Third Cub Was Taken Away

And it was these humans who personally invited him into the base.

Someone couldn't help but ask, "Commander, you knew he was Snow Bird, so why did you let him in?"

Lou Quan's expression and tone were calm. "If I gave you a choice, would you rather have Tao Qiu, this mutated monster who can grow grains and vegetables, or that crazy human from just now?"

The person who asked the question fell silent. If it were him, he would also choose Tao Qiu.

As a mutated monster, Tao Qiu had never intentionally harmed humans before, and had even helped them. After arriving at the base, he solved the base's food crisis. His personality and temperament were impeccable.

Even though they are three children, they are known to be well-behaved and adorable; I was just joking and laughing with them a moment ago.

Hearing the conversation between the two, most of the onlookers began to think about it.

Tao Qiu and his three children were sent home. Lou Quan sent many people to protect them, and the news that he and the children were mutated monsters, Snow Bird, quickly spread throughout the entire base.

Upon hearing this, Huo Lan Liu Qi'an went to the residence to keep watch over the father and his three sons, while John and Chen Lin followed Lou Yu to investigate the man who suddenly appeared and exposed Tao Qiu's identity, as well as to find the mastermind behind it.

The base residents have different opinions regarding Tao Qiu's Snow Bird identity.

"It has been proven that Mr. Tao, whether as Snow Bird or after arriving at the base, has never done anything to wrong humanity. The rice, noodles, and vegetables we eat every day are all prepared by him, so we really have no right to criticize his identity."

"But he's a mutated monster after all. Didn't you see him standing with other mutated monsters in the photo? He doesn't eat people? That's true, but those mutated monsters do? Huh? Birds of a feather, what good can they possibly be?"

"He's a mutated monster to begin with, so he can't have a mutated monster friend? Mr. Tao even caught mutated monsters and sold them to us to eat. According to you, isn't he just like us?"

"But humans and mutated monsters are ultimately different. Who can guarantee he won't betray humanity in the future? What if he colludes with those mutated monsters to attack the human base?"

"If you insist on making this assumption, then let me ask you: how can you guarantee that you will never betray Yong'an Base and become a spy for the Central Base? After all, the Central Base does have excellent material conditions, and many people want to become residents of the Central Base."

"Me?... Me?..." The person couldn't answer and could only shut their mouth obediently.

It's undeniable that some people in the base are still very hostile towards Tao Qiu due to their innate fear of mutated monsters. However, most people share Lou Quan's sentiments: Tao Qiu has only brought benefits to humanity; he has never harmed anyone. What's the point of debating whether he's human or a mutated monster?

The issue of stance can be simple or complex, but in layman's terms, most people believe that their stance is determined by where their interests lie.

Overall, public opinion is still on Tao Qiu's side.

When Lou Yu and the others saw that man, he seemed so righteous and awe-inspiring, as if he were a hero who had done a great deed. They thought he would be a tough nut to crack, but after a few punches, his eyes immediately changed from unruly to clear and innocent.

After hearing his reasons for doing so—that he felt Lou Yu had stolen his luck, which was why he was becoming unlucky, and the existence of that so-called "second personality" —Lou Yu and the other interrogators were utterly speechless.

They found the notebook with many pages of writing at the man's residence and questioned his neighbors. The neighbors said they had only seen the man leave once without a word and act strangely, but he returned shortly afterward. Otherwise, he seemed no different from usual.

Checking the records at the base gate, there was no record of any man entering or leaving the base in recent months.

So it's quite obvious. This so-called "second personality" is just a tactic used by the guy behind the scenes to brainwash the man, all to exploit his hatred for Lou Yu and create today's incident.

The only thing capable of secretly taking such close-up photos without being discovered by Tao Qiu and Green Python could be a mutated monster with exceptional camouflage skills.

Lou Quan's trusted confidants were still out searching for the mastermind behind it all. Lou Yu and the others returned home with their investigation results and sat in the living room to analyze them together, with their three sons listening in.

Lou Quan frowned. "This mutated monster is clearly after Tao Qiu? The only thing a mutated monster would covet from Tao Qiu is his special ability."

Tao Qiu and Lou Yu exchanged a glance. Tao Qiu possessed more than just superpowers; that mutated monster must have sensed something much more.

Chen Lin said seriously, "This mutated monster is quick-witted, can recognize and write human characters, and even knows how to use a camera. Its understanding of humans is definitely no less than Tao Qiu's."

Liu Qi'an gasped, "Where did this mutated monster come from?"

John instantly became alert. "Could it be that they were sent by those people from the central base?"

They might encounter special mutated monsters like Tao Qiu; there might be some at the central base as well.

Huo Lan, "Impossible. If this mutated monster was sent by the Central Base, it would have already discovered that Tao Qiu is Snow Bird. How could it not know the other secrets of the base? With so much information, the first thing it should have done was report it to the Central Base, not brainwash someone to publicly announce that Tao Qiu is Snow Bird. Wouldn't that be alerting the enemy?"

Lou Yu said, "What if its purpose is simply to alert the enemy and then take advantage of their misfortune?"

"Captain, what do you mean?" Huo Lan paused for a few seconds, then suddenly realized, "That mutated monster thinks that revealing Tao Qiu's identity will definitely cause panic among the base's residents. They might even collectively condemn and harm Tao Qiu. That could very well lead to chaos, and in that chaos, it would have a chance to hurt Tao Qiu!"

Chen Lin continued, "If chaos really breaks out, the higher-ups will definitely be busy dealing with it and won't be able to attend to Tao Qiu's side. Whether Tao Qiu and the child insist on staying at the base or returning to the valley, mistakes are easily made in the chaos. That mutated monster is good at stealth and might also be good at ambushes."

The goal of a sneak attack is always to strike decisively; that mutated monster most likely wants Tao Qiu dead.

Having figured this out, the adults' faces all darkened.

Although the children didn't understand, they could tell what was going on from their expressions, and they quickly ran to their father's side to protect him.

Tao Qiu patted their heads, looked at the documents on the table, and continued to listen to everyone's speculations.

Lou Yu said, "The fact that it went to such lengths to pull these dirty tricks behind the scenes shows that it can't or isn't willing to confront Qiuqiu head-on. Since this scheme failed, it will definitely come up with another plan."

Lou Quan's heart skipped a beat. "Now that we've confirmed its existence and experienced this incident, we'll definitely intensify our search for its traces and protect Tao Qiu. If it wants to achieve its goal quickly and avoid further trouble, its most likely next move will be to press on and create even more chaos."

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone was taken aback.

Tao Qiu, who hadn't participated in the discussion until now, finally spoke up. Pointing to a suspicious point about the man in the document, he said, "The second personality the man mentioned was fabricated by that mutated monster. The photos and food were given to him by the mutated monster, but it couldn't create things out of thin air. These things were most likely stolen, especially the camera film, which isn't cheap. Has anyone recently reported their belongings stolen to the security office?"

The security department on the base is similar to a police station or police station before a major disaster. They maintain basic security on the base and are in charge of things like theft.

The group exchanged glances. Lou Quan stood up and said, "I'll call them right away and ask."

Liu Qi'an scratched his head blankly, and seeing how serious everyone was, he cautiously asked, "What does stealing have to do with that mutated monster's next move?"

Tao Qiu didn't answer directly, but said, "You'll know when he comes back after asking his questions."

Two minutes later, Lou Quan returned, his expression grave. "There have been thefts in recent months, but none involving cameras or food. And those people didn't report them."

Tao Qiu narrowed his eyes slightly. "Since it's so clever, it's impossible for it to have only prepared one plan in several months, nor could it have only brainwashed one person. Those few people must be its backup plan."

Liu Qi'an finally understood, but he still had some doubts. "Those who can be brainwashed by it shouldn't be people of high rank or power. Even if we consider a larger number, like thirty or forty, they still can't cause as much trouble as your identity being exposed today, right?"

Huo Lan slammed his fist down and said, "They alone can't cause any trouble, but what about those people at the Central Base? I was only half right earlier. That mutated monster might not have been sent by the Central Base, but it's definitely connected to them."

"Oh no!" Lou Quan looked at Tao Qiu and the three children, "You have to leave immediately?!"

Chapter 114 The Third Cub Are Stolen

Root indeed make preparations for both scenarios, and it wasn't just that man who was brainwashed. After all, there were more than just one person in this base who hated Lou Yu or Tao Qiu, or even the entire base.

Many inexplicable hatreds don't need a reason.

Root didn't even have to show his face in person; he successfully turned them over to work for him through written communication alone.

Those photos were indeed taken by it. It hasn't been idle for the past few months, winning over people, gathering secrets about the base, and incidentally even dodging detectors while digging a tunnel connecting the base to the outside.

It knew Tao Qiu was sensitive to its gaze, so it avoided looking at Tao Qiu, hiding its body on the ground while placing the camera on the ground. Even if it wasted a little more film, it could still take the photos it needed.

It has always been confident in its hiding methods, and facts have proven that it is indeed very capable.

After several months of observation, Root discovered that Tao Qiu had integrated into human society remarkably well, so harmoniously that it was as if he himself were human.

Even the Root themselves, which have been disguised for decades, might not be able to do this well.