444 Conflict of Interests (1/2)
”It has been ten years. How are you, chief?”
Looking at the white-haired Xi Menjian holding a cup of tea before him, Fang Yuan asked him how he was doing. From the corner of his eye, he could see Zhao Daniu and Ye Yingzi furiously exchanging glances.
”I'm blessed enough to be still surviving from all these exhaustion!”
Xi Menjian blew gently at his cup of hot tea.
Fang Yuan admired him for his determination and patience.
At the arrival of the third occurrence, on such a doomsday like this, as the chief of the Religious Bureau, Xi Menjian had the control of all the mutants in Chinese Country and would, therefore, be extremely busy. The stress that he was facing was also more than anyone could imagine.
Under such circumstances, he either had an ulterior motive or was crazy to take the time to visit his old subordinate.
However, Xi Menjian didn't seem like a crazy fellow, which means only one possibility was left.
”Initially... why did you leave?”
Xi Menjian gazed at Fang Yuan for a long while before opening his mouth.
”Because of a discovery...”
Fang Yuan started to spout some nonsense. ”I detected a trace of a supernormal civilisation thousands of years ago, and located it at the Golden Eagle Federation! If I want to conduct experiments there myself, surely all of you would not allow me to do so. Therefore, I could only leave without telling you.”
It was a terrible excuse.
However, as Xi Menjian recalled the traces of Lei and all the happenings in the Golden Eagle Federation, he could not deny that everything fitted perfectly like puzzle pieces.
”... Regardless, welcome back to the organisation!”
Xi Menjian had a complicated look on his face as he passed a document to Fang Yuan. ”From today onwards, you will be the special consultant of the country and you shall enjoy the highest privileges... Hopefully, you will do the country and our people proud.”
”Oh?”
Fang Yuan smiled. ”It's about this. I almost thought you would immediately assign me to another task or another research project.”
”We are not rushing for any research to be done right now, and even more for taskings...”
Xi Menjian let out a bitter smile. ”Everywhere in the country is in chaos! Everywhere will need all the help they can get! Even so, we cannot deal with everything!”
Unless Fang Yuan could split himself into a few billion clones, he would also be helpless against a catastrophe as huge as doomsday. Therefore, he could only protect a few important nodes and forgo the rest.
The two of them gazed at each other and remained silent for a long time.
”The two of you, leave the room!”
After a long while, Xi Menjian ordered for the two people behind him to take their leave.
After Zhao Daniu and Ye Yingzi left, Xi Menjian started to fiddle with a contraption.
'Is this a jammer?'
Seeing this, Fang Yuan twitched his eyebrows as Xi Menjian started to explain himself. ”As a 4th Tier mutant... If you are unwilling to let others eavesdrop, they will not be able to hear our conversation, right?”
Xi Menjian was being extremely cautious.
”Don't worry, no one would dare to...”
Seeing this, Fang Yuan smiled. ”Who are you guarding against? Xing Hezi? He has long left Huiming City... Even if he were to be still in the city, he would not try to eavesdrop us and make me unhappy.”
”Sigh...”
Xi Menjian laughed. ”That old demon who hibernated for a thousand years would only cause us distress. Comrade Fang Yuan, the organisation has a very important task for you!”
”Important task?”
Fang Yuan appeared confused. ”I've been living in seclusion for the past 10 years and may no longer be loyal to the country. Why are you willing to task this to me?”
”We have no choice, for you are the only suitable person to be able to do this!”
Xi Menjian stood up and took a deep bow. ”Please protect the humans!”
”Protect the humans? What a heavy responsibility...”
Fang Yuan turned solemn. ”What have you guys discovered?”
”A huge shadow has been lurking in the darkness. Even the chaotic development years of Chinese Country couldn't destroy it. Instead, it started to recover at a quicker pace at has already infiltrated the government...”
Xi Menjian spoke in a deep tone. ”Now, even I wouldn't trust my subordinates any more...”
Fang Yuan could understand where he was coming from.
The Black Hand was an organisation formed by the powerful sects in Middle Continent thousands of years ago. Most of the people in the organisation had the ability to cast spells or possessed certain special abilities. They would surely be the most powerful bunch of people as soon as the spiritual energy in the surroundings reaches a maximum. Since the Religious Bureau was recruiting members at that time, they would be foolish not to join the bureau to cause trouble from within.
”This is at most fighting for their own rights. What's there to say about protecting the humans?”
Fang Yuan sighed before probing further.
”What do you think? Those old demonic people have a totally different mindset from us, modern people! Who knows, that old fogey might just want to push us back into the dark ages and the developing years...”
Xi Menjian continued. ”If not for this worry, our leaders would not have been so decisive. However, after investigation, we realise that those high-tiered cultivators, including Xing Hezi, have attempted communications with those evil beasts. This is especially so for Xing Hezi who had once secretly met with the Sea Dragon King.
Fang Yuan broke out in cold sweat.
Needless to say, a country could potentially become very powerful if it were to utilise all its resources.
Xing Hezi had looked down upon the mortals and was not careful in this aspect.
”Therefore... I've especially come to plead you to investigate this matter thoroughly! As soon as you realise Xing Hezi performing acts of betrayal to the country, deal with him immediately! Stop his plan! If you require, you may tap on all the resources of the country!”