Bai Pu knew without thinking what the so-called additional clauses were.
The Byrons Chamber of Commerce and the Superpower Group were fiercely competing in the field of Spiritual Potions, with many overlapping areas in their business scope.
As an experimental escapee from the Superpower Group, Bai Pu naturally had high research value, so the additional clauses were likely about agreeing to cooperate with the Balance School's research.
To the Balance School, Bai Pu's value as an experimental subject far exceeded that of an Enhanced Elite Tank Profession.
That was why Bai Pu refused.
Having been retorted by his own words, Bladon could only smile awkwardly, secretly regretting that he had held himself in such high regard earlier.
"Li... Captain, do I need to join the army?" Bai Pu confirmed again. Although he was somewhat resistant to joining the army, feeling it would restrict him, he was forced to compromise to deal with the real threat of the Superpower Group.
Li Ling looked at Bai Pu curiously: "If you want to enlist, you have to go through political and moral reviews. Even though the restrictions for Awakened individuals are relatively relaxed, it's not that easy."
From Li Ling's words, Bai Pu deduced that the Divine Strategy Army, this Awakened organization, wasn't Huaxia's Awakened troop but rather a semi-military organization with military backing that recruited outstanding Awakened individuals. It should include core members (active soldiers) and guest members (non-military personnel).
"I'm willing to join, but I want to sign a formal contract," Bai Pu said.
"Of course." Li Ling agreed immediately and instructed her attendant to print the membership contract.
Bai Pu's request to sign a formal contract was a precaution. While investigating the Byrons Chamber of Commerce, he also checked their partners, which included the Great Tang Group.
Although the Great Tang Group was involved in the Spiritual Potion industry, it mainly operated upstream, supplying large quantities of raw materials for Spirit Realm medicine. Conflicts between the Great Tang Group and the Byrons Chamber of Commerce or the Superpower Group were rare; they had extensive cooperation and a good relationship.
Bai Pu had to be cautious, in case the Divine Strategy Army was keeping him temporarily stable, only to secretly call the Superstar Alliance to capture him.
Signing a formal contract and joining the Divine Strategy Army meant he was one of them. If the Divine Strategy Army betrayed its own people and sold them out, who would stay in such an organization?
Li Ling was efficient, and in less than ten minutes, two copies of the contract were laid out in front of him.
Bai Pu carefully reviewed the contract. The terms were not overly generous, but there were no traps either. He didn't hesitate any longer and signed his name.
"Congratulations, we're colleagues from now on. I hope you will be disciplined and motivated, and soon join the troop to become a true comrade." Li Ling's attitude became much more formal, extending her hand to Bai Pu.
Bai Pu shook her hand, thinking to himself: Forget it, I don't plan to join the army for now.
...
In the army-green jeep, Bai Pu and Li Ling were both seated in the back seat.
From Bai Pu's angle, he could see through the gap in the buttons of Li Ling's white shirt, revealing a patch of fair skin.
He averted his gaze, staring at the back of the driver's head in front of him.
"The first thing to do now is to revoke the Jiangnan Police Department's record on you. I'll try and see if it can be done."
As Li Ling spoke, she had already taken out her phone, making two consecutive calls.
Revoking the record wasn't going smoothly because Li Ling was from the military and not part of the local police system—Jiangnan Police Department was actually more closely linked with the Superpower Group.
Of course, faced with pressure from the Divine Strategy Army represented by Li Ling, the Jiangnan Police Department didn't dare to resist outright and chose a muddled approach.
"Let's go to Jiangnan Base City."
Li Ling put down the phone and briefly explained to Bai Pu, "The Jiangnan Police Department proposed a civil mediation plan, requiring you to meet with the Superpower Group's representative for mediation. I will accompany you."
Bai Pu naturally agreed.
After all, he had already signed the membership contract, and he did so in front of the entire Byrons investigative team. With such witnesses, Bai Pu's joining of the Divine Strategy Army was a done deal, undeniable by anyone.
Li Ling would never set him up; otherwise, word would spread, and the "military spirit" of the Divine Strategy Army would crumble.
...
Jiangnan Base City, Police Department, Mediation Hall.
At the long conference table sat three parties: the Jiangnan Police Department, representatives of the Superpower Group, and Bai Pu with Li Ling.
The young man sitting across from Bai Pu was wearing a meticulously tailored suit, and under his gold-rimmed glasses, there emanated an unabashedly sinister and chilling light, staring fixedly at Bai Pu.
Do you really hate me that much? Is it necessary? You're just a worker too. Are you that loyal to being a capitalist's dog?
Bai Pu thought to himself, suddenly hearing the introduction from the Police Chief.
"This is Wu Chen, the secretary of the Superpower Group's president. His other identity is the second son of Mr. Wu Yongxin, the chairman of the Superpower Group. His personal presence here demonstrates the sincerity of the Superpower Group in mediating the issue."
Bai Pu suddenly understood, no wonder it made sense as the capitalist himself.
Wu Chen let out a light snort and spoke: "Back then, we signed an agreement and spent a vial of precious Evolutionary Source Blood on the experimental subject Bai Pu, along with 750 milliliters of Heqimujia Solution, not to mention other valuable support potions and expert diagnosis fees. But what was the result? The experimental subject disobeyed orders and fled to the Spirit Realm with a hugely valuable Curio, blatantly breaching the contract!"
Wu Chen did not mention that in the Flesh and Blood Plague of the Origin Plane in the Spirit Realm, the second vial of Evolutionary Source Blood taken by Bai Pu was not under the jurisdiction of real-world laws, and the Police Department would not handle it.
"So, what is the Superpower Group's request?"
Wu Chen stared at Bai Pu: "Of course, continue fulfilling the agreement, Bai Pu must return to the Superpower Private Hospital for the experiment!"
Once Wu Chen spoke, Bai Pu recognized his voice.
At the Superpower Private Hospital, just as Bai Pu was about to teleport to the Spirit Realm, it was Wu Chen who was roaring, threatening Bai Pu to abandon the trial.
Bai Pu shook his head and said: "I remember the agreement we signed was a 'Clinical Medical Agreement'. As a trial patient, I entered the Superpower Private Hospital for free treatment of my congenital heart disease; the Superpower Group collected clinical data on the drugs, all part of the agreement."
After a brief pause, Bai Pu continued: "I am very grateful to the Superpower Private Hospital for curing my heart disease. Now I've regained health, and the Superpower Group's trial was also successful, isn't this a win-win situation?
"I don't understand where the breach is, if you want my health recovery data, that's no issue, I can undergo tests at any public hospital and provide the results to you for free."
"You took the Evolutionary Source Blood!" Wu Chen said, one word at a time, through gritted teeth, "We demand its return!"
"The Evolutionary Source Blood should be the 'special medicine' that cured my heart disease, correct."
Bai Pu calmly said, "The Clinical Medical Agreement mentioned that the entire trial treatment process was free. I've never heard of a special medicine being too valuable to be extracted from a patient."
Wu Chen's momentum faltered. After all, it was the unreliable agreement signed between the group and Bai Pu—it wasn't an experimental agreement, but a Clinical Medical Agreement!
The agreement stipulated that if Bai Pu died due to adverse reactions, the hospital would not be responsible; it required Bai Pu to cooperate with the injection and fusion of Evolutionary Source Blood, and when questioned by the Spirit Realm Will, he must choose "yes"; it also stated that after Bai Pu's death, his body would voluntarily be donated to the Superpower Private Hospital…
But it didn't say what to do if Bai Pu survived and regained his health!
Under normal circumstances, as Bai Pu mentioned, a trial patient surviving and regaining health should be a joyous matter, and the pharmaceutical company would obtain precise formulation data of the special medicine and move on to mass production.
But the problem is, Bai Pu's "special medicine"—Evolutionary Source Blood—is a Spirit Realm Wonder that cannot be replicated, making mass production impossible.
The Superpower Group's original plan wasn't to cure Bai Pu. The original plan was to extract the Source Blood after a successful experiment and freeze Bai Pu to become the Mother for making "Source Blood Harmonizer"!
Bai Pu stared at Wu Chen, delivering the final blow: "Is there any scholar accompanying this time, responsible for this project? Can you tell me the condition of the previous three experimental subjects?"
"This is irrelevant to the case!" Wu Chen said.
"No, it's relevant!" Bai Pu said blandly, "Those three experimental subjects, unlike me, weren't as suitable for the Source Blood. Their bodies mutated during the experiment, and with the Source Blood extracted, they all died. Your special medicine Evolutionary Source Blood has an extremely high mortality rate. I risked my life in the trial, gambling with my life.
"Now that I've won the gamble, and the trial succeeded, you want to extract the special medicine, causing irreparable harm or even death to my body… Officers of the Police Department, is this really fair and reasonable?"
Bai Pu's words were reasonable and cogent, and no one from the Superpower Group found any argument to refute—Wu Chen did bring up the premature hacking of the Superpower Private Hospital's computers, but there was no way to investigate that matter anyway.
By the end of the debate, even the police officers responsible for recording and maintaining order at the Police Department showed approval of Bai Pu's words.
If it weren't for Li Ling, Bai Pu wouldn't dare to seek justice at Jiangnan Base City, no matter how reasonable his argument was.
Dignity lies on the blade's edge, and truth lies within the cannon's range. No matter how good the argument, it needs force to back it up. You are only entitled to reason when your fist is bigger, or at least as big as the opponent's!
Li Ling looked at Bai Pu with admiration. Eloquent debate ability is also an important measure of an Awakened's ability to explore the Spirit Realm.
She was prepared to rely on force to suppress but now seemed unnecessary to make that call.
In the end, the Jiangnan Police Department concluded that Bai Pu's record would be lifted. The Superpower Group's accusation of Bai Pu "stealing a Spirit Realm Wonder of immense value" was unfounded!