TIC 81

 Chapter 81

“Yes. I’m glad that this time, my role is to help you sort out the sequence of your memories, rather than to conduct an interrogation. Your cognitive processes had completely ceased—it was just like a terminal unit suddenly shutting down. When that terminal reboots, the files that had already been saved and categorized remain exactly where they were; this corresponds to your long-term memory—the more distant the past, the clearer your recollection. However, the research projects that were still in progress within the terminal might not have been saved in time; upon rebooting, the system prompts you to ask if you wish to restore them. This corresponds to your short-term memory, as well as those memories currently in the process of transitioning into long-term storage. They have been shattered into fragmented shards, all interwoven together; you must trace countless threads of clues to piece them back together. To achieve a complete restoration would be a monumental undertaking.”

Xiao Yan nodded. He remembered the events of his childhood—and even his time at the Central Academy of Sciences—with perfect clarity. The point where things truly began to become disjointed was the moment he first left Shire. Everything felt like a scattered jigsaw puzzle; he could see the individual details, but he had no grasp of the overall picture.

“Not to mention your extraordinary cognitive processing speed—far surpassing that of an ordinary person—which allows your brain to accommodate several times the volume of information a normal person could hold. Consequently, once the continuity of your memory is disrupted, the difficulty involved in restoring its overall coherence becomes significantly greater. Lieutenant General Aiviel expects you to be fully capable of resuming your research duties as soon as possible, so I don’t have much time to waste on pleasantries.” Major General Ceti rose from his seat, adjusted his cuffs, and turned toward Hein with a smile. “Colonel Burton, I must apologize, but I need to ask you and Captain Liv to step out for a while. I give you my word: within three hours, Xiao Yan will walk out of this room with his thoughts perfectly clear.”

“Let’s hope your promise doesn’t turn out like the last one.”

Hein cast a glance at Xiao Yan, but the young man turned his face away, avoiding his gaze.

Major General Ceti’s smile remained unwavering as he gestured politely. “The black tea served by our Interrogation Corps is truly first-rate. Please, enjoy yourselves.”

Finally, only the two of them remained in the room, and Xiao Yan let out a soft, audible breath of relief.

Major General Ceti leaned back against his desk in a relaxed manner, resting one hand on the surface. He possessed a natural talent for putting people at ease—a talent further amplified by the uniquely soothing quality of his voice.

“It seems Colonel Burton makes you quite nervous.”

Xiao Yan gave a dry, awkward chuckle.

Had his nervousness really been that obvious? Hiti set down his teacup and took a seat opposite Xiao Yan. Although Hiti’s features lacked the delicate depth of Hein’s, they were undeniably handsome; he exuded the aura of an elite, yet possessed the skill to effectively rein in his naturally imposing presence.

“Actually, it isn’t *all* your memories that are in disarray, but rather the events that have occurred within the last year or two. The more recent the memory, the more fragmented it is—for human memory is much like a building: the deeper the foundation, the more stable it stands.”

Xiao Yan nodded.

“I cannot untangle every single fragment for you, as they are simply too disjointed; furthermore, I am unfamiliar with your personal life, so I cannot help you piece together all the contextual details. I am merely acting under orders—specifically, to ensure that you accurately and completely recall every single one of your research projects.”

Hiti was a man of immense patience and rigorous logic. Under his guidance, Xiao Yan gradually managed to reconstruct the details of his very first research project—a project currently being widely deployed by the military: a degradation agent designed to neutralize the ‘Tide Surge’ bioweapon. Mindful of the need to avoid overburdening Xiao Yan’s brain, Hiti did not rush to force a complete recovery of every memory; instead, he stopped once the immediate objective had been achieved.

With only half an hour remaining until the scheduled end of the therapy session, Hiti poured Xiao Yan another cup of tea. “I’m quite certain you have no desire to rush out there and face Colonel Burton just yet.”

“...Because Colonel Burton—the man standing out there—differs somewhat from the Colonel Burton in my memories.” Xiao Yan struggled to find the words to articulate this so-called “difference.”

“Haha...” Hiti stroked his chin thoughtfully. “You surely recall that I once conducted an interrogation of you?”

“Yes... though, for the moment, I still can’t quite piece together the *reason* for that interrogation.”

“The reason itself is no longer of any consequence. However—based on my own interpretation of the memories I’ve gleaned regarding Colonel Burton...” Hiti leaned forward slowly, lowering his voice to whisper directly into Xiao Yan’s ear: “...I can only hope he doesn’t end up *breaking* you.”

Xiao Yan’s shoulders gave a start; instinctively, he began to stammer out a response, attempting to clarify what exactly Hiti meant by “breaking.” Major General Hiti, however, simply lowered his gaze to his teacup, taking a slow sip of the black tea as he smiled—but offered no further words.

When the allotted time had elapsed, Hein pushed open the office door. His expression was stern and unyielding as he observed the two men sitting face-to-face, calmly sipping their tea.

“Ah, Colonel Burton. Under my guidance, Xiao Yan has successfully recalled the details of his research projects—a truly monumental breakthrough.”

Hein fixed his gaze upon Hiti’s smiling face, yet offered not the slightest reaction. “But when it comes to everything else in his life—say, meeting someone new, or things like who he kisses or who he sleeps with... well, that’s completely out of my hands. After all, that kind of information lacks logical structure and is intensely ‘emotional’ in nature. I suppose we’ll just have to sort through it gradually as life goes on.”

He couldn't tell if it was just his imagination, but Xiao Yan felt that Cité’s smile... held a hint of schadenfreude.

They left the Interrogation Unit and headed to the Officers' Quarters. To Xiao Yan’s surprise, his living situation had been upgraded from his former cramped cadet dorm to a high-end apartment—one that, while not exactly spacious, came fully equipped with every amenity imaginable. The most exciting part? He actually had his own bathtub! In the past, whenever he wanted to enjoy a proper soak, he’d had to go over to Cacey’s place.

Thinking of Cacey made Xiao Yan feel a bit low. It felt as though he had simply woken up one morning to find his entire life completely transformed. Many things he had assumed were his—friends, for instance, or his easygoing freedom—had vanished without a trace. In their place came news reports—broadcast across the electronic feeds—announcing that Lieutenant Colonel Cacey of the Central Academy had perished during the “Tidal Surge” attack. Of course, Xiao Yan remembered the man’s heinous deeds all too well; such news was merely a formality, designed to provide the public with a sense of “closure.” Then there was... Colonel Burton, who now seemed to be a constant, inescapable presence in his life. The only silver lining Xiao Yan could find was that the Special Forces soldiers—who typically looked down on technical personnel—treated him with an unexpected degree of familiarity and warmth. Furthermore, from this moment on, his apartment door was guarded by Special Forces troops twenty-four hours a day; they would grow tense at the slightest provocation—even if he merely knocked over a teacup by accident. Xiao Yan felt a smug sense of satisfaction realizing that he had officially become a “person of importance”!

He needed to recalibrate... and adapt to it all.

“Hey! What are you thinking about?” Liv asked with an amused smile. “You look like a guy who’s never seen a bathtub in his entire life.”

Xiao Yan flashed a grin at Liv. At this moment, she was the only person who could make him feel completely at ease, so he couldn't resist cracking a joke: “My dear, we could lie here together in the warm water, reveling in the touch of each other’s skin, and then...”

Liv clapped a hand over Xiao Yan’s mouth, forcing a dry laugh as she glanced toward the door. “The Boss!”

Xiao Yan’s shoulders stiffened, and a sudden, inexplicable wave of dread washed over him—even though he had absolutely no idea what he had done wrong. “I’ll notify the Quartermaster’s office to have the bathtub removed,” Hein’s icy voice rang out.

“Huh? Why?”

Without offering an explanation, Hein left Xiao Yan’s apartment.

“Liv! Why are you having my bathtub removed? It’s the only thing in this entire apartment that has any real value!”

“That’s what you get for making jokes you shouldn’t have,” Liv retorted, rolling her eyes at him with exasperation. She gave his head a sharp poke with her finger. “Most importantly—don’t drag *me* down with you!”

“But what am I supposed to do about my bathtub?”

“Fine. All you have to do is repeat exactly what you said to me—word for word—to the Boss. I reckon there’s still a thirty percent chance you’ll get to keep it.”

“What? Say that to Colonel Burton? He’ll crush my bones! He’ll kill me!”

“Oh, I’m sure it won’t be *that* severe. At most, you’ll just have to spend three or four days lying in bed, recuperating.”

Liv walked out of Xiao Yan’s apartment without looking back.

Bored out of his mind, Xiao Yan lay on his bed, staring up at the ceiling. Just what exactly *had* happened between him and Hein Burton?

He closed his eyes, searching for every scattered fragment of memory related to the incident. He felt the sensation of someone looming over him; the moment he opened his eyes again, his gaze locked with Hein’s—eyes that resembled a burning sea of ​​ice. His lips were claimed by the other man; his legs were pulled apart, bent back, and pressed against the sides of his partner’s waist. As the kiss spiraled increasingly out of control, Xiao Yan’s hips were lifted and slammed hard against the other man’s body—that intensely aggressive member pressing scalding hot against his lower abdomen, as if threatening to pierce right through him.

“Gah!” Xiao Yan gasped, nearly tumbling off the bed in shock.

His breathing instantly became ragged. He pounded his head with his fist; he knew this wasn’t a fantasy, but a reality that had actually taken place. Yet... had Hein Burton *really* done those things to him? With that utterly unshakeable expression he always wore, how could he possibly be capable of such wild abandon?

Countless disjointed fragments flashed before his eyes like fleeting shadows. Scenes of his own helpless vulnerability—of being pinned down and utterly dominated by the other man—played out uncontrollably in his mind, leaving Xiao Yan’s breathing in complete disarray. Why was it that acts violating all moral boundaries—even those of outright violence—had been inflicted upon him by Heinga, yet he harbored not a shred of hatred toward the man, offering nothing but struggle in return?

Xiao Yan rose and poured himself a glass of water, then rubbed his temples wearily.

He suddenly felt that suffering from amnesia would have been a far more fortunate fate than his current predicament.

Meanwhile, the Special Operations Force was holding an internal meeting.

All commanders holding the rank of Major or higher were seated in the conference room, while Major General Gordon wore a grave expression.

"As of now, our special forces have suffered twenty-six casualties during engagements with mutated zombies. Since the inception of the Special Operations Force, this marks our highest casualty count to date. We were once the hunters; now, we have become the hunted. What are your thoughts on this matter?"

"In the past, the Special Operations Force prioritized individual combat proficiency. Perhaps now, we need to teach our special forces—who have traditionally operated with complete independence and mobility—to work together as a cohesive unit," Major Ling Xiao offered his opinion. Soon, the other commanders began to murmur amongst themselves. The focal point of their discussion centered on identifying the most effective training methodologies. Previously, during training exercises, it mattered little if a trainee had to face a dozen zombies at once; the instructors could always maintain control over the situation and mitigate the danger. But now—which instructor would dare claim they could guarantee a trainee's safety when pitted against a mutated zombie?

"I’ve got it!" Wen En suddenly exclaimed with excitement. "Xiao Yan’s neural simulation system! If we simply gather data on the mutated zombies, our special forces can simulate combat scenarios directly within their own minds! That system is absolutely incredible! You all remember how... *inept* Xiao Yan was when he first started his training, don't you? Yet, just three months later—without ever receiving the X-Virus enhancement—the guy was able to take down two zombies single-handedly! Our special forces have already reached the absolute peak of individual combat proficiency; we can't realistically improve that aspect any further. What we need to hone now is our reaction speed!"

Wen En’s suggestion sparked a wave of excitement among the other commanders.

"That’s right! Xiao Yan was able to neutralize the 'Surge' Organization’s bioweapons! He could manipulate zombies into acting as if he didn't even exist! He synthesized X-2—a system designed specifically for combat simulation. If anyone can pull this off, it’s him!"

Few people present in the room were aware that Xiao Yan was currently suffering from a state of severe mental confusion—a fact that General Sharif had specifically ordered be kept strictly confidential. The fact that Xiao Yan had fallen into a coma following his interrogation had already stoked resentment between the military’s two core operational units; this discontent could not, under any circumstances, be allowed to spread any further. Major General Gordon called up Major General Hiti’s report; its contents caused his furrowed brow to relax slightly.

“Regarding this proposal, I will recommend it to Lieutenant General Avil with the utmost seriousness.”

When the Special Task Force meeting concluded, Hein headed to the dining hall, where he found Xiao Yan devouring a dish of veal au gratin with potatoes with unbridled gusto.

“Hey, do you intend to finish all of that? Watch out for indigestion!” Liv offered a well-meaning warning.

Hein took a seat directly across from Xiao Yan. Instantly, Xiao Yan choked; his face turned beet-red as he frantically fumbled for water—a display of such awkwardness that Liv could only bury her face in her hands.

“How much has he eaten?”

“He’s already polished off a serving of banana waffles and a rack of black pepper lamb chops; this veal au gratin is already his third...”

Before Liv could finish her sentence, Hein stepped behind Xiao Yan, placed a palm against his chest, and delivered a seemingly effortless pat. With a sudden retch, Xiao Yan vomited everything up.

“You ate too much.”

After coughing for a good while, Xiao Yan couldn't help but worry: vomiting in front of Hein Burton was surely a fatal error—what part of his body would be twisted this time? *Please, don't let it be my shoulder again!*

Miraculously, Hein made no violent moves against him; he simply pushed the tray—now filled with vomit—further away.

“Let’s go back.”

“Yes, sir.” Xiao Yan cast a look of sheer relief—as if he had just survived a brush with death—at Liv across the table; she responded with a helpless sigh.

Upon returning to his room, Xiao Yan tentatively pushed open the bathroom door. Discovering that the bathtub was still there, his spirits instantly soared.

A notification popped up on his communicator, displaying the face of Lily, Lieutenant General Avil’s liaison officer.

“Tomorrow morning at 0800 hours sharp, you are scheduled to attend an internal meeting at the Central Academy of Sciences.” Although her tone was strictly formal, Lily gave a playful wink through the screen, causing Xiao Yan’s tension to dissipate immediately.

“An internal meeting? Isn't that reserved exclusively for personnel holding the rank of Major or higher—specifically those in charge of research projects?”

Lily’s smile held a deeper meaning: “Because starting tomorrow... you *will* be a Major.”

Before Xiao Yan could fully process what he had heard, the communication ended. The sound of running water drifted from the bathroom. Xiao Yan pushed open the door to find Hein sitting sideways on the rim of the bathtub, leaning forward with his fingers skimming lightly across the surface of the water.

When exactly had Hein gotten in here? Why was he always so utterly silent?

“Th—that...”

Could it be that Hein intended to use *his* bathtub? How was that even possible?

“You have a meeting to attend tomorrow; get some rest.”

Having said this, he rose and stepped directly in front of Xiao Yan. He leaned forward, and the sight of his face turning slightly to the side sent Xiao Yan’s heart racing—a sensation that lasted until Hein’s lips brushed softly against his forehead.

“Good night.”

The wisps of steam seemed to hang motionless in the air.

When Xiao Yan finally snapped back to reality, his heart was pounding violently; he nearly went weak in the knees and collapsed onto the floor.

Hein Burton had kissed him?

Even that “Good night”—delivered in such a commanding tone—was enough to make one’s mind... wander into dangerous territory.

It’s over, Xiao Yan! This surely isn’t the same world you knew before!

Sinking into the warm water, Xiao Yan’s thoughts began to drift.

With a soft sigh, Xiao Yan reflected on how, just yesterday, he had been nothing more than a looked-down-upon Class B cadet—yet tomorrow, he was to be promoted to the rank of Major? Was this some kind of time travel?

And then there was Hein. On one hand, Xiao Yan yearned to piece together every memory he had regarding the man; yet, subconsciously, he felt a twinge of apprehension.

Slowly, he recalled the day Major General Gordon had officially announced his promotion to Second Lieutenant. Everyone had saluted him, yet his gaze had remained fixed solely upon Hein Burton.

The man’s eyes were as cold and detached as ever, yet Xiao Yan remembered sensing something else within them—a sense of expectation, a glimpse of a vast, boundless horizon.

He was his objective—the very pinnacle of the cliff toward which he had always looked up.

Early the next morning, the quartermaster delivered a brand-new Major’s uniform to his apartment. Gazing at the shoulder boards, Xiao Yan felt not a sense of vanity, but rather a profound sense of weight.

He stepped out the door, and two Special Forces operatives immediately fell in behind him.

Just before stepping into the military’s mag-lev transport, he paused in slight surprise—for Hein was already seated inside. “Colonel Burton!” Xiao Yan wasn’t sure if he was expected to salute.

“Mm.”

Hein reached out, gripped Xiao Yan’s shoulder, and yanked him inside.

His forehead bumping against the other man’s shoulder, Xiao Yan quickly sat up straight, casting a sidelong glance at him.

Today, Hein was once again clad in his military uniform; with its crisp, high collar, he exuded an imposing aura even while sitting there with a completely expressionless face.

Suddenly, Hein turned his head; flustered, Xiao Yan immediately averted his gaze toward the window.

“If you want to look at me, then look.”

Such directness made Xiao Yan want to die of embarrassment.

Xiao Yan didn’t want to appear too awkward; yet, the very instant he turned his head back, Hein’s kiss descended upon him—crashing down like something falling from a great height. Caught completely off guard, Xiao Yan could only raise his hands to brace himself against the seat in front of him. Unlike that previous kiss—which had carried a distinct undertone of coercion—this one was tentative, exploratory.

|Enticed by that unexpected tenderness, Xiao Yan momentarily forgot to resist; in that instant, the intensity of the kiss deepened, and his entire...

His mouth was filled with the scent of Hein; his heart pounded uncontrollably, his blood surging as if it were about to burst from his veins. He kept backing away, but Hein’s hand reached out, cupped the back of his head, and pulled him close.

Hein slowly shifted their angle, and the intensity of the suction and entanglement varied with every movement—a dance of pure seduction. So captivated was Xiao Yan that he kissed Hein back, eventually shifting his weight to press down upon him. Hein released his hold on the back of Xiao Yan’s head, letting his hand trail slowly down his spine until it came to rest, kneading gently against Xiao Yan’s buttocks.

The mag-lev vehicle came to a sudden halt, and an automated voice announced: "Arrived at the Central Academy of Sciences."

Xiao Yan froze in shock. He propped himself up on his hands, only then realizing that he had actually pinned Hein Burton beneath him. Hein’s hair lay disheveled across the seat cushions; as he slowly opened his eyes, his gaze seemed to pierce straight through Xiao Yan’s chest—it was a look so intensely seductive it was practically lethal!

Xiao Yan swallowed hard. *Good God! What on earth have I done?*

Xiao Yan felt his cheeks burning with heat; this was, without a doubt, the most mortifying moment of his entire life!

The mag-lev’s doors slid open, and the two special forces soldiers who had been escorting Xiao Yan—seated in the front—stepped out.

Flustered and unsure of what to do, Xiao Yan was just about to step out himself when Hein suddenly reached out and grabbed his arm.

Hein slowly rose to his feet, his fingers brushing against Xiao Yan’s collar to smooth out the wrinkles.

Xiao Yan swallowed again. Hein’s face was now mere inches from his own; to see such a sharp, formidable man display such a tender, gentle demeanor right before his eyes... Xiao Yan felt that if he didn't die of sheer ecstasy right then and there, he would be doing a disservice to the heavens!

Another kiss landed softly on his lips—not deep or penetrating, yet brimming with affection and intimacy.

"Go on," Hein said, giving him a gentle push forward.

"Yes... Sir..."

Before he could finish his sentence, the doors slid shut, instantly severing the lingering threads of that intimate, sensual moment.

Xiao Yan turned back, blushing with embarrassment. The two special forces soldiers wore expressions of perfect composure, yet Xiao Yan was absolutely certain they had witnessed *everything*!

As he walked into the Central Academy of Sciences, Xiao Yan noticed that the way the researchers looked at him had changed drastically from his initial memories. Their gazes now held admiration and envy—though, of course, there were still the occasional looks of jealousy and intense scrutiny. He arrived at the door of the conference room, where the liaison officer gave him a nod. This was his first time attending such a high-level meeting, and a thin film of sweat had already broken out on his palms.

*You can do this, Xiao Yan.*

*Even a rookie has his day to soar!*

*Your promotion to Major was by no means a fluke.*

*A far wider world awaits you!*

Xiao Yan stepped inside.

In that instant, every officer seated around the circular table rose in unison and saluted him.

"Welcome to our ranks, Major Xiao Yan." Standing at the center of the group, Aivell spoke these words—a formal declaration of the heavy responsibilities now resting upon Xiao Yan's shoulders.

Xiao Yan took a seat beside a rather disheveled-looking Major—a man whose face was covered in stubble and whose eyes were ringed with dark circles.

"As everyone here is aware, the issue of mutated zombies has now become the top priority for the entire military command. Major General Gordon has presented us with a specific request: he wishes to develop a simulation system designed to replicate combat scenarios against mutated zombies, thereby helping our special forces enhance their reaction capabilities and adapt to these new forms of warfare. He specifically noted that while Major Xiao Yan was under protective custody and training at the Special Task Force Headquarters, he had personally devised a neural-interface combat simulation system for his own use. Major General Gordon now hopes that Major Xiao Yan can refine this system and adapt it for practical application in our ongoing operations against the mutated zombies."

All eyes immediately converged upon Xiao Yan. Although his expression remained outwardly calm, inwardly, he was breaking out in a cold sweat.