Chapter 43
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Chapter 43: The Nursing Home
Upon reflection, the figure in black indeed made some valid points.
While the outer city houses the majority of the population, the core of industry is firmly established there, whereas the military and research institutes are safeguarded within the walls of the inner city.
Decades of living have led everyone to overlook a crucial fact:
In the event of a real disaster, the outer city is, in essence, a sacrificial pawn.
Just as no one would stash their valuables in a crumbling house, how could those rare superpowered individuals be left to roam outside the city?
After a moment, Wang Xiao nodded.
The two figures successfully persuaded him, and he decided to accompany them into the inner city for a psychological test.
The last time Wang Xiao underwent a psychological test, he was swindled out of two thousand information coins.
Of course, with the passage of time, Wang Xiao felt nothing but gratitude for that day’s experience; any resentment had long since faded.
He wondered if this psychological test would be similar to the last one…
As Wang Xiao pondered this, the two figures in black had already secured electromagnetic handcuffs on him, escorting him out with one on each side.
—
Zhuang Mian’s team was dispersed across various streets on the eastern side of the outer city.
This was the current most rudimentary yet perhaps most effective method.
The information Zhuang Mian possessed was insufficient to accurately predict the enemy’s movements, so she could only cast a wide net and hope for the best.
Of course, she also stationed her subordinates to monitor the three main gates leading from the eastern outer city into the inner city, allowing them to report any suspicious activity directly to her.
At six fifteen in the evening,
The sun had just dipped below the horizon in early June when a somewhat distorted voice came through the walkie-talkie in Zhuang Mian’s office:
“Captain, a car just entered the inner city, and there’s one more person inside than when it arrived this afternoon.”
The voice on the other end belonged to Jiang Liang, a graduate of the Security Academy, known for his excellent memory.
Now that Zhao Qi had confirmed the presence of a mole and the urgent need for personnel, Jiang Liang had already become a candidate for deputy captain in Zhuang Mian’s eyes.
Hearing the good news, Zhuang Mian’s heart leapt; after sitting idle all afternoon, she finally received a piece of good news.
Although it was only a possibility that it was her target, she knew she could not miss this opportunity and quickly asked,
“What is the model and license plate number?”
“A black luxury sedan, NM5239.”
The other end of the walkie-talkie promptly reported the suspicious license plate.
Zhuang Mian quickly jotted down the license plate number on a sticky note, and as she got up to head outside, she couldn’t help but murmur,
“What are the people in the center of the inner city really up to?”
After saying this, Zhuang Mian set down the freshly printed documents in her hands; they were two autopsy reports.
One belonged to Dr. Bard, and the other to Deputy Captain Zhao Qi.
The causes of death for both were strikingly consistent—
Cardiac arrest induced by medication.
Three minutes later, Zhuang Mian ignited the engine of her newly assigned vehicle from the security bureau, displaying none of the survivor’s demeanor she had exhibited just days prior.
Zhuang Mian was acutely aware of her transformation.
Since her divine enlightenment, her mental fortitude had significantly strengthened.
The lucid dream that spanned decades not only endowed her with superpowers but also completely revolutionized her mindset and cognitive processes.
Zhuang Mian accelerated along the main road heading towards the inner city.
In the trunk of the car, a gray-haired boy was curled up, muttering curses about the car’s abysmal suspension as he was jostled about.
—
This was Wang Xiao’s first venture into the inner city.
He observed roads free of potholes, people strolling leisurely, neatly arranged buildings, and food stalls offering flavors he had never experienced.
Everything seemed so alien; he believed such joy should be accessible to every human, yet reality told a different story.
He had resolved that this would be his final visit to the inner city, so indulging his curiosity seemed inconsequential.
Wang Xiao gazed voraciously out the car window, oblivious to the car’s meandering route.
The black luxury sedan twisted and turned, leading Wang Xiao away from the vibrant eastern part of the inner city.
After traversing several increasingly deserted roads, they arrived at a five-story building.
The structure was painted in alternating large blocks of gray and white, with a blood-red cross at its highest central point, signaling it was a hospital.
Yet, the hospital appeared eerily quiet; the spacious parking lot below was nearly empty, with only a few dust-covered cars, suggesting long-term neglect.
Wang Xiao was escorted out of the car, and as he surveyed his surroundings, a sense of desolation enveloped him.
Compared to his limited experiences, Wang Xiao surmised this place must be the fabled nursing home.
Watching a few leaves being swept by the wind, Wang Xiao couldn’t help but chuckle,
“Hehe, I thought there was no room left for trees in all of Hope City.”
The two figures in black disregarded Wang Xiao’s comment and ushered him into the nursing home.
After navigating a corridor with flickering lights, Wang Xiao entered a pristine and brightly lit area.
This section seemed detached from the main building of the nursing home, with its immaculate environment and orderly white-coated staff starkly contrasting the previously abandoned area.
The two men guided Wang Xiao into a patient room.
An elderly man, appearing to be in his seventies or eighties, lay in bed, watching a colorful screen on the wall.
Wang Xiao had never encountered anything like it; he instinctively turned to the wall, where a scene unfolded that seemed otherworldly.
A deep blue feline creature, remarkably human-like in expression and movement, was attempting to catch a much smaller humanoid mouse.
Their exaggerated antics caused them to overturn all the furniture in their path, instantly captivating Wang Xiao.
“Beep.”
The old man pressed the remote control, and the image on the screen froze.
Wang Xiao, realizing his rudeness, sat down in a chair beside the elderly man’s bed, guided by the figures in black.
“You are Wang Xiao?”
Wang Xiao nodded, unsure of the old man’s intentions.
He was supposed to be filling out forms for testing; why was he brought here?
But he didn’t dwell on it; his upbringing had instilled in him a natural trust in such individuals.
After all, everyone was striving for humanity’s future, all genuine comrades.
The old man inquired again,
“You are already twenty years old, yet you’ve awakened superpowers that are notably stronger than similar abilities.
“I reviewed your family history, and there are no superpowered individuals within three generations of your parents; this is truly extraordinary.”
Wang Xiao remained mostly silent, nodding in agreement.
The old man seemed to weaken slightly; he leaned back against the bed and continued,
“Given this, perhaps you truly are a blessing bestowed upon humanity by heaven… Wang Xiao, are you willing to dedicate yourself to humanity?”
“Swish!”
Wang Xiao stood up immediately, delivering the standard response of a military member:
“I am willing to sacrifice everything to help humanity reclaim this planet!”
The old man looked up at Wang Xiao, his eyes struggling to stay open. He extended his frail hand and grasped Wang Xiao’s arm,
“That’s good, that’s good.”
Wang Xiao reached out both hands to hold the old man’s arms, but felt an unexpected strength emanating from him.
He experienced a sharp pain in his back, and then something began to course through his bloodstream.
He realized something was amiss, but it was already too late.
