Free Web NovelChapter 389: Chapter 119: Benefits and Rewards
The Steward tapped the Lower Realm Token. Above the living room, a floral, lotus-shaped lamp slowly unfurled. A moment later, a large screen of light projected down from it.
It displayed the scene of Chen Chuan defeating Wei Wusheng. Although there was no sound, the destructive power they unleashed during the fight was still staggering.
When the fight ended, the image showed Chen Chuan standing alone, his back to the dazzling sun, looking down on Wei Wusheng. His face was difficult to make out clearly.
"This is Chen Chuan, a student from Wuyi General Hospital." The Steward glanced at the light screen. "He’s only eighteen, yet he’s already reached the Third Limit. Even at Wuyi Academy, he belongs to an extremely rare group. I consulted a professional team, and they unanimously agreed this student has enormous potential, with talents that ordinary Fighters lack.
We should do everything in our power to recruit someone this talented. If he joins our upcoming strategic plans, it would significantly boost our competitive advantage.
While our resources can’t compare to other companies, which seems like a disadvantage, it’s also an advantage.
It means our limited resources will be concentrated on a select few. Once a Fighter joins us, they won’t have to face much internal competition."
Meng Shu watched the light screen. After a moment, she asked, "Besides him, are there any other candidates?"
"Yes."
The Steward said, "But in every aspect of our evaluation, from age to potential, none of them compare to him. Miss, if we decide to recruit him, we must act quickly.
The company needs someone like him. To be precise, *you* need someone like him, Miss.
Right now, most of the company’s Fighters are under your cousin’s control. If we don’t have capable and reliable people on our side, we’ll have no chance of winning against him in the upcoming competition."
Meng Shu asked, "How confident are you that we can recruit him?"
The Steward replied seriously, "Although other companies will surely be competing with us, we have an advantage they can’t match. I’ve reviewed his file. He once attended school in Yangzhi and was your classmate, Miss. Perhaps you could use that connection to extend an invitation."
Meng Shu shook her head. "I tried to recruit him once before, but he refused."
"Oh?"
The Steward was a little surprised. "May I ask why? Given your ages, Miss, he couldn’t have been a mature Fighter back then, and his true value wouldn’t have been apparent. What did you see in him?"
Meng Shu said, "I wanted him to be my butler, my chief representative."
"Is that so?"
The Steward smiled. "Then I suppose I should thank him for leaving the position open for me. Hmm..." Her expression turned thoughtful. "That just adds another point to his potential. We have even more reason not to give up."
She took two steps forward and said to Meng Shu, "In any case, the fact that you’re on speaking terms with him is our advantage. If you’ll allow it, Miss, I can even spread the news of your old acquaintance with Mr. Chen. It would make other companies hesitate. Even if they did recruit him, they wouldn’t entrust him with a major role."
Meng Shu immediately rejected the suggestion. "That won’t work. A tactic like that will only backfire."
"I understand."
The Steward dutifully noted this down. "I’ll strike that idea. If I have any similar suggestions in the future, I will seek your approval beforehand, Miss."
Meng Shu then asked, "Fighters... can we cultivate our own?"
The Steward replied, "As far as I know, the company does have such operations, but they are highly classified. It seems even your cousin doesn’t have full access.
If we were to cultivate them ourselves, with the Period of Change drawing nearer, we don’t have enough time. Besides, the results are uncertain. Fighters are ultimately consumables. If we cultivate and expend them ourselves, we bear all the costs. It’s not a good option.
It’s better to invest in Fighters who have already been cultivated. All the major companies do it; it’s a very mature model by now.
However, your suggestion isn’t without merit, Miss. Security personnel we can truly trust must be cultivated in-house, not outsourced to security firms as we do now."
Meng Shu nodded lightly. The company did have its own organized security force, but she didn’t trust it. Too many of her cousin’s people were in it.
She considered for a moment, then looked up and said, "Arrange a meeting for me. I’ll see him in person."
"Yes, I’ll arrange it right away."
’She’s willing to listen to advice, eager to learn, and doesn’t let her personal feelings or emotions interfere with business. She’s the best choice for the company’s successor.’ The Steward was very satisfied with Meng Shu’s attitude.
’As for her cousin, he has ability, but his interests are too broad. It’s a wonder if even a third of his attention is on the company. Several of his recent decisions were questionable in her opinion; the company has only endured them because its foundations are strong.’
’That was why she’d rather side with Meng Shu, who appeared to be in a weaker position with no chance of winning, than accept an offer from him. In the coming era, the old order would be violently shaken, and anything would become possible.’
After a day of rest, Chen Chuan woke up refreshed and invigorated on the second day and once again made his way to the Processing Bureau Headquarter in Central City.
He recalled his last visit, when the Bureau had summoned him for questioning regarding Zhao Qian’s case. Although they had been polite, their by-the-book attitude was obvious.
This time, however, their attitude was a world of difference. The moment he entered the Processing Bureau, he was ushered into a private reception room, offered a hot drink and access to an internal information viewing platform, and had a dedicated internal staff member waiting for him outside.
This treatment wasn’t just because he was now a Third Limit Fighter, but also due to the brilliant strength he had displayed yesterday.
Of course, there were those who were jealous and disdainful, but they all hid such petty thoughts, putting on a warm and enthusiastic front whenever they saw him.
After a short wait, perhaps only two minutes, the internal staff member received instructions and escorted Chen Chuan into a bright and spacious meeting room.
A smiling man in his thirties was already waiting there. He shook Chen Chuan’s hand and introduced himself.
"I am Manager Qiu of the Processing Bureau’s Examination and Review Department, reporting directly to the Headquarter. Chen, on behalf of the Headquarter, I’d like to thank you for dealing with Wei Wusheng."
Chen Chuan said, "I’m a reserve Law Enforcer for the Processing Bureau, so I’m also one of its members."
"I’m very glad to hear you say that."
Manager Qiu smiled and gestured. "Please, have a seat."
After Chen Chuan sat, he also took a seat and said with a smile, "Chen, due to the change in your status, I have a few questions for you on behalf of the Bureau. You can choose to answer or not. It won’t affect your evaluation; this is just a required procedure. The conversation will be recorded to update your file. Is that all right?"
Chen Chuan nodded. "Please ask, Manager Qiu."
Manager Qiu picked up a data slate and looked up at him. "Chen, when did you enter the Third Limit? Hmm, you don’t have to give me a specific time frame, just a rough idea."
Chen Chuan said, "Within the last couple of days."
"The last couple of days..."
Manager Qiu carefully noted it down, then asked, "So, before your fight with Wei Wusheng, did you take any medication, Chen?"
Chen Chuan replied, "If you’re referring to performance-enhancing drugs, no. I only took my usual cultivation supplements."
"Hmm..."
Manager Qiu recorded this point and looked up again. "Well then, Chen, do you currently have any plans to graduate from Wuyi Academy?"
Chen Chuan answered firmly, "Not for the time being. I haven’t been at the academy for long, and there’s still a lot I need to learn."
Manager Qiu nodded and continued, "Chen, do you have any special requests for the Bureau? For instance, any expectations regarding your position and compensation?"
Chen Chuan said, "I haven’t thought about it yet."
Manager Qiu asked a few more questions, all of them rather routine and easy to answer. After recording everything, he closed the data slate, sat up straight, and smiled. "Alright, that concludes the questions. Chen, let’s talk about your commendation from the Processing Bureau.
For resolving the Wei Wusheng case, it is standard procedure for the Processing Bureau to award a bonus for dealing with such a high-priority fugitive. This time is no exception."
At that moment, Chen Chuan noticed a new reward fund signature form appear on his Realm Token. He signed it, and moments later, he saw that fifty thousand yuan had been transferred into his platform account.
Manager Qiu added, "Additionally, the Bureau is granting you the status of an official Law Enforcer, temporarily assigned to the Special Operations Execution Team. I can now address you as Mr. Chen."
Chen Chuan saw his Realm Token flash again. On the Processing Bureau’s platform, his profile had been quickly updated, changing his status from "Reserve Law Enforcer" to "Official Law Enforcer."
From now on, he would receive a formal government stipend every month. If there were special operations, an additional bonus would be awarded upon their successful completion.
He would also have a personal locker at the Processing Bureau, free access to its firearms and training grounds, and the ability to borrow the Bureau’s public vehicles.
This status was tied to his enrollment at Wuyi Academy. As long as he remained a student, the status would be active. If he were to graduate, he would need to sign a new agreement, regardless of whether he stayed with the Processing Bureau.
"There’s one more thing."
After giving him a moment to process the information, Manager Qiu walked to the side, brought a case to the table, and said with a smile, "As a Third Limit Fighter, you are entitled to certain benefits at the Processing Bureau. We will be issuing you a brand-new uniform and a suitable weapon.
After yesterday’s battle with Wei Wusheng, your old pair of shoes must be pretty worn out, right, Mr. Chen? This uniform is different from your previous one; it’s specially made to meet the needs of a Third Limit Fighter."
Chen Chuan couldn’t help but nod.
The uniforms given to him by both the General Affairs Bureau and the Processing Bureau were specially made to withstand great force. However, the Processing Bureau’s was clearly a bit inferior. This last fight had been on a highway, and afterward, the soles of his shoes were severely worn down. He could feel that the soles had been scorched by the end of the battle.
A good combat uniform could significantly enhance one’s fighting capability.
He said, "Thank you, then. I really need this."
Manager Qiu smiled. "The uniform is easy enough to handle, but the weapon needs to be custom-made. I wonder what kind of weapon you need, Chen? Even if we were to forge an identical copy of your saber, that would be possible, and its function wouldn’t be much different. What kind of weapon do you require?"
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