Chapter 132: Identity and Circles

Song Yangcheng stated his purpose directly. Although Qi Lei and his team had helped Yi Shen forge a new identity, everyone involved knew full well that such information could be modified or replaced. Based on the current video footage, the Dark Mage’s strength had appeared both abruptly and with overwhelming power.

If the Dark Mage were one of their own from the Jingmen Safe Zone, that would be a relief; it would mean China would soon gain a powerful new combatant. However, if there were unknown elements or forces lurking behind him, the Bureau of Coordination and Investigation would inevitably need to intervene. The Bureau’s primary mission for years had been to identify and investigate non-civilized forces.

Seeing the look in Song Yangcheng’s eyes, Qi Lei gave an awkward smile. He knew he had been found out. Deciding not to hide anything further, he said, "His identity should be fine. I’ve basically verified it, and if it weren't for him, the entire Jingmen Safe Zone likely wouldn't have held out."

"As for the identity issues, it's mostly that he prefers not to disclose too much. Besides, the Bureau is currently divided on the matter, and I’m mainly thinking of his safety," Qi Lei explained tactfully.

Although the Bureau appeared to outsiders as a coalition of elite explorers, those with access to information knew it was divided into several factions. While they shared a common ultimate goal, historical and geographical reasons had split them into three major blocs.

The first was the Northern circle, centered around the capital, which carried a strong sense of hierarchy. The second was the Shanghai circle in the east; due to constant battles along the coast, their average strength was significantly higher. The third was the Southern circle. Because nations on the Southeast Asian peninsula could not withstand the attacks of maritime beasts, many refugees had flocked toward the Chinese border, forming several large, porous safe zones. This circle served as a window for external dialogue, though the situation there was considerably more chaotic.

"I see." Hearing Qi Lei's response, Song Yangcheng nodded thoughtfully. His personal visit to find the Dark Mage was prompted by these very factors. The Bureau had been emphasizing restructuring for the past two years, aiming to further consolidate the various safe zones across China. If the Dark Mage’s background was clean, Song Yangcheng naturally wanted to bring him into his own camp.

"May I meet him?" Song Yangcheng asked, noting the absence of the Dark Mage among those who had come to greet him.

"Yes, I’ve already spoken to him, and he agreed. We’ll go see him shortly," Zhan Yu nodded. "Brother Song, to be honest, the Dark Mage’s situation is quite unique."

"The Bureau's internal politics are too complex. If you want him to join, I hope he joins your faction so you can guide him. His talent is truly exceptional," Zhan Yu added, putting in a good word for Yi Shen. Zhan Yu knew Song Yangcheng’s character well. When he had traveled across China and abroad searching for a way to improve Qi Lei’s condition, his most comfortable time had been spent in Shanghai, where he had once fought side-by-side with Song. If Yi Shen were to join a faction, Zhan Yu preferred it to be the one in Shanghai.

Yi Shen met this "Bastion of the Empire" at around nine that evening.

The meeting was not quite what he had imagined. Qi Lei had initially planned a formal dinner, but Song Yangcheng had said he still had matters to attend to in Shanghai and preferred a private meeting first. Zhan Yu had spent the time communicating with Yi Shen, clarifying the visitor's status and influence, and suggesting that if he were to join the Bureau, he should lean toward Song Yangcheng’s faction.

Song Yangcheng was already aware of Yi Shen’s true identity. Once he joined, he would do so under the alias of the Dark Mage, without a wide-scale public announcement.

When they finally met at the Jingmen Safe Zone’s main office, Yi Shen could immediately sense the profound, dense energy within Song Yangcheng. It was a level of power even higher than Zhan Yu’s—likely on par with Yi Shen’s own "Sanctum" state.

Upon seeing Yi Shen, Song Yangcheng was equally startled by the young man's age. He instantly understood why Qi Lei had gone to such lengths to protect his identity. If the outside world knew the Dark Mage was so young, there would be an endless stream of people trying to uncover his secrets. Song Yangcheng grasped the necessity of this caution even more deeply now.

Having already discussed the matter with Xiao Ge, Yi Shen was inclined to join the Bureau, so the negotiations went smoothly. Given his authority, Song Yangcheng promised to expedite the process for him.

Within a week, Yi Shen would have his official Bureau credentials. Furthermore, once his membership was confirmed, Xiao Ge explained the rights and obligations that came with the position.

Though nominally a Bureau of "Coordination and Investigation," the organization actually managed the integration of all special affairs, secret realms, anomalous creatures, and mysterious organizations throughout China. It currently operated through three main branches—Northern, Central, and Southern—and registered top-tier explorers who posed a potential threat to the nation to prevent unforeseen casualties.

Through his communication with Xiao Ge, Yi Shen learned how the Bureau could assist him in the short term.

First was the allocation of resources. Even a junior inspector could procure up to one billion units of supplies. Since certain classes and sub-classes required vast amounts of materials, the Bureau could facilitate such procurement across China at cost price.

Second was the authority to handle special incidents. In any safe zone, an inspector could intervene in extraordinary matters without prior reporting. While the specifics weren't detailed, Xiao Ge noted that as long as it didn't threaten national security, he could essentially act first and report later.

Third was information sharing. While safe zones were not fully interconnected, the Bureau’s regional offices maintained a unified network. Information regarding new secret realms, anomalous creatures, or rare resources was distributed and shared in real-time.

At the same time, inspectors were obligated to handle special incidents in their assigned areas. For instance, because Xiao Ge had been the inspector closest to the Jingmen Safe Zone, she had been required to investigate the Dark Mage and the light-screen incident immediately.