Zhao Manying snorted, "The other night, you were so arrogant, saying I would never rid myself of my Heart Demon, and now you’re changing your tune?"
Ji Xinghuo was about to explain when a cellphone by the side of the Martial Arts Arena rang.
His expression shifted slightly.
This ringtone was designated and different from a normal incoming call; it was only triggered by internal calls from the Sword Bureau or messages from the "Heaven’s Melody" software.
"I need to take this call."
Ji Xinghuo went over to pick up the phone, which displayed a string of encrypted numbers. Once he connected, the voice of Zhou Yishang came through.
"Xinghuo, come to the base immediately."
After a brief conversation, Ji Xinghuo hung up and said to Zhao Manying, "I need to head back to the bureau now; there seems to be a mission."
"You go, and be safe."
Zhao Manying knew he was a Swordsman of the Sword Bureau but did not know the specifics, and tactfully refrained from asking.
Ji Xinghuo nodded and was about to leave when Zhao Manying suddenly said, "Wait a second."
Perplexed, he turned back only to see Zhao Yingman approaching and lightly embracing his neck, her fragrance enveloping him, instantly feeling a wave of soft sweetness.
It lasted for half a minute before she let go and whispered softly, "Remember to think of me."
Ji Xinghuo licked his lips, nodded emphatically, bid her goodbye once more, and then walked out of the Martial Arts Arena. Outside, he boarded a magnetic levitation car and headed for "Li Jiawan Town" in the Qinling Mountain Range.
Ji Xinghuo entered the base of the Sword Bureau and met Zhou Yishang.
There was no one else in the office except Zhou Yishang, who looked solemn. Upon seeing Ji Xinghuo enter, he stood up and said, "Xinghuo is here, have a seat." His expression eased somewhat, reflecting concern, "I haven’t seen you around the base much lately; are you okay?"
"I’ve been cultivating; nothing much is going on." Ji Xinghuo naturally wouldn’t admit that he was both cultivating and romantically involved, having the time of his life.
Zhou Yishang nodded, his expression returning to seriousness, "I called you back today because there is a mission that’s very suitable for you, depending on whether you’re willing to take it."
"I am a Chi Xiao Knight. As long as Director Zhou commands, I will not hesitate." Ji Xinghuo immediately stated his position.
Zhou Yishang’s eyes flickered with a hint of delight.
He lightly tapped on his desk, and a large screen appeared, displaying a file on a man.
"This man’s name is Shen Yucheng," Zhou Yishang explained, "He was the deputy director of the Exploration Department in the Star Realm Department, with a very high level of authority, managing more than a dozen exploration teams. But last week, he defected, taking with him a large amount of internal information from the Star Realm Department."
Ji Xinghuo looked at the file.
Shen Yucheng, 48 years old, entered the Exploration Department shortly after university graduation, serving as an explorer, team leader, deputy commander, among other roles; his career was outstanding, his work excellent, and at 40 years old, he was promoted to deputy director of the Exploration Department, a position with a very promising future that was enviable.
The Star Realm Department is one of the most important departments in the Asia-Pacific Community, with power comparable to, or even exceeding, the Defense and Finance Ministries.
The Star Realm Department comprises several institutions.
Exploration Department, Star Gate Department, Alien Research Department, Equipment Department, Integration Department, and Mutant Service Center, etc., responsible for managing all work related to the Star Realm and Mutants.
The Exploration Department is extremely important.
Its main role is to organize official Mutant exploration teams to collect information about the Star Realm, including geographical environment, minerals, monster distribution, and intelligence on Star Realm nations, Alien Races, and Alien Species.
Each exploration team comprises elite Mutants, well-equipped, with outstanding combat abilities, possessing very comprehensive capabilities.
The national policy of the Star Realm depends heavily on the outcomes of the Exploration Department.
The deputy director of the Exploration Department has access to the most core content, and should the information Shen Yucheng carried fall into enemy hands, the consequences would be extremely serious.
"Director Zhou, why would Director Shen do this?" Ji Xinghuo was somewhat puzzled.
Zhou Yishang answered, "This also has something to do with you."
Ji Xinghuo was utterly confused. How could this involve him?
"Do you still remember Ji Zongbang?"
Zhou Yishang spoke slowly, "Originally, he was reported by someone. The bureau has never found the identity of the informant, but has not given up the investigation. I specifically set up a team to repeatedly sift through Ji Zongbang’s past experience information and finally found a clue."
"We analyzed the mobile signal trajectory of Ji Zongbang’s phone, and found that before he came to Chang’an, he had multiple intersections with another mobile signal for a period of time."
"Following that mobile signal, we returned to Chang’an."
"It was a middleman, very vigilant. The moment our Swordsman made a move, he committed suicide."
"From the information collected at the middleman’s residence and after analysis through big data, we finally pinpointed Shen Yucheng, but it was a step too late. It seems the death of the middleman alerted Shen Yucheng, and he had fled abroad before we located him."
Zhou Yishang said this with a grave expression.
The Sword Bureau had repeatedly failed in Ji Zongbang’s case, which confirmed the claims of the previous informant: Ji Zongbang was involved with domestic high-ranking officials.
Ji Xinghuo also realized the seriousness of the issue and asked, "Where did Shen Yucheng flee to?"
"He entered the Star Realm, and from the Star Gate he returned to Earth." Zhou Yishang replied, "Today, our branch in South America received an informant’s report, and he has been spotted in Immortal City."
"Immortal City..." Ji Xinghuo paused.
This was a massive city located in South America, which two centuries ago was the capital of a country known as Columbia, called Bogota.
In the 1990s of the 21st century, after the formation of the American Federation that united all of North America, it expanded southward, met fierce resistance, and, despite a huge cost, still managed to effectively control South America. Although it never directly incorporated the territory, it had completely become an economic colony.
To this day, the people of South America still resist the rule of the American Federation; various rebel and resistance groups have never been completely suppressed.
However, the economy, military, and technology of the American Federation are too powerful.
All of South America remains under the control of the United States.
The reason the American Federation refuses to give up this continent lies primarily in the fact that there are two Star Gates located in South America.
One is located in the southern part, in Asuncion, which is quite far away.
The other is closer to the mainland of the American Federation, located right in Immortal City!
Immortal City is the most bustling, gigantic city of South America, almost gathering the essence of the continent. Officially recorded population alone exceeds one hundred million, and the hidden population might be several times that.
Although the United States are the real rulers of Immortal City, they pay no heed to the commoners. The city’s security is chaotic; hundreds of consortia, major companies, and gangs, along with many private powers, jointly control the city, conducting underground illegal trading, becoming a haven for all filth.
Immortal City has the most advanced technology but also the most primal savagery.
The rulers live lives of decadent extravagance, while the lower classes often starve, selling all they own for a full meal.
The class division and wealth disparity have reached their extremes.
And Immortal City is just a microcosm of the many cities on the American Continent.
Zhou Yishang said in a deep voice, "The Director has already issued an order, dispatching ten Chi Xiao Knights to Immortal City to find Shen Yucheng and retrieve the data in his hands. As for him, it’s best we capture him, but if not, he’s to be executed without mercy!"
He looked at Ji Xinghuo, "I have submitted your name, and the Director has approved."
"Director Zhou, about those documents..." Ji Xinghuo frowned.
"I know, the possibility of the data not having been leaked is very low, it’s already too late."
Zhou Yishang shook his head helplessly, his face revealing a trace of ruthlessness, "But as long as there’s still hope, we must do our utmost. According to the informant’s report, Shen Yucheng is seeking contacts within the United States’ upper echelons in Immortal City, likely looking to sell at a high price. We still have a chance."
"If you can retrieve the data before it leaks, you could at least be rewarded with one Transcendent Species, or even two."
"Titanium Cobalt Dragon Blood is definitely not a problem!"
Hearing this, Ji Xinghuo was immediately tempted and asked, "Director Zhou, when do I depart?"