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Chapter 7
That was the first time Bai Sheng saw this hard-line supervisor in news photos.
The sound of water in the bathroom ceased, and Bai Sheng walked out, towel-drying his damp hair.
Through the French windows, the vibrant night scene of the entire city could be seen. Bai Sheng stood there, his strong upper body with broad shoulders, narrow waist, and smooth muscles exposed. Every inch of his physique exuded an understated sense of dominance. His well-defined abdominal muscles extended downward, concealed beneath the bath towel around his waist.
He stretched lazily by the window, then turned to look at the opened laptop on the table. The screen displayed a news screenshot from three years ago, with bold black headlines:
“International Supervision General Administration Direct Appointment, New Chief Supervisor’s Background a Mystery.”
The accompanying image was a photograph.
In Basel, Switzerland, in front of the International Supervision General Administration building, a young man, entirely wrapped in a black coat, stood under an umbrella, bidding farewell to the Chief of the Office.
The sky drizzled with a fine rain, and the black umbrella concealed his face. The camera only captured the lower half of his profile—pale skin with refined features and thin lips pressed together in a straight line devoid of emotion.
Bai Sheng narrowed his sharp eyes slightly.
“…Evolutionists possess exceptional physical qualities and various abilities, making them perceived as threats. However, in reality, for us evolutionists, it is humans who are the truly powerful and dangerous beings…”
It was an evening three years ago. The setting sun shone through the stained glass skylight of a church, casting a magnificent marble round table. Young evolutionists with diverse skin tones sat scattered around the table, focusing on an elderly British man with white hair.
“Is it because of the vast difference in numbers, ‘Bishop’?” Bai Sheng leaned back in his seat with his legs casually crossed, raising his hand to ask.
The old man glanced at him, “No, it’s because, compared to the scattered evolutionists, ordinary human groups have a more consistent goal.”
The young students all showed expressions of confusion.
“The goal of survival is reproduction, and at the end of reproduction is evolution. When a shortcut to evolution is presented, any inhumane and anti-universal value genetic research could occur in the shadows.”
The old man reached out to switch the projection, and a news article appeared on the screen.
“The International Supervision General Administration just issued an appointment yesterday, designating this person as one of the ten permanent supervisors of the United Nations,” the old man pointed to the screen, “Shen Zhuo.”
Bai Sheng’s pupils dilated slightly.
It was the first time he saw Shen Zhuo in a photo, the later renowned hardliner supervisor known for his rare beauty and iron-fisted approach.
The media regulations required the blurring of the supervisor’s photos, so the photo wasn’t very clear. However, the exquisite chin and slender neck were still discernible beneath the black umbrella.
A buzzing murmur spread around the round table, and after a while, a white student raised their hand and asked, “Is this Shen Zhuo also an evolutionist, Bishop?”
The old man shook his head.
“No, he is a confirmed non-evolved ordinary human. But from another perspective, perhaps he represents the genetic pinnacle that humans can achieve on their own. From the information we have, he holds at least two doctoral degrees and is highly authoritative in the field of genetic engineering. He was appointed as the chief director of the research institute at the C Country Center quite early. Although his research projects are top-secret, there have always been rumors that he conducted many inhumane persecutory experiments on evolutionists.”
“Two months ago, a highly energetic evolution-source meteorite was discovered in Qinghai, C Country. A three-person team was sent for retrieval, including an S-class, an A-class, and Shen Zhuo. However, during the mission, the evolution source explosively detonated due to an ‘operational accident,’ resulting in severe injuries to the A-class evolutionist and the on-the-spot death of the S-class evolutionist, Fu Chen.”
There are only about twenty S-classes globally, and everyone around the round table erupted in shock: “Fu Chen from Asia is dead?”
“Accident? What kind of accident?”
“Impossible! It was just an explosion. An S-class is not that easy to die!”
……
“The Round Table has exhausted all methods and couldn’t investigate the true cause of the explosion or what Shen Zhuo’s top-secret research project is. But one thing is certain.”
The old man took a breath, emphasizing his tone as he slowly said, “After the explosion, Shen Zhuo suddenly acquired some powers similar to evolution.”
“Or rather, he gained some of the powers originally belonging to Fu Chen.”
The implied meaning of this statement was so chilling and ominous, as if a cold current swept through the air, causing everyone around the table to shudder.
“After Fu Chen’s death, Shen Zhuo was demoted to the lowest position and expelled from the research institute. However, oddly enough, the International Supervision General Administration suddenly went against the norm. Ignoring the opposition from various evolution protection organizations worldwide, they forcefully appointed Shen Zhuo as one of the ten permanent supervisors of the United Nations. He is about to be sent to the Shenhai jurisdiction for duty.”
“Let me remind you all that in the city of Shenhai, there are tens of thousands of evolutionists—tens of thousands of our fellow brothers and sisters.”
The old man’s gaze became solemn as he looked around at every young face around the round table.
“Those of you present are high-level evolutionists; many of you are A-class, and some even S-class. Regardless of your skin color or race, please remember one thing—”
“Evolutionists are a minority group on this Earth. Once conflict breaks out, we will undoubtedly be the ones to be exterminated.”
“You have a responsibility to protect the weaker members of your kind, just like the alpha wolf protects its fellow pack members.”
……
“Supervisor…Shen,” Bai Sheng supported his chin with one hand, looking down at the news photo from top to bottom, murmuring with a smile.
His voice was naturally low and light, sounding quite elegant, but when he spoke with a smile, there was a subtle sense of frivolity and even a hint of eccentricity. Especially when pronouncing those three words, each syllable carried a lingering tone.
“What exactly do you want to get from us, beauty?”
The next day, the Shenhai City Supervision Office.
Interrogation room.
“I don’t know anything, Evolution Source? I found it on the roadside.”
Zhao Jun was pressed behind the iron table by two guards. This playboy, who was once extravagant at nightclubs, seemed to have changed overnight. His eyes were bloodshot, and his face was pale. He said mockingly, “Aren’t you Shenhai supervisors very awesome? If you’re so awesome, investigate it yourself. Why are you trying to use torture to force a confession?”
Behind the one-way glass of the interrogation room, Shen Zhuo stood with one hand in his uniform pocket, slightly frowning.
“Since waking him up last night, we’ve been interrogating him until now. He refuses to say anything; when pressured, he just talks nonsense, spouting all sorts of vulgarities.” An interrogator reported the situation, hesitating for a moment. However, they didn’t dare to relay the specific “vulgarities.” “But rest assured, starting at noon today, we have intensified the interrogation, and we will definitely extract the origin of the evolutionary source from his mouth as soon as possible!”
“He won’t say it.”
Interrogator: “Ah?”
Shen Zhuo said indifferently, “Because his talisman hasn’t arrived yet.”
“Talisman?”
The interrogator was puzzled. At this moment, a cold laugh from Zhao Jun came from behind the one-way glass, “If you have the guts, use torture. I want to see if you dare to leave me injured. You know Chief Yue of the Central Supervision Office, right? He was Fu Chen’s iron brother before, and he has been a close friend of our family for many years…”
The interrogator was greatly surprised, “This person, surnamed Zhao, has such connections?”
Shen Zhuo said, “His family has been operating in B City for many years, and the connections are indeed not shallow.”
“But what about his talisman…?”
“Do you think Chief Yue will turn a blind eye to me?” Zhao Jun provocatively raised his voice, “We still haven’t forgotten how Fu Chen died three years ago. Guess whether Chief Yue would want to kill me or would take advantage of this opportunity to kill Shen Zhuo?”
The air inside and outside the interrogation room froze for a moment.
Fu Chen was sacrificed three years ago; the publicly stated cause of death was an explosion accident, but everyone knew very well that Fu Chen’s death was closely related to Shen Zhuo. If nothing unexpected happened, it might even be Shen Zhuo intentionally causing his death.
In these three years, the Central Supervision Office hated Shen Zhuo to the bone, and those subordinates under Fu Chen during his lifetime would love nothing more than to tear Shen Zhuo apart alive. And now, Yue Yang, the head of the Central Supervision Office, was Fu Chen’s classmate, comrade, and most loyal brother. He personally presided over Fu Chen’s funeral back then.
Even if there’s only one person left in the world wanting to avenge Fu Chen, that person must be Yue Yang.
How Chief Yue would use Zhao Jun’s situation to deal with the Shenhai Supervision Office, one didn’t need to think much.
“Supervisor!” At this moment, a team member hurriedly entered the observation room. “Captain Chen asked me to report to you. Chief Yue took a special plane from B City this morning and is about to arrive at our supervision office!”
He actually came in person!
The tension in the room escalated as several people looked visibly strained. However, Shen Zhuo’s eyes revealed a subtle nuance as he pushed open the door of the interrogation room and walked straight in.
“Supervisor…?”
Behind the one-way glass, Zhao Jun, who was being escorted, suddenly raised his head, caught off guard by the sight of Shen Zhuo. His pupils constricted abruptly.
The dissolute and aloof beauty from the nightclub seemed to have never appeared. In his sober state, the chief supervisor was elegant, composed, and had a complexion resembling solid ice—cold and pale. Below his throat, not even a hint of skin was exposed.
In an instant, a sense of resentment surged within Zhao Jun. “So…, it’s really you…”
“Shut up!” the guard rebuked.
Shen Zhuo halted his steps, staring down at Zhao Jun from top to bottom.
“…” Zhao Jun gritted his teeth, feeling a sourness in his mouth. Suddenly, he let out a sharp, mocking laugh, lowering his voice and saying word by word, “If I had known, I wouldn’t have waited until the hotel. I should have done it in the car. I want to see if there will be a crying and pleading expression on your face…”
“What nonsense!” “Shut up!”
Everyone was shocked, standing up abruptly. Security guards rushed forward, pinning him to the ground. ‘Shut up! Do you want to die?!’
Bang! Zhao Jun’s head hit the ground, his neck gripped tightly by the guard’s iron-like hand. His face turned red, and he struggled desperately but was unable to make a sound.
Shen Zhuo waved his hand.
The guards were still trembling from shock and dispersed reluctantly. Zhao Jun, looking disheveled, lay on the ground. Shen Zhuo then slightly lifted his face with the tip of his shoe.
“Selling evolution sources can lead to a life sentence. Do you think only Chief Yue can save you now?”
“…”
Zhao Jun didn’t answer, but his expression spoke volumes.
Shen Zhuo looked down at him. “Then let’s see.”
Knock, knock. Chen Miao knocked on the door, walked briskly to stand behind Shen Zhuo, and saluted. “Supervisor, Chief Yue has arrived.”
A tall, stern figure appeared at the doorway.
The newcomer was dressed in a black uniform, with sharply defined facial features and a prominent nose, exuding a disciplined and steady temperament even when silent. He was none other than Chief Yue, the head of the Central Supervision Office.
Hope flickered in Zhao Jun’s eyes at the sight of Chief Yue. He opened his mouth, seemingly about to seek help, but in the next moment, his face was pressed down by Shen Zhuo’s foot, firmly held against the ground.
“I want to tell you something,” Shen Zhuo said from his elevated position.
“…”
Zhao Jun’s face turned purple, and even the bones of his face made a stifling crunch beneath the sole of Shen Zhuo’s shoe.
Behind them, Yue Yang waved his hand, signaling the surrounding staff not to stand up and salute. He calmly and habitually observed the scene.
Shen Zhuo casually tossed a sealed bag onto the ground, and Zhao Jun’s pupils widened suddenly. In the sealed bag was a stone emitting a faint blue glow.
“This is the ‘evolution source’ sample you attempted to illegally sell for sixteen million dollars. According to instrument analysis, it’s a counterfeit.”
Zhao Jun was completely stunned, but immediately a wild joy surged within him. If this evolution source was fake, it meant he had been deceived by his supplier. However, the charge of illegal sale of evolution sources would not stand, and he wouldn’t have to spend his life in prison!
“And this,” Shen Zhuo said, reaching back and taking a metal isolation tube from Chen Miao. Inside was another luminous meteorite, which he displayed in front of Zhao Jun’s head.
“This is the genuine item retrieved from the storage room of the Shenhai City Supervision Office.”
Zhao Jun stared at the two glowing stones in disbelief, his eyes shifting between them. He wondered what Shen Zhuo was getting at; surely he wasn’t expected to distinguish between the real and the fake on the spot?
“I believe someone like you, dealing in the sale of evolution sources, wouldn’t easily fall victim to deception by your supplier. Therefore, you’re not the focus; your supplier is. Unfortunately, you’ve refused to cooperate since last night, refusing to divulge any information about the fake evolution source, as if you’ve made up your mind not to talk, thinking I won’t be able to do anything about it.”
“—You seem to have a significant misunderstanding about me.” Shen Zhuo paused and continued, “You apparently think that I pursue evidence and truth, won’t easily wrong a suspect, and certainly won’t tamper with evidence.”
Zhao Jun froze.
Then he realized what Shen Zhuo was implying and blurted out, “Do you want—no, you’re a supervisor, you can’t—”
“I can,” Shen Zhuo replied gently, his tone almost cruel.
“If I say which evolution source you illegally sold, that’s the one. If I want you to rot in prison, you’ll rot. If I want your bones to turn to dust, they will, and you won’t see the light of day in your next life.”
“In the supervisor’s world, power prevails. Under the power system, there’s no need to adhere to the law.”
“No, no… no,” Zhao Jun finally realized the horror of the situation. He shivered involuntarily, desperately turning his face under Shen Zhuo’s shoe and looking around the interrogation room at everyone. “You’re creating an unjust case. There are so many people witnessing this. You—”
His roar abruptly ceased.
Everyone remained silent, and both inside and outside the interrogation room, an obedient hush prevailed.
“…” Zhao Jun struggled to move his head in disbelief and looked toward the imposing figure of Yue Yang standing at the entrance of the interrogation room.
Yue Yang, who had been silent since entering the room, finally spoke at this moment. His voice was calm, devoid of any ripples, “I respect Supervisor Shen’s jurisdiction, and I have no objections.”
Zhao Jun, feeling as if he had fallen into an icy abyss, trembled violently. His lips quivered, but he couldn’t utter a single word.
Shen Zhuo withdrew his foot from Zhao Jun’s face, half-crouched down, and his mocking voice was audible only to the two of them, “You don’t think this person came here for you, do you?”
“…” The entity named despair completely swallowed Zhao Jun. Every trace of color drained from his face, and his pupils dilated dramatically.
The air became so stiflingly silent that it felt suffocating. After a while, he convulsed violently, as if abruptly waking from a nightmare.
The sound of alarms filled the air as everyone rushed forward. However, they witnessed Zhao Jun sobbing, then escalating into loud wailing, struggling to reach out and clutch the hem of Shen Zhuo’s pants.
“I understand. I understand my mistake… I’m willing to cooperate; I’ll cooperate with everything! I obtained the evolution source from a middleman half a month ago; the middleman goes by the alias ‘Shi San Yao.’“1十三幺” (Shi San Yao) is a special winning hand in Chinese Mahjong. In English, it is often referred to as the “Thirteen Orphans” or “Thirteen Wonders.” This is a rare and valuable hand that consists of one of each of the honor tiles (winds and dragons), along with one each of the terminal tiles (1 and 9) in each suit, plus an additional tile of any of the three suits. In total, there are 13 unique tiles in the hand, hence the name “Thirteen Orphans.” Achieving this hand is considered a significant accomplishment in Mahjong.”
Shen Zhuo took a step back, avoiding Zhao Jun’s attempts to grasp his pants. “What is ‘Shi San Yao’s’ real name?”
“I don’t know; I don’t know. I only know that the goods from ‘Shi San Yao’ were not his own; he stole them from an upper-tier supplier.” Zhao Jun sniffled and sobbed. “That upper-tier supplier is the real owner, but it seems he’s a disabled person. They call him ‘Mr. Rong.'”
Mr. Rong.
Though Shen Zhuo had never heard that name before, his brow furrowed inexplicably, a fleeting and dangerous intuition passing through.
Zhao Jun continued incoherently, “I remember what ‘Shi San Yao’ looks like. I can help you with a sketch. Please, let me cooperate; I’m willing to cooperate with everything!”
“Within half an hour, extract everything from him, including the transaction location, identity information, and fund flows,” Shen Zhuo instructed, standing up. “Then lock him in a cell, tie him to an electric chair, and don’t give him a drop of water for the next three days.”
Chen Miao, almost afraid to look at Yue Yang’s expression, softly reminded him, “Senior, Surname Zhao is, after all, from the Central District. Uh, Chief Yue…”
Shen Zhuo didn’t look at anyone, “Notify the Central Supervision Office. Even if they come and kneel down, it won’t work in Shenhai. This case is no longer their concern.”
He might as well have turned around and slapped Yue Yang across the face to make it more painful. Chen Miao stammered, “Y-yes!”
Everyone couldn’t help but sneak glances at the leader of the Central District.
Under the gaze of everyone, Yue Yang’s face revealed no clues. When Shen Zhuo turned to leave, Yue Yang followed him with large, determined strides.
The author has something to say:
With the discriminatory attitude of Shen Zhuo toward everyone present and the self-reflection attitude of Bai Sheng, who claims “I’m awesome” three times a day, there is simply no room for a settings like Bai Yueguang and stand-in between the two.
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