I... was assassinated?
Seeing this message in the inbox, Feng Qi looked utterly puzzled.
To learn more, he continued scrolling down through the subsequent records.
"You must remember what comes next. I'm powerless to change this situation, but you can."
"I had always believed there was something wrong with the Scarlet Institute, but I had no way to investigate it. Then, at an exchange conference for research institutions organized by the military, I met a researcher from the Scarlet Institute. To uncover the truth, I approached him under the guise of professional exchanges. With his help, I later got the chance to visit the Scarlet Institute. That visit made me realize that the Scarlet Institute harbored many unspeakable secrets."
"It was eight in the evening when I first entered the Scarlet Institute headquarters under that friend's guidance. Compared to other research organizations, the Scarlet Institute's security was exceptionally tight. Elite troops were stationed there, and entering the interior required passing through layer after layer of inspections. Led by that friend, I toured several non-classified projects at the Scarlet Institute, such as the Domain Field spiritual plant cultivation project, the Rune Modifier project, and the Spiritual Rune Equipment manufacturing project."
"Those research projects were not the answers I wanted, but fortunately, I had prepared in advance. Before the visit, I asked Mo Fei to obtain the Ministry of Science and Technology's latest miniature disguised reconnaissance robot. Then, using the excuse of going to the bathroom, I hid in the restroom, activated the disguised reconnaissance robot, and sent it into research laboratories that were not open to the public."
"I was nearly discovered during the investigation. The Scarlet Laboratory was equipped with many counter-reconnaissance scanners, but the latest disguised robot could detect surveillance devices. It narrowly avoided several scans, then followed a senior executive of the Scarlet Institute into a room. There, I found a list."
"Do you know whose names were on it? Mu Qing, me, Lin Ran, even Old Wang. Every name had a symbol marked after it, such as a circle, a cross, a check mark, a golden flower, and so on."
"At the time, I did not think much of it. The Scarlet Institute was a special organization capable of launching research projects on anything. It was perfectly understandable for them to study outstanding contemporary talents. As for what the symbols after each name represented, I had no way of knowing, so I stopped dwelling on it."
"But what I discovered afterward made me realize that things might not be as simple as I had imagined."
"After leaving that archives room, I continued controlling the reconnaissance robot to investigate. During that time, it entered a mysterious laboratory on the third underground level of Scarlet Base. There, I witnessed something unbelievable."
"There were actually Domain Transcendent creatures within the Scarlet Institute that could walk freely and whose movements were unrestricted!!!"
"It had a human-like appearance, with a Rune Crystal embedded in its forehead. Its skin reflected faint light like fish scales. I could say for certain that it was not a Rune Modifier. It was a Domain Creature."
"When I discovered it, it was wearing a Scarlet Institute uniform and conducting some kind of human experimentation. Lying before it was a living test subject with a numbered tag attached to their body."
"This discovery gave rise to a terrifying suspicion. Was it possible that the Scarlet Institute had actually been controlled by those Domain Transcendent creatures capable of leaving the Domain Field?"
"Otherwise, how could one explain Domain Creatures, humanity's mortal enemies, walking freely through the Scarlet Institute without restriction and even participating in its classified research projects?"
At this point, waves surged through Feng Qi's heart.
Domain Creatures were humanity's mortal enemies. This was the consensus of all mankind. So... it was highly possible that the Scarlet Institute really had been controlled by Domain Creatures.
Suppressing the countless thoughts rising in his mind, he continued scrolling down.
"I originally wanted to investigate further, but time would not allow it. There was a knock on the door, and someone asked if I was all right. I could only claim that I had diarrhea, then hurriedly recalled the miniature disguised reconnaissance device and continued the tour after leaving."
"But I could not calm down. The thought that the Scarlet Institute might be controlled by Domain Creatures lingered in my mind. Even after leaving the Scarlet Institute, I still could not find peace."
"After returning to the Tiger Soul Research Institute, I pulled up the footage captured by the reconnaissance robot, especially that list, and began searching for relevant information online. The results revealed another shocking secret."
"Everyone whose name on that list had been marked with a cross was an exceptionally talented individual in a certain field. Yet without exception, all of them had died young, and the causes of their deaths had been kept confidential, making them impossible to investigate online."
"Thinking of the Domain Transcendents I had previously discovered in the Scarlet Laboratory, a chilling suspicion emerged in my mind... Was it possible that the Scarlet Institute, controlled by Domain Transcendent creatures, was secretly assassinating the geniuses of this age in order to slow humanity's overall development?"
"If that was truly the case, I had to reveal this secret as soon as possible. Otherwise, humanity's future would be in grave danger. The enemy had already infiltrated us from within. If these parasites were not uprooted, humanity's future, just as you and I had seen it, would be shrouded in darkness without a trace of light!"
"Something happened today that confirmed my suspicion... Lin Ran was assassinated!"
"Fortunately, Lin Ran had recently developed a special defensive spell and held on until reinforcements arrived. Otherwise, he would certainly have died. This seemed to prove that my earlier suspicion was correct."
"I have to spread this information. The Scarlet Institute must not be allowed to continue existing."
"My claims have been questioned, and they have already drawn the Scarlet Institute's attention. The recorded footage that could have proven my claims was deleted when my computer was hacked. Even the contents I copied onto a Mobile Hard Drive mysteriously vanished. What I will most likely face next is assassination by the Scarlet Institute!"
"Learn from my mistakes. The Scarlet Institute's influence is enormous. Before you possess the strength to contend with the Scarlet Institute, do not reveal your secret. No one will believe you. They will only think you are a paranoid lunatic."
"Dying young? I had prepared myself for that long ago. Though I still have many unanswered questions, such as why Mu Qing betrayed humanity. If she discovered the secret that the Scarlet Institute was controlled by Domain Creatures, she could have simply destroyed the Scarlet Institute. Why become an enemy of all humanity? And why had Old Wang, such an outstanding historical figure, never been assassinated? And so on."
"I have no way of knowing those answers, but I know you will uncover the truth."
"These may be the last messages I leave for you. I have endured immense pressure during this time. If I die, then I die. I came to terms with it long ago. But you must keep going. Just as Old Wang said, firmly believe that dawn will dispel the darkness and that victory belongs to humanity. Death is a release for me now. You, who must continue onward, are the one carrying the burden."
"Bless you, Feng Qi!"
"Humanity will prevail!"
(June 22, 2038)
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