Layers of Mist

Closing the notebook, it was already afternoon.

Feng Qi stretched, preparing to go out.

During this time, Lin Ran had called, asking him to go to the Library to study, but he refused.

Because in the afternoon, he planned to find Bai Fusheng to inquire about information related to Mu Qing.

Since Bai Fusheng was the Principal of Star City Academy, Feng Qi felt that he must know the detailed situation of Mu Qing.

Taking out the business card, after dialing the number, Bai Fusheng's voice came from the other end of the phone.

"Who is it?"

"Grandmaster, I'm Feng Qi. I want to ask you about some things."

"Oh, Feng Qi, just come directly to my office." Bai Fusheng on the other end of the phone responded readily.

After chatting for a few minutes and noting down the location Bai Fusheng mentioned, he left the dormitory and walked towards the Principal's Office.

Star City Academy was huge. After half an hour of travel, Feng Qi arrived at Building 1, which Bai Fusheng had mentioned.

Entering the building, Feng Qi went straight to the top floor, found the room marked "Principal's Office," and reached out to knock on the door.

Bai Fusheng's voice immediately came from inside the door:

"Feng Qi, right? Come in."

Pushing the door open, he saw Bai Fusheng holding a watering can, watering the plants in the office.

Seeing Feng Qi, a smile appeared on Bai Fusheng's face:

"Come, sit down. What do you want to ask about?"

Sitting down at the desk, Feng Qi pondered for a moment and said:

"Grandmaster, I want to know about Mu Qing."

Hearing Mu Qing's name, Bai Fusheng's expression changed, and he said in surprise:

"Why are you asking about her?"

"She's my friend."

"Friend? I advise you to stay away from her."

"Why? Do you also discriminate against her because she's a Rune Modifier?"

Bai Fusheng, hearing these words, did not get angry and explained:

"Since I agreed to let her enter Star City Academy, how could I discriminate against her? The main reason is that her emotions are very unstable, and her strength is extremely high. She might accidentally injure you. During her time at the academy, Mu Qing has lost control more than once."

Realizing that Bai Fusheng was worried about him getting hurt, he continued to ask:

"Grandmaster, can you tell me what you know about Mu Qing?"

"I don't know much about Mu Qing. The main reason she was able to enter Star City Academy was a request from the Scarlet Institute, which is why I agreed. What is certain is that Mu Qing is an observation and research subject of the Scarlet Institute. The reason she became a Rune Modifier is also a result of the Scarlet Institute's experiments."

Hearing these words, Feng Qi was confused:

"Wasn't the Rune Modifier project banned? Why can the Scarlet Institute still openly conduct such research?"

"It was banned, but the Scarlet Institute is special. It's a special organization completely independent of all research institutions and directly managed by the Military Department. They have the right to conduct small-scale special experiments, including the Rune Modifier project. After all, this path that was once impassable might still have a turning point. If successful, it will inevitably promote the development process of all humanity."

"Even if the Scarlet Institute has the right to conduct Rune Modifier experiments, can they disregard the will of others and force people to undergo human experiments without authorization?" Feng Qi couldn't help but frown.

Hearing these words, Bai Fusheng was stunned:

"All experiments by the Scarlet Institute have been reported to the Military Department, and all living experimental subjects participate voluntarily. How could they be forced? Did you hear this from Mu Qing?"

Bai Fusheng's words made Feng Qi realize something.

It seemed that many of the Scarlet Institute's actions were recognized, but he didn't believe the Scarlet Institute was innocent.

In Mu Qing's memory, there was a scene.

A woman in black took away the orphaned Mu Qing, saying she was going to continue the unfinished experiment.

At that time, he could clearly feel the young Mu Qing's inner resistance and struggle.

He felt that the Scarlet Institute must have a problem!

Thinking of this, he looked at Bai Fusheng and continued to ask:

"Was Mu Qing's becoming a Rune Modifier also voluntary?"

"She was naturally voluntary. I also asked the Scarlet Institute about this issue. They told me that Mu Qing's parents were originally Scavengers outside the city. In the early years, Star City accepted and settled a group of Scavengers, and her family was among them."

"After settling in the city, her family voluntarily signed up to become living experimental subjects in a recruitment drive by the Scarlet Institute and underwent a series of Rune Modification experiments. During this time, due to a rejection reaction between their bodies and rune energy, they did not survive."

"That's unreasonable. How could Mu Qing's family voluntarily participate in Rune Modification experiments? Didn't they know the potential risks? If something went wrong, what would happen to the young Mu Qing? Wouldn't they know?"

"At that time, I was as confused as you and asked the same question to the staff member from the Scarlet Institute I was in contact with. The answer I got was that Mu Qing's relatives were indeed voluntary because they didn't have long to live anyway."

Looking at the confused Feng Qi, Bai Fusheng continued:

"The information I received is that Mu Qing's relatives were attacked by Domain Transcendents outside the city. Although reinforcements arrived in time, Mu Qing and her relatives inhaled the poisonous mist exhaled by the Domain Transcendents. Although the small amount inhaled was not enough to be fatal, it could not be cured by modern medical means and they could only live for about three years. So they made a series of requests to the Scarlet Institute and then voluntarily signed up for the Rune Modifier project."

"What requests?"

"They hoped Mu Qing would grow up healthy and receive the best education, so the Scarlet Institute fulfilled their promise a year ago and sent Mu Qing to Star City Academy."

Bai Fusheng's answer made Feng Qi feel confused.

If Mu Qing was forced by the Scarlet Institute to undergo Rune Modifier experiments, why would they voluntarily release her and let her study at the academy?

Information he had found in the future also proved that the Scarlet Institute did not interfere with Mu Qing's life afterward, which is why she joined a Domain Battle Squad after graduation and became a Domain Warrior.

If the Scarlet Institute was truly an evil organization, they should have imprisoned Mu Qing and continued the experiments.

Thinking this way, the Scarlet Institute, which he had previously considered utterly wicked, didn't seem as evil as he had imagined.

Feng Qi suddenly felt his thoughts becoming muddled.

Could there be some hidden reason?

Since he had only seen a snippet of Mu Qing's memory at the time, and now heard Bai Fusheng's explanation, his previous conjectures were shaken.

If Mu Qing voluntarily continued to participate in the Rune Modifier experiments later, what reason would she have to develop the idea of being an enemy to all of humanity?

Feng Qi felt a headache coming on, unable to figure it out.

The truth he thought he was about to grasp seemed to have turned into a fog again.

After chatting for a while longer, Feng Qi said goodbye to Bai Fusheng and went straight back to his dormitory.

Since he couldn't figure it out, he decided to explore the future dream again to see if he could find some useful clues and piece together the answer.