Shen Yan’s family followed the Mayor’s secretary, moving discreetly until they arrived in front of a room.
The secretary who had led them spoke up, “Mayor Chen is inside. Please, go in.”
As the secretary opened the door, Shen Yan’s family finally saw the Mayor himself.
However, compared to Shen Yan’s calm demeanor, his parents were incredibly nervous.
After all, this was the first time they had ever met such a high-ranking leader in private.
Shen Yan’s father looked at Mayor Chen and asked tentatively, “Hello, Mayor. May I ask why you wanted to see our family?”
“Please, don’t be nervous. Have a seat first.”
Mayor Chen walked over from his chair and guided Shen Yan’s family to the sofa.
At the same time, he noticed that the primary person he wanted to see, Shen Yan, was far calmer than his parents.
‘He truly lives up to his reputation,’ the Mayor thought.
Remembering that the boy was widely known as a ‘Martial Arts Fanatic’ at the Academy, he found himself feeling even more appreciative of Shen Yan’s character.
“There is no need for you two to be tense. I have asked you here today simply because I want to discuss some matters regarding Shen Yan.”
“Please go ahead, Mayor. We are listening,” Shen Yan’s father replied.
Seeing that the family had no immediate questions, Mayor Chen stopped wasting time and his expression turned serious.
“I must ask that the following conversation be kept strictly confidential. This concerns the personal safety of your child, Shen Yan.”
Hearing this, Shen Yan’s parents grew even more anxious. Only Shen Yan’s expression remained unchanged.
Of course, if he didn’t have the memories of his past life, he likely would have looked just as worried as his parents.
“Your child is a genius—a one-in-a-million genius!”
Shen Yan’s parents, who had been extremely nervous, were stunned when the Mayor suddenly began praising their son.
“I think this will give you an idea of what I mean…” Chen Xun continued.
“Shen Yan’s personal SS-rank Talent Potential has reached SS-rank. Since the disaster broke out, fewer than thirty people have possessed this kind of potential! Furthermore, those who possess such Talent are undoubtedly the figures standing at the very top of humanity!”
However, when Chen Xun looked at Shen Yan, he saw nothing but a face of absolute calm. There wasn’t a trace of surprise or even excitement.
He found it very unexpected. “You don’t seem shocked or excited?”
Shen Yan shook his head and said, “I’m actually more concerned about what major event has happened to warrant gathering all of us together today.”
He had expected Mayor Chen to state the purpose of the meeting directly.
He hadn’t expected the man to start by boasting about his Talent instead. Out of necessity, Shen Yan had to take the initiative.
The reason Shen Yan seemed more urgent than the Mayor was precisely because of his past-life memories. He knew what the future held.
In his previous life, the City-Destroying Gray Mist Tide had occurred after the Talent Awakening Ceremony.
At that time, an S-rank team sent from a Sub-Core Base City to escort an SS-rank Talent like him was only 2 days away from the Base City.
Because of that, even when they were hit by the City-Destroying Gray Mist Tide, they managed to hold out until reinforcements arrived, and more than half the population survived.
In this life, however, while the Awakening Ceremony hadn’t been moved forward, the Gray Mist Tide had.
The support from the Sub-Core Base City would take at least 8 days to arrive!
‘Can we still hold out until then?’
Although Shen Yan showed no emotion on the surface, a shadow of gloom had already covered his heart.
He desperately wanted to know what the Mayor’s arrangements were.
Seeing that Shen Yan was more anxious than himself, Mayor Chen cleared his throat and spoke.
“Within the coming days—perhaps even the next few hours—a City-Destroying Level Gray Mist Tide is likely to occur.”
“Because this would cause massive panic, it will not be announced until the final stages of the evacuation plan are in motion.”
“You are the first group to know. Before then, please keep this a secret.”
Hearing the news, Shen Yan’s parents were frozen to the spot. “Mayor, this is…”
Mayor Chen reached out to stop Shen Yan’s father before he could finish.
“Because of Shen Yan’s Talent, we will arrange for five A-rank Warriors to protect you. This is the absolute limit of what the Base City can spare.”
Seeing the parents’ distress, Mayor Chen offered some comfort. “Of course, the Base City has already sent out a request for help regarding the City-Destroying Gray Mist Tide. Even stronger experts will arrive to support us later. You don’t need to worry about that; everything will be fine.”
Whether they could actually hold out until help arrived was something Mayor Chen didn’t even know. He only knew that he couldn’t let public morale crumble.
“However, the City-Destroying Gray Mist Tide isn’t the only danger. Shen Yan will also face the threat of kidnapping by an Unknown Organization…”
Mayor Chen’s tone grew heavy as he reached this point. “There is an organization that specifically targets geniuses. Many geniuses who are targeted by them end up disappearing mysteriously.”
“No one knows where those geniuses eventually go or what happens to them. Therefore, on the way to the Core Base City, you must not reveal any information about Shen Yan!”
“I am telling you this ahead of time so that you and Shen Yan can be prepared.”
“Stay alert at all times.”
In reality, most of the people in the rest hall were only there because Chen Xun had brought them in to make up the numbers.
His main goal was to confuse any observers and provide cover for Shen Yan.
That organization was simply too arrogant and terrifying; they had eyes and ears in almost every Base City.
……
Meanwhile, inside the rest hall.
A middle-aged man found Ling Feng with pinpoint accuracy amidst the crowd.
“My Lady, I’ve finally found you.”
The newcomer was the Minister of the Research Department.
Ling Feng nodded slightly and asked, “Are the matters I assigned to you handled?”
“Everything is arranged. However, there is one more thing. The Mayor wishes to discuss an important matter with you.”
“The Mayor?”
Ling Feng paused for a moment before remembering. When she first arrived at this Base City, she happened to encounter a Local Disaster Level Abyssal Invasion.
To rescue Su Aoxue, she had conveniently killed all the Abyssal Creatures that reached that level.
During that event, she had revealed her identity to Chen Xun.
Thinking of this, Ling Feng looked at Su Aoxue. “People claiming to be from the Research Department will come to find you and protect you later.”
After giving her instructions, she turned back to the Minister. “Let’s go.”
“Yes, My Lady. Please follow me.”
After Ling Feng left, Mrs. Su looked at Su Aoxue. “Your teacher… she seems to have quite a background.”
“Yeah…”
……
After Mayor Chen finished speaking with Shen Yan’s family, he had them return to the rest hall ahead of him.
Mayor Chen himself appeared on the high platform of the hall about 10 minutes later, having been delayed by something.
“Everyone, please be quiet. Quiet down.”
“I have gathered you all here today because a major disaster will occur in the coming days. It is expected to reach the City-Destroying Level!”
Mayor Chen’s voice was heavy. The crowd below instantly broke into expressions of terror.
“Everyone present belongs to the new generation with Talent Potential of A-rank and above. To ensure that you survive the upcoming Gray Mist Tide, the Base City will arrange for a group of Martial Artists to protect you specifically.”
“When the time comes, please do not leave the protected areas.”
“Furthermore, we are fortunate. An S-rank Martial Artist happens to be in our Base City temporarily for a mission!”
However, even as Mayor Chen announced this news, Xiong Ye was standing atop the high wall in the southern part of the city.
He stared at the distant Gray Mist, and the premonition of disaster in his heart reached its peak.
As if confirming a powerful expert’s intuition, the Command Center’s alarm blared in the next second.
“Report! We have detected a large number of intense life force reactions. It is suspected that Elite Mist Specters have appeared!”
Xiong Ye couldn’t help but grip the hilt of the battle saber at his side. “Is it finally starting?”
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