Chapter 83: Designated Mission
After he hung up, Chen Chuan said, “Aunty, looks like I can’t stay for lunch. My mentor asked me to go back.”
“If you have something to do, do it. I can hold the fort here, so don’t worry,” Yu Wan quickly reassured him.
“Okay.” Chen Chuan grabbed his jacket and put it on. Yu Wan stepped forward to help him straighten it.
“Be careful,” she cautioned him.
Chen Chuan nodded and put on his hat. When he reached the door, he said, “I’ll be leaving now. I’ll drop by for lunch next time I have a day off, I promise.”
He then left.
Chen Chuan grabbed his bicycle from the courtyard and cycled back to the university.
When he arrived at his dormitory, Cheng Zitong was waiting for him in front of his car. “Hop on in. I’ll tell you the details in the car.”
Chen Chuan immediately went in. The moment he sat down, he saw that Cheng Zitong had placed a radio on the dashboard. It was broadcasting an update to the earlier situation.
The robbers had fled after robbing the bank and got into an intense shootout with the constables. During the process, both sides suffered casualties, but the robbers managed to leave the city. The constables were hot on their tail.
Cheng Zitong did not drive. After the news report finished, he said, “It’s Fang Dawei and his gang.”
Chen Chuan already had an inkling, so Cheng Zitong’s words just confirmed his guess. “They robbed a bank? Did they do it for the money or to attract attention? And why did they rob a member of the Consultative Council? Does that place have something they want?”
“You’ve hit the nail on the head. The group that robbed the bank did so to attract the Constabulary’s attention.
“Mr. Fang has something they want in his mansion. He has been dealing with the examination and approval of a batch of forbidden drugs. His security guards also have implants. So, those criminals went after the anti-mutation medicines he has.”
Chen Chuan thought about it. This was highly likely due to them capturing Scar Face. Since their line of supply had been cut off, Fang Dawei and his group ran out of medicine and could only take such a huge risk.
They lived up to their status of outlaws, alright. They robbed a bank and even broke into the house of a member of the Consultative Council. It was a huge commotion.
“I called you back not just because you were involved with catching these guys. I got news that the Department of Administrative Affairs have finally decided to catch Fang Dawei and his gang, so the examination committee might set this mission as the test for the weapons permit,” Cheng Zitong said.
No wonder, Chen Chuan thought.
Certain important missions outside and within the city were selected and given to the examinees as the test. This mission was not going to be the only one of its kind, so they could choose to back out of it and wait for the next assignment. One or two missions were assigned each month for a duration of half a year. After that, the test would come to an end.
Of course, the examinees could choose to give up on a mission once they joined it if they thought they were not strong enough to see it through, but that would deny them the chance to sit for any future weapons permit test.
“Based on their actions, some of Fang Dawei’s gang might have military-grade implants. Besides, they not only have guns but also protective gear. They didn’t lose any ground in the shootout near the bank with the Constabulary. They’re really difficult to deal with. If the examination committee really assigns this mission to all of you, it won’t be easy to complete it,” Cheng Zitong remarked.
“I’ve been wanting to ask. Where did they get those implants? Someone must have been providing them with the guns too, right?” Chen Chuan asked.
Cheng Zitong shook his head. “We don’t know for the time being, but we do have a possible explanation as to where they got them.” Then, after some silence, he said, “The resistance group.”
“The resistance group, huh.”
Chen Chuan nodded. The resistance group had apparently been wandering outside the city for years. It also had secret meeting spots in the city and was involved in countless attempts to ruin and overthrow the government. They often ambushed important departments and key figures. Chen Chuan had also heard that quite a number of them were in Central City.
If it were really this group behind the criminals, then they did have the ability and motive to do such things.
“What are your thoughts about this? If this becomes a mission for your test, it will be really dangerous. Will you take it up?” Cheng Zitong asked while staring straight into his eyes.
“I’m not scared, Mr. Cheng. If this really ends up as the mission, I’ll take it up,” Chen Chuan answered seriously.
“Alright. Wait a little longer, then. You’ll hear word about it soon. By the way, bring your saber with you. If it becomes one of the missions for the test, you’ll have the right to wield a weapon during it. Your saber might be of use to you,” Cheng Zitong said.
Chen Chuan perked up at that. “Got it.”
He got out of the car and used the elevator to head to his room. When he returned to his bedroom, he picked up the Frost King Saber from its shelf. He pulled it out a bit to check it before sheathing it. After some careful consideration, he grabbed a bag and took some other things he thought might be useful before returning downstairs.
When he stepped out of the dormitory, he saw a man talking to Cheng Zitong and handing him a document. They exchanged a handshake, and the man left.
Chen Chuan walked over, and Cheng Zitong looked up. “The document’s here. The committee has set the mission to capture Fang Dawei and his gang as a test.”
He handed the document over. “Take a look. If you have no objections and decide to take it, sign it, and I’ll send it back. Then, you’ll officially join the mission.”
Chen Chuan took the document. It stated that the people who took up the mission were to cooperate with the Constabulary to capture Fang Dawei and his gang. “Mr. Cheng, since this is a mission assigned to agents, the examinees aren’t the only ones participating in it, are they?”
“The Constabulary is bound to work together with some agent companies. Meanwhile, the Department of Administrative Affairs assigned this mission to the university through the examination committee. All the students who have applied to take the weapons permit test can participate in it. But to avoid sabotaging one another, you need to work together with the upperclassmen who also accepted the mission.
“The examination committee will give points to all of you based on your actions during the mission. If you don’t get enough points during this mission, that’s fine. As long as the mission is a success, you’ll get another chance to try again.”
Chen Chuan understood the situation and signed the document. He also saw that he needed to put a stamp on it. Fortunately, he had brought his personal stamp along, so he took it out, stamped it, and handed the document back to Cheng Zitong.
Since Cheng Zitong was Chen Chuan’s mentor, he also signed the document and stamped it too. “I’m going to submit this to the examination committee. Go to the hall and meet up with the upperclassmen who are taking part in the mission.”
Chen Chuan nodded in understanding. Once Cheng Zitong drove him to the hall, Chen Chuan got out and went in alone. Two male and one female upperclassmen were already waiting inside. Each of them had a weapon of their choice. One of the men had brought a bow and arrows, while the other one a short spear. The female upperclassman had chosen a custom-made reinforced parasol.
When they saw him walking in with the Frost King Saber, they were surprised. One of the male upperclassmen said, “You don’t look familiar. You must be a freshman. Are you joining the mission too? You’ve got guts, huh?”
“It’s only held once every three years, and he can’t take it during his senior year,” the female upperclassman quipped. “If he doesn’t take the test this time, he won’t be able to do it, so why shouldn’t he try his luck? He might actually be strong.”
The male upperclassman did not agree with what she said. “He should not be so impatient. We’re from the Weapons Department, so we need to get our weapons permit as soon as possible. That’s not the case for him, so he can take his sweet time.”
“You guys seriously didn’t recognize him? This junior of ours is no slouch. Remember the freshman who beat up Zhong Wu until he was comatose? This is him,” the other male upperclassman said.
The first male upperclassman’s expression changed, and the female upperclassman also regarded Chen Chuan in surprise.
They knew just how strong Zhong Wu was. They would be unable to defeat him unarmed, but this monster of a freshman had managed to reduce him into a vegetative state with just his bare hands. It was impossible without being naturally gifted.
They should have known it. Only those who were confident they would pass registered for the weapons permit.
The upperclassmen stopped teasing Chen Chuan, and their expressions turned solemn and serious.
Soon, they heard more footsteps outside. A short-haired, stern-looking, bespectacled woman in her early thirties walked in. She wore a pantsuit. Despite being quite pretty, she projected a serious, austere image that radiated cold indifference.
Behind her were two upperclassmen.
She motioned for them to move in front of her. “I’m Han Guo of the examination committee. You may call me Ms. Han. I’m in charge of recording and evaluating your actions during the mission. I’m also obligated to tell you this: Don’t even think about currying favor with me while carrying out the mission. I’m not the only one recording your actions, so doing that is meaningless.
“Now, does anyone want to back out? This is your last chance, because we can still remove your application form before it’s recorded in the examination committee’s files.”
No one said a thing. Everyone who came was mentally prepared to take the test. They had not come due to an impulsive decision and were not going to change their mind at the last second.
“Then, none of you are pulling out.” Han Guo nodded at that. “We will leave now.”