MCL CH35

Chapter 35: Central Research Institute.

Yan Xingzhou’s brow furrowed slightly. “I remember that before I left, everything was clearly still normal.”

To this day, Yan Xingzhou still remembered the scene clearly.

Due to a high-risk rift appearing in a certain area, a request for emergency rescue was made. Gu Beiqiu, as the temporary commander of the United Administration, issued an order for the Ninth Administration to provide support. When he left the quarantine zone, Lin Xi had, at the very least, not shown any abnormalities. He was basically eating and sleeping as he should, and even found the energy to play mahjong with the staff in the quarantine zone. It was precisely because of this that when he received news of the accident during his mission, he never believed the story about powers going out of control.

“It was quite normal,” Lin Xi said. As his thoughts drifted back three years, the focus of his gaze also seemed distant. A faint, unreadable smile touched his lips. “I just remember winning a month’s worth of salary from A-Si. When it was time for the routine check-up, I went back to my room. The staff came later, and I cooperated with the tests. The data indicators were all very stable. Then… let me think. Then I think I wanted to take a nap, but before I could fall asleep, I received a message from you.”

Yan Xingzhou’s eyes darkened slightly. “I never sent you any message.”

“Looking back now, you should have been in the middle of a mission at that time. You wouldn’t have had the leisure for that.” As he spoke, a hint of self-disgust appeared in Lin Xi’s eyes. “My fault. At a glance, the source of the message was indeed your number, so I subconsciously didn’t think much of it at the time. When I saw you said you had asked someone to send something to me, I took the opportunity during my lunch break to go to the location mentioned.”

Yan Xingzhou: “And then, your powers went out of control on the way?”

Lin Xi smiled noncommittally. “The time and place were just right, and even the audience was fully assembled. The moment I sensed something was wrong, the old acquaintances from the United Administration appeared so ‘timely.’ Honestly, it was a very uncomfortable experience, as if someone had written the entire script beforehand, just waiting for me, the lead actor, to perform according to plan. Even the entire United Administration was just a carefully calculated chess piece in it all.”

His words paused silently here. He looked up with a half-smile. “So, to sum it up, the whole thing is that simple. Gu Beiqiu didn’t lie to you. At that time, it was indeed because of my loss of control that the United Administration had to launch an encirclement.”

Yan Xingzhou met his gaze steadily. “Are you trying to absolve Gu Beiqiu’s actions in a roundabout way?”

“Of course not,” Lin Xi’s tone was indifferent. “Whether your relationship is good or bad has no effect on me now. The moment I chose to self-destruct three years ago, I already had no relationship with the United Administration. Now, compared to the problem of how the United Administration should properly handle interpersonal relationships from all walks of life, I’m more interested in the scriptwriter behind this script.”

He blinked slowly, and with his slightly drawn-out tone, the surrounding atmosphere was instantly filled with a subtle danger. “To be able to grasp the timing of my power outage so accurately, who could be the person who arranged all this in advance? Actually, you’ve always had a suspect in mind, haven’t you? Otherwise, you wouldn’t have asked Gu Beiqiu for this list, right?”

After a few seconds of silence, Yan Xingzhou asked, “So now, are we thinking of the same person?”

“Although I’d really like to deny it, I can only regretfully tell you that I’m afraid we are.” Lin Xi sighed with a hint of lament. “Honestly, I don’t really want to be his enemy. After all, even if we weren’t friends, we were at least always fighting together for the future of this world. Even now, I still can’t think of a reason that would make him do such a thing.”

Speaking of this, he gently touched his chin and fell into deep thought. “Or maybe, I unknowingly offended him deeply somewhere? Otherwise, there’s no need to be so ruthless, right?”

“Then we’ll have to ask him directly.”

Yan Xingzhou raised his hand and once again opened the lid of the laptop. Looking at the list that lit up on the screen again, his gaze fell on the names recorded line by line, and he read them out one by one. “Xi Hanzhu, former data recorder, now the head of R&D Group A at the Central Research Institute, core member of the Life Center R&D project team. Xiang Rong, former member of the inspection department, now a specialist in Inspection Area C at the Central Research Institute, core member of the Life Center R&D project team. And, Pu Haoran, the person in charge of the observation project team arranged by the Central Research Institute three years ago, now the deputy head of the Life Center R&D project team, and the deputy director of the Central Research Institute.”

He looked at Lin Xi, a cold, mocking light in his eyes. “No wonder Gu Beiqiu kept refusing to give me this list. It seems he really did know some things long ago.”

In comparison, Lin Xi appeared quite tolerant of his former subordinate. “The reason I initially valued Gu Beiqiu was that I admired his ability to judge the hour and size up the situation. Some things have already happened. With his personality, compared to settling scores after the fact, he’s more concerned with how to minimize future losses. Compared to two X-level ability users within Hua Country being at each other’s throats, he naturally hopes to find a more harmonious, win-win solution. But, it is indeed a pity.”

His gaze swept over the names on the screen. He let out a low “tsk,” his expression filled with regret and pity. “This dear adjutant of mine is probably destined to have a difficult time being caught between the Wanyuan Group and the Central Research Institute.”

At the same time, in the top-floor suite of a five-star hotel.

A holographic projection fully expanded, and the originally magnificent decorations were covered by plain, clean white walls.

Gu Beiqiu stared fixedly at the man in the white coat in front of him, his brow slightly furrowed. “Professor Shen, is it really okay? That list should have already reached Yan Xingzhou’s hands by now.”

The one having a holographic meeting with him was none other than the director of the Central Research Institute, Shen Nanyang.

“It’s fine.” Piles of experimental data were stacked on the desk. Shen Nanyang looked up from them, his delicate and cold features showing not the slightest hint of panic. “The fact that this man could tolerate it until today before taking action is already very surprising to me. After all, he already had his suspicions three years ago. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have snatched that piece of Calamity’s crystal core from you back then. The United Administration has already bought us three years of time to cooperate with our research work. If we still refused to give Yan Xingzhou the list now, it would really make things difficult for you.”

Hearing these words, Gu Beiqiu couldn’t help but take another look at this man, feeling helpless in his heart.

Is it not difficult now?

After a moment of contemplation, he said, “I will issue an order to headquarters in a bit to have the First Administration arrange for more personnel to be stationed at the Central Research Institute for defense.”

“No need,” Shen Nanyang said calmly. “If Yan Xingzhou really wants to take action, he can’t be stopped even if the entire First Administration assembles.”

“…”

Gu Beiqiu gave a bitter smile. “You’re as direct as ever. But how can we possibly watch as the only two remaining X-level ability users in Hua Country engage in a direct conflict? Ever since the Executor passed away, our situation in the International Ability Association has already been very awkward. If something happens to either of you again, then it would truly be—”

“Don’t worry, it won’t happen.” Shen Nanyang interrupted him unhurriedly. “Yan Xingzhou is not the type to act so rashly. It’s not that he’s so concerned about the overall situation, but in this matter involving Lin Xi, even if he really wanted revenge, he wouldn’t allow me to die too easily. He has already waited for three years; he doesn’t mind waiting a little longer.”

Gu Beiqiu’s expression was somewhat complicated for a moment. “Is this why you had me give him the list?”

“At the very least, it can keep him stable for a period of time,” Shen Nanyang said. He glanced at the bright sky outside and narrowed his eyes silently. “Lin Xi… I miss him very much too. But if I were given another chance, I probably would have made the same choice. It’s good that Yan Xingzhou knows. He can take my life at any time, but not now.”

As his words fell, his expression became somewhat distant for a moment, as if he were looking at a faraway place that others couldn’t see. “Executor Gu, I still need some time. Really, just a little…”

Gu Beiqiu looked at the man before him and nodded. “I understand. I will find a way to get Calamity’s crystal core back from Yan Xingzhou.”

Shen Nanyang withdrew his gaze. This time when he looked at Gu Beiqiu, a curve that could probably be called a smile finally appeared on his lips. “Then I’ll have to trouble you. I have an experiment later, so let’s end it here for today. See you next time.”

As the conversation ended, the surrounding scene flickered once and then returned to the exquisite furnishings of the hotel suite.

Gu Beiqiu still stood there. Although there was no one in front of him anymore, his gaze remained fixed on the direction where Shen Nanyang had been, and he was somewhat lost in a daze for a moment.

Time passed too quickly; he had almost forgotten the process of reaching an agreement with this Professor Shen. But even after three years, and under such frequent contact, he still felt that he had never seen through this man.

Hua Country’s third ability user with an X-code. Unlike the other two who held dual abilities, Shen Nanyang possessed no combat abilities whatsoever, but even so, he still held an unshakable, supreme position.

One was him at the Central Research Institute, one was Lin Xi serving as the Chief Executor of the United Administration, and then there was Yan Xingzhou. At that time, almost everyone believed that these three alone were enough to shoulder the future of Hua Country. But who would have thought that such a thing would happen three years ago? It was as if in a single day, the entire world had been turned upside down.

Gu Beiqiu let out a deep sigh, his very soft words sounding like a murmur. “Executor, if you were still here, would you forgive the choice I’ve made now…”

As his words fell, the only response was a long, dead silence.

He suddenly let out a low laugh and shook his head in self-mockery.

A knock suddenly sounded on the door.

Gu Beiqiu’s usual calm composure instantly returned to his face. “Come in.”

A clerk from the United Administration poked a head in from outside. After confirming there was no one else inside, he walked in and handed over the file in his hand. “This is the ability file you requested.”

Gu Beiqiu nodded. He asked as he opened it, “Give me the results.”

The clerk watched him open the file and flip through it page by page, then replied, “After investigation, we did indeed find information on that Lin Ni in the archives. From the records, the fire-type ability code matches, but there is one piece of information that seems to have a major discrepancy.”

“Mm, I see it.”

As Gu Beiqiu spoke, his gaze lingered on the contents of the file’s photocopy, and his eyebrows rose slightly.

Lin Ni, male, an ability user with a fire-type code.

All the information looked very normal, except for the age column, which read—53 years old.