Book 3, Chapter 161: White Bird District

After ending the conversation with Chen Chuan, Director Fang said to Wu Quan, “Meng Lai is still trying to control the situation. He wants to make the two potential successors play their parts in his script.

“This old coot isn’t going to be easy. He’s probably thinking about solving the problem in one go.

“Meng Shu hasn’t managed to use this incident to secure her footing, and we now have to protect that old coot. He’s not giving us any time at all.”

“That’s his style, alright. It seems like he really isn’t under Meng Huang’s control. That’s good news for us. Our main goal is defending against the existences of the other world. As long as he doesn’t cross this line, we can tolerate whatever he does for the time being,” Wu Quan said.

Director Fang agreed with it wholeheartedly.

“But if Meng Huang reacts to the situation when Officer Chen is at Meng Lai’s manor, he might have to face one of those things from the other world. There’s no knowing what kind it might be,” Wu Quan said grimly.

“We don’t know it, but based on the World Ring Defense System’s analysis, it shouldn’t be the high-end ones. I’ve already sent some necessities to Officer Chen,” Director Fang said with a shake of his head.

Wu Quan nodded at that. “I’m going to have my subordinates get ready. I also have to notify the World Ring Defense System. If Officer Chen can confirm that Meng Huang is in contact with an existence from the other world, we won’t have to walk on eggshells anymore and be able to take immediate action. We need to protect Officer Chen and Meng Shu. If we can’t ensure both of their survival, we at least need to make sure to bring Officer Chen back.”

“I understand,” Director Fang said with a stern expression.

***

Chen Chuan went back to the main manor and gave Meng Shu as well as Yan Yi the general gist of the Resolution Department’s plan. He then said, “I will go with you if you decide to go. If you don’t want to go, the department won’t force you.”

“Miss Shu?” Yan Yi asked after turning to Meng Shu.

Meng Shu looked at Chen Chuan. “Do you think I should go?”

“For your personal safety, you should continue staying here. But you should act according to what you want. There’s a price to pay for any desire,” Chen Chuan pointed out.

Meng Shu stood up and went to look at the dancing maple leaves outside. After a moment, she said, “It’s not a matter of what I want, but what the people around me want. They want me to go, and the Resolution Department wants me to go as well, so I have to go. Big Sis Yan, get things ready.”

“Understood,” Yan Yi said with a bow and left.

Meng Shu continued looking at the scenery outside, even after Yan Yi left. “Do you remember what I said that day? I might be in control of the ship’s wheel, but I don’t decide where it goes. I can’t make the ship stop either.”

“Don’t think too much about it. If there’s really a problem with Meng Lai, just let me handle it,” Chen Chuan advised.

Meng Shu turned around. “Thank you.”

Chen Chuan gave her a nod and left. When he was back in his villa, he started reading the information the Resolution Department had sent to him. It was about Meng Lai and his manor.

At this time, a Resolution Department officer came over and handed him a package. When Chen Chuan opened it, he saw a hinged bangle with a charm underneath it. Both of them seemed to be made of a special jade. The note that came with them said that they were used to fend against certain existences.

Along with them came a custom-made Realm Pass. It had an emergency channel that could allow him to send a few messages when caught in a domain lockdown, though only for a short moment. He also got a few tools that could help him in special situations.

Chen Chuan thought about it. He had never participated in missions that dealt with the World Ring, so he had never seen the existences from the other world. But just as he told Gao Ming, if he did see them, it would actually be a good thing.

Once he got ready the next morning, Chen Chuan left his villa and got into Meng Shu’s limousine. With armored cars protecting them in front and at the back, they left Motie Mountain.

Meng Lai lived at White Bird District, which was located on an island outside Central City. The flyover in Central City that could be seen far outside it led to this place.

A large number of senior executives and people in charge of mega corporations lived there. They stood at the very top of Jibei Road’s Central City.

Once the motorcade went up the flyover stretching over the sea, Yan Yi said, “There are a number of small islands around White Bird Island, which are private property. We suspect that Meng Huang has been conducting his private deals with the island nations on one of these islands, but we haven’t figured out in which one and who is providing him with that location.”

Chen Chuan nodded and took a look to the side. A ferris wheel by a port appeared within his line of sight.

It was the Ferris Wheel.

The island nations had helped this company rise to power. Of course, many capitalists from the Great Shun Republic invested in the company as well. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have been able to gain its footing in one of the Great Shun Republic’s Central Cities.

It was also clear that Ferris Wheel was working together with Meng Huang, which was why the Resolution Department was forced to divert some of their attention to them.

Meng Huang had lost the Viper Order, so if he wanted to gather manpower, he might have to ask Ferris Wheel for help. Chen Chuan had to get ready for it.

While they were heading to White Bird Island, the Resolution Department was watching over them. All signs showed that everything was normal, and no one was paying attention to them.

Half an hour later, the motorcade got off the flyover. After going through a strict security check, they entered White Bird District.

This could be considered a true garden city. Even though many areas in Central City were covered in plants, the plants here were carefully maintained and thoughtfully arranged. When Chen Chuan looked over, he saw all sorts of colorful plants that were a sight for sore eyes. It was so aesthetically pleasing that the sight could comfort a tired soul.

The air here was incredibly fresh as well. Chen Chuan could smell a faint floral scent that brought him joy. The scent changed based on the different paths they took.

The center of the district was filled with skyscrapers surrounding a government meeting hall. Aside from this place, only a small part of White Bird Island had buildings. The other areas were taken up by forest parks and high-end theme parks.

Central City had collected most of the resources from its surroundings, and a large amount of those resources were given to White Bird District.

When the motorcade entered it, they could see bioweapons flying all over the place. Aside from the armored patrol cars, airships were also patrolling the air above them. The security here was something that most other places did not have.

Half an hour later, the motorcade went up a gentle, winding main road and arrived in front of a T-shaped manor located on a hill. Two small airships were parked in the empty space in front of the manor.

A few people were talking underneath them while armed security guards stood around. When one of the suited middle-aged men saw Meng Shu, he smiled and walked over to greet her. “You’re here, Xiao Shu.”

“Seventh Uncle,” Meng Shu greeted him.

Through a message on the Realm Pass, Yan Yi told Chen Chuan that this man was Meng Xu, Meng Lai’s seventh son, who was in charge of the family’s affairs.

He seemed like he could have a reasonable conversation with anyone he met, but he also seemed to be really close to Meng Huang.

Chen Chuan noticed that while Meng Xu had greeted Meng Shu, he kept sneaking glances over at him. Even though he was discreet about it, Chen Chuan could sense it. The man wore something similar to Meng Shu, so Chen Chuan couldn’t sense his emotions and biofield.

“Dad’s waiting for you. Go in,” Meng Xu said with a smile.

After parting ways with Meng Xu, Meng Shu asked her security guards to stay outside while she brought Yan Yi and Chen Chuan toward the manor.

Once they left, Meng Xu’s smile fell as he stared after them. A moment passed before he turned around and said something on his Realm Pass.

Chen Chuan followed Meng Shu inside. When they reached the building, a woman in good shape, who was in her early thirties, approached them. She wore a waist-length embroidered jacket with a stand-up collar and inverted wide sleeves, along with a light-colored, wide skirt. With an easy smile, she curtsied to Meng Shu and said, “Miss Shu.”

Meng Shu immediately replied to her politely, “Aunt Yu.”

She seemed to be much more serious when talking to this woman compared to Meng Xu.

Aunt Yu smiled and said, “Please come with me.”

Then, she cast a glance at Chen Chuan and gave him a nod.

Chen Chuan could tell that Aunt Yu was a martial artist, and a Third Limit one at that. While she looked like any other average woman, she had deliberately adjusted her gait. Still, she couldn’t fool anyone with her biofield.

Even though she didn’t release it and kept it restrained, the technique she used to keep it within herself showed her status as a Third Limit martial artist.

Through the Realm Pass, Yan Yi said, “Aunt Yu has retained her appearance since the time Miss Shu’s father was still alive. No one knows her real age. She’s Mr. Meng’s true confidante. He brings her with him wherever he goes. Sometimes, she’s also the one who delivers his messages.”

Chen Chuan nodded and followed Meng Shu into the building. Once inside, he immediately noticed that he could no longer contact the outside world. The domain lockdown here was targeted only at specific people, and its strength was far greater than that of the domain lockdowns at Motie Mountain.

After walking past the decorative antiques and the majestic hall, they took an elevator to the ninth floor. Aunt Yu took them through a hall with a crystal chandelier, then turned into an arched corridor covered in colorful glass.

Standing before the carved pillars in the corridor were guards equipped with armor from the old era. Masks covered their faces, and a tall, white feather was attached to their helmets. In their hands, they held hooked spears. They looked like statues, but Chen Chuan could sense life from them.

He walked behind Meng Shu and observed the guards for a while before sending a message to Yan Yi.

Chen Chuan: Are these puppets?

Yan Yi: They’re battle puppets Mr. Meng ordered from Paperdoll. They have a lot of implants and are absolutely loyal to the owner of the manor, no matter who it is.”

Chen Chuan: Didn’t you say that Meng Lai has the secret key to many of the employees’ implants?

Yan Yi: Yes, and that includes the guards’.

They reached the end of the corridor. Aunt Yu opened the majestic door in front of them and said, “Please go in. The master is waiting for you.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep