The Safe Zone not only includes the small central urban area but also encompasses a large nearby key industrial area, with a population of over thirty thousand, a considerable portion of whom are highly skilled professionals. This place is undoubtedly the essence of Hedong City now.

Until the evening, the roads outside were still bustling with traffic, with hordes of soldiers and artillery gathering here.

Chen Shouyi wandered outside for a while and returned home.

"Shouyi, is everything alright outside?" Mrs. Chen stood up, asking worriedly.

"Mom! Don't worry, it's fine. With so many troops, they can't reach here!" Chen Shouyi comforted.

Despite his reassurance, it's impossible not to be worried. Nowadays, rumors are rampant outside, especially since noon when a large group of refugees poured in, everyone began to feel uneasy and anxious.

Just in the afternoon, all government-run grain and oil stores started to impose temporary purchase limits based on identity.

War comes unexpectedly, bringing more than just panic to people.

"Let's stop asking questions and eat!" Chen Dawei changed the topic, saying: "I made your favorite sweet and sour ribs today!"

...

The atmosphere was somewhat heavy during dinner.

After finishing his meal, Chen Shouyi was about to return to his room when a City Government staff member came to the house.

"Hello, Chief Advisor Chen. I'm from the City Government Office. Sorry to disturb your rest. I'm here to inform you to attend a meeting at the City Government's conference room," the staff member said politely.

"A meeting?" Chen Shouyi asked, puzzled.

"Yes, Chief Advisor Chen, all Martial Artists in the Safe Zone have to attend."

Chen Shouyi nodded and didn't ask further,

Soon after, he and the staff member rode bicycles respectively, heading to the new location of the City Government.

Entering the conference room, he discovered that quite a few Martial Artists were already inside. At first glance, there were over a hundred of them. It was the first time Chen Shouyi had seen so many Martial Artists gathered together.

Considering Hedong City has over a thousand Martial Artists, this gathering almost represents one-tenth, and more Martial Artists were arriving.

"Chen Shouyi, you're also in the Safe Zone. Come sit here," a fair-skinned "handsome guy" immediately stood up, waving.

Following the voice, memories instantly clicked in his mind—this was the female Martial Artist from the same group named Song Jieying, sporting short hair and dressed in men's attire. If it weren't for her noticeably rounded chest, one might suspect her to be a handsome guy.

He promptly stepped forward, smiling: "It's been a long time!"

"Indeed, ever since we last met, I've seen the other people quite frequently, but never you. You seem to never visit the Martial Artist Club." Song Jieying laughed.

"Perhaps I don't enjoy socializing!" Chen Shouyi said self-deprecatingly.

Although his previously introverted and shy nature had been completely cured with increased will and confidence, some things couldn't change—for instance, he disliked noisy occasions and wouldn't purposely socialize with strangers.

"Don't just stand, let's sit down and chat." Song Jieying suggested with a smile.

As Chen Shouyi was about to sit down, the staff member standing by quickly said, "Sorry, Chief Advisor Chen, your seat is arranged in the first row!"

Song Jieying thought she misheard, and asked, "Chief Advisor?"

The staff member beside explained, "Mr. Chen is one of the three Chief Advisors directly under the City Government."

Song Jieying looked at Chen Shouyi, mouth agape in shock.

"Sorry, I'll go over first. Let's chat next time when we're free," sensing the awkward atmosphere, Chen Shouyi quickly said.

"Alright, alright!" Song Jieying responded, recovering quickly.

Watching him stride away with a staff member accompanying him, Song Jieying still couldn't quite believe it. It's been only a few months since the Martial Artist assessment, and he has already become a Great Martial Artist.

It's like he's cheating!

...

Chen Shouyi sat down at the seat with his name on it.

"Brother Chen, you're here!" Qin Liuyuan stood up, greeting him.

The buzz-cut middle-aged man beside him looked at Chen Shouyi curiously upon hearing Qin Liuyuan's words. They had just been talking about him and he turned out to be even younger than expected.

This was another Safety Chief Advisor, Cui Ziweng, whom Chen Shouyi had met during his first mission—leaving a profound impression. But back then, he was a nobody, and Cui Ziweng had likely forgotten him.

"Yes!" Chen Shouyi greeted and then turned to Cui Ziweng, politely saying: "Hello, General Manager Cui."

Cui Ziweng promptly stood up, shaking hands with Chen Shouyi: "Hello, Lao Qin was just mentioning you!"

"Really!" Chen Shouyi smiled.

"It was just small talk, about the last mission," Qin Liuyuan quickly explained, fearing Chen Shouyi might misunderstand, and then changed the topic: "What do you think this meeting is for? It can't be unifying Martial Artist forces to form a special department, can it?"

"Impossible," Cui Ziweng shook his head: "That would clearly violate policies, and it wouldn't be allowed from above."

Chen Shouyi also nodded slightly in his mind. The state's policy towards Martial Artists has always been both attracting and guarded, and most Martial Artists were aware of this. If all Martial Artists unified, then who would lead? Who would feel secure?

While entities like the Third Object Investigation Bureau and Martial Arts Public Office and Disciplinary Check Division are purely Martial Artist departments, their number is limited, and their authority is confined to a closed Martial Artist community, not involving ordinary citizens.

Perhaps only a purely military force can have Martial Artists in high positions.

"The meeting's about to begin; we'll know then. Saying more now won't help." Chen Shouyi said solemnly.

Qin Liuyuan sighed, leaning back in his chair: "That's true."

...

Half an hour later, all Martial Artists streamed out.

Chen Shouyi sighed, as guessed, the meeting lacked substantive content, merely offering reassurance and stabilizing morale.

Upon reflection, it's true—turbulent times spark uprising. As the strongest individual force among humans, if Martial Artists harbor ambitions under the current circumstances, it would accelerate societal collapse.

However, Hedong City's attitude indirectly showed the situation hadn't worsened irredeemably, or there was confidence in resolving the invasion.

"Do you think there are Barbarian Gods among the invading Barbarians?" Chen Shouyi asked Qin Liuyuan upon exiting the new City Government building. During the meeting, Hedong City's top leader didn't mention Barbarian Gods, causing him to doubt.

Qin Liuyuan paused, shook his head, and said gravely: "Even if there aren't Barbarian Gods, there must definitely be beings equivalent to them, otherwise the Safe Zone wouldn't be in such a state. Ordinary Barbarians can't withstand structured military units."

Chen Shouyi recalled the constant flow of military trucks loaded with ammunition on the roads near the Safe Zone, nodding in realization.

"I'll go on ahead." Chen Shouyi pushed out his bicycle from the parking shed, pedaled firmly, and the bicycle shot forward like an arrow released from a bow.

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