worship Sect, to be precise, believes that all things resembling a head hold a profound cosmic mystery. To them, any head is merely a tool. Following that logic, a Flying Head would be something for them to study and exploit, which is why they are fundamentally different from the Flying Head Sect, who worships them."

This was news to Chen Chuan. "Director Lei," he asked, "is it possible to find these old rituals?"

Director Lei shook his head. "Xieshan is too vast; we lack the manpower and resources to find them. Furthermore, a premature search of the mountain would likely alert our targets, making it even more difficult to eliminate this hidden enemy later. Fortunately, we have another way to counter their plan. However, it will require you to take some risks."

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