The Outcast

Di di, di di… The gentle yet full of urgency alarm bell resounded throughout Charter Department. Those staff members in black suits raised their heads flabbergasted and paid their attention on the crystal screens all over the building. Apart from the Empire's surprise attack previously, the Charter Department had not issued a first cla.s.s order for a long time. What in the world happened?


Amidst of the alarm sound, the central computer's screen started flickering; the seal on the thesis paper and also the computer's a.n.a.lysis on the thesis appeared directly on the office desk of the Charter Department Chief. The alarm bell that shocked the whole Charter Department did not cause any change in the expression of this old man. He coldly glanced at the content of the doc.u.ment and the corner of his lips faintly tipped upwards.


"Missing for twelve years, still got your tail exposed in the end." The Charter Department Chief was not shocked by the name on the doc.u.ment. In this long life of his, he had seen countless major events. Standing up, he pa.s.sed the doc.u.ment to the civil officer beside him and issued a command, "Notify the Presidential Office and the Defense Department." The civil officer was a middle aged man. Taking down the windbreaker from the hanger, he draped it over his superior with his heart slightly in shock. The alarm bell resounding throughout the Charter Department was sufficient to prove that the current situation was judged by the central computer as a first cla.s.s event. However, the department chief did not seem to care; but if he really didn't care…why would he want to notify the Presidential Office and the Defense Department?


Supporting himself with crutch, the Charter Department Chief walked along the quiet tunnel to leave the Charter Department. Following behind him silently, the middle aged civil officer quickly glanced at the doc.u.ment and saw the name.


Yu Feng? Yu Feng!


His pupils constricted as he recalled the war more than ten years ago and the most shocking event during the war. So the central computer actually found Yu Feng's whereabouts, no wonder the chief department wanted to notify the Presidential Office and Defense Department immediately.


Back then, the ex-president vowed in front the cameras of Federal TV Station to bring justice on this treasonous traitor that colluded with the Empire causing ten thousand federal elite soldiers to perish. Furthermore, the Defense Department also had to bear an incomparably huge pressure due to such unforgiveable deserter arising from the army. If they knew that engineer Yu Feng was still alive, living without harm within certain neighborhood in Eastwood, the whole army would probably be angered.


After notifying the Presidential Office and Defense Department through a portable communications equipment, the middle aged civil officer walked a few steps forward and said in a low voice behind the Department Chief, "The meeting has been set at 2 PM in the afternoon."


"I have an appointment to play golf this afternoon." Department chief waved his hand, walking forward supported by his crutch without stopping, "Charter Department already found that engineer. As for whether the Defense Department dispatching the army or the President dispatching the secret service from Secret Service Department to capture this engineer, how does it concern us? You can attend the afternoon meeting in my stead."


The middle aged civil officer was dazed; his current position was only a Department Chief a.s.sistant. He did not have the qualifications to make decisions on behalf of the Charter Department on issues at level of the Charter Department's first cla.s.s order during the secret meeting. Habitually, he did not voiced any kind of opposition, nor would he bravely criticize the Department Chief for only thinking of playing golf in this kind of situation, he calmly answered, "Yes, understood."


Watching deferentially as the old yet upright silhouette of the department chief disappeared at the corner; the middle aged civil officer straightened his body.  Towards the calmness or to be more accurate – unconcerned att.i.tude displayed by the Chief Department and his disregard to the evening joint meeting, the middle aged civil officer did not felt that this was odd. In fact, the middle aged officer was aware that as a Charter Department Chief, he had the qualifications to look down upon the officials within the Presidential Office and the Defense Department. Furthermore, the family behind old department chief was considered ancient even amongst the Seven Imminent Families; it was also the most respected family by the ma.s.ses.


The old Charter Department Chief sat down within a battery-powered vehicle behind the building, throwing his crutch to the secretary. Turning his head and glancing at the building that he had been staying at for many years, hesitation and uneasiness suddenly welled up in his heart.  That engineer called Yu Feng was indeed the most well known country betrayer in the Federation in the past three hundred years. However, a doc.u.ment can be directly sent to the Defense Department that had acc.u.mulated their anger for over ten years. Why did the central computer issued a first cla.s.s order?


Curiosity flashed through the deep yet tranquil eyes of the department chief; in the eyes of these bigwigs – the upper cla.s.s members of Federation, regardless of the offense committed or world shaking matter done, engineer Yu Feng was still a n.o.body. Not willing to put more thoughts on this matter, he stopped thinking about it.


Shortly after he left, within the most strictly guarded central control room of Charter Department, the screen was still flickering incessantly inside the empty room, painting the room with a tinge of weirdness. Underneath the screen, a row of words flashed by without being saved in any records. That row of words was: First cla.s.s target, once again entering the field of vision.


Right on 12 pm in the afternoon, a fleet of black vehicles entered the 17th Research Inst.i.tute in the capital's suburban area. Under the stupefied eyes of the research workers there, the Federal Bureau of Investigation's staff members blockaded the warehouse and invited the fresh graduate surnamed Chen back for investigation. At the same time, the exhibit labeled AW3278 was also kept carefully while the deputy director in charge of this could only helplessly get on the black vehicle.


Right on 2 pm in the afternoon, a small scale meeting began at the Charter Department's third floor. The middle aged civil officer representing the department chief distributed the doc.u.ment into the hands of various department chiefs that were already aware of the situation and calmly said, "The central computer issued a first cla.s.s order. Even though it is an a.n.a.lysis by a machine, there must be a reason for it.  Although the matter had pa.s.sed for over ten years, the Federation would absolutely not allow any criminal to escape the law. Furthermore, the crime committed by Yu Feng was treason."


A high ranked officer in the Defense Department with a gloomy expression said, "This is a disgrace for the army. The department head mentioned that the Defense Department must be the one taking charge of this matter."


"Who taking charge is not an issue." The representative of the Presidential Office was only a middle ranked officer. He looked at the high ranked officer from the Defense Department and stated seriously, "The crux is that person must be captured. Mr. President is still temporarily unaware of this matter. The security consultant believed that since this engineer was previously a top student at the Military School with a lot of friends in the army, with his successful escape back then also due to these networks of him…current capturing operation should be handled by the Secret Service Department with Defense Department providing a.s.sistance."


"Everyone has the same goal; there is no need to argue excessively. Why don't we take a look at the action plan prepared by the Charter Department?" The middle aged civil officer from Charter Department calmly pressed a b.u.t.ton and the action plan appeared on the large screen on the wall.


"This engineer is merely a n.o.body, however to capture him back to the capital for trial would not be an easy task. The central computer recommends that…this mission were to be completed by the Westwood 4th Command Region a.s.sisted by Eastwood Police Headquarters."


"The 4th Command Region?" The high ranked officer from Defense Department nodded his head, extremely pleased with this arrangement. Since it was a proposal from the Charter Department, the Presidential Office would not have too many opinions on it. "What to do if we were to met with resistance?"


The official from Presidential Office said with a somber face, "This engineer is not only the army's disgrace. He is also a disgrace for the whole Federation. If he resists violently, kill without questions."