"Yesterday, when Nie He took people to the Hu Family's [Ultrabirth Research Institute], he certainly showcased the might of the number one super hunter."
Qing Ruyan, now the "Grand Steward" of the General Bureau, was well-informed about various matters.
Nie He, capable of ruthlessly killing several senior members of [Flame Ascendancy] for the sake of investigation, was obviously not a saint. Facing the researchers at the [Ultrabirth Research Institute], he had frightened them out of their wits.
Chen Gu smiled faintly, "After all, he's at the Eighth Energy Level." Then he asked, "When will he join us?"
"At four in the afternoon, we will have our first meeting with everyone at the designated hotel."
"What about the bureau, will the Director-General personally come?"
Qing Ruyan chuckled, rolling her eyes at him, "Wishful thinking. No matter how you look at it, this is your personal matter. The Director-General is so busy; how could he possibly make a trip just for you?"
After pausing for a moment, she added, "The one coming is Senior Rainbow."
Also being at the Eighth Energy Level, along with himself, handling Nie He shouldn't be much of an issue.
But Qing Ruyan warned, "Don't be careless, Nie He's subordinates are all formidable in their own right, also high-powered professionals. They have followed Nie He for many years and share life-and-death bonds."
Chen Gu nodded.
At this time, those from the special action squad were somewhat lacking. Even though most of them had promising futures, their current energy levels were still too low.
Chen Gu thought for a moment and gave Mr. Gong Shuxu a call. Since Chen Gu had grown up, the old man shifted his work focus to the multi-professional plan, residing at the base for long periods, overseeing the training of the young talents.
Gong Shuxu readily agreed.
Still feeling it was not entirely secure, Chen Gu pondered and decided to call Chen Jixian: "Come over in the afternoon."
Chen Jixian coldly asked, "For what?"
"Some matters requiring manpower."
"Why should I?" Chen Jixian retorted bluntly, and Chen Gu abruptly hung up the phone. Chen Jixian raised his eyebrows, almost cursing.
Never mind, in light of him recently helping Chen Zili, he'll repay the favor and go over in the afternoon.
...
Chen Gu had called over two helpers and was contemplating whether to find more people when Bai Yunpeng called: "How did you get entangled with Nie He?"
Chen Gu chuckled, "Even you know?"
"Nie He wants to rent the military fleet, and he approached one of my generals." Chen Gu was reassured he didn't need to find more people.
"It's a long story..." Chen Gu briefly explained the situation, and Bai Yunpeng snorted, "Alright, I understand. I'll have my subordinates cooperate with you. Does a hunter think he's somebody special, centering such a big project around himself? Dream on."
Chen Gu thanked him, feeling in a good mood as he hung up, and said to Qing Ruyan, "Let's go, find a place, I'll treat you to a grand meal."
"Sure!"
...
The "Cloud Palace" hotel, ranked among the top ten hotels on Capital Star, typically maintained its prestige by regularly hosting important guests or grand award ceremonies.
Ordinary noble guests would no longer be received with much ceremony.
However, this afternoon, the concierge suddenly received a notification that extremely important guests would be visiting, requiring utmost care and diligence in hospitality.
The use of the term "care and diligence" by the supervisor made the matter seem exceptional. Generally, when big celebrities came, the requirement was merely "grand."
"Who exactly is coming?" The concierge manager took charge personally, donned in formal attire, standing at the door to welcome them.
Then he was stunned to find that today's guests were all... punctual. Before four o'clock, not a single person showed up in the prepared small conference room. Once the clock struck four, one magnetic levitation car after another pulled up almost simultaneously outside the hotel entrance.
Nie He himself exuded an extraordinary aura, and though the concierge manager was used to seeing bigwigs, he still felt dwarfed next to Nie He.
Not to mention those four who got off the car with him, who equally carried distinguished auras, giving the manager immense pressure, causing his old waist and knees to involuntarily buckle.
Typically, the so-called pressure from big figures was psychological.
But for high-energy level professionals like Nie He, this pressure was both psychological and physical, though the manager couldn't differentiate it at the moment.
He cautiously led Nie He and others inside.
Chen Gu and military personnel got off the car behind, subtly smiling at Nie He's mannerisms. From another car, people from the Qiao Family and Shangguan Family emerged.
Qiao Shuangmu sauntered up, giving Chen Gu a sly smile and whispered, "That guy wants to control the whole situation."
The Qiao Family and Shangguan Family each brought a high-powered strongman, and their involvement this time was primarily participatory, especially the Qiao Family, fulfilling a promise Chen Gu had made to Rainbow earlier.
Qiao Shuangmu remarked, "Both are at the Seventh Energy Level, our family's old consecrators, here to support you."
Chen Gu nodded but said nothing more. Qiao Shuangmu was well aware that in this operation, the interests of the Qiao Family and the Shangguan Family were tied to Chen Gu.
They needed Nie He's experience but didn't really want Nie He to control the whole situation. Controlling the whole situation would mean having the power to allocate the benefits.
The manager of the reception department followed Nie He away, leaving his subordinates in a tough spot, seeing these people who came afterward. They were all big shots, particularly the person in the military uniform with the general's insignia on their shoulder!
Such a figure, yet they were courteous in front of that young man.
"Please wait, our President will be here soon..." Of course, these people required a host with sufficient status, so the subordinates were jittery.
Chen Gu gently waved his hand: "No need, just take us inside."
"Alright, alright." The subordinates didn't dare say more, leading the group inside.
Though it was a "small" conference room, every aspect of its facilities was top-notch—just slightly smaller in size.
Nie He unabashedly took the main seat, noticing Chen Gu and the others come in without even standing up, merely nodding his head slightly in acknowledgment.
After smoothly taking their seats, Nie He opened his mouth and barely said "Gentlemen," before being interrupted by Chen Gu raising his hand: "Sir Nie He, we need your cooperation in investigating a case before discussing collaboration."
Nie He's expression changed instantly, as his subordinates beside him gave Chen Gu unfriendly stares.
Qiao Shuangmu and Shangguan Yuxie were laughing internally, each discreetly giving a thumbs-up under the table.
As expected from Captain Chen, starting with a confrontation to gain control by suppressing Nie He!
They thought this was Chen Gu's intention, an impressive move. This was for everyone's benefit, so their two families certainly supported it with both hands.
Nie He chuckled coldly: "Does the Bureau of Mystic Security want to interrogate me? Has Aviloya arrived? If it's not her, who in the entire Bureau is qualified to interrogate me?"
Nie He almost said outright, without the Ninth Power Level, what can you do to me?
Rainbow lazily sat to the side, yet a faint aura emanated from inside, real Eighth Energy Level!
Chen Gu also smiled sincerely: "I actually feel that I have the qualification!"
Unfolding "The Past of Four Hundred People," Chen Gu too could exert the Eighth Energy Level's combat power.
Compared to Rainbow, Chen Gu was more direct, his aura fully unleashed, enveloping the entire conference room.
Nie He snorted coldly: "At this level of combat, numbers don't necessarily provide an advantage."
Chen Gu nodded: "You're quite right, Sir. Why don't we find a training ground, where I seek your guidance, before talking about the case?"
Nie He stared intently at Chen Gu, the smile on Chen Gu's face also vanished, emanating a powerful confidence from inside and out.
Between the two, it seemed an unseen force was intertwining, probing each other.
Within the small conference room, it fell silent, dead still for a good ten seconds, then a dazzling electric light burst out above the long conference table between them. The tension between them gradually dissipated, and they tacitly withdrew their power.
Nie He looked at the general from the military, who timely said: "Captain Chen has communicated with me. It's a small case, just a few questions. It can hardly be called an interrogation. Why not cooperate, as a show of sincerity in collaboration?"
Nie He's subordinates suddenly stood up, Chen Jixian had been standing coldly behind Chen Gu, fully displeased.
At this moment, he suddenly flared up, with his eyelids sharply raising, coldly staring across.
Nie He gently held down his subordinates, calmly saying: "To show sincerity? Of course, that's not a problem. What small case requires the Special Action Team and a Deputy Director from the Bureau to bother with? Tell me, but I can't guarantee I'll answer."
Chen Gu straightforwardly asked: "Regarding the 'Flame Ruckus' case, you killed several of them. What are you looking for?"
Nie He paused, deeply looking at Chen Gu before saying: "So it's this matter, having been brought up again after all these years by the Bureau."
"Another case got tangled up with the 'Flame Ruckus', and upon investigation, I found your involvement. I have this little quirk—when investigating a case, I take it to the bitter end, leaving no doubt unresolved."
"Ha." Nie He gave a meaningful cold laugh, deeply looking at Chen Gu: "Curiosity can sometimes bring unforeseen trouble upon yourself. That item involves some very dangerous figures. Are you sure you want to know?"
Chen Gu chuckled: "I'm just not afraid of troubles."
Nie He leaned back against the chair, seemingly indifferent with arms spread: "Alright then, I'll tell you. Don't regret it."
Chen Gu raised a hand, gesturing attentively.
Nie He's subordinates still wore somber expressions. They understood no matter how their boss used rhetoric to cover the embarrassment, it couldn't hide the fact he was coerced by Chen Gu into confessing.
Yesterday, he was still directing events at the "Life Research Institute," today he's caught under the eaves.
Today's events—all within Chen Gu's prediction. The news of a super-life was merely to lure Nie He out. But Nie He was seasoned, so the information had to be real, otherwise, Nie He wouldn't bite.
Yet as long as Nie He fell for this "lure the snake out of its hole" tactic and came to the Capital Star, he wouldn't have a choice—this was the Bureau's main stage. Even without the principal and Aviloya stepping out, just Chen Gu alone could make Nie He compromise to confess, let alone with Rainbow.
"What I'm looking for is... Celestial Number 00-00!"
Rainbow and Gong Shuxu scoffed together: "You actually believe that thing truly exists?"
Nie He gave them a hostile glance: "I'm at the Eighth Energy Level. Do you think I would believe without seeing evidence of its existence myself?"
Rainbow and Gong Shuxu's expressions became solemn, Qiao Shuangyi quietly inquired with the old patron beside him: "Does Celestial Number 00-00 have any particular significance?"
The old patron's expression was incredibly complex: "All professionals regard it as merely a legend, the earliest numbered artifact, considered the source of all professions and abilities!"
