Chapter 69: Acquisition
Central City outskirts, southern industrial zone.
Chen Chuan , driving a Jiade car, arrived here alone.
The southern industrial zone differs from the Central City urban area; it lacks complex neon lights and billboards, featuring instead gray concrete buildings and large metal structure workshops, with transport rails leading to Central City across the ground.
Although each workshop here has its own Field Entity, the areas are independent from each other, without complete information connectivity. The Data that Fang Zhixin mentioned is located within one of these independent workshops.
He checked the location and landmarks Fang Zhixin described, and stopped the car at a certain spot.
It was near dusk, and the colors of the setting sun shone on the iron sheet walls of the workshops, adding a touch of golden-red warmth to the cold, hard metal.
In the alleys between the factories, one could see two or three stray cats lazily lying on the warm concrete ground, or watching him near the transport rails, only getting up and quickly leaping to higher ground as he approached.
Chen Chuan stood here, identifying the surroundings, and walked towards an old workshop. It was a separate repair shop, with an elderly Security guard in front of the door. The Implant on his arm looked long overdue for maintenance, its color noticeably different from his skin. He was looking at Chen Chuan with scrutinizing and wary eyes, his hand also on the holster at his waist.
Seeing that this person matched Fang Zhixin's description, Chen Chuan stopped about ten steps away and said, "I'm here to pick up the items in safekeeping." He then checked his watch, "It's five forty-five now, exactly the agreed time."
The old security guard was silent for a moment, then turned and walked inside. "Come with me." Chen Chuan followed him inside. Although the man was old, his movements were nimble and his stride was quick. They arrived at an inconspicuous rest room. He took off the key ring from his waist, fumbled for a while, found one of the keys, unlocked the door, pushed it open, and said, "It's all inside. You can move everything away. There's a flatbed outside; you can use it."
After saying this, he didn't say anything more and turned to leave.
Chen Chuan then walked into the room alone. It wasn't large, about twenty square meters. One side was lined with bookshelves, next to which was a heavy, wide desk. Directly opposite the desk was a sturdy single bed, with a safety helmet and work clothes hanging on the headboard.
The bookshelves were filled with books, mostly handbooks on maintenance and machinery, but he ignored them and walked to the bed, dragging out a box from underneath.
Brushing off the thick dust on top, he opened it according to the password Fang Zhixin had given him. Inside were neatly arranged stacks of Convergence Zone Data, as well as a jar full of hundred-Jian Yuan Coin bills and some loose coins, and some badges with considerable collector's value.
However, he knew that the Data in the box was a mix of genuine and fake, just a smokescreen. If he took it, he would only be fooled. He took out a very special badge from inside and looked at the desk to the side. He walked over and opened the drawer, where an old, inconspicuous Boundary Token was placed. The real Data was inside this.
But to see the contents, it was necessary to touch it with this badge to elicit a response.
He held the badge in his palm, then wore the Boundary Token. He gently touched it with the badge, and the Boundary Token, which had been unresponsive, immediately reacted. Then faint light and shadows emerged, displaying rows of Data.
Part of the content, in a state of hibernation, very weak, needs to be taken back
All of the content needs to be taken back and slowly reviewed.
He put all the items that needed to be taken away into the box.
After packing everything, he left the place and returned to the Jiade car. He considered whether to hand over this Data to the Processing Bureau, but after some consideration, he decided against it.
It seemed fine on the surface, but he didn't trust certain people.
He decided to hide the items here instead of handing them over to the Government.
Just as he was about to start the car, the Boundary Token received a contact signal. He glanced at it and connected the call. "Assistant Ling ? What's the matter?"
Assistant Ling's voice was very clear within the car's environment.
"Supervisor Chen, do you remember I mentioned before that the Linax Federation delegation has Academy members who want to have an Exchange competition with Wuyi? The exchange is happening in the next few days. I was wondering if you'd be available?"
Chen Chuan declined, saying, "No, I have tasks at the bureau recently, so I won't be coming. I believe that even without me, Wuyi Academy's level won't lose to the delegation, not to mention we also have Assistant Ling here."
Assistant Ling smiled slightly and said, "Then that's settled. Supervisor Chen, my previous agreement with you is still valid. I'll contact you again when the Exchange competition comes."
Chen Chuan said, "I'll be waiting."
After ending the call, he looked outside the car. At that moment, the setting sun was sinking, and night was falling. The lights on the workshops and streetlights were lighting up one by one, illuminating the road.
He started the car and slowly drove out, turning back towards Central City.
The next day, while Chen Chuan was using the Boundary Token to organize and view the Convergence Zone Data, he received a message from Wu Bei saying that the head and key personnel of the United Power Heavy Industries branch might be going to Outer Ocean to negotiate a deal.
A thought flashed through his mind. The United Power Heavy Industries branch hadn't had any activity in the past few days, but now they were suddenly going to sea, and it happened right after his action yesterday. The close timing made him have to think about it.
He also thought of Fusion Boundary, which was also going to Outer Ocean in October, seemingly also to expand business. After thinking for a while, he contacted Yan Yi .
After the connection was established, he said, "Assistant Yan, you told me before that Meng Shu might be going to Outer Ocean in October. How confident are you in this deal?"
Yan Yi replied, "We are very confident. This time, we have received strong support from the Government Affairs Hall, and we have already talked about it. Although other Companies are also competing with us, if it's just a commercial negotiation, they don't have much chance of winning."
Chen Chuan understood that Fusion Boundary should have basically won the commercial negotiation. Commercial competition is not just a simple matter at the negotiating table, but also includes other aspects of competition, even the personal safety of the team.
If they themselves cease to exist, then the commercial negotiation will naturally not count. That's why every Company today has its own military strength.
The Government Affairs Hall has already given them commercial support, and they can only rely on themselves for Security guard support.
He wasn't sure about United Power Heavy Industries' true intentions, but necessary safety precautions had to be taken.
He said, "Mr. Sancheng is very familiar with Outer Ocean matters, but he is only one person after all. I will arrange for another capable person to go to your side."
He decided to send Su Wei over before the official departure to ensure there would be no problems.
"Also, I'll give you two Contact details."
He clicked on the Boundary Token and sent a Boundary Token contact and two Telegram channels to the other side.
"These two people, Gu Haiting from the Sea Dragon Company's public relations department, you can directly contact him if you encounter anything on Outer Ocean, just say it's my intention.
Another person is Talu , the master of the Singular Flow Pavilion. This is a Third-Limit Martial Artist with not weak Strength. If the Company can provide their Martial Combat pavilion with sufficient funding, you can ask her to assist you."
After receiving it, Yan Yi thanked him very seriously, "Thank you, Supervisor Chen, thank you for your support of the Company."
She knew how much Chen Chuan's help was this time. Although Fusion Boundary Company now has abundant funds, the Martial Artist they have cultivated are not impressive. The only person Meng Shu can truly trust is Yu Auntie .
It's fine in Central City because Chen Chuan is there. Even if the latter doesn't show up, he can solve most of the troubles. But going to Outer Ocean is different. The connections and deterrence here in Central City are completely useless.
According to Chen Chuan's arrangement, plus Yu Auntie , they can at least gather four Third-Limit Martial Artist s, plus the staff they hire from the platform, which should be enough to protect their group's safety.
In fact, the most important thing is the Sea Dragon Company's connections. On Outer Ocean, it's almost within the Influence of Sea Dragon and Oceanic Development Group. Having a relationship with Sea Dragon Company will definitely make activities on Outer Ocean much smoother than before.
Chen Chuan said, "Since I am the Company's Security guard supervisor , this is what I should do. Also, I'll give the Company a reminder. Even if the Government sends people to this Convergence Zone, don't participate deeply."
After listening, Yan Yi immediately replied seriously, "I will pass Supervisor Chen's words to Miss."
After Chen Chuan ended the call, he saw that the information team didn't have any results yet, so he prepared to continue this morning's training. He left the Mysterious Palace Tower, and ten minutes later, he came to the airship docking point located in the Martial Determination District, and then took the airship to the Sea surface.
The Cultivation went relatively smoothly that day. After a morning passed, watching the Fissure slowly close, he put the Snow Emperor Blade back into its sheath. But at this moment, he suddenly felt something unusual.
This is…
He felt it and found that unconsciously, the Second Self had Spiritual Power.
Previously, although Second Self had reached the Third Limit, it had not yet reached the stage where he possessed Spiritual Power, but now it was obviously not far from his current Strength.
Now, after Second Self's Merge with the main body, the Strength that can be exerted is undoubtedly better than before, but the body's SpiritCultivation is still a little short of true perfection.
But at the current rate, it won't be too far off.
He looked out of the airship. The bright sunshine of late September passed through the airship's porthole, shining directly on him, both inside and outside filled with dazzling light. He tapped on the airship door and said, "Let's go back."
Soon, the entire airship slowly turned in the clear sky, returning to Central City under the caress of the sea breeze.