Book 4, Chapter 30: Return
Book 4, Chapter 30: Return
Back on Luowang Island, Chen Chuan felt that the island had become more orderly. There was even a radio tower being set up in the distance.
A security guard wearing Ocean Development Corporation’s uniform was in the harbor. He was doing drill training with locals wearing the same uniform.
There was an emblem resembling a ring disc on the back of it. The center protruded slightly, and it seemed to be a swelled-up, blue water ball. Underneath was an opening, and water flowed from it in the form of a water droplet.
This was Ocean Development Corporation’s emblem. The company’s influence had reached the island, and all the rules the island operated on in the past might just be removed so that new ones could be installed.
Chen Chuan turned around and stared at the harbor. There was a cruise ship from Ocean Development Corporation anchored there. He had booked a ticket a few days ago, and this cruise ship was going to send him back in the evening.
This meant that he had the morning and afternoon free.
He hadn’t had the chance to tour the entire island before. He had only visited the lively areas, but not Nicha Mountain, which apparently had the best view and was the tallest mountain here. So, he decided to visit it before he went back.
Since it was quite far away, he hired a carriage and took out his camera to take a few scenic photos. Close to noon, he reached the foot of the mountain and climbed up the spacious mountain road.
Nicha Mountain was more than two thousand meters tall, and some parts of the mountain road were quite steep. Despite that, Chen Chuan reached the top of the mountain in less than half an hour while taking his sweet time walking up.
Luowang Island looked like it was floating on the vast blue ocean from the mountain’s top. The outline of the island was incredibly clear. The island reefs scattered around it and the green plants provided an enriching visual experience.
Chen Chuan took out his camera and took plenty of photos before going to a wooden bench. There was a safety barrier in front of it that was about half the height of an adult man. Chen Chuan walked over and sat down there before taking a few sips from his bottle. He leaned against the bench and enjoyed the scenery.
A few minutes later, someone arrived next to him and cast a glance at the other end of the bench before asking, “May I?”
Chen Chuan gave him a look. The newcomer was a man in his forties wearing a suit. He had a sunhat and looked like a manager.
“Go on.” He nodded.
Once the man sat down, he fanned himself with his sunhat for a bit before wiping off his sweat. Then, he turned to Chen Chuan, smiled at him, and offered his hand.
“Hello, Lead Investigator Chen, allow me to introduce myself. I’m Zheng Hai, the Ocean Development Corporation manager for all businesses involved in this region. I’m currently in charge of expanding our business in Luowang Island and all islands in this area. I wasn’t expecting you to be on vacation here.”
Chen Chuan shook his hand. “Well met.”
He wasn’t surprised that Zheng Hai knew who he was. After all, Chen Chuan had booked a ticket with the company. Even though he didn’t need to report that he was a Third Limit martial artist to them, he was a lead investigator, so Ocean Development Corporation wouldn’t have a hard time figuring out who he was if it paid any attention to its tourists.
Since he was going back, Chen Chuan didn’t mind having his tracks leaked.
After Zheng Hai pulled his hand back, he leaned against the bench and looked forward. Then, he swung his hands a bit, as if he was trying to envelop the entire island in his arms.
“We intend to set up domain connection entities there, there, and over there...”
He pointed in a few directions. “They’ll cover the entire island with a network and provide communication services.”
“That would cost a lot,” Chen Chuan noted.
While domain connection entities didn’t need algae fuel and electricity to keep functioning, they needed nutrient and calorie-dense nutritional food. The upkeep cost wasn’t low.
Zheng Hai laughed at that. “We’re not going to do it for every island. Luowang Island is a holiday spot, so we want to manage this place well and maintain its order and security. To do that, we need a good communication network and transport.
“Once we’ve set up everything here, the Great Shun Republic’s rule will also stabilize.
“Of course, the island can’t run solely on tourism. The ocean in the area is pretty unique, so Azure Dragon might set up a marine biology research center here in the future. Then, all of our prior investments will be rewarded.”
“A marine biology research center? Like the Linacrox Union’s?” Chen Chuan asked.
“Of course not. This place will be part of our territory in the future, so we won’t perform such experiments on our own land, like the Linacrox Union. Our experiments aren’t dangerous at all. We don’t want to turn this beautiful island into hell on earth,” Zheng Hai said with a smile.
He then reached into his pocket and took out a business card, which he handed to Chen Chuan with both hands. “This is my business card, Lead Investigator Chen. If you ever come here for work or on a holiday, you can come to me if you have any needs or suggestions.”
Chen Chuan took the card.
Zheng Hai cast a glance at Chen Chuan’s camera before saying, “Oh, and this too.”
He grabbed his briefcase and took out a beautiful envelope.
“Our company has created some post cards using the scenery of the surrounding islands. This is our first version, so we’ve only printed a hundred sets of them. It has high commemorative value. Please have a set.”
Chen Chuan was indeed very interested in this. Even though he didn’t take the pictures himself, the postcards had great memorial significance, so he thanked Zheng Hai and took the envelope containing the postcards.
Zheng Hai put on his sunhat again, stood up, and bowed. “I hope you have a safe trip home.”
Then, after another bow, he left.
Chen Chuan looked through the postcards after he was alone again.
He knew why Zheng Hai had approached him. The main targets of lead investigators were companies, and not just private, independent enterprises. State-owned ones were under his purview as well.
On paper, Chen Chuan had gone on holiday, but he had come to Luowang Island at a time of change, so the two companies couldn’t be sure whether he hadn’t been tasked with monitoring them. That was why they made contact with him and stated their stance.
Just then, Chen Chuan remembered that the two companies weren’t the only ones acting on behalf of the Great Shun Republic among the island nations. The country should have also sent its army. Nian Qian, his cousin, might be in some kind of military operation on one of the islands.
Since Ferris Wheel had collapsed and the Linacrox Union’s influence was being removed, his cousin might just be able to go home to celebrate the New Year next year.
***
Zheng Hai took the cable car down the mountain and got into his car to return to his office. When his assistant saw him, he said, “Sir, I got all the information you asked for.”
Zheng Hai stopped and asked, “Did you get everything?”
“Yes, including the old era records from Mistlight Island, experiment data left by the Linacrox Union, and some archived files from Ferris Wheel,” the assistant said.
Zheng Hai whispered something, which surprised the assistant, but he didn’t ask anything and just left after a nod.
Half an hour later, Zheng Hai’s temporary office went up in flames, and firemen ran over in a hurry to put out the fire.
Zheng Hai and his assistant watched from the distance, and his assistant asked softly, “But why, sir?”
“If that thing is really here, we won’t have much peace in the future. I did a lot of preparatory work before this and finally set the stage. I don’t want someone else suddenly taking my place or everything stopping,” Zheng Hai lamented.
The assistant felt that this wasn’t sufficient reason, but he didn’t dare to push for more.
Zheng Hai stood around watching for a while before returning to his house. Then, he dragged out a telegram set, adjusted it to a secret frequency, and started a telegram.
Destroyed all abnormal records according to instruction. Awaiting new orders. Sender: Squid. 95th year of the Development and Order Era. 20th of August, 15:10.
***
Chen Chuan stayed on the mountain for a little over an hour. After coming down, he didn’t stay for long on the island and just boarded the cruise ship.
At 7 p.m., after having dinner, he walked out of the ship’s restaurant and went to the deck to sit down on one of the outdoor recliners. Then, he asked a crew member for newspapers about Jibei Road’s Central City over the past few days.
He gave them a brief look and found that there was nothing new. Most of them talked about the Linacrox Union’s bioexperiments invading the city, along with the subsequent effects.
But one news article did catch his attention. The Union’s representative had come forward to say that Ferris Wheel had a certain number of business dealings with the Union and signed a lot of contracts with them.
Right now, due to the Department of Administrative Affairs, Ferris Wheel was no longer able to carry out the terms of their contract, so the Union was demanding the Department of Administrative Affairs to compensate them and punish those involved.
Chen Chuan raised an eyebrow at that. Based on what he knew, Ferris Wheel had requested business partnerships in multiple industries with the Union, but they had never reached any agreement. The Union was just using this as an excuse to put pressure on the Department of Administrative Affairs.
If not for the concrete proof that Ferris Wheel was in cahoots with an existence from the other world, the Union might not have settled with just these accusations.
Chen Chuan could already imagine the municipal government stirring up trouble with this as an excuse. The companies who had suffered losses during the Fu-Mu Entity’s propagation and didn’t want the government’s influence to continue expanding might also use the chance to do something.
Still, this wasn’t surprising. The Department of Administrative Affairs and the municipal government had always been at odds with each other. As long as one side wasn’t completely defeated, the fight was just going to continue.
But...
Chen Chuan turned to another page and found that the newspaper only had news articles about the Great Shun Republic. It didn’t have any information about the Linacrox Union. He wondered what it intended to do.
It seemed like he could only get his answers after going back. In any case, one of his duties as a lead investigator was investigating such things.
***
Ji Xinmin of the refined training faction was talking on the phone in an office building back in Jibei Road’s Central City. His expression was full of respect as he said “yes” repeatedly.
After a long while, he set the phone down and said to the other two, “The higher-ups sent word. He’s coming back to Central City in a few days. We’re to contact him again.”