Free Web NovelChapter 207: Chapter 135: The Treatment for an Exceptional Promotion (2)
"Captain, don’t worry. I can afford to wait."
He smiled and made his position clear.
It was only a month. He had the patience to wait for the recommendation results or the news of an unconventional promotion.
"Heh."
Yang Wangtao nodded with a smile. His expression today was much more relaxed, no longer so stern.
The patrol car drove on, leaving the Patrol Department’s headquarters. Chen Xiao, who had volunteered for the task, served as the driver, handling the vehicle with a steady hand.
The two of them took advantage of the brief lull to chat a little more.
"The Punishment Squad?"
Hearing Lu Chao’s question, Yang Wangtao was slightly surprised, but oddly enough, he wasn’t suspicious.
Instead, he nodded lightly and said, "The Punishment Squad has certainly been stirring things up lately, drawing everyone’s attention."
"However..."
He shook his head, the smile on his face vanishing as his expression turned serious again. "I’ve heard that there are many different voices within the Punishment Squad recently. Quite a few people have proposed applying to Yao Capital to turn the Punishment Squad into an official Wilderness Law Enforcement Team."
"This matter is already circulating among the upper echelons of the city circle."
Oh?
Lu Chao was surprised. He had originally just wanted to estimate when Ruan Hui would be back, but he hadn’t expected to learn this kind of news.
Surprisingly, he digested the information quickly and wasn’t stunned for long.
He had already noticed signs of this before through some internal rumors at the Patrol Department.
Although the Punishment Squad was nominally led by the City Defense Department, the powers within it were tangled and complex.
The five major mega-corporations and local small and medium-sized companies were all involved, and factions like the Thunder Extreme Martial Arts Hall had also mixed in.
After nearly half a year, it had developed a momentum that made it too big to fail and difficult to disband.
"What do the higher-ups say?"
Lu Chao asked with a frown, feeling a sudden sense of pressure.
If the Punishment Squad really became an officially recognized Wilderness Law Enforcement Team of the Alliance Country, the consequences would be obvious.
At that point, it might give rise to another enforcement agency similar to the Patrol Department and the Superpower Bureau.
"It’s not clear yet."
Yang Wangtao’s face was troubled as he looked out the window at the cross-river bridge. "In any case, this matter is already getting beyond the control of the City Defense Department and the Superpower Bureau."
"If this drags on, there might be some unforeseen changes."
As his words fell, the atmosphere in the car turned silent.
Lu Chao felt a surging undercurrent, and Chen Xiao’s expression shifted as well, filled with the oppressive feeling of a gathering storm.
For a moment, the blue-and-white patrol car just drove across the bridge, heading back to the Patrol Department’s branch office.
Lu Chao looked out the window, his gaze fixed on the sky above.
Hover cars swept silently past, stirring up wakes in the stagnant air.
Layer upon layer of gray clouds grew ever thicker, seeming to block out more of the sun from the sky.
...
「Thunder Extreme Martial Arts Hall.」
The sprawling complex of buildings resembled a stadium, occupying a large area near the ridiculously expensive Huanjiang district.
Silver-blue patterns like streaks of lightning were carved into the off-white surrounding walls.
Rows of floor-to-ceiling windows from the first to the third floor reflected the sunlight.
The open space outside the building was filled with various cars like Sharp Lights, Sai Weis, and Feasts. The disciples coming and going were mostly dressed in stylish casual clothes or expensive martial arts uniforms, clearly indicating their extraordinary status and wealthy family backgrounds.
Normally, the entrance to the hall would be a lively scene, filled with the sounds of laughter and playful roughhousing.
But for the past two days, the entire hall had been unusually sullen, filled only with the thud of punches on sandbags and the heavy clang of barbells and iron balls being set down.
The disciples all subconsciously lightened their steps, and the looks they exchanged were mostly gloomy, as if hiding a great deal of resentment.
Quietly, someone seemed to look up toward the third floor of the hall.
That was where the hall’s meditation rooms were, as well as a recuperation area dedicated to healing injuries.
CLICK!
Just then, a figure on the third floor happened to walk past and enter one of the recuperation rooms.
It was a tall young man dressed in a sky-blue martial arts uniform. He had sharp, sword-like eyebrows, star-bright eyes, and a cold, stern face.
His 1.83-meter frame was exceptionally well-built, blocking a good deal of the surrounding light.
"Master,"
he said softly, looking into the room.
Against the left and right walls of the quiet room were two sickbeds. Lying on them were two figures: Lei Chongming and Zhan Diao, both severely injured and still unconscious.
Seeing this, he narrowed his eyes, his brow furrowing slightly as if in confusion.
"My two junior brothers..."
"Luo Qianshan has taken a good disciple."
Dressed in a silver-blue robe, Lei Wanjun sat in the center of the room with his back to the door.
Hearing the sound, he didn’t turn around. His face, with its broad forehead and thick eyebrows, was cast in shadow, making it difficult to see clearly.
"An Elite Level at twenty years old."
"Martial Arts, exosuits, superpowers... Aside from those top geniuses from the inner court of Ring Academy who always rank at the top of every assessment, the few special aces cultivated by the Superpower Bureau, and the naturally gifted..."
His tone was deep. "Looking across the entire Rhombus Ring City Circle, he could be called one in ten thousand."
"Speaking of which, Yuntao."
He tilted his head to look at the young man who had entered. "Back when you were at the orphanage, did you not see his talent?"
As his master spoke, Wu Yuntao lowered his head slightly and fell silent.
A flash of something like cold indifference and disgust crossed his face. He seemed to recall some bad memories and finally shook his head lightly.
"I did not."
"Is that so."
Not doubting him, Lei Wanjun retracted his gaze and nodded slightly.
’Back then, it seems even Luo Qianshan nearly misjudged him. He must possess some kind of talent that blooms late.’
"Master, do you need me to go and cripple him?"
Wu Yuntao raised his head and asked coldly, having perceived some of his master’s thoughts.
The Thunder Extreme Martial Arts Hall had crippled many geniuses over the years. It was precisely because of this that they could securely hold the top spot in Ring City’s martial arts hall circle during every small martial arts tournament.
"That old fox Luo Qianshan is still alive, after all."
However, Lei Wanjun shook his head and said in a low voice, "Although he still has some old injuries, he has some trump cards and connections hidden away. He can’t be underestimated."
"We’ll have to wait a bit longer on this matter."
Martial Artists had all sorts of methods, but none who could break through to this level were weak.
Wu Yuntao seemed lost in thought at these words. Then he saw his master change the subject and ask, "What’s the situation with the Punishment Squad?"
"Several of the mega-corporations have taken the lead and stated that they will continue to petition for the Punishment Squad to receive official recognition and appointment from Yao Capital."
His tone was calm as Wu Yuntao explained, "It’s just that the Alliance Country’s attitude is too delicate. They might use some tactics later to push them into making a decision."
"When the time comes, all of us will have to cooperate and contribute."
As he spoke, the sunlight outside the floor-to-ceiling windows dimmed, the gray sky blocking out too much light.
Lei Wanjun’s expression remained calm upon hearing this; he wasn’t surprised at all.
"The Alliance Country is not the same Alliance Country it once was."
A flash of silver-blue light flickered in his eyes as he said in a low tone, "Ever since Robert and the other six left Earth Star, entered deep space, and lost contact."
"Warlords are fighting amongst themselves, the Rebels are stirring restlessly, and Al-Qaeda cells everywhere have started to appear... The Alliance Country is exhausted from suppressing the chaos in various places. And amidst all this, the ones who truly remain standing are those five mega-corporations."
His voice was low as he looked out the window at the sky and the bustling city circle. "What we need to do is follow the tide."
"Only then can we become the true masters of this Ring City."
His naked ambition was on full display.
Once the Punishment Squad was established, it would be a behemoth controlling Ring City and the passages to the wilderness, one that could even threaten the existence of the entire city circle.
When that time comes, what would the so-called Jinshi Boxing Hall amount to?
Even a Martial Artist like Luo Qianshan would be nothing more than an old dog to be put down by a joint attack, all on a single command.
"Yes."
Wu Yuntao understood the key points. He nodded without another word and then left the martial arts hall as instructed.
’Mega-corporations...’
The recuperation room fell silent once more. Lei Wanjun’s gaze was profound, the silver-blue light in his eyes flickering in and out of sight.
He stared at the towering skyscrapers of the mega-corporations within the city circle, his intense ambition keeping him silent for a long time.
And at that same moment, outside the door.
’Punishment Squad...’
Wu Yuntao paused for a moment before starting to walk again.
A flicker of indifference passed through his eyes, his cold expression seemingly mixed with some kind of restrained emotion.
