Chapter 276: Answering the Call, but Not the Summons

The Celestial God Sect had operated in the grasslands for decades. Its power was deep-rooted and complex, long entangled with local organizations. It was not a force that could be easily shaken.

Chen Erbao had been looking for a worthy opponent, and now that he'd found one, he certainly wouldn't let the opportunity slip by.

After Hua Yueqing readily agreed, she once again brought up the matter of him joining the Security Bureau.

"Mr. Chen, if you don't want to be tied down, you can join our Security Bureau as an honorary consultant. You'd serve when called, but not be commanded. With your level of strength, you would be a standout even among the Bureau's top directors. I hope you'll consider it."

'Serve when called, but not be commanded?'

'Isn't that just like Erlang God?'

Chen Erbao was tempted and began to weigh the pros and cons.

The benefits of joining the Security Bureau were obvious. Doing business in China, he was bound to offend people. Having the Security Bureau's backing would certainly be more effective than relying on Medicine King Hall.

As his own conglomerate grew, Chen Erbao figured it might eventually clash with Medicine King Hall. Therefore, he needed to find another powerful backer.

But there were drawbacks, too. Even with the 'serve when called, but not be commanded' arrangement, he would still have to contribute now and then. Not doing so would be a matter of face.

"Let me think about it. I'll give you an answer in a few days."

Hua Yueqing was overjoyed to hear that Chen Erbao hadn't rejected the offer outright.

"Of course! Just give me a call when you've made up your mind!"

After returning yesterday, she had reported the full details of the battle at the Steel Mill to her superiors. The higher-ups had only one response: they had to find a way to get Chen Erbao to join the Security Bureau!

First, letting a young Grandmaster of such immense power wander freely was like having a ticking time bomb on their hands. If Chen Erbao ever got into a large-scale conflict in a crowded urban area, the resulting damage would be incalculable.

Second, a Grandmaster so young and formidable was an absolute rarity. If he were to be poached by foreign powers, the loss would be far too great.

The higher-ups at the Security Bureau had even discussed the idea of having Hua Yueqing use a honey trap. According to their background check, Chen Erbao seemed to have close relationships with many women...

Hua Yueqing, of course, was not keen on the idea, but her superiors were insistent. If Chen Erbao truly refused to join, she might actually be forced to resort to a honey trap.

Of course, Chen Erbao had no idea how much effort the Security Bureau was expending to recruit him. Right now, all he wanted was to quickly gather the Spirit-Containing Objects, return to Hongyuan City, and begin boldly building his business empire.

After he had cleaned out two Gambling Stone Factories the day before, all the factory owners in Banna District knew that a Master of Gambling Stones had arrived from the mainland. They were all incredibly nervous, terrified that Chen Erbao would show up at their shops.

When Chen Erbao arrived at the third Gambling Stone Factory with Wenwen and Xiaoqian, the owner approached him directly.

"Sir, whatever raw stones you need, I'll give them to you. I just hope you'll go easy on me!"

The man's plea left Chen Erbao unsure whether to laugh or cry. But since the owner had come forward personally, he couldn't be too ruthless. He selected five or six Spirit-Containing Objects from the regular section, tossed down about a million yuan, and left under the man's pained gaze.

By evening, Chen Erbao was finally back at the hotel.

Over the course of the afternoon, they had visited four or five Gambling Stone Factories. Every owner who saw him had the same opening line: take what you want, just don't go overboard.

This saved Chen Erbao a significant amount of time.

After spending nearly eight million yuan, Chen Erbao did a quick calculation. He had now gathered twenty-seven or twenty-eight Spirit-Containing Objects!

This was more than enough for both the branch factory and the planting base on the back mountain.

With one major task complete, Chen Erbao breathed a sigh of relief. He had the Vienna Hotel book him a flight for the next day, and that evening, he brought Wenwen and Xiaoqian, and invited Xia Qingxue to join them for dinner at the hotel.

The hotel had prepared a large, sumptuous feast, most of which consisted of famous local delicacies from the Banna District.

He particularly enjoyed the mushroom hot pot broth, exclaiming with satisfaction as he drank it.

It contained not only a variety of wild mushrooms, but also an assortment of precious medicinal herbs. Chen Erbao even spotted wild Ganoderma!

Putting aside its exquisite flavor, the price of this meal alone was likely beyond what most people could imagine.

Only someone like him, who had a deposit of several million with the Vienna Hotel, could receive such hospitality.

Two head chefs and the hotel manager stood by, thoughtfully explaining the origin and ingredients of each dish for Chen Erbao and his companions.

"Mr. Chen, would you care for some drinks?"

the manager asked with a smile.

Chen Erbao was in an excellent mood. With a grand wave of his hand, he said, "Get them a bottle of red wine. I'll have the strong stuff!"

"Right away! One bottle of Romanée-Conti Red Wine, and bring a bottle of Maotai!"

the manager said into his walkie-talkie.

A moment later, the two bottles were brought to the table. The sweet notes of the red wine and the mellow fragrance of the Maotai intertwined, filling the air with a rich aroma.

They all raised their glasses and clinked them together gently.

Wenwen and Xiaoqian were also thrilled, feeling fortunate to have come on this trip with Chen Erbao.

Not only had they witnessed the spending power of a truly wealthy man, but they had also each earned around a million yuan for themselves.

Wenwen had just been hoping to earn some money on the side, but now her four years of university and even the next ten years of her life were financially secure. Xiaoqian felt even more grateful.

Once she got back, she could finally break free from the fat man who was keeping her...

If that fat man knew this would be the outcome, he would surely regret lending his secretary to Chen Erbao.

Wenwen may have slept with Chen Erbao, but she had done so willingly.

'She knew it was impossible for Chen Erbao to truly fall for her. Setting aside everything else, Xia Qingxue, who sat right beside him, completely overshadowed her in terms of looks. Just her cold, aloof aura was enough to make Wenwen feel inadequate and plain.'

'Compared to that woman's cool aura and stunning figure, her own cute face was nothing!'

After one toast, both of the young women's faces were flushed bright red.

Xia Qingxue, on the other hand, was fine. As a Half Step Grandmaster, she could control her blood flow to mitigate the effects of the alcohol.

"Wenwen, if you'd like, I can have a word with Manager Song at Medicine King Hall. You could intern there, and once you graduate, I'll have you transferred to the headquarters in Jiangnan Province. What do you think?"

Chen Erbao said this to Wenwen while Xia Qingxue was in the restroom.

'My time management skills are really something else.'

Wenwen was only a sophomore, but Chen Erbao had taken her virginity. He felt he owed her a proper arrangement.

Wenwen was ecstatic when she heard his offer.

'She knew she could never be the official woman in his life, but just being able to stay near him was enough to make her content.'

"Mr. Chen, thank you... I'm willing!"

Seeing her reaction, Chen Erbao took out his phone, ready to call Fatty Song.