Although Yuan Chenyang was the head of the Supervision Department, Su Chen wasn't naive enough to think the place was the old man's personal kingdom.
No matter how many strings were pulled behind the scenes, going through the motions on the surface was always preferable. Even Jiang He held the title of honorary researcher at the Research Department.
After tidying up, Su Chen headed out.
This was essentially his first time moving freely through Nanfeng City. The weather was perpetually the same — hazy and fog-laden, the kind that made it hard to stay in good spirits.
Following the servant's directions, he filed in through the open entrance of a hovering rail station, standing at the edge of the somewhat weathered platform. The metal grating beneath his feet trembled faintly, signaling the approach of something enormous.
A sleek, elongated silver construct — not riding on tracks, but hovering roughly one person's height off the ground — drifted silently between the city's buildings along the designated rail corridors.
Its hull was sheathed in polished metal plating, with several elegant blue energy veins flowing along its length.
It was high noon, but the interior wasn't entirely quiet. The engine's low, persistent hum served as background noise. Some passengers murmured about today's produce prices; others griped about the recent refugee uprisings.
Beep—
Someone had sent him a message. It was Hu Xiang, asking where he was — no one was at the academy.
'Coming to deliver my payment?' Su Chen thought, and typed back three words: "Supervision Department."
A good while later, Su Chen finally arrived at the "Supervision Department Station." Very few people disembarked here, and his movement drew a few curious gazes.
The platform was suspended directly at the mid-level of a tall building. Fully armed Supervision patrols stood guard — deep blue uniforms as the base layer, overlaid with black metal armor that primarily covered the shoulders, chest, and thighs.
The moment he stepped off, several people approached. The squad leader at the front sized him up. "Who are you? What's your business?"
"Reporting in."
"Reporting in? New recruit?" The squad leader eyed Su Chen's absurdly young face with suspicion.
Seeing him nod, the squad leader pulled out something resembling a walkie-talkie. "Headquarters, do we have any new recruits checking in today?"
"None today," came the static-laced reply. The squad leader's gaze sharpened.
But then another voice crackled through the channel: "Wait — there is supposed to be a new one recently."
'Seriously? Can't even finish a sentence in one go?'
The squad leader cursed silently, though he knew it wasn't really the operator's fault.
New member check-ins followed a fixed schedule, and the operator had confirmed there was none today.
But special cases existed — arrivals who reported whenever they pleased. Those types usually had connections.
Soon, another response came through the walkie-talkie: "Internal Affairs has been notified. Section Chief Sun is on his way down."
'Old Fatty Sun is coming down in person?'
The squad leader grew even more uneasy. He forced an awkward smile onto his face. "If you would be so kind as to wait a moment, sir..."
Before long, a man came barreling out through the door like a human hurricane — all jiggling flesh, round as a ball, but surprisingly nimble.
"Ah, you must be Brother Su Chen!" he called out before he'd even reached them, a fawning grin plastered across his face, features scrunched together. "We've been expecting you!"
"Hello," Su Chen replied with measured politeness.
"No need to be so formal! Just call me Old Sun. Follow me..." His smile was radiant as he led Su Chen into the building.
"Su Chen? What kind of big shot's kid gets Old Fatty Sun grinning like a blooming chrysanthemum?" The patrol members muttered among themselves as they watched the two disappear inside.
"Who knows. Probably just another one here to pad his resume."
............
Section Chief Sun's enthusiasm was so intense that even Su Chen found it difficult to handle. The man gave him a thorough tour of the entire building's layout and set up a private room for him.
"...You certainly don't need to live here, but in case you ever feel like dropping by, you should have a place to rest, no?"
"Oh, and I've assigned you to Patrol Squad Seventeen. Rotation shifts are only once every three days. Of course, attendance is optional."
"I'll see how it goes," Su Chen said with a wave of his hand.
"Such dedication! Just like the Department Chief — cut from the same cloth!" Section Chief Sun's face was a picture of deep emotion.
Su Chen was quietly impressed. His own acting skills weren't bad, but compared to this Section Chief Sun, he was still leagues behind.
"By the way, you mentioned earlier that the room you assigned me has a gravity training chamber?" Su Chen asked.
"That's right." The rotund man nodded. "Section chief-level quarters come with a training room as standard."
"Does wonders for physical training," he added, a flash of barely concealed surprise in his squinting eyes.
He'd seen plenty of privileged second-generation types, but this one didn't seem like the kind to indulge in comfort.
"I'd like to try it..." Su Chen's interest was piqued. Old Sun was clearly a master of reading people, and he immediately offered to take him there.
However, they'd barely stepped through the office door when they saw a squad of fully armed guards rushing downstairs.
"Another incident?" Old Sun furrowed his brow. He flicked his finger across a silver band on his wrist, and a slightly blurred virtual display materialized, rows of information scrolling past.
"...Nothing major." He relaxed, then glanced at Su Chen beside him, a thought occurring to him. "Care to tag along and see a real scene, brother?"
"I'll pass." Su Chen shook his head. His curiosity wasn't that strong.
Old Sun was even more surprised. Such patience was unusual for someone his age.
Whatever his private speculations, he maintained his outward enthusiasm on full blast and brought Su Chen to his room.
It was even bigger than the room at Old Yuan's place — floor-to-ceiling windows, a private bathroom, and even the bathtub had a massage function.
The gravity training chamber wasn't large, and could only adjust up to double normal gravity.
"Can you handle it, brother?" Old Sun called out worriedly from outside, only to see Su Chen's face turn just slightly red as he exhaled a single breath.
'A professional? This young?'
He was surprised, but thinking of Yuan Chenyang, it made sense. Anyone taken in as the Department Chief's personal student couldn't be ordinary.
Su Chen felt the gravity pressing uniformly against every part of him. This kind of even, all-encompassing pressure would have a dramatically multiplicative effect on physical training.
He fell in love with the place instantly. As for Old Yuan's villa — he'd go back when he had time.
He emerged from the training chamber in high spirits. "Section Chief Sun, does this place supply Black Flame Potions? And Rejuvenation Potions?"
"S-supply?" Old Sun's forehead broke into a cold sweat, his face pinched with difficulty. "Black Flame Potions are rather expensive. As for Blood-Activating ones, I could probably scrounge up a few portions per week."
He sighed helplessly. "The Finance Section is staffed by City Lord Zhang's people. I can't push things too far."
"As for Rejuvenation Potions — ninety-five percent of us here are physical-type professionals..."
"Understood." Su Chen nodded. "Blood-Activating will do for now."
Even with diminished returns, something was better than nothing.
Old Sun looked visibly relieved and started talking about hosting a welcoming dinner that evening. Su Chen naturally declined, and after a brief round of polite back-and-forth, the man finally left — with obvious reluctance.
But he'd barely closed the door when Old Sun doubled back, his expression peculiar. "Someone downstairs is asking for you. City Patrol, no less."
"Hu Xiang?" Su Chen guessed immediately.
"That's him." Old Sun nodded. "He's already in the lobby."
Su Chen nodded. "Send him up."
Old Sun relayed the order. Before long, Hu Xiang arrived via elevator, his expression grave.
The moment he stepped into the room, he spoke a single sentence: "Old Zhao — he's dead."