Chapter 563
Fresh Blood, A Man Stronger Than a Monster
Chapter 563 Fresh Blood, A Man Stronger Than a Monster
On the overpass, the traffic moved slowly and inching forward.
Fang Cheng did not answer immediately. After a few seconds of silence, he slowly spoke:
How are they doing now?
"Very honest and cooperative."
The professor was clearly prepared, and his answer was well-organized and logical:
"For safety reasons, I also arranged for them to stay at Yunlin Xiaozhu, with Lao Chen and Eagle Eye taking turns watching over them."
"They are perceptive and highly vigilant; they can detect any disturbance immediately."
There's a hidden meaning in those words: until you agree, these three are both rescued victims and detained suspects, with absolutely no chance of escape.
Fang Cheng nodded slightly, then asked:
"Has your identity and background been checked?"
"They questioned me overnight last night."
The professor flipped through his notes, and with the rustling of pages, gave a detailed report:
"The two young people are a couple. The man's name is Xu Kuan, he is 24 years old and was originally an ordinary auto mechanic. His awakened ability is 'mechanical intuition'."
"This is a very rare talent. Although he cannot create machines out of thin air, he has a terrifying ability to learn technology. As long as he touches a machine, he can intuitively understand its internal structure and operating logic and quickly repair and modify it."
"According to his confession, after awakening his abilities, he came to Dongdu to make a living and quickly became the top modification master in the underground racing circle. It was precisely because of his ability to turn the rotten into the magical that he was targeted by the Blood Thorn Mercenary Group, which needed to modify vehicles."
"His girlfriend's name is Jiang Yun. She is 22 years old and used to be a nurse. Her abilities are more inclined towards mental perception."
"Besides being able to keenly perceive the various emotions of those around them and distinguish between malice and goodwill, it seems... they also possess the potential to 'read minds'."
The professor's tone seemed somewhat unsure:
“During the questioning, there were several times when I hadn’t even asked a question before she seemed to know in advance and quickly gave me the answer.”
"However, this is just my feeling, and further observation is needed."
After a brief pause, the professor continued:
"As for that little girl, she's an orphan, doesn't have a real name, calls herself 'Bean,' and is only thirteen years old."
"This child's ability is 'animal communication,' and he can control small urban animals such as mice, sparrows, or stray cats and dogs."
“He used to live on the streets and survived by directing these little creatures to steal food from restaurant kitchens.”
After introducing the three people, the professor sighed:
“They all migrated from other provinces and had no relatives in Dongdu. Their backgrounds were as clean as a blank sheet of paper.”
"I am terrified and confused right now. I am hiding in my room and I am afraid to come out. I have no idea where to go."
At this point, the professor's voice rose slightly, carrying a hint of probing:
"After a brief observation, I found that these people are not bad people, and they are not particularly cunning."
"Although their ability ratings are not high and their direct combat capabilities are limited, they are all exceptional in terms of support abilities."
"Xu Kuan can be in charge of equipment maintenance and vehicle modification, Jiang Yun can be in charge of intelligence screening and early warning, and Douzi is a natural scout."
"If properly nurtured, they can be very useful for the organization's future development. My suggestion is to try to recruit them."
Fang Cheng raised an eyebrow slightly.
The Illuminati is currently in its initial stage and is short-staffed.
If someone truly has a clean and reliable background, then it is indeed an opportunity to bring in fresh blood.
But the crux of the problem lies precisely in the word "trust".
You can't see into someone's heart. Without a long period of getting to know them and putting them to the test, who can guarantee that they are truly clean and honest?
Previously, the professor recruited Lao Chen, Eagle Eye, Xiao Ya, Fat Tiger, Fei Ying, and others.
That was the professor vouching for himself with his own integrity. Some of them were descendants of old friends, and some were acquaintances he had known for many years. They all knew each other well.
It was precisely because of this guarantee that Fang Cheng chose to accept it without reservation.
After the baptism of last night's battle, these new members have proven their loyalty and reliability through their actions, proving they are fully capable of shouldering great responsibilities, and we may even consider giving them important roles in the future.
But these three strangers were different.
Fang Cheng was so cautious not only because he was worried about traitors who might leak the secrets of the Illuminati.
More importantly, it's about establishing rules from the very beginning of the organization's creation.
The Illuminati's mission is to be a lighthouse in the dark world, not a refuge, much less a rabble that just anyone can enter.
His thoughts raced through his mind, and he glanced at his phone screen.
There were only ten minutes left until the time agreed upon with Lin Chuqiao.
"understood."
Fang Cheng looked at the traffic finally starting to loosen ahead and said calmly:
"Keep an eye on them, make sure they don't cause any trouble."
"I'm going to pick up Chu Qiao now, and I'll meet up with you around this afternoon."
After saying that, he hung up the phone and casually tossed it back into the bag in the passenger seat.
As the road ahead cleared, the engine emitted a deep roar.
The black sedan, like a nimble fish, darted through the gaps in traffic and accelerated into the fast lane.
Fang Cheng's gaze fell on the ever-extending viaduct, his eyes deep and calm.
Are those three so-called "potential stocks" really worth investing in?
Listening to reports is useless; we need to see it in person this afternoon before making a decision.
After all, seeing is believing.
....................................
Qinghe Ancient Town, in the suburbs of Jiangbei.
Nestled in the lush woods is a farmhouse guesthouse called "Yunyin Xiaozhu".
Surrounded by vast farmlands and located in a remote area, coupled with the fact that it wasn't a holiday and there were few tourists, this place was exceptionally tranquil.
In a suite on the second floor of the guesthouse, the afternoon sun slanted through the window and onto the smooth wooden floor.
The room was simply furnished with an eight-immortal table, two bamboo chairs, and two single beds against the wall.
On a small table in the corner sat two blue-and-white porcelain vases, each containing a few freshly picked wildflowers, their petals still glistening with dew.
The room was quiet, with only the occasional rustling of the wind through the treetops coming from outside the window.
On the bed to the left, a young man and woman were sitting.
The man was wearing a faded blue shirt with the cuffs haphazardly rolled up, revealing his somewhat rough forearms.
Several unhealed wounds can still be faintly seen on it.
He looked somewhat blank, sat stiffly, and gripped his knees tightly with both hands.
The woman nestled beside him, wearing a beige knit sweater, her long hair casually tied back.
Although she wasn't wearing makeup, her features were delicate, but her eyes were a little red, indicating that she had just been crying.
In the darkest corner of the room, a small figure was huddled up.
It was a child of about twelve or thirteen years old, wearing an adult coat that was clearly too big for him, with the cuffs of his pants rolled up several times.
Her hair was a mess, like a bird's nest, and her face was covered in filth, making it impossible to see her true appearance or tell her gender.
Only a pair of eyes, wary like those of a wild beast, were visible, fixed intently on the direction of the door.
They were the three extraordinary individuals rescued from the clutches of the Bloodthorn Demon by the Illuminati: Xu Kuan, Jiang Yun, and Douzi.
The three of them were like frightened birds, their nerves still on edge even in a safe room.
“Brother Kuan…”
Jiang Yun buried her head in Xu Kuan's shoulder, her voice trembling slightly:
"What do you think... will the Illuminati deal with us? Will they do what those bastards, Bloodthorn, did and sell us to those perverts as experimental subjects?"
Xu Kuan stiffened, reached out and put his arm around her shoulder, patting it awkwardly:
"Don't...don't be afraid, I will protect you."
"Protect me?"
Jiang Yun raised her head, her red and swollen eyes filled with a hint of resentment:
"If you could really protect me, we wouldn't have been attacked by those people that night..."
She seemed to realize something halfway through her sentence and quickly stopped.
Xu Kuan's face instantly darkened, his lips moved, but he couldn't say anything.
Seeing her boyfriend standing there like a wooden statue, his face full of guilt and self-blame, Jiang Yun's heart softened immediately, and she regretted that her words had been a bit harsh.
"I'm sorry... I shouldn't have said that."
"No, it's all my fault."
Xu Kuan took a deep breath, his tone suddenly becoming incredibly firm:
"This time is different, Xiaoyun. I swear, this time, whoever tries to hurt you will have to step over my dead body first!"
"Bah bah bah!"
Jiang Yun quickly reached out and covered his mouth, scolding him playfully:
"Don't make rash vows, the good ones won't come true, but the bad ones will! Let's live well together."
Xu Kuan didn't speak, but silently tightened his arms around Jiang Yun, holding her even more tightly. This interruption eased the tense atmosphere between them slightly.
But soon, that fear called "the unknown" surged back like a tide.
"You mean... what exactly is this Illuminati?"
Jiang Yun leaned against Xu Kuan's chest, her eyes glazed over.
"The Bloodthorn Mercenary Group is so ruthless that they don't even care about the military. In the end, they can crush a few ants as easily as they crush a few ants."
"What do you think they're after by bringing us here?"
Xu Kuan shook his head, his eyes also full of confusion.
If the Bloodthorn Mercenary Group is a pack of bloodthirsty jackals, then the Illuminati we saw last night were nothing short of dragons from the abyss.
The nightmarish battle simultaneously flashed through their minds.
Flames soared into the sky from the rooftop of the Silver Wing Building.
The military's armed helicopters swarmed like angry wasps, their cannons roaring and rockets raining down.
If the pilot hadn't been mindful of their important "cargo" and deliberately avoided the bombing zone, they would probably have been reduced to ashes long ago.
Those two Bloodthorn members, who were usually so arrogant, cried out for their parents like stray dogs under the terrifying net of fire.
But the man remained calm and fearless.
Like a demon god straight out of mythology, bathed in golden flames, it actually used its flesh and blood to fight against an armed helicopter and blasted a steel behemoth to pieces.
The battle scenes that defied all comprehension still send chills down my spine when I think about them.
"That president... is more like a monster than a monster."
Jiang Yun muttered to herself, her body trembling involuntarily.
Xu Kuan sensed his girlfriend's fear and gripped her cold hand tightly, trying to transfer some warmth to her.
Then he took a deep breath and comforted her:
"Don't overthink it. In any case, the professor with glasses was quite polite to us last night."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yun forced a smile onto her face:
“You’re right. My gut feeling tells me that they don’t have any blatant malice towards us.”
"Since that guild leader is so powerful, he shouldn't make things difficult for us two mere superhumans, right?"
Despite trying to comfort themselves, the confusion in their eyes remained.
He awakened his superpowers, thinking it was a blessing from heaven that would allow him to live a life of luxury.
But reality slapped them hard in the face.
This damn superpower didn't bring wealth or status; instead, it felt like a hot iron.
Not only did they have to evade official investigations, but they also attracted the attention of the Bloodthorn, a ruthless and vicious force.
They were forcibly dragged out of their peaceful lives and turned into prisoners.
Having barely escaped the wolf's den, they've now fallen into a tiger's lair of unknown origin.
The bright sunshine of early summer shone through the window and warmed me.
Yet the two of them felt a sense of desolation, as if they were in winter.
This world is full of malice towards people with supernatural abilities.
They were like duckweed swaying in the wind and rain, with no idea where the next wave would carry them.
Jiang Yun sighed, forcing herself to pull herself out of that feeling of despair.
She turned her head, looked at the dirty child huddled in the corner, and asked softly:
"Douzi, you've let Xiaobai out for so long, have you found out anything?"
In the corner, Bean remained in a wary posture.
Hearing this, he simply shook his head slightly, his voice somewhat weak:
"Xiaobai's hearing isn't very good, and he's not very bright. He'll need to stay a while longer to understand."
Jiang Yun nodded and said nothing more.
She knew that "Little White" was actually a dirty, large rat, the child's pet and also his spy.
During their imprisonment by Bloodthorn, they relied on this inconspicuous little mouse to secretly pass messages, discuss countermeasures, and seek ways to save themselves.
It was then that Jiang Yun learned that this child possessed the magical ability to control small animals.
Just as the three were whispering among themselves...
Suddenly, a soft footstep sound came from the corridor outside the door.
Immediately afterwards, a few words of conversation drifted in.
"President, you've arrived?"
"Hello, President."
Those were two Illuminati members standing guard outside, their voices filled with respect and a hint of awe.
The three people inside the room felt a sudden jolt in their hearts, as if something had tugged at them.
"Yeah, Old Chen, Hawkeye, thanks for your hard work."
A calm and even male voice rang out, revealing no emotional fluctuations.
"It's not hard work, it's not hard work, hehe."
One of the members quickly responded, his tone hesitant, and then asked:
"This young lady, is this the Minister Lin from the Logistics Department that the professor mentioned?"
Hello.
A clear and gentle female voice then rang out, like a spring breeze.
"Hello, hello, I'm Lao Chen, and this is Eagle Eye. We're both newcomers to last night's operation. Please take care of us from now on."
"President, they're inside. Let's go in first."
That was the professor with glasses, interrupting the brief exchange of pleasantries.
"Alright, you guys continue to guard outside and don't let anyone get close."
A steady male voice rang out again.
"Yes!"
The two Illuminati members immediately responded in unison.
The footsteps grew closer and closer, finally stopping outside the door.
That man, stronger than a monster... has arrived?
Jiang Yun and Xu Kuan exchanged a glance and both saw the fear in each other's eyes.
The two instinctively stood up and clasped their hands tightly together.
The bean in the corner was curled up into a ball, wishing it could squeeze itself into a crack in the wall.
squeak-
The old wooden door was pushed open.
Sunlight streamed in through the doorway, and three figures walked in against the light.
The one walking on the far left is the old man who called himself a professor last night.
He wore black-rimmed glasses and looked refined, and he was carrying that familiar black briefcase.
On the right is a stunningly beautiful woman wearing a light purple long dress.
She is tall and has a beautiful and striking appearance.
Especially her pair of peach blossom eyes, which seem to speak volumes, exude a natural charm even when they merely glance over.
Jiang Yun usually prided herself on her looks, but the moment she saw this woman, she felt a sense of inferiority.
But what the three of them couldn't ignore the most was the man walking in the middle.
He was tall and upright, wearing a simple black shirt with the cuffs casually rolled up.
His facial features were well-defined, and his eyes were deep and unfathomable.
The moment he stepped into the room.
The air inside the room seemed to freeze instantly.
An invisible sense of oppression swept over us, like a rising sun suddenly descending upon this small, cramped room.
Although the terrifying power of qi and blood was held back, the heat wave it generated raised the indoor temperature by several degrees, making people feel as if they were in a furnace.
Jiang Yun and Xu Kuan felt their scalps tingle, and fine beads of cold sweat instantly appeared on their foreheads, causing their pupils to contract violently.
It's him.
The man who punched through a man-eating monster on the top floor of the Silverwing Building last night and withstood the bombing of armed helicopters with his bare body.
The president of the Illuminati!
(End of this chapter)