"It's over..."
"The Special Pollution Event involving the Black Table has been completely cleared."
"The basic data record for escaped Laboratory Subject No. 9 has been completed."
"The Abyss..."
"...No obvious reaction was observed!"
"..."
Central City's Second Main City, Research Institute Observation Room Five.
Watching the detection data on the electronic display rapidly settle into a low-amplitude range, the two staff members in front of the computer let out long sighs of relief. One of them slowly stretched, the bones in his body cracking loudly. He even groaned with satisfaction.
The other picked up the paper notebook beside him and began filling in the data in detail:
No. 1022 Special Pollution Event
Location: Buffalo City
Cause: Black Table Forbidden Experiment
Core: Life
Threat Level: S-class
Pollution Cleanup Personnel: Qinggang—Solo Operative (confirmed to be the escaped Laboratory Subject No. 9; detected to possess Distortion and Fear characteristics; confirmed to possess an abnormally potent black-factor ability. Observation conditions unavailable, so no specific conclusion can be reached. Tentative estimate: S-class ability, 80% risk of loss of control. Recommendation: Execute recovery plan.)
Then he casually tossed the notebook aside and said with a smile, "They can put the S-class weapon into storage."
"Let's go!"
They left together, chatting, "I wonder if the sweet-and-sour spare ribs are sold out yet..."
"Three minutes longer than I expected..."
In the Research Institute's apartment complex stood a small building covered in greenery. Ordinary in appearance, it contained a study decorated in an antique style. It did not look like the study of a researcher, but rather that of an old-fashioned scholar who wore traditional clothing every day, composed poetry, raised birds, and studied ancient texts.
At that moment, a square table had been set up in the study.
A silk tablecloth covered it. Two people