Chapter 305: Chapter 304: A Small Token of Appreciation (Please Subscribe)
His shout immediately drew the attention of many around.
"Gu Ze?"
Someone looked at the members of the Crescent Squad and couldn’t help but say, "Isn’t he the rookie who followed Old Jin and his team earlier?"
"Is it him? The Awakener with Enhanced Strength?"
"Now that you mention it, I think I remember! He just came back with Old Jin and the others."
"Could it be that the person he’s looking for is him?"
The crowd murmured while instinctively glancing at Chen Fan in the distance, all with expressions of disbelief.
Even Jin Quan and his men exchanged puzzled looks.
"Captain, did you hear what they were saying?" The red-haired man glanced around and said, "Is the Gu Ze they’re searching for really the same Gu Ze we know?"
"That person is a chairman, just like our chairman!"
"I, I’m not so sure."
Jin Quan smiled wryly and said, "But it seems we only have one Gu Ze here, right?"
The red-haired man and the others were stunned into silence.
Yes, indeed. Even among those with the surname Gu, there was only one in the whole Wang City Awakened Association.
So, was the big shot really here to see Gu Ze?
No, it couldn’t be, right?
If Gu Ze knew such a powerful person, why would he come here with no one willing to team up with him?
Why didn’t he just stay in Anshan City?
The surrounding chatter continued.
At that moment, a series of footsteps sounded, approaching from afar.
The immediate silence around was palpable.
"Gu Ze is here!"
Someone in the crowd shouted.
Immediately, hundreds of eyes turned towards Gu Ze.
"Is that really Gu Ze? The rookie?"
"It seems like he’s the one who came back with the Crescent Squad, doesn’t it?"
"He doesn’t look particularly special. Is that really who they’re looking for?"
It was the first time Gu Ze was treated this way.
His heart raced, his breaths quickened, and his eyes turned to the counter.
There he saw a burly man with an ordinary appearance standing with his hands behind his back, nodding to him.
"He really is here to find me!"
Gu Ze’s mind was in turmoil, and he stood there stunned.
Seeing this, everyone else was also dumbfounded.
"Mr. Gu Ze, this is Chairman Li. He’s been waiting for you for quite some time," a woman hurriedly reminded him.
Gu Ze snapped out of it, feeling an invisible pressure bearing down from all directions.
After all, the man before him was the chairman of the Anshan City Awakened Association, on par with the chairman here!
His combat strength was at C-level.
Although Gu Ze’s aim was to surpass C-level, becoming A-level or even S-class, that was a goal for the future. Right now, he stood no chance against an Awakener of this level.
Amid the varying expressions of those around him, Gu Ze finally walked up to Chen Fan.
"Chairman, Chairman Li."
He mustered the courage to speak, but dared not meet his eyes.
Chen Fan inwardly found it amusing but maintained a calm expression. He nodded and said, "Gu Ze, right? You should know the details by now, correct?"
Gu Ze nodded twice.
"Good. Since you understand, pack your things and follow me to the Anshan City Awakened Association."
As soon as the words were spoken, everyone was struck silent, rooted like statues.
Had they heard correctly?
Chairman Li was going to take Gu Ze away, to the Anshan City Awakened Association?
Good heavens!
Everyone couldn’t help but look at Gu Ze with faces full of shock and envy.
Who was this rookie to warrant a chairman-level figure personally coming to fetch him?
Once Gu Ze reached the Anshan City Awakened Association, regardless, life would be much better than remaining here.
Envy!
If only they too had a chairman-level figure looking after them.
Among the crowd, the members of the Crescent Squad were even more shocked than anyone else.
Especially the red-haired man and the tall, lanky man—they were stupefied.
When they had taken Gu Ze out before, they found him terribly burdensome and mused about convincing the captain to abandon him.
But never in their wildest dreams did they imagine that this rookie had connections with another Awakened Association chairman?
And the relationship wasn’t trivial!
Gu Ze’s heart pounded wildly with excitement.
He had no objections to going to Anshan City.
Not to mention, it was closer to the village.
And Chen Fan was there too, and importantly, this man was the chairman of the Anshan City Association! Surely, the training he’d receive there would be far superior.
However, he didn’t immediately agree. Instead, he cautiously asked, "Chairman Li, what about Chen Fan?"
"Chen Fan is currently in seclusion. If you wish to see him, you can visit the Martial Arts Association later," Chen Fan said.
"I see."
Gu Ze nodded.
He didn’t see any issues with the arrangement.
Firstly, Chen Fan had texted him a heads-up.
Secondly, Chairman Li had no reason to deceive him, as he had nothing valuable to offer.
"Alright, Chairman Li, please wait a moment while I go pack my things."
"Sure, go ahead. I’ll wait here." Chen Fan responded.
At that moment, he frowned and glanced towards the elevator.
The next second, the elevator doors opened, and a group of people walked out.
"Chairman!"
"It’s the chairman!"
The crowd buzzed, eyes filled with shock and reverence.
Not only the chairman, but several C-level Awakeners from the Association were present too!
This was a rare sight.
They must have been alerted by Chairman Li’s presence.
Chen Fan met their gazes, and the tension in the air soared.
"Ha ha ha."
Suddenly, the leading middle-aged man laughed heartily and approached quickly, clasping his hands in greeting:
"Chairman Li, it’s an honor to have you here. My apologies for not welcoming you earlier. I hope you don’t mind."
His friendly demeanor indicated he was an old acquaintance of Chen Fan’s.
But the faces of those behind him were far less friendly, mostly wearing cold looks filled with wariness.
Sandwiched between them, Gu Ze felt the immense pressure, almost suffocating.
"So, it’s Chairman Su,"
Chen Fan nodded slightly, thinking that these must have been the individuals who scrutinized him through the monitors earlier.
As for why they chose to appear now, it was probably because they had deciphered his intentions.
"Chairman Su, I’m here to take a friend with me, should be no problem, right?"
Upon hearing this, Su Yu glanced at Gu Ze and then smiled, "No problem at all. To be honest, it’s our fault for not recognizing, Mr. Gu here is Chairman Li’s friend. Please forgive our oversight."
He approached Gu Ze and produced a card seemingly out of thin air.
"What’s that!"
"A Points Card?"
"2,000 points on the card!"
Exclamations erupted around.
"Brother Gu,"
Su Yu reached out and patted Gu Ze’s shoulder with a warm smile, "I apologize for any difficulties you’ve faced here. Please accept this small token of recompense."
He handed over the 2,000-point card, smiling warmly.
Gu Ze’s eyes nearly popped out.
2,000 points!
His highest point tally was only 100.
And now 2,000 points were right before him. Even the members of the Crescent Squad only earned five or six hundred points per mission.
More significantly, it was the chairman here offering the card!!!
The surrounding crowd was equally stunned.
Heads turned from Gu Ze to Chen Fan.
No fool would believe that an ordinary Gu Ze could make Chairman Su give up 2,000 points. It had to be because of the man behind him—Li Ping!
Chairman Su’s intentions were clear—to make amends with Chairman Li!
Many present were envious. Why didn’t they have a chairman friend like that?
Gu Ze also realized and looked to Chen Fan for help.
"Since Chairman Su is so kind, you should accept it," Chen Fan said.
2,000 points were nothing to him but a fortune to Gu Ze.
Moreover, refusing would embarrass Chairman Su.
"You heard Chairman Su; quickly, accept it," Chen Fan urged.
"Chairman...," Gu Ze hesitated but still didn’t dare to take it.
"Ha ha ha."
Su Yu laughed and placed the card into his hand, patting his shoulder, "Alright, go pack your things. Don’t keep Chairman Li waiting. Also, when you’re at the Anshan City Awakened Association, feel free to visit Wang City anytime."
"Okay, Chairman,"
Gu Ze, mind blank, instinctively headed to the rest area.
"Chairman Li, would you like to come inside for some tea?" Su Yu turned to Chen Fan with a smile.
"No need to trouble you, Chairman Su. It’s getting late. Once Gu Ze is ready, we’ll be on our way before it gets dark," Chen Fan replied.
He understood they were wary of him.
If he stayed for tea, they might go crazy.
Sure enough, Su Yu’s followers all sighed in relief.
"That’s a pity. Hopefully, next time we can host you properly," Su Yu sighed.
The hall quieted down again.
A few minutes later, footsteps drew near, and Gu Ze returned, carrying a bow and quiver.
"Chairman Li, I, I’m ready," Gu Ze stammered.
Before two chairmen and several C-level Awakeners, his nervousness showed.
"Alright, let’s go," Chen Fan said, glancing at Su Yu.
The latter maintained a usual smile.
"Chairman Li, please wait," Gu Ze searched the crowd and found Jin Quan and the others, "I’d like to say goodbye to Brother Jin and the team."
Chen Fan paused and nodded.
Gu Ze approached the Crescent Squad, looking at Jin Quan with gratitude, "Brother Jin, thank you for taking care of me. I’ll remember your kindness. If you ever need my help, I will do my best to assist."
"Brother Gu, don’t mention it. It was nothing,"
Jin Quan smiled wryly, "Train well in Anshan City. I hope we’ll meet again."
"We will,"
Gu Ze nodded, glancing at the others.
"Brother Zhao, take care,"
The red-haired man and his companions blushed.
"Brother Gu, you take care too."
"Take care."
Gu Ze waved at them and returned to Chen Fan’s side, "Chairman Li, I’m all set."
"Alright."
Chen Fan looked at Jin Quan and company before turning to Su Yu, "Chairman Su, we’ll be leaving now."
"Chairman Li, let me see you off," Su Yu offered.
"There’s no need, Chairman Su," Chen Fan shook his head and, after a moment, added, "Chairman Su, I have reliable information that a Beast Tide will soon erupt, and this time it could be far beyond what anyone expects. You’d better prepare."
"A Beast Tide? More devastating than expected?"
Su Yu was about to inquire further but realized Chen Fan and Gu Ze had already left.