Special Operations Department Headquarters.
Tang Xunan entered the innermost building.
The armed guards at the door saluted him, and Tang Xunan nodded in response.
Perhaps it was an illusion of the staff, but Tang Xunan seemed unusually cold today.
There was a faint black aura swirling around him.
Few knew that beneath the central building lay the cells holding special prisoners.
As a force inclined toward violence, the Special Operations Department might not always resort to humane methods in abnormal situations.
It had been a week since he left the botanical garden. Tang Xunan reported to headquarters daily, more diligently than walking his dog.
After the seventh day talent failure, Researcher Ren Xuan vanished, jumping to his death. Cultists infiltrated the training ranks. All signs pointed to the First Research Institute.
Internal personnel even suspected the Institute of striking deals with those high-level pollutants.
Interrogation Room.
Bai Ze emerged from the heavily sealed dark room, sighing with a hint of helplessness.
Tang Xunan was outside, smoking a cigarette. The new tranquilizer had a hint of mint.
The recent battles had escalated his mutation level; a few days prior, he had obtained a new drug from the institute.
The potent medication he used hadn't yet circulated in the market due to its high cost.
"No use," Bai Ze said. "There are clues on him, but hypnosis doesn't affect him."
B-grade auxiliary Harbinger, Bai Ze.
Abilities: Hypnosis, Clue Perception.
The "him" referred to the current director of the First Research Institute, Gong Weibin.
Tang Xunan opened the door, stepped in, and sat across from Gong Weibin, his gaze scrutinizing.
The old man's hair had turned gray; his hands were restrained in front of him. Beneath sparse hair, one could even see age spots.
He was a contemporary of Qiao Yu, a researcher, also a Harbinger awakened as a "Gene Editor," sequence number 104, nearly a hundred and forty years old now.
Upon seeing Tang Xunan, the old man couldn't help but smile sardonically, "I've always stuck to my initial assessment. You'll become the greatest variable. Unfortunately, Director Qiao was always so lenient. Now that the 100,000 volts of high voltage won't work on you anymore. Once the mutation level surpasses 100, the desperate Black Dragon will return to the earth, bringing true despair to the world... I've seen that painting of Subject 0, as have you. We both know what future awaits."
In earlier years, such words might have enraged or unsettled Tang Xunan.
But now, he simply smoked quietly, expressionless, exuding a dominating aura.
Prolonged silence often amplified pressure on the interrogated. Gong Weibin was no exception, yet he remained composed, despite the lack of evidence and interrupted leads; Tang Xunan couldn't do much to him.
Honestly, even his arrest was against the rules.
Only after finishing a cigarette did Tang Xunan speak.
"I have control over time with my talent," he said. "I know better than you that the future can be changed."
"Different branches inevitably lead to the same result. Like different rivers eventually merging into the same sea," Gong Weibin's face displayed a mocking smile. "I admit, I don't like you. But I'm well aware of your current value to the human camp. In the First Research Institute, there are over a hundred researchers; I can't ensure each one's thoughts are highly aligned."
"Just as you don't like me. My psychic threshold is low, I'm still a frail old man. Yet, you haven't eradicated me, have you?"
Tang Xunan's golden eyes stared at him, cold and inorganic.
For a moment, there was indeed a hint of murderous intent in him.
But this intent was soon constrained by more pragmatic considerations.
The data from the First Research Institute, the unfinished research projects, reactions from other institutes...
Three related departments associated with pollution-related diseases cooperated but rarely intervened in each other's affairs. They employed internal cleansing strategies.
This was mainly to check the Special Operations Department. Historically, there were incidents where Harbingers from the Special Operations Department clashed with logistics and ended up massacring a pollution disease prevention center in a city.
Weapons always required control and rules. Gong Weibin could kill, but it was troublesome because of his special status and backing from influential figures.
Tang Xunan currently didn't want to disrupt this delicate balance.
So, he proposed a condition: "I want the First Research Institute to cease human transplantation surgeries."
Initially, these surgeries involved transplants from pollutants. They were risky, costly, and led to severe rejection reactions. But people sought stronger abilities, forcing these attempts.
Later, Gong Weibin developed human talent transplantation.
By transferring talents from newly awakened Harbingers with low psychic thresholds to those with higher thresholds, the powers could be better utilized.
He had researched extensively, performed numerous black-market surgeries, and faced reprimands. But he only dared to propose this surgery after Qiao Yu's death.
Gong Weibin wanted to transfer Qiao Yu's "Gene Recombination" to himself, citing noble reasons – "For humanity's future."
Of course, this wasn't permitted. As a precaution, even after the mentor's death, Qiao Yu's students immediately cremated the body.
Finally, Qiao Yu's ashes were interred in the cemetery, resting beside the deceased beloved.
After Qiao Yu's passing, the original research institute split into thirteen, each pursuing different research domains. However, the First Research Institute remained the most advanced in research capabilities.
Gong Weibin spoke calmly, "The volunteers we select willingly donate themselves. Most are already old and near death. The Institute acknowledges their contributions..."
"If you disagree, I'll destroy the First Research Institute," Tang Xunan replied with equal seriousness. "Just as you view me as an unstable factor in human society, I see your First Research Institute becoming a destabilizing factor."
"History is written by the victors. If you believe your test subjects can surpass me, you're welcome to try."
Gong Weibin squinted his tiny eyes.
Since Director Qiao's demise, Gong Weibin had become the director and handled Subject 1 for nearly 50 years.
In reality, the psychic threshold of Subject 1 within the First Research Institute was already higher than Tang Xunan's.
Subject 1 was Gong Weibin's most outstanding creation. He even believed that this creation could perfectly replace Tang Xunan – Subject 1 possessed combat capabilities rivaling a despot's, along with an unprecedented loyalty to the institute.
Subject 1, unregistered S-level Harbinger, "Hound." Mutation level: 673.
Psychic threshold: 14700.
Abilities: 23 - Berserker, 129 - Combat Expert, 271 - Teleportation, 273 - Super Strength.
If Tang Xunan grew through battles, Hound evolved on the opposite path entirely.
He was bred through medication.
...But now wasn't the time to unleash Hound.
After pondering for a moment, Gong Weibin smiled, "Deal."
Late at night, Tang Xunan finally concluded his day's work and returned home.
It was a hot summer day. Xiao Tian sat in the living room, enjoying the coolness of the air conditioning while watching a female anchor learning to dance. Sometimes, he'd even give her a little tip just for fun.
He shared a bank account with Tang Xunan, and the amount of money on Tang Xunan's card was so substantial that even Xiao Tian's two paws couldn't count it all. In the live streaming community, he was a big shot among many anchors.
Several female anchors had shown interest in him, but alas, being a dog, there was a boundary Xiao Tian couldn't cross. He and his owner were both single and getting on in years.
Lately, Xiao Tian noticed something different about his owner. Every night, he stood on the balcony, silently gazing toward the direction of the headquarters training base. Sometimes, he'd burst into silly laughter. In the morning, he unconsciously tried to hook the air next to him with his tail.
Putting together information from contact officer Xiao Wang, Xiao Tian reasonably deduced that his owner had taken a liking to a certain student surnamed Lu.
Today marked the official end of the academy training. Tang Xunan got up early and took out a jade pendant that his mother had left him, long forgotten and covered in dust.
His mother, before passing away, had said that she probably wouldn't see Tang Xunan getting married. If he found someone he liked in the future, he should remember to pass on this family heirloom to him or her.
However, as soon as Tang Xunan returned home, he sat on the couch, motionless, his eyes fixed on something unseen. In his hands was a file sent by the headquarters, information about Lu Yan.
If Zhou Qiming were present, he might have noticed a subtle change in Tang Xunan, the unchanging golden title above his head might have transformed from "Despairing Black Dragon" to "Heartbroken Black Dragon."
Xiao Tian keenly sensed that something was off with his owner's emotions. So, he kindly turned off the live stream, approached Tang Xunan, and lay down, exposing his soft belly.
"Go ahead, human. Pet me until you feel better," Xiao Tian nudged.
Tang Xunan glanced at him but remained silent.
Xiao Tian's doggy eyes drooped. "What's wrong, buddy? Did the family heirloom get rejected?"
"No..." Tang Xunan replied slowly, each word deliberate. "I didn't give it away."
Xiao Tian jumped up in surprise. "Why not? Bro, you're not usually this hesitant! It's not your style!"
"He has a boyfriend."
Being a person with high moral standards, Tang Xunan wouldn't meddle as a third party in such matters.
Xiao Tian immediately searched on Peach Treasure website for keywords: Thai love spells, breakup rituals. To his disappointment, these things were banned across the internet due to feudal superstitions.
He extended his paw to comfort Tang Xunan. "It's alright. You're in good health. His little Lu's relationship probably won't last longer than yours."
Just then, the iPad screen lit up. The Apocalypse Forum app reminded Tang Xunan of a new message. Since Tang Xunan didn't have the app on his phone, it was Xiao Tian who used the iPad. Being ranked first internally on the forum, he received many private messages daily.
Usually, Tang Xunan didn't bother to check.
But today, to divert his attention, Xiao Tian swiftly opened the chat box.
"Di Ting? Who's this person?" Xiao Tian muttered to himself.
Before he could finish his sentence, his owner's hand swiped him three meters away, sending him tumbling from the couch like a real doggone mess.
Di Ting: To avoid unnecessary misunderstandings, I thought I'd clarify. I'm single.
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