Conditions

Section 13: Conditions

Wang Wen had imagined countless scenes of reuniting with the old man.

This was probably his greatest longing after living another life.

He couldn't make the regrets of his previous life again.

With that thought, Wang Wen rubbed his eyes and gave the old man sitting in the chair a broad smile.

The Academy Dean introduced him from the side. "Department Head Gu, this is Wang Wen from our Science Decryption Department. His grades have always been steady, he's friendly, and he gets along well with his classmates..."

The old man raised a hand, cutting him off.

He studied Wang Wen carefully, then suddenly asked with curiosity, "Have we met before?"

Images from the past flashed through Wang Wen's mind, and he shook his head hard.

Even in his previous life, they wouldn't have met until several years later. Naturally, they hadn't encountered each other during this period at The Academy.

"Then that's strange." The old man's expression was odd. "There's a special emotion in your eyes. That's not something someone would have upon meeting a person for the first time. I'm old, but my eyes aren't failing—I trust that I haven't misread it. Tell me, what does this lousy old man have that's more attractive than Team Leader Tong? You've been unwilling to look away ever since you entered."

Tong Xiaolei remained expressionless, though the tips of her ears reddened slightly. She hadn't noticed before the old man said anything, but now that he had mentioned it, she too felt that Wang Wen's behavior was somewhat different from yesterday afternoon.

Still, she classified it as the normal reaction of an ordinary person seeing the Department Head of the First Consortium's Intelligence Department.

Likewise, Wang Wen's answer confirmed her guess.

Hearing the old man's question, Wang Wen pursed his lips, let out a short breath, and smiled. "To meet Department Head Gu of the First Consortium's Intelligence Department in person—I'm deeply honored and unable to contain my emotions."

"You certainly know how to talk." The old man feigned displeasure as he opened the subject. "You dared ask our Intelligence Department one million for information on something below the hundredth floor. You've got quite an appetite."

Wang Wen was far too familiar with the old man's expressions.

Whether he was truly angry or merely pretending, after arguing with him for so many years, Wang Wen could tell at a glance from the corners of his eyes.

At this very moment, in this very place, seeing that expression he had missed for over seven hundred days and nights—even if it was merely a habit the other man revealed unintentionally—Wang Wen could barely restrain his emotions.

Inside the Dean's Office.

Everyone noticed that the room had suddenly fallen silent.

It should have been Wang Wen's turn to speak after the old man finished.

Yet he seemed to have forgotten how to make a sound.

He simply stood there, grinning foolishly while his eyes turned red.

This development caught even the battle-hardened old man off guard.

According to his subordinates' reports, the young man before him should have been a formidable fellow—bold and meticulous. He had wanted to test him and see whether he was worth the Intelligence Department dealing with.

But how had a sentence that wasn't even particularly harsh made him cry?

The old man was confused, but Tong Xiaolei suddenly understood.

She had long suspected that the information he had produced was bought with the life of someone close to him.

Now, he must have run into financial difficulties and had no choice but to sell it off despite the pain.

The Department Head's unintentional words might have struck his sore spot!

The more Tong Xiaolei thought about it, the more certain she became. Then she looked up and saw Wang Wen clearly heartbroken beyond measure, yet still forcing a smile so as not to seem rude.

Lowering her head, she softly told the old man, "Department Head, based on my analysis, this information should be extremely precious to him. It may even have been bought with the life of a close relative, which is why he refused to enter the tower when we tested the information."

The old man pondered. "You're saying he isn't a Tower Climber?"

Tong Xiaolei nodded. "We've checked thoroughly. He's never entered the World Tower."

Every word of his subordinate's report reached the old man's ears. Every wrinkle on his face relaxed, and he made a move that stunned everyone around him.

He beckoned to Wang Wen and said kindly, "Child, come here."

Everyone around them was stunned.

Wang Wen was stunned too.

What happened?

Why would the Department Head of the Intelligence Department show such obvious goodwill toward an ordinary stranger like me?

Is it a trap, or has my identity been exposed?

No! Impossible! No one could know about Reincarnation!

Then what is going on?

Wang Wen inched toward the old man, his mind churning as he desperately analyzed the situation.

Based on what he knew of the old man from his previous life, the man was ruthless toward enemies and had countless methods at his disposal, save for those he considered his own.

If this was a scheme...

What was he after?

The information?

Before Wang Wen could sort out his thoughts.

The old man had already grasped his hand.

He looked at him kindly, patted the back of his hand, and consoled him softly, "You've suffered."

Hearing those words pierce straight into his heart, then seeing the old man's face so close before him, Wang Wen finally broke down.

His entire body trembled as tears the size of beans rolled down his face.

His lips quivered as he used every shred of reason he had to suppress the words that nearly burst from his throat: "Old relic, I missed you so much."

Wang Wen's genuine display of emotion confirmed Tong Xiaolei's analysis in the old man's heart.

Anyone could act, but an emotion so deeply etched into one's bones could not be performed.

He had done intelligence work for decades. If it had been fake, it never would have escaped his eyes.

With that confirmed.

The old man's gaze toward Wang Wen became even more benevolent. In his eyes, Wang Wen's circumstances were just like his own: both had lost loved ones in the World Tower.

They were both pitiful people in this shattered world.

In that case, many things became easier to discuss.

The old man patted Wang Wen's hand again and said amiably, "Don't worry, child. We'll transfer every last cent of the payment for the information to you. If you run into any difficulties in the future, you can contact us too."

Wang Wen looked at the old man's face, took a deep breath, wiped his face, and smiled as he shook his head. "I said it already. Since the Department Head came personally, it's free. There's no need to send me the remaining payment. I spent some of the deposit, and transferring it back and forth would be too troublesome. How about this? I'll give you another piece of information to cover the deposit."

The old man paused slightly. "You have other information?"

Wang Wen nodded. Reluctantly withdrawing his hand from the old man's, he turned to seek the Dean's permission, then used the paper and pen on the table to write several lines.

He tore off the sheet and handed it to the old man.

The old man took the paper, held it farther away, and narrowed his eyes as he read.

The more he read, the graver his expression became.

After reading it several times, he lifted a hand and passed the paper to the subordinates behind him.

Tong Xiaolei, Luo Shan, and the others all leaned in to read it together.

The more they read, the graver the group's expressions became.

At a glance from Tong Xiaolei, several Central Group members quickly stepped up to the table and removed the paper and pen Wang Wen had just used. They even used some kind of instrument to carefully scan the tabletop several times.

They didn't even greet the Dean first.

Of course, the Dean didn't seem to have any objections.

The old man fell silent for a while, then raised his head and told Wang Wen, "The value of this information goes far beyond simply covering the deposit."

Wang Wen nodded. "I know. I have a condition."

The old man frowned, revealing an expression of realization. He leaned back in his chair with a half-smile. "So this is what you've been waiting for. Fine, tell me your condition."

Wang Wen looked around at the Intelligence Department personnel and said slowly, word by word, "My condition is that the Intelligence Department allows me at least one opportunity each week to see Department Head Gu. We can talk, chat, and spend half a day or a full day together. During that time, any official business that needs reporting can wait, and unless it's an especially urgent matter, not too many people can disturb me."

Every person present.

Was collectively petrified.

Their mouths hung wider and wider.

Wang Wen shrugged. "I've already given you the complete information. If you refuse and decide to renege, there's nothing I can do."