“Has the person not been caught yet?”
At the tenth floor of the Central Building in the Silver Capital of the Chenxing Empire, a special meeting was taking place. Participants included representatives from the royal family, cabinet, and parliament. Also present were the renowned Dr. Wells and Chandler, the director of the newly established “Special Affairs Management Bureau.”
In the midst of silence, Dr. Wells, known for his lack of tact, hastily spoke up. “It’s been three days already. How have they not captured him yet? This test subject is extremely important. He’s the only successful subject of the Transcendence Project so far. We absolutely cannot allow him to roam free or fall into the hands of other countries.”
“Rest assured, we’ve covered up the details of this incident with the ‘terrorist attack’ story. Even our own people believe they’re just hunting terrorists. Foreign intelligence agents won’t learn the truth so quickly, unless someone among us betrays the empire.” The speaker’s gaze swept across the room as he gently tapped the table. “I don’t think anyone here is that foolish.”
The so-called “Transcendence Project” had begun over a decade ago. Its main objectives were to promote human genetic evolution, break through the limitations of natural lifespan, and cultivate so-called super soldiers.
However, progress had been slow over the past few years. Even the imperial higher-ups who initially championed the project had grown increasingly indifferent. In the past two years, research funding had dwindled pitifully. If it weren’t for Dr. Wells’s unwavering commitment, the project would likely have been terminated long ago.
Until the resurgence of spiritual energy, the Transcendence Project finally saw a turning point.
Dr. Wells, who had invested over a decade in this project and seemed almost manic in his devotion, actually managed to produce some results that gave the imperial leadership hope.
Moreover, with the Yao Country actively promoting martial arts, the Chenxing Empire couldn’t sit idly by. Thus, the Transcendence Project, which aligned more closely with the Chenxing Empire’s approach, became their choice.
Despite this, not everyone was in agreement. Among the leadership, there were supporters, opponents, and neutrals, each holding significant sway.The opposition had compelling reasons – martial arts, as an extraordinary system developed over hundreds of years, had been perfected through countless experiences and was already quite mature. The Transcendence Project, on the other hand, was entirely new. They were pioneers on this path, and no one knew if it would succeed or how far it could go. Why abandon a proven path to blaze a completely unknown trail? It was like gambling the empire’s fate!
Therefore, the Transcendence Project faced considerable resistance. Even though Dr. Wells was now being highly praised, he was actually just being pushed to the forefront by the leadership deliberately.
If the Transcendence Project failed and couldn’t deliver on the promises made to the imperial citizens, this “genius scientist” who had been put on a pedestal would likely be the first to be sacrificed.
As for the martial arts system, although the Chenxing Empire seemed to disregard it, they had long been secretly training martial artists. They simply didn’t want extraordinary powers to spread among the common people.
This was the empire’s way of hedging their bets. As the opposition put it, just in case the Transcendence Project didn’t work out, they wouldn’t be completely overwhelmed by other countries in the age of the extraordinary, thanks to their secretly trained martial artists.
Until the appearance of Leiyin, the successful test subject!
His emergence proved that the Transcendence Project wasn’t just a pipe dream, but a genuinely achievable endeavor.
Compared to martial arts, which originated from Eastern culture and became uncontrollable once the techniques spread, the Transcendence Project not only aligned more closely with the Chenxing Empire’s technological civilization and ideological concepts, but more importantly, its source was in the hands of the imperial leadership. They could decide who would become extraordinary.
–This was undoubtedly the best choice for them!
The meeting had lasted a full two hours. The royal family, cabinet, parliament, opposition, supporters, and neutrals all argued fiercely, each pushing for their own interests. Despite the back-and-forth, on the matter of the Transcendence Project, ignoring the few ineffective opponents, most people finally reached a consensus–
To fully support the expansion of the Transcendence Project.
This included capturing the only successful test subject who had escaped.
–Scientific research involves chance. The emergence of one successful case doesn’t mean it can be replicated on a large scale. They hadn’t yet been able to replicate a second success. Therefore, they had to first capture that accidentally successful case to study the necessary factors for experimental success.
“Your Highness Fina, what’s the result?”
Emerging from the stuffy atmosphere of the meeting, Princess Fina Andre, the youngest daughter of Emperor Andre II and the eleventh princess of the Chenxing Empire, let out an almost imperceptible sigh.
The approaching aide immediately took the documents from her hand and spoke in a low, unnoticeable voice.
“It didn’t go well,” the princess, the only one among her sisters to gain political participation rights, shook her head. “Not only did we fail to stop the cruel human experiments, but the Transcendence Project also successfully gained support from the royal family, cabinet, and parliament. I think this project will receive even more experimental resources in the future.”
Her tone became grave. “Such an anti-human experiment shouldn’t exist at all-”
As someone seemed to pass by, the princess stopped speaking at her aide’s prompt. After a moment’s thought, she had another idea. “Although we can’t stop the progress of the Transcendence Project, as long as that successful test subject doesn’t fall into Wells’ hands, we can at least delay it for a while. Maybe this success was just a fluke. If there’s no progress after a long time, perhaps Father and the others will choose to give up.”
She gave a low order. “…Have our people ‘help out’ a bit with the capture of the terrorists, but don’t draw attention.”
As for whether it was positive or negative help…
“Understood,” the aide responded quietly.
“That person… his name is Leiyin, right…”
****
Leiyin was still unaware that his name had reached the desks of the imperial leadership. He was currently striving to join an underground organization.
“You want to join us?”
“That’s right,” Leiyin looked at the doctor in front of him earnestly. “Mr. K saving me at least shows that I have some value to you, right?”
The other party neither confirmed nor denied, but smiled and said, “You might have misunderstood. K saved you simply because he wanted to. Just as if he had chosen to stand on the other side and kill you at that time, I wouldn’t have been surprised.”
Leiyin was stunned.
Just as Leiyin thought he was being rejected, the unnamed doctor suddenly changed his tone.
“Of course, you’re right too. In this world, there’s no one without value. It’s just a matter of how much value they have.”
He wagged his index finger.
“If the value is sufficient, not only can we accept you into the organization, but we can even help you seek revenge, no problem.”
Through the waving finger, Leiyin saw a shadowy gloom seeming to spread in those deep brown eyes. “So, the question now is, what price are you willing to pay?”
****
Leiyin regained his mobility on the third day after waking up, although this recovery speed was already abnormally fast.
It wasn’t until he limped to the window of the clinic with a crutch and saw the deep, winding alleys outside that he vaguely recognized where he was. “…King District?”
“Wasn’t this supposed to be the Cleaner’s territory?”
Even as a former ordinary person, he had vaguely heard rumors about gang fights in the King District, with the Cleaner emerging as the final victor.
“That’s because the Cleaner has long since become a member of the Shadow Council,” another voice answered him.
Leiyin was startled and turned around warily.
He saw a large, burly man who looked like a brown bear wrapped in a suit, even in formal attire.
“Just call me Joe, buddy,” the man lit a cigarette and sat down in the chair by the bed. “No need to be so tense, everything is under the Shadow’s control.”
Leiyin seemed to relax. “So it’s you. The doctor mentioned your name. I’ll be troubling you for the next while.” After joining this mysterious underground organization, he had learned that it was called the Shadow Council and supposedly had quite a few extraordinary members.
According to the doctor who had disappeared after the first day, the clinic he was in was under the influence of a member named Joey. Which meant…
“You’re the leader of the Cleaner?”
“That’s right,” Joe admitted frankly. His gaze towards Leiyin was somewhat special, but without malice, rather friendly. “You’re the newcomer the doctor brought into the organization?”
“I suppose so…”
In fact, he wasn’t sure what the doctor’s deal was. It felt like after that conversation, the doctor had reverted to his initial state, as if he had become a different person.
With both of them willing to get acquainted, the two soon fell into animated conversation. Leiyin took the opportunity to learn from this senior about the basic knowledge of the Shadow Council and the underworld.
As the topic deepened, Leiyin casually asked, “By the way, can you tell me about our mysterious president? I still don’t know what kind of person the president is.”
“President?” Joe was taken aback by the question.
He shook his head. “I don’t know.”
“You don’t know?” Leiyin was surprised. No matter how mysterious the leader of the Shadow Council might be, surely that was only towards outsiders? It couldn’t be that even members were in the dark.
“You’re not worried I might go and inform on you, are you?” Leiyin joked, raising his bandaged left hand. “We’re on the same side now. As a member of Shadow, I can neither escape with my bandaged leg to inform, nor can I inform the empire. Moreover, with my identity, if I were to inform, I’d be the first one arrested!”
Joe laughed along. “I believe that. If you were to inform, you’d be sacrificing yourself for the empire’s sake. You’d definitely deserve the empire’s Purple Violet Medal – I’d even vote for you!”
The Purple Violet Medal he mentioned was the Chenxing Empire’s highest honor, only given to those who made significant contributions or had a major impact on the empire.
After the joke, Joe changed his tone. “But I really don’t know the answer you’re looking for.” He shrugged helplessly. “In fact, you might not believe it, but our mysterious president exists only in legend for me. I’ve only seen him once from afar recently through some incredibly miraculous means. I couldn’t even make out his age or appearance.”
He was referring to the time when the Puppet Master card manifested, pulling many Shadow Council members into the Shadow Realm.
That incredibly miraculous experience had filled every Shadow Council member with confidence in their organization, as their president possessed mysterious powers beyond imagination. They were simply not comparable to ordinary underground organizations.
Hearing the sincerity in Joe’s words, Leiyin didn’t press further. He truly had no ulterior motives, only an urgent desire to climb higher in the Shadow Council and gain the power for revenge.
He didn’t pursue the topic, but sighed regretfully. “I’m just so curious. To be able to establish such an unfathomable extraordinary organization as the Shadow Council, eluding the empire’s eyes and ears, and even having someone as formidable as Mr. K submit to his command…”
“Submit? That’s not a very funny joke.”
Another voice interrupted Leiyin’s musings.
Leiyin turned his head towards the voice and saw a familiar figure entering through the door. Joe, who had been sitting beside him moments ago, quickly stood up, bowing his head respectfully and speaking with unprecedented gentleness. “Good afternoon, Mr. K. As soon as Leiyin was brought here, we immediately arranged for surgery. Given his recovery rate, he should be fully healed in about a week.”
Leiyin even sensed a hint of fear from him, as if he was deeply afraid of the man before them.
However, this attitude wasn’t surprising.
Leiyin’s astonished gaze fell on the man, from his black long coat to his shoulder-length light blonde hair, to his deep green eyes as gentle as a lake.
Who could have imagined that this elegant man, reminiscent of a painter or pianist at first glance, was actually a cold-blooded killer wanted by two countries? In the presence of such a ruthless figure, who wouldn’t maintain respect and feel fear from the depths of their heart?
Even Joe, the once-renowned leader of the “Cleaner” gang in King District, was no exception.
Before a criminal like K, a mere gang leader like the Cleaner was as helpless as a wild duck facing a vulture.
“This has nothing to do with me,” K’s gaze towards Leiyin was like examining some novel toy, though his tone was gentle and elegant. “Now, he’s someone personally chosen by the president.”
For some reason, Leiyin felt he detected a hint of sarcasm, but then thought it must be his imagination.
“Chosen by the president?” Leiyin looked bewildered.
“Yes, haven’t you met him? That president you admire and think about so much,” K’s eyes held a strange gleam. “Someone who only hides in the shadows, never knowing when he’ll appear to whom.”
“He’s the one who chose you, seemingly believing you could become a suitable candidate for one of the pillars.”
Leiyin’s mind flashed to the image of the “doctor,” recalling his inconsistent demeanor and words.
But…
“What are these pillars?”
…Why were the questions piling up?
“That’s not something a newcomer needs to know right now,” K showed no intention of answering the question. He seemed to have achieved his purpose just by seeing Leiyin and was preparing to leave. “I was just curious about what qualities made you be chosen. May I ask how you joined this organization?”
This was something Leiyin himself didn’t know. Many thoughts flashed through his mind before he answered honestly.
“That doctor asked me what price I was willing to pay to join the organization and even seek revenge. I just answered him—”
“I’m willing to give everything, including my life and loyalty.”
K smiled slightly. “Interesting. Looking for a mad dog with a commoner’s courage? It’s quite fitting.”
His deep green eyes seemed to ripple with light.
“In that case, if you want revenge, perhaps I can offer you a bit of advice.”
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