Chapter 51: Both Reach Master Level – Dissatisfaction From The Old Subordinates
Zhang Hongbo waved his hand, and Sun Fatty trotted over eagerly. After the last deputy minister left and closed the door, Zhang Hongbo chuckled and said:
“Pull up Su Chen’s information for me to see.”
Sun Fatty said reluctantly: “You can just access it directly, why go through me?”
“I’m only temporarily managing before Old Yuan returns, so it’s better to go through your internal channels.” Zhang Hongbo gestured for Sun Fatty to sit down.
Though extremely unwilling, Sun Fatty had no choice but to perch on the chair, feeling like he was on pins and needles. He moved in slow motion, laboriously opened his bracelet, pulled up Su Chen’s information, and projected it onto the desk.
“Yo…” Zhang Hongbo feigned surprise, “On his first day reporting in, he already earned a collective third-class merit…”
“I didn’t expect Old Yuan to just assign him to an ordinary patrol team. Truly impartial. Let me check the attendance record.”
As Zhang Hongbo spoke, he scrolled down, nodding in satisfaction: “Full attendance, not bad, not bad. He’s a pillar of South Wind City.”
Sun Fatty’s scalp tingled, completely unable to comprehend what Zhang Hongbo meant by those words.
“Go back and tell him to work hard. South Wind City’s future depends on them.” Zhang Hongbo waved his hand, signaling Sun Fatty to leave.
Sun Fatty felt greatly relieved and hurried away, his body fat jiggling up and down.
………
“Big bro, what’s so urgent?”
After a series of rapid knocks, Su Chen welcomed in the panting Sun Fatty.
“Little brother, the city lord has his eye on you.” Sun Fatty said in a low voice.
Su Chen’s eyelid twitched, and he couldn’t help asking: “What’s going on?”
“Just now…” Sun Fatty sat down holding onto a chair, still shaken: “After the meeting, he kept me behind alone and asked about you.”
He recounted everything that happened in detail, and couldn’t help scratching his head: “I don’t know what he meant. If he was dissatisfied with your backdoor entry, he didn’t say anything.”
“But it’s impossible for him to mention you for no reason.”
Su Chen’s brows furrowed tightly. Yuan Chenyang’s early rotation had disrupted many things.
Zhang Hongbo had the appearance of a smiling tiger. Even if Old Yuan said he wasn’t a Strange God follower, he still remained somewhat vigilant.
“Big bro, do you have any advice?” Seeing Sun Fatty scratching his head, Su Chen couldn’t help asking.
“I suspect he’s warning you not to openly draw a salary for no work.” Sun Fatty speculated: “Normally, it’s best to follow the rules now.”
“Then should I go on patrol?” Su Chen probed.
“No, don’t go.” But Sun Fatty unusually shook his head, his face gloomy, and said gravely: “So what if he’s the city lord? His son still holds the title of exploration guard but has never left the city once.”
“Everyone turns a blind eye. If you lose even this privilege? If he really causes trouble over this, we’re not pushovers either.”
“He has a lot on his plate and can’t keep his eyes on you forever.”
Seeing Sun Fatty’s tough demeanor, Su Chen gained some insight. Old Yuan’s old subordinates were probably also unhappy about his early rotation.
He finally got to act tough for once, and it wasn’t baseless, but Zhang Hongbo had played him. Now the other two departments had opinions about the Inspection Department, while this city lord played the good guy.
“Alright, I’ll listen to big bro.” Su Chen had no objection; he didn’t want to patrol anyway.
Sun Fatty had only come to inform him so he’d know what was up, and then prepared to leave.
Su Chen asked him to help find an F-grade body tempering method and a meditation method each.
“You want a meditation method too?” Sun Fatty was somewhat stunned, but remembering Yuan Chenyang’s instructions before leaving to handle what he could, he nodded in agreement, only saying that the meditation method was trickier and would take a few more days.
After Sun Fatty left, Su Chen entered the gravity chamber. He hadn’t trained long when he heard someone knocking.
Thinking it was Old Sun who forgot to mention something, he went to the door, only to find that at some point, a yellow envelope had been slipped through the door crack.
Su Chen’s eyes narrowed slightly. He opened the door and looked left and right. Because of the city lord’s arrival, the guards temporarily assigned by Sun Fatty for patrol had also been canceled.
Wrapping his hand with shadow-evading clothes, he carefully picked it up, returned to the room, and opened it. Inside was only one line of small text–
【I know you took the space crystal. If you don’t want everyone to know, explain in detail how Yuan Chenyang found the strange artifact. Tomorrow at this time, leave the space crystal at the door along with it, and I can let you withdraw.】
Zhou Xian?
“Withdraw?” Su Chen sneered. Not to mention the space crystal was already gone; even if he had it, he wouldn’t believe such nonsense.
“Being targeted feels really unpleasant.” His expression sobered, and he murmured: “But is this investigating why Qi Chuan died, or…”
Lighting the envelope on fire, Su Chen took out a black flame potion from his storage space, gulped it down, and entered the gravity chamber again to sweat it out.
Investigating surveillance would probably be as useless as last time.
Su Chen didn’t comply with the demand, but the other party didn’t follow up either. That letter seemed like just a bluff.
And the Inspection Department now under Zhang Hongbo had indeed toned down its investigation actions. The entire South Wind City seemed to return to its former harmony.
………
Several days later, in the gravity chamber, Su Chen’s movements grew faster and faster. His skin was covered in sweat, and the stinging pain from his body intensified.
It felt like sharp thorns were drilling into his skin through his pores, his muscles rippling like waves.
Not only that, but Su Chen’s pupils also glowed with a demonic purple-red hue.
Until a certain moment, his muscles suddenly tensed, as if tightening countless times in an instant. Muscle fibers imperceptible to the naked eye expanded and contracted.
【Body Tempering Method advanced to master level, gained ability–Great Strength: slightly increases own strength】
Su Chen stopped his movements, exhaling deeply. The swelling sensation from his body made him clench his fist involuntarily, producing crisp crackling sounds.
“Strength has increased by at least thirty percent…” Su Chen carefully felt it.
【Hellfire Meditation Method】 had reached master level five days ago, gaining the 【mental shield】 ability, which uses mental power to shield one’s presence. Paired with shadow-evading clothes, it’s a perfect stealth tool.
【Void Ripper Warrior: 82%】
【Mystic Tool Master: 61%】
Half of the potions Old Yuan left him had been consumed, bringing significant progress in all aspects.
“Wonder if the body tempering method and meditation method Old Sun helped find are ready.”
Su Chen stretched his limbs, gradually adapting to his enhanced body, changed into clean clothes, and went to find Old Sun.
“Little brother Su, come in, come in…”
Sun Fatty, who was hunched over files on his desk, noticed it was Su Chen and immediately stood up to greet him.
“You’re here for the body tempering method and meditation method, right.” Sun Fatty had some understanding of Su Chen’s personality and didn’t bother with small talk.
He invited him to sit on the sofa, poured a cup of water, then took two files from the drawer under his desk and handed them over, introducing:
“F-grade Snake Shadow Body Tempering Method, focused on speed. F-grade Star Light Meditation Method, emphasizes personal mental defense.”
“These are photocopies. Take them back and study slowly.” Sun Fatty sat beside him, his large butt making the sofa sink a bit. “Just don’t sell them outside. This Snake Shadow Body Tempering Method is internal to our Inspection Department, so that’s fine.”
“But this meditation method is from the Exploration Department…” he cautioned.
Su Chen immediately guaranteed, saying solemnly: “Thanks for going to the trouble, big bro.”
