The spectacle in the restricted zone nearly alarmed all high-ranking officials in Blue Pivot.
The First District director was awakened by continuous phone ringing. He groggily answered the phone, and urgent, anxious voices from inspection team members poured into his ears.
After hearing what happened, the First District director immediately widened his eyes, getting up fully clothed while rapidly arranging work.
“Notify everyone that the news must be contained within the restricted zone. Anyone who leaks information or spreads malicious slander or unfriendly remarks about Blue Pivot’s senior officials—locate them individually and deal with them one by one!”
“Yes!” The team member acknowledged the order.
The First District director’s concerns weren’t wrong. When pale golden snowflakes filled the sky, when all plants in the restricted zone swayed without wind, rumors had already begun spreading.
That person had gained fifth-tier abilities and was no longer human. He chose to sacrifice himself, merging with countless lives, losing his own consciousness from then on—every plant could potentially be his consciousness.
The reason he did this was because of eighteen years of imprisonment, torture, and suffering.
Just today, rumors spread that he had once had a child with Si Hongche, but the child died before birth. Now the remaining embryonic tissue in his belly had also been cut out and buried in the back mountain.
He gained fifth-tier abilities after being stimulated by this incident.
It seemed all world religions shared a consensus—people could only achieve enlightenment and become divine after experiencing tremendous pain and despair.
The person who brought him suffering was Si Hongche.
How had Si Hongche done it?
Second District people had the most authority to speak—they had all witnessed it. Almost everyone could list one of Si Hongche’s cruel, merciless methods, even though normally they hadn’t raised the slightest objection to these methods or shown that person even a bit of mercy.
That person had once been Si Hongche’s forbidden favorite, the most humble person in all of Blue Pivot, a guilty prisoner, a failed S-level.
But now it was different. That person had broken through to fifth-tier, coexisting with heaven and earth, with all things responding. Everything he suffered became tribulations for divine transcendence, his endurance and silence became extraordinary divine nature.
“Director Si’s actions have indeed exceeded human tolerance limits.”
“S-level is truly S-level, combat type is truly combat type.”
“So before, it was just that he didn’t want to, not that he couldn’t.”
“Who would have thought the restricted zone’s first fifth-tier would be forged this way.”
“A prisoner confined for eighteen years, without entering an underground city even once, actually became fifth-tier. Isn’t this mockery of all Awakened ones?”
“They probably don’t dare tell other guilds what really happened in the restricted zone tonight.”
…
The First District director wasn’t maintaining Si Hongche’s reputation—he was protecting the entire power structure, the reputation of the senior officials as a group.
Once Si Hongche’s atrocities became public, even if there were reasons, it would inevitably cause public panic.
A person twisted enough to rescue his former lover only to imprison and torture him for fourteen years, someone who openly implemented private punishment within Blue Pivot building with no one daring to question him.
How much power did he have, how unrestrained, how cold-blooded and ruthless? Could such a person who ignored rules and laws possibly maintain the Federation’s fairness?
For the overall benefit, Si Hongche’s image had to be positive and proactive. Everything he did should be right, and even if wrong, it should be justified and unavoidable.
The First District director was overwhelmed, and the Seventh District director was no better.
Seventh District had long been in chaos. Duty personnel had all been deployed to the seventh floor by Si Hongche, but without thorny keys, they could only watch that person turn into snowflakes and gradually disappear.
After Si Hongche lost control, a group of people surrounded him with concern, bustling about, afraid of not leaving Director Si with a good impression of sharing his worries and concerns.
“The underground third floor archives were invaded, yet you all went to care about Si Hongche’s whore! Have you all gone completely mad!” The Seventh District director roared angrily, making everyone shrink back in silence.
The Seventh District director’s grudge against Si Hongche wasn’t just one day old.
He envied Si Hongche being more favored by the Council of Elders and resented Si Hongche shooting Seventh District team members over a criminal.
In his eyes, that person should have died long ago and was originally just Si Hongche’s tool for venting desires. So what couldn’t be said—if Si Hongche dared do it, was he afraid of people talking!
“What are you standing around for? Go to the third floor and arrest people immediately!”
The inspection team members woke up as if from a dream, quickly loading their guns and rushing underground.
Actually, they weren’t truly ignorant of priorities. It was just that the restricted zone had been safe for over ten years, and they had grown comfortable in Seventh District. Now facing an invader of unknown background, they weren’t sure they could successfully make arrests.
Everyone going together would be fair, but Director Si specifically called people to check the seventh floor situation.
So who would stay behind to fight desperately, and who would go check on that person who never harmed anyone?
“Don’t move!”
“Drop your weapons immediately and surrender!”
Once the archive room door clearance opened, a team of inspection members rushed in with guns.
The densely packed gray-white iron cabinets created enormous difficulty for arrests. The inspection team members didn’t dare act rashly, slowly moving forward with guns.
Zhan Pingchuan had just retreated into the ventilation duct, silently replacing the exhaust fan.
He originally thought he’d have great difficulty escaping, but for some unknown reason, those inspection team members blocking the door suddenly withdrew.
“Could I really be born with a rebel constitution, able to turn danger into safety like this?”
While puzzled, Zhan Pingchuan recorded all materials related to Si Hongmei. After brief consideration, he deliberately didn’t put this stack of documents back in their original position.
Since they knew someone had broken into the underground, they should also know what the intruder was after.
Especially Si Hongche—he’d better know what materials were searched.
He’d probably be curious why someone was interested in this stack of materials, and curious whether there were problems in this stack that he’d overlooked for eighteen years.
As long as he planted seeds of doubt in Si Hongche’s heart, his good buddy could live a little better.
Zhan Pingchuan temporarily had no way to rescue Oliver from prison, but at least he had to do something for him.
After handling everything, Zhan Pingchuan gathered his strength, leaped up to grab the ventilation opening, and pulled himself up.
With a “buzz,” the repaired fan began to rotate.
“Captain! No one here!”
“Nothing here either!”
“Check the exhaust outlet! There are footprints nearby!”
Several gun muzzles aimed at the dark exhaust outlet—
Bang bang bang!
Several gunshots punched holes through the fan, finally completely destroying it. It crashed down, smashing onto the ground.
Zhan Pingchuan briefly listened to the commotion behind him, then exerted force with both hands and crawled out even more rapidly.
“The intruder has entered the ventilation ducts. All departments, attention—quickly seal all exits!”
“Call for backup! Call for backup!”
“Go, go, go! Attack from front and back, don’t let him escape!”
Someone immediately followed into the ventilation duct, chasing after Zhan Pingchuan.
“Captain, I’m now pursuing the intruder, crawling toward the southwest direction!” The inspection team member panted heavily—the narrow, dark space made him very uncomfortable.
“Good, be careful of the enemy and follow orders!” Commands came through the earpiece.
The inspection team member quickly reached the first intersection. He immediately turned on the flashlight on his wristwatch, illuminating the duct’s inner walls.
A clear crawling trail appeared before his eyes. The inspection team member wiped the long streaks of dust with his hand and couldn’t help but sneer coldly.
He didn’t need to rush to catch up with this person—the dust would expose all of this person’s tracks. Once the inspection team members at the exit were in position, even if this person was S-level, he’d be doomed.
Thinking this, the inspection team member crawled forward along the dust trail with even more effort.
Soon, he reached an upward corner. He took a deep breath, supported himself against the wall to twist his body, changing from prone to supine position.
He had just turned over and was preparing to brace himself against both sides of the duct to squeeze his upper body in when his wristwatch’s light suddenly illuminated a dark shadow!
In that instant, before the inspection team member could react, Zhan Pingchuan released both hands and dropped straight down by gravity.
“No—”
Bang!
A heavy sound, and those unfinished words remained forever in his throat.
The smell of blood instantly filled the narrow duct as dark red liquid spread along the inspection team member’s facial features.
Zhan Pingchuan didn’t pause for a moment. With the flashlight in his mouth, he illuminated that unrecognizable face, then used his shoe to hook up the inspection team member’s earpiece and radio, taking them with him.
The earpiece occasionally transmitted Seventh District’s action reports: “Southwest exit of Building Three is in position, no anomalies detected!”
“Due east exit is in position, no anomalies detected!”
Zhan Pingchuan’s mind quickly visualized that scan diagram. He rapidly chose a shortcut, crawling toward an unblocked exit.
Time was urgent, every second counted. He didn’t know when the next team of inspection members would be in position, nor how many people Seventh District currently had.
The best outcome would be that when he got out, there would be no one outside. He’d avoid surveillance, slip into the night, and successfully escape.
If not…
Zhan Pingchuan’s eyes darkened—then he’d have to kill everyone blocking his way.
“Report, west exit of Building Two is in position, no anomalies detected!”
“Third exit of Building One is in position, no anomalies detected!”
Zhan Pingchuan’s clothes were already soaked with sweat, but he didn’t dare relax, constantly adjusting his direction based on reports from the earpiece.
Time passed minute by minute. The ventilation duct became increasingly stuffy, his heart and lungs nearly ready to explode.
“Young master, we’ve received the materials. How are you doing?” Even the usually calm supervisor’s voice carried tension.
But Zhan Pingchuan had no strength to speak. The exit he wanted to reach was blocked by inspection team members again.
Without hesitation, he immediately changed direction again.
Just then—
“Immediately retrieve surveillance cameras near all ventilation duct exits!”
“What? Still not fixed? What is First District doing!”
Zhan Pingchuan’s spirits lifted, his eyes widening immediately.
Was his mom’s virus really that effective? It still wasn’t fixed even now.
Who said Blue Pivot was full of high-level technical talent?
In High Tower Guild, Duma sat cross-legged holding his computer, frowning as he systematically killed Blue Pivot’s central control center’s antivirus software.
“Don’t touch me, don’t touch me, don’t touch me.”
“…”
The virus Zhan Pingchuan had uploaded crouched boredly in an inconspicuous folder, watching his colleague wreak havoc and crush twenty-eight antivirus programs.
First District technical personnel broke out in cold sweat, turning back miserably to report: “Director, this virus is too troublesome. Removal will take some more time.”
Zhan Pingchuan had a sudden inspiration and decisively abandoned the exit, instead crawling toward the restroom he was familiar with.
After looking down through the gap, Zhan Pingchuan directly broke through the barrier and jumped down from the restroom ceiling exhaust outlet.
The restroom was empty. He restored the barrier to its original position, vigorously shook the dust from his clothes, then put them back on.
Fortunately it was dark, and he wore black clothes, so obvious dirt marks weren’t visible.
Next was how to get from here back to the dormitory.
Zhan Pingchuan listened carefully outside the restroom door and found running sounds everywhere on the first floor, with more and more inspection team members being awakened, summoned, and participating in the arrest.
He moved near the window and glanced outside.
It would have been better not to look—after seeing, Zhan Pingchuan was even more shocked, because the area around Blue Pivot building was surrounded by people!
Not only Blue Pivot inspection team members, but also those scientists from Hong Suo, even congressmen, congressional family members, and workers responsible for physical labor!
Those who knew understood that Blue Pivot’s underground third floor had been invaded. Those who didn’t might think the restricted zone was holding a collective celebration.
Wait, even if they were catching him, was it necessary for even the cafeteria aunties to come?
Zhan Pingchuan quickly realized that tonight, more than one major event had occurred. At this moment, these people were all attracted by another major event and wouldn’t leave even in the early morning hours.
The crowded, complex crowd provided Zhan Pingchuan with enormous convenience. Without hesitation, he immediately slipped out of the restroom, carefully avoiding patrolling Seventh District team members, and snuck into his office area.
He always kept a First District uniform at his workstation, putting it on only when coming to work each day. Now it came in handy.
Zhan Pingchuan quickly put on the uniform and walked into the hall openly as an inspection team member.
“All external exits have been completely sealed, intruder not yet discovered!”
“Where’s Griffiths? Didn’t he chase the intruder into the ventilation duct?” Only then did the squad leader realize he hadn’t heard Griffiths’ voice for a long time.
“Griffiths, respond!”
“Damn! Stop waiting, everyone get into the ducts. I don’t believe so many of us can’t catch one person!”
Zhan Pingchuan had just walked near the main entrance when someone suddenly patted him from behind: “The captain ordered us into the ducts for arrest. Where are you going?”
Zhan Pingchuan didn’t turn around, calmly replying without panic: “I’m from First District.”
“First District? Go, go, go, don’t block the way!”
After speaking, the inspection team member quickly ran off.
Zhan Pingchuan heard the earpiece crackling as a terrified voice said: “Griffiths is dead! The intruder stole Griffiths’ earpiece and knows our encirclement plan!”
At this moment, Zhan Pingchuan had successfully exited Blue Pivot building and inconspicuously blended into the crowd.
Now even if surveillance was repaired, he wasn’t afraid. The bustling crowd was the easiest place to hide. He deliberately lowered his posture, pretending to be forced backward by the crowd.
He casually threw the earpiece and radio on the ground, where they were quickly trampled to pieces by the crowd. As for who threw them and who destroyed them, it was impossible to verify.
Only then did Zhan Pingchuan raise his hand and gently tap the micro earpiece twice, signaling that he was now safe.
Once a person relaxed their guard, fatigue immediately struck. Just as he was about to leave the crowd and sneak back to the dormitory along a quiet path, he heard chaotic chatter from the crowd—
“I came late. Is what they’re saying true? Did that person on the seventh floor turn into snowflakes and get absorbed by plants?”
“It couldn’t be more real. I had insomnia today and saw the whole thing. It was so shocking—I felt like all the plants were looking up at him, embracing him, merging with him. The sky was full of leaves, but I couldn’t feel any wind. Only after the snowflakes finished falling did the plants quiet down.”
“How can a person turn into snowflakes? It’s simply incredible.”
“They say he achieved fifth-tier abilities. Fifth-tier breaks through mortal limits—if he wanted to leave, naturally he left.”
“What does this mean? Did he die?”
“You could say he died, or you could say he achieved enlightenment. In any case, we probably won’t see that person again.”
“If fifth-tier means disappearing, is this a good thing?”
“For that person, it should be a good thing.”
…
Zhan Pingchuan suddenly stopped in his tracks. He realized who they were talking about.
Oliver had disappeared, or rather died, and the scene was grand enough to attract so many people to watch.
He stood frozen in place, suddenly unable to describe his current feelings.
His impression of Oliver always remained at age four, when Oliver covered his scarred body and conjured a roomful of cartoon characters for him.
Even fairy tales covering blood and cruelty had protected a child’s world very well.
He still remembered that sentence—
“Eyes can deceive. If you close your eyes and feel with your heart, perhaps you’ll discover clues in subtle places. No matter how superb an ability is, it won’t be without flaws. What’s fake will never become real.”
He thought that coming to Blue Pivot this time, he could at least see him once more.
Even if he couldn’t rescue him, he wanted to find a way to make his life a little better.
It was still too late.
Zhan Pingchuan looked down at his arms, trembling slightly from muscle fatigue.
What he did was ultimately too late.
However, Oliver could finally sleep peacefully in the golden house, and no one would disturb him anymore.
The windless night couldn’t disperse the clouds. The moon remained missing a corner, its incomplete shadow trampled by chaotic, hurried footsteps as Seventh District team members continuously poured into Blue Pivot building.
In the ventilation duct, someone followed the dust trail all the way to the restroom ceiling exhaust outlet.
The intruder had obviously left through the exhaust outlet and was nowhere to be found.
“Director! We tracked the dust trail and found the intruder escaped from a restroom inside Blue Pivot building!”
“What!” The Seventh District director was furious. This meant the enemy had run right under their noses without them noticing.
“Seal Blue Pivot building! Everyone gather in the hall!” The Seventh District director keenly sensed that the opponent had likely taken advantage of the surveillance failure to blend into the inspection team. He had to quickly find suspicious personnel in the ranks.
“Uh… Director, Director Si is also in the building.” Someone quietly reminded him.
The Seventh District director was furious. At this point, he wasn’t afraid of offending Si Hongche. He strode to the seventh floor, rushed into the confinement room, and grabbed Si Hongche’s collar: “Director Si, enemies have broken into the underground third-floor classified archives, and you still have time to be lost in thought here!”
Blood was still seeping from Si Hongche’s hands. Without special treatment, wounds caused by thorns would make high-level Awakened ones increasingly painful.
He lifted his eyelids and stared coldly at the Seventh District director with bloodshot eyes.
“…Get lost.”
Only very faint traces of Oliver’s scent remained in this room. Anyone entering would disturb the scent.
He had already driven everyone out and used his first-tier ability [Envelop] almost frantically to bind a mass of air.
The transparent sphere of [Envelop] still had obvious olive fragrance, but he didn’t dare smell it. Once he smelled it, it would be gone, gone forever.
When one S-level Awakened one fell, another would be born. Even if an Omega with olive pheromones appeared in this world again soon, it wouldn’t be Oliver anymore.
The Seventh District director straightened up and slowly backed out of the confinement room. As he retreated, he looked at Si Hongche’s appearance and sneered: “The mighty Second District director is dejected over his sister’s killer? Fine.”
“But there’s something I’m curious about. They say the intruder risked his life to break into the archives but only opened Si Hongmei’s death records. I wonder, Director Si, are you curious?”
Si Hongche’s pupils suddenly contracted, his gaze instantly focusing.
The Seventh District director smiled. Seeing Si Hongche like this, he suddenly felt an indescribable satisfaction.
The intruder had opened Si Hongmei’s records—the target must be Si Hongche.
How could that case, concluded eighteen years ago, harm Si Hongche now?
He had an interesting idea, and he believed Si Hongche was having the same thought at this moment.
##
(advanced chapters available on kofi)
