MCL CH142

Chapter 142: To have him at the same time…

Gentle sunlight filtered in through the window, illuminating the clean, white isolation room.
Although it was called an isolation room, the door was not locked. In fact, it was casually left open, as if inviting the figures passing by outside to walk in at any time.

Unknowingly, more than a month had passed since Lin Xi’s surgery.

The Central Research Institute had returned to its usual tense and hurried work atmosphere. But even so, whenever someone passed by Lin Xi’s door, they couldn’t help but glance inside.

Everyone still remembered the heart-stopping experiment at the time, but fortunately, the result was a success.

Lin Xi was not lying on a hospital bed, but sitting on a sofa with his legs casually crossed. On the table beside him was a transparent glass container, inside which a plant with black leaves and branches was constantly writhing.

Up close, one could even hear the “plant” making sounds through the glass container.

“Look, look, all you do is watch the news all day. You’re not worried about the situation over there at all! Have you ever thought about how I’m supposed to face anyone like this? If the contaminants over there saw me, they’d probably go back on the previous contract in minutes and just rebel!”

If one listened carefully, one could still capture the tone of Calamity in this sharp, almost cute-sounding voice.

Lin Xi, annoyed by the noise, finally lowered his gaze lazily.

His eyes had returned from scarlet vertical pupils to their beautiful heterochromia. His gaze fell on Calamity, who had just acquired a new form not long ago, and his tone was very nonchalant. “What’s the hurry? Before you lose face, I will manage the affairs of the contaminants in my capacity as your guardian. Instead of blabbering useless words here, you should quickly incubate your own body again. Tsk, isn’t your ability ‘Growth’? How come you’re growing so slowly when it’s yourself?”

One sentence made Calamity tremble with anger. “What slow? How is it slow?! Just look at what you all did to my crystal core! You only left this little bit for me. What am I supposed to use to grow?!”

Lin Xi rubbed his ear amidst the noisy words, a hint of impatience already in his downcast eyes. “That was also because you’re still useful. If you’re not satisfied, I can take away the remaining crystal cores on you at any time.”

“…”

Calamity changed his tune very smoothly. “No, I was just saying. I will have my own body again very soon. I am very satisfied!”

“Mhm, I’ll ask for some more nutrient solution to water you when I have time.”

Lin Xi gave Calamity a look to shut him up and picked up the tablet again to read the latest news.

Just as he had realized when he was deep in his consciousness, Shen Nanyang had indeed deceived him before this experiment. But this was something he had already guessed.

After all, after his self-destruction, the reconstruction of his body was entirely dependent on the ability of Calamity, a super S-rank contaminant. From the moment the first new cell began to grow, he was destined to be inseparable from the contaminants.

But on another matter, Shen Nanyang had not deceived him.

During this experiment, whether it was due to the pressure from Yan Xingzhou on site, or really to fulfill his promise, this time, this person did not take the opportunity of the surgery to completely remove all of Calamity’s crystal cores, giving him a new lease on life. Now, although he couldn’t be considered a complete human, at least he was no longer a pure monster.

Thinking of this, Lin Xi gently tapped the cover of the culture dish. Hearing Calamity’s dissatisfied cry from inside, a smile appeared in his eyes.

As for this special-grade King of Contaminants, their symbiotic relationship had finally been terminated through this surgery.

In the currently drafted plan, humanity would, on one hand, continue to use Calamity’s ‘Growth’ ability to complete the incubation of the special S-rank rift, giving those contaminants a new place to live. On the other hand, he could also use the remaining crystal cores in his body to continue to constrain Calamity’s actions, using Him to manipulate the behavior of those contaminants and balance the threat these monsters posed to Earth. Perhaps one day in the future, humans could even help them find a more suitable place to live, leading them to completely move away from Earth.

Looking back now, Lin Xi found that every step he had laid out for Primo seemed to be proceeding in an orderly manner—

One, create a special-grade contamination zone exclusively for contaminants, transferring all contaminants into it, providing them with a place to live, and regulating their range of activity;

Two, separate the crystal core in his body, using the special existence of Calamity to find a balance point for the coexistence of humans and contaminants;

Three, use the extracted crystal core fragments to advance Shen Nanyang’s experiment plan, to achieve universal awakening for humanity before the global contamination.

So far, the plan had reached the third step.

During this time, Lin Xi had not seen Shen Nanyang again.

From the mouths of other researchers, he could learn that this experiment had reached its final stage. Shen Nanyang had locked himself in the laboratory for the more than a month he had been recuperating and had not come out again.

It should be successful soon.

Thinking this, Lin Xi’s mood couldn’t help but become cheerful.

As long as the first three steps of the plan were successfully implemented, it meant that he had completed everything he had promised. As for how humanity would truly achieve coexistence with the contaminants, or even how to completely remove these things from the Earth, it had nothing to do with him anymore.

“What are you thinking about again?”

A familiar voice came from the doorway. Lin Xi looked up and saw the figure walking into the room, looking travel-worn.

He clearly heard Calamity beside him let out a distinct “Ew,” but paid no mind to the contempt shown by this contaminant. He stood up to welcome Yan Xingzhou, pulling the person over and kissing him with incomparable naturalness. “Thinking of you.”

Calamity: “…Gag.”

He was just a contaminant trying hard to grow up. Why did he have to suffer this every day?!

Yan Xingzhou carried the scent of sunshine, but from the messy fluctuations of supernatural abilities clinging to him, it was clear that he had just finished a meeting packed with ability users.

Lin Xi raised his eyelids without surprise. “Primo called you to do free labor again?”

“Mhm, he wants our group’s support to promote the Central Research Institute’s awakening serum globally.” Yan Xingzhou replied in a calm tone, but his gaze remained fixed on Lin Xi’s lips. Before the person could pull away, he leaned in and took the initiative to kiss him again. “On account of him not making a wrong decision regarding you, I will probably cooperate to a reasonable extent.”

“Just slightly?” Lin Xi, whose breathing was a little messed up from the kiss, couldn’t help but smile and raise his eyelids after it ended. “If Primo knew, he would probably cry himself to sleep in his office.”

Yan Xingzhou was noncommittal about this assessment. Just as he was about to say something, something happened outside, and it fell into chaos without any warning.

Ju Ze rushed into the isolation room, his expression hurried. “President, something’s happened!”

Yan Xingzhou’s brow furrowed slightly. “What is it?”

Ju Ze subconsciously glanced at Lin Xi before saying in a deep voice, “Professor Shen, he just committed suicide in the laboratory.”

As his voice fell, a brief silence descended.

A moment later, Lin Xi had already started walking. “Let’s go see.”

A cordon had been set up around the building where Shen Nanyang was. The number of researchers rushing over was increasing, all of them stopped outside.

As soon as Lin Xi and Yan Xingzhou appeared, they were let in directly. When they arrived at Shen Nanyang’s office, all they saw was a body covered by a white cloth and a splash of blood on the floor.

“Professor Shen’s ability… was actually out of control long ago, but he had been locking himself in the laboratory during this time…” The assistant sobbed uncontrollably beside them. “He probably… never intended to alleviate his ability’s loss of control… He said, his only pursuit in this life was the future of humanity. For this future, he really pushed himself too hard… He… chose to end his own life before completely losing control.”

With these words, the entire room was gradually filled with the sound of sobbing.

Lin Xi walked to the experimental bench without a word, picked up the documents on it, and silently flipped through them.

The sound of urgent footsteps came from outside again, and then Primo and Gu Beiqiu’s voices sounded one after another. They had clearly rushed over as soon as they received the news.

Primo’s voice was heavy. “What happened? I just had a video conference with Professor Shen yesterday. How could something like this happen today?”

Gu Beiqiu walked to the stretcher and lifted the white cloth on it. His gaze fell on Shen Nanyang’s incomparably peaceful sleeping face. A moment later, he said slowly, “Perhaps, he just wanted to maintain his final dignity before completely losing control.”

Lin Xi continued to flip through the documents while listening to Primo ask about the specific details before Shen Nanyang’s death. When he had finished reading the last page without missing anything, he finally spoke, “Shen Nanyang left after finishing one last thing.”

“What do you mean?” Primo looked over.

Lin Xi handed the documents in his hand over. “This is the formula for the serum that allows ordinary humans to awaken their abilities. He chose to leave only after completing the final experiment of his life.”

As he said this, he couldn’t help but look at Shen Nanyang’s remains. “Although I was never his fellow traveler in the strict sense, I must admit that he knew what he wanted more than any of us.”

Every one of these words fell into the room with particular clarity.

The suppressed sobbing in the surroundings couldn’t help but grow louder.

Primo was silent for a moment, his expression grave, then he made a decisive decision. “Confirm the feasibility of the serum as quickly as possible. If there are no problems, promote it globally directly.”

The inside and outside of the room became busy again. Those handling Shen Nanyang’s remains handled the remains, and those implementing the experimental results implemented the experimental results.

Lin Xi’s gaze swept across the room. Just as he was about to leave, he saw a figure come before him. It was Shen Nanyang’s assistant.

Before this, Lin Xi hadn’t had much interaction with this person, which made him look at the person with some confusion. “Is there anything else?”

“This thing, I think, needs to be given to you on behalf of Professor Shen.” The assistant’s eyes were still scarlet, but he had clearly calmed down a bit. “Thinking back now, Professor Shen seemed… to have already foreseen today’s situation. Half a month ago, he gave me this thing and told me that if he ever went to a very far place, to help him hand it over to you.”

“For me?” Lin Xi reached out in confusion and took it. He found that it was a black USB drive. His movement paused slightly when he scanned the label on it.

A string of numbers, which looked like a date.

And this date was probably all too familiar to Lin Xi—it was the day he suddenly lost control, was surrounded by the people of the United Administration, and finally self-destructed.

“There’s one more thing he asked me to tell you.”

The assistant continued to relay. “Professor Shen said, everyone needs to bear the consequences for what they have done, and so does he.”

Lin Xi nodded. “I know.”

The crowd downstairs was growing larger. It wasn’t until the two of them had left the crowd that Yan Xingzhou, who had been accompanying him all along, finally spoke. “What do you plan to do?”

Lin Xi was not surprised by Yan Xingzhou’s question. After all, if he could guess it, this person naturally could too.

What was stored in this USB drive from Shen Nanyang was probably the evidence of him being framed and losing control back then. Choosing to hand it over to him at this time was a statement of his guilt back then. As long as they handed over this evidence, no matter what this respected Professor Shen had done, he was destined to have a prominent mark left on the pillar of shame.

What did he plan to do?

Lin Xi played with the small black object for a moment and suddenly smiled silently.

Under his rather casual demeanor, a ball of fire silently rose, directly burning the thing in his hand to ashes without a sound.

“Although I don’t claim to be a good person, since he’s already dead, let’s forget about flogging a dead horse. The serum Shen Nanyang developed can at least help you completely get rid of the trouble of your ability losing control. Let’s just consider it as returning this favor to him.”

As Lin Xi spoke, he tilted his head back slightly and squinted in the dazzling sunlight. “The Central Research Institute is probably going to be busy for a long time. Let’s not stay here and cause trouble for them. Let’s go, it’s time to go home.”

Once the news of Professor Shen Nanyang’s passing was announced, the whole world mourned.

Half a month later, a serum named “Xizai” was officially launched by the Wan Yuan Group. Ordinary people were finally freed from the fear of contamination radiation and were able to return to a normal rhythm of life.

Due to the Wan Yuan Group’s righteous act of benefiting humanity, President Yan Xingzhou was named the world’s most influential person. However, just as everyone was looking forward to it, he was absent from this highest-level global award ceremony.

The voice of the news anchor came from the television, letting the people in the room hear Yan Xingzhou’s name for the umpteenth time.

The person still sleepy in the blankets lazily raised his head, revealing a head of striking red hair. He lightly kicked the person beside him with a half-smile. “Not bad, President Yan. You can get global attention without even showing your face. Your popularity is much higher than mine now.”

“This was never my popularity. I’m not interested.”

As Yan Xingzhou spoke, he pulled the person into his arms again. His deep eyes were clearly not pleased with Lin Xi’s words. “Primo only pushed me out to rationalize the source of the serum. I will settle this score with him sooner or later.”

Lin Xi couldn’t help but laugh when he heard this.

Before Shen Nanyang committed suicide, he had completed the final stage of the serum’s development and had indeed specifically noted on the back of the document that he was giving up the right of honor for the experimental results.

Primo, in a hurry to promote it globally and not wanting to cause public concern due to the unknown source of the serum, simply gave all the honor to Yan Xingzhou, the agent.

They say humans value reputation. Who would have thought that now, this great honor was being kicked back and forth like a ball by several people.

The phone suddenly rang. The caller ID made Lin Xi look up at Yan Xingzhou. “Want me to help you settle the score with Primo?”

Yan Xingzhou did not answer, clearly feeling even more dissatisfied with Primo for this sudden interruption.

Lin Xi answered the call. Primo’s voice came from the other end. “Lin Xi, do you have time to come over today?”

Lin Xi smiled. “What’s wrong?”

“I really can’t communicate with that contaminant.” Primo’s tone was rarely filled with a headache. “Last week, we successfully had the other contaminants enter that special S-rank rift. But a couple of days ago, the people from Country Q told me they detected a new rift. I asked Him about it, and He actually said it’s none of His damn business.”

Lin Xi blinked slowly. “Nothing wrong with that. It really is none of His damn business.”

“…”

The other end of the line fell into a long silence. After a long time, Primo’s voice sounded again. “So when can you come over?”

“That, let’s see. If I have time, I might go and take a look. I have something here, so I’ll hang up first.”

As Lin Xi spoke, he hung up the phone without batting an eye and looked at Yan Xingzhou with a smile. “With Calamity over there, Primo will probably have a headache for a while. Rounding it up, I’ve helped you get even, right?”

What answered him was a deep kiss from Yan Xingzhou.

In a moment of dizziness, Lin Xi had completely sunk into the bedding. As they nuzzled, there were only two soft words: “…Not enough.”

A hint of a smile appeared in Lin Xi’s eyes. Feeling the mingling scent of the two of them, he also tilted his head up to meet him.

Let Primo handle the messy affairs of the International Ability General Administration.

At least for now, this was very good.

Where the future of humanity will ultimately lead, time will sooner or later give the final answer. And now, whether he was human or contaminant, there was only one future he needed to grasp.

It was that—the future that had both him and Yan Xingzhou.

[End of Main Text]

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