Zhao Manying snorted, "The other night, you were so arrogant, saying I would never rid myself of my Heart Demon, and now you’re changing your tune?"
"Uh..."
Ji Xinghuo was about to explain when a cellphone by the side of the Martial Arts Arena rang.
His expression shifted slightly.
This ringtone was designated and different from a normal incoming call; it was only triggered by internal calls from the Sword Bureau or ssages from the "Heaven’s lody" software.
"I need to take this call."
Ji Xinghuo went over to pick up the phone, which displayed a string of encrypted numbers. Once he connected, the voice of Zhou Yishang ca through.
"Xinghuo, co to the base imdiately."
"Alright."
After a brief conversation, Ji Xinghuo hung up and said to Zhao Manying, "I need to head back to the bureau now; there seems to be a mission."
"You go, and be safe."
Zhao Manying knew he was a Swordsman of the Sword Bureau but did not know the specifics, and tactfully refrained from asking.
Ji Xinghuo nodded and was about to leave when Zhao Manying suddenly said, "Wait a second."
Perplexed, he turned back only to see Zhao Yingman approaching and lightly embracing his neck, her fragrance enveloping him, instantly feeling a wave of soft sweetness.
It lasted for half a minute before she let go and whispered softly, "Rember to think of ."
Ji Xinghuo licked his lips, nodded emphatically, bid her goodbye once more, and then walked out of the Martial Arts Arena. Outside, he boarded a magnetic levitation car and headed for "Li Jiawan Town" in the Qinling Mountain Range.
Half an hour later.
Ji Xinghuo entered the base of the Sword Bureau and t Zhou Yishang.
"Director Zhou."
There was no one else in the office except Zhou Yishang, who looked solemn. Upon seeing Ji Xinghuo enter, he stood up and said, "Xinghuo is here, have a seat." His expression eased sowhat, reflecting concern, "I haven’t seen you around the base much lately; are you okay?"
"I’ve been cultivating; nothing much is going on." Ji Xinghuo naturally wouldn’t admit that he was both cultivating and romantically involved, having the ti of his life.
"That’s good."
Zhou Yishang nodded, his expression returning to seriousness, "I called you back today because there is a mission that’s very suitable for you, depending on whether you’re willing to take it."
"I am a Chi Xiao Knight. As long as Director Zhou commands, I will not hesitate." Ji Xinghuo imdiately stated his position.
Zhou Yishang’s eyes flickered with a hint of delight.
He lightly tapped on his desk, and a large screen appeared, displaying a file on a man.
"This man’s na is Shen Yucheng," Zhou Yishang explained, "He was the deputy director of the Exploration Departnt in the Star Realm Departnt, with a very high level of authority, managing more than a dozen exploration teams. But last week, he defected, taking with him a large amount of internal information from the Star Realm Departnt."
Ji Xinghuo looked at the file.
Shen Yucheng, 48 years old, entered the Exploration Departnt shortly after university graduation, serving as an explorer, team leader, deputy commander, among other roles; his career was outstanding, his work excellent, and at 40 years old, he was promoted to deputy director of the Exploration Departnt, a position with a very promising future that was enviable.
The Star Realm Departnt is one of the most important departnts in the Asia-Pacific Community, with power comparable to, or even exceeding, the Defense and Finance Ministries.
The Star Realm Departnt comprises several institutions.
Exploration Departnt, Star Gate Departnt, Alien Research Departnt, Equipnt Departnt, Integration Departnt, and Mutant Service Center, etc., responsible for managing all work related to the Star Realm and Mutants.
The Exploration Departnt is extrely important.
Its main role is to organize official Mutant exploration teams to collect information about the Star Realm, including geographical environnt, minerals, monster distribution, and intelligence on Star Realm nations, Alien Races, and Alien Species.
Each exploration team comprises elite Mutants, well-equipped, with outstanding combat abilities, possessing very comprehensive capabilities.
The national policy of the Star Realm depends heavily on the outcos of the Exploration Departnt.
The deputy director of the Exploration Departnt has access to the most core content, and should the information Shen Yucheng carried fall into enemy hands, the consequences would be extrely serious.
"Director Zhou, why would Director Shen do this?" Ji Xinghuo was sowhat puzzled.
Zhou Yishang answered, "This also has sothing to do with you."
"Ah?"
Ji Xinghuo was utterly confused. How could this involve him?
"Do you still rember Ji Zongbang?"
Zhou Yishang spoke slowly, "Originally, he was reported by soone. The bureau has never found the identity of the informant, but has not given up the investigation. I specifically set up a team to repeatedly sift through Ji Zongbang’s past experience information and finally found a clue."
"We analyzed the mobile signal trajectory of Ji Zongbang’s phone, and found that before he ca to Chang’an, he had multiple intersections with another mobile signal for a period of ti."
"Following that mobile signal, we returned to Chang’an."
"It was a middleman, very vigilant. The mont our Swordsman made a move, he committed suicide."
"From the information collected at the middleman’s residence and after analysis through big data, we finally pinpointed Shen Yucheng, but it was a step too late. It seems the death of the middleman alerted Shen Yucheng, and he had fled abroad before we located him."
Zhou Yishang said this with a grave expression.
The Sword Bureau had repeatedly failed in Ji Zongbang’s case, which confird the claims of the previous informant: Ji Zongbang was involved with dostic high-ranking officials.
Ji Xinghuo also realized the seriousness of the issue and asked, "Where did Shen Yucheng flee to?"
"He entered the Star Realm, and from the Star Gate he returned to Earth." Zhou Yishang replied, "Today, our branch in South Arica received an informant’s report, and he has been spotted in Immortal City."
"Immortal City..." Ji Xinghuo paused.
This was a massive city located in South Arica, which two centuries ago was the capital of a country known as Columbia, called Bogota.
In the 1990s of the 21st century, after the formation of the Arican Federation that united all of North Arica, it expanded southward, t fierce resistance, and, despite a huge cost, still managed to effectively control South Arica. Although it never directly incorporated the territory, it had completely beco an economic colony.
To this day, the people of South Arica still resist the rule of the Arican Federation; various rebel and resistance groups have never been completely suppressed.
However, the economy, military, and technology of the Arican Federation are too powerful.
All of South Arica remains under the control of the United States.
The reason the Arican Federation refuses to give up this continent lies primarily in the fact that there are two Star Gates located in South Arica.
One is located in the southern part, in Asuncion, which is quite far away.
The other is closer to the mainland of the Arican Federation, located right in Immortal City!
Immortal City is the most bustling, gigantic city of South Arica, almost gathering the essence of the continent. Officially recorded population alone exceeds one hundred million, and the hidden population might be several tis that.
Although the United States are the real rulers of Immortal City, they pay no heed to the commoners. The city’s security is chaotic; hundreds of consortia, major companies, and gangs, along with many private powers, jointly control the city, conducting underground illegal trading, becoming a haven for all filth.
Immortal City has the most advanced technology but also the most primal savagery.
The rulers live lives of decadent extravagance, while the lower classes often starve, selling all they own for a full al.
The class division and wealth disparity have reached their extres.
And Immortal City is just a microcosm of the many cities on the Arican Continent.
Zhou Yishang said in a deep voice, "The Director has already issued an order, dispatching ten Chi Xiao Knights to Immortal City to find Shen Yucheng and retrieve the data in his hands. As for him, it’s best we capture him, but if not, he’s to be executed without rcy!"
He looked at Ji Xinghuo, "I have submitted your na, and the Director has approved."
"Director Zhou, about those docunts..." Ji Xinghuo frowned.
"I know, the possibility of the data not having been leaked is very low, it’s already too late."
Zhou Yishang shook his head helplessly, his face revealing a trace of ruthlessness, "But as long as there’s still hope, we must do our utmost. According to the informant’s report, Shen Yucheng is seeking contacts within the United States’ upper echelons in Immortal City, likely looking to sell at a high price. We still have a chance."
"If you can retrieve the data before it leaks, you could at least be rewarded with one Transcendent Species, or even two."
"Titanium Cobalt Dragon Blood is definitely not a problem!"
Hearing this, Ji Xinghuo was imdiately tempted and asked, "Director Zhou, when do I depart?"
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