Scarlson was silent for a moment, then sat up in the stone chest. He looked at his left arm and found that it had fully recovered.
After days without moving, his muscles and mutated tissue were still somewhat slack and thin, but as his conscious attention settled on them, they filled out and grew strong almost in the blink of an eye.
Chen Chuan knew that the investigation was still his greatest concern. He said, "If I'm not mistaken, Mr. Scarlson, you used yourself as bait this time?"
Scarlson did not conceal his intentions. "Yes," he admitted. Then he added apologetically, "I'm sorry, Mr. Chen. I dragged you into this as well."
"It's all right," Chen Chuan said. "Protecting the World Ring is a duty shared by every nation. Still, I'd like to remind you of something, Mr. Scarlson: the International Investigation Group can't do without you yet. Losing you would be a loss to the group."
"My power is limited," Scarlson said gravely. "All I can do is draw more attention to this and get people with enough influence to push it forward and resolve it."
Chen Chuan nodded. Although he did not think this was a particularly good approach, it was indeed an effective way to break the deadlock without international intervention.
"Your leader, Mr. Mataiola, sent a telegram to me and your colleagues. He said he would come in person if necessary. I can also tell you, Mr. Scarlson, that the Da Shun Delegation will support you this time."
Hearing this, Scarlson said solemnly, "Thank you."
Chen Chuan knew that those words were less an expression of gratitude for rescuing him than for supporting the investigation.
In this man's eyes, no more breaches could be allowed to appear in the World Ring. Whether he himself could ultimately