TIC Chapter 71

“I just lost my footing, that’s all. Even if I were to jump into the sea, there’s no way I could swim all the way to the mainland.”

Xiao Yan’s voice was utterly devoid of emotion.

“This stretch of ocean is dotted with countless small islands, but the nearest one is a ten-minute flight away by aircraft. We are even further from the mainland—and as for Char’s Outer Base? You can forget about that entirely.”

Jan’s voice held a hint of amusement.

He hadn’t brought him here to grant him freedom, but rather to sever every possible avenue of escape.

Xiao Yan struggled to break free from Jan’s embrace, then turned and began walking aimlessly.

The moment Jan mentioned the aircraft, the turmoil in Xiao Yan’s heart began to subside.

It was inconceivable that an island like this would lack an aircraft. If he truly intended to escape, he would first have to pinpoint the island’s exact location and then devise a plan to board a craft. Even if reaching Char proved impossible, he needed to know the precise bearing of the nearest base.

“You really do bounce back quite easily, don’t you?”

Xiao Yan paused slightly; under Jan’s penetrating gaze, he instantly felt as though he had been seen right through.

“Why constantly dwell on such exhausting matters? Just treat this place as a vacation. Sunshine, beaches, sea breezes—the leisurely lifestyle that vanished centuries ago has returned right here.”

Jan advanced step by step. As his intimate presence enveloped Xiao Yan, the latter instinctively recoiled half a step, his back coming to rest against the trunk of a tall palm tree.

The tree’s shadow fell across Jan’s shoulders and cheeks, casting an aura of quiet mystery.

“Close your eyes, Xiao Yan. This isn’t filtered air; this is the genuine sea breeze.”

His voice, long and drawn-out, was almost hypnotic; without realizing it, Xiao Yan closed his eyes.

The instant Jan’s lips descended upon his, his tongue—leaping past Xiao Yan’s tightly guarded defenses—pressed deeper, until the kiss fully consumed him.

His body trembled as every sense suddenly constricted. The X-virus beckoned to Xiao Yan; his rationality teetered on the brink of slipping its leash, while a primal craving raged wildly through his bloodstream. Xiao Yan cupped Jian’s face in his hands, clutching him tightly as if he could never get enough. He relentlessly took everything he desired from Jian’s mouth, while Jian’s kisses grew even more forceful; shifting angles with practiced skill, he expertly pinned Xiao Yan down—seemingly just to ensure that, even as Xiao Yan drowned in the pleasure induced by the X-virus, he would clearly remember exactly who was kissing him.

The casual clothes of a researcher that Xiao Yan wore were unfastened by his partner. Jian withdrew from Xiao Yan’s mouth, yet Xiao Yan, still insatiable, continued to shower kisses upon Jian’s cheeks and neck.

Tilting his chin upward and closing his eyes, Jian gave a smile of barely contained impatience. "You really are a naughty boy..."

In that very instant, the sharp profile of Hein’s face was etched into Xiao Yan’s mind like a blade. His heart felt as if it had been pierced, throbbing with sudden, intense pain. Xiao Yan snapped back to full consciousness and lashed out, slamming his elbow violently toward Jian’s face.

Jian dodged the blow with effortless ease; yet, rather than releasing Xiao Yan, he simply swept him up into his arms.

Lifted clear off the ground, Xiao Yan’s struggles seemed both childish and futile.

Jian’s eyes held a look of playful amusement as he peppered Xiao Yan’s cheeks and the curves of his ears with light kisses; the more Xiao Yan struggled, the more intimate Jian’s kisses became.

"Is this resistance of yours merely an attempt to pique my interest?" To Xiao Yan’s ears, that smiling voice sounded like nothing but mockery. He glared fiercely at Jian, who—with audacious nonchalance—took the tip of Xiao Yan’s nose between his lips and gave it a gentle nip. "I was captivated by you long ago, so there is no need for you to go to such unnecessary lengths."

"If you want my brain, take it now! If you want my life, then stop wasting time!"

In that instant, the look in Jian’s eyes turned instantly glacial; even the sea breeze brushing against Xiao Yan’s face and seeping into his pores felt chillingly cold.

A shiver ran down Xiao Yan’s spine.

"It seems you’ve forgotten what I told you."

A vivid memory flashed through his mind: that day when he had pressed a gun against his own chin, only to be stopped by Jian—who had then proceeded to crush the weapon right before Xiao Yan’s eyes.

*The next time you dare to point a gun at your own head, I will show you the true meaning of pain.* “If you really want to die that badly, I’d rather you be fucked to death—by me.”

The words “fucked to death” were squeezed out through the gaps between Jian’s fingers, grinding against Xiao Yan’s nerves.

This man had always presented himself to the world as a rakish, uninhibited figure—someone seemingly indifferent to everything—thereby masking his true cruelty and sinister nature.

“You want to see a brain? Then I’ll take you to see one—a brain that is still alive, yet completely severed from the human body!”

Xiao Yan was yanked violently to his feet, stumbling as he trailed behind Jian.

As they passed through the undergrowth, the animals—previously unconcerned and unwary—sensed the aura radiating from Jian and scattered in every direction.

They passed through a glass chamber and descended underground. Before them lay a gloomy corridor, filled with a stifling, unpleasant stench; Jian’s retreating figure ahead of him looked like a wraith.

Finally, a faint glimmer of light appeared.

When Xiao Yan saw the countless active holographic displays lining the walls—alongside a comprehensive surveillance network covering every angle—he realized that this was a massive underground base. Its technological sophistication was in no way inferior to that of Char’s Main Control Center.

“The processing speed of this facility’s Main Control is one and a half times that of Char’s. Only a Blocker with a neural processing speed exceeding 300 quadrillion operations per second would stand a chance of breaching it. Of course, that is merely a ‘possibility.’”

Jian turned back, casting a cold, fleeting glance at Xiao Yan.

At every junction along the corridor, sensors detected Jian’s presence and automatically unlocked the way; this meant that if Xiao Yan had been alone, he wouldn’t have stood even the slightest chance of gaining entry.

A vast underground space unfolded before Xiao Yan’s eyes.

It was an ocean of data—a realm where complex calculations and logical deductions were being executed every single second.

A young man—a lollipop still in his mouth—walked over with his arms crossed, wearing an air of brazen arrogance. The moment he spotted Xiao Yan, those wild, unruly green eyes crinkled into narrow crescent slits.

“Xiao Yan! You’re awake!”

He spread his arms wide, ready to pull Xiao Yan into an embrace, but Xiao Yan took a half-step to the side, deftly evading him.

All the trust he had once placed in Casey now seemed utterly laughable. Casey wasn't angry; he merely cast a sidelong glance at Jane. "Boss, this is my turf. Unauthorized personnel are strictly forbidden."

"Our guest here has been clamoring to donate his brain."

Casey paused for a moment, then cast a meaningful look at Xiao Yan. Clutching his head, he wore an expression of feigned helplessness. "We aren't like Valentine's lackeys—taking pleasure in harvesting other people's brains. That sort of hobby is simply too lowbrow."

Xiao Yan frowned imperceptibly. *Who is Valentine?* If Jane and Casey truly found the act of harvesting researchers' brains abhorrent, then what was the real reason they had abducted him and brought him here?

"I don't want you seeing this stuff."

Casey’s gaze lingered on Xiao Yan’s face as he raised his wrist and snapped his fingers three times in rhythmic succession.

All the holographic data displays flashed "Saving..." before vanishing abruptly.

At that moment, Xiao Yan finally had the chance to take a good, clear look at this underground base.

Hundreds—no, thousands—of brains were suspended within nutrient tanks, crisscrossed by countless neural-sensing fibers that linked them all together.

The grayish-white brains looked exactly like the ones in Xiao Yan’s nightmares; stripped of their original bodies, they were now under the control of a master code—forced to think.

Xiao Yan clenched his fists, fighting back the rising nausea churning in his stomach, though his face had already gone deathly pale.

In the distance, a red light suddenly began flashing on one of the nutrient tanks.

Casey looked in that direction, his brow furrowing. "I’m a researcher myself; I’d love nothing more than to put an end to their torment. But if I actually did that, Valentine would probably label me a traitor."

The brain inside that particular tank had died. “As for... the brains that have died... what do you do with them?”

“Aha, you really are adorable.” Jane’s fingers hooked beneath Xiao Yan’s chin as he leaned forward slightly. “Tell me, how does the Char family dispose of their dead?”

“The remains are synthesized into thumb-sized crystals, making them easy for the family to preserve.”

“Very humane. The Surge Organization is quite humane, too, you know.” Jane gave a playful wink. “The brains that have already died are processed into a nutrient solution to nourish the other brains that are still functioning. See? Even in death, there is such profound meaning.”

Xiao Yan’s eyes widened as he stared at Jane. “...They are human beings.”

“Yes, they are human beings—and so are we. The difference is that the Surge Organization considers itself superior.” Jane leaned in closer. “My dear, do you know why humans eat all manner of animals, yet rarely consume their own kind?”

“...”

Xiao Yan knew that the answer would not be one he wanted to hear.

“Because humans believe themselves to be superior to every other living creature on this planet.”

The biting cold made Xiao Yan shudder; he could scarcely imagine what—if anything—remained of those brains now.

“Are you certain you still wish to offer up your own brain?”

Jane’s fingers gently cupped Xiao Yan’s cheek, his thumb slowly stroking the skin. His gaze was so profound—so heavy—that Xiao Yan felt as though he were being inexorably crushed beneath it, no matter how hard he tried to look away. His legs felt as if they had been cast in lead; he could not move.

Suddenly, a warm embrace drew him close. In this cold, sterile space—where the very air seemed to carry the scent of chemical reagents—Casey’s voice offered an unexpectedly soothing anchor for his frayed nerves.

“Stop tormenting him.” Casey glared fiercely at Jane, stepping in front of Xiao Yan to shield him.

“Alright, alright...” Jane shrugged his shoulders and snapped his fingers. Instantly, all the holographic displays flickered back to life; streams of data surged and raced across the room. Amidst the ceaselessly shifting torrent of information, faint red pinpricks could be glimpsed here and there—yet more brains that had succumbed to the overwhelming strain.

“Can you still walk?” Jane asked with a light, airy tone.

That utter indifference filled Xiao Yan with revulsion.

He brushed Jane’s hand aside. Though his balance was unsteady, he turned and began walking toward the exit corridor. This has nothing to do with being kind or unkind; right now, he isn't even certain he can save his own brain, so feeling sympathy for others is utterly pointless.

Jan approached Xiao Yan’s side; the sliding door at the junction opened automatically, and a breath of faintly warm air flowed in.

They walked through a corridor that seemed to stretch on forever.

Suddenly, Xiao Yan came to a halt.

“Is the purpose of showing me all this to instill fear in me?”

“Precisely.” Jan crossed his arms and leaned leisurely against the wall. “Since you seem to have a habit of running your mouth, I wanted to make it abundantly clear to you that such a habit is displeasing.”

“If you don’t intend to extract my brain, then what was the reason for going to such great lengths to bring me out of Shire?”

A different hypothesis began to form in Xiao Yan’s mind: a brain does not remain viable for very long once separated from the human body. The fact that they hadn't opened his skull yet suggested a strong possibility that they intended to keep him in captivity—to preserve him until the moment he was needed, thereby simply avoiding a waste of resources.

“I want to offer you a different perspective. Time will reveal everything.”

Xiao Yan had wanted to ask: *What exactly is your relationship with the Surge Organization?*—for the tone in Cathy’s voice had betrayed a distinct disapproval of the Surge. Yet, hadn't they infiltrated Shire specifically as spies for the Surge?

But Xiao Yan also knew that unless Jan *chose* to answer, even if he were to hold a knife to the man’s throat, the guy would merely maintain that same inscrutable, enigmatic expression.

Night fell. Xiao Yan lay upon a bed so soft and—to his mind—absurdly spacious that it defied belief; looking up, he could gaze through the transparent glass ceiling at the starry, resplendent firmament above.

In Shire, the personal space allotted to each individual was strictly limited—take, for instance, the bed in Xiao Yan’s old room: if he so much as rolled over once too often, he would tumble right off it. But the bed he lay on now was nearly as large as his entire bedroom back in Shire.

Gazing up at the night sky overhead, it was only in this precise moment that Xiao Yan truly grasped just how vast—how infinitely more expansive—this world was than he had ever imagined.

Had Jan not been lying there beside him, he would have savored this moment—and everything within it—even more deeply. “It’s ironic, isn’t it? Those who dwell within the Shire will never, in their entire lives, witness a sight like this. They revel in everything they currently possess, growing so complacent in their comfort that they lose the very ambition to strive for anything more.”

Jane slowly turned to the side, gazing intently at Xiao Yan’s profile.

“I have no ambition, either.”

Jane smiled. “If you truly had no ambition, why would you be gazing at the sky with such yearning in your eyes?”

Xiao Yan closed his eyes, mentally reviewing everything he had witnessed that day.

Even if this wasn't the Tide’s main headquarters, it was, at the very least, a highly significant base. All such bases were invariably established in regions where ocean currents remained relatively calm; furthermore, to evade detection by the Shire, this island had to be situated a considerable distance away from the mainland. Given the capabilities of the Tide organization, achieving complete self-sufficiency within such an isolated environment would pose absolutely no challenge. Tomorrow, he would have to observe with even greater vigilance—tracking the sun’s trajectory from sunrise to sunset, noting the constellations in the night sky, and studying the ocean currents and local vegetation—for all these details would aid him in pinpointing the island’s approximate geographical location on Earth. He also needed to discover the exact whereabouts of the aircraft stationed on the island, as well as map out the entire layout and structure of the base itself.

“What are you thinking about?”

“I’m not thinking about anything.”

“You’re lying.”

“Fine. I was thinking about Colonel Burton.”

“He’s dead.”

The voice, previously so gentle, turned instantly cold and hard.

“He’s still alive.”

Xiao Yan’s reply was calm, yet delivered with absolute certainty.

In the very next instant, the man beside him abruptly lunged forward, straddling Xiao Yan’s body. With eyes cast downward and hands pinning Xiao Yan’s head just above his ears, he exuded an overwhelming aura of dominance—so sudden and intense that Xiao Yan didn't even have time to flinch.

“I’ve spoiled you far too much.”

Suddenly, he swooped down and kissed him—a kiss so fierce and brutal it felt as though he were trying to crush him.

Xiao Yan pressed his palms against the man’s shoulders, attempting to push him away and roll over; yet, against the sheer physical might of Jane, his struggles were utterly futile.

Xiao Yan frantically grabbed at Jane’s hair, thrashing and fighting back with a desperation that suggested the very end of the world was at hand; finally, Jane roughly broke the kiss.

“Kill me... or take my brain... do whatever you want...”

“You bastard!”

Jane abruptly surged to his feet, his fingers digging into the back of Xiao Yan’s skull to yank his hair back, before once again crashing his lips against his in a frenzied, savage kiss.

The wounds on Xiao Yan’s back healed with astonishing speed; finally, Jane released his grip, allowing Xiao Yan to slump back down onto the ground. “Next time—if you ever ask me to kill you again—I will send men to Shire. I will take everyone you know—including your colleagues at the Institute, your fellow cadets, every liaison officer who has ever spoken to you, and even the Special Forces operatives—extract their brains, and deliver them right to your feet!”

Jan’s exquisite features twisted instantly into a grotesque, hideous mask.

Xiao Yan’s breathing and heartbeat gradually broke free from the X-virus’s grip, returning to a state of calm.

He knew that Jan Wallis wasn’t merely bluffing; he would truly carry out his threat.

Meanwhile, back in Shire, Lieutenant General Averil was intently examining a blood sample. Standing beside him, Major General Gordon appeared visibly anxious.

“Hey—what’s the verdict? Don’t tell me that guy, Hein, is going to be stuck in that isolation chamber forever!”

At that very moment, the man lying inside the isolation chamber gave a faint tremor of his fingers. The instant his eyes snapped open, his gaze was so piercingly sharp it seemed capable of puncturing the very air around him; after a sudden, gasping intake of breath, he abruptly sat upright.

His vital signs surged dramatically, only to plummet just as suddenly once they reached their critical threshold.

The entire medical team rushed into the room.

“Colonel Burton!”

The moment they unsealed the isolation chamber, Hein violently shoved everyone aside. He tapped a holographic control panel, and his combat suit slowly rose into position.

“Colonel Burton! We still need to complete your medical examination!”

He snatched his combat suit, donning it with swift, practiced efficiency; no one was able to stop him.

In the blood analysis lab, Lieutenant General Averil stepped away from his terminal and firmly grasped Major General Gordon by the arm.

“He succeeded!”

“Who? Succeeded at what?”

“Second Lieutenant Xiao Yan succeeded! The X-2 strain within Colonel Burton’s body has fully integrated with his physiology; not only has it established a new immunological defense line, but it has also supplanted the original X-virus to become his primary energy source!”

Just then, a medical orderly burst into the room.

“Sir! Colonel Burton is awake! He’s attempting to leave the facility!”

Both generals stood stunned for a moment. It was Major General Gordon who recovered first; he activated his communicator and issued a command. “Wynn! Ling Xiao! Colonel Burton has regained consciousness! You must stop him!”

Wynn’s jaw dropped open; it was not until the man—radiating a bloodthirsty killing intent from every pore—had nearly reached his side that Wynn finally managed to respond: “Is that really… Colonel Burton?”

His golden-brown hair was meticulously tied back, revealing a depth of gaze that was utterly profound.

His eyes gleamed with a cold light, and a suffocating tension spread through the air.

Just as Hein walked past Wynn and Ling Xiao, it was Ling Xiao who reacted first.

“Colonel Burton! Don’t you want to know what happened after you passed out?”

Hein Burton halted his steps. “Where is Major General Gordon?”

The stunned Wynn let out a breath of relief.

“The Major General is waiting for you in his office; he has already retrieved the footage from that time.”

Inside, Major General Gordon clasped his hands together, feeling a touch of nervousness. Lieutenant General Averell had informed him that Hein’s physical capabilities were currently at their absolute peak, and his mind would be sharper than ever before.

The Central Academy of Sciences required every minute detail regarding the X-2 research; yet, the virus’s creator had been abducted. The only person who possessed a comprehensive understanding of the entire project was Hein Burton—for he had constantly maintained a presence at the periphery of Xiao Yan’s consciousness. Moreover, Hein’s origins lay not with the armed forces, but with the Central Academy itself.

Major General Gordon had already sensed that Xiao Yan held a significance for Hein that went beyond the ordinary. He knew with absolute certainty that Hein would not remain in Shire; until Xiao Yan was found, this man would not rest.

The office door was yanked open with brutal force, slamming violently against the wall; the high-density nanotech panel was left with a shallow indentation.

One should not underestimate that indentation; there was not another soul within the Special Task Force capable of inflicting such damage.

Seated at his desk, Major General Gordon maintained a calm expression, yet his gaze involuntarily drifted toward the slightly deformed sliding door.

“It seems you are even more formidable than before. Perhaps I, too, should undergo the X-2 treatment.”

“The surveillance footage.” Hein displayed not the slightest inclination toward exchanging pleasantries.

Major General Gordon’s expression turned grave; with a light tap of his finger, a holographic projection slowly unfurled.

Displayed upon the screen was the image of Xiao Yan—cornered and with his back pressed against a wall—holding the muzzle of a gun against his own chin.

He had tilted his head back, his tightly shut eyelids betraying not the slightest tremor; his lips were pursed into a line of steely resolve, leaving absolutely no room to doubt the depth of his determination in that moment. Major General Gordon cast a sidelong glance at Hein. "You really ought to keep a better watch on your sidearm."

The very next instant, a loud *bang* rang out—and even though this wasn't the first time he had witnessed this footage, Major General Gordon still felt the illusory sensation of his heart being torn apart.

Hein, however, watched the screen with a gaze that did not waver in the slightest.

Major General Gordon wore an expression of disappointment. "Hah. I thought that, upon seeing this scene, you might at least show a *hint* of being startled."

On the screen, Jan Wallis had clamped down tightly on Xiao Yan’s fingers, wresting the gun away from him.

As he scooped Xiao Yan up and carried him away, he deliberately glanced toward the surveillance camera, flashing that signature, devil-may-care grin of his.

His lips formed the words: *Goodbye, Shire.*

"Jan Wallis is the true mastermind."

When they reported this information to the military command, the entire upper echelon was shaken to its core. Subsequent reports concerning Jan Wallis and Cathy revealed that, while their identity records appeared exhaustive on the surface, a deeper investigation finally uncovered faint traces of intrusion and tampering within the archival system.

Both of them hailed from outside the city of Shire.

"Indeed. He served in the Special Operations Force for four years, earning a distinguished record of combat achievements. Moreover, by all conventional logic, the more unconventional and rebellious a person is, the less likely they are to be an undercover agent; conversely, it is the likes of *you*—the ones who keep their true depths hidden yet inspire absolute trust—who fit the profile far better..."

"Where was he taken?"

With a somber expression, Hein replayed the video clip once more; the final frame invariably froze on Jan Wallis’s smile.

Major General Gordon sensed the palpable killing intent hanging in the air, and the hairs on his body involuntarily stood on end.

If there was anyone left in this world capable of hunting down Jan Wallis, it was, perhaps, Hein Burton alone. “We don’t know.”

“He has a microchip implanted in his body.”

“The signal from his chip has vanished completely. So, there are currently three possibilities. First: the microchip inside him has been destroyed—for *Chaoyong* could certainly have anticipated that we would use the chip to track him. Second: he is dead; the microchip is designed to automatically deactivate when it detects no vital signs. The final possibility—the most optimistic one, though admittedly the least likely—is that he is being held captive in a location where signals are being jammed. High Command has issued a directive: he must be brought back at any cost—even if nothing remains of him but his brain.”

“His brain will not be removed.”