The other end of the line fell silent.
More than ten seconds later, the old man on the other end asked as gently as he could, "Zheng De, good boy, don't be afraid. Which fortress are you in again?"
"Fortress No. 76 in the Ancient Basin."
"Who's the governor of No. 76? Guards! Call him right now, immediately, this instant! Ask him whether he can do his damn job. If he can't, tell him to get lost!"
"Grandpa."
Zhou Zhengde looked at the utterly bewildered Biological Affairs Minister and said tearfully:
"Then... could you plead with the 13th Institute for me? I don't dare investigate them anymore. Their live human experiments are for humanity's future victory. I... I understand now. Mom's and your safety are what matter most."
"Zheng De, are you all right? Be strong! You're a man!"
The old man on the other end exploded into curses:
"Fuck his ancestors! I'm killing Blade Beasts on the front lines while you bastards mess with my only grandson from behind!
"Drag that bastard Zhuang Mingqi over here! Beat him up first, then drag him over! Fuck! Kick his balls to bits and install alloy ones! He's never this proactive when it comes to killing Blade Beasts, but he's a goddamn expert at internal strife! I'll shoot him dead today!
"Zheng De! Give them my name! I'm telling you to give it!"
Beep!
The call was rudely disconnected from the other end.
Zhou Zhengde put away the communicator, wiped at the tears that had nearly spilled out, and looked up at the Biological Affairs Minister of Fortress No. 76.
He grinned.
Zhuang Mingqi, director of the 13th Institute Branch in the D5 Comprehensive War Zone, was one of the 13th Institute's true senior executives and Kong Nu's immediate superior.
"You..."
Kong Nu, the Biological Affairs Minister of Fortress No. 76, frowned and asked:
"Who were you calling just now?"
"An old man with a bad temper but a very kind heart. Go back and wait for word. Your superior should contact you soon."
Zhou Zhengde shrugged and winked his left eye at the Biological Affairs Minister.
"My family's tradition is to take the mother's surname. I took my mother's surname, and my mother took my grandmother's surname. That was actually to conceal my mother's and my identities and avoid retaliation from Mimic Blade Beasts.
"My mother is a professional accountant. Why was she elevated to become the Head of Internal Affairs for a major Industrial Fortress?
"Because my grandfather is the Commander-in-Chief of the D5 War Zone United Defense Force.
"Yes, that Old General known as the last hero of the Fortress Era, the first person to undergo prosthetic limb modification, and the first-generation pilot of the Terror Mech.
"I really can't do much to the 13th Institute. You're a cross-regional organization, holding the technical patents for Psionicists and most medical resources. You openly and secretly contend with the United Defense Force, keeping each other in check.
"But at least the 13th Institute units at the fortress level can't truly threaten me.
"Kong Nu, Senior Researcher."
Zhou Zhengde slowly rose to his feet, bracing both hands against the edge of the desk and leaning slightly forward. A sharp glint flickered in his eyes.
"You'd better get that list and those accounts before I do. If I get them first, self-execution will be your only option.
"Or being executed."
Kong Nu's face turned livid as he kicked the door open and left.
As the two Psionicists departed, the man put away his dagger, smiled, and gave a military salute, while the woman lifted her skirt and performed a lady's curtsy.
Psionicists really did learn quickly.
In the blink of an eye, they had mastered human etiquette.
Inside the new dormitory.
Wang Jixuan raised a hand to his forehead.
Lin Bo shut off the monitor, took out the vibrating communications box, and looked up. "Team leader, the captain told you to rest easy. We'll talk again at the party tonight."
"Mm. Thanks for your hard work."
Wang Jixuan pondered for a moment.
"What exactly is the position of War Zone Commander-in-Chief?"
"He's the highest military commander of the war zone!"
Lin Bo muttered softly:
"The Ancient Basin where we are is a small war zone, also called a terrain war zone. Several neighboring terrain war zones make up a major war zone.
"Our Commander-in-Chief has won many campaigns against Blade Beasts. Even the joint council of governors in the D5 Comprehensive War Zone wouldn't dare point fingers at him.
"Our Comprehensive War Zone is also the most active and enduring war zone in the world."
Wang Jixuan asked, "A general... then what does cross-regional mean for the 13th Institute?"
"Biological 13th Institute is already a worldwide organization. It's also a shelter for many privileged classes from human society during the Golden Age."
Lin Bo sighed.
"I've heard Psionicist experiments are filthy, but they're also necessary forces for decapitation strikes against Blade Beasts.
"It's just that in recent years, more and more Psionicists have refused to go to the battlefield. They think they're a new kind of human, a great existence beyond old humanity. Hah, they're just a bunch of narcissistic idiots.
"I even heard that some Psionicists tried to communicate with Blade Beasts and advocated peaceful coexistence with them."
Wang Jixuan took the opportunity to ask, "Can you do me a favor? I'm unfamiliar with everything around here."
"Of course!"
"I want to grow some vegetables. Can you get me some formula soil and seeds from the Wanlijin Gang?"
"Easy!"
Lin Bo patted his chest.
"I'll arrange for someone to get them right away!
"I used to go down to the Lower City all the time. The captain also spoke to the Wanlijin leaders before, so they could secretly protect you, team leader. It just so happens that I can go!
"But I'll need to report this to the captain."
"Thanks. Report it however you like."
"Yes!"
Lin Bo gave a standard military salute, opened the door, and strode out.
Wang Jixuan stood there thinking for quite a while.
There were several things he could not figure out.
"Ah, there's a party tonight too. This party shouldn't be like the top-selling brothels in the Pervert Zone, right?"
Daoist Wang was somewhat intimidated.
Late at night in the fortress.
Bang!
Kong Nu clenched his fist and smashed it against the desk before him. His face was livid, his breathing rapid, and a cold, venomous light gleamed in his eyes.
"Contact the office at neighboring Fortress No. 82 immediately!"
Wang Jixuan had thought the evening party would be like those in the Lower City—dazzling lights, wine, thrills, and dangers that would shake his Dao heart—but in reality...
Everything was so warm.
The spacious, brightly lit room had been simply decorated with ribbons and colored lights.
The young men and women attending the party piled up the food and nonalcoholic drinks they had bought with their individual quotas into a small mountain.
The Music Player played soothing tunes, while the grill held both meat and vegetables...
It was all ordinary welfare that Middle City residents could enjoy.
The young men and women observed one another as they danced to the music. Occasionally, a Security Team guy would get inspired and perform a military-style tap dance for everyone.
In Wei Na's words, beneath this seemingly peaceful environment, a hormonal riot was brewing.
But in Daoist Wang's eyes, everything before him felt both warm and precious.
At last, there was some entertainment he could accept.
Really, his meager vocabulary had nearly run dry in the Lower City.
After dancing with several ladies, Zhou Zhengde wandered over to the corner where Wang Jixuan stood and smiled. "Why don't you go talk to someone? Those young girls have been secretly watching you. Wei Na specially invited them for you. They're all conservatives, with excellent temperament and upbringing."
"I'm thinking about the Lower City."
Wang Jixuan clicked his tongue softly.
"I heard news of Ye Zi again, from that Biological Affairs Minister."
"Yes, I verified it. Ye Zi entered Psionicist's Home... What feels strange is that her story actually partially matches the story I fabricated."
Zhou Zhengde said quietly:
"Thomas killed Kong Lianmei. That has become the consensus among the three factions.
"That saves us a lot of trouble...
"It's strange. Ye Zi is actually covering for you. Why would she do that?"
Wang Jixuan shook his head. "Who the hell knows? She killed those dozen or so children."
Zhou Zhengde asked, "Are we going to keep investigating Ye Zi?"
"If it won't take up too many of your resources, please keep tracking her," Wang Jixuan said. "I have to deal with her personally before I can get past this hurdle."
That hurdle referred to the Heart Tribulation.
"Fine. I have several times more informants in the Upper City than in the Lower City. That won't be a problem."
Zhou Zhengde glanced around, leaned closer to Wang Jixuan, and muttered:
"Didn't we agree before that we'd share our secrets? You need to give me some idea of what's going on.
"Mu Liang, can you explain where your power comes from?"
Wang Jixuan recalled several comic books he had seen in his landlady's study and began making things up with a straight face.
"I suspect it was a mutation caused by cosmic radiation."
"Huh??"
Zhou Zhengde was rather bewildered.
Wang Jixuan continued spinning his tale. "You remember that I harmed myself once, right?"
"Yes," Zhou Zhengde replied, fully focused.
Wang Jixuan continued:
"While I was suffocating, I saw a vague figure. He circled among the stars and recited, 'Blessed One of Infinite Measure,' then told me that this world had fallen into suffering. I would receive a power to save these suffering lives and bring them peace. But the power was too immense, so I had to accept it step by step—by tempering my spirit and body, hunting Blade Beasts, and most importantly, tempering this place."
"The soul!"
Zhou Zhengde clenched his fists and lowered his voice, speaking with immense excitement.
"This is very likely a response from an advanced extraterrestrial civilization! We had a cosmic distress signal program before, more than eighty years ago! It might really have worked! This is a huge discovery! That's awesome!"
"Mm. As long as you believe it."
Wang Jixuan lifted a goblet from beside him and took a sip of industrially synthesized grape juice.
He said, "If I discover anything else later, I'll keep telling you. I originally treated wiping out the Black Fire Gang as spiritual training, but I never expected Ye Zi to be the one who struck me hard right here in the end."
"Don't be too sad. How about trying to date some of these girls?"
Zhou Zhengde remembered something.
"I have some new information too. The D5 Comprehensive War Zone headquarters issued orders to the Ancient Basin War Zone, and the Ancient Basin War Zone Command Center gave clear instructions to our governor and the United Defense Force.
"Several formidable people will be coming to see us soon—real powerhouses fresh from the battlefield. They'll probably ask us to cooperate with their investigation.
"Can you handle that, Mu Liang?"
"Will I have to submit to their interrogation?" Wang Jixuan asked with some concern.
"No. They don't have the nerve to interrogate us."
Zhou Zhengde said quietly:
"The key is still that list. They may enter the Lower City to investigate, and I think that's an opportunity."
"What opportunity?"
"A chance to destroy the Black Fire Gang's illegal facilities and kill Kong Nu of the 13th Institute."
Zhou Zhengde muttered:
"There's been a small issue with the bill I submitted. The governor's secretary said they need to review it.
"I also threatened Kong Nu today.
"Because of Ban Wenying's situation, Mother can no longer provide us with help. Otherwise, I wouldn't have had to directly ask Grandfather for assistance.
"We've completely torn off the mask now. From here on, either he dies or I do. I want to go down with this investigation team. You can come with me under your current identity. While the Cleansing Force is in the Lower City, we can change part of the Lower City's ecosystem... That's better than sitting in an office and doing nothing.
"If we can find that list, the accounts, or anything else that forces Kong Nu into a desperate move, I can use this elite team to strike back at him directly!
"Kong Nu threatened my mother.
"I'm going to take him out, no matter what it takes. We can't let him enter the Psionicist City at the 13th Institute Headquarters."
Zhou Zhengde exhaled softly, then looked at Wang Jixuan with some unease.
Wang Jixuan smiled in understanding and asked, "Aren't you afraid of being attacked again?"
"I am."
Zhou Zhengde's gaze remained calm as he spoke.
"Actually, there's something else.
"I oppose my mother's views, but I've never been able to come up with a better solution to the problems in the fortress's Lower City.
"I want to go to the Lower City and find that solution. That is more important than those lists, accounts, and all those other tools of political struggle."
Wang Jixuan snapped his fingers. "Call me anytime you want to act. What I did before was too crude, and there are many loose ends to clean up. That guy wanted to slice me apart. Even without you, I would have found a way to kill him."
"Saying kill is too crude... How about purging evil and defending the Dao?"
"Purging evil and defending the Dao."
The two looked at each other and smiled.
Clink, clink, clink.
The sound of glass bottles colliding came from nearby.
Sneaking over in heavy makeup, Wei Na arrived with two older women in trench coats and stiletto heels. With great mystery, she opened her trench coat.
Three beautiful bodies clad in qipaos, along with more than a dozen bottles of assorted alcohol, appeared before Zhou Zhengde and Wang Jixuan.
"Ta-da!" Wei Na cried excitedly. "Tonight, we don't go home until we're drunk."
Zhou Zhengde frowned. "You want a thirteenth-floor security officer to drink?"
"Is even the alcohol I got myself not okay? You'd better not kill the mood! Letting off steam is the best way to fight Fortress Sickness!"
Wei Na rolled her eyes, then turned to look toward the dance floor.
Cheers rose in waves from the dance floor.
Zhou Zhengde raised a hand to his forehead.
He grabbed Wang Jixuan's arm and said with a slight tremble, "If I get drunk, you have to carry me away. It's fine even if you knock me out and carry me away! Please, Mu Liang! Hurry and promise me!"
Wang Jixuan had no idea what was going on.
What was Fellow Daoist Zhou afraid of?
Before you continue