Chapter 234 - 190: 13 Saint Targets

After careful consideration, Chu Bamboo finally decided to move into the C Company dormitories.

After all, compared to the apartment Lin Xia had rented for him, C Company had too many advantages. Not to mention it was closer to Z’s main server, but simply put, if anything came up, he could always go out and discuss it with Lin Xia and Zhao Shao.

Besides, it was also closer to the C Energy Battery Factory than the apartment Chu Bamboo currently lived in.

’First, I’ll go back and pack my things.’ Chu Bamboo turned around. He suddenly sensed something, his brow furrowing slightly. He nonchalantly raised a hand to block the sunlight, casually scanning his surroundings before picking a random direction and walking away.

He appeared normal on the surface, but inside, his heart was in turmoil. ’To the left, that six-foot bald man! He’s watching me.’

For Chu Bamboo, who possessed the Memory Divine Techniques, any surveillance on him was completely transparent. It didn’t matter how well the other party disguised themselves!

After all, he could directly perceive the emotions within their line of sight and thus determine their intentions.

’So, is it Howard? Or... after I got famous... did someone else recognize me? That shouldn’t be it. The AI idol hasn’t officially launched yet! And while I’ve gained some fame for my music, that fame is more attached to the name Chu Bamboo.’

’Following that line of thought, Howard is the most likely suspect. Has he set his sights on me again? Z’s efforts were ineffective... No, my good bro from the last timeline already proved that Howard suspected me! It’s just that after he tested me, he confirmed I wasn’t a Transcendent... and that’s why...’

As these thoughts churned in his mind, Chu Bamboo breathed a small sigh of relief.

Back home, he did a quick clean-up and pack.

He didn’t actually have many things. The knowledge he had printed from the Dream World had mostly been entered into Z... With Z’s protection, he didn’t need to worry about any problems online.

Even if the Celestial Net really did invade... it would most likely just end up being led on a wild goose chase by Z—of course, this had been mainly verified by his good bro!

Chu Bamboo only took his laptop and some personal belongings. Finally, he took a metal washbasin, tossed in the leftover notebooks that might cause problems, burned them to ashes, and dumped them into the toilet to be flushed away.

’Time to go!’ Chu Bamboo grabbed a shared bike by the roadside.

...

A bar.

In a private room.

Howard answered the phone, his expression flat. "You’re telling me you lost him?"

"Yes, I’m sorry, Boss!" On the video call, the muscular, bald man lowered his head. He had thought that tailing an ordinary university student would be a piece of cake! But he never imagined that in a single moment of distraction, the guy would just be gone.

"Keep tracking him!"

"But... Boss!" The bald man hesitated, then clenched his jaw and spoke. "That person is a student at Jinling University. He’ll most likely be at the school for the long term... and the security there is just too much!"

"I’ll get you a position as a foreign teacher at Jinling University... No, perhaps a janitor, a maintenance worker, a security guard—would something like that be a better fit for you? And less likely to arouse suspicion?" Howard said thoughtfully. After all, the bald man was a Divine Continent-descended Asian he had specifically chosen. Making him a foreign teacher would be counterproductively conspicuous.

Finally, he said, "You’re sure he didn’t spot you, right?"

"Yes, sir!" The bald man’s tone was utterly certain.

After hanging up, Howard leaned back on the sofa, his brow furrowing deeper and deeper. After much hesitation, he uttered, "Celestial Net, connect me to the Priest!"

The next moment, his phone screen glowed with a strange light, and an eyeball symbol appeared.

Then, a man who looked somewhat tired, his face resembling Howard’s but appearing much older, appeared on the screen.

"I hope you’re not here to waste my time." James’s voice was completely flat. He glanced at the time. "It may be early for you over in the Divine Continent, but it’s already quite late for me here..."

"Priest," Howard took a deep breath. "For this generation’s Saint, after a preliminary screening, I’ve found thirteen suspicious targets!"

At these words, James’s expression changed instantly. He slowly straightened his back, his face grim. "Explain."

"First, Guan Qianyu!" Howard pulled a photo from his pocket. It showed a woman with black-rimmed glasses and a very scholarly aura. "She was just selected as a Purple Mountain Talent and has achieved great things in the field of biology! Her mentor is the Divine Continent’s biology expert, Academician Zhonghai Yun. Over here in the Divine Continent, she’s hailed as a future academician in the making! But she’s not even thirty yet."

Howard paused briefly before emphasizing, "There’s one more thing... she’s very beautiful."

James seemed lost in thought. ’Yes, that’s a very significant point of suspicion! Young, beautiful, and also extremely talented... Only someone who combines all these traits is worthy of being called one of the Golden Humans, right?’

"Of course, most importantly," Howard shrugged, "she’s not in Yanjing. She’s in Jinling!"

Jinling.

James’s brow furrowed slightly. Yes, the location was the most critical factor.

"So, have you investigated her?" James asked cautiously.

"...She’s a biological research expert within the Divine Continent’s official research system! Getting in contact with her is very difficult." Howard hesitated. "I was hoping to get support from... our undercover agents lurking here!"

"...I will contact ’the Tower’!" James agreed with a deadpan expression.

"The second is Zhao Shao of Z Company!" Howard slid the top photo off the stack, revealing a picture of Zhao Shao with a district leader. "He founded Z Intelligence Co., Ltd.!"

"The Celestial Net was monitoring the Divine Continent’s network and detected abnormal fluctuations, which were ultimately traced back to Z Corporation! It’s highly likely he’s developed an AI that far surpasses the current global average!"

"However, he hasn’t revealed an AI of this level! I find that very suspicious... Still, perhaps a breakthrough in the field of biology, replicating the genetic achievements of the Saint, is more in line with the definition of the Saint! So I still find Guan Qianyu more suspicious... And of course, most importantly, he’s not good-looking!"

’Hmm...’ Howard looked at the tall, sturdy man. It wasn’t that he was ugly, but he definitely didn’t fit their aesthetic.

Howard laid out more than a dozen photos in a row, introducing them one by one. They were either movers and shakers in Jinling, or top-tier talents within the official system about whom no information could be found online!

Finally.

Howard produced the last-ranked photo, a picture of Chu Bamboo. "This guy is called... Chu Bamboo. Hmm, he’s a provisional candidate for now!"

"Tank! I need you to be more specific." James’s gaze sharpened, and his voice took on a commanding tone. "You’re being so careless. What if the Saint really is this person, and we miss him? What then?"

The first time he saw this person, James Raven felt he was highly suspicious. His looks and aura were too unique, a crane standing among chickens... Of everyone he had seen so far, this one left the deepest impression on him!

"...But the problem is, this guy, I just added him to the list today! He seems to be an incredibly powerful musical genius?" Howard speculated.

"? Music? Are you kidding me?" James almost thought he had misheard. Someone with a talent for music could be considered a candidate for the Saint? He asked again to confirm, then laughed in exasperation. ’You’re basically insulting those of us who are searching for the Saint...’

"But, according to data from the Celestial Net, he released sixty-seven different songs today alone! They cover a huge range, with songs in four languages—Chinese, English, Japanese, and Korean—and even different styles... Divine Continent folk songs, Han-style music, rock, light music..." Howard said gravely. "This covers almost every genre of music today!"

And the light music even involved instruments like the piano and violin...

That kind of all-around talent is too abnormal, too suspicious!

After a short pause, his tone became lighter. "Most importantly, the quality is exceptionally high for all of them! I listened to a few, and I think I’m falling in love with this kid... Oh, right, Priest, I know you like music too! I’ll send them to you now. I swear, you’ll fall in love with him too."

"...That’s enough. Is this the time to be discussing this?" James’s fists clenched, and he could feel a vein throbbing on his forehead.

He took several deep breaths but still couldn’t suppress his emotions, sternly criticizing, "We are working! I’ll say it again... don’t let irrelevant matters interfere with work! Do you have any idea how hard it was for our Raven Clan to secure this matter?"

"If we let the other families find a reason to use against us... then the consequences, Tank, you should understand them..."

...

「Half an hour later.」

"My God, this is brilliant! How can he sing such beautiful songs... in both a male and female voice."

James had a look of pure ecstasy on his face. Wearing headphones, he gently tapped the table along with Chu Bamboo’s singing. He felt that even if he were high, it would probably only feel this good! No... he didn’t even dare to imagine how amazing it would be to get high while listening to these songs.

"What a pity... Why does he have to sing Chinese, Japanese, and Korean songs too!" After listening to some of the other songs, James’s face scrunched up, his words filled with dissatisfaction. "He should be focusing all his talent on English songs! Why doesn’t this musical genius understand that only English is the world language, and English songs are the songs of the world!!"

"That’s what I think too." Howard nodded repeatedly.

"...Alright, but even so! Including him is too much of a stretch." James took off his headphones and thought for a moment, his voice now calm. "Let’s remove him..."

"Priest, don’t forget what was discussed at the Golden Conference!" Howard quickly interrupted. "Don’t make an irrational decision based on personal preference! The Saint is too important to us. He is the blueprint for eternal life, and... God’s future vessel in the Mortal World! He is our Noah’s Ark to the future."

James was silent for a moment.

"Besides, I also included him because... this person is connected to Z as well!" Howard added. "The reason he was able to explode in popularity on the Divine Continent’s internet seems to be because Z was managing things behind the scenes!"

"In that case, Shao Zhao’s suspiciousness has increased!" James said thoughtfully, finally narrowing his eyes. "Alright, my brother, I’ve always trusted your work... However, I want you to go to Z Company next and negotiate with them... I hope to acquire the distribution rights for Chu Bamboo’s English songs!"

"...Very well! I can use this as a chance to probe them." Howard nodded.

"Also," James slammed the table again. "please have a good talk with that musical genius from China! Set him on the right path of world music!"

James was clearly furious. "God, he is simply wasting his talent... wasting his life! If possible... I want him to sign with a music company under our name! His value... is likely beyond imagination! And if these songs aren’t from a long period of accumulation, but a sudden burst..."

James clicked his tongue in amazement. He didn’t dare to imagine just how high this person’s value would be.

Even the legendary Cat King and that King of Singing who committed suicide probably couldn’t compare to him!

To this...

"Yes, my brother!"