Chapter 46: Eyewitness

The alarm went off. It was half past six. Chen Gu left the house under the escort of his bodyguards to meet Zhao Ji and Ossosa. The time and place had been chosen by Chen Gu. It was seven o’clock, at a restaurant named "Four-Leaf Clover," slightly less renowned than Xihui Restaurant but just as expensive. The reason was to "thank" Zhao Ji for helping his adult son secure the position of Director of the Police Department. Zhao Ji knew Chen Gu’s financial standing and exclaimed that he needed to fleece him thoroughly. The three of them drank some wine, reminiscing about the past, and didn’t disperse until after ten that evening. This time, Zhao Ji’s phone remained unusually quiet. Zhao Ji looked somewhat embarrassed. "She’s gone traveling. I’m quite free these days; I call the shots on my time!" Before parting, Chen Gu told him, "Now that Zhao Zhenhuai is finished, I’m not in any danger. You can take back the bodyguards and the car." Zhao Ji waved his hand carelessly. "I’ll have the bodyguards return, but you keep the car." Chen Gu didn’t stand on ceremony with him either. "Fine, saves me the trouble of squeezing onto a public bus every day." In this era, maglev cars had an automatic driving feature, and driver’s licenses were no longer required. After the three parted ways, Chen Gu set the route and destination, allowing the maglev car to drive at a normal speed. At ten-thirty at night, as the car passed Gurong Street, a secluded harbor area, the right side of the street bordered the vast Bokong Docks. This was a cargo dock where sixty percent of the goods brought to Wuzhaoyin City from outer space were unloaded. Just as Chen Gu’s car was about to leave Gurong Street, an explosion suddenly erupted from Bokong Docks, and flames soared into the sky. Following closely, a hail of gunfire, sounding like popping beans, erupted, and a stream of high-explosive ammunition swept across the ground. A dark figure leaped up from the conflict zone, weapons striking his body to no effect. Then, another figure came hurtling through the air, slamming sideways into the first dark figure. The collision between the two unleashed a massive shockwave pulsing with blue electromagnetic energy! The recoil sent the two figures crashing into separate buildings. Chen Gu’s maglev car, only dozens of meters from the conflict, was flung away like a toy. It tumbled over a dozen times in the air before embedding itself heavily into the ground. A large number of warriors in black uniforms, carrying weapons, stormed out from the docks, surrounding the first dark figure. Chen Gu had actually seen these people once before: the action team of the Bureau of Mystic Security. They only surrounded the figure, not daring to truly attack the dark figure that had crashed into the building. Four more figures arrived quickly. Three stayed back while one raised his hand. From within his broad sleeves, countless small insects flew out, rushing into the building and quickly locating the target. Then the other three charged in. The building continuously echoed with the tremendous impacts of the fight, accompanied by flashes of various lights. About twenty minutes later, they emerged, stained with some black tissue, and quickly headed back to Headquarters to clean up. Before leaving, one ordered, "The cleanup team is to move immediately! Seal off the entire block. The docks, the streets, and this building must all be thoroughly cleaned." The action team sealed off the entire block, and the cleanup team entered. Everything proceeded methodically. Suddenly, a member of the action team discovered Chen Gu’s maglev car. "Report, witness found!" 「...」 Chen Jixian was roused from sleep by a call and rushed to Headquarters. He had officially retired three days prior and joined the Wuzhaoyin City police system as the Deputy Director of the Municipal Bureau, concurrently serving as the Director of the Bureau of Mystic Security’s Wuzhaoyin City Branch. Tonight’s operation was not large, deploying only a single special operations team. Within the Bureau of Mystic Security, only the special operations teams were composed of Professionals. Each team consisted of five members, and the entire Wuzhaoyin City Branch had a total of five such teams. However, the number of internal affairs teams, action teams, and cleanup teams was substantial. Handling ordinary witnesses wasn’t difficult, but upon discovering Chen Gu’s identity, they immediately called Chen Jixian. However, the decision on how to handle Chen Gu, the witness, unexpectedly stalled. Chen Jixian had arrived over an hour ago, but they still hadn’t come to a decision. "Why can’t we recruit him? Chen Gu does have a criminal record, but many special operators in our Bureau of Mystic Security also have criminal pasts. Besides, Chen Gu has served his sentence and paid for his actions." The woman arguing fervently was dressed in professional attire. Upon closer inspection, her features were quite appealing. She looked to be in her thirties and possessed a certain charm. However, she deliberately dressed in a staid, old-fashioned manner, and her makeup was severe, seemingly to project more authority in the workplace. Opposite her sat a sanctimonious old man, short and slim. With a grim, business-like expression, he said, "Director Mei, indeed, many criminals have been recruited as special operators. But you should seriously examine Chen Gu’s crimes. You would then understand that someone with such a sordid mind is inherently untrustworthy. Our Bureau frequently comes into contact with Mutants. His potential for contamination and subsequent corruption is far greater than others, and he could become a liability!" The old man pressed his hands on the table, speaking commandingly, "I still suggest memory excision. Erase this segment of his memories from tonight, and then send him back." "You’re taking this too lightly!" Director Mei retorted sharply. "Memory excision surgery is highly unpredictable! There’s a significant probability of complete amnesia or madness induced by memory confusion! And even if successful, there are various side effects! Subjecting a high school student to this is a highly bureaucratic and irresponsible act!" But the old man was unyielding. "This individual is too high-risk. Don’t forget the incident two years ago in Liu City! A member of our Bureau there was contaminated and became corrupted, causing massive losses to the Liu City Branch! We cannot afford such a risk!" In the conference room, the other directors remained silent. The old man was Director Marcel of the First Division. Among all the divisions in the branch, the First Division had consistently been the top performer. Marcel himself had originally been the most promising candidate for Director of the Branch. And everyone knew that the witness, Chen Gu, was Chen Jixian’s biological father. However, Chen Jixian was new to his position and had not yet fully established his authority over the entire branch. Surprisingly, Director Mei, who had shown no prior inclination to support the new Director, was now ardently defending Chen Gu, which surprised everyone. The argument continued endlessly with no resolution in sight. Chen Jixian sat silently at the head of the long table, eyes downcast, not uttering a word. Finally, Marcel looked at him. "Since opinions differ, let the Director make the decision." Chen Jixian remained silent—not because he found the decision difficult, but because, outside of combat, he was simply a beat slower to react than others. A barely perceptible glint of amusement flashed in Marcel’s eyes as he pressed his point. "If the Director decides to recruit, we will certainly carry out the order. However, I reiterate: if Chen Gu becomes corrupted and causes significant losses to the branch, who will bear that responsibility?" Chen Jixian was still processing Marcel’s point and was about to speak when his confidential secretary burst in, breathless. "Director, urgent communication from Headquarters!" Chen Jixian remained silent for another moment. As the secretary grew anxious, he finally said calmly, "Connect it."