The four Super Gene-Modified Organisms were currently rampaging through the research institute, killing anyone they encountered.
And Zhou Peian had absolutely no idea how to stop them!
These things were the product of Chen Shijie leading a team of researchers in tireless work for five years!
But Chen Shijie had fled!
Not only had he run away, but he had also destroyed all of his life's work!
Seeing the situation spiral out of control, Zhou Peian immediately turned and ran upstairs.
He burst into an office on the third floor, grabbed the communicator on the desk, and with trembling fingers, dialed the encrypted channel for the City Defense Force Headquarters.
The brief wait felt as long as a century.
“City Defense Force Headquarters, state your business,” a low voice answered from the other end.
“This is Zhou Peian, the supervisor of the Deep Blue Research Institute!” His voice was urgent and raspy.
“Emergency! A major experimental accident has occurred at the institute! Four Super Gene-Modified Organisms have lost control!”
“They are wreaking havoc inside the institute, and the casualties are unknown! I need reinforcements! Immediately! Right now!”
The voice on the other end clearly grew tense. “I will report this immediately!”
“Director Zhou, how much longer can you hold out?”
“Five minutes at most!” Zhou Peian was practically screaming.
“Understood! The City Defense Force is sending reinforcements right away!”
“And—!” Zhou Peian took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. “Connect me to Commander Pei. I have something I need to discuss with him directly!”
“One moment, transferring now.”
A few seconds later, Pei Su’s low voice came through the communicator, carrying a suppressed fury.
“Director Zhou, what happened?”
Zhou Peian recounted the events in detail.
Chen Shijie had deleted the research institute’s core data, destroyed all backups, activated the four Super Gene-Modified Organisms, and escaped in the ensuing chaos.
“Chen Shijie fled?” Pei Su’s voice rose sharply. “What do you mean, fled?”
“He… he’s no longer in the research institute!” Zhou Peian’s voice was dry.
“I sent people to find him—offices, laboratories, the third basement level… we searched everywhere. He’s gone.”
“He must have escaped through the back door during the chaos!”
“My subordinates have already gone after him, but… but I’m not sure if they can catch him.”
“Did he flee alone? Or did he have help?” Pei Su’s voice turned cold.
Zhou Peian froze for a moment.
He hadn't even considered that question.
But he quickly understood. Chen Shijie was just a helpless ordinary man. How could he have escaped on his own amidst the chaos of four rampaging Super Gene-Modified Organisms?
Unless—
Someone had helped him!
Cold sweat instantly soaked Zhou Peian’s back.
Pei Su’s voice grew colder. “Chen Shijie’s actions today were extremely abnormal!”
“He deleted twenty years of research, destroyed all backups, activated the Super Gene-Modified Organisms he spent five years developing… and then fled during the chaos!”
“Have you considered why he did this?”
Pei Su remained silent for a moment before speaking slowly, each word sounding as if it were squeezed through his teeth.
“This afternoon, Chen Shijie brought a woman into the Inner City.”
“That woman’s name is Su Wan, and she is the owner of the Terminal Station!”
A roar erupted in Zhou Peian’s mind.
Chen Shijie had taken Subject 5 out of the city to assist the City Defense Force in capturing their target at the Terminal Station—and that target was the owner of the Terminal Station!
But for some unknown reason, Chen Shijie had returned alone, and Subject 5 was nowhere to be found!
And now, Pei Su was telling him that Chen Shijie had actually joined forces with the very target they were supposed to capture?
“You mean, Chen Shijie is… in league with that woman named Su Wan?”
“What else could it be?” Pei Su let out a cold laugh.
“Everything was normal before Chen Shijie left the city. As soon as he returns, he turns the research institute upside down. If he hasn't colluded with Su Wan, how else do you explain this!”
Zhou Peian’s heart rate accelerated.
Pei Su continued, his voice full of suppressed anger. “Su Wan is a Level 4 Ability User; her strength is not inferior to mine.”
“She entered the city with Chen Shijie…”
“I was negligent regarding Chen Shijie…”
His voice turned abruptly icy. “A normal person like Chen Shijie couldn't have escaped the research institute without help.”
“The person who helped him must be quite powerful.”
“And that person must have a close relationship with Su Wan!”
Pei Su paused as if deep in thought, then spoke slowly.
“But regardless of who helped him—”
“We must stop them!”
Zhou Peian’s hands were trembling slightly.
“Commander Pei, you plan to…”
“Lockdown,” Pei Su’s voice was as cold as ice. “Activate the Inner City defense system immediately and raise the protective shield to maximum power! Lock all city gates! No one is allowed to enter or leave!”
“No matter who assisted Chen Shijie, they aren't getting out!”
Pei Su hung up the communicator and immediately issued his orders.
“Pass down the command—”
“First, the Gate Defense Force is to enter a Level 1 Alert. All city gates are to be locked; no one enters or leaves.”
“Second, mobilize three mobile brigades to blockade all streets near the city gates. Every alley, every intersection—not a single car or person is to pass!”
“Third—” He paused, his voice turning cold. “If Chen Shijie is found, do not alert them. Track them first to confirm their accomplices and escape route, then wipe them all out at once.”
“If they resist, kill them on sight!”
A faint blue curtain of light slowly lit up, spreading from the edges toward the center like a giant transparent bowl covering the entire Inner City.
The Inner City defense system had been activated.
It was the Inner City’s guardian barrier, but it was also its cage.
Pei Su looked up at the sky above the Inner City, his expression so grim it looked as though it could drip ink.
Shen Han had not been heard from since she went in pursuit.
No news, no response.
The ten Level 3 Super Gene-Modified Organisms sent to assist Shen Han had also vanished without a word.
It had been less than an hour since Su Wan left the City Defense Force Headquarters.
In such a short time, what could have happened to Shen Han and those subordinates?
Could there be someone even stronger than Shen Han by Su Wan’s side?
No, that wasn't right. Level 4 Ability Users didn't just grow on trees; they couldn't be that common!
Su Wan was a clever person. If she had such an expert with her, she would never have come alone to the negotiations!
A thought suddenly flashed through Pei Su’s mind—
Could the person who helped Chen Shijie be Su Wan herself?
No!
That was impossible!
Shen Han was at Level 4 Mid Stage, stronger than Su Wan. It was impossible for Su Wan to have shaken off Shen Han’s pursuit, and even more impossible for her to have slipped back into the Inner City in such a short amount of time!
...
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