When Shen Ge stepped out of the lab (or rather, the testing ground), he was utterly bewildered. He had been dragged there to “answer questions,” but from start to finish, he hadn’t said a word. The researchers had ended up arguing among themselves.

Li Xiang, who had exited with him, seemed to notice Shen Ge’s confusion and smiled as he explained, “You’ll get used to it. People like us are more obsessed with the questions in our minds than the actual events. If human organs could truly be compatible with those of anomalies, even if human experimentation were banned, there’d still be madmen experimenting on themselves.”

“Including those movie plots where death row inmates are used as test subjects—that kind of thing happens in real life too. But to those researchers, they’re not fellow humans; they’re just experimental material. It sounds cold-blooded, but it’s really just an insatiable thirst for knowledge in uncharted territories.”

“Experimenting on yourself… I’m guessing that includes you?” Shen Ge asked.

Li Xiang shook his head. “No, I wouldn’t turn myself into an anomaly. Staying human in body and mind lets me explore further. I’m crazy, but I’m not a lunatic. If I were to experiment… well, wouldn’t you be a better candidate? That anomaly-detection system in your body—mind if I take a look?”

“…”

Who said no one believed the truth? Here was someone who did.

“Relax, I’m not gonna dissect you. What a waste that’d be for such a prime specimen. After all the effort I’ve put into researching anomaly-energy equipment for you, working day and night to build you a full-function combat suit, how about giving me a few tubes of blood, some skin tissue, hair, you know, for research?” Li Xiang’s eyes gleamed with excitement.

“…”

Seeing Shen Ge’s obvious reluctance, Li Xiang abruptly changed tactics with a sigh. “And here I was, working overtime to finish the energy recharge and upgrade plans for your suit… Guess I’ve got no motivation now.”

“…What if I told you I was just joking earlier?” Shen Ge ventured.

Li Xiang clearly wasn’t buying it. “Cut the crap. That might work on the Director, but we’ve known each other long enough. Your habit is mixing truth into seemingly random remarks, making it impossible to tell what’s real. Whether this anomaly-detection system of yours is real or not, the fact that you’ve gone from dealing with ordinary anomalies to high-tier Level 4s in just a few months means you’ve got hidden trump cards.”

“People with freakish physiques like Lin Yin’s are rare enough to count on one hand. And your skinny frame doesn’t exactly match her muscle-bound build. Whether your system’s a joke or not, you’ve definitely got unconventional ways of dealing with anomalies.”

“Not to mention that indestructible cleaver, those weird anomaly-flesh apples, eyes that can see faint anomaly energy… Relax, I’m just doing research. Whatever I find will ultimately benefit you. It’s a win-win, right?”

Shen Ge cracked his knuckles and smirked. “Hmph, you know too much. The only way to keep someone quiet for good is to—”

“Killing me here would be tricky. We left the lab together, so if I disappear, you’d be the prime suspect. You’re better off sabotaging my research and staging an accident,” Li Xiang said matter-of-factly.

Shen Ge nodded. “Good point. How would we do it?”

By then, they’d reached Li Xiang’s private lab. He picked up a blood-drawing device. “Simple—sabotage while I’m deep in research. But right now, you’re the only thing holding my interest. So today… let’s start with two tubes of blood.”

“…Dude, that syringe looks three times the size of a hospital’s. Two tubes? You trying to drain me dry?” Shen Ge was speechless.

“…Oops. Thought I could slip that past you. Didn’t expect you to be so sharp. Don’t worry, it’s a safe amount—might make you feel a bit anemic at worst.” Unfazed, Li Xiang rolled up Shen Ge’s sleeve and began drawing blood.

Watching the blood flow, Shen Ge suddenly remembered something. “Hey, Old Li, who was with me during my transfer from Yuzhou?”

“Director Deng guarded you at first, then Captain Feng took over. Why?” Li Xiang found the question odd.

“You didn’t sneakily draw a bunch of my blood back then, did you?”

Li Xiang shot him a look. “We’re close enough that you’d refuse me a couple of tubes? If not, why would I need to steal it?”

…Fair point.

Shen Ge figured as much. Though he’d been messing with Li Xiang earlier, he didn’t mind giving a few tubes of blood or some hair. His system might be unreliable, but it wouldn’t be exposed through something like this.

If not Li Xiang, then who?

After finishing the blood draw, Li Xiang noticed Shen Ge’s frown. “What’s wrong? Why the sudden interest in blood?”

“In Yuzhou, I was injured but didn’t lose enough blood to explain the severe anemia symptoms I had when I woke up in the hospital.”

“You think the hospital tampered with you?”

After a pause, Shen Ge nodded. “The hospital reports showed everything normal. But when I got back to HQ, tests confirmed anemia.”

“You should report this to the Director. Even though she suppressed your case, there’s no shortage of people interested in you,” Li Xiang advised.

Shen Ge agreed and continued cooperating with Li Xiang’s experiments.

…..

Director Deng’s Office

Deng Yuqi sat at her desk, brow furrowed as she studied three documents: an investigative report on “Wang Defa” (Old Wang), today’s mission report, and a dossier on the mysterious figure at the Asian Anomaly Research Conference.

The investigation into Old Wang had turned up nothing new despite mobilizing the entire Special Anomaly Response Department’s resources. Records showed he’d died months ago in a landslide during a trip to Shizhaigou, his body cremated, and his family compensated by the travel agency. But there were no photos, videos, or surveillance footage—only written records. Even in areas with cameras, not a single image of Old Wang existed.

Unless Shen Ge had lied—unlikely, given his clearance—this suggested Old Wang’s backers were either powerful enough to evade national scrutiny or, like Shen Ge, under high-level protection with falsified records.

Deng Yuqi’s gaze shifted to the mission report by Captain Feng Chengxiu, sparking a dangerous thought: Had “the project” truly been terminated?

A knock interrupted her musings.

“Come in.”

Shen Ge entered, looking pale, and slumped into a chair.

“You don’t look well,” Deng noted.

“That bastard Li Xiang promised two tubes of blood but sneakily took two and a half while chatting.”

“…Why was he drawing your blood?”

“Research.”

“Research?”

Shen Ge recounted Li Xiang’s intentions. Deng’s expression grew stranger. “I warned you two not to team up. If he dissects you one day, don’t blame me.”

“Better him than outsiders.” Shen Ge then detailed the unauthorized blood draws during his hospitalization.

Deng’s face darkened. She immediately ordered an investigation into the hospital staff and surveillance.

…..

Weeks Later: New Legislation

The “Animal Cruelty Prevention Act” sparked nationwide upheaval, criminalizing abuse with no age exemptions. Globally, similar laws emerged, with the Special Anomaly Response Department rebranding as an “animal protection agency” to mask its true purpose.

The laws reduced anomaly incidents slightly but caused a 60% drop in pet ownership due to stringent post-mortem regulations. The pet industry collapsed, and surplus animals flooded meat markets—accelerating anomaly outbreaks.

Shen Ge, now working nonstop, faced a surge in contained anomalies (over fifty). His system logs warned of an expanding “invisible” anomaly domain engulfing the city.

…..

Emergency Alert

An alarm blared—a contained Level 2 anomaly, the regenerating “Giant Rat,” had broken free after near-Level 3 evolution.

Deng Yuqi swore to feed Li Xiang to the creature if he kept feeding anomalies to test subjects.

As the three-meter-tall rat-monster erupted from underground, Shen Ge deadpanned, “At least we know our containment’s unreliable.”

“Look out!” Lin Yin lunged, catching the creature’s whip-like tail bare-handed.