Hui Tian Ch55

Chapter 55

“Do you really think I’m a fool?” Shen Zhuo’ asked in confusion.

St. Carter’s Fort.

It was sixty nautical miles from the coastline of Purori Island, with the vast majority of the area covered by beaches and jungles. Deep underground, hidden away, lay the newly constructed storage base of the International Supervision General Administration—

A high-pressure, vacuum-sealed warehouse constructed from 15-meter-thick lead plates and blast-resistant alloys.

Five years ago, at the onset of sudden evolution, Shen Zhuo lobbied for countries to systematically collect evolution sources to prevent them from flowing into civilian hands, which could lead to a dramatic increase in the number of evolutionists. After effectively controlling the global population of evolutionists, Shen Zhuo then worked to persuade governments to destroy the evolution sources. However, undoubtedly, this encountered resistance because no ruler could possibly relinquish such a strategic weapon comparable to a nuclear warhead. Ultimately, agreements were reached, and storage bases were established, storing these meteorites according to the standards of Class 1 biological weapons.

The International Supervision General Administration possesses the largest quantity of evolution sources globally. Previously, they were sealed aboard a nuclear submarine, but shortly thereafter, due to issues such as frequent shedding of the coating material, the submarine was nearly targeted for precision strikes by radical protection organizations several times.

Until last year, the General Administration finally had to change its storage method, opting to build a new lead tank high-pressure warehouse in St. Carter’s Fort.

Shen Zhuo had just completed a preliminary inspection with the base staff, and it was already noon. He was originally planning to have a simple meal in the base cafeteria and then continue with the afternoon’s second phase of field surveys, but a ground staff member hurriedly arrived from the underground elevator and respectfully said:

“Supervisor Shen, Director-General Nielsen from the General Administration is here, waiting for you at the dock.”

Shen Zhuo, dressed in a laboratory white coat and goggles, furrowed his brow slightly at the news. “What for?”

“To invite you to lunch.”

Docked at the pier was a massive luxury yacht, which Shen Zhuo was not unfamiliar with—the Fenrir, under the International Supervision General Administration’s name, standing at a towering 344 feet, equipped with a helicopter landing platform, and capable of accommodating hundreds of people.

Nielsen had hosted several Christmas parties on this yacht, but Shen Zhuo had no interest in pleasure without any purpose and had never attended. This was his first time aboard.

“You’ve been working hard. Haven’t had lunch yet?” Nielsen briskly approached, extending his hand for a handshake with Shen Zhuo. His expression was perfectly filled with smiles, showing no trace of any lingering strangeness from the morning’s phone call. “I took the liberty of coming to see you in person. I have to return to the awards ceremony after lunch.”

“…”

A slight flicker of doubt crossed Shen Zhuo’s mind, but it wasn’t appropriate to say anything in front of the surrounding guards. He smiled and shook hands with Nielsen. “You didn’t have to do that. Didn’t you have a meeting with the Bishop of the Round Table at the luchleon?”

“It’s been rescheduled for the afternoon.” Nielsen stood in the sea breeze, his ice-blue pupils focused on Shen Zhuo as if he could only see him in the whole world. “Even with a lot on my plate, I wanted to make time to see you.”

Shen Zhuo knew Nielsen very well—a dominant, interest-driven alpha male. When such a person found their territory challenged by another alpha male of S-class status, they would indeed take immediate action to confirm their position. Moreover, the Bishop of the Round Table was just a nobody to Nielsen, so changing course to have lunch together was entirely something Nielsen would do.

But for some reason, Shen Zhuo couldn’t shake the subconscious feeling that something was off.

That was his overly sensitive intuition, honed from years of navigating high-risk environments.

“Come, I’ve prepared wine and fine caviar.” Nielsen ignored Shen Zhuo’s hesitation and personally led him toward the cabin of the yacht. “I hope we can both return to work and the ceremony on time after our meal… I’m afraid I’ll be working overtime until midnight for that awards ceremony tonight.”

Facing Nielsen’s self-deprecating expression, Shen Zhuo could only politely nod and smile in return.

***

Nielsen wasn’t lying; he had indeed prepared wines worth thousands of dollars, along with truffles and white caviar. The luxurious dining room of the yacht was adorned with snow-white marble tiles, and crystal vases with a single white rose adorned the tablecloth.

Although both came from affluent families, there were significant differences in their lifestyle habits between Nielsen and Bai Sheng.

While Bai Sheng enjoyed racing, watches, and investing in art, he tended to be reserved in his personal life. He could gather with inspectors around a hotpot without minding if someone dripped oil on his seemingly five-dollar but actually five-figure white T-shirt or if his multimillion-dollar watch bumped against the doorframe while playing with Chen Miao; he would carefully preserve any gifts given to him by others, even if it was just a two-hundred-yuan leather wallet from an inspector who gifted it to him. He once discovered that Shui Ronghua was also reading “Ode to Drama” and was greatly surprised. He sincerely praised Shui Ronghua, saying that the fifteen-yuan hairpin she bought on Taobao, along with it, indeed showed good taste.

Nielsen’s high standards, on the other hand, were very apparent.

He wouldn’t casually go to the supervision office in T-shirts and shorts with a bunch of milk tea and barbecue like Bai Sheng—he would spare no expense for a lunch, enjoy Moët & Chandon Millennium Champagne on a $200 million yacht, meticulously attend to every detail, and with the most arrogant yet distinct attitude, subtly convey:

You are exceptional to me, and you should be pleasantly surprised by this.

Shen Zhuo wasn’t particularly surprised. He only ate a bit of bread before putting down his utensils. Nielsen asked with concern, “Is the cuisine not to your taste?”

“No, it’s just because it was very hot in the sealed warehouse earlier.” Shen Zhuo politely replied, “The cuisine is arranged very well.”

“You seem a bit tired,” Nielsen paused, changing the subject, “How did Mr. Bai handle Antonio last night?”

—Here it comes.

He couldn’t hold back after all.

If it were earlier in the morning, Shen Zhuo might have indulged himself maliciously, smiling and answering, “Mr. Bai was quite rude; he lifted Antonio up against the wall. I’ll have to advise Mr. Bai after returning to Shenhai.” —That might have witnessed Nielsen’s immediate change of expression, which would have been quite thrilling.

But Shen Zhuo was never one to indulge himself too long in any state.

He might allow himself to sink into emotions after years of extreme repression, but that was only for one night. When the sun rose the next day, he had to transform back into the calm, rational, and unyielding Shen Zhuo; nothing could hold back his razor-sharp mind.

“It was nothing, really.” Shen Zhuo dabbed at the corner of his lips with a napkin and said lightly, “Mr. Bai and Antonio had a polite conversation, and after the misunderstanding was cleared up, Antonio apologized and left.”

“A polite conversation?”

Shen Zhuo said: “Yes, just a misunderstanding, nothing serious.”

Nielsen nodded, showing no indication of his thoughts on Shen Zhuo’s perfunctory answer. Suddenly, he said, “There’s something I’ve been wanting to ask you. What do you think of Mr. Bai?”

Shen Zhuo subtly raised an eyebrow.

He paused for a moment, but it felt like he had thought about it for a long time before speaking, “He’s a very unique person, I suppose.”

“Unique?” Nielsen became interested. “Is that a compliment or a criticism?”

“For people who hope to find warmth during late-night solitary walks, it’s a compliment. For people who must maintain a distance from warmth and remain cool-headed, it’s likely a criticism.” Shen Zhuo said calmly, “But one thing is for sure.”

Nielsen pressed, “What’s that?”

“The qualities he possesses will make you realize, upon meeting him, that it’s unlikely you’ll encounter another person like him in your lifetime.”

“…”

Outside the window, as the faint, salty sea breeze brushed past, distant seagulls cried out, flying towards the distant azure.

A slight, elusive smile played at the corner of Shen Zhuo’s lips, a hint of serene amusement.

“So whether it’s praise or criticism, it doesn’t matter much; at most, there’s a bit of regret.”

Soft music played in the spacious dining room, but the waiter had silently retreated, leaving only the two of them across the table. Nielsen remained silent for a long time before speaking up:

“Shen Zhuo.”

Shen Zhuo politely nodded.

“Your assessment of Mr. Bai seems quite high, but it’s too abstract. I’d like a more concrete answer.”

Nielsen stared at him, his voice heavy, “What do you truly feel about Mr. Bai?”

Shen Zhuo’s movements faltered slightly, perhaps not expecting Nielsen to be so straightforward in breaking the ice.

The icy blue eyes across from him didn’t blink, as if they were trying to pin Shen Zhuo down at the table, until they had thoroughly dissected every inch of his thoughts.

“…” Shen Zhuo remained silent for over ten seconds, during which not even a mind reader would have been able to discern what he was thinking. Then, he suddenly chuckled.

“Sorry, Director-General.” Shen Zhuo stood up, gently and politely looking down at Nielsen. “This kind of personal question doesn’t seem appropriate for discussion during work hours.”

Nielsen was slightly moved, reaching out to grab his hand as he stood up. “I’m sorry, I just—”

“I’m sorry.” Shen Zhuo pulled his hand back slightly, speaking softly but decisively. “I need to use the restroom.”

Before Nielsen could respond, Shen Zhuo had already turned and walked toward the door of the dining room.

For a moment, Nielsen’s first instinct was to stop him, but Shen Zhuo controlled his movements and pace perfectly, calm and composed. It seemed like he just wanted to give each other a bit of space.

—It’s okay, Nielsen reassured himself, gathering his thoughts.

The entrance to the restroom was also guarded by evolutionists; everyone on the ship was Nielsen’s trusted confidants, and no human could escape even if they grew wings.

He halted his steps to intercept Shen Zhuo, but at that moment, his secretary approached from behind, holding a very small white pill in the palm of his hand, and whispered softly, seeking permission:

“Director-General?”

Nielsen’s gaze fell on the pill.

It was something he had planned when he boarded the ship, but when it came time to make a decision, there were a few seconds when the first image that came to his mind was actually the scene from three years ago when he first met Shen Zhuo.

At that time, Shen Zhuo had just been rescued from a brutal torture session, with nineteen broken bones, weak breath, pale and disheveled, as if he could die at any moment. Yet his face was astonishingly beautiful, giving off a sense of vulnerability that seemed easily graspable.

It took him three years to realize that it was nothing but wishful thinking.

After a moment of silence, Nielsen finally glanced at Shen Zhuo’s wine glass and nodded lightly.

***

Shen Zhuo didn’t delay for too long and soon returned to the dining room from the restroom.

At this level of power, no one would wear their emotions on their sleeves all day long. Shen Zhuo appeared calm and relaxed, and at least from his outward appearance, there was no sign of the tension from moments ago. He nodded politely to Nielsen and resumed his seat. “Director-General.”

Nielsen looked at him, his voice sounding slightly hoarse for some reason.

“…I apologize for the question earlier; it was very inappropriate.”

Shen Zhuo responded tactfully, “It’s okay, just a misunderstanding.”

Nielsen gestured with his glass, and Shen Zhuo reached out a finger toward the glass of water, but upon seeing the champagne glass suspended in the air across from him, he retracted his hand and picked up his own glass, gently clinking it against Nielsen’s.

“I hope you can accept my apology for the intrusion earlier,” Nielsen said, staring into Shen Zhuo’s eyes, his tone emphasizing the sincerity of his words as he repeated them, then taking a sip of his wine.

“…”

Shen Zhuo glanced down at his glass of wine for a moment. His hand holding the glass seemed to hesitate for a fraction of a second, but that might have been Nielsen’s imagination.

In that fleeting moment, Shen Zhuo looked up and smiled faintly, “I accept your apology.”

Then, under Nielsen’s intense gaze, he lifted his glass and took a sip of wine, the movement of his throat barely discernible.

In an instant, Nielsen felt a complex mixture of emotions swirling within him, like a weight lifted off his chest, yet also like being lifted high into the air, leaving his tongue tangled with unspeakable feelings.

With a soft clink, Shen Zhuo placed the champagne glass back on the table beside him.

“You still have to go back to the ceremony venue. It seems I shouldn’t waste your precious time any longer.”

The elegant music in the dining room had ceased at some point.

The surrounding air was very quiet, with the yacht gently floating on the boundless sea. Looking out the window, the pier had become tiny, almost reduced to a blurry white dot.

“In fact, I have one more question,” Nielsen suddenly spoke, as if he hadn’t caught Shen Zhuo’s hint to bid farewell.

Shen Zhuo raised an eyebrow.

Nielsen’s words were slow and deliberate, his tone even gentle, “Deep down, how do you feel about me?”

Shen Zhuo initially showed no reaction, but after a few seconds, a look of astonishment, surprise, and confusion appeared on his face. He managed to control his tone, “Sorry, Director-General, I’m not quite sure what you mean.”

Nielsen nodded, then stood up from the table opposite Shen Zhuo, placing a hand on Shen Zhuo’s hand resting on the table:

“Are you willing to submit to me?”

Submit to me.

When an S-class individual said those words to a human, there was only one possible meaning; there was no need for further interpretation.

Shen Zhuo finally came to his senses. Feeling absurd, he chuckled and attempted to retract his hand:

“Director-General, perhaps you’ve had too much to drink at lunch. The staff at the ceremony venue are still waiting for you—”

His words suddenly stopped, his expression changed abruptly, and he collapsed back into his seat, knocking over the champagne glass with a clatter.

The glass shattered on the floor, Shen Zhuo breathing heavily, managed to squeeze out a few words through gritted teeth, “What’s going on?”

“It’s just a drug to liven things up.”

He leisurely adjusted his tie, then left his seat to circle around to Shen Zhuo’s side. Sliding his hand smoothly into the back of Shen Zhuo’s collar, he loosely pressed against the icy nape of his neck.

“Actually, there was no real need for it. I just hope you’ll cooperate a bit later and spare yourself some pain…”

“…and hopefully feel some joy too.” Leaning close to Shen Zhuo’s ear, Nielsen whispered softly, “I truly wish for that.”

Knowing that Shen Zhuo carried a vial of genetic interferon with him, even if the drug had already taken effect and he couldn’t muster the strength to inject it, it was still a hindrance. So, Nielsen reached into Shen Zhuo’s coat pocket, intending to retrieve the syringe.

But in that moment, Shen Zhuo’s eyes flickered.

His gaze was cold and sharp, showing no signs of being drugged. In an instant, with lightning speed, Shen Zhuo plunged his hand, and blood splattered—Nielsen’s left leg gushed blood as Shen Zhuo decisively pierced his thigh!

“Do you really think I’m a fool?” Shen Zhuo’s expression was skeptical and cold.

He had already taken that superpower drug!

When? In the restroom?!

It dawned on Nielsen just how precise this person’s calculations were. He reached out to grab Shen Zhuo, but Shen Zhuo’s tactical skills were at a professional level. With swift movements, he unleashed a series of lightning-fast strikes, forcing Nielsen to evade.

With a crash of glass, Shen Zhuo darted through the air, shattering the porthole!

“What’s going on?”

“Stop!”

The roar of evolutionists erupted on the deck outside, followed by the blaring of the ship’s alarm and the urgent sounds of pursuit.

Inside the dining room, Nielsen glanced down at his pierced thigh, shaking his head with a wry smile as he murmured, “It’s my mistake, mistaking a cheetah for a kitten.”

Taking a deep breath, he snapped his fingers. The A-class ability “the Cage of Logic” activated, descending from above with a swoosh, enveloping the entire yacht.

“—Come out, Shen Zhuo; there’s nowhere to hide!”

The sound waves shattered all the portholes, with Nielsen’s voice echoing loudly throughout the ship.

“No one can find this ship.” Nielsen paused, his voice lowering:

“I don’t want to hurt you too much. Don’t make me attack you for real.”

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