When Chen Gu saw the "Four Hundred Braves," he couldn’t help but think of "The Past of the Four Hundred."
The Original Entity’s memories contained nothing about the Four Hundred Braves, so Chen Gu immediately logged onto the interstellar quantum network to search.
The Four Hundred Braves weren’t part of official history; they were more like a group of "space pirates." However, their experiences were truly legendary, filled with many inconceivable "pasts."
Even today, many legends about them circulated on the interstellar quantum network, making it difficult to distinguish truth from falsehood.
One legend even claimed the "Four Hundred Braves" was a ghost ship, much like those from the Age of Sail on the home planet. It was said to be crewed not by the living, but by the cursed Souls of four hundred starship members, forever trapped aboard.
This seemingly most absurd legend stirred something within Chen Gu, giving him a vague sense that he might have grasped a connection between the "Four Hundred Braves" and "The Past of the Four Hundred."
Chen Gu considered for a moment and decided not to reject the mission for now, opting to see how things developed.
After all, if he didn’t go, Big Golden-Toothed Cowboy Rabbit couldn’t do anything to him anyway.
Thus, the aloof President sent back a single word, "Understood."
After a short wait, with no further messages from Big Golden-Toothed Cowboy Rabbit, Chen Gu put away his social crystal rod.
Back at his new home, Chen Gu weighed the piece of supermaterial on an electronic scale: 11.09 grams. Based on Steam Train’s price estimate, his adult son had handed him over one hundred million Starshield with that single gesture!
Chen Gu exclaimed, My family is indeed wealthy!
After storing the item, a worry surfaced. But my seemingly sweet and lovely granddaughter is actually a little delinquent at heart! What am I going to do?
Chen Gu wasn’t scheduled for duty today, but after dinner, he headed straight for the Bureau of Mystic Security.
Unsurprisingly, the small office of Special Operations Team Five was empty. Chen Gu asked the administrative staff outside for Little Demon Girl’s number. Before Great Actor Chen could dial, he heard the staff in the main office, their gossip fires already blazing. They had "collaboratively" concocted seven or eight versions of scandalous stories about him and Little Demon Girl.
They’re ruining my reputation! Great Actor Chen lamented silently, then called Little Demon Girl. As soon as the call connected, the pounding beat of electronic music blasted from the other end.
No doubt about it, that Little Demon Girl is out partying again, he thought. Did she take my granddaughter with her? Will she lead her astray?
"Where are you? I need to talk. Is Chen Qingyu with you?" Chen Gu’s tone, as a concerned guardian, was somewhat stern.
Little Demon Girl snorted disdainfully. "You? Talk to me when you become a Professional."
CLICK! The call disconnected. When Chen Gu tried again, he was startled to find Little Demon Girl had blocked him. He then called Chen Zili and finally breathed a sigh of relief: Chen Qingyu was home, obediently doing her homework.
Chen Gu walked out of the small office looking relieved. The administrative staff immediately deduced from his expression: The rookie succeeded!
A wave of admiration swept through them. This new guy has some serious skills.
On the way home, Chen Gu mulled it over, then took out his social crystal rod again. He tapped the "Steam Train" icon and sent a message: "Supermaterial."
As an excellent purveyor of goods, Steam Train likely had his social crystal rod in hand all day, replying instantly, "Available, available, available."
"Asking for a friend. Terror Insect type."
"Don’t have any on hand."
"Willing to pay extra!"
Those words were like a magic spell. Steam Train’s enthusiasm immediately surged. "President, please wait a moment. I’ll ask my contacts."
Chen Gu waited quietly. As his maglev car stopped at the entrance of his new home, Steam Train replied, "There are two. One is 4.18 grams, asking sixty million Starshield, or trade for items of equivalent value—preferably a Starship main cannon or the body of a Guilo-system super life form."
"The other is 8.87 grams, asking one hundred million. Cash only, no barter."
Chen Gu understood that joining the Bureau of Mystic Security, while achieving his goal of "laundering his identity," had also backed him into a corner. He absolutely had to succeed on his first try, or he would inevitably arouse his adult son’s suspicion.
Therefore, Chen Gu had to do everything possible to increase his chances of successfully establishing his new Profession.
The two pieces of supermaterial would cost a total of one hundred and sixty million Starshield. He only had one billion Starshield in total, so this transaction would consume 16% of his assets.
Still, he gritted his teeth. "I’ll take both."
Steam Train promptly added, "Thank you for your patronage, President. My commission is the usual 8%."
Chen Gu felt his heart nearly seize. He would have to pay Steam Train an additional twelve million eight hundred thousand Starshield! What did this guy do, just ask a few questions?
Great Actor Chen, grinding his molars, sent back one word, "Outrageous!"
"I can round it down for you, twelve million."
Chen Gu swore that if this bastard were in front of him, he would—even at the risk of exposing his own secrets—hit him with a Biological Nuclear Explosion on the spot, blasting this vampire into dust!
Great Actor Chen, mimicking the bargaining tactics of his ex-girlfriends, employed a "slash-it-in-half" strategy: "Six million."
"Deal!" Steam Train replied instantly, as if fearing the President would renege.
Chen Gu clutched his chest. I still paid too much.
But his current persona was that of a cold and aloof President, not some old woman haggling at a wet market. He could only pinch his nose and endure it.
"Initiate the transaction immediately."
The old headmaster looked at the leave request on his desk with some confusion. He’s in such good health, why is he always sick?
Chen Gu had specifically taken sick leave that day to covertly monitor the transaction’s completion.
To this end, Chen Gu had registered an account on a bounty hunter website and posted a task with a reward of thirty thousand Starshield.
The previous night, Chen Gu had used the Original Entity’s hacking skills to make several transfers, moving a total of one hundred sixty-six million Starshield into a special neutral account.
The mysterious owner of this account specialized in mediating various clandestine transactions, extending beyond freelance Professionals to include significant black market deals.
For this service, Chen Gu had paid a fee of one million, six hundred sixty thousand Starshield.
Great Actor Chen, feeling the sting, was almost suffering from angina.
That afternoon, the two pieces of supermaterial would be delivered to two designated storage lockers. Although it was highly unlikely anything would go wrong during the transaction, or that anyone could trace the "President’s" identity through the parcels, Chen Gu still decided to be cautious.
The bounty hunter who accepted Chen Gu’s task retrieved the items. After traversing a large part of Wuzhaoyin City, they deposited them into a different storage locker.