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On the other side of the screen was a man in his fifties with a neatly combed back hair and a lot of white hair. He was wearing an old but well-made handmade suit. Xiang Kun recognized him at a glance as He Haomin, the Director He of the "National Anomalous Biological Research Center".

In fact, when Mr. Liang said he wanted to introduce him to someone, he knew it must be Director He.

Although Mr. Liang's secret "Shenxing Technology" department has a large number of professionals like Fang Pingfang, Zhou Rui, Li Shiping working for him, Xiang Kun is well aware that while these people carry out various secret missions, and some even have access to "Mutated Creature" or what they call "Blood-feeding Creature," they don't actually have a comprehensive understanding of the nature of their research on "Mutated Creature," the existence of the "Ultimate Predator," Mr. Liang's identity and status, or the ultimate purpose of what they are doing. This is also a form of protection that Mr. Liang provides for them.

Among them, perhaps only Mi Qiao could be considered "half" an insider, able to vaguely guess that Mr. Liang was a "Mutated Creature" and also knowing some of the characteristics of "Mutated Creature," but all of this she learned from Guo Tianxiang.

So at this point, the Mr. Liang would introduce to him besides Old He were no one else.

If we're talking about loneliness, Mr. Liang was even lonelier than him.

On the other side of the screen, after the call connected, Old He leaned back abruptly, a look of surprise on his face, seemingly somewhat taken aback.

At this moment, Xiang Kun was not yet visible on his screen; only Mr. Liang's large head appeared.

It wasn't that he hadn't seen Mr. Liang before, and he was well aware that this was determined by Mr. Liang's mutated evolutionary pattern. However, in the past, when he connected with Mr. Liang, it was either a one-sided video call where only Mr. Liang's voice could be heard, or both sides had video feeds, but Mr. Liang only had an empty chair on his end. He hadn't seen Mr. Liang in a visible state for a long time, so he was quite surprised when he saw him for the first time.

And perhaps it was because it had been too long since they last met, or perhaps it was because he was getting old, but Old He could vaguely make out the appearance of Mr. Liang when he was first brought back by Academician Shen from that strange face covered with dense lines.

"I was just about to contact you. I heard there's something fishy about the bird strike incident at Jianzhou Airport. Those birds weren't from the same species; it seems like they were being carried off by a single bird. Could that bird be the same one that caused the tourist's fall off the cliff at Wushu Mountain? Didn't I tell them back then that this kind of 'Blood-feeding Creature' hazard, which poses a significant threat to the lives and property of the people, must be dealt with as soon as possible? This time..."

Seeing that Old He was about to launch into another long monologue, Mr. Liang quickly interrupted, "Don't worry, the bird problem has been solved; it won't cause any more trouble. Old He, I have a new researcher I'd like to introduce to you."

As soon as Mr. Liang opened his mouth, Old He noticed, perhaps it was just his imagination, that the unpleasant, harsh metallic scraping sound in his deep, hoarse voice seemed to have diminished considerably.

"Oh? Who is it? Which research center or investigation team are you planning to assign them to?" Old He asked curiously. It was already past midnight, and Mr. Liang had specifically contacted him at this time, so it must be something important. This researcher seemed unusual.

But to his surprise, Mr. Liang on the screen suddenly dodged to the side, and then a bald man wearing glasses approached and appeared in the center of the screen.

"Old He, my name is Xiang Kun."

Old He was stunned for a moment, and subconsciously replied with a hello, but he was greatly shocked. He only realized now that the "researcher" that Mr. Liang mentioned was not a researcher in the secret department of "Shenxing Technology", but a researcher in the laboratory that Academician Shen founded.

Although they are both called "researchers," they are fundamentally different.

Strictly speaking, Lu Qinliang is now the only remaining "researcher." Old He has urged him more than once to find a new member, otherwise, if something happens to Mr. Liang, the research will truly come to a standstill, with no successor. Although Mr. Liang has verbally agreed, he has not taken any action. In China, most of the human "Blood-feeding Creature" discovered have various serious problems; a small number have escaped abroad, but most have been executed.

"Old He, you can find Xiang Kun's basic information directly in the database," Mr. Liang said, then he also briefly introduced Old He's identity and background to Xiang Kun:

"Old He is the director of the 'National Anomalous Biological Research Center' and also our official support department. In principle, all operations involving cross-border activities or exceeding normal regulations must be approved by him before they can be carried out. Of course, he will provide us with a lot of convenience and assistance. And the most core of our research results belong to the country. This was the principle set by Academician Shen when he established this experimental department. Of course, for reasons you know, our data is basically sealed. For the time being, no one except me can access it."

Old He understood what Mr. Liang meant, so he turned on a computer next to him and found Xiang Kun's basic information in the database. This information had been collected by the relevant team after Mr. Liang identified Xiang Kun as the target of the investigation, including some very confidential account usage records, usage data from various platforms, and so on.

"Xiang Kun is the same as you?" Old He immediately saw the problem from those hidden messages. However, he also had preconceived notions. After all, to become a "researcher" like Lu Qinliang, being a human "Blood-feeding Creature" was a necessary basic requirement.

"Yes, Xiang Kun ..." Mr. Liang hesitated for a moment before saying, "He's much stronger than me."

Traditionally, whether it's the so-called "orthodox Bloodline" in Europe or various "Blood-feeding Creature" in nature, the basic standard for judging strength is the number of stages of transformation. Generally speaking, the more stages of transformation, the stronger the strength. This strength is not necessarily at the level of combat or fighting, but is a comprehensive assessment.

However, during his brief encounter with Xiang Kun, Mr. Liang was fairly certain that Xiang Kun's transformation was far less advanced than his own. But the incredible ability to influence the weather and control lightning, the seemingly alive forest, and the metal spheres that floated in the air, easily manipulated, moving freely and in unison, all made him realize that Xiang Kun's level of mutation and evolution was no longer on the same level as his own or other "Blood-feeding Creature".

Next, Mr. Liang briefly introduced what he knew about Xiang Kun's mutation process and experience to Old He. In any case, Xiang Kun had only been transformed into a "Blood-feeding Creature" for a little over a year, and he only gave a brief description, so he finished quickly.

Mr. Liang's main description focuses on Xiang Kun's exploration of his own mutation, including the establishment of "Universe Technology" and the so-called Intelligent Farming Research Base in Chongyun Village.

Old He immediately understood the key point Mr. Liang was making. After glancing at the information about the Research Base in the documents, he asked hesitantly, "Xiao Xiang... you don't mind me calling you that, do you? Xiao Xiang, according to Mr. Liang, this Ms. Xia Libing is someone who knows about this?"

"Yes," Xiang Kun answered readily.

"In that case... for her safety and overall confidentiality, if she wants to continue participating in related research, she can directly join the secret department of 'Shenxing Technology' and be assigned to a research center," Old He said.

"No, our Research Base will continue to be built, and she will be responsible for its operation and conduct independent research. Of course, our research results can be shared with 'Shenxing Technology' to a certain extent, and we can also cooperate on some projects. We will also be subject to the supervision and leadership of the 'Non-Normal Biology Research Center'," Xiang Kun said without any hesitation.

Old He clearly surprised. He glanced at Mr. Liang, who was only showing half a shoulder in the video and hadn't raised any objections, and asked Xiang Kun, "Did Mr. Liang ever tell you about some kind of 'mysterious power'...? Would it be dangerous for her to participate in the research with ordinary people? Or is she also...?"

"Xia Libing is an ordinary person, but I can fully guarantee her safety. Moreover, the 'Ultimate Predator' and 'mysterious power' that Mr. Liang mentioned are already being addressed by us, and they will soon be no longer a problem. At that time, we won't have to be so hesitant in our research on the related mutations as we are now." Xiang Kun said with a very confident tone.

Old He couldn't help but look at Mr. Liang again, but of course, he could only see half a shoulder; Xiang Kun's bald head still dominated the main screen of the video.

"Can... it be resolved?" Even though Old He was usually calm, he couldn't help but raise his voice slightly when he heard this.

He also knew what had happened decades ago that made the official research on "Blood-feeding Creature" so secretive, so reluctant to discuss related information, and so completely blocked. This is true in all countries of the world; no country, no force, and no individual is an exception.

That mysterious and omnipotent dark cloud that shrouds all research on "Blood-feeding Creature" and related mutations—that existence that countless people dare not even speak of, that they cannot even comprehend— Xiang Kun actually claims to have a solution to, and that it will soon be no longer a problem?

And in such a nonchalant tone?

If these words had come from any new "researcher" joining the "laboratory," or from any other human "Blood-feeding Creature," Old He would have thought they were just boasting, completely ignorant of their own limitations, and unaware of the terror and power of the "Ultimate Predator" and that "mysterious force."

However, Xiang Kun was personally introduced by Mr. Liang, and Mr. Liang is right here. Judging from the conversation just now, Mr. Liang had obviously told him about the "Ultimate Predator," so he couldn't be an ignorant person. Besides, Mr. Liang didn't refute his words at all.

Then, recalling Mr. Liang's earlier statement that he was "much stronger than me"—not just "stronger than me," but "much stronger"—this difference in description made Old He suddenly realize that this bald, bespectacled man, who seemed quite different from his traditional understanding of human "Blood-feeding Creature," might possess incredibly powerful strength.

Mr. Liang said he had only been transformed into a "Blood-feeding Creature" for a little over a year, which seems contradictory.

Just as Old He was having some doubts, Xiang Kun said again with a confident tone, "Yes, I will solve it, and I can definitely solve it."

"Ah Liang, this matter... will you and Xiao Xiang do it together?" Old He asked.

"I'll be responsible for assisting," Mr. Liang said.

Old He nodded, understanding dawning on him. After a few seconds of thought, he said, "Xiao Xiang, from now on, your research institution can be like A Liang's 'Shenxing Technology,' establishing its own research system. The 'Research Center' will send relevant personnel to provide necessary assistance and supervision. Of course, whether or not ordinary people can know and participate in core research information will depend on the security situation at the time; it's mainly up to you to control that. Also, you need to know that although I will provide certain conveniences for your investigations and research, and 'clean up your messes,' this is not a benefit or advantage; it means great responsibility and danger. You can ask A Liang about this; he knows it very well."

Xiang Kun adjusted his glasses and nodded, saying, "I understand."

His understanding of Old He was probably much deeper than Mr. Liang 'Old He. After learning that the "Non-Normal Biology Research Center" was the official institution behind "Shenxing Technology", Xiang Kun and Alice conducted a very comprehensive and in-depth study of Old He and related personnel. Therefore, they established a relatively systematic cognitive model of his personality, preferences, habits, and ways of judging things.

This explains why, before video chatting with Old He, Xiang Kun would pull out the glasses he'd taken off during his "fight" with Mr. Liang and put them on, and why he spoke relatively concisely, firmly, and seriously, without a smile. He knew how to act in a way that would more easily intimidate Old He and make Old He take him seriously. This wasn't about fooling him, but rather a method of communication.

Just as Mr. Liang now knows that he deliberately led him here, many things were prepared in advance, but it will not have any negative impact on their communication. The process of Mr. Liang investigating and searching all the way here played a great role.

The same words, even if they are the truth, can have vastly different effects and impacts depending on the timing and circumstances in which they are spoken.

Xiang Kun needs to do now is to make them believe in him as much as possible and follow his plan.

If it were the Xiang Kun of the past, he would only know one thing in his dealings with people: if I treat others with sincerity, they will naturally treat me with sincerity in return. If I treat others with sincerity but am deceived or misunderstood, I will avoid them and have less contact with them.

However, Xiang Kun now has a deeper understanding of people's thinking and behavior patterns and has built a large number of cognitive models. Therefore, he is very clear that to make others believe in him, it is not simply a matter of unconditionally laying bare his heart and revealing everything. He needs to use appropriate methods.

In fact, he knew that Mr. Liang's purpose in introducing Old He at this time was twofold: on the one hand, to formally "certify" him with the authorities, and on the other hand, to use the authorities and Old He to control him, because it was obvious that Mr. Liang himself could no longer maintain the initiative in front of him.

This isn't really about trust or distrust; for Mr. Liang, he had no other choice. But that didn't stop him from finding ways to get insurance and a safety net.

Xiang Kun knew that after the video call today, Old He wouldn't completely trust him or treat him like Mr. Liang, granting him the same authority and freedom as Universe Technology, Lao Xia's Research Base, and Shenxing Technology. He would inevitably conduct extensive behind-the-scenes investigations—which was exactly what Mr. Liang wanted him to do.

But that's alright. Xiang Kun is upright and honest, and he has Alice, so there definitely won't be any problems.

Xiang Kun looked at Mr. Liang was disassembling the communication equipment and reloading it onto the drone, and asked, "How do you feel?"

"I feel... like my body has become much lighter?" Mr. Liang said. "However, it seems to be just a psychological feeling; there shouldn't be much change in my weight." Although he was a "senior" in terms of age and the time of his mutation, having witnessed Xiang Kun's various shocking performances, he felt more like a student.

Xiang Kun nodded. "Do you have underwater breathing and movement equipment?"

"Not by my side, but nearby. What, are we going into the water next?"

"Let's go to Africa first."

"Should we... go hunting 'Blood-feeding Creature'? Wouldn't that be too fast? Should we stabilize things for a while first? Or, are there any targets domestically or in the surrounding areas?"

"No," Xiang Kun said. "The 'blood source' needed at each stage is different. We need suitable targets, not judging by distance. Your condition is also very stable. You need to believe in yourself and believe in me."

Mr. Liang said, "If we want to leave the country, we have to report to Old He, and we must keep a low profile."

"Let's report to Old He," Xiang Kun said. "I know what you're worried about, but don't worry, everything is under control."