CHAPTER 191: BLACK ORCHID CO.

Wei Hang’s voice snapped the people out of their daze, and they turned to him.

Wei Hang brought his cane up and thrust it twice in Chen Chuan’s direction before looking at the people around him. In a stern and grave voice, he said, “This boy might have the unrestricted defense permit and can be excused of murder, but can you really allow such a person to continue living in Yangzhi City or continue his studies in Martial Valor University?

“Look at what he did. Yesterday, he killed thirty-seven students in complete indifference. Tomorrow, he could kill even more, and all he needs to say is that he was just protecting himself.”

He turned his sharp gaze to Chen Chuan. “I doubt that he’s mentally sound. How can he say such wild things after shedding so much blood? Doesn’t he feel any guilt at all?!”

He rammed his cane against the floor and shouted, “Those were thirty-seven innocent lives he took!

“I suggest all of us write a petition and demand the university board to expel him! We must also demand the Department of Administrative Affairs to send him out of the city. We can’t let him threaten the safety of other Martial Valor University students or allow him to abuse his power so brazenly!”

Things had reached the worst possible point. They could no longer use legal means to kill Chen Chuan, but that was not the only method in their hands.

For example, Wei Hang could make use of everyone’s fear toward Chen Chuan and claim that he was mentally unwell. Then, the Department of Administrative Affairs would chase him out of Yangzhi City and Martial Valor University would expel him.

This plan had a large chance of success. Chen Chuan would not be harmed through it, and all the attacks would focus on him, so the Constabulary, Cult Investigation Bureau, and Resolution Department would have no reason to interfere.

Even if they were against it and tried to stop them, their efforts would be minimal, because they would only be doing this due to friendly ties as organizations or as individuals. They would no longer be working together to stand against the rich families.

As for whether he might anger Chen Chuan so much that he would do something irrational or use violence to take revenge, Wei Hang saw no reason to be worried about that.

He actually wanted Chen Chuan to do that. They had plenty of ways to take him out if he did such a thing. He Xiaoxing was a much more difficult person than Chen Chuan to deal with, and they had still made preparations for him, even if they had not come into use.

Now, they could use all the stuff they prepared on Chen Chuan if he ever dared to come to them.

But Wei Hang’s words alone weren’t enough. Many of the people present were scared of the unrestricted defense permit, and by extension, their personal safety. He needed a powerful organization to guarantee their safety.

Wei Hang looked at the young man beside him. He stood up and smoothed out his black suit, which allowed everyone to see the blooming black orchid on his cuffs.

“Everyone, I agree with Mr. Wei’s demands. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Zhan Yi from Black Orchid’s headquarters, assistant to the director of the External Operations Department, Mr. Luo. I also serve as his representative.”

Everyone fell silent and stared at him.

Zhan Yi was used to this reaction. He looked at Chen Chuan and said regretfully, “I deeply regret the fact that we are unable to charge a mentally-ill student of his crimes just because he has the unrestricted defense permit.

“But that doesn’t mean that we will tolerate his actions. We can’t allow such a tragedy to happen again. That’s why I will make a promise on behalf of Black Orchid right now!”

He extended a finger. “As long as all of you agree to it, from today on, Black Orchid’s security team will be in charge of your safety. We promise that you won’t face any threats again.”

When the powerful families, reputable people, and council members heard this, different expressions appeared on their faces. They sank into deep thought.

Zhan Yi had mentioned something that they needed to consider. Their security advisors and security teams were mostly Martial Valor University graduates. The same Martial Valor University students standing like an army outside in support of Chen Chuan. Would their security advisors protect them, then? After all, they were from Martial Valor University. Could the companies and governmental departments who were tied to them still trust them?

The government officials from the Resolution Department glared at Wei Hang and Zhan Yi. They had realized what they were doing. They intended to squeeze Martial Valor University out of the security sector, so Black Orchid Co. could take over as the provider of security for the powerful upper-class families.

But they couldn’t think of any way to counter them. Chen Chuan’s actions had brought great unease to the rich and powerful, and it was also true that the students outside were standing in support of Chen Chuan.

On the surface, it seemed like Black Orchid Co. had seized the moment and used newly born fear to swiftly and decisively cut into the security sector, but it shouldn’t have been a spontaneous decision. They had to have planned this.

“I have another announcement to make. As a representative of Black Orchid, I reject Chen Chuan from ever joining us. We will also write letters asking the other companies to not work with him,” Zhan Yi proclaimed loudly.

The expressions of Guan Yuming, Lei Guangcheng, and the other Martial Valor University lecturers became grave. Black Orchid Co. was a major corporation, so those words held great weight.

It might seem like they were just stopping Chen Chuan from joining private companies, which wouldn’t affect his future much, but their influence stretched into various parts of society. A lot of people worked with them to put food on their tables. The moment Black Orchid sent that letter out, anyone working for and with those companies would subconsciously avoid and even reject Chen Chuan.

Zhan Yi smiled. While they couldn’t target an unrestricted defense permit holder via the law and other regulations, they could reduce his future paths by manipulating everything around him.

While some of the other major corporations were Black Orchid Co.’s competitors, they stood on the same front in this regard, because this was a fight for power between the companies and the country.

An unrestricted defense permit holder could work for any governmental department, but the world was ruled by various national governments and major corporations. They couldn’t remove themselves completely from the business world, so Chen Chuan would be greatly restricted in his options.

Of course, targeting Chen Chuan wasn’t their main goal. They were using this incident to let the observers know that Black Orchid Co. was the only one they could rely on and the only one who could help them when it really mattered.

Once they got everyone on Black Orchid Co.’s side, the company’s arrangements in Yangzhi City would be complete.

Wei Hang sat down. With him setting the foundation and Black Orchid Co. stating their stance, it wasn’t going to be difficult to get Chen Chuan expelled from Martial Valor University. Once he was out of there, they would need to sacrifice much less for the next part of their plan.

He had already spoken to Zhan Yi. No matter the results, Black Orchid Co. would send some professionals to get rid of Chen Chuan.

He shot a cold glare at Chen Chuan. If they couldn’t get rid of him through the law, they wouldn’t use it. They would instead use the power of society to ruin him step-by-step before killing him.

***

During the commotion in the courtroom, an old-fashioned sedan slowly arrived in front of the tribunal court. When the door opened, Mr. Yi, Meng Shu’s butler, stepped out.

While staring at the entrance, his heart was filled with a myriad of emotions.

It had been almost a year. He remembered that around this time last year, he had sent Meng Shu away from Yangzhi City and said that he would think of ways to help her recruit Chen Chuan to work for her.

It was about time for him to do so.

He had been paying attention to everything related to Chen Chuan, and the moment the abandoned factory incident happened, he realized that this was the best time for him to interfere. Chen Chuan had offended far too many powerful families. He would have no chance to fight and win by himself, and no forces of power he knew could help him.

But Mr. Yi could use the Meng family’s name to keep all the powerful families in Yangzhi City in check and protect Chen Chuan. He could also choose to bring Chen Chuan straight to Central City. If he did that, Chen Chuan could sense his goodwill, and the powerful families in Central City would be satisfied, so he would kill two birds with one stone.

When his security guards moved to stand behind him, he walked up the stairs until he arrived at the top. Just as he was about to walk into the tribunal court, a man in a black suit blocked his path.

It was Zhan Yi, who had been waiting for him. He extended a hand with a smile. “You must be Mr. Yan Yi.”

Yan Yi didn’t shake his hand. He just said slowly, “Do I know you, young man?”

Zhan Yi pulled his hand back and apologized. “I’m sorry. I forgot to introduce myself. I’m the assistant of Black Orchid’s director of the External Operations Department. I’ve been waiting for you.”

Yan Yi came to a quick realization but played dumb. “Black Orchid, huh? Why would you want to see me? I’m old and don’t buy cosmetics.”

Zhan Yi remained smiling and said sincerely, “Mr. Yan, Mr. Luo has been paying close attention to Chen Chuan’s case. He hopes that you can show him some respect.” He pointed to a car. “Look. He’s waiting in that limousine over there.”

Yan Yi looked in the direction where Zhan Yi pointed. The window of the limousine wound down at that moment to reveal a bespectacled man sitting inside. The man gave Yan Yi a nod.

As the retired former butler of the Meng family, he paid attention to society’s shifts and changes and knew the important people in all the companies. Mr. Luo was the director of the External Operations Department of Black Orchid Co.’s headquarters and a man with real power.

Yan Yi fell into contemplative silence. While he wasn’t afraid of Mr. Luo, was it really worth it for him to go up against someone like him for Chen Chuan?

If he had gone in before Mr. Luo showed up, then even if the man requested him to pull back, Yan Yi could fight back and stick to his stance.

But he had approached Yan Yi before anything was said, and that made things difficult.

If he had been twenty years younger, perhaps he would have smiled and walked into the courtroom, but he was old now and no longer had the energy nor the drive to fight.

“Since Mr. Luo has made a request, let’s pretend that I never came here,” he said.

“Mr. Yan, Mr. Luo will express his thanks. Black Orchid will also remember your goodwill,” Zhan Yi stated.

“Don’t give me that pretentious nonsense, young man. You’ll only have the right to say those things to me when you stay in your company until my age,” Yan Yi shot back.

While Zhan Yi remained smiling, his smile turned a little stiff.

Yan Yi walked down the stairs and returned to his car, where he leaned back against the seat. As he stared at the tribunal court, he found the situation regretful. Chen Chuan was an outstanding young man, especially now, after he became a martial artist. He was supposed to shine brightly in the future.

If he had been able to recruit him, Meng Shu could’ve defeated her competitors and seized control of the company.

He sighed again. It was Chen Chuan’s misfortune that he was so unlucky. Why couldn’t he have just said yes to Meng Shu’s offer?

“Should we go back, Mr. Yi?” the driver asked.

Yan Yi pondered over it and sighed. “Let’s wait a little while longer. I don’t think I’ll be able to keep my promise to Miss Shu, but I believe she needs to know what happened.”