Chapter 58: My Story with My Immediate Superior

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With Zhou Ze’s explanation, Ji Cheng finally understood. In truth, the core idea could be summed up in just a few words—when the lips are gone, the teeth feel the cold. Developing the Southern Port was fine, but weakening the other city-states would only lead to mutual ruin; none would be left unscathed.

“But Chairman Zhang has already made his decision. There’s no stopping him now. What’s more, this time he intends to send every awakened individual under the age of forty.”

Ji Cheng was taken aback. This Chairman Zhang was truly bold—staking everything on a single throw. If this entire group of awakened died inside, the consequences would be unimaginable.

He stole a glance at Zhou Ze, then at the door, and leaned in, lowering his voice, “So what are you getting at, Zhou? Are you planning to raise the banner of rebellion?”

He didn’t look the type… Zhou Ze’s features were upright, his face youthful and ageless, his hair streaked with silver and meticulously combed. He had all the air of a loyal minister or valiant general.

Realizing Ji Cheng was misunderstanding, Zhou Ze grew stern. “Don’t overthink it. I just wanted you to be mentally prepared—departure’s in a few days, that’s all.”

“So soon?” Ji Cheng blurted out in surprise.

He’d just returned from a trek through the wilderness and hadn’t even had time to rest, and now he was to head out again.

“The timing was set by Chairman Zhang. There’ll be three teams: I’ll lead one, Representative Huang another, and Representative Yao the third.”

“And another thing—you’ve probably noticed.” Zhou Ze rapped his knuckles on Ji Cheng’s dark blue arm; the metallic sound rang through the room.

“Representative Yao knows you killed his son. Even though Chairman Zhang warned him, there may still be some underhanded moves. Be careful.”

Ji Cheng feigned nonchalance. “It’s fine. Aren’t there three teams? With you and the others around, what do I have to fear?”

He truly didn’t believe Representative Yao would dare make a move against him right in front of Zhou Ze.

“I forgot to mention, you’ve now been officially assigned to Representative Yao’s command.” Zhou Ze patted his shoulder.

“You’re kidding.” Ji Cheng was dumbfounded.

Why didn’t you claim me first? Now you’re pushing me into the tiger’s den.

Since becoming awakened, Ji Cheng hadn’t been assigned to anyone’s team due to Chairman Zhang’s absence and the unfinished administrative procedures—not to mention he was still within his six-month adaptation period.

“At the council, Yao was first to put in the request. I didn’t see it coming and was a step too late.”

“Then he used a pile of contribution points to skip the review process entirely. So, you’re now one of his people.” Zhou Ze understood Ji Cheng’s concern and his tone was tinged with guilt. “But don’t worry. He still wouldn’t dare lay a finger on you—Chairman Zhang keeps him in check.”

Zhou then recounted some of what had occurred in the council meeting, with Huang Long chiming in a few details.

Only then did Ji Cheng realize he now belonged to Representative Yao’s team, and, barring exceptional circumstances, there’d be no changing that.

“So I killed my direct superior’s son?”

Or rather, the one whose son I killed is now my direct superior?

God help me.

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Ji Cheng swallowed hard.

…

After leaving the room, Ji Cheng took the lift back to ground level. He’d planned to wait for Chen Qian at the entrance, but she was already there, along with Minister Zeng Hang from the City Defense Bureau.

“Boss, Minister Zeng has something he’d like to discuss with you!” Chen Qian waved from a distance.

Ji Cheng approached, nodded to Zeng Hang, then glanced at Chen Qian and gestured at his neck.

“Oh!” Chen Qian covered her mouth and stifled a laugh.

Zeng Hang, sporting a round belly, bowed and smiled, “Greetings, Sir Ji. Let’s head upstairs to talk.”

Ji Cheng nodded. “It’s about what Zhou mentioned, right? Lead the way.”

The three of them sat for a while in Minister Zeng’s office, exchanged a few words about their spy operations, and then Ji Cheng, now equipped with a communicator marked by an overlapping black arc insignia, headed downstairs with Chen Qian.

The roads along the western defense line were treacherous, and the car that had brought them in couldn’t make the return trip. Minister Zeng, eager to please, ordered a spare armored convoy from the defense bureau to escort them home.

Privilege in full display: sirens wailing, red lights disregarded, nothing and no one stood in their way as they sped through the city. Once outside, the driver floored the gas, and before long, the shadow of the Westwind Bastion loomed ahead.

At the buffer zone of the western line, on Hill 304, the armored convoy crested an earth mound and stopped before a stretch of towering walls.

With a clang, the car door swung open.

Despite her high heels, Chen Qian hopped down from the nearly meter-high step with ease, then, as if trained, knelt on one knee and grinned, inviting Ji Cheng to step onto her thigh as he disembarked.

“Come on, this is too much,” Ji Cheng said, glancing at her pale thigh and quickly motioning her up. “I don’t go in for that.”

He then stepped down from the armored vehicle as if walking on level ground.

“Isn’t this how all the awakened get out of these high-riding vehicles?” Chen Qian pointed anxiously at his neck. “Are you angry with me, boss? I won’t dare next time…”

“That’s not it. I don’t care what the others do, but with me, it’s unnecessary,” Ji Cheng reassured her.

Coming from a society built on equality, he found it hard to stomach the stark divide in rights between ordinary people and the awakened.

Still, he could just about understand. After all, the Galactic Empire was an imperial state, and after the White Mountain Star lost contact, it had been only a few decades from disaster, to the emergence of aberrant beasts, to the rebuilding of a new order. Productivity had barely held up; in most other respects, things had reverted to something primitive.

They verified their identities, entered the sentry base, and made their way to a two-story house in the center of the compound, taking the lift inside to reach the safe room.

“Boss, I’ll head to my room and rest. If you need anything, just call,” Chen Qian said, her confidence restored. She even gave him a meaningful look before returning to her room.

“Sigh… my bottom line seems to be under constant assault these days,” Ji Cheng muttered, shaking his head as he made his way to Luo Rao’s room.

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“Sis, I’m back!”

He opened the door, but she wasn’t inside.

“That’s odd. Where could she have gone?” Though Luo Rao had unrestricted access to the entire base, Ji Cheng knew her nature—she wasn’t one to wander. She’d always been one to skip class, and since immigrating to Southern Port New City, she hadn’t attended school even once. With little interest in anything, her favorite pastime was simply staring at Ji Cheng in a daze.

Unless… A sudden anxiety gripped him.

The thought of Representative Yao flashed through his mind. Since Yao knew it was he who’d killed his son, he had both the motive and means to get back at Ji Cheng through Luo Rao.

Caring too much clouded the mind.

Even though the base showed no signs of intrusion, Ji Cheng was overwhelmed by panic, his heart pounding wildly.

A councilor’s methods were unfathomable: the very murder he’d committed had been reconstructed in detail—slipping unseen into a sentry base would hardly be a challenge.

What’s more, this base stood in the buffer zone outside the city, surrounded by wasteland but for passing transports. If anything happened, there’d be no one to raise the alarm.

“Please, let her be safe. Please, let her be safe.”

His feelings for Luo Rao were far deeper than for anyone else, and at the thought of her being in danger, his heart twisted painfully.

He couldn’t suppress a tide of regret, self-blame, and fury.

Muttering that he’d kill Representative Yao, Ji Cheng frantically flung open every door in the vicinity.

Bang. Nothing. Next room.

Bang. Not here.

Bang. Still no sign.

Finally, with trembling hands, he opened the innermost door—his own room.

Luo Rao was lying in his bed, wrapped in his quilt, her breathing deep and even, fast asleep.

Her face, flawless and radiant, was breathtakingly beautiful. Eyes closed, soft and delicate, she lay there, enough to make one’s throat go dry.

“Phew, scared me half to death.”

Ji Cheng finally let out a sigh of relief.

“What are you doing sleeping in broad daylight, like a pig?” he scolded, yanking the quilt away.

Whoosh.

Ji Cheng’s eyes went wide, and he froze where he stood.