MCL CH109

Chapter 109: “Brother…”

Amidst the rising and falling sounds of horns, a convoy of vehicles sped through the city, causing pedestrians to stop and watch.

Lin Xi sat in the front passenger seat, glancing in the rearview mirror at the two figures sitting side-by-side in the back, and almost couldn’t hold back a laugh.

To make someone like Shen Nanyang, who rarely showed his emotions, so anxious, something extraordinary must have happened. The situation clearly called for seriousness, but the scene of Yan Xingzhou and Shen Nanyang sitting quietly together was just too incongruous. The visual impact alone, to use a less-than-appropriate idiom to describe it, was like an explosive combination, akin to “heavenly thunder setting off earthly fire.”

[If your great President Yan knew what you were thinking, he might just kick that Shen guy straight out of the car.]

The voice in his mind sounded lazily, full of teasing.

[But you really don’t care at all what happened, do you?]

[To have the leisure to imagine some bizarre scenarios at a time like this, you’re really something else.]

Lin Xi calmly withdrew his gaze and replied silently in his mind, “What happened, and what does it have to do with me? I was originally here for Yan Xingzhou’s business. Coming along now is just a side trip to see what kind of tricks the research institute has been up to all these years.”

[Hee hee, it really has nothing to do with us.]

[Even if they’ve run into big trouble, it’s most likely their own doing. In common terms, that’s called reaping what you sow.]

“Reaping what you sow?” Lin Xi savored the four words with interest and scoffed lightly in his heart. “It’s indeed a portrayal of many people.”

His gaze fell into the distance through the car window, where a chaotic scene was gradually appearing. “However, the price of reaping what they’ve sown this time seems a bit high.”

The roads in the distance were clearly blocked, with police cars coming and going, sirens blaring.

A restricted zone had been cordoned off, preventing passersby from entering. From a distance, it was impossible to see what exactly had happened in the direction of the Central Research Institute, but even so, through the slightly lowered car window, it was enough for Lin Xi to feel the subtle aura in the air.

The area where the Central Research Institute was located clearly did not have a contamination leak. This subtle fluctuation, though frequent, had no intensity. Rather than coming from a single powerful contaminant, it seemed more like the stacked effect of emanations from many contamination sources.

After a sharp screech of brakes, the vehicles pulled over to the side of the road.

Lin Xi opened the door and got out. He lowered his eyes to sense it for a moment, then asked in his mind, “What do you think?”

[What do I think? I have no interest in such low-level contaminants.]

“…” Lin Xi sighed softly. “That’s as good as saying nothing. I really can’t have high hopes for you.”

[???]

[That’s not right. I am the noble king of contaminants. Why should I care about such lowly trash?]

[Mmph… mmph mmph… Damn you, you’re getting more and more irritable. If it doesn’t go your way, you just have to… huh? Mmph—!]

Silence finally returned to his mind. Just as Lin Xi was about to take a step, he was pulled back by a force.

Looking back, he met Yan Xingzhou’s gaze.

Lin Xi’s eyebrow raised slightly. “What’s wrong?”

Shen Nanyang had already hurried off with a group of people. It wasn’t until they were all far away that Yan Xingzhou asked, “Are you sure you want to go in?”

Their eyes met, and Lin Xi instantly understood Yan Xingzhou’s concern. A hint of a smile appeared in his eyes. “I’m sure. It’s the first time I’ve seen such a strange contamination value fluctuation. Since we’re already here, wouldn’t it be a waste not to take a look?”

Yan Xingzhou’s brow furrowed lightly. “But…”

Lin Xi’s peripheral vision swept over the various contamination value detection devices arranged around them. “Don’t worry, I’m here to solve problems, not create them.”

After a brief silence, he heard Yan Xingzhou reply, “Remember to stay close to me.”

Lin Xi chuckled lightly. “Alright, President Yan.”

Besides the people from the Central Research Institute, the scene was mostly filled with support personnel from the United Administration.

Although many people hadn’t seen Lin Xi before, his reputation had preceded him. That eye-catching red hair was too iconic, not to mention Yan Xingzhou was next to him. Even without anyone leading the way, the two of them walked inside unimpeded.

If the outer area was mainly to prevent ordinary people from wandering in, then as they went further in, the real scene of the accident finally came into view.

Lin Xi walked side-by-side with Yan Xingzhou, observing the surrounding scene. If it weren’t for the shocking sights all around, his calm and unruffled demeanor would have made it seem like a most casual after-dinner stroll.

At first, it was just some damaged buildings. Gradually, some bloodstains that remained on the ground after being cleaned up could be seen.

Amidst the increasingly mixed contamination value fluctuations, a thick smell of blood was mixed in, indicating everywhere what had happened here.

This scene looked like an ordinary contamination leak incident, if, that is, it hadn’t happened at the Central Research Institute.

For something like this to happen here was somewhat thought-provoking.

It was obvious that before Shen Nanyang’s return, the scene had already been handled relatively well. The contamination leak had been successfully contained within a safe range.

However, just as Lin Xi had initially thought, there were indeed multiple contamination sources in this accident. And now, the number was clearly much larger than he had imagined. After entering the gates of the Central Research Institute, he could clearly feel strong contamination value fluctuations coming from several directions.

These contamination fluctuations were all very weak; no wonder Calamity was dismissive.

This level clearly didn’t require Lin Xi to take action. It was just that the further he went in, the more puzzled he became—why were there so many contaminants in the Central Research Institute?

There seemed to be an argument not far away. Lin Xi pondered it but didn’t pay it much mind. After all, in an accident scene that even Calamity disdained, the contamination fluctuations were indeed very weak.

The level of contamination outside was something that could be completely handled by the cleanup teams. At most, there seemed to be a slightly stronger presence on the upper floors, but someone would probably take care of it. It wasn’t his turn to worry.

Just as he was thinking, he took a step to go upstairs when an urgent voice fell into his ears: “Brother! Brother—! Is that you! Let go, what are you doing… Brother! Let go of me…”

The voice was indeed somewhat familiar. Seeing that the group over there was about to drag the person away, Lin Xi turned and strode over.

“Hey, you can’t come over…”

Someone came up in a panic but couldn’t stop Lin Xi’s steps at all.

Lin Xi pushed aside the few people and walked straight past. When he got a clear look at the person they were holding in the middle, a trace of astonishment flashed in his eyes. “…What are you doing here?”

The boy’s small, thin body finally began to tremble uncontrollably the moment the words reached his ears. “Brother… sob, it’s really you…”

Lin Xi watched him slowly reach out a hand. He lowered his eyes and didn’t dodge, watching as the small, dirty hand grasped the corner of his clothes as if holding onto a lifeline.

The sob in the little boy’s voice finally broke completely. “Save my mom, I beg you… save her…”

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