Chapter 439: Chapter 169: Li Ying
After reaching the surface, Chen Chuan followed the Realm Token’s guidance to the safe house where Meng Shu and the others were hiding. From outside, he used the Realm Token to notify them that the matter was over.
After a short wait, Meng Shu and Yan Yi emerged, escorted by several security guards.
Chen Chuan said to Meng Shu, "The situation has been resolved. If Mr. Meng keeps his word, then you are now the company’s sole heir."
Meng Shu was silent for a moment before saying softly, "Grandfather and I aren’t close, but he is a man of his word. At least on the surface, he’s someone who does his utmost to uphold the rules."
Just then, Yan Yi seemed to receive a message. She looked up and said, "Miss, Meng Huang did indeed plant people around most of the important Meng Clan members. But with Meng Huang dead, these people are useless. You can immediately send men in your name as the heir to capture them and place the clan members under protection."
Meng Shu knew what she meant. This was to announce her presence, win support, and quickly seize the vacuum and positions left by Meng Huang. She said, "Sister Yan, please handle it for me."
Yan Yi nodded and immediately began to hire and arrange for personnel.
A notification chimed from Meng Shu’s Realm Token as well. She looked at Chen Chuan and said, "Grandfather is summoning me."
Chen Chuan nodded. "I’ll go with you."
Although Meng Huang had been dealt with, the mission the Processing Bureau had given him wasn’t over. The next period would be crucial. There was no guarantee Meng Huang didn’t have other contingencies in place, so they had to be careful.
He and Meng Shu returned to the manor together. Since the southeast section of the building had been nearly demolished, they moved to a different reception hall on the north side, where Meng Lai was waiting for them.
Seeing the two enter, Meng Lai first looked at Chen Chuan and said very politely, "Mr. Chen, Aunt Yu has already told me everything. We owe you our thanks for this matter. Otherwise, I don’t know how I would have handled the aftermath."
Chen Chuan said, "You’re too kind, Mr. Meng."
Meng Lai smiled. "We at Fusion Boundary Company have always been clear about rewards and punishments. Mr. Chen serves as our company’s security consultant, yet he still lacks a suitable independent residence. As the company’s head, I cannot let that stand."
He paused, then said sincerely, "The company’s board of directors has decided to award Mr. Chen a detached villa in the Wuding District. I do hope you’ll accept it."
’While I have a dorm in Wuyi, it’s not truly mine. And the apartment my parents left me isn’t suitable to live in right now. A house with reliable security would be convenient. I could also move some of the things I have stored at Wubei’s place over there.’ Chen Chuan considered.
So he didn’t refuse. "In that case, thank you, Mr. Meng."
Seeing his willingness to accept, Meng Lai’s expression relaxed slightly. He then looked at Meng Shu and said, "Ah, Xiaoshu, it’s been a long time since we’ve chatted, just the two of us. Why don’t you stay here tonight?"
Meng Shu said, "Alright, Grandfather."
Chen Chuan could tell Meng Lai had things to discuss privately with Meng Shu, so he didn’t linger. After a few brief words, he excused himself and left.
After he left, Meng Lai’s expression grew serious. He said to Meng Shu, "Xiaoshu, come with me. As the company’s heir, there are some things you must now understand."
Outside, Chen Chuan noticed a message from the Bureau. Seeing it was from Director Wu, he found a deserted, open area and initiated contact.
The call connected after a moment. Director Wu said, "Mr. Chen, I’ve received the reports from you, Old Wan, and Xiaolu. You did an excellent job. Thanks to you, we successfully expelled the entity from the other side without any lingering trouble."
Chen Chuan said, "Director Wu, Meng Huang seemed obsessed with the position of company heir. He came with a clear objective. When he fought me, he kept trying to burrow underground beneath the manor. I don’t know what was drawing his attention so strongly."
Director Wu’s voice was grave. "That might be the very reason he wanted to take control of Fusion Boundary Company. We can roughly deduce it. Although you haven’t participated in the Ring Screen defense, now that you’ve made contact with an entity from the other side, there are some things you need to know. I’ll send you a file shortly. Remember to delete it after you’ve read it.
Also, I will recommend you for a commendation for this operation. However, to prevent any new developments, you’ll need to stay by Meng Shu’s side for the time being. You can return once the situation has stabilized."
Chen Chuan replied, "Understood."
Meanwhile, Meng Lai led Meng Shu out of the reception hall. They went down a corridor, took an elevator to the first basement level, and rode a small tram to the spot where Chen Chuan and Meng Huang had fought not long ago. Aunt Yu was waiting there. She bowed and said, "Master, Miss."
Meng Lai said, "Aunt Yu, please keep watch here."
Aunt Yu said, "Yes, Master."
Meng Lai led Meng Shu through the main door and into the underground tunnel. The two of them passed through the area arranged with the Secret Ceremony without any resistance. This was because they shared the same blood, and as the company’s leader and heir, they were recognized by the ceremony itself.
If Meng Huang had possessed the status of an heir, he too would have been able to enter this place without any restrictions.
When Chen Chuan had entered earlier, the place had been completely empty. Now, however, as the two of them walked in, a long-haired woman with an outstanding figure and perfect proportions was standing there.
Her features were exquisite and her aura gentle and serene. She was so beautiful she hardly seemed real. With her hands clasped at her waist, she smiled and bowed to the two of them. "Master, Miss."
Meng Lai said, "This is Li Ying, the company’s active Consciousness Body."
Meng Shu couldn’t help but glance at the woman. She had heard of this Consciousness Body before but had never seen it.
"Xiaoshu, you must be wondering why the company’s active Consciousness Body isn’t at the company," Meng Lai said with a smile. "I’m the one who had her transported here. Her physical form is down in that biological well up ahead, and she is responsible for protecting my body.
"She is also what Meng Huang was after. If the entity from the other side devoured her, it could remain in this world indefinitely and gain even greater power and knowledge.
"But that goal was destined to fail. The government and the major corporations might tolerate an entity from the other side controlling a company, but they will never again allow an entity that has obtained an active consciousness to emerge."
Meng Shu couldn’t help but read between the lines. ’Tolerating an entity from the other side controlling a company... not allowing another one... Is it because it’s happened before? Or does such an entity exist right now?’
She felt as if she had suddenly learned a great deal. While it was shocking, it didn’t seem quite so important when compared to the collision of worlds.
She glanced at the woman before her. Although she was just an active Consciousness Body, on the surface, she was indistinguishable from a real person. "Grandfather," she said, "so in this whole affair, Li Ying was just bait?"
"Yes and no," Meng Lai said with a smile. "Have you ever considered that if the entity could devour Li Ying, could Li Ying not also devour the entity?"
Meng Shu’s heart couldn’t help but beat a little faster, but her eyes remained as calm as ever.
Meng Lai was very pleased with her reaction. He said leisurely, "Actually, I was the one who provided Meng Huang with the means and the clues to contact the entity from the other side. He just didn’t know it."
Meng Shu finally couldn’t stop herself from looking at him—at her own grandfather.
Meng Lai said nonchalantly, "It’s nothing unusual. Quite a few people are doing it these days. Just as I warned Meng Huang, it’s not that you can’t cooperate with those entities. The key is whether you can control them, rather than being controlled by them."
At this, he sounded genuinely regretful. "But he failed to pass that test. He was not a good candidate to lead the company."
He paused, his expression turning slightly more solemn. "The company’s real plan is to lure and trap an entity from the other side. The purpose of doing so..."
He looked at Li Ying, who stood there smiling, and said, "...is to strengthen our active Consciousness Body. A company’s strength is determined first and foremost by the active Consciousness Body it possesses.
"The Molan Company was forced to withdraw from Central City and regroup in Yangzhi precisely because it lost its active Consciousness Body. But in the end, they still failed..."
He looked gravely at Meng Shu. "Xiaoshu, if we don’t want to end up like the Molan Company, we must have an active Consciousness Body that is powerful enough. Li Ying is the foundation of this company. For the company to survive, any of us can be replaced, but she is irreplaceable.
"Did you know, for the past decade or so, certain people within the Dashun Government and the major megacorporations have been trying to push a bill to classify all active consciousnesses by rank and establish regulations based on that.
"Once this proposal is established, the development of all companies under the megacorporations will be restricted. They will never have the chance to grow stronger or ascend to a higher tier.
"Currently, the Sheni Great Peninsula and the Chiloga Federation are already enforcing this set of rules. There, small and medium-sized companies can never hope to grow or threaten those at the top.
"Within Dashun, the debate is still ongoing. Establishing such rules would help stabilize their rule, but it would also be tantamount to officially recognizing the status of the megacorporations and proactively ceding power to them.
"And Dashun’s main strategy is to suppress the global megacorporations, support small and medium-sized enterprises, and eliminate disobedient companies. This is currently advantageous for us, but if things continue this way, we will forever remain as pawns.
"Therefore, the company must advance. That’s impossible under the normal rules, so we can only resort to more radical methods."
He said with utmost gravity, "Xiaoshu, as the heir, once you take control of the company, you must find a way to continue and execute this strategy."
As they spoke, the two of them gradually approached the biological well.
Meng Lai said, "This is it."
Gazing at the seemingly bottomless entrance, Meng Shu couldn’t help but ask, "Grandfather, what exactly can a strengthened active Consciousness Body do?"
Meng Lai looked at Li Ying, who was walking over, and said slowly, "Many things. The most important, without a doubt, is martial power. And... it can help us open the gate between the two worlds at any time."
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