Briefing (Part 2)

Hu Yuli wore a bitter smile. "We did report the theft of laboratory agents, but that was done by staff members amid the chaos. At first, we failed to recognize the severity of the situation and focused on searching for the agents—facts proved that direction completely wrong."

"Seriously?"

Below the stage, Zhang Yingying accidentally twisted her wound again and grimaced in pain. Still, she was not about to believe Quantum Corporation's claims so easily. On one hand, she trusted her own intelligence channels; on the other, she distrusted Quantum Corporation's usual conduct even more.

She spoke quietly with Susan. "These people have always been aloof. They think having the Burners and the Deep Blue Platform puts them above everyone else, and they've always ignored us. Yet today, they're practically groveling with their heads on the floor. There has to be a trick."

Susan nodded, then shook her head. "Let's see what the President says."

Hu Yuli's explanation was hardly convincing. The audience bombarded him with questions, leaving the business tycoon sweating profusely and gradually unable to keep up.

At that moment, Ouyang Chen lightly tapped the tabletop. The sound was not loud, yet the entire venue swiftly fell silent.

"Everyone, since we do not accept Quantum Corporation's explanation, let us not waste time on it. If we want answers, we should find them ourselves. Since Quantum Corporation hopes the Association will intervene and help them deal with the spread of the 'virus,' they should show the appropriate sincerity."

"Of course, of course." No matter what was asked of him, Hu Yuli agreed first and worried about the details later.

Ouyang Chen looked toward the audience and spoke calmly. "The Association's actions are not compulsory, and any organized operation requires the approval of more than half its members. So now, I will explain why we should support this operation. It is very simple: according to reliable information, this Human-Faced Spider was among the first batch of living experimental materials transported out of that 'portal.'"

Hardly anyone in the audience reacted at first.

"Portal? What portal?"

Hu Yuli, however, had his pupils abruptly dilate. His entire body jerked upward, but just as his buttocks left the chair, Ouyang Chen's cold, clear gaze swept over him, snuffing out his sudden impulse and leaving him slumped in his seat, unable to rise again.

Only then did the attendees finally process the most crucial information. Amid the sudden uproar, someone sprang to their feet and demanded loudly:

"Ouyang, which portal are you talking about?"

Ouyang Chen adjusted his glasses again. "The origin of the Aberrant Species, the starting point of the new era. We must thank Quantum Corporation. That 'portal,' whose existence we have long suspected but never been able to confirm, can finally be located."

"Where? Where is it?"

"It can be confirmed to be in the South-Central Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean. The Association hopes Quantum Corporation can provide specific coordinates and materials. Naturally, that will require further negotiations. For now, let us return to the main subject."

Ouyang Chen's gaze swept across the room, passing over every face. "Among those present are Martial Artists, Bloodline Wizards, and Cleric Monks. In this new era, we have all become Awakened. Over the past fifty years, our strength has grown and our abilities have become more powerful. That is partly due to our own efforts, but there is also that inscrutable 'X Factor.'

"Why did the once-insurmountable limits of power suddenly loosen after 2059? Why did we truly begin to differ from ordinary people in kind rather than degree? Why have legendary abilities appeared within us one after another? What have we paid? What have we gained? Can an equal sign be placed between what we paid and what we gained? Do we truly control our own destinies, or is some unknowable god manipulating everything?

"We have longed to uncover this secret and have constantly pursued its source, yet we have never found an answer. But now, paths that once seemed cut off have suddenly had their obstacles cleared and been laid before us once more. I do not wish to miss this opportunity. I believe none of you do either."

A rolling clamor rose through the venue, but Ouyang Chen's voice remained level and composed.

"At first, the codename I chose for this Association operation was 'Break the Net.' An invisible devil has woven a great web, seeking to prey upon this metropolis. We need to cut it apart.

"But now, I will call it 'Road Sign.' Through decades of exploration, we found nothing. Then Format Theory emerged and opened the first page of humanity's pursuit of individual evolution. It was a theory created by an ordinary person, while we, as Awakened, have instead fallen behind. Inevitably, that is somewhat embarrassing.

"As Awakened, we must quicken our pace. We should naturally be the guides. We need to seize every opportunity, explore boldly, and then tell the others what lies ahead and where humanity should go—the road signs forward are in our hands, and glory will forever remain in our grasp!"

The arrival chime of the campus tram jolted Ronan awake.

Once withdrawal symptoms began, they were not easily overcome. That damned rotating classroom system, along with its Universe Shift-style course schedule—over the course of one day, Ronan had changed classrooms five times for his five major courses, crossing four teaching buildings and traveling between the north and south campuses.

When he had been in good physical condition, he had not thought much of it. But after making the rounds today, Ronan was already muddled and disoriented. Even while sitting on the campus tram, he had drifted into a half-conscious doze.

He patted his cheeks to rouse himself and slowly stepped off the tram.

It was now 3:40 in the afternoon, the start of club activity time. Ronan's destination was the Precision Electronics Interest Club, which regularly invited Technical Experts from electronics manufacturers to teach repair work. It was also a paradise for D.I.Y. enthusiasts.

Naturally, Ronan had come to repair his damaged Imitation Paper Soft Screen. Being accustomed to having his tools damaged and feeling restricted at every turn was even worse than the withdrawal symptoms.

However, it seemed his luck had been used up during this morning's "Spirit Drawing." The Precision Electronics Interest Club's repair-teaching business was booming. Today, they had invited some industry superstar, and repair workers, enthusiasts, and people seeking help had packed the spacious service hall to the brim.

He squeezed through the crowd for twenty minutes and had only just managed to get a reservation number.

In the end, Ronan could no longer endure the crush of people in the hall and retreated outside to breathe some fresh air. Yet dizziness and his excessively acute senses continued to torment him without pause.

The afternoon sunlight pierced through the canopy of roadside trees and fell across Ronan's profile. For the first time, he felt that the autumn sun was actually so scorching. Half his face seemed about to catch fire, and he could even smell the charred stench of roasting flesh.

There was no doubt about it. It was a hallucination.

Ronan stopped by the roadside, standing as still as a nail. His lips moved faintly as the Sixteen-Word Incantation entered from his mouth into his heart, flowing with the murmuring chill of an icy spring and gradually washing away the hazy, scattered thoughts.

Just as he began to feel a little better, a shadow passed before his half-lowered eyelids.

Ronan abruptly opened his eyes, startling the person who had been waving at him. The man took half a step back, lowered his elbow, and placed it between them.

Once he finished the motion, the man realized he had overreacted and gave an awkward smile. "Hey, are you okay?"