My Professions Have Too Much Personality-Chapter 158 - 115: The Security Department’s Solicitation (2)
"Do you know why no factions have approached you?"
"Because I hung a ’Do Not Disturb’ sign on my door?" Su Chen mused.
Cheng Lang faltered. "On one hand, it’s because the other Core Seeds have already divided up most of the pie. On the other hand, Chong Jingtian’s reforms have introduced uncertainty about your position as a Core Seed, so many people are waiting to see what happens."
Su Chen, of course, understood this, but he eyed the other man with suspicion.
Cheng Lang continued, "The position of Chief Judge comes with a seat on the Elder Council and command over the vast Judicial Court. Everyone covets it."
"But the Security Director is also a member of the Elder Council, in command of the Yingfeng Three Divisions."
"You want to make me the Security Director?" Su Chen’s expression grew even stranger.
"Is that not possible?" Cheng Lang retorted.
"It’s possible, sure. When’s the handover?" Su Chen mused. "I’m just afraid my Tier Two Profession won’t be enough to command respect."
Cheng Lang’s face darkened, and he grew somewhat irritated. "Please be serious!"
"You were the one who tried to mess with me first," Su Chen sneered.
Cheng Lang composed himself. "You should be more interested in becoming the Chief Judge. And of course, we also want you to become the Chief Judge."
"We are willing to offer you some assistance."
"We?" Su Chen said thoughtfully. "Specifically, what kind of assistance?"
"A Top-tier Profession," Cheng Lang said in a low voice. "There’s something you may not know. Zhu Xuan is in the process of acquiring a Tier Three Top-level Profession. He’s holding back, waiting to reclaim the honor you took from him."
"A Tier Three Top-level..." Su Chen had a sudden realization. No wonder he hadn’t heard any news about Zhu Xuan. ’That guy is preparing for something big.’
"Once he successfully advances, he will undoubtedly crush you under his heel." Cheng Lang looked at Su Chen. "Do you want to see that day come?" 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖
"A Top-tier Profession... If I were determined to advance, the Judicial Court would probably give me the opportunity as well," Su Chen said, shaking his head.
The reason he hadn’t sought out the Top-tier Profession controlled by the Judicial Court was because the requirements to acquire it were too difficult.
He had a shortcut; he could upgrade his profession by being suffused with the Deceitful God’s Power. Compared to those difficult requirements, finding things like Secret Technique Energy Crystals and a Thunder Core was obviously much easier.
"No. We can *guarantee* you’ll acquire a Top-tier Profession." Cheng Lang wore an expression of someone holding a winning hand.
"Oh?" Su Chen was genuinely surprised. Guaranteeing advancement to a Top-tier Profession was a claim not even the Judicial Court would dare to make, yet a mere Vice Minister of Inspection was saying such a thing.
"How would you do that?" He showed a flicker of interest.
"I can’t tell you directly." Cheng Lang shook his head. "If you agree, we will do everything in our power to cultivate you. Even if you don’t become the Chief Judge, the position of Security Director will be waiting for you."
"It sounds very tempting." Su Chen’s eyes narrowed slightly. "So... what’s the price?"
Cheng Lang was a little surprised. He hadn’t expected Su Chen to be so calm. He knew that when the other guys heard about this, they all had some kind of reaction, big or small.
"Since we’re being frank with each other, I won’t hide it from you." Cheng Lang walked outside with Su Chen. "We are very dissatisfied with Chong Jingtian’s methods. Under his leadership, the Judicial Court has been sticking its nose where it doesn’t belong."
"We only hope that after you become the Chief Judge, you can curb this trend."
Cheng Lang’s tone was very sincere. "Ying Feng’s strength shouldn’t be wasted on internal strife."
It all sounded perfectly reasonable, but Su Chen still showed no reaction.
Cheng Lang continued to up the ante. "The combined strength of our Three Divisions, even if inferior to the entire Judicial Court, is still an unimaginable force within Yingfeng City."
Su Chen’s gaze flickered. He thought of the three Secret Technique Energy Crystals and the Thunder Core that he was lacking.
After stating his terms, Cheng Lang didn’t press him. "You don’t have to agree right now. You can go back and think it over carefully."
The benefits, the future, even a line of retreat were all laid out before him. They had even provided him with an excuse to deal with the psychological burden of being a turncoat—after all, it was all for the good of Ying Feng.
Su Chen seemed to hesitate. "Why me?"
"Because your background is the cleanest, and your will is the strongest," Cheng Lang said solemnly. "With our help, your chances of becoming the Chief Judge are very high."
"Su Chen?" At some point, Sang Hanhai had come down and was now calling out from the laboratory entrance.
"Professor Sang..." Cheng Lang turned around, his demeanor shifting smoothly. "The minister sent me to pick up the translated documents on the ’High Thermal Energy Core’."
Sang Hanhai gave Cheng Lang a suspicious glance. Su Chen, having already waved goodbye, was walking away. Professor Sang said flatly, "It’s not ready yet. You can take the parts that are already translated."
After leaving the Translation Department, Su Chen boarded a hovercar and looked out the window. ’The Judicial Court’s reforms have given the Security Department an opportunity.’
As for his own thoughts...
...
"Is that really what Cheng Lang told you?"
Behind a floating, blue-gray alloy desk, Chong Jingtian switched off the virtual screen and looked at Su Chen, who appeared somewhat reserved.
"Word for word," Su Chen said solemnly.
"He went all the way to the Translation Department to corner you. That’s not Judicial Court territory, and we don’t have any personnel there. A good place for a chat, indeed." Chong Jingtian nodded, his eyes sizing Su Chen up.
This was the second time he had seen Su Chen. His previous understanding of the young man was mostly based on paper files.
"What are your thoughts?" Chong Jingtian suddenly asked.
"I am a member of the Judicial Court. I will never betray it," Su Chen said in a low voice.
"The Judicial Court, the Security Department’s Three Divisions... they’re all part of Ying Feng." Chong Jingtian waved his hand dismissively. "It’s not really a matter of betrayal."
Su Chen was speechless. ’I can’t tell if Chong Jingtian really thinks that, or if he’s just pretending.’
"Actually, it might not be a bad idea to stay in contact with them," Chong Jingtian said, changing his tune. "The resources the Judicial Court can provide you are ultimately limited. Making contact with other factions in Ying Feng has its benefits."
’Benefits...’ Su Chen’s eyes flickered. He understood Chong Jingtian’s intention: he wanted him to be a double agent.
In fact, this had been his plan all along: take the sugar-coated pill and throw back the cannonball.
But he didn’t think he could win an arm-wrestling match against the Security Department’s Three Divisions on his own, which was why he reported the matter to Chong Jingtian. With his backing, if something went wrong, there would be someone else to take the heat.
"I understand," Su Chen nodded.
Chong Jingtian looked at the overly young face before him, and for a moment, he was reminded of his younger self. He couldn’t help but ask, "How were you able to resist?"
"A Tier Three Top-level Profession, guaranteed... Weren’t you even tempted to try?"
Chong Jingtian knew the Three Divisions’ plan: use the uncertainty surrounding the Core Seeds to dangle a reward and get Su Chen on the hook.
Then, they would let him get in deeper and deeper until he couldn’t pull himself out.
But he found it difficult to guess Su Chen’s thoughts. The moment Cheng Lang finished talking with him, Su Chen had come straight to his office and laid everything bare.
Even if he didn’t trust Cheng Lang or the Three Divisions, to not even have a single thought when faced with a Top-tier Profession, the position of Chief Judge, and the fallback option of Security Director?
It wasn’t as if they were asking him to do something immediately, yet Su Chen didn’t even consider giving it a try.
’Did this young man guess that I would ask him to be a double agent, or is he truly loyal to the Judicial Court?’ Chong Jingtian couldn’t tell.
Su Chen was taken aback. He hadn’t expected the Chief Judge to ask such a direct question.
"I prefer to keep my feet on the ground," he offered, a non-answer of an answer.
’The main reason is that the price Cheng Lang offered held no real appeal for me. Do I really need them to guarantee my advancement to a Tier Three Top-level Profession?’
"No wonder..." Chong Jingtian murmured, though it was unclear what he was reflecting on. He waved a hand. "Go on. How many benefits you can squeeze out of them is up to you, but don’t touch that Top-tier Profession. I have a rough idea of what it is, and there are hidden dangers."
"Understood." Su Chen stood up, ready to leave, but then he heard Chong Jingtian speak again. "Tell me, were you the only one they approached?"
A sharp glint flashed in Su Chen’s eyes. He shook his head. "I don’t know."
"I hope there will be others who, like you, walk into my office," Chong Jingtian said with a certain wistfulness.
’Your reforms have broken their hearts. They’re probably cursing you behind your back, and you still expect them to come to you and be frank?’
Su Chen muttered to himself as he walked out of the office. He didn’t know how many people Cheng Lang or the Three Divisions had actually approached.
But he wasn’t naive enough to believe he was their only choice. All that talk about having the "cleanest background" and the "strongest will" was just a pretext.
’There really are a lot of people watching me. I need to advance to Tier Three as soon as possible.’
