Chapter 87
“How heartbroken the moon will be.”
Shenhai City Renxin Hospital.
“Yes…yes, Wang Tiejun is my father.” Across the desk, a young doctor named Wang Tan faced a group of evolutionists, clearly very nervous. “But my father passed away fifteen years ago. I really don’t know much about his matters. When he contracted with the Quanshan County Health Center back then, he lost so much money that my mom almost divorced him…”
Ordinary people have only one reaction when they see the supervision office: avoid them. Evolutionists are already terrifying, and evolutionists who supervise other evolutionists are even more so. Especially the distinctive white uniforms of the Shenhai City Supervision office, which create a three-meter clearing effect on the streets. If Chen Miao forgets to change out of his uniform when buying milk tea, he can clear a 100-meter queue in an instant.
“Don’t be nervous; don’t be nervous.” Bai Sheng sat kindly across from Wang Tan, pushing a file photo across the desk. “Is this person named Qiao Jianqing a friend of your family?”
Shen Zhuo now finds it hardest to deal with ordinary people. According to Chen Miao, his senior has a peculiar sense of vulnerability in front of ordinary people because he can’t drag them to the electric chair. So Bai Sheng volunteered to handle the inquiry duties, with four inspectors standing coldly behind him, while Shen Zhuo sat alone in the corner of the office, looking through documents like a low-key secretary.
Wang Tan became even more nervous, staring at Bai Sheng’s eight sharp, bright teeth, thinking that the legendary Shenhai City Supervisor were indeed extraordinary. Although Bai Sheng was smiling, his terrifying aura was truly overwhelming. Those four uniformed evolutionists were also frightening. Are those bulges in their pockets guns? No, they don’t even need guns; they could tear me in half with their bare hands…
“Uncle Qiao? Yes, I know him.” In his fear, Wang Tan’s mind worked extra fast and his memory became extra clear. “Uncle Qiao was my dad’s childhood friend. He used to come to our house every year during New Year’s and bring chocolates from his workplace…”
Bai Sheng turned back to ask Shen Zhuo, “Chocolates?”
“Rationed supplies from the research institute.” Shen Zhuo flipped a page in the file. “High-energy protein chocolate bars.”
Wang Tan had only one thought in his mind: The secretary brother is so handsome! His voice is so gentle! What’s his name? How did a human end up working at the supervision office?
Bai Sheng nodded thoughtfully and turned back to Wang Tan. “There was a guy named Rong Qi at the Quanshan County Health Center. Was he sent there by your Uncle Qiao?”
Mentioning Rong Qi’s name, Wang Tan stumbled and visibly panicked. “Ah, are you here to ask about the fire at the health center? That electrical aging was really not my dad’s fault. We stopped contracting a long time ago, and after my dad passed away…”
“It’s okay; don’t panic.” Bai Sheng gestured for him to calm down. “We just want to know about that Rong Qi guy. Your father has been dead for over ten years; we’re not here to bother dead people.”
Only then did Wang Tan breathe a sigh of relief. “Alright, alright. That guy named Rong Qi was entrusted to my dad by Uncle Qiao. I don’t remember exactly when, but ever since I can remember, he was at the health center. They said he was either brain-dead or in a coma… My dad said Uncle Qiao was very pitiful, having had no children all his life, and couldn’t let his only descendant die. So even after he quit contracting, he still paid a little money to the health center every year to maintain Rong Qi’s life signs…”
“Wait,” Bai Sheng interrupted sensitively, “only descendant?”
Wang Tan nodded.
“Wasn’t Qiao Jianqing childless?”
“Yes,” Wang Tan replied honestly. “Rong Qi is his illegitimate son.”
Bai Sheng spat out a mouthful of water. “Pfft!”
Based on Wang Tan’s account, it was possible to piece together the process of Qiao Jianqing’s entrustment twenty-three years ago.
Unexpectedly, Director Qiao didn’t go to see his childhood friend alone. He was accompanied by several others—probably researchers from the vessel cultivation project team. After all, it would have been difficult for Qiao Jianqing to steal a vessel from the lab alone; he must have had help from others in the same project team, using other biological materials for a switcheroo during the self-destruct sequence.
“This child is my most perfect creation, but my family doesn’t want it to wake up. They think it’s unlucky and want to destroy it… I can’t just sit and watch it die because it’s all I have… I’ll come back for it once I finish dealing with things at the unit…”
Strictly speaking, Director Qiao didn’t lie, but in the ears of his loyal friend Wang Tiejun, it sounded different. So Wang Tiejun went back and told his family:
“Lao Qiao is so pitiful; he had an affair and gave birth to a mentally disabled child. His family thinks it’s a disgrace and wants to kill the child. Lao Qiao entrusted it to me for a few days.”
Shen Zhuo: “…”
Bai Sheng: “…”
All the inspectors: “…”
“Later, Uncle Qiao passed away, and my dad had no choice but to leave his illegitimate son at the health center. Luckily, it didn’t cost much money, just needed nutritional fluids to maintain life signs.” Wang Tan spread his hands honestly. “We couldn’t just euthanize a living person with a heartbeat and breathing, right? That would be a crime!”
Everyone’s expressions were complicated, thinking that it might have been better if they had committed a crime…
“As a real man, you should be ruthless and merciless when you are out in the world. How come you don’t even dare to commit a crime?” Bai Sheng reprimanded him painfully.
Wang Tan: “…”
Wang Tan looked at these evolutionists in fear, thinking to himself that he might have really gotten into trouble. Should he not have taken in that vegetative person? Practicing medicine illegally? Harboring an abandoned person? Was that fire three years ago a major issue? Are these people going to take me back to the supervision office for a secret trial next?!
“Why did your father immediately say that Qiao Jianqing had an affair,” At this moment, Shen Zhuo raised his head from behind the others, his calm eyes looking at Wang Tan, “Was there a basis for this statement?”
Everyone simultaneously perked up, realizing there was something suspicious.
The only thought in Wang Tan’s muddled brain was: although he’s not speaking to me as gently as before, his voice is so pleasant! Like hearing celestial music!
“I…I don’t know either. I just heard my mom say that Uncle Qiao had rumors about him having an affair with a married female student when he was young, something about pregnancy and abortion.” Wang Tan mumbled, “But such things were very serious back then, wasn’t there even a crime of hooliganism? So they would hide it if they could, I really don’t know the specifics…”
Bai Sheng turned to look at Shen Zhuo, and both of them sensed something.
Director Qiao was indeed unmarried and childless according to the files, but if his staunch friend immediately asserted that “Lao Qiao had an affair” and was not surprised about his possible illegitimate child, then there was likely some basis for this, as there is no smoke without fire.
Could it have something to do with Su Jiqiao?
Shen Zhuo pulled up a photo of Su Jiqiao’s enrollment file before his evolution on his phone and stood up to show it to Wang Tan.
“Have you seen this person?”
The only human among a group of terrifying evolutionists stood in front of him, still such a handsome brother. Wang Tan’s heart fluttered, and he carefully and earnestly looked at the photo for a while before regretfully shaking his head, indicating he couldn’t help.
“This…I really haven’t seen. Actually, I only visited the health center in the first two years after my dad passed, but that was more than ten years ago. I haven’t paid attention since then. I only saw that fire on the news three years ago.”
Actually, this wasn’t surprising. After all, to Wang Tan, these were matters of the previous generation. Moreover, if he had frequently visited the health center to see Rong Qi over the past ten years, he might not even be alive now.
“If you want to know about Rong Qi’s situation, I really know very little…” Wang Tan thought for a moment, feeling he should create an opportunity for himself, so he solemnly recited a line often seen in police dramas: “But if I find any clues later, I will definitely contact you in time!”
This level of cooperation was too high. Shen Zhuo glanced at him in surprise, while Wang Tan looked sincerely and eagerly at the secretary brother.
“Alright, thank you for your cooperation.” Bai Sheng regretfully stood up and said, “If there are any further questions, we will come to you.”
A group of people packed up their things and left the office, and Wang Tan warmly saw them off downstairs.
Shen Zhuo was replying to work emails on his phone, falling two steps behind the others as they went downstairs. Suddenly, a shy voice came from his side:
“Um, why did you choose to work at the supervision office?”
“…” Shen Zhuo looked up from his phone, inexplicably scrutinizing Wang Tan for a few seconds before saying lightly, “I was assigned.”
Oh—I knew it was a job adjustment! Wang Tan thought confidently.
“How are the benefits at the supervision office? Are they good?”
Shen Zhuo said, “It’s alright.”
Wang Tan peeked at Bai Sheng’s lazy figure ahead and then sneakily lowered his voice: “I heard that the supervisor there is especially terrifying, with a fierce reputation. Is that true? Aren’t you scared working there as a human?”
“…”
They looked at each other, and Wang Tan noticed that the secretary brother’s beautiful face seemed to show a very subtle expression.
“It’s alright.” Shen Zhuo slowly repeated these words again.
Wang Tan nodded understandingly. At this moment, the group walked out of the hospital doors, and the black bulletproof car awaited them at the steps.
“Um…do you get weekends off?” Wang Tan stopped and finally mustered all his courage, stammering shyly, “Do you go hiking, go on outings, or play badminton? How about we exchange WeChat contacts? Next time you come to the hospital, I can help you get in line?”
Shen Zhuo stood on the steps, staring fixedly at the name tag on this guy’s chest.
Obstetrics and Gynecology Resident Doctor.
“No,” he politely replied, “I probably won’t need it.”
Wang Tan was about to despairingly explain that he was just on rotation, when the driver quickly stepped forward and opened the car door, respectfully saying, “Supervisor!”
The inspectors ahead stepped aside, making way, and the air was filled with silence and countless eyes watching.
Shen Zhuo simply nodded at Wang Tan, walked down the steps steadily, and bent to get into the car.
Wang Tan: “……”
Wang Tan: “………………”
Wang Tan: “!!?”
The sky crumbled, mountains collapsed, and the sun and moon lost their light.
The car door closed with a thud, and it drove away in Wang Tan’s dazed and blank stare, disappearing beyond the hospital gate.
·
“Hahahahahaha—”
In the back seat, Bai Sheng was laughing so hard that his whole body was shaking. Shen Zhuo, expressionless, rested his cheek on one hand: “May I have the honor of knowing where the joke is?”
Bai Sheng said, “Little brother, let’s add each other on WeChat. Next time you come to see me, I’ll give you all my medical abilities for free—hahahaha—”
Shen Zhuo coldly said, “It should be free anyway. Do you expect to charge me?”
Bai Sheng, full of enthusiasm, said, “This supervisor doesn’t take money; he only accepts physical payment.” Then he grabbed Shen Zhuo and kissed him without warning.
The driver, Luo Zhen, and the front passenger, Chen Miao, were used to it and stayed calm by ignoring it.
“So Qiao Jianqing had rumors of an affair with a married woman, and his staunch friend thought he had an illegitimate child but had never seen one, mistakenly thinking it was the vessel.” Shen Zhuo, also accustomed to this, remained unperturbed by the kisses, leaning against the car window with a frown. “I checked Su Jiqiao’s file before. His parents died when he was young, and on the surface, there’s no connection to Qiao Jianqing. But there could be some kinship not recorded in the file.”
Chen Miao, who had always thought Su was a gentle and kind person, now felt particularly guilty and submissive: “How about… we go back and continue questioning Su Jiqiao?”
Shen Zhuo said, “What can you get out of him with his stance?”
Traffic laws stipulate that people with special abilities above level A do not need to wear seat belts when riding in a car, so Bai Sheng usually sits in a very arrogant manner, occupying two seats by himself, with his long legs swinging back and forth. He seemed lost in thought and suddenly asked:
“Can Su Jiqiao’s Fatal Strike be identified?”
“It can’t be identified through the abilities ecological box, but Director Gao has been notified to arrange a blood draw. Once the synthetic gene interferon is produced, we can inject it and determine through the abilities exhibited by the recipient.” Chen Miao turned around. “What’s up, Bai-ge?”
Bai Sheng smiled and glanced at Shen Zhuo: “So, you’re getting injected again?”
Shen Zhuo’s expression didn’t change, as if completely unaware of Bai Sheng’s gaze, and he said coldly, “Think again. I’m not their lab rat. The central research institute still owes me tens of thousands in year-end bonuses. Chen Miao.”
“Yes!”
“Tell Gao Tonglin to find a human inspector from logistics to test the drug, pick someone with good physical fitness.”
“Got it!”
Chen Miao immediately responded, then turned to Bai Sheng to explain: “The logistics office mainly hires humans. Sometimes we get people from there to assist with experiments, but we have to pay a test drug allowance. It’s quite a bit of money for each injection.”
He had just taken out his phone to call Director Gao when Bai Sheng pressed it down with one hand: “Why doesn’t Director Gao test it himself?”
Chen Miao was stunned.
Bai Sheng smiled and said, “Director Gao is also an unevolved human. Why haven’t you thought of giving him some abilities? It would save a lot on test drug costs.”
Chen Miao was at a loss for words, but then Shen Zhuo’s cold voice rang out beside him:
“No, after all, it’s an S-class serum. Gao Tonglin’s pension would cost much more than the test drug fee. Unless you deposit ten million as a guarantee to the Supervision office first.”
Bai Sheng was about to retort when the phone he held rang. The caller ID showed it was Senior Sister Shui.
Chen Miao, feeling relieved, quickly grabbed the phone from Bai Sheng’s fingers and answered it: “Hello, Senior Sister?”
He hadn’t turned on the speaker, but the sharp alarms echoing through the Supervision office building were clearly audible in the moving car. Then, Shui Ronghua’s cold voice, out of everyone’s expectations, came through:
“Tell Supervisor Shen to come back immediately. Su Jiqiao has escaped!”
·
Half an hour earlier, in the detention room.
There were cold steel walls on all sides, and an electric chair in the middle. In the small, dark space, pitch black, Su Jiqiao, who had been given a neural agent, was deeply asleep, his chest slightly rising and falling with his breath.
A rustling sound came from somewhere, like countless waves converging together, slowly spreading like a rising tide.
It was, in fact, brain waves that ordinary people couldn’t detect.
In his dream, Su Jiqiao opened his eyes. The void around him lit up with a faint white light, and a black shadow slowly took human form from that light.
Tall and slender, with a pale face, it was Rong Qi looking down at him.
“…Dream ability, huh?” Su Jiqiao sat up, rubbing the back of his neck and sighed, “It seems the neural agent the professor gave me was quite strong. Otherwise, this little trick wouldn’t have invaded my mind…”
He glanced around for a moment, then turned his gaze to Rong Qi and suddenly smiled as if reuniting with an old friend, his eyebrows curved:
“Three years, no see; you look miserable. I heard you lost your body again, for the second time, right?”
Rong Qi spoke, his voice showing little emotion:
“You know I can easily kill you, right, Su Jiqiao?”
Most ability users felt a deep-seated fear towards Rong Qi, but Su Jiqiao was indifferent. He even raised a finger and shook it, his smile looking somewhat mocking.
“Oh, of course, but you won’t. You still need my S-level ability to get the professor. By the way, you’re not still holding a grudge, are you? I was just teasing three years ago…”
“I will have Shunsuke come to get you out.”
Rong Qi interrupted Su Jiqiao, looking down at him like an insignificant ant, and said flatly, “Follow my orders, and stop scheming.”
The faint light before Su Jiqiao suddenly twisted. The next moment, he felt an icy fingertip touch his forehead, and a splitting pain tore through his brain!
The high-concentration neural agent, enough to fell an elephant, quickly dissipated in that agony until it lost effect.
In the detention room, Su Jiqiao opened his eyes.
With a snap, someone turned on the light, and an HRG researcher walked into the room, the metal door closing silently.
The researcher, ordered to draw blood, showed no interest in the legendary A-level evolved appearance and didn’t notice the boy on the electric chair, who was supposed to be unconscious. He knelt beside the chair, opened the blood collection kit, and was just about to insert the needle into Su Jiqiao’s arm when suddenly he saw the muscles in that arm tense—
Crack!
The electromagnetic handcuffs shattered. The researcher hadn’t even had time to scream before a knife-hand strike pierced his abdomen!
“…”
In the splatter of blood, the researcher watched Su Jiqiao turn his head and give him a bewitching, bloodthirsty smile.
It was the last thing he saw before he died.
Su Jiqiao withdrew his hand. With a dull thud, the researcher’s corpse, eyes wide open, fell to the ground.
“Ah,” Su Jiqiao stood up from the electric chair, casually flicking the blood from his hand, and sighed regretfully, “How heartbroken the moon will be.”
He looked up and gave an apologetic smile to the surveillance camera, then walked toward the detention room door.
I’m quite liking this green tea, his attitude is refreshing among all of these human and mutants’ similar fearfulness towards shen zhuo and rong qi.