"Fish Bait"

"Confirm target."

"System automatically searching."

On the high-tech instrument, an image of the Gray Gorilla appeared on the display. The image gradually turned transparent as countless numbers and letters flashed and shifted across the screen.

Then, images of the Gray Gorilla from different locations appeared beneath the display.

"Based on the target's activity range and behavioral patterns, conducting an intelligent analysis of the target's current location. Please wait—"

The images beneath the display lit up one by one. At last, the screen displayed:

Analysis complete. Results as follows:

1: Target location identified, probability 89.24%

2: Target location identified, probability 56.73%

3: Target location identified, probability 42.35%

...

"System automatically planning route. Head to location number one. Estimated travel time: 1 hour and 24 minutes."

A black fighter jet soared through the clouds.

It arrived above the designated location in City 032.

"Launch miniature reconnaissance robots."

Along the fighter's side wings was a row of red, miniature missile-like launchers for reconnaissance robots. The command was issued, and one "mini missile" immediately launched.

The "mini missile" rapidly broke apart in midair.

It scattered into over a hundred marble-sized miniature robots, which moved independently into the buildings. The lidar and other detectors on the robots began operating, transmitting all collected data back into the system.

The system analyzed the information once more.

"Target not found. Location number one has been recorded."

"The miniature reconnaissance robots will initiate their self-destruct sequence once their energy is depleted."

"System automatically planning route. Head to location number two. Estimated travel time: 3 minutes."

"Proceed to location number two?"

"Yes."

They repeated the same process.

Yet they found no trace of the Gray Gorilla.

"Proceed to location number ninety-five?"

"Yes."

The cold-faced man's voice remained indifferent, without the slightest hint of impatience.

"Launch miniature reconnaissance robots."

Another "mini missile" rapidly broke apart in midair.

If this mission had not been specifically for capturing the Gray Gorilla, the fighter would never normally have carried so many miniature reconnaissance robot launchers.

These things were difficult to retrieve. In the Wilderness Area, they were generally used as disposable items, and they were extremely expensive. The cost of the ninety-five launches today alone had already exceeded one hundred million Huaxia coins.

"Target confirmed."

A red light flashed across the screen for three seconds.

An image of a monster hiding inside a building was transmitted to the system by the miniature reconnaissance robots.

After comparison and analysis, it was confirmed to be the target of this mission: the Gray Gorilla.

"Lock onto the target's location."

The cold-faced man opened his eyes from his rest. His gaze was sharp as lightning, his expression cold as frost.

Evening.

Northern Military Region.

A military cargo truck drove in through the entrance. Two searchlights shone onto the truck, making the area as bright as day.

A roadblock stood ahead, with a squad of soldiers behind it. The captain leading them raised a hand to signal the truck to stop, and the military cargo truck had no choice but to halt.

The engine shut off.

The driver got out of the truck.

"I need to inspect your identification," the captain said. He then looked at the cargo truck and asked, "What cargo are you transporting?"

The driver handed over his documents and said, "We received orders from our superiors to escort a batch of monsters to the Northern Military Region."

"Monsters?"

"Yes, four in total." He pointed behind him. "There are three more cargo trucks behind us."

At that moment.

A military jeep drove out from within the North District. Liu Mingxuan and Jia Yan stepped out. Liu Mingxuan walked up to the captain, handed him his identification, and said, "I'm Liu Mingxuan, captain of the Star Special Operations Squad. Under orders from headquarters, I'm here to receive this batch of monsters."

The captain checked the documents, then saluted. "Understood, Major."

Liu Mingxuan nodded, then turned to the driver. "Remove the truck's tarpaulin. I need to inspect it."

The driver was somewhat puzzled as to why the tarpaulin had to be removed here for inspection, but he did not think much of it and did as Liu Mingxuan instructed.

The four cargo trucks respectively carried a Silver Moon Fierce Wolf, an Earth Giant Lizard, a Black Crown Golden Eagle, and a Gray Gorilla.

They were locked inside cages specially made from Kro Alloy. They had likely been injected with heavy doses of anesthetics and were all deeply asleep.

Liu Mingxuan walked past the four cargo trucks one by one. His gaze lingered on the Gray Gorilla in the last truck for several seconds before he returned. "All right. Remove the roadblock. Drive behind us."

"There's no need to put the tarpaulins back on. Leave them as they are."

The jeep led the way, with the four cargo trucks following behind as they drove deeper into the North District.

However, they kept their speed very low, only around 20 km/h.

The four monsters on the trucks were all quite different, but each was a rare species among monsters. They drew plenty of attention along the way.

"Uh, what's going on?"

"Silver Moon Fierce Wolf, Earth Giant Lizard, Black Crown Golden Eagle... What kind of monster is that gorilla? A new species?"

"I don't know. I've never seen it either."

Liu Mingxuan did not look at the crowds by the roadside, but hidden high-resolution cameras had long since been installed on all the vehicles.

At that moment, in a room within the combat command center, dozens of technicians closely monitored all the recorded footage, judging whether any onlookers were behaving abnormally.

To prevent any accidents, Jiang Long and two other War Gods had remained nearby, ready to act at any moment.

The journey remained uneventful.

That was hardly surprising.

For that hidden skinning monster to have lurked for so long without revealing any flaws, it had to be patient and intelligent. It would not be so impulsive.

The vehicles stopped outside the research institute, and the four monsters were carried inside. The institute was now a Heavenly Net, waiting only for the fish to take the bait.

The reason there were four monsters was also to avoid making the bait too obvious and alerting the "fish."

"Put the other three elsewhere. Move this Gray Gorilla into the laboratory. This is the first living specimen we've encountered that has successfully undergone Gene Modification. It has tremendous research value."

Wen Xiuyong gave orders to everyone present.

It had to be said that his achievements were inseparable from his passion for scientific exploration.

From what Lin Yan had seen, the pace in their laboratory was extremely fast. When work was intense, even meals and sleep were dealt with perfunctorily.

Fortunately, people's physical fitness was generally much better these days.

Otherwise, ordinary people truly might not be able to endure it.

Lin Yan was helping carry the Gray Gorilla into the laboratory when Wen Xiuyong said to Wen Zhi'an beside him, "Zhi'an, bring me my phone."

Hearing this, Wen Zhi'an went to fetch his phone.

Wen Xiuyong took the phone and dialed a number. The video call was soon answered. The man on the other end wore black-framed glasses and appeared to be in his sixties.

Wen Xiuyong said, "Dean, the Gene Modified monster I mentioned to you has been transported to my laboratory in the North District."

"You've already captured it? Xiuyong, point the camera at it so I can take a look."

"Okay."

A gray gorilla appeared on the screen, sleeping inside its cage.

"It looks somewhat like a variant of a Blood Eye Gorilla. Xiuyong, send me a copy of the experimental data when you have the chance."

"I wonder who could have such extensive resources. There are only a few experts around the world with that kind of ability. After you told me about it, I began investigating their movements over the past few years. I imagine we'll have some leads soon, as long as..."

"Hm?"

"Why is this kid in your laboratory?"

"Is he your student?"

The man speaking with Wen Xiuyong had been interrupted midway through his sentence when a figure caught on camera drew his attention. He fired off a string of questions.

They had not avoided the others during their call. Lin Yan had been listening with great interest, but upon hearing this, he suddenly remembered something and blinked.

Uh... is he talking about me?

At that moment.

Somewhere in the military district.

"I heard that several monsters were transported to the research institute this evening. Is that true?"

"Yeah, it is. I saw them myself."

"They were all pretty rare. There was even a gorilla that seemed to be some new species no one had seen before."

One person laughed. "Really? It's been a long time since we discovered a new species of land monster, hasn't it?"

"Yeah. The last case in the country was four or five years ago."

By the windowsill, a man standing straight as a spear stared out into the night, his face as dark as ink.