The communication line fell silent.
After a few seconds, the old man on the other end asked in a gentle tone, “Zhengde, don’t be afraid, which fortress are you in?”
“Fortress No. 76 in the Middle Basin.”
“Who is the governor of 76? Security team! Call him right now, immediately, and ask if he can handle this. If he can’t, tell him to get lost!”
“Grandpa.”
Zhou Zhengde looked at the confused Minister of Biology, his voice trembling as he said, “How about you help me plead with the Thirteenth Institute? I’m too scared to investigate them. Their experiments on living people are for the future of humanity. I’ve realized that my mom and your safety are the most important.”
“Zhengde, are you okay? Be strong! You’re a man!”
The old man on the other end exploded in anger: “Damn it! I’m on the front lines fighting the Blade Beasts, and you guys are messing with my only grandson!
“Bring that bastard Zhuang Mingqi to me! Give him a good beating first, then bring him here! Damn it! Let’s crush him and replace him with a metal one! He’s the only one not proactive against the Blade Beasts, and he’s a master at infighting! I’ll take him out today!
“Zhengde! You tell them my name! I’m giving you permission!”
Click!
The call was abruptly ended with a loud hang-up.
Zhou Zhengde closed the communicator, wiped away the tears that almost spilled, and looked up at the Minister of Biology in Fortress No. 76.
He forced a smile.
Zhuang Mingqi, the director of the Thirteenth Institute at the D5 Comprehensive War Zone, one of the true high-level managers of the Thirteenth Institute, and the direct superior of Kong Nu.
“You…”
The Minister of Biology, Kong Nu, frowned and asked, “Who were you just talking to?”
“An old man with a bad temper but a kind heart. Just wait for the notice when you get back; your boss should contact you soon.”
Zhou Zhengde shrugged and winked at the Minister of Biology. “In my family, we follow my mother’s surname. I take my mom’s surname, and my mom takes my grandma’s surname. This is actually to hide our identities from the Mimic Blade Beasts’ revenge.
“My mom is a professional accountant. Why can she be promoted to the internal affairs minister of a large industrial fortress?
“Because my grandpa is the commander of the Joint Defense Army in the D5 War Zone.
“Yes, that old general known as the last hero of the fortress era, the first person to undergo prosthetic surgery, and the first generation pilot of terrifying mechs.
“I really can’t do anything about you guys at the Thirteenth Institute. You’re an inter-regional organization, holding the patents for psychic powers and most of the medical resources, fighting openly and secretly with the Joint Defense Army.
“But at least, the Thirteenth Institute units at the fortress level really don’t pose a threat to me.
“Kong Nu, senior researcher.”
Zhou Zhengde slowly stood up, leaning on the edge of the table, his eyes glinting with sharpness.
“You’d better get that list and accounts before I do. If I get that list, you’ll only have the option to commit suicide.
“Or be forced to commit suicide.”
Kong Nu’s face turned pale, and he kicked the door as he left.
The two psychic users left, with the man smiling and saluting, while the woman lifted her skirt and performed a lady-like gesture.
Psychic users learn quickly.
In the blink of an eye, they mastered human etiquette.
In the new dormitory.
Wang Jixuan rubbed his forehead.
Lin Bo turned off the monitor, took out the vibrating communicator, and looked up to say, “Team leader, the captain wants you to rest easy. We’ll talk again at tonight’s party.”
“Thanks for your hard work.”
Wang Jixuan pondered for a moment and asked, “What exactly is the position of the war zone commander?”
“He’s the highest military officer in the war zone!”
Lin Bo whispered, “The Middle Basin we’re in is a small war zone, also called a terrain war zone, made up of several neighboring terrain war zones that form a larger war zone.
“Our commander has won many battles against the Blade Beasts. Even the Joint Council of Governors in the D5 Comprehensive War Zone wouldn’t dare to meddle with him.
“This comprehensive war zone is also the most active and long-lasting war zone in the world.”
Wang Jixuan asked, “What about the Thirteenth Institute’s inter-regional role?”
“The Biological Thirteenth Institute is already a global organization. It’s also a refuge for many privileged classes from the Golden Age of human society.”
Lin Bo sighed, “The experiments on psychic users are said to be dirty, but they are also necessary forces for carrying out decapitation operations against the Blade Beasts.
“However, in recent years, more and more psychic users refuse to go to battle. They think of themselves as a new kind of humanity, transcending the old one. Sigh, just a bunch of narcissistic fools.
“I even heard that some psychic users are trying to communicate with the Blade Beasts, advocating for peaceful coexistence.”
Wang Jixuan took the opportunity to ask, “Can you help me with something? I’m not familiar with the area.”
“Of course!”
“I want to grow some vegetables. Can you help me get some soil and seeds from the Wanlijin Gang?”
“No problem!”
Lin Bo patted his chest, “I’ll arrange for someone to get it right away!
“Before, I always went down to the city. The captain had already talked to the Wanlijin leader to secretly protect the team leader, so it’s just right that I go!
“But I need to report this to the captain.”
“Thanks, feel free to report.”
“Understood!”
Lin Bo saluted and quickly left.
Wang Jixuan stood there, lost in thought for a while.
He had several questions he couldn’t figure out.
“Ah, there’s a party tonight. It should be different from the brothels in the perverted district, right?”
Daoist Wang felt a bit uneasy.
…
In the deep night of the fortress.
Bang!
Kong Nu slammed his fist on the office desk, his face dark and breathing rapid, his eyes glinting with a cold, snake-like light.
“Contact the office of Fortress 82 next door immediately!”
…
Wang Jixuan thought the party would be like the ones in the lower city, full of lights, excitement, and a test of willpower, but in reality…
Everything was so warm.
The brightly lit, spacious room was simply decorated with streamers and fairy lights.
The young men and women at the party piled up food and non-alcoholic drinks they bought with their rations into a small mountain.
A music player played soothing music, and the grill was filled with a mix of meat and vegetables…
Everything was an ordinary benefit the people of the Middle City could enjoy.
The young men and women observed each other, dancing to the music; occasionally, a guy from the security team would get excited and show off some popular dance moves from the military.
As Wei Na put it, in this seemingly calm environment, a storm of hormones was brewing.
In Daoist Wang’s eyes, everything felt warm and rare.
Finally, there was a bit of entertainment atmosphere he could accept. Really, his limited vocabulary was almost not enough in the lower city.
Zhou Zhengde danced with a few ladies and strolled over to the corner where Wang Jixuan was, smiling, “Why don’t you go talk to someone? Those young girls are secretly watching you. Wei Na specially invited them; they’re all conservatives with good temperament.”
“I’m thinking about things in the lower city.”
Wang Jixuan lightly clicked his tongue, “I heard news about Ye Zi from that Minister of Biology.”
“Yeah, I verified it. Ye Zi entered the Psychic Users’ Home… What’s strange is that her story partially matches the one I made up.”
Zhou Zhengde whispered, “Thomas killed Kong Lianmei, which has become a consensus among the three factions.
“This has saved us a lot of trouble…
“It’s strange that Ye Zi is covering for you. Why is she doing this?”
Wang Jixuan shook his head, “Who knows? She killed those ten kids.”
Zhou Zhengde asked, “Are we still going to investigate Ye Zi?”
“If it won’t take too much of your resources, please continue to track her,” Wang Jixuan said. “I must deal with her personally to get through this hurdle.”
Hurdle refers to a mental tribulation.
“Okay, I have more eyes in the upper city than in the lower city. This isn’t a big problem.”
Zhou Zhengde glanced around and leaned closer to Wang Jixuan, whispering, “Didn’t we agree to share secrets? You need to let me know what’s going on.
“Mu Liang, can you explain the source of your power?”
Wang Jixuan remembered the comic books he saw in the landlady’s study and seriously made up a story, “I suspect it’s a mutation caused by cosmic rays.”
“Ah??”
Zhou Zhengde was a bit confused.
Wang Jixuan continued to bluff, “You remember that time I harmed myself, right?”
“Yeah,” Zhou Zhengde replied attentively.
Wang Jixuan continued, “In my suffocation, I saw a blurry figure circling among the stars, chanting ‘Blessed is the Infinite Heaven Sovereign,’ and then it told me that this world is in suffering, and I would gain a power to save these lives in pain and bring them peace. But this power is too immense, and I need to accept it step by step, honing my spirit and body, hunting the Blade Beasts, and most importantly, honing my mind.”
“Mind!”
Zhou Zhengde clenched his fist, lowering his voice, excitedly saying, “This could very well be a response from an advanced alien civilization! We had a cosmic rescue plan over eighty years ago! It might have really worked! This is a huge discovery! So cool!”
“Yeah, as long as you believe it.”
Wang Jixuan picked up a nearby goblet and took a sip of industrial synthetic grape juice.
He said, “If I discover anything later, I’ll continue to tell you. Originally, I thought eliminating the Black Fire Gang was a trial for my spirit, but I didn’t expect that in the end, it was Ye Zi who dealt me a heavy blow.”
“Don’t be too sad. How about trying to date those girls?”
Zhou Zhengde remembered something: “I also have some new news. The D5 Comprehensive War Zone Command has issued orders to the Middle Basin War Zone. The command center of the Middle Basin War Zone has given clear instructions to our governor and the Joint Defense Team.
“Soon, some powerful figures will come to find us—real strong people coming down from the battlefield. They will probably ask for our cooperation in the investigation.
“Mu Liang, can you handle it?”
“Do we need to undergo their questioning?” Wang Jixuan asked with some concern.
“No, they don’t dare to question us.”
Zhou Zhengde whispered, “The core point is still that list. They might come down to investigate, and I think this is an opportunity.”
“What opportunity?”
“To take down the illegal facilities of the Black Fire Gang and eliminate Kong Nu from the Thirteenth Institute.”
Zhou Zhengde murmured, “The proposal I submitted had a slight issue. The governor’s secretary said they need to review it.
“I even threatened Kong Nu today.
“Now, because of Ban Wenying’s issue, my mother can no longer help us. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have directly sought help from my grandpa.
“We’ve completely torn apart our relationship. It’s either he dies or I die. I want to go down with this investigation team. You can come with me in your current identity, and while the cleansing team is in the lower city, we can change part of the ecology down there… that’s definitely better than sitting in the office doing nothing.
“If we can find that list, the accounts, or anything else, and provoke Kong Nu into taking risks, I can use this elite team to counterattack him!
“Kong Nu threatened my mom.
“I must take him out, even if I have to resort to any means. I can’t let him into the headquarters of the Thirteenth Institute in the Psychic City.”
Zhou Zhengde let out a soft breath and then looked at Wang Jixuan with some anxiety.
Wang Jixuan smiled knowingly and asked, “Aren’t you afraid of being attacked again?”
“Afraid.”
Zhou Zhengde said calmly, “Actually, there’s one more thing.
“I oppose my mom’s viewpoint, but I’ve never come up with a better solution to the problems in the lower city.
“I want to go down and see, to find this solution. This is actually more important than those lists, accounts, or any other political tools.”
Wang Jixuan snapped his fingers, “Call me anytime to take action. I’ve been too rough before, and there are many things I need to wrap up. That guy wants to cut me into pieces, and without you, I would still find a way to take him out.”
“Saying ‘take him out’ is too crude… how about ‘exorcising evil and upholding justice’?”
“Exorcising evil and upholding justice.”
The two looked at each other and smiled.
Ding ding ding.
A sound of glass bottles clinking came from the side.
Wei Na, wearing heavy makeup and accompanied by two tall ladies in trench coats and high heels, hurried over, mysteriously opening her trench coat.
Three beautiful figures in qipaos appeared before Zhou Zhengde and Wang Jixuan, along with more than ten bottles of various drinks.
“Deng deng deng!” Wei Na exclaimed excitedly, “Tonight, we won’t return until we’re drunk.”
Zhou Zhengde frowned, “You’re letting the security officer from the thirteenth floor drink?”
“Can’t I bring my own drinks? You better not spoil the fun! Letting loose is the best way to fight against fortress sickness!”
Wei Na rolled her eyes and then turned to look at the dance floor.
Cheers erupted from the dance floor.
Zhou Zhengde raised his hand to his forehead, grabbing Wang Jixuan’s arm, trembling as he said, “If I get drunk, you must carry me away, even if you have to knock me out first! I beg you, Mu Liang! Please promise me!”
Wang Jixuan was confused.
Zhou, my friend… what are you afraid of?
(End of Chapter)