Chapter 57 - Fifty-Seven: Post-Incident Investigation

Melincha waved her hand. "No need to be polite. You’re part of our team; it’s only right." Her gaze suddenly became complex. "However, little brother, you’re not simple at all... Even though the Psychological Spy is pretty useless, and you’re not even a professional yet, you managed to capture him alive. And I’ve seen the battle footage—that last move with the streetlight pole was powerful!" She made a "skewering" gesture with her fingers, making Chen Gu’s face turn red. "I was just very angry..." Chen Gu suddenly remembered. "Right, the cleanup team with the two vehicles was..." "The higher-ups are already aware. They checked the surveillance footage immediately," Melincha said. "You’ve made a major contribution this time. If you hadn’t discovered that Psychological Spy, he would have actually succeeded." "Checking the in-vehicle surveillance footage isn’t standard procedure. That Psychological Spy was likely trying to contaminate all the cleanup teams. If he’d succeeded, then in every future operation, those contaminated individuals would have deliberately leaked some Mutant tissue. It wouldn’t take long for the entire Wuzhaoyin City to be overrun by Mutants!" The thought terrified Chen Gu. So, I actually made a major contribution this time? Could I ask the higher-ups to stop investigating the anomalies surrounding me? Melincha patted the side of the bed. "Alright, you rest. I’m going back to catch up on some sleep." Inside the Branch Director’s office, Marcel and Director Mei were arguing fiercely. A holographic projection between them repeatedly played Chen Gu’s battle footage from the previous night. Marcel’s face was livid, his voice filled with anger. "This absolutely cannot be the strength of a normal human! He must be hiding a significant secret. We have to figure it out; otherwise, he’s a ticking time bomb for our branch and for the entire Wuzhaoyin City!" Director Mei slammed a medical report onto Marcel’s face. "Cut it out with your disgusting conspiracy theories! Our medical team conducted three comprehensive examinations on Chen Gu. He’s not a Mutant, nor is he a professional. The medical team’s experts concluded he possesses innate superhuman strength. Why can’t you just believe it? Why must you insist on your own speculations?" "Is it just because you don’t have such abilities that you’re jealous of a newcomer? Or perhaps... you have ulterior motives!" Marcel roared in anger, "I’m just being cautious! I’m doing this for everyone’s safety!" "Heh!" Director Mei sneered. Chen Jixian, sitting behind the desk, hadn’t been listening to his two subordinates quarrel at all. His mind was still stuck on his own question: Chen Gu is clearly a professional; I saw him in action myself. So why can’t it be detected? Only after pondering it fruitlessly did he suddenly look up and notice. Oh, these two are arguing. In fact, by this point, Marcel and Director Mei had already said everything they wanted to say. They stood with hands on their hips, glaring furiously at each other like two fighting cocks. Chen Jixian was still thinking, What are they arguing about? while the other two awaited their Branch Director’s judgment on their respective viewpoints. Amidst the awkward silence, a video call window suddenly popped up in front of Chen Jixian. Marcel and Director Mei immediately lowered their heads respectfully. "Director-General." Aviloya said calmly, "Medical experts from Headquarters will arrive at Empire River Star in four hours. They will conduct the most authoritative examination on Chen Gu." "Yes." Chen Gu was greatly drained, his body filled with exhaustion, yet he couldn’t fall asleep. He kept worrying: Am I going to be "investigated" or something? Four hours later, a group of people suddenly rushed in. Chen Gu didn’t recognize any of them. They prodded and poked him with various strange instruments—no introductions, no explanations—and then, just as irresponsibly, they left without a backward glance. I really want to see if I can break through that ward door and just run away, Chen Gu thought. But he suppressed the restless urge in his heart. He lay quietly on the hospital bed, playing the part of a Bureau of Mystic Security member with a "clear conscience" very well. In a small meeting room, the experts reported all their findings to Aviloya. "There’s nothing suspicious. He’s just a normal human." "Individuals with such extraordinary talents aren’t actually rare. According to our statistics, about one in every hundred million people is like this. It’s just that many of them remain hidden, unknown to others." Aviloya nodded and looked at Chen Jixian. "Watch him closely!" Then the Director-General ended the call. She didn’t give any specific instructions on how to handle Chen Gu, but anyone could detect a hint of dissatisfaction in her three words. That evening, the ward door was pushed open again. Marcus walked in, his face etched with worry. He glanced at Chen Gu and patted his shoulder. "Come with me." Chen Gu’s heart sank. This is bad... He hadn’t expected that the moment he stepped out the door, POP! A shower of party poppers erupted, dousing Great Actor Chen in glittering confetti. Outside the ward, members of the administrative, cleanup, action, and special service teams had all gathered, their faces beaming. "Welcome back to the team!" Marcus, standing beside him, gave him a tight hug. Chen Gu heaved a long sigh of relief. I don’t know why, but it looks like I’ve passed this hurdle. Members of the cleanup and action teams came forward to thank Chen Gu. If it hadn’t been for his sudden need to relieve himself, the convoy would have driven between those two buildings and been trapped by the ambushing truck. In such an unfavorable position, the action team would likely have suffered heavy losses. If Chen Gu hadn’t discovered that Psychological Spy, all the cleanup teams would probably have been contaminated, and the consequences would have been even more horrifying. When they had mostly finished, Marcus waved his hand. "Alright, it’s still work hours. Everyone, back to your posts." He pulled Chen Gu towards Team Five’s office. When they reached an empty corridor, he turned back and gave Chen Gu a sharp flick on the forehead. "OW!" Chen Gu yelped. Marcus gripped his arm tightly. "You little rascal, listen up! The most important thing about being in special service is: safety first!" "You were lucky this time. A rookie like you, going head-to-head with a professional? Are you insane? Good thing you encountered a Psychological Spy. If it had been any combat-proficient professional, you’d be dead for sure!" "I don’t want the rookie I’m training to become a martyr before he even lasts a month!" Marcus was clearly displeased. He grumbled and scolded for quite a while before finally letting go of him. "From now on, you stick with me on missions. No acting on your own!" "Okay." Chen Gu didn’t object. Speaking as Great Actor Chen, unless a performance calls for it, I’m not one to grandstand. Of course, if Milna Katerina or Griffin Wester were to "merge" with Great Actor Chen, and he declared, "Not a single foe shall escape!" Or: "You shall not desecrate my god!" Then it would be all over; not even ten Marcuses could hold him back.