TIC Chapter 25

 Chapter 25

As Xiao Yan lay in a deep slumber, his thoughts drifted aimlessly, carried along like ripples on water. Everything seemed to rewind to a few days prior—back to a time when he was still within the city of Char, living a carefree existence.

The lush green grass exuded a faint, intoxicating fragrance; as a gentle breeze swept through, the blades of grass swayed and danced.

Xiao Yan lay curled up, his dark hair falling across his forehead and swaying in rhythm with the grass. He was clad in a military uniform; the atomic-ring emblem on his shoulder insignia marked him as a member of the Central Academy of Sciences.

This was Central Plaza. Towering high into the heavens stood a monument, its surface densely inscribed with countless names.

Surrounding the plaza was a ceaseless stream of mag-lev vehicles, while the LED screens on the shopping centers flashed a constant succession of advertisements—fleeting images that vanished as quickly as they appeared.

Someone was quietly approaching him—a boy of perhaps fifteen or sixteen years old. With his slightly curling golden hair and emerald-green eyes that sparkled like gemstones, he wore a look of playful mischief on his pursed lips. He was like a porcelain doll in a shop window—so captivating that one simply could not look away.

Xiao Yan remained lying on his side, a slow smile curving at the corners of his mouth. He had sensed the other boy’s stealthy approach long ago, yet he showed no intention whatsoever of opening his eyes.

Suddenly, the boy threw himself down upon him. Feigning surprise, Xiao Yan finally opened his eyes. "You scared me to death, Casey—you little rascal!"

"The 'little rascal' came to find you—aren't you happy?"

For such a small-framed boy, Casey possessed an astonishing amount of strength. He pinned Xiao Yan’s wrists above his head, rendering him unable to move; then, straddling Xiao Yan’s waist, he leaned forward, revealing the elegant curve of his neck.

To be honest, if any other man were pinning Xiao Yan down in such a position, he would have been thoroughly creeped out. But Casey was the exception; Xiao Yan cherished every aspect of his boyish nature—except, of course, when he threw a tantrum.

"You’ve gotten heavier again. Have you grown taller?" Xiao Yan teased, deliberately blowing a puff of air against the tip of the boy’s nose. “Are you just trying to comfort me? I didn't grow a single centimeter the entire last year! Xiao Yan, you’re slacking off again! I heard the news—you got another B-minus on this month’s final assessment! If you keep this up, you’ll never make it into the Central Academy’s inner core! You’ll never get to lay eyes on the highest-level terminals! You’ll be stuck as a mere Second Lieutenant for the rest of your life!”

With a smug look, Casey tightened his grip on Xiao Yan’s wrist, watching as the younger boy’s face twisted in pain.

The Central Academy’s Main Control System—a high-end network responsible for the operation of the entire *Char* and all classified research—was the ultimate prize. Its operators, known as “Connectors,” held a position of immense prestige within *Char*. It was the coveted goal for which every single cadet at the Central Academy fought tooth and nail.

“I’ve never had any intention of joining the Central Academy’s inner core. I want to get out.”

Casey’s shoulders went rigid. His eyes—usually curved like crescent moons—instantly turned stern; even his voice dropped to a sudden, chilling low. He squeezed Xiao Yan’s wrist so hard that the bones audibly creaked.

“What kind of nonsense are you spouting? Leave *Char*? Do you have any idea what kind of world lies outside these walls? Those zombies out there could tear you limb from limb and stuff you into their bellies without breaking a sweat!”

Xiao Yan sighed, tilting his head back to gaze up at the vast, azure sky, his eyes holding a distant, wistful look. “Casey, do you know what’s right above our heads?”

“The sky,” Casey retorted with a dismissive curl of his lip.

“I just want to see the *real* sky. Casey, aren’t you curious? What does the air smell like out there? What does the wind feel like against our faces? And...”

“There is no ‘and.’ Why do you think we technical cadets at the Academy strive so desperately to become Class A students? Precisely because we *don’t* want to leave *Char*! We don’t want to go out there! Do you have any idea what happened last month? A research team left *Char* to head to a research outpost, but their main system was hacked by the ‘Surge’ organization, causing their aircraft to crash. The Special Task Force sent to conduct the post-incident investigation returned carrying nothing but their bloody bones—they could only identify the bodies through DNA analysis! Is that how you want to end up? Do you want to become nothing more than fodder for the zombies? Do you really think that just because your name gets carved into a memorial plaque, anyone will actually remember who you were?”

Casey’s agitation mounted with every word, until his eyes were visibly bloodshot.

*You’ll remember who I was.* Of course, he wouldn't dare say such things to Casey.

"Alright, alright! I promise I’ll get a 'B' on the end-of-month exam next month—how’s that?" Xiao Yan hurriedly tried to placate Casey. Narrowing his eyes, he suddenly tilted his chin upward and planted a loud, smacking kiss right on Casey’s cheek.

Just as Xiao Yan had predicted, Casey completely bristled.

"Xiao Yan! You’re doing it again! Do you think I don't realize you're just trying to change the subject? You’re not taking this exam seriously at all! If you just applied yourself, getting an 'A' would be absolutely no problem! You simply don't *want* to get into the Academy of Sciences; you just want to get out! Xiao Yan, I swear—if you don't shape up, I’ll lock you inside the research lab and personally supervise you every single day!" Casey’s soft, short hair fell across his face; yet, even with such an angry expression, in Xiao Yan’s eyes, it was nothing but pure, unadulterated charm—utterly adorable. Not to mention that telltale blush spreading across his cheeks—every time Xiao Yan playfully stole a kiss, the guy reacted the exact same way, yet Xiao Yan never tired of it.

"Fine, fine. I’ll go to the library to study right now. You come along and act as my supervisor—no objections there, right?" Xiao Yan hooked a finger under Casey’s chin with a feigned air of flirtatiousness.

Casey turned his head away in annoyance. He was a youth of rare beauty—countless female officers and researchers within the military command had fallen for him—yet Xiao Yan was the only one who dared to treat him with such casual familiarity, slinging an arm around his shoulders and teasing him every now and then, thoroughly enjoying the sight of Casey blushing furiously with his eyes wide in indignation. Of course, as time went on, Casey had grown largely indifferent to Xiao Yan’s constant physical antics—though he remained blissfully unaware that every time he pressured Xiao Yan to pass the Class A Cadet exam, Xiao Yan was secretly fantasizing about turning Casey into a Barbie doll, dressing him up in all sorts of cute outfits and wigs, and posing him in various adorable... and seductive... positions.

"Hmph! You’re the only one who’d dare treat me like this!"

Casey grabbed Xiao Yan by the wrist and forcefully dragged him out of the central plaza. Stumbling along behind him, Xiao Yan thought to himself that Casey truly lived up to his nickname: the "King Kong Barbie." Stepping away from the "Silent Zone," the roar of a passing maglev transport vehicle overhead made Xiao Yan frown. The ceaseless repetition of commercial jingles, the 360-degree displays of high fashion in shop windows, and the exquisitely crafted pastries—everything exuded an air of ease and opulence, as if the cruel world lying beyond the borders of Char simply did not exist.

The year was 224 of the New Calendar in Char. Humanity had long since left the age of paper behind, stepping instead into the Bio-Information Era. By simply linking one's brain to the library's central mainframe, all data and information would flow directly into one's mind; however, exactly how much of that information one could truly comprehend or retain remained a matter beyond the computer's control. Xiao Yan and Casey had entered the library of the Academy of Sciences—a place where the only students studying and reading were cadets from the Military Department's own scientific academy.

Out of tens of thousands of elite talents drawn from every conceivable field, fewer than a hundred were ultimately privileged enough to become "Connectors"—and Casey, sitting beside Xiao Yan with a furrowed brow, was one of them.

The moment Casey stepped into the library, he became the immediate recipient of everyone's undivided attention. He was a genius the likes of whom Char had not seen in decades; by the age of sixteen, he had already earned doctoral degrees in bio-genetics, mathematics, and virology, and was actively conducting viral research on behalf of the military.

"Look! That’s Major Casey! He really is so young!"

"No kidding—he’s only sixteen! I heard he’s proposed another groundbreaking theory regarding the X-Virus; the Military Department is already planning to promote him to Lieutenant Colonel and put him in sole charge of his own research project!"

Casey’s expression remained impassive; he had long since become completely immune to such envy and praise. To him, the true challenge—far more stimulating than any viral research—was figuring out how to rapidly elevate Xiao Yan from a B-rated cadet to an A-rated one.

Unfortunately, before Xiao Yan could even access the information database, a voice rang out over the public address system.

"Attention, all cadets! Attention, all cadets! The following cadets are requested to report immediately to Conference Room 145 at Military Headquarters!"

Everyone listened intently; when Xiao Yan’s name was announced among the list, the look on Casey’s face changed completely. “I’m sorry, Casey. It looks like I won’t be able to get any proper studying done today... I’m heading to Conference Room 145.”

Casey seized Xiao Yan’s wrist, lowering his voice to a whisper. “Haven’t you noticed? Not a single one of the names called out belongs to a Class A cadet!”

“Which means, I’m afraid I won’t have time to wait for next month’s assessment; I’m being deployed immediately.”

Xiao Yan smiled; he knew that the path stretching out before him was as vast as it was perilous.

“Do they really think I don’t know what they’re up to? They’re treating the Class B cadets as cannon fodder! I’m going straight to Lieutenant General Aivell right now...” Casey’s voice trembled, but before he could storm off, Xiao Yan grabbed hold of him.

“Don’t go, Casey. I promise you—once this mission is over, I *will* pass the assessment and be right there in the lab, ready to do your bidding... But just let me go out there once. Just this one time.” Xiao Yan was resolute. He knew that the world outside was just as cruel as it was free; yet, if he never saw it for himself, he would never be able to let go of his longing for it. If he were truly to spend his entire life confined within a closed space, his yearning for the outside world would only grow with each passing day. He needed reality to shatter all his illusions, so that he could finally settle down and become a dutiful, law-abiding researcher.

“...You’d better come back safe.” Casey knew Xiao Yan all too well; he might be able to stop him once, but he wouldn’t be able to stop him a second or third time.

“I will.”

“And if you don’t—no matter where you are, no matter what you’ve become—I will stop at nothing to go out there and find you.”

That was Casey for you: the face of an angel, but with the stubbornness of a devil.

Shen Bing stood beside the bed, frowning as he gazed down at the sleeping figure of Xiao Yan.

His brow was smooth and unfurrowed, and a faint, almost imperceptible smile played upon the corners of his lips—as if his mind were not trapped in unconsciousness, but rather immersed in some irresistible, beautiful dream.

The secretary approached Shen Bing’s side and cleared his throat softly. “Colonel, all data has been transmitted to Char. Thanks to Xiao Yan’s success in fully preserving the information regarding the ‘Blocker,’ we have finally learned the reason behind the Surge Organization’s repeated attacks on our research vessels.”

“Are you implying that this rookie played a pivotal role—and that I refused to save him?”

Shen Bing cast a cold, sneering glance at his adjutant. Sensing the pressure in his superior’s gaze, the adjutant swallowed hard and took a small step back.

“...Colonel, I merely wish to remind you that Char will soon receive the operational report regarding this mission. The recent spate of crashes has already cost Char many of its top research elites; Xiao Yan is bound to attract their attention very soon.”

Shen Bing lowered his eyes slightly and let out a sigh.

“If I were to dive into anyone’s mind again, I fear I might not make it out in one piece.”

Just then, his communicator buzzed to life.

“Report, Colonel! Colonel Hein Burton and his squad have arrived at our base!”

Shen Bing’s shoulders gave a slight start, as if a sudden realization had struck him. “I’m on my way to meet him now!”

Inside a simple yet brightly lit lounge, a stern-faced man sat on a sofa with his legs crossed. He was polishing a sharp blade; the polished steel reflected his eyes—two pools of darkness resembling bottomless abysses. The tips of his silky hair swayed gently with his movements, stirring subtle, indefinable ripples in the air. His fingers were long and slender, with elegantly defined knuckles; the space between his half-lowered eyelids and the bridge of his nose seemed to capture and hold every shifting play of light and shadow.

Despite his utter stillness, his presence exuded a palpable tension—the coiled energy of a predator poised to strike.

The door slid open to the side, and Shen Bing stepped inside with a smile.

“Long time no see, Hein.”

“Mm.” Hein did not look up, though his subordinates cast surprised glances at the Colonel who had just entered.

They knew that their commander maintained a detached, aloof demeanor toward everyone; yet, the mere utterance of that single, noncommittal “Mm” was enough to signify that this particular individual held a place of some significance in Hein’s regard. Shen Bing sprawled casually against the armrest of Hein’s sofa, nudging his shoulder with an elbow. “I know you’re a bit tired from the long flight, but… I have something very important I need your help with.”