"Then, during the same period in December of last year and this year, there were frequent cases of missing fishermen and boats. If we analyze the situation this time, it’s obvious that most of those incidents were the work of poachers, only their actions have become more secretive."
Speaking, he raised a document that he had organized and handed it over to Zheng Hongxin.
"It seems that the Pure Blood have been captured by humans many times before."
Upon hearing this, a high-ranking member couldn’t help but furrow his brow, "It’s just that this time they encountered some mysterious enemy that they were accidentally exposed."
These words immediately stirred a low murmur of discussion.
Everyone had different expressions, some with slightly furrowed brows, deep in thought, others equally puzzled, sharing a sense of connection.
Suddenly, a particularly hot-tempered high-ranking member slammed the table angrily:
"Damn it, those poachers are becoming bolder and bolder, now they dare to bully us right to our faces!"
As everyone knows, Yong’an Island is the stronghold of the Truth and Meditation Joint Practice, deeply entrenched for nearly two hundred years.
Even if official organizations had attacked them multiple times over the generations, they could not eliminate their influence.
And now a bunch of outsiders had the audacity to tread on our heads.
"Old Chen, calm down. If our situation weren’t so special right now, we would never allow those outsiders to act so presumptuously."
"Yes, the main reason is that after becoming Pure Blood, they rarely return to land and contact us, so no one knows exactly what happened..."
Many high-ranking members spoke one after another, soothing him, and in the process making excuses for their own negligence in their duties.
Among them, there were also many suggestions on how to take measures and counterattack.
For example, we could organize a major population inspection; there’s no way those rats hiding in the shadows won’t be found.
The meeting room was filled with the noisy sound of discussion.
Chen Jiandong remained expressionless, silently taking note of every high-ranking official’s speech.
Zheng Hongxin’s thick brows slanted, and suddenly he tapped the table firmly with his knuckles.
Once everyone fell silent, showing alertness, he then spoke with a grave voice:
"Everyone, the centennial great tide has already arrived, and we are at our weakest right now; it is not advisable to act rashly and expose the truth."
"Moreover, the most important Sea Ritual Ceremony is going to be held in five days. This time, we must succeed without any mishaps."
"Otherwise, the consequences are unpredictable, it’s quite possible that a great plague might break out across the entire island, just like two hundred years ago..."
He paused for a moment and then looked sternly at the deputy director of the Civil Affairs Bureau and the Chen Family Leader.
"We also need more new blood to welcome this ritual; how are your preparations?"
After hearing this, the two of them took turns explaining their work situations.
After listening, Zheng Hongxin nodded slightly, his gaze suddenly sharp:
"Just hold on for these five days, then as soon as we catch our breath, we will conduct an island-wide search and hunt down those poachers, as a warning to others!"
Following that, he issued two more directives for defensive measures against potential dangers.
First, find an excuse to temporarily close the shipping routes between Yong’an Island and the outside world.
Second, all combat personnel, aside from those on official duties, must return to base, and put forth full effort to ensure the safety of the ritual ceremony.
Now that the chairman had made a decision, the high-ranking officials no longer continued to debate on this matter.
After the atmosphere eased slightly.
The group began to speculate about the identity of the person who had helped them deal with the poachers.
Some even doubted the Special Search Team, but that suspicion was immediately dismissed by others.
Because for decades, the two sides had already formed a tacit understanding.
As long as the Truth and Meditation Congregation’s influence was limited to Yong’an Island, ensuring local order and peace.
Then they would not cause unnecessary trouble or stir up incidents.
Both parties maintained a harmonious situation of not interfering with each other’s affairs.
In the bustling cafeteria.
Fang Cheng and Pan Wendi, holding two stainless steel trays, squeezed out of the crowd and found an empty spot to sit down.
The trays were brimming, still filled with vegetarian dishes.
Pan Wendi appeared to have little appetite, eating listlessly.
But Fang Cheng picked up his chopsticks and chewed vigorously, puffing out his cheeks as if he hadn’t eaten for days and was now enjoying a lavish seafood feast.
Pan Wendi looked on bewildered, and couldn’t help but pinch a small bite of vegetables from Fang Cheng’s tray.
Then, he carefully tasted it in his mouth, pondering what made the flavor so distinct.
Fang Cheng paid him no mind and after swallowing a mouthful of braised eggplant, he focused on the prompt that popped up in front of him.
[You have tasted a uniquely flavored specialty meal, gaining +1 Food Experience.]
Then he picked up a bowl of seaweed soup and slurped two large mouthfuls.
Another prompt appeared before him.
[You have drunk a bowl of calming and sleep-aiding delicious soup, gaining +1 Food Experience.]
Looking at the consecutive increase of experience points, Fang Cheng’s mouth curled into a smile imperceptible to others.
It turns out, on his first night arriving at Yong’an Island, dining in the training camp base.
Fang Cheng had discovered that the food here seemed to be more nourishing for the stomach.
Merely eating a vegetarian meal could add +1 experience point.
Today’s dinner seemed to have some special ingredients, with experience points rising swiftly.
He had only eaten half of his meal and had already gained 4 points of experience.
You know, after reaching the expert level in the "Culinary" skill, ordinary daily meals could no longer satisfy his need to improve his skill.
Only some unique and rare foods could pass the panel’s appraisal and acquire experience points.