Chapter 20: The Officials Are Panicking!

At this moment, Chu Chen's Eight Challenges were completely pushed to the forefront of public discourse!

For a time, many people were tirelessly speculating about what the remaining seven challenges could possibly be!

Due to the continuous fermentation of the buzz, the topic of "Extreme Eight Items" undoubtedly surged to the number one spot on the trending searches, becoming a topic of conversation for many after meals!

【This guy is really too amazing, he is simply my idol!】

【The names of the Eight Challenges all sound quite imposing, it's simply incredible.】

【Indeed!】

【I already can't wait!】

【It's fortunate that God Chu isn't a real criminal, otherwise the consequences would be unimaginable!】

【Do you guys think the Expert Group can catch him within a month?】

【I don't think it's possible!】

【Hard to say. Although God Chu is amazing, the experts in the Expert Group aren't pushovers either. Let's wait and see!】

【Go, God Chu!】

Comments beneath the trending search appeared one after another.

In the blink of an eye, there were hundreds of millions of them!

It was simply terrifying!

Besides Weibo, on the search engine of a certain well-known browser, the search volume for the two characters "Chu Chen" also saw an explosive increase!

As of now, this figure has already broken through the 5 billion mark, breaking their website's all-time high search record in one fell swoop!

The most critical thing is that this number did not stop there!

It is still continuing to climb!

Furthermore, during this time, the homepages of major social media and video platforms were almost entirely occupied by Chu Chen and his Eight Challenges; the level of popularity exceeded everyone's imagination!

Especially the program's organizer, China Central Television!

Right now, they are completely panicked!

The purpose of them hosting this program was originally to warn people to revere the law and never commit crimes, otherwise, they would surely be unable to escape the net of justice!

But now, Chu Chen has pulled off such a stunt!

He started off by robbing 400 million, and then created some sort of Extreme Eight Items!

If he is really allowed to complete these eight challenges, wouldn't that become promoting crime?

When preparing this program, they never anticipated that such a thing would happen!

At this moment.

China Central Television!

Inside the office of Chen Zhiguo, the general director of the "Simulated Crime" program!

"He started by robbing 400 million, and it was a transnational crime! Extreme Parachuting through Swallow Cave, scattering money to the poor—it looks just like a United States blockbuster! What exactly is going on with this Chu Chen? When you were holding auditions, didn't you conduct background checks on the applicants?"

"We did, but there were no issues with his background, at least not from what we saw in the files."

Hearing Zhang Yiwen refute him, Chen Zhiguo immediately retorted: "You call an applicant who dares to rob 400 million right out of the gate 'no issues'?"

Facing Chen Zhiguo's questioning, Zhang Yiwen did not speak and could only remain silent.

Because there were indeed no issues with Chu Chen's files.

At first, he, like everyone else, thought Chu Chen was just a contestant chosen for his looks!

But who would have thought that this guy was hiding so much!

Not only did he successfully rob the cash-in-transit vehicle of Hua Mo Bank, but he also staged an extreme operation worthy of being recorded in world criminal history!

Secondly, those Extreme Eight Items are also quite impressive, directly maxing out the audience's anticipation!

It has made him almost a fan of his!

Seeing that he didn't respond, Chen Zhiguo calmed his emotions and continued:

"I just finished a phone call with the station leadership. The public relations staff from Bank of China is already negotiating with us about compensating for those 400 million."

"Just now, the leadership gave me a death order; they demand that the Expert Group must catch Chu Chen within a month no matter what!"

"The investigation authorization for overseas has already been approved. Later, you go and tell Liu Lao and the others to make sure they put in their best effort and absolutely do not let this Chu Chen pull off any more earth-shattering tricks! And even more so, do not let him complete that so-called Extreme Eight Items!"

"If he continues to commit crimes so recklessly, once the higher-ups hold us accountable, we won't be able to clean up this mess! Don't forget, the purpose of our program is to deter crime, not to promote it!"

After Chen Zhiguo finished speaking, Zhang Yiwen hesitated and said: "But, Director Chen, if Chu Chen is eliminated, our program's ratings will definitely be affected."

"Ratings? My great director, what time do you think it is? Still talking about ratings? He's doing this, he doesn't put us experts in his eyes at all. Letting him rob—good heavens, he directly robbed a cash-in-transit vehicle!"

Zhang Yiwen did not speak.

Because he did not want Chu Chen to be eliminated!

This guy is currently the program's popularity anchor!

As long as he is there, the program's ratings will definitely climb steadily!

Conversely, the ratings would shrink by at least half!

Based on Zhang Yiwen's experience, the program "Simulated Crime" definitely has the potential to become a hit variety show.

As long as Chu Chen is not eliminated, it being a global hit is only a matter of time!

But right now, due to the heinous crime he committed in Mexico, the program's organizers have suffered heavy losses!

They had to pay out 400 million right at the start!

The impact is also extremely negative.

If they cannot catch Chu Chen within a month, the organizers' situation will indeed be very awkward!

Not only will they be unable to answer to the higher-ups, but they will also lose face.

Additionally, they have to prepare another 400 million in prize money for him!

Zhang Yiwen could tell that this time, the organizers were truly panicking...

Thinking of this, he no longer dwelled on it and spoke directly:

"Fine, I will follow your arrangements and go communicate with the Expert Group immediately. Do you have any other instructions?"

Chen Zhiguo crossed his arms and paced back and forth in front of the desk, thinking for a good while before saying:

"Nothing else, but there is one point I must remind you of: all actions taken by the Expert Group must not violate the program rules! This point is critical! Because the more it is a time like this, the more one must pay attention to the influence of public opinion!"

"Mm, I understand this, please rest assured!"

"Very well, you go get busy first, and we will communicate in a timely manner if anything comes up!"

"Understood."

At the same time.

Mexico!

Inside Swallow Cave!

After a full minute of freefall, Chu Chen finally landed safely at the bottom of Swallow Cave!

After arriving, he unbuckled his parachute pack immediately, stepped through half-a-meter-deep bird droppings, and very easily found a very thick vine to start climbing upward.

The vegetation types in Swallow Cave are very rich.

There are a great many vines of all sizes.

Climbing up was not strenuous.

The only drawback was that the smell of the swift droppings was somewhat pungent.

But it had not reached the point of being unbearable.

As long as one diverted a portion of their attention, it could be easily handled.

Because there were so many places to borrow Force, it took Chu Chen less than an hour to escape this foul-smelling sinkhole and reach the top.

During this time, because other contestants were committing crimes, the live broadcast camera was not on Chu Chen.

Taking this opportunity, Chu Chen was not idle either; he decisively opened the system, preparing to check the task rewards that had arrived!