497: Chapter 497 Organization Building, Gifts from the Chen Family

Chapter 497: Organization Construction and Gift of the Chen Family

Since the name of the Illuminati has already been spread, we can no longer fight independently and act like scattered soldiers as before.

The most urgent task is to settle the issue of the base.

Xiaosa, who stayed behind in Dongdu, handles things very efficiently and sent the detailed information of the two alternative locations a few days ago.

During this period of time, Fang Cheng and the others, aside from assisting Second Young Master Chen Xuan in stabilizing the situation and clarifying the underground forces layout in Cui City and Tiannan Province, spent the rest of their time discussing the charter for the preparation of the Illuminati.

After a briefing meeting last night, Fang Cheng has made the final decision to stop making choices.

Instead, he decided to spend a bit more money to secure both alternative locations, building a layout of "a cunning rabbit has three burrows" in the future.

The first base is the Jinshui Fish Market located in Linggang District.

That place is a famous old urban area, lined with old buildings, with terrain as complex as a labyrinth, and directly adjacent to the port.

Usually, a large number of migrant populations gather there, mixed with people from all walks of life.

Although this kind of place looks chaotic, its advantage lies in its extremely strong concealment and the all-encompassing waterway transportation network.

In summary, it is very suitable to serve as a daily administrative office location and intelligence transit station.

As the saying goes, the greatest hermit lives in the bustling city; setting the main base of the Illuminati there is both down-to-earth and convenient for office work, while also easily deceiving the public eye.

Once an emergency occurs, they can also quickly evacuate through the complex alleys or waterways.

The second base is in the industrial park in the western suburbs of JB District.

There is a textile factory that has been bankrupt for many years. Although it is located in a remote and somewhat desolate place, its advantage is that it comes with an underground air-raid shelter built during the war preparation period back then.

The specifications of that air-raid shelter are very high, with a huge space. Its structure is not only sturdy, but its sound insulation effect is also extremely excellent.

As long as it is slightly remodeled to introduce ventilation and power Systems, it will be the most perfect member training base and strategic material warehouse.

By then, even if they make a big commotion inside, such as practicing high-power skill Moves, or storing some contraband sensitive equipment, they will not need to worry about being detected by the outside world.

One bright and one dark, one internal and one external, they happen to support each other like horns.

With the base established, next is the crucial filling of the organizational structure.

This is also the core topic that Fang Cheng, Professor Ye Zhiren, Lin Chuqiao, and others have repeatedly discussed in recent days.

To fight against a behemoth like the "Utopia", relying solely on reckless bravery will not work; a highly efficient and clearly-divided functional System must be established.

According to the preliminary plan, the Illuminati will first set up three core departments to build the skeleton of the organization.

First is the "Action Department", which is the sharp sword of the organization. Its core functions include executing combat missions, eliminating dissidents, and protecting targets and other key matters.

In terms of personnel composition, it follows the path of combining "core elites" with "periphery wolf packs".

The core combat power is naturally superhuman individuals with special abilities like Fang Cheng and Professor Ye Zhiren, mainly undertaking high-difficulty and high-risk core missions.

Of course, for a sound organization, having core members alone is far from enough; a sufficient number of peripheral auxiliary personnel are also needed as support.

After discussing with Professor Ye Zhiren, Fang Cheng plans to recruit a batch of retired special forces soldiers or civilian Martial Artists with clean backgrounds and a daring spirit to form multiple action squads.

Each core member leads a squad under their command, acting as the tactical core and spiritual pillar of the team.

In this way, they can not only take the lead in overcoming tough obstacles in actual combat, but also utilize the tactical skills of team members to fight in full coordination.

In addition, noble families like the Chen Family and gang societies like the Red Tiger Gang can also be developed into affiliated forces, responsible for handling low-intensity conventional conflicts and various commissioned tasks.

Secondly, there is the "Intelligence Department", which is the eyes and ears of the organization.

Its main functions are to collect the movements of the "Utopia", monitor the reactions of various forces, and establish an information network belonging to the Illuminati.

This aspect requires professional hackers, detectives, and special talents good at disguise and infiltration.

The talent of Bailing will be utilized to the maximum extent here.

She was born with the ability to change her appearance and mimic voices. She can be said to have a thousand faces and is a born ace spy.

However, given her naive and bouncy personality, she can only be used as an agent for the time being and cannot stand on her own.

As for Professor Ye Zhiren, he has a good brain, deep experience, and is well-versed in the unspoken rules of the underground world.

Before finding a suitable candidate for the minister, him being responsible for strategic planning and concurrently serving as the head of the Intelligence Department is currently the optimal solution.

Finally, there is the "Logistics Department", which is the lifeline of the organization.

Its function is not only to manage supplies and equipment, but more importantly, to be responsible for medical treatment, site cleanup, and utilizing social resources to provide members with legal identity cover and legal aid.

This requires someone who is meticulous and adept at social interactions to coordinate, equivalent to the chief steward of the Illuminati.

Lin Chuqiao has a virtuous personality, meticulous mind, and is familiar with the operating rules of noble families, making her most suitable.

As for Pan Wendi, although he looks unreliable, the Pan Family chaebol stands behind him.

It happens that he can hold a nominal position specifically responsible for opening up those special channels that can only be pried open with money and power.

In addition to these three core departments, as the organization grows in the future, functional sectors such as the Finance Department and R&D Department will gradually be added.

The framework is easy to build, but talent is hard to come by.

Currently, the first batch of personnel for the Illuminati can be considered gathered.

Fang Cheng himself, Lin Chuqiao, Professor Ye Zhiren, uncle, Bailing, and Pan Wendi, plus Xiaosa and Xu Hao who stayed behind in Dongdu, all counted, exactly gathered the "Eight Immortals cross the sea".

Although the number of people is not large, the sparrow is small yet possesses all vital organs, and each of them possesses different abilities.

Of course, relying solely on these few people is far from enough.

After returning to Dongdu, they still need to continue looking for reliable manpower, recruiting fresh blood, and gradually enriching the strength of the organization.

However, regarding the recruitment standards, Professor Ye Zhiren, who has experienced painful betrayal, specifically emphasized one point.

In the circle of superhumans, "loyalty" and "reliability" are far scarcer than "ability".

Therefore, the subsequent personnel expansion must never be rushed.

Every proposed recruitment target must undergo strict background checks and a long period of testing.

Better to have deficiency than substandard; absolutely cannot let a single rat dropping ruin the whole pot of soup, nor can they let nails from other forces sneak in.

Aside from these cumbersome official duties, Fang Cheng also did not forget his foundation, Cultivation.

This trip to Tiannan Province made him deeply realize the inadequacy of his own strength.

Although there are skill Breakthroughs and attribute growths, compared to those strong individuals truly standing at the top of this world, he is still more than a tier behind.

After going back, he must persist in a higher-intensity training plan, striving to stack all his physical attributes to the 80-point mark as soon as possible to see if it can trigger a new qualitative change.

In addition, there is the Cultivation on the spiritual level.

Ever since witnessing the "Soul-Devouring Domain" of Xuanzhen and the cross-space divine kingdom projection of the Utopia leader, the desire of Fang Cheng for the "Internal Scenery Manifested Externally" Realm has become increasingly intense.

If he cannot master a similar Domain ability, no matter how strong his Physical Body is, facing such experts who toy with rules and Souls, he may still fall into a passive position.

Especially that "dark Void Realm" in the prophecy of Lin Chuqiao gave Fang Cheng a certain inspiration.

During this period, he also took time to ask Professor Ye Zhiren for advice on spiritual Cultivation Techniques.

It is just that due to cumbersome affairs he could not study it deeply. Once he goes back and settles down, he will further concentrate on studying and trying it.

Thoughts flowed rapidly in his mind, constructing one rigorous blueprint after another.

Fang Cheng gently closed the magazine, temporarily suppressing his many plans deep in his heart.

Then he raised his head, and his gaze swept across the living room.

Professor Ye Zhiren, sitting opposite him, had at this moment taken off those black-rimmed glasses and was slowly wiping them with a flannel cloth.

His movements were unhurried, yet his gaze was cast toward the sparkling lake view outside the window, seemingly pondering something as well.

Lin Chuqiao, in the corner beside them, was softly checking several boxes of Tiannan Province local specialties prepared to be brought back to Dongdu as gifts.

She has always been methodical in doing things, and never perfunctory even in such trivial matters.

She turned a deaf ear to the complaints of Pan Wendi and kept her Focus on the list in her hand.

Just as the patience of Pan Wendi was about to run out and he was about to start complaining again,

Li Dingjian, who had been standing by the window acting as a lookout, suddenly turned his head and said in a deep voice:

"They are here."

As soon as the words fell, a low engine roar faintly came over, rapidly approaching from afar.

Looking through the window, a black bulletproof Rolls-Royce was seen driving past the lakeside road, steadily stopping in front of the carved gate of the villa.

The car door opened, and first two bulky bodyguards dressed in black suits stepped down.

They vigilantly scanned their surroundings, and then respectfully pulled open the back seat door.

Second Young Master Chen Xuan stepped out of the car.

Today, he was wearing an exquisitely tailored dark gray handmade suit, with his hair combed meticulously.

The whole person exuded a brand-new vigor and spirit, already having some majestic bearing of a great Family's helmsman.

But the expression on his face did not have any arrogance; instead, it carried a bit of obvious humility and eagerness.

Behind him, the two bodyguards were not empty-handed, each carrying two oversized silver metal safe boxes.

Seeing the appearance of their arms tensing and veins slightly bulging, the weight of those boxes was obviously not light.

"Let us go, let us see what our 'big financial backer' has brought."

Fang Cheng put down the magazine, slowly stood up, and took the lead in walking toward the door.

A moment later, the villa's front door swung open.

Second Young Master Chen Xuan walked quickly into the living room, and upon seeing everyone who had been waiting for a long time, his face immediately piled up with apologies:

"Mr. Bai, Professor Ye Zhiren, everyone, I am truly sorry!"

"I was delayed for a while on the road due to temporarily transferring goods, making everyone wait for a long time. My fault, my fault."

As he spoke, he bowed deeply, lowering his posture to the extreme, without any airs of being the head of the Chen Family at all.

"You are too polite, Young Master Chen."

Fang Cheng nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping across the four eye-catching safe boxes behind him, and his tone was calm:

"Since you have come, there is no need for excessive courtesy. I wonder if Young Master Chen specifically asked us to stay because there is something urgent?"

"I dare not accept the word 'urgent'; I just have a small token of appreciation, hoping to contribute a meager effort to the Early Stage development of the Illuminati."

Second Young Master Chen Xuan straightened up, tidied his lapels, and then turned around to wave at one of the bodyguards.

"Put it on the table first."

That bodyguard immediately stepped forward, carefully placing a heavy silver safe box flat in the center of the coffee table.

The box body was made of a certain high-strength aviation aluminum alloy, its surface exuding a cold metallic luster, and the four corners were reinforced with anti-collision pads, making it look exceptionally heavy and mysterious.

The living room instantly fell silent.

Pan Wendi stopped the action of chewing the apple and curiously poked his head over.

Bailing also put down her phone, blinking her big eyes and leaning closer.

Even the usually calm Professor Ye Zhiren and Lin Chuqiao had their gazes unconsciously focused on that box.

They were all very curious about what kind of "humble gift" this head of the Chen Family, who had just firmly secured the top spot in Tiannan Province, had actually prepared.

Second Young Master Chen Xuan did not keep them in suspense. He stepped forward, extended his finger to quickly input a string of instructions on the combination lock on the side of the box, and then pressed his thumb on the fingerprint recognition area.

"Beep—"

A crisp electronic sound rang out.

Followed by the subtle hiss of the hydraulic rod starting up.

Click.

The heavy box lid slowly popped open and expanded to both sides.

The moment the scene inside the box was exposed to the air, the originally slightly dim living room seemed to suddenly light up with a high-power spotlight.

There was no earth-shattering Qi fluctuation; there was only a most pure, most secular light that could impact the human retina the most.

That was the brilliance woven from extreme luxury and wealth.

"Hiss—"

I do not know who it was, but someone in the quiet room drew a sharp breath of cold air.

The apple piece in the mouth of Pan Wendi dropped to the floor with a "clatter" sound.

He widened his eyes. As a chaebol young master, at this moment he actually revealed a look of someone who had never seen the world.

Lin Chuqiao and Bailing subconsciously covered their mouths even more, their eyes illuminated brightly—that was a shock originating from female instinct.

Li Dingjian leaned against the window, his originally crossed arms unconsciously dropping down, his Adam's apple rolling slightly.

The hand of Professor Ye Zhiren pushing up his glasses froze in mid-air, a flash of sharp light passing behind his lenses, obviously quickly estimating the value of the things in front of him.

Even Fang Cheng, who had always maintained a calm expression, had his pupils slightly contract after seeing clearly what was inside the box.

He raised his eyelids to look at Second Young Master Chen Xuan standing aside with a full face of smiles and a respectful expression.

This "humble gift"...

Not only is it not humble, but it is rather heavy.

After the box lid was fully expanded, the brilliance within became even more dazzling.

Inside, six exquisite jewelry boxes were neatly stacked.

Each box was made of top-quality little-leaf sandalwood, and the box body was carved with intricate and exquisite dragon and phoenix auspicious patterns, looking expensive at a glance.

These boxes had all been deliberately opened in advance, and the jewelry lying inside was even more dazzling.

Gems as red as coagulated blood were cut into regular teardrop shapes, embedded on platinum necklace bases, exuding a luxurious aura under the lights.

The imperial green jade bracelets, emerald green all over and delicate in texture, were so hydrated as if they were about to drip, as if condensing the freshest emerald color in spring.

In addition, there were a few pink diamonds and cornflower blue sapphires with near-flawless purity, likewise reflecting brilliant and dazzling light.

Every piece was meticulously crafted, and at a glance one could tell it came from the hands of top artisans.

Second Young Master Chen Xuan slightly bowed, raised his hand to signal, with a tone of respect just right:

"These are all gifts offered by our Chen Family. They cannot be counted as rare treasures, but they are also carefully selected tokens of our sincerity."

"Making everyone wait for a long time previously was precisely because we had to transfer these items from warehouses everywhere. Please forgive us, everyone."