Chapter Sixty-Two: The Foundation and Elite Teams

Chapter Sixty-Two: The Foundation and Elite Teams

Zhang Ziqi gazed at the young man before her with a sense of nostalgia. She remembered how naive Xia Zheng had been when he first joined the company, even blushing if he accidentally brushed against her. In the blink of an eye, that awkward boy had steadily matured into a man capable of standing on his own.

“I just got back not long ago. Originally, I thought that once I advanced to B-class, I could rush to help Captain Chu, but he declined,” Xia Zheng said sheepishly.

“You wanted to go to Evernight City right after reaching B-class?” Zhang Ziqi was surprised. Usually, if anyone in the company made a fuss about heading to Evernight City upon reaching B-class, Captain Chu Yan would tear them apart. But for Xia Zheng, Chu only rejected the idea—a sign that he recognized Xia Zheng’s abilities, but turned him down out of concern.

Although the Federation and the military acknowledged B-class abilities as sufficient qualification for Evernight City, those with organizational affiliations rarely received permission, unless they were freelancers or gamblers willing to risk it all. In truth, the casualty rate for B and B+ class abilities in Evernight City was alarmingly high. For example, in the recent vampire assault, ninety percent of deceased abilities were B-class regulars and elites, underscoring the brutality.

Xia Zheng nodded, saying, “Yes, Sister Qi. I don’t want to waste more time training outside. It feels like Captain Chu and my master are living brilliantly, while I remain a bystander. I refuse to accept that.”

“You’ve always been ambitious. Just don’t be too impatient. Alright, I won’t keep you from training—I need to go comfort my silly darling at home.” With that, Zhang Ziqi took her leave. Xia Zheng watched her go, feeling the faint affection he once held for her melt away, like snow in the afternoon sun.

Returning to his dorm, Xia Zheng received a call from an unfamiliar number. Upon answering, he discovered it was Shen Tu Wan Hua.

“Zheng, I’m calling to share some good news. The Evernight City Recovery Foundation has been formally established and registered. You can now look it up with the Federation’s Bureau of Commerce. From today onward, the Foundation will do everything it can to support your growth. If you need anything, just let me know,” Shen Tu Wan Hua said excitedly on the other end.

She was Shen Tu Yue’s chosen successor, it seemed. The inheritance would likely go to the third and fourth branches in the future.

Xia Zheng’s eyes lit up at her words. “Wan Hua, if you say so, I won’t be shy. My biggest headache right now is a lack of suitable training rooms. The company’s rooms aren’t strong enough for me to really push myself. Does the Foundation have a solution?”

“A training room for abilities? Of course. What level do you need?” Shen Tu Wan Hua asked swiftly. Although she wasn’t an ability user herself, as one of the future managers of the Shen Tu family, she was thoroughly familiar with the requirements.

Xia Zheng thought for a moment. “At least a level-four training room.”

“Let’s make it level five,” Shen Tu Wan Hua replied, sensing his unease and taking the initiative to upgrade it.

Xia Zheng was astonished. “Is it really possible to get a level-five training room?”

“Get? No, Zheng—I mean to build one, funded by ourselves,” Shen Tu Wan Hua clarified.

Xia Zheng was stunned. Build a level-five training room himself?

“That must cost a hundred million at least… Isn’t that a bit extravagant?” Xia Zheng asked uncertainly.

Shen Tu Wan Hua laughed. “Zheng, you underestimate our Foundation. The initial development fund is ten billion, and every year after will see no less than five billion injected. The plan is for the Foundation to be fully self-sustaining within three years.”

Xia Zheng clicked his tongue in awe. The wealthy really did play with foundations at another level—tens and hundreds of billions at their disposal. But since he was the beneficiary, it was a blessing.

“In that case, I’ll trouble you. Oh, I’ve decided to compete in the first Ability Tournament and may need some equipment upgrades,” Xia Zheng continued.

“No problem. We’re assembling all the teams. In three days, I’ll send someone to pick you up,” Shen Tu Wan Hua reminded him.

“Alright.” Xia Zheng hung up, thinking the Foundation was truly impressive.

They say the rich rely on technology, the poor on mutation. Now he had mutation, and with technology—and if he gained the power of money—wouldn’t he be unstoppable?

He chuckled at himself, then called Shen Hua, but still received no response. Afterwards, he got a call from Nalan Sheng, and several times wanted to share the news, but never summoned the courage.

Three days later, Xia Zheng received a call from Shen Tu Wan Hua, instructing him to be at a certain café in the center of Polant City in an hour.

Dream Fox had now become a full member of the company and was close friends with Claire. Xia Zheng never treated her as a servant, letting her develop here while he headed to the appointed place.

“Far Mountain Café” was the meeting spot. At the entrance, Xia Zheng grabbed a magazine from a nearby newsstand and immediately noticed a story about a marriage alliance between prominent families.

“Rumor has it that Dick Hoffman, eldest grandson of the Deransol financial magnate in the western region, has entered a marriage alliance with Nalan Sheng, the granddaughter and heir of the Nalan family in the north. After the alliance, the two conglomerates will strengthen ties between north and west and deepen cooperation. It is estimated their combined annual industrial returns will increase by at least fifty billion.”

Seeing this news, Xia Zheng felt a sharp sting in his heart, a deep pain.

He pulled out his phone to call Nalan Sheng, only to find her phone switched off. Could it be…?

Setting the phone aside, Xia Zheng’s gaze pierced the city’s skyline, recalling Nalan Zheng and Nalan Rong. His refusal to marry into the Nalan family had left them frustrated, and he’d even been expelled from the family.

“Sheng Sheng is probably under house arrest. Nalan family, how outrageous!” Xia Zheng narrowed his eyes. With a month until the ability assessment in Danute City, Nalan Sheng would likely attend. Then, he’d know her true thoughts.

A cobalt-blue vintage car pulled up in front of him, its door opening automatically. Xia Zheng couldn’t see through the tinted windows, but received a text from Shen Tu Wan Hua.

“Get in!” Without hesitation, Xia Zheng climbed into the back seat.

Inside, he found the driver rather stiff, glancing at him once in the rearview mirror and saying curtly, “Welcome, Mr. Xia. I’m DeWitt. I’ll be your driver to the base.”

“Thank you,” Xia Zheng replied, noting the car, though not as luxurious as the Nalan family’s, was even more comfortable, with a subtle sense of understated opulence.

The car avoided main roads, taking side streets Xia Zheng had never traversed before. He guessed the driver knew Polant City like the back of his hand.

Ahead lay an abandoned office building. Xia Zheng was curious—was the base here?

The car drove straight in, then wound left and right. An elevator door opened ahead, and the car entered.

Once inside, the elevator doors closed—not rising, but descending underground.

Xia Zheng expanded his mental senses, quickly mapping a panoramic view in his mind. They’d already descended fifty or sixty meters, and still continued downward.

“Incredible. To find or build such a place in so little time is remarkable. But isn’t this a bit much? Is it really necessary?” Xia Zheng wondered.

Eventually, after descending about a hundred meters, the elevator stopped. The doors opened, and the car drove out along a designated corridor, a flood of light engulfing Xia Zheng’s vision.

When he opened his eyes, he found himself in a bustling laboratory.

Many were dressed in white lab coats—men and women alike, several elders. Roughly forty or fifty people, not counting blue-uniformed workers and red-suited security personnel.

Shen Tu Wan Hua, clad in a beige professional suit, exuding the poised air of a seasoned executive, came to the car and personally opened the door. Instantly, many lab staff paused their work, turning to look at Xia Zheng.

Stepping out, Xia Zheng was a bit overwhelmed, surveying the crowd. “Wan Hua, isn’t this a bit much? Is this the Foundation’s base?”

Shen Tu Wan Hua, having met Xia Zheng several times recently, was now on familiar terms—they called each other “Zheng” and “Wan Hua.”

Her features weren’t as striking as Shen Hua or Nalan Sheng, a bit plain, but her years in business lent her a commanding presence, and her aristocratic upbringing shone through. To Xia Zheng, she was like a peony—graceful, noble, and dignified.

“Not at all. This is just the core team for now: equipment, medical, psychological intervention, sports, and nutrition groups. More will join over time; for now, we make do,” Shen Tu Wan Hua explained, leading Xia Zheng to meet the chief members of each group—leaders and deputies.

There were eight in total. Six were over fifty years old; the other two included a middle-aged man around forty and a female scholar about Shen Tu Wan Hua’s age.

The equipment group consisted of four uncles: Ferdinand, Gavin—one specialized in firearms, another in hidden weapons and blades, one handled vehicles and facilities, the last designed and made armor and props.

The medical group was led by Endo Chiyoko, a well-preserved noblewoman.

The psychological intervention group was led by Xuanyuan Jie, dressed like a monk.

The sports group was headed by Henry, the middle-aged man.

The nutrition group’s sole member was Emilia, a recent graduate from the Federation’s renowned Azure University.

Additionally, Shen Tu Wan Hua introduced a special receptionist, responsible for liaising with Xia Zheng—a female AI assistant. Her everyday avatar was a luxury wristwatch Xia Zheng wore; in the base, she appeared as a humanoid robot, with alloy skeleton and organic skin, astonishingly lifelike.

“Mr. Xia, we need to conduct comprehensive tests on you, so we can tailor equipment and provide recommendations. Please cooperate,” the AI assistant Yu Hua announced. By now, Shen Tu Wan Hua had departed; she rarely returned to the base, focusing instead on the Foundation’s commercial operations.

“Alright,” Xia Zheng replied, heading to the changing room to put on a form-fitting black bodysuit, like those worn for gymnastics.