"Is this really a secret order?" Chen Zheng grew even more skeptical.

Gongsun Ranyan's smile bloomed like spring flowers as she explained, "Major General Chen, your communicator is no ordinary object. It's an exclusive device of the Dragon's Dive Pavilion with its own independent satellite system, completely eliminating any possibility of intrusion."

"The secret order will be conveyed through this mysterious communicator."

"You knew this all along?" Chen Zheng's gaze fell to the envelope on the ground, his eyes filled with suspicion.

Gongsun Ranyan simply nodded, saying nothing more.

"Then why didn't you tell me earlier?" Chen Zheng asked, looking at her with a hint of dissatisfaction.

Gongsun Ranyan shrugged. As his senior, how could she have warned him? It was like the hard lessons one learns as a college freshman. Do you go back as a sophomore and tell all the new students? It's a process everyone must go through, a part of growing up.

BUZZ! The communicator emitted a crisp hum.

Chen Zheng raised his hand, and the device automatically answered, its screen projecting a soft glow. A 3D projection of the Pavilion Master appeared before Chen Zheng, looking as real as life.

"It's been a while, Major General Chen!" A benevolent smile graced the Pavilion Master's old face.

Chen Zheng stared at the Pavilion Master, a surge of anger welling up inside him. That smile made him want to punch the man.

"Just get to the point!" Chen Zheng snapped with a cold sneer.

Gongsun Ranyan watched Chen Zheng with curiosity. This was the first time she had ever seen someone treat the Pavilion Master with such disrespect. But then, she quickly recalled Chen Zheng's identity—this was the man who had nearly blown up the Imperial Capital!

"Ah... Major General Chen, I was just trying to express my concern for you. Your reaction..." Before the Pavilion Master could finish, his expression froze.

He saw Chen Zheng turn to Gongsun Ranyan and ask, "How do I turn this thing off?"

"Just put it down, and it will shut off automatically," Gongsun Ranyan answered.

Chen Zheng nodded slightly, preparing to put the communicator away. However, the Pavilion Master's voice rang out again. "Wait, I have something to tell you."

Chen Zheng raised the communicator once more and looked at the projection.

The Pavilion Master, no longer joking, grew serious. "Major General Chen, agents of the overseas Ghost Realm have entered our country. They've split into two groups, one in Yun City and the other in Magic Capital."

"What exactly is the Ghost Realm?" Chen Zheng asked curiously.

The Pavilion Master remained silent, while Gongsun Ranyan softly explained from the side.

The Ghost Realm was a powerful organization hidden deep within the oceans. It was similar to a mercenary group but far more mysterious and unpredictable. The identities of its members were as elusive as fog; not even the Dragon's Dive Pavilion could uncover their true nature. The Ghost Realm simply accepted and completed missions. However, their tasks were on a completely different level, far more high-end than anything a common mercenary could ever handle.

After understanding the background of the Ghost Realm, Chen Zheng turned back to the Pavilion Master. "If that's the case, isn't this your Dragon's Dive Pavilion's responsibility? Why come to me?"

It's like I'm being sucked into a vortex I can't escape. He thought. That cunning old fox, always exploiting others for his own benefit.

"You are a pillar of our nation's talent. What's wrong with contributing to the country?" the Pavilion Master said, his brows furrowed tightly. "Major General, that line of thinking is not acceptable."

Chen Zheng cursed angrily, "This is awful! I knew it. As soon as I got that damn Major General's badge, trouble would follow!"

"Alright, enough complaining. You just need to go to the Dragon's Dive Pavilion branch for a while. It's not like you have anything better to do! We have the Ghost Realm's movements under full surveillance, but they haven't done anything to harm society yet, so we have no reason to make a move. At least on paper, they entered Huaxia legally. We can't be too aggressive toward foreigners!"

"What's so special about these people that even the Dragon's Dive Pavilion can't handle them?" Chen Zheng asked, staring at the Pavilion Master's projection.

He knew he had already entered the Heaven Merging Realm, and the Pavilion Master knew it too. Could there really be another Heaven Merging Realm expert among them?

"The members of the Ghost Realm are mysterious enough as it is. If they were ordinary members, our Yun City branch could handle them," the Pavilion Master explained patiently. "However, one of them is suspected to be Li Bu, codename 172 of the Ghost Realm, and his combat power has reached the Heaven Merging Realm!"

Members of the Ghost Realm often went by codenames, which were usually numbers. Only the most famous among them became known by name.

"What's their goal?" Chen Zheng pressed. The arrival of a Heaven Merging Realm expert was no small matter.

"We're trying to track them, but these people are wandering around like aimless travelers," the Pavilion Master said, shaking his head helplessly. He knew they weren't here just for sightseeing, but their true purpose remained shrouded in fog.

"How many of them are there?" Chen Zheng asked.

"Five in Yun City and five in Magic Capital."

Chen Zheng fell into deep thought, trying to piece their movements together, but it felt like an unsolvable puzzle.

"I've said my piece. Are you going to take the post or not?" the Pavilion Master's voice cut in.

[Ding! Congratulations, Host, for successfully triggering a selection task.]

[Choice One: Agree to the Pavilion Master's request. Reward: Dragon's Dive Pavilion +20 Favorability.]

[Choice Two: Refuse. No reward.]

Chen Zheng immediately made his choice. "In that case, I accept," he said softly. "But before I do, I have one question. Will I be compensated?"

The Pavilion Master's face instantly soured. Why would he care about such a trivial amount of money? Yan Shuiyu has a market value of two trillion; how much wealth has that brought him?

He didn't voice these thoughts, however, replying blandly, "Yes. You'll get food, lodging, social security, and other benefits. Your salary will be calculated by the day, with a daily allowance of 200 yuan. If you can hold the post for 30 days, you'll get an additional salary of 5,000 yuan."

Chen Zheng's expression grew even gloomier. "How is that any different from nothing?"

This old guy is completely unwilling to take even the slightest loss.

"If you're unsatisfied, then we can forget it," the Pavilion Master said, and the 3D projection immediately vanished.

Chen Zheng was stunned. I've seen shameless people before, but never someone *this* shameless.

[Ding! Congratulations, Host, for successfully completing the task selection. You have received the following reward: Dragon's Dive Pavilion +20 Favorability.]

"Major General Chen, shall we depart now or rest for a bit?" Gongsun Ranyan's voice was as gentle and tranquil as a spring breeze blowing across a lake.

Chen Zheng looked up from his thoughts. "Just call me Chen Zheng. The title 'Major General Chen' feels too formal. Let's go now. I'm looking forward to seeing what the Dragon's Dive Pavilion branch is like."

Gongsun Ranyan nodded with a smile and invited Chen Zheng into the car.

With Gongsun Ranyan behind the wheel, the car shot out of Yun City like an arrow.

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