Containing the Long Blade

"I have that idea." Sun Hang glanced at the Aberrant Long Blade and replied.

This thing was originally "created" by him, so the most suitable user would naturally be Sun Hang himself.

"I'm afraid it won't be easy. Artifact Anomalies are inherently extremely dangerous, and the cost of containment and management is high. It's rare for Hunters to be issued Artifact Anomalies as equipment unless absolutely necessary, let alone carry them around," Yang Qi replied.

The Anomaly Research Institute worked quickly. In just over ten minutes, a custom container for the Aberrant Long Blade was delivered to the scene.

It was a large metal case shaped like a scabbard, secured by a stand on top of two all-terrain transport vehicles. Several large metal barrels were piled underneath, along with a set of equipment whose purpose Sun Hang didn't know.

More than a dozen staff members in heavy protective suits carefully used a crane to pull the Aberrant Long Blade out of the ground, then slowly pushed it, bit by bit, into the tailor-made "scabbard." Although Sun Hang really wanted to help them with the process, he ultimately chose to stand aside and watch with the stern-faced woman to avoid unnecessary trouble.

The liquid stored in the metal barrels was poured into the "scabbard's" interlayer. As soon as the liquid came into contact with the air, white mist immediately rose, and the surrounding temperature dropped several degrees.

"It's liquid nitrogen," Yang Lian said, crossing her arms with a tone as cold as liquid nitrogen.

"Does low temperature restrict anomalies?" Sun Hang asked, confused.

"The vast majority of anomalies, especially those with physical forms, still possess conventional material structures. Extremely low temperatures approaching absolute zero can make the movement of constituent particles incredibly slow, keeping them in a stable state." Answering Sun Hang's question was another female researcher who wasn't wearing a protective suit. She had the wheat-colored skin characteristic of mixed-race individuals and sculpted facial features. Her long, silver-white hair was tied into a high ponytail at the back of her head. The only regrettable thing was that she only had one right eye; her left eye socket was empty, not even filled with a prosthetic eyeball.

"Although it might not be effective, it's one of the standard procedures for containing anomalies," the one-eyed female researcher added.

"Oh, oh." Sun Hang nodded, took out his phone, and sent another message to Yang Qi.

"What's the situation at the South City Public Cemetery now?"

"It's not optimistic. Time within the anomalous zone doesn't seem to be synchronized with the outside world. It's still nighttime, and the Blood Moon hasn't disappeared yet. All personnel involved in the operation have returned to camp, and the search and rescue operation is temporarily stalled," Yang Qi replied.

"So, there's nothing I need to do right now?"

"Continue to stand by in the city. Also, be careful of the people from the Tianfu City Management Committee... they might pressure the institute or the Hunters to force you into the anomalous zone," Yang Qi said.

"Are you texting my sister?" Yang Lian suddenly leaned over and asked in a low voice.

"You look so aloof, why are you such a snoop?" Sun Hang put away his phone with a look of disgust.

"...I'm not interested in snooping on you," Yang Lian's expression stiffened. "I just received a message from her. She asked me to keep an eye on you during this time and make sure you don't get roped into being a scapegoat—those were her exact words."

"I think she asked the wrong person," Sun Hang glanced at her. "I still vividly remember the scene where you forced me to sign the contract of servitude."

"I was just following procedure," Yang Lian said.

"So, your sister's personal request is also part of your work procedure now?"

"No, but she is your direct supervisor. Until she is relieved of her duties or dies, no one can give you orders over her," Yang Lian said expressionlessly. "And the thing I hate most is people abusing their power for their own career advancement, doing things that are not in accordance with regulations."

"...How many years have you worked at the Investigation Bureau?" Sun Hang suddenly asked a question that seemed unrelated to the current topic.

"Why are you asking that?"

"Just asking. It's fine if you don't want to answer."

"Seven years," Yang Lian said. "I joined the Investigation Bureau's campus recruitment assessment right after graduating from university, entering with the top score."

"Entered with the top score from campus recruitment, and you've been doing this for seven years... How come you're still doing this kind of work?" Sun Hang commented. "You must have offended quite a few people to be in such a sorry state, right?"

Yang Lian glared at him but said nothing.

"Alright, the matter is resolved. I need to find something to eat... Honestly, I'm still thinking about that bowl of wontons I didn't get to eat this morning." Sun Hang said.

Although the kind old man had given him a few Brown Sugar Glutinous Rice Cakes, Sun Hang had only managed to stuff one into his mouth. The rest had been cut into pieces along with his clothes. The clothes he was wearing now were ones he had dug out from the ruins.

Devouring anomalies brought Sun Hang a strange sense of satisfaction, but it couldn't fill the empty stomach he had in reality.

"Uh, please wait a moment." The one-eyed female researcher from earlier suddenly spoke up. She quickly ran back to the vehicle, brought back a large bag of snacks, and handed it to Sun Hang. "If you haven't had breakfast, have these to tide you over. We still need you to make a statement... Although it's fine to do it after returning to the institute, but..."

The researcher suddenly gave Sun Hang a somewhat ingratiating smile, which left Sun Hang a bit confused.

"She's bribing you," Yang Lian's voice chimed in. "For researchers at the institute to get promoted, the main assessment criteria are research reports on various anomalies. Battle records between Hunters and anomalies are very important research material. If you give your statement here, she can put her name first on the research report later. But if you give it after returning to the institute, this report will have little to do with her."

"Why didn't you say so earlier?" Sun Hang looked at the bag of potato chips he had just opened and couldn't help but sigh inwardly... his hands were too fast.

One can't refuse a gift, so Sun Hang had no choice but to briefly describe the combat record. However, this meant that the matter of the Aberrant Long Blade couldn't be kept secret.

An Artifact Anomaly couldn't appear out of thin air, and Sun Hang was too lazy to weave more lies for the sake of a single falsehood. Moreover, with the Anomaly Research Institute's capabilities, they should be able to discover the connection between the Aberrant Long Blade and him given enough time.

The reason he had remained silent earlier was simply that he was contemplating the best way to report the matter to minimize any negative impact on himself.

Sun Hang's abilities and the types of anomalies he had infected were confidential. Therefore, he was vague in many places, making it difficult for them to probe further. In Sun Hang's description, the Aberrant Long Blade had become a temporary weapon he had created by forcibly clumping many steel bars together using his "ability." And after this temporary weapon had cut down the "Tai Sui," it had inexplicably turned into an anomaly.

He was telling the truth, but these truths could easily lead them to believe that the Aberrant Long Blade had become anomalous after being "infected" by the Tai Sui...

As for abilities like "creating anomalies," normal people wouldn't even think in that direction.

Sun Hang suddenly felt fortunate that the institute believed the anomaly that infected him was "Taotie." Therefore, no matter what kind of ability appeared on him—as long as it wasn't too outrageous—it wouldn't arouse suspicion.

After all, if asked, he could just say he had devoured other anomalies and gained their abilities. Coupled with the fact that the characteristics and abilities of anomalies are inherently unpredictable, this added a layer of plausibility to his explanations.

However, these were just how others saw him, the image he wanted them to see.

But what was the reality?

Sun Hang couldn't help but wonder... was the anomaly that infected him really "Taotie"?