Lu Chengchuan went for the three men on the left first. Like a tiger among sheep, he needed only one move. The man he struck instantly clutched his stomach in agony and collapsed to the ground.
With them taken care of, only three men remained facing Lu Chengchuan.
"Where did this kid come from? He's this strong... Director Zhang, where did you find him?"
The spectators behind them could not clearly follow Lu Chengchuan's movements either. All they saw was him swing his arm, sending the soldiers who surrounded him flying. Then his body flashed about as soldiers fell one after another. The entire process took less than half a minute.
Wang Xinghan had served in the military for many years, yet this was his first time seeing someone this fierce. At first, he had disliked Lu Chengchuan's arrogance. But now that he saw the enormous gap between the two sides, even ten men seemed too few.
Watching their comrades get casually taken down, the Special Operations Battalion soldiers were no longer angry.
Just as Wang Xinghan turned to ask Zhang Chengyan, Lu Chengchuan knocked another man to the ground. Zhang Chengyan did not answer, his eyes fixed on Lu Chengchuan. When Wang Xinghan turned back, he saw another soldier fall. Only one soldier remained standing.
Seeing Lu Chengchuan approach, then looking at his comrades on the ground clutching their stomachs, the soldier would have been lying if he said he was not afraid. Even if they were not dead, they certainly would not be feeling good. But people surrounded him, and the general was watching from nearby. He could only muster his courage and charge.
"Come on!"
The soldier roared and activated his Esper ability, his body changing from flesh and blood into a man of stone.
Lu Chengchuan stepped forward and threw another punch, landing squarely on the soldier's chest. The soldier could not resist at all and was sent flying with a single blow, his body reverting to normal.
Out of ten men, not one had been able to withstand even a single exchange with Lu Chengchuan.
The soldiers lay on the ground, unable to rise. Lu Chengchuan turned toward Wang Xinghan, who stood at the front, and jogged over in a few strides.
"General Wang, can we end this match now?"
"Kid, why do I feel like you didn't even use any strength? Are my men really that weak?" Wang Xinghan's expression was unpleasant.
It was not because of Lu Chengchuan, but because his own men had lost far too quickly.
He had originally intended to teach Lu Chengchuan a lesson and curb his arrogance. Instead, Lu Chengchuan had not lied at all. He really could take on ten Espers, and he crushed them with ease.
"I wouldn't know about that. The match is over. Director Zhang, shall we find somewhere to talk?" Lu Chengchuan did not want to waste time. Right now, he only wanted to get his hands on those two martial arts manuals.
Seeing his impatience, Zhang Chengyan stepped forward. "Old Wang, check whether they're all right first. I still have matters to handle, so I'll be leaving."
Wang Xinghan wanted to keep them, but Zhang Chengyan led his people away immediately. Lu Chengchuan also turned and left without the slightest reluctance.
The Investigation Bureau group returned to the office building, and Zhang Chengyan brought Lu Chengchuan and Zhou Yaning back to his office.
"Just how strong are you?" Back in the office, Zhang Chengyan could not help asking the question.
Whether it was Chang Hao or the men from the Special Operations Battalion, Lu Chengchuan had dispatched them all quickly. No one could gauge his true strength at all. Zhang Chengyan was extremely curious, as was everyone who had seen it.
"Director Zhang, that isn't important. Where are the martial arts manuals you promised me?"
"How is that not important? I think it's very important. Less than a month ago, you were still a patient lying in a hospital waiting to die. Look at yourself now—you've even developed Inner Energy. Do you really think I wouldn't be curious?"
Lu Chengchuan's words finally made him unable to hold back any longer, and he laid everything out on the table.
Did Lu Chengchuan think the Investigation Bureau did nothing but eat? On the very first day, they had investigated him from top to bottom. From childhood to adulthood, they had dug up everything with a record.
A sickly man who had been ill for years had suddenly become a powerful martial artist. Only an idiot would think nothing had happened in between. Did Lu Chengchuan think the Investigation Bureau was so easy to fool?
Of course Lu Chengchuan did not think the Investigation Bureau was easy to fool. In fact, he had long expected them to investigate him. He simply had not expected them to confront him about it only now.
This sort of thing was easy to investigate. He had spent years in the hospital; they only needed to check his medical records to find out.
"Mr. Lu Chengchuan, can you give me an explanation?" Zhang Chengyan continued.
He wanted a reasonable explanation. Lu Chengchuan had thought of a few excuses as well. Looking at the expressionless Zhang Chengyan, he slowly said, "I don't know either. That day, my body became feverish. After I slept, my illness was cured."
"After that, monsters appeared, and now Espers have appeared. To be honest, I don't understand it either."
He absolutely could not reveal the system. Lu Chengchuan stuck to this explanation. He did not know why; he attributed everything to that strange change.
Monsters and Esper abilities had never existed before. Now all sorts of strange things had emerged. It was not impossible for his illness to be cured and for him to become a 'martial arts genius.'
Zhang Chengyan said nothing. He felt that explanation was far from believable, but looking at Lu Chengchuan's calm face, he wanted to say something yet did not know what to say.
Lu Chengchuan was not his subordinate, and he was quite powerful. If Zhang Chengyan pressed too hard, he might push him to the opposing side.
That was not an outcome he wanted to see. The world was unsettled now, and he did not want to gain another powerful enemy.
Zhang Chengyan sighed silently. The feeling of things being beyond his control was unpleasant. He had not felt it in a long time, but there was nothing he could do.
He walked to his desk and took two blue-covered books from a drawer. "These are the martial arts manuals you wanted. They're copies, so take them home and read them yourself."
Lu Chengchuan took the manuals. Zhang Chengyan sat down. "Let's talk about the future."
"What future?" Lu Chengchuan sat down as well.
"Monsters keep appearing, and there are more and more Espers. Some people's thoughts have begun to change too. In the past, and even now, the country can maintain domestic stability through its institutions of force. But what about later?
"When monsters and Espers become more numerous and stronger, how will social stability be guaranteed?"
Zhang Chengyan was looking far ahead. There were many urgent matters before them, but what lay ahead would be no easier.
"Don't you have yourselves? You have Espers too, and so many weapons." Lu Chengchuan could not think that far ahead. He only wanted to find monsters to extend his life and continue growing stronger.
Zhang Chengyan shook his head slightly. He had considered those things, but there was always the possibility of the unexpected.
"The world isn't that simple. There will always be people who don't want to join the system, like you. If I invited you to join the Investigation Bureau right now, would you agree?"
With the question directed at himself, Lu Chengchuan considered it carefully before shaking his head. "You're right. I still prefer being freer. I don't like places with too many rules."
"You're one of the better ones. At least you have no intention of harming society. But some people want the power of life and death over others, with no regard for human lives at all." Zhang Chengyan was deeply troubled.
Some Espers truly did not see others as people. Once they gained power, they wanted to oppress others. Several Espers were already locked up in prison, and some matters needed serious thought.
"Then what future are you thinking about?" Lu Chengchuan could not make sense of it, so he asked.
"I want to cooperate with you. The kind of cooperation that lasts a long time."
After hesitating for a while, Zhang Chengyan voiced his idea.
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