Chapter 308 - 28: The Person Behind the Corporate Giant (2)

"My Fifth Team can also be transferred to Leader Lu. If you need any more manpower, we will cooperate fully," Yao Jin added, subtly changing her form of address.

Lu Chao smiled and thanked her, not refusing the offer.

He was already familiar with the members of the Fifth Team. If he could continue to lead and command them, he would naturally trust them more, and it would also reduce the time wasted on getting acclimated.

And just like that, in a few short words, his future at the Superpower Bureau was decided.

Soon, Ji Lixian spoke up again, promising him softly, "You don’t need to worry about the Tan family."

"Although I’m just passing through Red Maple this time, I will get you a proper resolution for this matter."

He spoke calmly. The tea on the table before him was still steaming lightly.

The atmosphere in the room seemed to fall silent at his words, and the last of Lu Chao’s doubts completely vanished.

"Thank you, Mr. Ji."

He cupped his fist in thanks, accepting his help.

The man was clearly not a conservative who simply wanted to keep the peace. It was a reassuring stance.

Besides, with him stepping in, even one of the old founding families would have to bow their heads.

After a bit more casual conversation, Ji Lixian waved his hand.

Li Junyi and Yao Jin glanced at each other. Though confused, they didn’t ask any questions and left the room together.

Suddenly, only the two of them remained in the room. Lu Chao could tell the atmosphere had shifted, but he didn’t sense any malice.

As he wondered, he saw Ji Lixian look at him, his gaze bright and serious. "Your explosive Secret Technique is quite unique. It’s enough to double your combat strength, and you’re very proficient with it."

"I imagine it wasn’t taught to you by your master, was it?"

As soon as the words fell, Lu Chao’s expression tightened.

’I was careless.’

He had used "Adrenaline" when dealing with Tan Yue, and it was obvious the man had noticed something.

It wouldn’t have been a problem for an ordinary person, but he had been under close watch by the Biotechnology Company recently.

In other words, ’Perhaps Mr. Ji has already guessed something about my past?’

"It was a chance discovery I made after arriving in the Red Maple City Circle."

Lu Chao said softly, offering an excuse. He wasn’t sure what the man’s intentions were in suddenly bringing this up.

The two of them locked eyes, and the room became exceptionally quiet.

After a few seconds, Ji Lixian said, "I’ve investigated this Ruan Hui."

His tone shifted, and his expression became calm again. As if consoling him, he said, "He violated Alliance laws multiple times, hunted scavengers in the wilderness, and committed numerous crimes within the city circle."

"Speaking of which, his death could be considered well-deserved."

Lu Chao remained silent, not offering a careless reply.

The reflection in his perception was completely calm. Even with the Fixed Star Observation Method, he couldn’t perceive the man’s emotions.

The Life Energy data from his intuition was still a question mark.

The strength of the fastest man in the Alliance surpassed his imagination. His Life Energy was at least over two hundred, and he was very likely beyond the Superpower Three Gates.

"But before all this, he was always safe and sound."

"Do you know why that is?"

Ji Lixian suddenly asked, even taking the initiative to pour him a cup of hot tea.

Hearing this, Lu Chao pondered for a moment before answering tentatively, "Is it because of his background?"

"You could say that, more or less."

Ji Lixian shook his head gently, a complex look appearing in his eyes.

"Even the Superpower Bureau has to remain silent sometimes, because the time isn’t right to make a move on certain matters."

"And behind some people stand behemoths that even the Alliance Country must respect."

His words were pointed, and Lu Chao understood the implication.

’Is he talking about Ruan Yongheng?’

’Or more accurately, Ruan Hui’s mother... or even the Biotechnology Company?’

"In every city within the Alliance City Circle, you can find the presence of the Five Major Enterprises."

"Perhaps in the Red Maple City Circle, they don’t compare to the old founding families and the City Lord’s Mansion, but across all of Earth Star, besides the Alliance Country and the Rebels, no one can match them."

Ji Lixian took a sip of tea as he spoke, his tone like a well-intentioned reminder.

Lu Chao finally figured out the man’s attitude.

Clearly, his connection to the Ruan Hui affair had been more or less figured out, but Ji Lixian just hadn’t exposed him.

"So, Mr. Ji, are you saying there are other people behind the Five Major Enterprises?"

Lu Chao asked curiously, sensing there was more to it.

The Five Major Enterprises were rooted throughout the entire Alliance Country, but that alone shouldn’t be enough to make this descendant of a Starry Sky Hero sigh with such gravity.

The only explanation was...

Nodding, Ji Lixian pointed toward the sky outside the window.

Lu Chao’s gaze grew heavy. He finally understood the true weight of the Five Major Enterprises.

They were powerful enough to be a headache for the Alliance Country, demanding sufficient respect.

The answer was obvious. There was only one possibility.

Forces from beyond Earth Star.

"Extraterrestrial civilizations..."

...

「Dusk.」

Lu Chao left the Superpower Bureau building with a heavy heart and returned home.

The information Ji Lixian had shared put him under pressure once again.

A Superpower Level expert was certainly powerful, but not invincible.

As one of the Five Major Enterprises, the Biotechnology Company had branches in many city circles, each overseen by a Superpower Level expert. One could only imagine their deep resources.

What’s more, certain extraterrestrial forces were looming behind them.

’I have to get even stronger.’

Lu Chao thought to himself, standing by the window and exhaling a long breath.

Reaching the Superpower Level was just a new beginning. After crossing the hundred-point threshold, there were still higher steps to climb.

He thought of Ji Lixian.

Although the Five Major Enterprises were a handful, by contrast, not a single faction on Earth Star dared to disrespect him.

This was a powerful demonstration of individual strength.

If he could pass the Superpower Three Gates and break through to a higher level, this pressure would naturally vanish in an instant.

Thinking of this, Lu Chao looked at the coffee table in front of him.

On it sat a special glass bottle, as thick as a fist and as long as a palm.

The liquid inside was a bright yellow, like amber, and for some reason, it stirred a strong urge within him to consume it.

Energy Mineral Essence

Quality: Elementary

Effect: A mineral essence created by compressing Biological Energy using a special method and fusing it with high-grade mineral elements. Consumption by a Superpower Level expert has a certain chance of increasing Life Energy...

The information from his intuition flashed through his mind, and a fervent glint appeared in Lu Chao’s eyes.

This was an advance on his benefits as a Superpower Team leader—a vial of the legendary energy mineral essence.

A true elementary-quality resource, it was a nutritional substance used specifically by Superpower Level experts for cultivation and replenishment, with an extremely high energy absorption rate.

It wasn’t available on the open market. Only factions like the Superpower Bureau and the Five Major Enterprises had small internal quotas.

Even on the black market, it only appeared occasionally, with rumors saying a single bottle was worth at least a million Alliance Coins.

’My choice was the right one, after all.’

Picking up the energy mineral essence, Lu Chao nodded to himself.

The benefits for a Superpower Team leader were extremely generous, with resource provisions worth at least tens of millions annually.

This included a high salary of three million Alliance Coins per year and a monthly resource allocation of at least five Senior-Level Nutritional Potions and one bottle of energy mineral essence.

You would also passively accumulate two thousand contribution points each month. Additionally, you could choose one Superpower Level Martial Arts discipline for free, gain high-level access to the internal network, and use contribution points to redeem most high-level resources. These resources included Superpower Knowledge like Martial Skills, potions, and cybernetic modifications, as well as battle armor, Fighting Weapons, Nutritional Potions, and more.

Even energy mineral essence could be redeemed, as long as one had enough contribution points and merits.

With these thoughts flashing through his mind, Lu Chao no longer hesitated.

Twisting off the cap of the energy mineral essence, he drank it down with an expectant look in his eyes.

GULP! GULP!!

The taste was rather cloying and slightly cool.

But once the energy mineral essence was in his stomach,

Lu Chao’s eyes narrowed. He felt a violent medicinal power surge in his lower abdomen, followed by a searing heat.

It felt like it was scorching his stomach and intestines as it crazily drilled into every cell of his body.

Its effect far surpassed that of a Senior-Level Nutritional Potion, at least several times stronger, and the nutrient absorption was clearly much easier.

In an instant, as "Plunder and Grow" activated, Lu Chao immediately calmed his mind and adjusted his breathing.

Within a few breaths, he assumed a stance from the Golden Stone Fighting Skill and began to digest the medicinal power, guiding the energy to his limbs and bones.