T.I.C 78

 Chapter 78

He was escorted into a specialized maglev vehicle and transported to the headquarters of the Interrogation Corps. As he walked through the facility, Xiao Yan realized it was not as cold and damp as he had imagined. The lighting in the corridors was bright and warm, and the air was scented with a nerve-soothing agent—a fragrance designed to easily lull one into lowering their guard.

However, the "Interrogation Room" signs displayed on the cells he passed served as a stark reminder to Xiao Yan that this was the darkest division within the Char military—the very unit whose commander, Major General Hiti, Mark had even dubbed the "Brain Killer."

Instead of taking Xiao Yan into one of the cells, they led him to an office located on the lowest level of the facility.

A liaison officer stood before the door, saluted Xiao Yan, and then the sliding door slowly parted.

As Xiao Yan stood in the doorway, he found himself momentarily stunned.

The interior decor—warm-toned yet never harsh on the eyes—stood in stark contrast to the rigid, austere style typical of every other military office. There was a plush sofa for guests, a rustic-style tea table, and even a small pot of sun-flowers on the desk, blooming in the artificial sunlight with a natural grace that seemed utterly authentic.

A figure clad in a military uniform stood with his back to Xiao Yan; he appeared to be holding a mug, and the rich aroma of coffee permeated the room.

This was Major General Hiti. At this moment, Xiao Yan could see only his short, dark-brown hair and his ramrod-straight posture. He also noted the man’s remarkably elegant hands, which held the mug with an air of effortless composure.

The soldiers stood close by Xiao Yan, poised and on high alert.

"This is not an interrogation of a prisoner; I merely wish to have a chat with Lieutenant Xiao Yan. You may leave."

"But, Sir... Lieutenant Xiao Yan carries the X-Virus within him..."

"So, you imagine he could simply snap my neck with brute force and then swagger right out of Char?"

Major General Hiti finally turned around. His eyes were large and bright—a shade of gray-blue that seemed to hold a smile. Yet, upon closer observation, one could sense that he was not truly smiling; it was merely a practiced, formulaic expression. Deep within those eyes, however, lay a razor-sharp acuity—a gaze capable of instantly seeing through a person's every thought.

Before him, no secret could remain hidden. He was the youngest "Excellency" in Char—a thirty-one-year-old Major General.

Upon receiving their orders, all the soldiers withdrew from the office.

Finally, only Xiao Yan and Hiti remained.

"You really are completely different from how I imagined you," Hiti remarked, stroking his chin as he regarded Xiao Yan with an amused gaze.

"I am merely an ordinary person."

"Are you referring to that brain capable of three hundred million *tera-speeds*? That is the processing speed of Hein Burton's brain. Back when he withdrew from the Central Academy of Sciences to transfer into the Special Operations Force, it caused quite a public uproar."

"I have heard about that incident."

"The catalyst for that event was Lieutenant General Renodin's brain; rumor has it his subconscious was a realm of boundless darkness. Although Hein managed to withdraw successfully, Colonel Shen Bing suffered irreversible damage. And yet, before he was exposed as a defector to the 'Tides' organization, Lieutenant General Renodin had also made indelible contributions to Char."

"I understand," Xiao Yan said, swallowing hard.

"Don't be nervous, Lieutenant. The reason I didn't schedule this neural interrogation in a standard interrogation room was precisely because I didn't want you to feel anxious. I will conduct the neural *inquiry* personally, taking every precaution to avoid disrupting your train of thought and ensuring that your conscious structure remains entirely intact. The human brain is an incredibly delicate instrument—especially for a researcher like yourself; the greater the complexity of one's mind, the more fragile it tends to be."

"Thank you, Excellency."

Hiti had chosen to use the word "inquiry" rather than "interrogation." Although the actual procedure he was about to perform was essentially the same, for Xiao Yan, the distinction carried a world of difference in meaning.

"I have asked my adjutant to serve as the monitor for this inquiry. Should your vital signs indicate any distress whatsoever, I will withdraw immediately."

"Understood, Excellency."

Ten minutes later, with all preparations complete, Xiao Yan was administered a neural stabilizer—a measure intended to keep him calm and minimize any subconscious resistance toward the interrogator.

Xiao Yan and Hiti established a neural link, and Hiti successfully entered the outermost periphery of Xiao Yan's consciousness.

Meanwhile, Hein stepped into a stately, solemn office. Seated on a sofa with his head bowed, a man with greying temples was engrossed in a game of chess. He possessed elegant features; though the traces of time and hardship had begun to etch themselves into the corners of the man’s eyes and brows, one could still sense his extraordinary presence and bearing.

“Sir.” Hein stiffened his spine and snapped a crisp military salute to the man before him; he then clasped his hands behind his back, his gaze fixed straight ahead with an air of detached indifference.

“There is no one else here; you may call me Father.”

Admiral Sharif lifted his head, and the steely, unyielding gaze typical of a military man softened perceptibly.

Hein remained silent.

“It has been a long time since we last played a game of chess together. The last time, I believe, was when you were ten years old.”

Hein still offered no reply.

“When I first heard that something had befallen you, I implored Averil to do whatever it took to save you. I deeply regret not doing everything in my power to prevent you from joining the Special Operations Unit.”

“I have never regretted it, Sir.”

Hein’s gaze was deep and steady, betraying not the slightest ripple of emotion. His features bore a striking resemblance to Admiral Sharif’s—though in Hein, they were imbued with an added touch of refined, elegant beauty.

“I am grateful to that young researcher, but we are soldiers; logic must always take precedence over emotion.”

“You lured me here on purpose. You handed him over to the Interrogation Unit.”

“I am sorry, my son. I had no choice. The military cannot afford to have a second Renodin.”

“You hypocritical liar. You claim to be grateful to him for saving my life, yet you cannot even recall his name. Furthermore, he will never become a second Renodin—for he holds nothing but disdain for your so-called ‘immortality.’”

Having spoken, Hein turned and strode swiftly out of Admiral Sharif’s office.

Sharif closed his eyes and pressed his hand against his forehead. “That boy…”

A liaison officer entered the room. “Sir, shall we seal the corridors to intercept the Colonel?”

“No, let him go. I must verify, beyond any shadow of a doubt, that the young man has absolutely no ties to the ‘Tides’ Organization. Otherwise, Hein—who has placed his complete trust in him—will suffer a wound far too deep for any virus to ever heal.”

Meanwhile, Major General Hiti had already successfully entered the “troposphere” of Xiao Yan’s mind.

It was a space of immense vastness, where streams of data converged and intertwined like ocean currents. This phenomenon demonstrated that Xiao Yan’s mind was not only highly logical but also possessed a remarkable sense of holistic integrity; indeed, fragments of nearly all his memories were manifested and visible within this mental landscape. “I have now entered your mind, Lieutenant Xiao Yan. Please remain relaxed. We shall begin the interrogation now. The first question is a test query: your impressions of your father.”

At that moment, the memory fragment Hiti perceived depicted a child lying in bed while his father sat beside him, explaining various marine creatures. He was a refined, gentle middle-aged man with a voice that was truly captivating.

“Excellent; the memory projection is normal. The second test query: your ideal romantic partner.”

The image of the middle-aged man before Hiti gradually shifted, transforming into a beautiful, seductive blonde woman. She was clad in the uniform of the Central Research Institute; a slit in her skirt revealed a pair of alluring legs that swayed gracefully as she walked, and her smile was dazzlingly bright.

“I must say, Lieutenant, you have excellent taste. The final test query: the circumstances of your very first encounter with Colonel Burton.”

Hiti suddenly felt as though he were confined within a sealed space. Through the windows of a cabin, he witnessed special forces operatives slashing down zombies with their blades. Hein Burton’s figure flashed past—a mere instant, yet her movements were fluid, swift, and rendered with absolute clarity. Even her eyes—calm yet brimming with lethal intent—felt so vivid that Hiti, a Major General, experienced the chilling illusion that he himself was about to be decapitated.

“It appears your memories regarding Colonel Burton are deeply ingrained, Lieutenant. All three test queries yielded normal responses. We shall now proceed with the formal interrogation. Lieutenant Xiao Yan, regardless of how personal my questions may be, I ask that you remain as open and honest as an open book. Anything I witness here—provided it bears no relevance to the ‘Tide Surge’ organization—will never be divulged to a third party. Please tell me, in full detail, everything that transpired when you were abducted by the Tide Surge organization and found yourself at a complete dead end.”

Hiti suddenly felt a sensation of icy coldness against his chin, accompanied by the sound of a heartbeat—desperate yet resolute—pounding in his ears; the sound of a mind that had reached a final, unshakeable decision.

*No matter what happens, I cannot let these bastards extract my brain! I will think only the thoughts I choose to think! If my brain is destined to become a weapon used to harm Hein, then I choose to end it here!*

The instant the trigger was pulled, Major General Hiti’s heart leaped into his throat—but Jane Wallis intervened, stopping the action just in time. It was the first time Major General Hiti had ever felt the urge to thank his lucky stars during an interrogation; otherwise, that foolish researcher really would have blown his own brains out.

"Tell me, Second Lieutenant Xiao Yan: what happened after you were taken away by the Surge Organization?"

Every conversation he had while in the clutches of the Surge Organization played out before them, exactly as it had occurred—including Jane Wallis’s attempts to seduce him, and even some rather risqué scenes. Were it not for Xiao Yan, Major General Hiti was certain he would never, in his entire lifetime, have had the opportunity to experience a kiss from Jane Wallis.

Although they served in different units, Hiti was certainly no stranger to the rumors of Jane’s notoriously libertine lifestyle.

She knew exactly how to make a person’s mind wander, how to stir up a tempest within even the calmest of hearts. From the initial pressing of lips to the teasing flick of a tongue, every detail was rendered with exquisite precision. For the first time, Hiti inwardly applauded his own mental fortitude; he breezed through it all without so much as a blush or a racing heart.

But the true highlight—the main event—was the appearance of Valentine. For the first time in over two centuries, the nation of Char was granted a direct, unvarnished glimpse into the true nature of the mastermind pulling the strings behind the Surge Organization. Every word Valentine had spoken to Xiao Yan was recorded in its entirety. For Char, this constituted intelligence of the utmost importance.

"Second Lieutenant Xiao Yan, answer me honestly: when Valentine told you that the Comet Virus would grant eternal life, did you ever—even for a moment—consider joining his research?"

This was the pivotal question. In this world, under these conditions, it was utterly impossible for anyone to lie.

What Major General Hiti witnessed was the image of a young man—desperate, yet utterly resolute—leaping headlong from a speeding aircraft.

His spirit soared, exulting amidst the howling wind.

*Ha! I’m out! I’m free! You people are nothing but a pile of dog shit!*

—even as his body plummeted inexorably toward the ground below. Immediately following that came the scene of Jane Wallis leaping out after him. Yet, the very opportunity that allowed Xiao Yan to shake off Jane turned out to be a horde of zombies—a horde that, inexplicably, made no move whatsoever to attack him. “Second Lieutenant, you must tell me why the zombies turn a blind eye to you.”

It was because, back when he was training at the Special Task Force Headquarters, Xiao Yan—with an attitude bordering on playful—had synthesized a “Marker Virus.” This virus stripped the zombies of their ability to identify him. Furthermore, following Sharon’s death in the line of duty, Xiao Yan had completed his research on the pathogen; the virus—dubbed “Sharon”—had since reached a state of complete stability. In that moment, Major General Hiti managed to effectively suppress his astonishment. Any significant emotional fluctuation on his part could potentially disrupt Xiao Yan’s train of thought.

At this very moment, he understood perfectly why Major General Gordon and Lieutenant General Averil held this young Second Lieutenant in such high regard.

“Second Lieutenant, I am about to enter your subconscious. Please do not offer any aggressive resistance; I give you my word that this interrogation will be over very quickly.”

Major General Hiti was astonished by the young man’s absolute trust and utter lack of resistance toward him—a posture of acceptance that was, in fact, the only way to ensure his brain remained unharmed. Major General Hiti traversed the “troposphere” of consciousness and entered Xiao Yan’s subconscious realm.

He had to admit: Xiao Yan had once again defied his expectations. He was struck by the sheer softness and tranquility residing within this young man’s subconscious.

Unlike anyone else he had ever interrogated, Xiao Yan’s subconscious was vast and luminous—filled with soft, fine sand that felt utterly comforting beneath one’s feet. However, as a seasoned interrogation specialist, Hiti knew that he absolutely must not allow his own thoughts to take concrete form within another person’s subconscious; doing so would leave him vulnerable to immediate—and potentially fatal—counter-attacks. Instead, he slowly allowed his presence to dissipate, dissolving into the soft grains of sand to merge seamlessly with this unique inner world.

This place held Xiao Yan’s most cherished memories; Major General Hiti found himself momentarily entranced. For through Xiao Yan’s eyes, he could sense the intensity—the sheer madness and unwavering obsession—of Hein; he even experienced the fleeting illusion that he, too, was being consumed by the memory itself.

In that very instant, everything suddenly collapsed. The “ocean” overhead vanished as if evaporated by the sun, and the soft grains of sand gradually lost their luster. Just as Major General Hiti braced himself for a defensive counter-strike from Xiao Yan’s subconscious, he realized—with a start—that he had already been expelled from it.

“What happened?”

Major General Hiti glared at his adjutant. This did not feel like a rejection or expulsion initiated by Xiao Yan; rather, it felt as though Xiao Yan’s consciousness had simply—and abruptly—vanished into thin air. Major General Hiti’s first reaction was a system interruption.

“Lieutenant Xiao Yan’s neurons have stopped responding!”

“What?” Major General Hiti removed his neural connector and rushed to his adjutant’s side.

On the holographic screen, all monitoring data regarding brain activity had plummeted to zero.

“Has the system lost its connection to Xiao Yan’s brain?”

“No... it’s his brain... it has stopped thinking...” The adjutant stared blankly at Hiti.

“Move aside!” Major General Hiti shoved the adjutant out of the way. He frantically ran system diagnostics, repeatedly attempting to re-establish a neural link with Xiao Yan, but received absolutely no response. “Was there a problem with the dosage of the neural stabilizer you administered to him? Answer me!”

“Sir, you gave us strict orders to exercise extreme caution during this interrogation! We checked the stabilizer—and everything else—three times over!”

“Then what on earth is happening right now?” Major General Hiti pondered for a moment. “Prepare for a neural wake-up procedure!”

The adjutant adjusted the neural intervention mode to deliver micro-stimuli to Xiao Yan’s brain. A current so faint it was barely perceptible—when directed through specific, delicate neural pathways—could typically rouse a brain that had gone dormant, such as in a patient in a vegetative state.

Yet, Xiao Yan remained completely unresponsive.

“What is going on?” A chill ran down the adjutant’s spine.

They had exhausted every known method for neural resuscitation, yet Xiao Yan’s brain activity readings remained hovering near zero.

“Aside from maintaining the most basic autonomic functions—breathing and circulation—there is absolutely no sign of cognitive activity in his brain!” It was the first time the adjutant had ever encountered such a phenomenon. Under normal circumstances, even a human brain under deep anesthesia would still register some level of activity; the current situation made it seem as though Xiao Yan’s brain had simply vanished into thin air. Yet, the cranial scans clearly displayed his brain structure, vivid and intact, on the screen.

“What on earth is happening...” Major General Hiti pressed his hand against his temple. “I was meticulous in avoiding any potentially sensitive information to minimize his subconscious resistance... There was absolutely no possibility of causing him physical or neurological harm. Even the neural stabilizer was verified to be safe...”

The adjutant swallowed hard. “Sir... we...”

“Notify the Medical Corps! Tell them to get here immediately! If this drags on any longer, he could go into respiratory failure—and that is a situation entirely beyond our control!”

When Hein finally arrived at the interrogation facility, the scene that greeted him was that of the Medical Corps personnel rushing a containment unit onto a transport craft. Hein’s body swayed almost imperceptibly; then, the instant the hatch sealed shut, he surged forward.

“Burton… Colonel Burton…” The medical captain in charge of the rescue operation wore a look of astonishment.

“What is Lieutenant Xiao Yan’s condition?”

Upon learning that Xiao Yan’s brain had completely ceased emitting any cognitive signals, Hein fell silent. The atmosphere in the room became stiflingly oppressive; several medics even felt as though they were suffering from oxygen deprivation.

News of this development quickly reached Major General Gordon and Lieutenant General Averell; half an hour later, they arrived at Admiral Sheriff’s office.

Major General Hitti was standing before Sheriff’s desk, briefing him on the full situation.

“Major General Hitti, are you certain that you detected absolutely no signs of treason or wavering loyalty within Lieutenant Xiao Yan’s mind?”

“Sir, I am certain.”

Major General Hitti made no mention of Jane Wallis’s undisguised attempts to ingratiate herself with Xiao Yan, for Sheriff had inquired about Xiao Yan’s allegiance—not about Jane Wallis’s actions.

“In that case, you must provide us with a plausible explanation.” Sheriff’s gaze drifted over Hitti’s shoulder; standing behind him were the sneering Major General Gordon and the stern…

The cold, impassive Lieutenant General Aivell.

Major General Hiti’s expression remained utterly unchanged as he delivered his report in a calm, measured tone: "Sir, I am certain that my interrogation procedures inflicted no damage whatsoever upon Second Lieutenant Xiao Yan’s brain."

"But he won't wake up, Hiti! If a single step in the process went awry, it could have caused him irreparable harm—which is precisely why I have always opposed handing him over to the Interrogation Unit! And on top of that, I even helped you by having Hein Burton transferred away! Now, I find myself at a loss as to how to face not only the Central Academy of Sciences but also the Special Operations Force! Xiao Yan is no mere researcher! He not only saved Colonel Burton but also instilled hope in the entire Special Operations Force! Just today, he was discussing with me how to formulate a predictive model for the X-2 compound ratios; once that model is successfully established... it won't just benefit our current roster of special forces operatives—it will inspire even more young people to volunteer for this elite branch!"

Major General Gordon remained silent, for Aivell had already articulated every thought he himself wished to express.

Sheriff lowered his gaze; after a long moment of silence, he finally spoke: "I remain confident that Major General Hiti conducted the interrogation of Second Lieutenant Xiao Yan without any procedural irregularities."

"What—" Major General Gordon lunged forward, only to be yanked back by Aivell. "He may be just a Second Lieutenant, but he developed the antidote to the biochemical weapon 'Surge'—the very weapon designed to target our special forces! Think of how many operatives he has saved! He even saved Colonel Burton! Hein Burton is practically a living symbol of faith within the Special Operations Force; imagine the repercussions if he were to die! As for this young man—though I didn't train him personally, the entire Special Operations Force has watched him grow and mature! You people seem to think his escape from the clutches of the 'Surge' organization was nothing short of a miracle—so miraculous, in fact, that you grew suspicious of him, convinced that the *only* 'normal' outcome would have been for him to perish at their hands!"

"Major General!" Admiral Sheriff’s voice dropped to a low, stern register. Avril grasped Major General Gordon by the waist and guided him out of the office. "You need some fresh air to cool down."

Sheriff let out a heavy sigh. "Just a mere Second Lieutenant... yet he’s stirred up such a massive commotion. But now, we need him to wake up—whole and intact. We need him—and not just the Special Operations Forces or the Central Academy of Sciences."

"I apologize, Sir."

"You have nothing to apologize for; you were merely performing your duty."

"No... Major General Gordon was right. Second Lieutenant Xiao Yan possesses an incredibly agile mind... There may be certain things that only he is capable of accomplishing."

"Now, all we can do is pray silently and hope that the medical team can bring him back to consciousness."

Meanwhile, the medical team was conducting a comprehensive examination of Xiao Yan. None of his internal organs showed any signs of damage, and absolutely no abnormalities were detected within his brain.

Hein stood before the isolation chamber, gazing silently at Xiao Yan.

He looked as if he were merely asleep—dreaming sweet dreams in another, unreachable world.

Hein pressed his palm against the glass, then slowly clenched his hand into a fist.

"I require a blood sample from Second Lieutenant Xiao Yan."

"What?"

The medical staff were bustling about in a frantic flurry of activity, yet in reality, they were making absolutely no headway.

Hein reached out and tapped a specific button on the holographic display; a blood sample was drawn from Xiao Yan, and Hein swiftly departed, carrying the small vial of blood with him.

He made his way to the Central Academy of Sciences, passing row after row of research laboratories. Along the corridors, the researchers—sensing the oppressive, heavy atmosphere radiating from him—instinctively pressed themselves against the walls to give wide berth to this man who seemed on the verge of losing control and erupting at any moment.

The door to Lieutenant General Avril’s office was practically kicked open, startling the liaison officer so badly that he nearly triggered the alarm.

"Colonel Burton... I apologize..."

"You certainly *should* apologize—though I won't be twisting your head off just yet."

Hearing such a menacing threat, the liaison officer grew even more tense; Lieutenant General Avril then gestured for the officer to excuse himself for the time being. “Then what is the reason my head is still attached to my shoulders?”

“I wanted to verify whether what Jane Wallis gave Xiao Yan was, in fact, the X-virus.”

Hein presented Xiao Yan’s blood sample to Lieutenant General Averell.

The General’s eyes narrowed, and he immediately rose from his seat.

He personally undertook the analysis.

“This is indeed the X-virus—yet, it is not *entirely* the X-virus. A viral suffix has been appended to the X-virus’s base structure. Such suffixes serve as the primary mechanism for endowing a virus with additional functions. If the computation of the viral DNA is executed with flawless precision, it can enable the X-virus to target specific physiological functions within the human body—for instance, cellular hematopoiesis, cardiac valves, the skeletal system, or even...”