Chapter 11 – Zero

“Boss, are you really not going to send him back?” Shen Wenyan finally couldn’t hold it in and asked.

Su Fengzhou crossed his arms, his gaze resting for a long time on the worktable not far away. His eyes fell on the busy figures there, but he answered with a question instead. “Do you know who that old man is?”

The main lobby on the ground floor was filled with people from all over coming to handle official matters.

To outsiders, the Investigation Department was just an ordinary operations group. In the office area, besides Sentinels and Guides busy with their duties, there were also quite a few regular civilians coming and going.

At that moment, the old man standing there signing a form had a head full of white and gray hair. A pair of black-rimmed glasses sat on his nose, looking polite and cultured, with gentle eyes and kind features.

As he moved through the crowd, he looked like a refined elderly man, entirely unremarkable.

Shen Wenyan stared for a long time but couldn’t see anything out of the ordinary. “Who is he? He came to take Researcher Ying back, so he’s probably from the Research Department, right?”

“He’s indeed from the Research Department, but not someone from our Ning City.” Su Fengzhou finally withdrew his gaze after a long pause. His eyes slowly lowered, and he let out a meaningful chuckle. “This is none other than Director Ji from the Central Research Department.”

“Director Ji?” Shen Wenyan froze for a moment, and when he finally realized, he almost bit his tongue. He even stuttered, “J-Ji Song?”

Su Fengzhou clicked his tongue, his tone drawn-out and casual. “A man like that, showing up here personally simply to escort a mere branch researcher, don’t you think that’s quite interesting?”

Shen Wenyan glanced at his captain, looking like he wanted to say something but stopping himself.

He didn’t know whether it was interesting or not, but judging from the captain’s expression, it sure seemed like he found that so-called ‘researcher’ quite interesting.

Still, someone like Ji Song showing up in Ning City so suddenly was definitely quite unexpected.

As everyone knew, when the alien crisis first emerged, it was Ji Song’s research team that was the first to detect the problem.

They had proposed the theory of an invasion by foreign species based on genetic sampling, but since there was no solid theoretical basis at the time, they had almost been thrown in jail as a group for ‘disrupting public order.’

Until all the events that followed confirmed that every theory Ji Song had proposed was correct.

After the series of tragic incidents, Ji Song was respectfully escorted out of the supervision zone by the higher-ups. However, due to his advanced age, he ended up developing lasting health issues during that period.

Even so, he continued to lead his team actively in the research and development of combat weapons against the aliens and had been fighting on ever since.

The conditions back then were nothing like they are now. There were no references or guidelines at all during combat operations.

Especially when regular firearms and artillery could barely inflict damage. Facing the sudden appearance of alien creatures from underground caves, all combat operations could truly be described as groping in total darkness.

The pioneers of those years, to protect peace, could only rely on their own flesh and blood to forcibly hold back the advance of invading alien species.

Numerous people died at the hands of aliens, countless were killed after being infected, and even more rushed forward one after another.

It was under such a foundationless and chaotic backdrop that Ji Song, along with his team of researchers, spent countless days and nights without rest, even suffering several extremely tragic experimental accidents before they were finally able to develop a series of new weapons against the aliens.

Looking back on that period, it’s no exaggeration to say that it was thanks to the support behind the scenes from this team that humanity gradually regained ground in the war.

The truth was, ever since that critical turning point, the struggle between humanity and the mysterious forces within the underground caves finally started to move forward steadily.

And even now, more than ten years later, many of the weapons used by front-line members of both the Investigation Department and the Defense Force stationed at the cave lookout posts were still continuing the legacy of the research results from back then.

This alone was enough to show its great significance.

Due to the immense workload during the research period, many members of the Lanjing research team back then collapsed from overwork and died right at their workstations.

Others were unfortunately killed while collecting samples or assisting on-site.

Today, only three researchers from that time are still alive, and they’ve all become leading figures in major research departments. As for Ji Song, he had remained at the Central Research Department in the capital, coordinating national operations in his role as director.

There was no doubt that once this crisis was over, this old man would be etched into history forever. And yet now, without any warning, he had come to Ning City and the very first thing he did after arriving was to personally come to retrieve a young researcher.

It was indeed hard not to read deeper into it.

Su Fengzhou’s gaze was completely undisguised. Ying Xize could clearly feel it even while standing at the center of the lobby, far away.

After a few encounters, he had already realized that this Seventh Squad captain really wasn’t someone easy to deal with. To be fair, aside from an excessively strong sense of curiosity, it was fortunate that there was no conflict of interest between them. Otherwise, things might have gotten even more troublesome.

The entire process proceeded smoothly. Ying Xize never once glanced in Su Fengzhou’s direction.

Only after he walked out of the door did the gaze burning into his back finally disappear completely.

A plain and unremarkable private car had been waiting not far away for some time.

One by one, the group got into the car.

Xiang Jiayan naturally took the front passenger seat, while Ying Xize followed Ji Song into the back.

Only after the car began to move slowly did he finally open his mouth and softly say, “Teacher.”

Having just flown in from the capital not long ago, Ji Song still looked a bit weary around the eyes.

Putting aside the heavy responsibilities this era had placed on his shoulders, only looking at his kind and gentle features, he seemed like nothing more than a warm and friendly old man, someone who, at his age, should have been quietly enjoying his later years at home.

Ji Song looked Ying Xize over and let out a quiet sigh. “You’ve gotten thinner.”

Ying Xize remained silent.

Ever since his mother passed away, he had been sent to Ji Song’s side, and like his late mother, he called this senior ‘Teacher.’

To many people, Ji Song’s steady support of him over the years seemed like an act of appreciation or recognition. However, Ying Xize was very well aware that what truly existed between him and this towering figure was nothing besides a working relationship.

Maybe that sounded a little heartless. Whether it was due to guilt over his mother’s death or not, Ji Song had indeed treated him well over the past few years.

But ever since those things happened, his experiences had slowly pulled him away from what could be called a normal human life, and inevitably, he had begun to feel a gradual loss of connection to many human emotions.

Still, he personally didn’t see anything wrong with it.

The inside of the car fell into a brief silence.

After thinking for a moment, Ying Xize spoke, “You made a special trip just for me. Thank you for the trouble.”

Ji Song was already used to Ying Xize’s cool and indifferent attitude. He smiled. “It’s no trouble. I came to Ning City to find you anyway. It’s saved me from dealing with all that socializing at the research institute.”

At this point, his tone sank slightly, and the curve of his lips faded away. “So, you saw Zero this time?”

That long-unspoken name brushed past his ear, and even Ying Xize didn’t realize how the atmosphere around him had suddenly dropped.

It wasn’t until the private car gave a faint jolt, caused by the driver’s hands trembling uncontrollably under the unintentional spiritual pressure that he returned to his senses.

The sudden jolt of the car brought Ying Xize back to his senses. He quietly withdrew his spiritual pressure without a word. “I didn’t exactly see it but I’m sure it was that thing.”

Ying Xize reached into his pocket and pulled out a sheet of paper crumpled into a ball.

As he handed it over, a cold smile tugged at the corner of his lips. “The handwriting’s still as ugly as ever.”

Ji Song took it with hands that couldn’t help but shake. His expression completely sinking. “That last explosion… so it really didn’t die.”

“It didn’t die, but it must’ve been badly injured. Or else it wouldn’t have taken this long to show itself again and it definitely wouldn’t be this frantic to come looking for me to settle the score.”

Ying Xize turned his gaze toward the window. The mottled scenery was reflected in his pale-colored eyes, while his indifferent expression shifted and remained unreadable, resembling scattered shadows.

The soft strands of hair brushed lightly against his cheek.

If one looked closely, they would notice that his hair had grown noticeably lighter than it was a few years ago, to the point it seemed faintly translucent.

Xiang Jiayan sat in the front passenger seat, quietly listening to the conversation between the two in the back.

He glanced at Ying Xize through the rearview mirror and seemed like he was about to speak, but his lips paused. In the end, he swallowed the words back down.

“So, the alien escape incident at Chen Mountain Cave this time is the ‘gift’ it deliberately prepared for you?” Ji Song paused for a moment, then frowned. “It’s always had a habit of doing these meaningless things.”

“It’s afraid of me. It doesn’t dare get too close, so of course, it only dares to use these childish methods. Besides, in its eyes, these things might not be meaningless at all.”

Ying Xize slowly leaned back against the rear seat. His eyes drifted slightly, following the scenery flashing past outside. “Teacher, you’re the one who taught me that ‘quantitative change leads to qualitative change.’ Whether or not I get infected, it just wants to seize every possible chance to test the limits. Zero is no different from Assistant Xiang. Both are waiting for the same moment. Once I can no longer withstand the genetic overload, the outbreak is bound to happen eventually.”

His words lingered quietly in the confined space, like a calm murmur.

“The only difference is that we define that day as the ‘end,’ while it defines it as ‘rebirth.’ So if we’re being honest, whether its imagination can truly be broken, that responsibility really falls on Assistant Xiang’s shoulders. Wouldn’t you say so?”

Each word landed clearly in his ears, and Xiang Jiayan’s fingertips had already dug into his palm from how tightly he was clenching his fists.

Fully aware of what that so-called ‘work’ truly meant, his face had turned deathly pale, For once, he didn’t give any reply to Ying Xize’s words.

Ji Song cast a glance toward the front seat, breaking the silence. “Don’t worry too much. Your condition is still different from Zero’s. Trying to force an overload through repeated infection attacks… honestly, that thing is being far too naive. We absolutely won’t allow something like that to happen.”

If they were really that certain, then all these years, he wouldn’t have kept someone like Xiang Jiayan constantly by his side.

A faint smile curved at the corner of Ying Xize’s lips. He saw through it but said nothing. “Maybe.”

Ji Song’s tone turned almost casual, like idle small talk. “By the way, the alien creature from that day was already handled by you. But that Seventh Squad captain actually did something useful this time. I’m curious how he pulled it off. There was quite a bit of broken tentacle tissue left at the scene. The samples we managed to collect have already been sent to the research institute. It’s just in time for further observation. If you’re free, come take a look with me.”

“Mhm.”

Ying Xize replied absentmindedly, his attention fully focused on the view outside the window.

Cars came and went. People laughed and played in the streets.

The sudden incident in the Delong Business District a few days ago had gradually faded from public memory after being properly handled. The mall had reopened, and business was thriving.

All traces left by the alien contamination had been completely erased; not a single mark remained. It was as if everything that happened that day had really been nothing more than a temporary police operation to catch a wanted criminal.

But how much longer could this carefully maintained illusion of peace truly last?

Ying Xize narrowed his eyes slightly under the somewhat blinding sunlight.

In truth, his highly respected teacher had still gotten one thing wrong.

Zero was never a ‘naive’ being.