Free Web NovelChapter 431: Chapter 161: White Bird District
Inside the Processing Bureau, after his call with Chen Chuan ended, Vice Director Fang said to Director Wu, "Meng Lai is still trying to control the situation. He wants the two heirs to follow his script.
This old fox is no simpleton. Perhaps he wants to solve the problem in one fell swoop.
At this point in time, Meng Shu hasn’t used this incident to gain a firm foothold yet, and we still have to protect that old man. He isn’t giving us any time at all."
Director Wu said, "That’s his style. It seems he really isn’t being controlled, which is actually good news. Our main concern is guarding against a certain entity on the other side. As long as we don’t cross that line, everything else can be tolerated for now."
Vice Director Fang deeply agreed.
Director Wu said in a low voice, "However, with Mr. Chen going to Meng Lai’s manor this time, if Meng Huang reacts, he is highly likely to face one of those entities. I just wonder which one it will be."
Vice Director Fang shook his head. "It’s unclear at the moment. But according to the Defense Department’s analysis, it shouldn’t be one of the high-level ones. I’ve already had someone send Mr. Chen some necessary items."
Director Wu nodded. He said, "Director Fang, have our people ready. The Defense Department needs to be notified as well. If we get confirmation from Mr. Chen’s side, then don’t hesitate. Take action immediately. We must find a way to save both him and Meng Shu. If that’s not possible, at the very least, we must ensure Mr. Chen makes it back."
Vice Director Fang replied with a solemn expression, "I understand."
After speaking with the Processing Bureau, Chen Chuan returned to the main residence. He explained the Bureau’s general plan and said, "The Bureau’s position is this: if you decide to go, then I will accompany you. If you don’t, they won’t force you."
Yan Yi looked at Meng Shu and said, "Miss Shu?"
Meng Shu looked up at Chen Chuan and asked, "Chen Chuan, do you think I should go?"
Chen Chuan said, "From a personal safety standpoint, you should probably stay here. But it depends on what you want. To get what you want, you have to pay the price."
Meng Shu stood up and walked to one side, gazing at the maple leaves swirling in the wind outside. After a long moment, she said, "It’s not about what I want, but what the people around me want. They want me to go, and the Processing Bureau wants me to go, so I must go. Sister Yan, please make the arrangements."
Yan Yi bowed. "Yes, Miss Shu." With that, she left the room.
After she was gone, Meng Shu continued to look outside. "Remember what I said the other day? I’m just the person standing at the prow of the ship. I can’t decide where it goes, nor can I make it stop."
Chen Chuan said, "Don’t overthink it for now. If Meng Lai is really the problem, just leave him to me."
Meng Shu turned around and said, "Thank you."
Chen Chuan nodded, then turned and walked out. After returning to his villa, he began to review the files the Processing Bureau had sent him about Meng Lai and his manor.
During this time, a member of the Processing Bureau arrived and delivered a package. He opened it and saw that on top was a special clasping bracelet and a hanging pendant, both of which seemed to be carved from some kind of special jade. An accompanying note explained they were for defending against certain entities.
Next was a special Realm Token. This device had an emergency channel that could briefly transmit messages outward even when Domain information was being shielded. Besides this, there were a few other tools that could help him in specific situations.
He mulled it over. ’I haven’t participated in a Ring Screen defense mission yet, so I’ve never seen what those things are really like. But just as I told Gao Ming, seeing this kind of thing inside the World Ring is actually a good thing.’
The next morning, after all preparations were made, Chen Chuan left his villa and got into Meng Shu’s limousine. Escorted by armored cars in the front and back, they drove away from Motie Mountain.
The residence of Meng Lai, the helmsman of the Fusion Boundary, was located in the White Bird District, which was on an island outside Central City. The destination of the rainbow-shaped Celestial Bridge, visible from far away in Central City, was this very place.
Many from the Upper Layer of Central City companies and the heads of various mega-corporation branches lived there. These were the people who stood at the very top of Jibei Dao Central City.
After the convoy got on the Celestial Bridge, Yan Yi said, "There are many small islands around the periphery of White Bird Island, but those are all private territories. We suspect Meng Huang’s secret dealings with the Outer Ocean Islands took place on one of them, but we haven’t confirmed which one, or who provided him with the location."
Chen Chuan nodded. Just then, he glanced to the side. By the port, a very conspicuous Ferris wheel came into view.
’The Ferris Wheel Company.’
That company was backed by the Outer Ocean Islands, though there was no shortage of local capital involved. Otherwise, it would have been impossible for it to gain a foothold in Dashun’s Central City.
During this operation, the company was clearly coordinating with Meng Huang, forcing the Processing Bureau to divert some of its attention to monitor it.
Now that Meng Huang had lost the Viper Corps, if he wanted to gather more manpower, he might seek help from the Ferris Wheel Company. ’If that’s the case,’ he thought, ’I need to be prepared.’
As they drove toward their destination, the Processing Bureau was monitoring their movements. All signs indicated that everything was normal so far; no one was tailing them.
Half an hour later, the convoy descended from the Celestial Bridge. After passing through an extremely strict security checkpoint, they entered the White Bird District.
If you didn’t count Central City behind them, this place could be called a true garden city. Although most areas in Central City had plenty of greenery, the vegetation here was clearly meticulously maintained and planned. As far as the eye could see, the colors were rich and pleasing, creating a sense of comfort and beauty.
The air here was also exceptionally fresh, with a faint, pleasant floral scent that always lingered in the air, changing with each new section of the road.
Aside from the central area’s high-rise buildings surrounding the administrative conference hall, the developed parts of the White Bird District only occupied a small portion of the island. Most of the land consisted of forest parks and high-end recreational areas.
Central City concentrated most of the resources from the surrounding regions, and a considerable portion of that was concentrated in the White Bird District.
As the convoy drove through the area, biological weapons could be seen constantly flying overhead. In addition to the armored patrol cars on the roads, patrol Airships also flew by from time to time. This was a level of security not found in most parts of the city.
After another half hour, the convoy followed a gentle Ring Mountain road and arrived before a T-shaped manor building at the summit. Two small Airships were parked on the open plaza in front.
A few people were talking below, surrounded by several heavily armed security guards. One of them, a middle-aged man in a Western-style suit, smiled upon seeing Meng Shu. He walked over and greeted her, "Xiaoshu, you’re here."
Meng Shu said, "Uncle Qi."
Yan Yi used her Realm Token to inform Chen Chuan that this was Meng Xu of the Meng Clan, Meng Lai’s seventh son. He was primarily responsible for the clan’s affairs.
The man seemed to be on good terms with everyone, but was apparently secretly very close to Meng Huang.
Chen Chuan noticed that although the man was greeting Meng Shu, he kept subtly glancing his way. The movements were faint, but Chen Chuan could clearly sense them. However, the man must have been wearing something similar to what Meng Shu had, so Chen Chuan couldn’t sense his emotions or Domain status.
Meng Xu smiled. "The Old Master is waiting for you. Go on in."
Meng Shu parted ways with him and had her security team remain behind, taking only Yan Yi and Chen Chuan with her toward the manor.
After they had passed, Meng Xu’s smile vanished. His gaze followed them for a moment before he turned and said a few words to someone on his Realm Token.
As Chen Chuan and Meng Shu were about to reach the manor’s entrance, a well-preserved woman who looked to be in her early thirties walked out. She wore an embroidered, stand-collar jacket with wide-cuffed sleeves and a light-colored, full skirt. With a smile, she gave Meng Shu a slight bow and said, "Miss Shu."
Meng Shu immediately replied politely, "Aunt Yu." Her attitude seemed more respectful than it had been toward Meng Xu.
Aunt Yu smiled. "Miss Shu, please follow me." She then glanced at Chen Chuan and gave him a nod.
Chen Chuan could tell that this Aunt Yu was a Fighter, and a Third Limit Fighter at that. ’Her appearance is ordinary, and she’s deliberately adjusted her gait, but her Domain doesn’t lie.’
’She hasn’t deployed her Domain and is keeping it retracted, but the very technique she’s using to restrain it confirms her identity.’
Yan Yi explained to him via Realm Token, "This Aunt Yu looked the same way back when Miss Shu’s father was alive. No one knows her real age. She is Lord Meng’s true confidante. Lord Meng takes her everywhere, and sometimes he delivers messages through her."
Chen Chuan nodded. After following Meng Shu into the building, he immediately discovered that his Realm Token could no longer contact the outside. The shielding here was highly targeted, and its strength was in no way comparable to what he had encountered at the Motie Mountain Manor.
They walked through a magnificent, classically furnished grand hall, took an elevator up to the ninth floor, and were then led by Aunt Yu through an antechamber with a crystal chandelier into an arched corridor lined with stained glass.
Lining the corridor in front of ornate pilasters stood a row of Sword Guards dressed in armor from a bygone era. Face Armor concealed their faces, and a tall White Feather adorned each of their helmets. They held hooked long-spears in both hands, standing perfectly still like statues, but Chen Chuan could sense signs of life from them.
Chen Chuan was walking behind Meng Shu. He glanced at the Sword Guards a few times and asked Yan Yi through his Realm Token, "Are these Puppets?"
Yan Yi replied, "They are custom-made Combat Puppets from the Paperman Company. They’re heavily enhanced with Implants and are absolutely loyal to the master of this manor, regardless of who sits in that position."
Chen Chuan said, "I remember you saying that Meng Lai holds the Implant keys for many of the company’s employees?"
"Yes, including these Sword Guards."
At that moment, their group finally reached the end of the corridor. Aunt Yu pushed open the ornate doors ahead and said with a smile, "Please go in. The Master is waiting for you."
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