Catastrophe Containment Facility
Chapter 491 - 489: Zheng Daqian

Chapter 491: Chapter 489: Zheng Daqian

Chief Investigator Zheng didn’t respond to Wen Wen’s conversation but said, "Let’s put aside what I want to do for a moment, I need to correct you. You should call me Chief Investigator Zheng, Investigation Director Fu is another person, don’t mix us up."

Wen Wen’s expression changed to one of realization as he said, "So, you are the highest authority of the Capital District investigators? I really didn’t expect such a big shot to be paying attention to a small fry like me."

Chief Investigator Zheng shook his head and said, "No, I am only the Deputy Chief Investigator, the Chief Investigator is the highest authority."

"????"

Wen Wen tilted his head, his expression akin to that of a famous meme. If he were wearing Yan Xiu’s mask, there would undoubtedly be a huge question mark on his face.

He really hadn’t expected to encounter such a problem at such a serious time and said impatiently, "Just tell me your name straight away, stop beating around the bush."

Chief Investigator Zheng stroked his beard and said, "My name is Zheng Daqian."

"Alright, Zheng Daqian, what do you plan to do with me?" Wen Wen asked, staring at the white-haired old man with a serious voice.

Originally, Wen Wen was planning to keep his identity concealed for as long as possible.

After all, being a Ranger made many things much more convenient for him.

However, when he absorbed energy from Bai Cang and during his own advancement, he inevitably revealed the aura of the Sanctuary, undoubtedly linking him to the Catastrophe-Level Expert ’Black Cross’.

To continue hiding his identity at this point would just lead to the other party reporting back and then targeting him specifically afterward.

Rather than waiting for them to fully prepare to act against him, it would be better to clarify this matter now and see what the Hunters Association’s attitude toward him truly was.

If they really couldn’t accommodate him, Wen Wen was prepared to defect from the Hunters Association just like Bai Cang!

The contracts of the Hunters Association came with heavy penalties for breach, but as long as the most important clauses weren’t violated, there would be no punishment. Even if he did trigger punishment, Wen Wen could hide within the Sanctuary and avoid it.

Now, Wen Wen’s strength was no longer limited to the Disaster Intermediate Sequence. He had sufficient understanding of the world and had a not insignificant force at his disposal. He no longer needed to rely on the Hunters Association.

The only reason he stayed was that he didn’t dislike it here.

"What I plan to do... that question is indeed challenging," said Zheng Daqian, settling down on a tree root, his expression relaxed as he looked at Wen Wen.

"I came here just to observe, but I never expected you to discover me, so I hadn’t thought about what to do with you."

"However, I think you might as well act as if this never happened."

Wen Wen snorted coldly and said, "Pretending it didn’t happen, that’s easy for you to say. Are you planning to capture me once you are prepared?"

Zheng Daqian rubbed his forehead, seemingly exasperated, and said, "You seem too extreme. We’re not going to take you back and dissect you for this matter. Do you think the Association would treat you as an enemy just because you’re connected to an unidentified Catastrophe-Level Expert?"

"Wouldn’t they?" Wen Wen asked in return, feeling like a snitch by his own actions.

Zheng Daqian chuckled and said, "If it was one of those sinister and strange Catastrophe-Levels, naturally we’d see you as an enemy, but ’Black Cross’ currently has a friendly relationship with the Association."

"The closer your relationship with him, the less likely we are to touch you. We don’t want to push a Catastrophe-Level Expert, who is still somewhat friendly, to the opposition."

Wen Wen twitched the corner of his mouth, then continued to stare with dead-fish eyes at Zhang Daqian, clearly not very convinced by his words. Sweet talk is easy to give, but many things are not that simple.

Seeing Wen Wen’s unmoved demeanor, Zheng Daqian slightly inclined his head and said, "Let me ask you, does the Ranger contract you signed prohibit dealings with other Catastrophe-Level Experts?"

Wen Wen paused for a moment, then shook his head and said, "You and I both know that clauses are just clauses. Bai Cang and others didn’t directly harm the Association’s interests, yet they were deemed threats. I think my threat is probably no smaller than his."

"What kind of threat are you?" Zheng Daqian let out a ptui and said, "The Catastrophe-Level Expert behind you is indeed worth our attention, but you yourself... are not as important as you think you are."

"The ideal of the Hunters Association is to maintain the stability of this world, to drive out the monsters that threaten mankind. Under this ideal, we will unite all forces that can be united, instead of expelling those who are different."

"Do you know that among the eight Judicators of the Association today, there are still three who only have the title and even finding a way to communicate with them is difficult for the Association!"

"Do you know that the Hunters Associations in Yingua District, Dongyou Region, and Aifei Region are actually completely independent organizations under the name of the Association!"

"Do you know that Catastrophe-Level experts are always fighting against something?"

"Do you know... you know none of these things!"

Every question from Zheng Daqian sent ripples through Wen Wen’s heart. Some of these matters he had considered, but many he had never even thought about—secrets beyond his consideration.

He had thought he understood more, but now it seemed he still fell far short.

"The crises faced by the real world are far beyond what you see, and the Inner World is much more complex than you can imagine."

"Legends, fairy tales, literary works—all sorts of horror conjured up in fiction can be found corresponding to realities in the Inner World!"

"Those things you have seen, and even those you have never thought about, are all eyeing this world!"

Wen Wen was silent for a while before asking, "All these things are classified, right? There’s no problem with you telling me?"

"I didn’t want to tell you," Zheng Daqian sighed saying, "but my intuition tells me that if I can’t persuade you this time, it would be difficult to find you again."

"Even if I were to use force, you would surely escape from my grasp. I have no idea how a youngster who hasn’t even reached the Upper Sequence could escape from me, but my intuition has never let me down. That’s why I must make things clear with you here."

"The reason I came to observe you myself is because I want you to become the link between the Hunters Association and ’Black Cross’. We need his strength to get through tough times."

Zheng Daqian looked into Wen Wen’s eyes, his expression very sincere.

Wen Wen stood in place, pondering for a long while before saying, "He will not obey your orders, nor will He appear before you."

Seeing Wen Wen’s expression, indicating that his resolve to leave was no longer so firm, Zheng Daqian said with a sense of relief, "That’s okay, our demands are not high."