C16 Provocation

In the office of the Security Department, a slightly overweight middle-aged man took his seat. He appeared to be around 30 years old and exuded an imposing aura.

Standing at roughly 1.8 meters, his physique was notably robust.

Such a commanding presence indicated that he was a force to be reckoned with, possessing considerable strength.

"Is that Lin Shaodong?"

Su Chen didn't personally know Lin Shaodong, but he was well aware of his reputation in both public and private circles.

Rumor had it that before Lin Shaodong took on the role of security captain, he was a professional boxer with fearsome skills in the ring.

That was the essence of Lin Shaodong's formidable reputation.

He boasted an incredibly sturdy build, and his explosive power was nothing short of terrifying. This was Lin Shaodong in the flesh.

A spark of intensity flickered in Lin Shaodong's eyes.

He had received his orders from Director Liu to confront Su Chen. In fact, Lin Shaodong and Director Liu had long since formed an alliance.

Though Lin Shaodong was the captain of security, he wasn't a mid-level executive within the company, so he needed a powerful backer.

Director Liu was that backer.

He was more than ready to follow his superior's commands, especially since the task seemed all too easy for Lin Shaodong.

Lin Shaodong knew exactly what this meant.

Su Chen was merely an intern, hardly a challenge. For the esteemed Captain Lin Shaodong, dealing with Su Chen would be a breeze.

He found the situation laughably easy, so it barely registered as a concern.

Lin Shaodong remained utterly composed.

He rose to his feet effortlessly.

"Are you Su Chen?" Lin Shaodong asked, his voice booming with authority.

Upon hearing Lin Shaodong's words, Su Chen realized this man meant trouble. Had he not acquired the skills of a Martial Grandmaster, he might have felt some trepidation.

But now, with the Martial Grandmaster's skills at his disposal, Su Chen dismissed Lin Shaodong with indifference.

No matter Lin Shaodong's strength, he couldn't compete with a Martial Grandmaster—that was the firm belief in Su Chen's mind.

Witnessing this standoff, Su Chen simply offered a cool, mocking smile.

"Captain Lin, state your business directly. Since Director Liu has tasked me with assisting you, you can count on my support."

Su Chen spoke with earnest conviction.

Upon hearing Su Chen's words, Lin Shaodong was momentarily taken aback. He hadn't anticipated Su Chen's composed demeanor.

Indeed, Su Chen's calmness had exceeded Lin Shaodong's expectations.

At that moment, as he observed Su Chen's unruffled presence, Lin Shaodong's expression turned grave.

Lin Shaodong exuded an aura that was undeniably intimidating.

"Here's the situation: our security team is scheduled for training, but we're currently one member short. Noticing your robust build, I thought to recruit you as our sparring partner. I trust you'll be up to the task!" Lin Shaodong explained.

"Uh..."

Su Chen found himself at a loss for words.

To him, the situation was absurdly speechless. Su Chen felt as helpless as he was resigned.

He could see right through Lin Shaodong's intentions—it wasn't about sparring at all. Su Chen was no fool; he understood the implications and was ready for what was to come.

"Well then, if Captain Lin sees fit to have me as his sparring partner, I take it as an honor. Naturally, I won't turn down the opportunity!" Su Chen responded, his face breaking into a smile.

A flicker of emotion crossed Lin Shaodong's face.

"You said it yourself. Should there be a few knocks and scrapes during practice, I trust you won't take it to heart," Lin Shaodong said with gravity.

At these words, Su Chen nearly burst into laughter. The sense of helplessness was palpable—Lin Shaodong's arrogance knew no bounds.

With such brazenness, all Su Chen could do was remain speechless.

He simply shook his head.

"Really? Well then, I must say I'm quite eager to see what's in store!" Su Chen replied, his face the picture of serenity.

And with that, they made their way to the company's backyard.

Meanwhile, on the second floor of the company building, two figures watched the unfolding scene through the panoramic windows.

One was Director Liu, and the other, Liu Dagang.

Both men leisurely sipped their red wine, eyes trained on the scene below.

"Big brother, you're truly formidable. Your plan is sure to give Su Chen a taste of real hardship!" Liu Dagang remarked with palpable excitement.

Lin Shaodong had already escorted Su Chen to the training ground, and it was expected that a beating would ensue.

This, Liu Dagang hoped, would settle his score.

He was buzzing with excitement.

Director Liu, on the other hand, let out a cold laugh.

"Su Chen is nothing but trash. With just a minor ploy, I can make him die without a place to be buried. Today's incident is merely a lesson for him," Director Liu declared.

Liu Dagang's excitement intensified upon hearing Director Liu's words. His hatred for Su Chen ran deep. Taking a sip of red wine, the murderous intent in his eyes reached a fever pitch.

Meanwhile, Lin Shaodong had led five security guards to the company's training ground at the back—the domain of the security department.

The company took its security personnel very seriously, as they were responsible for safeguarding the company's well-being.

By bringing Su Chen to this spot, Lin Shaodong was clearly gearing up to confront him.

Just then, Hou Shiguang made his way over.

Hou Shiguang, too, harbored a deep-seated loathing for Su Chen. His sole intention was to severely deal with him. Though not as formidable as Lin Shaodong, Hou Shiguang was a force to be reckoned with. His fist technique was incredibly powerful, a skill he had mastered under Lin Shaodong's tutelage.

Indeed, Hou Shiguang ranked among the top three in the company—a level of prowess not easily matched.

His animosity for Su Chen was so intense that he was determined to ensure Su Chen met an unmarked grave.

This was the single thought consuming him.

Su Chen was, after all, utterly contemptible.

Hou Shiguang's fists clenched in resolve.

"Kid, you're up against me first!"

The other security guards closed in, their faces etched with scorn.

"With those scrawny arms and legs, how could he possibly stand up to Hou Shiguang? His punches are notoriously brutal!"

"Right? Looks like the kid's in for a rough time. Must've crossed Captain Lin to end up here as a punching bag."

The security guards buzzed with commentary.

One guard, however, smirked knowingly, as if he understood the whole backstory.