TIC Chapter 48

 Chapter 48

“You’re dead meat! I was worried about you out of my mind! You didn't send a single update! You wouldn't even answer my calls! Are you trying to get yourself killed?!”

Just before Xiao Yan was choked to death, Casey finally let go—but that wasn't the end of it. He grabbed Xiao Yan’s face, twisting it so violently it felt as if he were trying to wring the flesh right off his bones.

“You came back to Shire and didn't even report to me! You bastard—do you even remember that I’m your research supervisor?!”

“...” Xiao Yan was in such agony that tears streamed down his face; he couldn't utter a single word. But he knew that the more worried Casey was, the tighter his grip became—it was as if he were actively trying to kill him! It seemed he really had scared Casey half to death. At a moment like this, he absolutely had to offer a sincere apology and admit his fault! Yet, right now, he couldn't even manage to say he was sorry!

The other researchers looked on with expressions of profound sympathy. It seemed that during their time working together, they had come to fully appreciate Lieutenant Colonel Casey’s violent tendencies.

“I was so worried about you! When I heard that bastard Gordon had actually sent you to the Tide Organization’s research base, I didn't get a wink of sleep for days on end!”

Leave it to Casey—only he would have the audacity to refer to Major General Gordon as “that bastard.” In all likelihood, even the Major General himself would have to yield a few steps when facing this renowned research elite! He really should have just sent Casey to go and thoroughly brutalize the Tide Organization instead!

Finally, Casey let go. Watching Xiao Yan’s face swell up, he felt his pent-up frustration finally dissipate. The “carrot and stick” approach was his signature style. Sure enough, Casey rubbed his forehead affectionately against Xiao Yan’s chest, and instantly, every shred of resentment Xiao Yan had felt toward him vanished into thin air.

“The casualty rate for the Special Missions Force hit an all-time high this time around... I stared at that long list of the fallen, and it wasn't until I finally confirmed that your name wasn't on it that I felt like I could finally breathe again...”

Xiao Yan’s eyes welled up. In that moment, he realized just what a truly colossal jerk he had been—refusing to answer his communicator simply because he was afraid of getting an earful from Casey. “I’m fine! Colonel Burton and Lieutenant Colonel Wallis are personally protecting me!”

“It’s *Jane Wallis* I don’t trust! Tell me—and fast! Did that guy do anything to you? Is your butt okay?”

Xiao Yan scratched his head, suddenly grasping what Casey meant; his cheeks flushed crimson. “What does my butt have to do with any of this?”

Casey let out a relieved breath, wearing an expression of utter reassurance. “Well, looks like your butt is safe after all!”

The sound of clapping rang out from in front of them, and all the murmuring and grumbling instantly fell silent.

A slender, fair-skinned special forces soldier—who looked barely more than a boy—stepped forward to face them. Judging by his shoulder insignia, he already held the rank of Major.

“Greetings, you advanced, veteran, and highly respected researchers! I am your physical training instructor—Major Wynn! I serve under the direct command of Colonel Burton! If any of you feel that the training regimen is too harsh, or that your instructor is too brutal, you are more than welcome to file a complaint with Colonel Burton!”

His theatrically exaggerated, almost operatic tone immediately captured everyone’s attention.

The young man named Wynn possessed soft, medium-length brown hair, the tips of which fell gracefully and artfully around his shoulders. He appeared to be roughly the same age as Casey, yet he stood well over 180 centimeters tall. His combat uniform accentuated his beautifully sculpted physique, while his facial features were surprisingly delicate and soft. With that dazzling, radiant smile plastered across his face, it was truly impossible to imagine that this guy was actually a Major! What kind of lethal combat skills must one possess to attain the rank of Major at such a tender age? Consequently, Xiao Yan had absolutely no doubt that if this guy merely snapped his fingers, every single one of the researchers’ heads would instantly explode like overripe fruit.

“Ever since Major Maya stepped back from active duty, Wynn defeated every other candidate during the selection process to become Hein Burton’s adjutant,” Casey explained in a hushed whisper, tilting his head slightly.

*So he’s the one who took Maya’s place?* Xiao Yan narrowed his eyes.

“What? We can actually file a complaint?”

“Are you out of your mind? Complaining to *Hein Burton* about one of his subordinates? You must have a death wish!”

A figure slowly approached, and the researchers—who had just moments ago been whispering amongst themselves—fell instantly silent once again. He didn't need to get close; simply by observing his meticulous stride, Xiao Yan could sense the unique, commanding presence of Hein Burton.

With his hands clasped behind his back and his legs planted slightly apart, his upright posture exuded an icy intensity that seemed to surge back along his line of sight, piercing directly into Xiao Yan’s eyes.

"Colonel!" The usually roguish Wynn instantly adopted a serious expression, snapping off a crisp, forceful salute.

"Mm." Hein gave a slight nod, his gaze sweeping over the researchers one by one; remarkably, not a single person dared to meet his eyes. "Before training begins, I have a few questions for you all."

The researchers exchanged glances, none of them able to guess what questions Hein might ask.

"First question: Two technical specialists accompanied a small squad of mine on a mission, but they died. Do you know why?"

Everyone lowered their heads, remaining silent.

Casey stole a glance at Xiao Yan, playfully sticking out her tongue as she mouthed the words: "Because the Special Mission Force wasn't capable of protecting them."

Xiao Yan shook his head, signaling for Casey to settle down.

Mark began his intimidation tactics once again. "They got eaten by zombies!"

The researchers’ shoulders shuddered, and even Xiao Yan drew in a sharp breath.

Mark strolled along the crooked, uneven line of researchers, seemingly intent on scrutinizing every single expression. "But why did they get eaten by zombies? Don't get me wrong—it's not that we didn't want to save them; it's just that they were far too disobedient! The Colonel had issued them a direct order to stick to my side every step of the way, but they couldn't keep up! And not keeping up was one thing, but just as I was about to turn back to rescue them, those two idiots ran off in opposite directions! I was left hesitating—who should I save? The one on the left, or the one on the right? Before I could even come up with an answer, they both got eaten by the zombies."

Mark tapped Xiao Yan on the shoulder, gave him a wink, and asked with a threatening undertone: "Hey, rookie—tell me, if they had been able to keep up with me, would they still be dead?"

"No." Xiao Yan’s brow furrowed; he still remembered the zombie invasion at Base 14, and how Hein had guided him and Lily into the safety of the evacuation tunnels. Back then, he couldn't keep up with Hein at all; had Hein not turned back to save them, they would have met the exact same fate as those two technical specialists.

"Second question: when the two assassins breached the research institute—and a certain researcher sacrificed his life to trigger the alarm—which of you actually followed the established warning protocols to take evasive action?" Hein stated the facts calmly, devoid of even the slightest hint of reproach; yet, an invisible pressure bore down upon them all.

Xiao Yan suddenly recalled that day—the moment an assassin's razor-sharp blade had pierced through his abdomen—and a phantom pain seemed to reverberate through every single cell in his body.

The instant he lifted his eyes, Xiao Yan’s gaze locked with Hein’s. Deep within those icy-blue eyes, the depths seemed like a mirror on the verge of shattering at any moment. Xiao Yan tried to look away, but his gaze felt as if it were held fast in an unyielding grip; a sudden illusion arose within him—that on that fateful day, it was not only Xiao Yan who had suffered in pain, but Hein as well.

"Third question—and the most critical one: do any of you know the true reason behind the 'Surge' organization's relentless attacks on our research vessels?"

As his words hung in the air, everyone—as if on cue—looked up in unison.

"It is your brains."

After a brief moment of silence, the room erupted into pandemonium.

"What did you say? Our brains?"

"What on earth would they want with the brains of us researchers?"

Hein lowered his eyelids, reverting to his usual demeanor—one of utter composure, as if even the collapse of the heavens and the earth could not faze him.

Major Wynn clapped his hands together, wearing an expression of gleeful schadenfreude that mirrored Mark’s exactly—a look so smug and infuriatingly punchable that it rivaled even Mark’s own. Xiao Yan had assumed this matter would remain a closely guarded secret forever; he never imagined Hein would reveal it so bluntly.

"Allow me to explain the specific utility of your brains. The 'Surge' organization has developed a new type of biological terminal system. They intend to extract your brains—along with your entire neural networks—and preserve their biological activity within specialized nutrient vats. They will then wire your neurons directly into this system, forcing your brains to engage in ceaseless computation and problem-solving—tackling tasks that will never, ever reach a conclusion. No matter how exhausted you become, no matter how desperately you crave rest, you will be given none; the moment your brain ceases to think, it loses all value as a preserved specimen—and is ultimately discarded like so much refuse."

Wynn’s smile remained fixed upon his face, yet the chilling darkness lurking within his eyes was utterly bone-chilling. Xiao Yan’s eyes widened. Was this the information Colonel Shen Bing had extracted from his subconscious back then?

Had the military finally decided to make this news public?

Fear spread rapidly through the room.

Casey hung his head, his eyes wide and staring, his shoulders trembling uncontrollably. He was a Lieutenant Colonel at the Central Research Institute—a renowned genius. When those two assassins had infiltrated the Institute, their true objective—beyond the indiscriminate slaughter of researchers—might very well have been Casey’s brain!

Xiao Yan gently grasped Casey’s wrist. He knew that words were useless; Casey would have to conquer this fear entirely on his own.

“If you lack even the most basic capacity for self-preservation, then you might as well just hand your brains over on a silver platter.”

Wynn smiled as he cracked his knuckles, the sharp popping sounds sending a collective shiver down everyone’s spines.

“So, gentlemen: whether you approach this training with the same rigor you apply to your research—or simply coast through it—is entirely up to you. However, let me make one thing clear upfront: our Special Operations Unit is short-staffed, and our duty is *not* to serve as your bodyguards. Don’t expect us to have the leisure to come swooping down from the heavens the very moment someone cracks open your skulls. Do you all understand?”

Wynn’s voice was so soft that it left them momentarily stunned.

The researchers stared blankly at the Major, who bore a striking resemblance to a young girl.

Suddenly, his gaze turned icy-cold, and his voice seemed to pierce directly into their nerves.

“I asked: do you understand or not?”

“We understand!”

The researchers answered in a panic.

Wynn flashed a satisfied smile and spoke in a slow, measured tone: “Did you gentlemen have breakfast this morning?”

No one replied.

“Well, you’ll need something in your stomach if you want to have anything to vomit up later!”

Wynn grinned broadly—a look of pure, mischievous malice—and everyone instinctively began to dread the training that lay ahead.

Mark let out a low whistle and remarked coolly, “You guys are going to get absolutely *wrecked*.”

Xiao Yan felt a knot of apprehension in his stomach; every single member of the Special Operations Unit was, without a doubt, a devil.

Yet, at the same time, he felt a surge of anticipation—for no one was more exceptional than a devil.

They were about to embark on a month-long regimen of physical conditioning. Only once they had met the required physical fitness standards would the Special Operations Unit begin training them in combat techniques. A group of researchers jogged around the track. The atmosphere of fear established at the start had initially kept them focused and serious; however, barely five minutes later, their faces were etched with misery, and they were on the verge of total exhaustion.

"No matter how I look at it, training them feels like a complete waste of time," Wynn grumbled, slinging an arm over Mark’s shoulder as he whispered, "Mark, why is the Boss still hanging around here?"

Mark turned to look; Hein stood by the edge of the track with his arms crossed—a figure of such elegance that it was impossible to imagine just how unstoppable and lethal this man could be when he was in the midst of a kill. Following Hein’s gaze, Mark’s eyes landed on the panting figure of Xiao Yan.

Beside him, Casey couldn't hold out much longer; bracing his hands against his knees, he gestured to Xiao Yan as if to say, "You go on ahead." Xiao Yan tried to pull him along, but Casey refused to continue; instead, he unceremoniously plopped down right onto the track, pleading with Xiao Yan.

"Just let me rest... for thirty seconds... Look... Wynn and Mark over there are totally mocking... us! You keep going! I promise... I’ll stick it out to the very end!"

Xiao Yan let out a heavy breath and continued running forward. As he passed by Hein, he was surprised to find that Hein actually began to move along with him.

Hein’s stride was steady and sure; the movement of his long legs possessed a powerful, aesthetic grace that—compared to Xiao Yan’s ragged breathing and faltering steps—made it look utterly effortless.

"Listen closely: the objective of this jog is not to increase your speed, but to train your lung capacity and breath control, as well as to coordinate your body’s musculature. Your goal is simply to endure for this full hour—speed is irrelevant."

It was rare for Hein to speak to him at such length all at once; Xiao Yan had always assumed that Hein’s patience would never be extended to the likes of him.

"Answer me: do you understand, or do you not?"

Though his tone remained level, Xiao Yan perceived it as intensely stern. “Y-yes... Understood!”

Major Wynn, standing by the side of the track, gaped in astonishment. “Who is that guy? The Boss is actually training him personally?”

“Ah... his name is ‘The Clumsy Rookie’! Out of all those pampered researchers, he’s the only one who’s actually halfway decent to look at.” Mark jutted out his chin, patting Wynn on the shoulder as he spoke. “Hey—don’t you go bullying him! Make sure you train him right!”

“...Don’t tell me *he’s* the one—Xiao Yan? The researcher behind the ‘Sharon I’ marker virus?”

“Heh-heh, that’s right. He’s already tagged along with our unit on several missions—including the last one.” At the mention of that particular mission, Mark wore an expression of lingering dread.

“Alright, anyone who managed to survive *that* mission clearly isn’t a pushover. I’ll put him through the wringer! ...Wait a minute—who’s the Major here? You or me? Since when does a mere Second Lieutenant get to go around giving *me* orders?” Wynn looked as if he were about to lose his temper.

“Heh-heh!” Mark scratched his head sheepishly.

At first, Xiao Yan assumed that lasting a full hour would be a breeze; to his surprise, however, he began to feel exhausted after just a few minutes. Yet, beside him, Hein remained completely unperturbed.

“Slow your pace. Regulate your breathing.”

Xiao Yan took a long, deep breath, closed his eyes, and focused on his heart rate—which had spiraled out of control—feeling it slowly begin to subside.

“Good.”

Xiao Yan looked over at Hein in astonishment; was the guy actually offering him a word of approval?

Hein’s profile looked as if it had been chiseled from stone. “Maintain the rhythm. Keep going.”

Xiao Yan soon circled back around to where Casey was. The guy’s jogging form was somewhat comical; he had clearly given up entirely and was now merely shuffling along the track at a walking pace.

“Come on, run, Casey!” Xiao Yan gave him a pat on the shoulder.

“I *am* running... I’m running...”

Another ten minutes or so went by, and Xiao Yan’s legs began to feel so heavy that he could barely lift them anymore.

“Xiao Yan. Follow me.”

Hein turned his head, his handsome features coming into sharp focus before Xiao Yan’s eyes. For Hein, a ten-minute jog was easier than sipping a cup of tea—yet for Xiao Yan, it felt like it was going to kill him. “Engage your thighs; don’t let your calves bear the entire weight. Lift your knees.”

Following behind Hein, Xiao Yan mimicked the movements of his legs as he continued to push forward.

Several researchers, sprawled exhaustedly along the edge of the track, waved a hand as they watched Xiao Yan’s retreating figure. “That guy is truly incredible... he’s been running for nearly half an hour now...”

Major Wynn clapped his hands, signaling for them to get back on their feet, and gave a cold snort. “It’s not that he’s incredible; it’s that he understands—if you want to survive, you have to pay the price!”

The researchers swallowed hard, watching Xiao Yan’s figure—on the verge of total physical collapse, yet still running slowly like a marionette on strings.

Time gradually began to drag. Xiao Yan had never imagined that a single hour could feel so interminable.

“Don’t dwell on how exhausted your body is.”

Xiao Yan parted his lips, but aside from gasping for breath, he couldn’t utter a single word.

“Think about Lily.”

Xiao Yan’s body gave a start. He hadn’t expected Hein to bring up Lily; how on earth did he know about her?

“At the swimming pool in Base 2—that was exactly why you went there: to see her.”

Xiao Yan was momentarily stunned. Hein knew even *that*? Had the X-virus somehow granted him the power of telepathy?

“Think about her body.”

Xiao Yan swallowed hard. Yet, as he attempted to mentally trace the graceful contours of Lily’s body, what flooded his mind instead was the sudden, vivid image of Hein slicing through the water, surging straight toward him.

His teeth clacked painfully against his lip. That fleeting instant—an event Xiao Yan had consciously tried to forget—now suddenly seized control of his entire mind.

“Since you’re so fond of that woman, then go ahead—indulge your fantasies to your heart’s content.”

Hein’s voice was cool and detached, yet it carried an undertone that was undeniably provocative.

Xiao Yan tried desperately to banish Hein’s image from his mind, but his fantasies began to spiral in a direction he could no longer control.

He imagined that, in the very instant their bodies collided beneath the water, Hein’s hand cupped the back of his head, pressing him down into the warm depths—relentlessly, without restraint.

They kissed deeply, an overwhelming wave of possessiveness washing over them. Everything about him was plundered by the other man; a strong, forceful tongue stormed through his oral cavity, conquering every inch—utterly irresistible.

He belonged to him; he was destined to be his and his alone. No matter how much he struggled, it all felt like fate—immutable and inevitable.

"It's been an hour!" Mark shouted from the edge of the track, waving his arms.

Xiao Yan snapped back to reality with a sudden jolt. He gasped, sucking in a sharp breath, and instantly, a searing pain flared in his lungs.

Just as he began to crumple toward the ground, Hein swept him into his arms.

His head came to rest against the other man's chest, the steady rhythm of a strong heartbeat thrumming against his ear.

"Don't collapse. Your heart won't be able to take it. Stay with me."

Xiao Yan’s chin slumped limply onto Hein’s shoulder, beads of sweat dripping from his hair-matted forehead onto Hein’s body.

He was practically being embraced by Hein... No... not an embrace. Hein was merely supporting him.

"I'm sorry... I... I got you dirty..." Xiao Yan started to reach up to wipe the sweat stains from Hein’s shoulder, only to realize that his own hands were drenched in sweat as well.

Without a moment's hesitation, Hein steadied him by the elbows. "Stay with me. Keep walking for five minutes."

As Hein’s eyelids lowered in that instant, a fleeting trace of tenderness flickered across his expression.

Over by the track, Wynn twisted Mark’s arm with all his might, glaring at him ferociously. "Hey! Did you see that?! Colonel Burton actually *held* him! Did you see it?!"

"He just steadied him... How could the Colonel possibly *embrace* anyone? Wynn, let go! You're going to break it... You're going to break my arm!"

"Mark, tell me now! Is the Colonel planning to recruit that guy?"

"No! He's not!" Mark shook his head frantically. “Back when I fainted during training, the Colonel actually gave me a hard kick and ordered me to get up immediately!”

“Ouch...” Mark looked on the verge of tears. “Why don't you go ask Colonel Burton yourself why he’s making an exception for Xiao Yan...?”

Wynn snorted and let go of Mark. “Since he’s someone Colonel Burton has personally hand-picked, I’m going to make sure I train him into an elite Special Forces soldier!”

“Huh? But Xiao Yan just wants to be a researcher—he doesn't want to be a Special Forces soldier!”

Xiao Yan’s body felt ready to collapse; the moment he stopped running, his heart felt as though it were about to explode right out of his chest. He had lost track of how long he had been moving, and it wasn't until his heartbeat finally began to settle that he realized Hein had been holding onto his arm the entire time.

Hein released him and turned to Major Wynn. “Everyone, take a thirty-minute break. Then resume training.”

“Yes, Colonel.”

“Xiao Yan—who were you thinking about just now?” The tone was plain and matter-of-fact, yet the question struck deep into Xiao Yan’s heart in an instant.

Gasping softly, Xiao Yan looked up at Hein. There was not a single ripple of emotion in those icy-blue eyes, yet Xiao Yan felt an intense sensation—as if he were being seen through completely.

He parted his lips, but no words would come out.

As if he had never expected an answer anyway, Hein turned and walked away.

Xiao Yan pressed his hand tightly against his chest; with every breath he took, a sharp pain shot through him.

“Rookie! Hey, Rookie! What are you thinking about?” Mark’s face suddenly appeared right in front of Xiao Yan.

“Ah... no... nothing, really... I was just a little tired, so my mind wandered, that’s all...”

Wynn proceeded to lead the rest of the training session.

Xiao Yan had expected to face a grueling, “hell-week” style regimen, but the reality seemed completely different from what he had anticipated.

However, the morning’s training session wasn't over yet; just as Mark had predicted, Xiao Yan threw up.

He hung his head low, retching until his stomach was completely empty. Mark stood beside him, laughing heartily as he clapped Xiao Yan on the back. “It’s okay! Don’t sweat it! I threw up on my very first day of training with the Special Missions Unit, too!”

Xiao Yan coughed weakly, feeling as though his body had completely lost the capacity to move another inch. At that moment, Wynn, holding something in his hands, crouched down in front of Xiao Yan. "You threw up, didn't you? You must be feeling miserable! I’ve got some sports drinks here to replenish your electrolytes! Plus milk and bread! Hurry up and eat!"

Xiao Yan stared blankly at Wynn, completely baffled as to what exactly this Major was trying to do.

"Go on, eat! Eat up!"

He couldn't tell if it was just his imagination, but the more Xiao Yan looked at Wynn, the more he resembled a big dog—tail wagging—waiting to be praised by its master...