NOVGO.NET Chapter 37: Second-Generation Treatment and a Death Message
Chapter 37: Chapter 37: Second-Generation Treatment and a Death Message
Although Yuan Chenyang was the Minister of Inspection, Su Chen didn’t naively believe the man had absolute control over the entire department.
No matter how much string-pulling happened behind the scenes, it was always best to follow official procedures. Besides, Jiang He still had his title as an honorary researcher for the Research Department.
After tidying himself up a little, Su Chen headed out the door.
This was his first time formally venturing out into Southwind City. The weather was the same all day long: hazy and gray, which hardly put anyone in a good mood.
Following a servant’s directions, he walked through the open entrance of a floating-rail station. As he stood on the edge of the slightly worn platform, the metal grating beneath his feet began to vibrate faintly, heralding the approach of some behemoth.
A slender, silver metal construct appeared. It didn’t run on tracks but was suspended about a man’s height above the ground, gliding silently along the path reserved for it between the city’s buildings.
Its body was covered in a polished metal shell, with several elegant, blue lines of Energy flowing along its length.
It was high noon, and the car wasn’t completely silent. The low, constant hum of the engine provided a backdrop to the passengers’ conversations. Some were quietly discussing the price of today’s vegetables, while others complained about the recent refugee riots.
BEEP—
Someone sent him a message. It was Hu Xiang, asking where he was, since nobody was at the school.
’Here to give me money?’ Su Chen wondered, replying with a single word: “Inspectorate.”
After a long while, Su Chen finally arrived at the Inspector Station. Few people disembarked here, so his presence drew some attention.
The platform was suspended in midair, docked at one of the middle floors of a tall building. It was patrolled by fully armed guards from the Inspectorate, who wore black Metal Armor over dark blue uniforms, primarily covering their shoulders, chests, and thighs.
The moment he stepped off, a few guards approached him. Their captain sized him up. “Who are you? What’s your business here?”
“Reporting for duty.”
“Reporting for duty? A new recruit?” The captain looked at him skeptically, his eyes fixed on Su Chen’s remarkably young face.
Seeing Su Chen nod, the captain pulled out a device that resembled a walkie-talkie. “HQ, do we have any new recruits reporting in today?”
“None today,” a staticky voice replied. The captain’s eyes narrowed.
But then, another voice crackled over the channel, “Wait. We are expecting a new recruit sometime soon, though.”
’What is wrong with them? Can’t they finish a thought?’
The captain cursed inwardly, but his expression softened slightly. He knew he couldn’t really blame the operator.
New members had a fixed reporting schedule. The operator must have checked the list for the day and found no one.
But there were special cases—people who could report in whenever they pleased. Those types usually had powerful backing.
Soon, the walkie-talkie crackled again. “We’ve notified the Internal Affairs Department. Section Chief Sun is on his way down.”
’Fatty Sun is coming to get him personally?’
The captain’s mind raced. He forced an awkward smile onto his face. “If you would please wait just a moment, sir…”
In no time, a man came bustling out of the doorway. He was built like a ball, all flab and flesh, yet his movements were surprisingly nimble.
“Ah, you must be Su Chen!” Before he even drew near, the man was already wearing a fawning grin that squashed his features together. “You’re finally here.”
“Hello,” Su Chen replied reservedly.
“No need for such formalities! Just call me Old Sun. Follow me…” He beamed, leading Su Chen into the building.
“Su Chen? What kind of princeling is he, to have Fatty Sun sucking up to him like that?” one of the patrol guards muttered as they watched the pair walk inside.
“Who knows? Probably just another one here to pad his resume.”
…
Section Chief Sun’s enthusiasm was so intense that Su Chen found it difficult to handle. He gave him a detailed tour of the entire building’s layout and even arranged a private room for him.
“…Of course, you don’t have to live here, but should you ever get the sudden urge, you’ll have a place to stay, won’t you?”
“Oh, and I’ve assigned you to Patrol Team Seventeen. The rotation is only once every three days. Of course, you don’t have to go if you don’t want to.”
“I’ll see,” Su Chen said with a wave of his hand.
“Ah, so dedicated to your post! Just like the Inspector General. You’re truly cut from the same cloth,” he said, his face a mask of deep admiration.
Su Chen was impressed. ’I’m pretty good at putting on an act myself, but I’m leagues behind this Section Chief Sun.’
“By the way, did you say the room you arranged for me has a Gravity Training Chamber?” Su Chen inquired.
“That’s right,” Fatty Sun nodded. “Training chambers are standard issue for section-chief-level quarters.”
“It works wonders for auxiliary physical training,” he added, a hint of surprise unconcealed in his smiling eyes.
’I’ve seen plenty of princelings, but this one doesn’t seem like the type who’s only interested in a life of leisure.’
“I’d like to try it, then…” Su Chen’s interest was piqued. Fatty Sun, an absolute master of reading people, immediately offered to take him to try it out.
However, just as the two of them stepped out of the office, they saw a squad of fully-armed guards hurrying down the stairs.
“More trouble?” Fatty Sun frowned, swiping a finger across a silver ring on his arm. A slightly blurry virtual screen materialized, displaying rows of data.
“…It’s nothing serious.” He breathed a sigh of relief. Looking at Su Chen beside him, an idea sparked. “How about it? Want to get some first-hand field experience?”
“I’ll pass.” Su Chen shook his head. He wasn’t that curious.
Fatty Sun was growing more surprised. ’He’s so patient. Doesn’t act his age at all.’
Despite his inner speculation, he maintained his high level of enthusiasm on the surface and led Su Chen to his room.
The room was even larger than the ones at Old Yuan’s villa, complete with floor-to-ceiling windows, a private bathroom, and even a bathtub with a massage function.
The Gravity Training Chamber wasn’t large and could only be adjusted up to double gravity.
“Can you handle it, my friend?” Fatty Sun asked worriedly from outside. He saw Su Chen’s face was only slightly flushed as he let out a breath.
’A Professional? At his age?’
He was surprised, but then he thought of Yuan Chenyang and it made sense. ’To be taken as a student by the Minister, he must be extraordinary himself.’
Su Chen felt the omnipresent pressure of the increased gravity. This uniform suppression would make his physical training twice as effective.
He immediately fell in love with the place. ’As for Old Yuan’s villa… I’ll go back when I have time.’
He stepped out of the training chamber in a great mood. “Section Chief Sun, do you have a supply of Black Flame Potions here? And Radiance Potions?”
“A sup-supply?” Cold sweat beaded on Fatty Sun’s forehead. He looked troubled. “The Black Flame Potion is quite expensive… As for a common blood-activating potion, I can probably scrounge up a decent amount for you each week.”
He said helplessly, “The finance department… they’re City Lord Zhang’s people. It’s not good to push things too far.”
“And as for the Radiance Potion, 95% of the Professionals here are on the Physical Side…”
“Understood,” Su Chen nodded. “Then just the blood-activating ones for now.”
’Even though the effect is much weaker, it’s better than nothing.’
Old Sun looked as if a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders. He insisted on throwing a welcome dinner for Su Chen that evening, which Su Chen naturally declined. After a bit of back-and-forth, Old Sun finally left, though reluctantly.
But just as Su Chen closed the door, Old Sun came right back. He had a strange look on his face. “There’s someone downstairs looking for you. They’re from the City Patrol Guard.”
“Hu Xiang?” Su Chen asked immediately.
“That’s him.” Fatty Sun nodded. “He’s already downstairs.”
Su Chen nodded. “Let him come up.”
Old Sun issued the instruction. Before long, Hu Xiang arrived via the elevator, looking grim.
He walked into the room and uttered two words: “Zhao Lei’s dead.”
Zhao Lei… Su Chen froze. He remembered the name. He was one of the City Patrol Guards who had stood watch with him once. An older man, he had told Su Chen to call him “Old Zhao.”