Chapter 29: Torch Network

*Why didn't they pilot the Warship here?*

"Sorry, the First Rank White Winged Tribe's earlier attack severely damaged Song Chi's Cang Qiong and it is currently undergoing slow self-repair in the Ancestral Torch, making it unsuitable to interrupt."

The truth was if it were sent to a specialized Torch Warship repair facility, the issue could be resolved in a few hours. But Song Chi was unwilling because that would require the repair crew to board the ship, and everything about the Cang Qiong would be exposed to outsiders' eyes, which was something every Torch Ship Captain with secrets was extremely averse to.

Therefore, the Cang Qiong could only slowly self-recover in the Ancestral Torch.

Fortunately, it had been over half a month since then, and complete repair was just a matter of days away. Interrupting now would mean spending a massive amount of time nurturing it again, which was entirely unnecessary.

...

The Torch Bureau of Jiangyuan was located in the city center of Jiangyuan City, not very far from Dongjiang Community. After roughly a ten-minute drive in a Benteng III Power Car, they successfully reached their destination.

From above, the Torch Bureau of Jiangyuan resembled a perfectly planned circular multifunctional base, complete with office buildings, Warship docking areas, a power car parking lot, a physical training ground, and more.

Following the staff's instructions, Song Chao parked the car in the designated spot and headed straight for the Torch operative office building with Song Chi in tow.

Not long after stepping into the office building, a middle-aged man in a Torch uniform greeted them with a smile.

"Uncle Shen!"

Seeing the familiar face, Song Chi was the first to greet him politely as Uncle.

Shen Wenjie was one of the inspection team captains at the Torch Bureau and a Second Rank Torch Ship Captain, commanding a Guardian Class Spectral Spaceship. He held substantial influence throughout Jiangyuan City.

Of course, the most important part was his good relationship with Song Chi's father, Song Chao. They were long-time friends and their families had been close since Song Chi was young, making him very familiar with Shen Wenjie.

Shen Wenjie exchanged a few words of pleasantries with Song Chao before turning his attention to Song Chi.

"Good kid, it's great you successfully awakened. The rest is not important. Come to Uncle Shen's house in a few days, and your aunt and I will throw a celebration for you."

Song Chi beamed.

"Thank you, Uncle Shen... By the way, Yōran should be about to awaken as well, right? It's been nearly two years since we last met, sigh."

Hearing the almost imperceptible sigh from Song Chi, Shen Wenjie and Song Chao exchanged glances and then burst into laughter.

"You rascal, still mad at your aunt and me? If you miss Yōran, go to Jiangyuan City yourself. You're almost thirty, still so shy."

Hearing this teasing without a hint of concealment, even as someone with a psychological age approaching sixty, Song Chi couldn't help but blush slightly, looking a bit embarrassed.

Seeing this, Shen Wenjie and Song Chao shared a knowing smile and didn't continue to tease Song Chi. Instead, they engaged in some casual chit-chat.

This light-hearted exchange led them to a door on the left of the third floor. Song Chi glanced at it and read the five characters on the plaque.

"Torch Network Room!"

Shen Wenjie knocked on the door, and soon a man dressed in a Torch Bureau uniform opened it. Upon seeing Shen Wenjie, the man's eyes widened slightly in surprise, then his smile grew even wider.

"Captain Shen."

Shen Wenjie nodded lightly, then beckoned to Song Chi.

Upon seeing this, Song Chi stepped inside.

This special room was responsible for activating the Torch network. As Song Chi entered the room and the door closed, the man's smile didn't fade in the slightest.

As someone personally brought over by Shen Wenjie, he had some insight into the situation, otherwise he wouldn't have managed to hold the highly competitive position of "Torch Network Auxiliary Activator" for years.

Being an easy, safe job with high pay, every city's Torch sub-bureau had extremely coveted positions for "Torch Network Auxiliary Activators." A slight misstep could lead to being replaced.

"You must be Song Chi, have a seat here."

Following the other's guide, Song Chi sat inside a special metal pod, similar to a Spectral Energy transformation chamber.

While he was curious, the man spoke in a gentle voice:

"This is the Torch Network Auxiliary Activation Pod. Next, try to relax, don't resist.

"Since Captain Shen personally brought you here, the Torch network permission level you'll activate will be one level higher than that of other ordinary Torch Ship Captains. You'll need to experience the specific functions yourself after activation. This will be told here, but after going out, don't mention it, and I won't admit it."

Song Chi nodded, feeling some surprise. He had always thought that the Torch network permissions were the same for everyone after awakening the Seed of Torch, not realizing there could be such an exception.

Regardless, he belonged to that special group. Naturally, he wouldn't think of changing the rules for the sake of justice like Long Aotian, a protagonist in a past life's web novel, as such thoughts showed a lack of worldly experience.

*Where there were people, there was society; where there was white, there would be black. If one was unaware of such simple truths, they would definitely suffer a tragic fate in the future,* he mumbled softly:

"No wonder Dad personally brought me over…"

With that, he silently expressed gratitude to Shen Wenjie and then closed his eyes.

The familiar Spectral Energy flowed inside the activation pod, ultimately focusing entirely on his brow.

Song Chi felt a cool energy continuously flowing from his brow into the Ancestral Torch, gradually gathering around the Seed of Torch within, as if attempting to form a mysterious connection.

He didn't know how much time had passed when he regained consciousness, finding himself lying on a single bed inside the activation room. The Torch Network Auxiliary Activation Pod had closed again, and others were trying to activate their connections.

Clearly, he had successfully activated the Torch network, but he needed to wait 24 hours, until the next day, to officially log in.

Once he fully recovered, Song Chi thanked the auxiliary activator lightly and then left the Torch Activation Room.

Outside, his father and Uncle Shen were no longer present, so relying on his memory, Song Chi headed to Shen Wenjie's office on the fourth floor. As expected, the two were chatting in the office, with a handsome young man sitting beside Shen Wenjie.

Shen Qing, the son of Shen Wenjie's elder brother, and also the cousin of Shen Youran, used to hang out with Song Chi during their childhood. He also awakened the Colorless Seed of Torch two years ago and now worked as an ordinary operative at the Torch Bureau. Of course, Song Chi estimated it wouldn't be long before he'd be promoted, as it was easier to climb the ranks with connections.

"Little Chi!"

"Da Qing!"

Hearing the long-lost nickname, both shared a knowing smile. About the nickname, it had originated from their childhood days.

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