TIC Chapter 41

 Chapter 41

He stepped into the elevator and descended into the deepest recesses of the Special Task Force Headquarters.

Seated behind a minimalist desk was a man clad in a military uniform.

"Sir."

"It’s been a long time, Colonel Burton. You’ve just returned from a mission in the Amazon; I really should have let you get some proper rest, but I imagine you’ve already heard the news: an incident occurred this afternoon at the laboratory conducting research on zombies. An incorrect reagent was administered, causing the zombies to break containment." Major General Gordon clasped his hands together, lifting his gaze to look at the subordinate standing before him.

Hein Burton remained silent, his expression betraying absolutely nothing; this prompted Major General Gordon to instinctively rub his forehead.

"There were four researchers present at the time. After being cross-checked by all four of them, the reagent *still* turned out to be flawed. Hein—what do you make of that?"

"Someone infiltrated the system, altered the terminal settings, and bypassed all four researchers."

"This individual is cunning. What do you believe was their objective in releasing a zombie?"

"To sow chaos."

"And the purpose of sowing chaos?"

"To access research data regarding the X-series."

"All research data on the X-series has already been encrypted."

"What about Xiao Yan?"

The man behind the desk paused for a moment, then chuckled. "It’s truly rare for you to actually remember a specific researcher’s name. You’re right; his current research project *is* related to the X-virus, though there has been absolutely no progress on it thus far."

"Nevertheless, you have made his research project public knowledge. You had best check whether his system was compromised during that chaotic incident; someone may well be keeping a close watch on his work. Furthermore, his personal security clearance level should be upgraded."

Hein’s expression remained aloof, yet his icy-blue eyes betrayed a flicker of unusual intensity.

"Don't forget—his direct supervisor is Jane Wallis." Major General Gordon seemed to recall something else and added, "Rest assured, he won't go so far as to cut off Xiao Yan's nose."

Hein turned and headed toward the door. “Hey! I’m not finished talking to you yet—you’re walking way too fast!”

“I need you to apply to the Central Academy of Sciences for authorization to access Xiao Yan’s research system.”

The man wore a playful smile. “How rare—to see you actually show such concern for another person.”

Beneath the soft lighting of the restaurant, the contours of Jian’s face took on an air of elegance quite unlike his usual demeanor; the subtle curve of his wrist was perfectly poised—even Xiao Yan was secretly astonished to discover that this guy actually possessed a refined side.

“Give this a taste. It’s absolutely nothing like the food you get at the Academy cafeteria.”

Jian cut a small piece of steak and placed it onto Xiao Yan’s plate. When he finally looked up, he realized Xiao Yan was watching him.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“I’m just more accustomed to seeing you act indifferent to everything. Being all prim and proper just doesn’t suit you.”

The handle of the steak knife pressed against Jian’s wrist, its tip resting against the plate. He chuckled, his shoulders shaking slightly as he reverted to his usual uninhibited self.

“You really are easily fooled by fleeting illusions. I’m never going to take anyone seriously. I’ve got less than ten years left to live; rather than wasting my energy taking other people seriously, I’d rather focus on taking myself seriously.”

Jian plunged the tip of his knife into the meat and took a bite—savage and crude.

Xiao Yan remained unperturbed, proceeding to finish his dinner in a calm, methodical manner.

Meanwhile, just a dozen meters away from the restaurant, inside a patrolling maglev vehicle, a stern-faced man silently observed everything unfolding on his screen. Beside him, a hulking figure vigorously chewed on a piece of beef jerky, grumbling ferociously: “Damn it—what the hell is he doing eating steak? It’s blatantly obvious he’s trying to pick up the rookie like some chick!”

“You’re spraying food crumbs everywhere.”

“But, Boss! That’s *our* rookie he’s messing with!”

Hein remained silent, his gaze fixed on the screen with a cold intensity that seemed capable of freezing every last byte of electronic data.

At that very moment, Xiao Yan was concentrating intently on cutting his steak.

Jian had made the right choice; the cuisine here was a world apart from the computer-calculated, perfectly balanced flavors served at the Academy—it felt as though his taste buds had been suddenly jolted back to life. “It tastes good, doesn’t it?”

Jan raised an eyebrow. The moment Xiao Yan’s gaze met his, he was seized by a sudden illusion—as if he had become a steak on Jan’s plate, ready to be sliced ​​and devoured at will.

“Ah... yeah.”

“Do you know why I chose to join the Special Missions Unit?” Jan toyed with the dinner knife in his hand, his eyes betraying a faint glint of bloodthirsty arrogance.

“Why?”

“Because I grew tired of the monotony of Shire. Every inch of life there had been mapped out and regimented with clinical precision by the terminal programs. So, I wanted to go out and see the world beyond. But the outside world, while spectacular, is also brutal—which is why I accepted the X-virus.”

Xiao Yan swallowed hard. He had never imagined that someone would become a special forces operative simply out of boredom with an unchanging, static existence.

“The price you paid for that madness seems far too steep. After all, one must be alive to enjoy anything at all.”

“If I can accomplish in ten years what would normally take a hundred, why quibble over the passage of time?”

Jan curled the corners of his lips; the soft lamplight fell upon his face, rendering his pale complexion almost ethereal—unreal.

“I’m curious: aside from going out into the world to kill indiscriminately, is there anything else you wish to accomplish or experience?” Xiao Yan picked up his napkin and dabbed at the corners of his mouth.

“Well... meeting you, for instance...” Jan’s lips curved into a smile—half-earnest, half-jesting. Xiao Yan wasn’t foolish enough to take such a remark at face value.

Had Jan Wallis not become a special forces operative, perhaps they could have lived out their entire lives within the confines of Shire without ever crossing paths.

Jan extended his arm, his long, slender fingers—possessed of surprising strength—slowly reaching out to touch Xiao Yan’s napkin, gently drawing it toward himself.

Just as Xiao Yan instinctively moved to pull the napkin back, Jan pressed his lips against one corner of it, his gaze—fixed upon Xiao Yan’s eyes—taking on a somewhat hazy, beguiling quality.

Xiao Yan’s heart began to pound inexplicably fast; he was seized by the sudden illusion that his very essence had been captured and held captive between Jan’s lips.

Staring intently at the monitor screen, Mark felt as though his liver were about to give out from sheer frustration. “Damn it! I’m going to go kill Jan Wallis! That is blatant seduction! It’s absolutely fucking outrageous!”

Yet, for all of Mark’s ranting and raving, the man seated beside him remained utterly unmoved. Mark instinctively glanced at his boss. There wasn't the slightest ripple of emotion on the profile of Hein’s face, yet the oppressive atmosphere hanging in the air was no illusion; Mark wanted to say something more, but found himself so stifled by the pressure that he could barely breathe.

Hein’s fingers gripped the safety mechanism tightly, his knuckles straining with immense force.

Mark swallowed hard, finally managing to stammer out: "Boss... the safety mechanism... it’s cracked..."

When Hein finally released his grip, Mark saw that the section Hein had been pressing against was now completely deformed. Hein’s gaze never wavered from the holographic screen for even a moment; his eyes were like the razor-sharp blades of a special forces operative, piercing through everything in their path.

"Boss... you think the rookie should come with us, too, don't you?" Mark whispered the words barely audibly, then fell silent.

Xiao Yan looked into Jian’s eyes. He had to admit that Jian’s eyes were beautiful—not with the soft femininity of a woman, but possessing an innate sense of strength, their contours elegant yet unconstrained.

Suddenly, Jian’s expression turned fiercely menacing. Before Xiao Yan could even react, Jian yanked him violently down beneath the dining table.

*Whoosh!* With a sharp whistling sound, something grazed Xiao Yan’s cheek and embedded itself into the floor beside them. Dining plates crashed to the ground, shattering into fragments, as the guests scattered in panic.

"Xiao Yan!" Jian hauled Xiao Yan toward him. "Don't look up! Follow me!"

Xiao Yan lay sprawled awkwardly on the floor. Glancing down, he saw that what had pierced the ground was, shockingly, a nano-needle. These needles were typically housed within specialized rounds; once fired from a weapon, the outer casing would detach during flight, leaving the nano-needle to penetrate the target’s body. Such weapons were used for capturing zombies for research purposes—so why on earth...? But this was no time to dwell on such questions! They had to get out of here—now.

Jian stayed right behind him as they finally reached the back exit. Just as Xiao Yan reached out to disengage the electronic lock, Jian stopped him.

To avoid drawing undue attention, Jian wasn't wearing his combat gear, but rather a standard military uniform. He hiked up his trouser leg and drew a pistol from an ankle holster. Inside the Maglev Vehicle

Jan abruptly yanked Xiao Yan into his arms; Xiao Yan’s head came to rest against his chest, the sound of the other man’s strong, steady heartbeat thrumming in his ears.

He twisted his body and violently threw open the rear door. Sure enough, several more nano-needles came shooting in, but Jan effortlessly maneuvered Xiao Yan out of harm’s way.

Although it was merely a fleeting glimpse, Jan could tell that the gunmen were not firing from close range; there were two of them in total. One was lying in ambush in the building directly facing the restaurant’s glass windows, while the other was concealed within a low-rise building on the street behind the rear exit.

“Xiao Yan, this position really is perfect for a kiss.”

Jan’s palm cupped the back of Xiao Yan’s head, his fingers weaving through his hair; with just a slight tilt of his head, Xiao Yan could meet Jan’s smiling eyes.

It was as if the chaotic scene unfolding before them posed not the slightest threat to him.

“I’ll bite your tongue off.”

Jan, however, gave him a sharp rap on the head. A glint of murderous intent flashed in his eyes, yet his voice remained gentle—as if speaking to a child: “You wouldn’t dare.”

Before Xiao Yan could utter another word, Jan had already turned away. Narrowing his eyes at the low-rise building, he strode boldly toward the exit.

Mark, who had been on surveillance duty, turned to look at Hein. “Boss! The ‘Tide’ operatives have shown themselves! We...”

There wasn’t a single flicker of emotion on Hein’s stern face. “Hold your fire, Mark.”

“Why?!”

“Because we need to root out the Tide operatives completely. Otherwise, if they manage to slip away to a place where we can no longer track them, the dangers surrounding Xiao Yan will become impossible to guard against.”

Mark paused for a moment, then gritted his teeth in frustration. “Those Tide bastards!”

“Liv, dispatch a maglev vehicle to provide cover for Xiao Yan!”

“Boss! There are Tide operatives embedded in the Department of Transportation! They’ll lock down the transit lines—getting onto a maglev vehicle won’t do them any good!”

Hein pressed a finger against his lips, his eyes narrowing slightly as a ruthless, murderous aura began to emanate from him. “There’s a terminal console inside the maglev vehicle. As long as they have access to a terminal, Xiao Yan can go anywhere.”

Only then did Mark truly understand: his boss would not spare anyone who posed a potential threat—or even the slightest risk—to Xiao Yan. This time, he intended to completely eradicate every single danger surrounding him. This was a determination unlike any seen before—yet it had absolutely nothing to do with the mission or their duty!

"Yes! Boss!"

The method for killing a Special Forces soldier is the same as killing a zombie: you must sever their head to put an end to their frenzied regenerative abilities.

Jane’s eyes narrowed, the corners of his lips curling into a cocky smirk as he raised his weapon.

Xiao Yan was on the verge of shouting out in alarm when Jane’s gun barrel gave a slight twitch; the instant a mag-lev vehicle whizzed past, he grabbed Xiao Yan and bolted out through the rear exit.

"Hey—weren't there gunmen over there?"

"They're dead."

Jane extended his arm, just managing to flag down a passing mag-lev, and shoved Xiao Yan inside.

The mag-lev sped off at breakneck speed. Before Xiao Yan could even catch his breath, two other vehicles closed in, pulling up right alongside them.

Jane entered a command to set a route, only to discover that the navigation controls had been locked out.

"They’ve hacked the traffic system!" Jane frowned. Even the vehicle doors were locked tight; they couldn't even force their way out to jump to safety.

"Where is the terminal interface in this vehicle?"

Every mag-lev vehicle was equipped with a terminal access port, located beneath the driver's seat, intended strictly for emergency use.

"This terminal only connects to the Department of Transportation!"

"As long as there’s a terminal, I can connect to *anywhere*!"

With unstoppable force, Xiao Yan breached the Department of Transportation’s network and unlocked their mag-lev. His mind automatically took the helm, guiding their trajectory with a constant series of twists and evasive maneuvers that instantly left their two pursuers in the dust.

Jane flashed a grin. "Xiao Yan, I really underestimated you!"

However, Xiao Yan offered no reply; instead, his lips were pursed tight, his expression one of intense anxiety.

"Xiao Yan?"

Jane sensed that something was wrong. Their speed was dropping, and their flight path had become erratic; several times, they narrowly avoided colliding with other mag-levs traveling in the same direction. “Xiao Yan! Have you run into a Blocker?!”

At that moment, the once-orderly thoughts within Xiao Yan’s mind were swept away by a surging countercurrent, shattered into fragments. He could find no direction for his thoughts, while his adversary advanced relentlessly, breaking through every defense. Xiao Yan knew that if the intruder reached the level of his subconscious, he would inevitably be trapped!

In a panic, he scrambled to construct whatever defenses he could, offering only a fragile resistance against the enemy’s assault.

*What should I do? I have to hold him off!*

*Don’t panic! Don’t lose your head!*

Xiao Yan decided to let go of everything; countless slender streams of consciousness latched onto the intruder, tracing back against the flow to strike fiercely at the very source of that invading power. At that exact instant, a potent force severed the enemy’s intrusive thoughts, guiding Xiao Yan in a counterattack that drove the foe into a desperate corner, forcing them to flee in disarray.

*This sensation...*

A cool, clear voice rang out in his mind: *Focus your energy!*

*It’s Hein! He’s inside my head!*

Instantly, all panic was replaced by unwavering resolve.

Jan kicked violently at the car door. “Xiao Yan! Hold on!”

With a resounding *CRASH*, the door burst open. Jan severed the terminal connection and ripped out the data cable.

As his vision snapped back to reality, Xiao Yan saw four or five mag-lev vehicles rounding the bend ahead—streaking toward them in lightning-fast arcs!

The very next second, his shoulder was pressed tight against someone’s chest as they plummeted several meters through the air.

The instant they cleared the doorway, their vehicle was smashed aside with a deafening roar.

The rushing wind whistled past Xiao Yan’s ears, yet it felt as though his heart had been left behind, still trapped inside that wrecked vehicle.

“Don’t be afraid!” As they slammed into the ground, the sound of shattering bone rang out right next to Xiao Yan’s ear.

“Ugh...” A muffled groan escaped Jan’s lips, squeezing tight around Xiao Yan’s heart.

“Jan!”

The grip of Jan’s arms around Xiao Yan remained utterly unshaken.

“Jan! Let me see you!”

If Jan hadn’t cushioned his fall with his own body, Xiao Yan would surely be dead right now!

“Just give me... thirty seconds. Don’t move...”

The words were ground out, barely escaping through clenched teeth. Only then did Xiao Yan recall that this guy was an elite among the Special Task Force. The X-virus had endowed him with extraordinary regenerative abilities; unless his head were severed from his neck, he wouldn't die so easily.

The sound of clicking and grinding reached his ears—Xiao Yan knew it was the sound of bones knitting back together.

"Did you think I was dead?" Jan’s breath grazed the rim of Xiao Yan’s ear, brushing against his heart like a feather.

Xiao Yan remained silent; in that moment, he truly had been terrified.

He still remembered how Captain White had fallen lifelessly beneath a tree; he never wanted to witness anyone he knew meet such a brutal end right before his eyes again.

"When can we leave?"

"Now." Jan suddenly rolled over and hauled Xiao Yan to his feet.

"Where are we going?"

"To the Special Task Force Headquarters."

The recent crash had already drawn a large crowd of onlookers, who were now pointing and gesticulating at Xiao Yan and Jan.

Meanwhile, watching the scene of Xiao Yan’s fall unfold on the holographic monitor, Mark had been seized by sheer terror—terrified that if Jan Wallis hadn't broken Xiao Yan’s fall... the consequences would have been unthinkable!

*Bang!* A loud crash rang out as a blast of biting cold wind rushed into the cabin.

It was Hein; he had kicked open the hatch. He unclipped his terminal, tossed it inside, gripped the hatch frame with one hand, and braced his legs to launch himself outward.

His hair whipped back, slicing through the air in sharp, taut lines.

"Boss—what are you doing?!"

Hein offered no reply.

"Where are you going?! Major General Gordon’s orders were..."

"You and Liv handle the moles within the Department of Transportation! As for the traitors inside the Special Task Force... I’m going to deal with them personally!"

With those words, Hein leaped out and plummeted downward.

The spot where Xiao Yan and Jan had landed was now swarming with curious onlookers.

If they lingered any longer, the Department of Transportation’s enforcement officers would surely arrive; yet Xiao Yan was certain that—whether within the Central Academy of Sciences or the Department of Transportation itself—agents of the "Tide" organization were likely lurking in the shadows.

Jan seized Xiao Yan’s wrist and began pushing their way through the dense crowd of onlookers. “Keep your head down; don’t look around.”

Jan and Xiao Yan walked through the bustling downtown district, passed through a shopping mall, and arrived at a small alleyway.

“Where are you taking me?”

“Xiao Yan, do you...”

"Do you trust me?"

Jan’s fingers clamped down tight; the bones in Xiao Yan’s wrist creaked audibly.

"I trust you..."

In that very instant, Xiao Yan spotted a figure standing high above them.

Before he could even blink, a flash of cold steel slashed across his vision. Just as Xiao Yan braced himself, certain his head was about to be severed, Jan reached out and—barehanded—seized the attacker’s blade.

"I was wondering who it could be... and it turns out it’s you—Cole!"

It all happened too fast for Xiao Yan to follow.

The next moment, Jan lashed out with a kick. Cole dodged to the side, but he hadn't anticipated that the kick was merely a feint; mid-air, it shifted trajectory and slammed viciously into his knee. Yet Cole merely dipped his body slightly, swiftly wrenching his blade free; Jan’s hands were left dripping with blood.

It was all too fast for Xiao Yan’s eyes to track. Jan’s movements were ruthless and precise, every strike brimming with lethal intent, while Cole—through sheer grit—weathered the onslaught time and again.

Jan’s elbow smashed violently into the side of Cole’s head, slamming him hard against the wall. Simultaneously, Cole’s blade thrust out, grazing Jan’s flank—a sight that sent a chill of cold sweat down Xiao Yan’s spine. But Jan not only dodged the thrust; he stomped down, shattering Cole’s knee, then snatched the blade from his hand, drove it through his wrist, and pinned him—nailed fast—to the wall.

"Cole, you picked the wrong opponent."

Jan smiled faintly, his eyelids lifting slowly and gracefully—like a pair of unfurling wings.

Then, the only hand Cole could still move suddenly shot up—clutched between his fingers was an injector gun!

"Jan—"

Just as Xiao Yan shouted the warning, Jan moved with brutal force, twisting Cole’s wrist until it snapped clean off his arm, sending blood spurting into the air.

A crimson splash stained Jan’s pale face—a truly gruesome sight.

Cole’s face turned a ghastly shade of mottled white and green. Even with his extraordinary regenerative abilities, a limb completely severed from the body was something he could not regrow.

"Why did you go after Xiao Yan?" ”

Jane gripped Cole’s chin, his smiling expression dark and chillingly sinister.

“...Lieutenant Colonel, isn't the reason obvious?” Cole gave a helpless smile, leaning in toward Jane as he gritted his teeth and spoke. “We were never on the same path.”

“Oh—no one is ever on the same path as me. I’m asking why *you* made Xiao Yan your target! Why even *you* were willing to risk exposing your identity right in front of me!”

Jane casually patted Cole’s cheek, his demeanor one of utter complacency.

“Xiao Yan... successfully synthesized the X-Virus... What? You didn't know? It seems the Military Command doesn't trust you enough after all!”

Having obtained his answer, Jane slowly turned around, still clutching Cole’s knife—blood trickled down the blade—and fixed his cold, razor-sharp gaze upon Xiao Yan.

“You synthesized the X-Virus behind my back?”

Xiao Yan retreated step by step; in his eyes, Jane appeared as a demon risen from the depths of hell, intent on utterly destroying him.

“...I...”

A powerful surge of murderous intent washed over him; Xiao Yan’s knees gave way, losing the strength to support his weight, and he slumped helplessly to the ground.

In that very instant, Jane spun around abruptly, his blade flashing in a swift, merciless strike.

Cole stood directly behind Jane; as Jane plunged the sharp blade into the ground—signaling the finality of the act—Cole’s head seemed to slip unnaturally from his neck and slide away.

Jane placed his hand over Xiao Yan’s eyes, his low voice resonating in the young man’s ear: “Don’t look.”

Jane hauled Xiao Yan back to his feet; through the gaps between Jane’s fingers, Xiao Yan saw nothing but a crimson blur.

“That man... Cole... he was also with the Special Operations Unit?”

“Yes. And that means the Special Operations Unit, too, has been infiltrated by spies from the Tide.”

Xiao Yan felt a chill penetrate to the very marrow of his bones. For over two hundred years, people had lived within the shell of “Shire,” comforting themselves with the illusion that everything was fine—never imagining that this peace was built upon shifting sands.

“That man... Cole... was he your comrade?”

“He was my subordinate.” ”

Jan’s voice remained unhurried and measured.

Xiao Yan swallowed hard; Jan’s decisiveness and ruthlessness bore absolutely no resemblance to the way one would treat a former subordinate.

“Do you think I’m cruel toward my subordinates—that I’m a monster?”

“The moment you learned he was an undercover agent for the Tide organization, he ceased to be your subordinate. To show mercy to an enemy is to compromise one’s own resolve.”

Xiao Yan’s voice was steady and composed. He was no cloistered researcher, buried in his studies and shielded from the realities of the outside world; he knew just how vicious and desperate their enemies could be—after all, both Captain White and Maya had fallen right before his eyes. To sympathize with one’s enemies was an act of extreme naivety and irresponsibility.

A soft chuckle escaped Jan’s lips. “We are always so adept at finding excuses for our own cruelty—yet, in the end, only the cruel survive.” ”

They had not yet emerged from the long, winding alley when several mag-lev vehicles whizzed overhead; their doors instantly slid open, and figures leaped down from them.

Xiao Yan craned his neck upward; amidst the sky, the glint of flashing blades appeared. Jian shoved him aside in a split-second reaction, sending Xiao Yan’s back slamming against the wall. Four assassins from the "Tide" organization descended; one landed atop a streetlamp before swooping down. As Xiao Yan locked eyes with that gaze—brimming with murderous intent—the world seemed to freeze in that very moment.

It happened too fast to follow with the eye, yet he knew this much: in that critical, hair-trigger instant, Jian had intercepted the assassin’s blade with his bare hands. With a swift pivot, he planted a foot against the wall beside Xiao Yan, using the leverage to hurl the assassin violently against the opposite wall before seizing the weapon for himself.

The remaining assassins swarmed in, but the narrow confines of the alley offered Jian no room to maneuver freely. Although he steadfastly positioned himself between Xiao Yan and the attackers, with every swing of his blade, Jian’s body pressed hard against Xiao Yan’s back; at this rate, Xiao Yan feared his bones would truly be crushed.

Jian was forced to brace one leg against the wall to create some breathing room for Xiao Yan. With a swift upward motion of his arm, the blade sliced ​​past an attacker while the hilt smashed squarely into the assassin’s face.

“Go!” Jian grabbed Xiao Yan by the collar and flung him forward. The three remaining assassins attempted to bypass Jian, but he intercepted them with swift, decisive precision.

Xiao Yan did not look back. He knew that since Jian’s reputation rivaled even that of Hein, those three assassins stood no chance against him; on the contrary, lingering at the scene would only serve as a distraction, forcing Jian to hold back. Thus, he broke into a desperate, headlong sprint.

Jian’s gaze followed the arc of his blade as a bloodthirsty smile curled across his lips. “You have three seconds left.” ”

With no time to ponder the significance of the so-called "three seconds," Jian sprang into action. In the blink of an eye, the first assassin’s head was severed. Jian vaulted off the corpse’s shoulder with a fluid flip; the second assassin attempted to parry and dodge, but Jian’s blade cleaved straight through his skull. The third assassin seized the opportunity to strike—unaware that this was precisely the opening Jian had baited him with—only to have his own head lopped off with a swift, sweeping slash of the blade.

Jian landed, his gaze sweeping coldly over the carnage strewn across the ground. As the flowing blood lapped against the tips of his shoes, he turned away without a shred of mercy, fixing his eyes on the retreating figure of Xiao Yan—who was scrambling forward in disarray. In that very instant, Jian’s eyes went wide, his expression twisting into a mask of sheer ferocity.

“Xiao Yan!”

Standing directly in Xiao Yan’s path was yet another assassin, the sharp blade in his hand glinting with a terrifying, cold light.

Jian sprinted toward them in a desperate dash, but the assassin’s blade had already slashed across Xiao Yan’s throat. In that same instant, however, the assassin’s own head was severed and fell away. Xiao Yan clutched at his neck, gasping for breath as he felt his lifeblood rapidly seeping out between his fingers.

The assassin crumpled to the ground. Silhouetted against the light, the face of the figure holding the blade remained obscured; Xiao Yan swayed backward, on the verge of collapsing into Jian’s arms.

At that very moment, the figure abruptly yanked him forward, pressing a palm firmly against his profusely bleeding wound. Xiao Yan’s mouth fell open in a silent gasp, yet... He struggled to breathe—to take in any oxygen—until the other man suddenly swooped down, plunging into his mouth and imperiously sweeping over every soft, yielding part of him. A deep yearning was ignited; Xiao Yan sucked back with desperate intensity, his body drawing closer uncontrollably as he longed for the other man to hold him tighter—to merge with his very bloodstream. Unable to help himself, Xiao Yan released the hand that had been pressing against his own neck, shifting it instead to cup the man’s head, pressing him down with all his might and pulling him fiercely against himself.

He lost everything—his judgment, his very thoughts. His tongue grazed the side of the other man’s, then latched onto it with force as he strained to press himself deeper into the man’s embrace. Yet, the other man held him fast throughout, his grip unwavering, yielding not an inch. When the tip of the man’s tongue pushed back—attempting to disengage and withdraw from Xiao Yan’s mouth—a sudden, inexplicable panic surged within Xiao Yan. He pushed back even harder, forcing the man’s head down as he exerted every ounce of strength to seize everything within that mouth.

Such desperate tenacity seemed to soften the other man’s resolve. Xiao Yan tilted his head, drawing their entangled bodies even closer, and allowed himself to drown in the man’s response—a response that bordered on indulgence.

Not far away, Jian stood watching the scene unfold, arms crossed, and spoke in a cold, detached voice: “Colonel Burton, if you don’t push him away right now, he’s going to get addicted to the X-virus.”

Abruptly, Xiao Yan was shoved away. The man’s hand remained pressed against his shoulder, yet in that instant, Xiao Yan caught a glimpse of sheer, blinding madness blazing within Hein’s eyes. He could hear the man’s breathing—heavy, ragged, and surging with raw intensity.

Only in that very moment did Xiao Yan come to a startling realization: the agonizing pain in his neck—that sensation of being ruthlessly strangled, of being deprived of air—had vanished.

“Why are you here?” Jian narrowed his eyes as he regarded Hein. As he turned his head slightly, his gaze cut through the air like the razor-sharp edge of a blade; yet, Hein remained utterly motionless.

“If I hadn’t been here, he would be dead.”

His voice was glacial—as if the earlier moments of tenderness and indulgence had been nothing more than a mere illusion.

“I demand an explanation. Your presence here is no coincidence.”

“It was my mission.”

“In that case, I suppose I’ll just have to go find the person who *can* explain all of this.” With those words, Jian abruptly yanked Xiao Yan toward him—a force so strong it nearly tore Xiao Yan’s arm right out of its socket.

Stumbling along behind Jian, Xiao Yan was just as eager to find out what exactly was going on.

Hein lowered his gaze, his fingers gently rubbing together; the traces of Xiao Yan’s blood upon them had yet to cool. Slowly clenching his fist, Hein let out a heavy, labored breath.

Dragged along by Jian, Xiao Yan could feel the palpable aura of rage radiating from the man. The headquarters of the Special Operations Force now loomed directly before them.

As they emerged from the alleyway, they discovered seven or eight "Tide" assassins—clad in combat fatigues—lying sprawled across the ground, surrounded by a boundless pool of blood.

Only then did Xiao Yan realize that Hein had been protecting him all along. Had this group swarmed him as well, he surely would have perished. With swift, clinical precision and a ruthless killing intent, Hein had slaughtered these men with a ferocity that seemed fueled by a deep-seated hatred.

Jian gave a low, dismissive scoff. "Stop gawking! Let's go!"

The building they entered was starkly different from the Academy of Sciences—austere, unforgiving, and devoid of even the slightest decorative flourish.

Jian ushered Xiao Yan inside. The corridors were filled with special forces operatives—all grim-faced and clad in combat gear—whose gazes swept over Xiao Yan like razor-sharp blades.

Right—he was still wearing the uniform of the Central Academy of Sciences, after all; and technical personnel were often viewed with disdain by the combat troops.

Jian led Xiao Yan into an elevator. The moment the doors slid open, two special forces soldiers stepped forward to block their path.

"Lieutenant Colonel Wallis—"

"Get out of my way!"

Jian brusquely shoved their hands aside, then dragged Xiao Yan forward, striding purposefully down the corridor.

"Lieutenant Colonel Wallis! The Major General has not authorized your presence here!"

As the two soldiers reached for the blades sheathed at their sides, Jian spun around, a brazen, arrogant smirk twisting his features. "I’ll cut your heads off," he hissed, the words slicing through the air like shards of ice. ”

In that instant, a cold, bloodthirsty aura spread through the air; the steel-constructed corridor seemed on the verge of collapse under the sheer force of Jian’s presence.

The tension in the atmosphere was explosive—poised to erupt at any moment.

Just then, a secretary appeared in the corridor, his clear voice echoing through the passage.

“Lieutenant Colonel Wallis, the Major General wishes to see you.”

Jian gave a low, dismissive scoff and turned his gaze toward Xiao Yan. “Let’s go.”

Xiao Yan gasped in astonishment. “The Major General?”

He was merely a cadet—a so-called reserve technical specialist—holding a rank of only B. And today, he was going to meet a Major General from the military command?

“Good. It’s high time I heard exactly how His Excellency the Major General intends to explain himself.”

Wearing an expression of distinct displeasure, Jian grabbed Xiao Yan by the arm and pulled him into a spacious office—one furnished with nothing more than a single desk.

Seated directly atop that desk was a man in military uniform, idly toying with a gleaming dagger in his hand.

The very moment Xiao Yan stepped across the threshold, the man hurled the dagger at him. It appeared to be a casual, offhand gesture, yet it was executed with tremendous force.

The dagger was halted barely a centimeter from the tip of Xiao Yan’s nose, caught firmly in Jian’s grasp.

Jian strode up to the man and drove the dagger deep into the surface of the desk; the man, however, made no move to dodge or flinch.

The blade pierced the wood precisely between the man’s fingers.

“You are just as bored as ever, Your Excellency,” Jian remarked, lifting his chin as a chilling glint flashed in his eyes.

“I heard every single word you said out there in the hallway—loud and clear,” the man replied, tapping a finger against his ear.

This was Major General Gordon, the man in command of the Special Operations Force. He appeared to be in his mid-thirties—perhaps thirty-four or thirty-five. His right to be addressed as “Your Excellency” stemmed not from overwhelming combat prowess, but from a razor-sharp intellect. His facial features were entirely unremarkable—unlike those of Hein Burton or Jian Wallis, whose faces were so striking that a single glance would be etched into one’s memory forever. There was not a trace of grim, murderous intent about him; in fact, his eyes and demeanor exuded a sense of profound calm and detachment. Yet, it was this seemingly ordinary and harmless man who held command over the entire Special Operations Force.