CHAPTER 193.2: FIERCE SURGE (PART TWO)

After Zhan Yi and his security guards left, the university board members in the courtroom looked like they were about to die from awkwardness.

The moment they stated their stance, Black Orchid Co. burned the bridge behind them and destroyed all the ways back.

Should the university board insist on expelling Chen Chuan? But judging by Black Orchid Co.’s reaction, he had such powerful support that they had to leave right away. If they continued down the original path, they would get no benefits, and they might even hit a brick wall. They didn’t want to do that.

A member of the Resolution Department sitting in the gallery stood up and went to them under everyone’s watchful eye. “Sirs, you are under suspicion of colluding with Black Orchid and certain families to hurt a Martial Valor University student and for being involved in a case from three years ago. We will need you to come with us for an investigation.” He motioned for them to start walking. “This way, please.”

The university board member who had been the first to call for Chen Chuan’s expulsion stared at him in surprise before laughing in exasperation. “An investigation? You have no right to arrest us!”

“The Department of Administrative Affairs has approved us to join the university board. Without the main branch’s arrest warrant, you have no right to take us anywhere!” another university board member cried out.

The other university board members who were still standing glared at the Resolution Department members coldly and showed no signs of cooperation. They weren’t worried about the Resolution Department resorting to violence. First, nearly everyone present was on their side. Second, as university board members, they were strong martial artists in their own right.

“If they don’t, what about me?”

As a slow, steady, and old voice sliced through the air, everyone turned around and saw an inconspicuous old man standing up from the gallery. He had been sitting there with everyone else, but no one had noticed him, as if their minds had automatically chosen to ignore him.

The people from Martial Valor University were stunned when they saw him. “Mr. Cheng?!”

The plain old man was Cheng Shang, the second chancellor of Martial Valor University. He was working at Central City’s Resolution Department and happened to be an advisor in the main campus in Central City.

The moment he stood up, the university board members who recognized him felt their hearts freeze. The sight of a government official from Central City’s Resolution Department showing up in such a manner made alarm bells ring in their minds.

“Go with them. Staying in jail for a while might do you some good,” Cheng Shang said languidly.

The university board members exchanged glances and decided to not fight it. This wasn’t just because of Cheng Shang’s status, but also because of the power he possessed. Even if everyone worked together, they wouldn’t win against the old man.

The Resolution Department members immediately went forward and handcuffed them with the handcuffs reserved for martial artists. Then, they led the university board members out.

Cheng Shang turned to Chen Chuan. “Have you figured this out before the old factory incident, young man?”

Chen Chuan knew what he was asking about and nodded.

Cheng Shang raised an eyebrow in amusement. “How did you see it? Did someone tell you?”

“No. I wasn’t the only one who figured it out either. I’m sure that plenty of people have pieced together what’s going on, but they made different choices,” Chen Chuan answered honestly.

“Indeed. There are plenty of smart people in the world, but some people are too smart for their own good.” Cheng Shang nodded in approval. “Will you be joining us, young man?”

“Of course!” Chen Chuan answered firmly.

Cheng Shang nodded. “Then, I will wait for you on campus.”

He put his hands behind his back and walked out of the courtroom. A few other people who had also gone unnoticed earlier followed him out.

Most people didn’t understand what Cheng Shang’s conversation with Chen Chuan meant, but some people did. Their expressions changed, and they left in a hurry.

Chen Chuan watched them go, but his gaze remained calm. While he had been strategizing with Gao Ming, they found that there was an unavoidable player in their plans—Black Orchid Co.

When the Mutual Aid Group attacked Chen Chuan and he fought back, Black Orchid Co. was most likely going to get involved in the aftermath, because the forces of power behind the group had intricate ties with the company.

As they continued investigating and planning, as Gao Ming continued digging up more information, and as events occurred, they noticed clues that they had overlooked before. Once they pieced them together, they came to a startling conclusion.

They did not need to worry about Black Orchid Co. at all.

The company was under attack by other companies and unknown forces. They were in such danger that they even had trouble defending themselves.

There were a lot of clues pointing to this, and the most obvious one was the Blood Scars Gang. As Black Orchid Co.’s dog, the gang had been attacked frequently. Their branch companies were destroyed, and more than ten of its leaders had been killed by a bio-weapon resembling the Head Splitting Monster, which led to a vacuum in their top leadership.

Clearly, this was an act of Black Orchid Co.’s enemies to strip the company of its influence and steadily push it to see how far the company could be pressed.

Before this, Black Orchid Co. had been fighting for water management-related businesses with Azure Floodworks. It used all sorts of illegal methods to get rid of water management companies in the area and had even sent its members to occupy quite a number of positions in the Water Management Department. They were about to achieve their goal, but Azure Floodworks had yet to fight back, which was the most abnormal thing of all.

When Chen Chuan received the instructions for the unrestricted defense permit test, Mr. Cao had seemed to be really concerned about him and Yangzhi City, which hinted that the senior government officials were concentrating their attention on the city.

All these clues showed that an unprecedented storm was coming.

That was why they didn’t have to worry about Black Orchid. They could go with the flow and use this chance to accomplish what they wanted.

On top of that, when Chen Chuan was staying in the Constabulary’s headquarters, Guan Yuming had told him repeatedly that the Constabulary was going to support him. He said it with such conviction that it was practically a hint saying that as long as Chen Chuan didn’t plead guilty, he was going to be fine, even though Chen Chuan had never told Guan Yuming that he had gotten the unrestricted defense permit.

For some reason, the Constabulary’s senior leadership had been really confident that they could protect him.

Lei Guangcheng had also kept encouraging him to go to Central City while promising to keep him safe from the powerful families.

There was also an easily overlooked detail in Martial Valor University. The third chancellor had been transferred away and was replaced by Fan Shoulu, an even older and more experienced martial artist. Before that, Yan Xiaojing, the third chancellor’s grandson was sent out of the country on an exchange program. He had yet to return.

Also, despite the commotion brought about by the Mutual Aid Group’s case, the Resolution Department did not make a stand or do anything else to interfere with the situation. They did not say a single thing during the trial. At most, they encouraged some students to come forward, which also was unusual.

All these signs showed that all the combat forces in Yangzhi City had noticed something and were preparing for it. That was why Chen Chuan had boldly assumed that these organizations were participating in the battle against Black Orchid Co.. They may not have won already, but they clearly had the upper hand.

Zhan Yi’s threats didn’t affect Chen Chuan in the slightest.

Black Orchid Co. was on the verge of collapse, and yet he was threatening him?

Was there even any use to it?

Anyone who chose to side with Black Orchid Co. at this point would just die a quicker death. On the other hand, standing against them was the correct choice.

Chen Chuan could have not done anything and just waited quietly for the results, but he didn’t want to just go along with the flow. Instead, he wanted to push things forward.

He wanted to expedite the process instead of waiting for at least half a year for it.

While discussing it with Gao Ming, they realized there was a single point in this clash when Chen Chuan, as an individual, could step in and make a difference by bringing out Proto-Being’s recommendation card.

Chen Chuan didn’t bring out the card to protect himself, but to help the forces of power keeping a close eye on Black Orchid Co. to see whether the company still had any true power left.

What Chen Chuan did was essentially using the card like a sharp knife that he swung in front of Black Orchid Co.

If they remained firm in their stance and refused to yield even after Chen Chuan used Proto-Being as a shield, it would mean that they had real power left and were still confident. But they backed down today, which exposed their weakness.

More damning was that after they exposed their soft underbelly, the giant beasts that had been lurking around them while eyeing them like prey would immediately lunge at them and tear them to shreds.

When Cheng Shang asked him whether he wanted to join, he was asking whether Chen Chuan wanted to join the operation to take down Black Orchid Co. How could Chen Chuan possibly miss out on such a major operation? He absolutely had to join.

If this was a mission, it would be one so rare that it only happened once in a blue moon. If he took part in this, he might be able to get his armor permit ahead of time and even increase his overlap time with his second self.

The observers left one by one, and the courtroom became empty. Chen Chuan tugged at his shirt and smoothed out his collar before turning around. “Sir, you haven’t announced the results of the trial,” he said to the judge still sitting on the bench.

The judge was taken aback, then he adopted a stern expression. He smoothed out his robes as well and took out the verdict he had already prepared. Slowly, he stood up and started reading, “The Court hereby declares that Chen Chuan, a student of Martial Valor University, acted solely in self-defense in the incident at Li’an Machinery. Accordingly, the charges brought against him are dismissed as unfounded. Any party with objections to this ruling may submit an appeal in accordance with the law. This concludes the proceedings. Yangzhi City Tribunal Court, 21 August, 93rd Year of the Great Shun Republic.”

Once he was done, he picked up the gavel and struck the base of the xiezhi statue once. Then, he looked at Chen Chuan and said cordially, “Chen Chuan, the trial has ended. You may leave now.”

Chen Chuan gave him a nod and walked out with the judge’s gaze and the gavel’s knock’s echo following him out.

When he reached the lobby, he noticed that most of the people who had left the courtroom were being led away by the constables. Gao Ming approached him and grinned. “The storm’s coming.”

“Yup,” Chen Chuan said.

“I told you before, cuz. This fight started because of you, so you should end it too,” Gao Ming declared.

Chen Chuan grinned back and looked outside at the clear sky and the sun shining on everyone’s heads. “It’s not the end, but another beginning.”

***

Guan Yuming made a call from the Constabulary station near the tribunal court. “Sir, we’ve arrested all of them.”

“Keep a close eye on them. The storm is about to come, and we need to keep things under control.”

“Understood.”

After some thinking, Guan Yuming asked, “Why are we attacking ahead of time?”

“We’ve alerted the enemy. We have to act.”

Guan Yuming recalled what had happened and realized what exactly had transpired. He whispered, “Is it because of Xiao Chuan’s card? What exactly is it?”

“I asked. It’s a recommendation card from Proto-Being, but it was canceled a long time ago.”

Guan Yuming laughed in spite of himself. “A canceled card? Then why did he...”

He trailed off halfway through, and surprise flickered in his eyes as he realized why Chen Chuan had done that. In amusement and mock annoyance, he said, “I was wondering why he did it, that brat...”

They had been planning to tighten the net slowly by testing Black Orchid Co. repeatedly. These repeated tests might span over a long period of time. After all, Black Orchid Co. was a giant, and no one wanted to be the first to charge at them.

When Chen Chuan killed the members of the Mutual Aid Group, the Constabulary planned to use that as a reason to arrest certain members of Black Orchid Co. and their associates since it wouldn’t alert Black Orchid Co. of their real goal.

Chen Chuan’s action was the same as him pressing the fast-forward button. He gave a shove to all forces of power targeting Black Orchid Co., and they were all forced into action.