Chapter 85
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Chapter 85: “Holy Shield”
Ji Yongxing donned his new coat and sprinted along the path from the dormitory to the research institute.
The coat, transformed from Fulan, allowed seamless communication between the two—or rather, between one man and one cat.
To an outsider, it might have seemed as though Ji Yongxing was muttering to himself while running, but in a research institute teeming with geniuses, such behavior was hardly out of the ordinary.
Fulan methodically recounted her findings alongside Lin Qingliu.
Relishing the secrecy of her knowledge, she deliberately omitted details that Ji Yongxing had no need to know.
This, however, did not prevent Ji Yongxing from grasping the crux of the nutritional paste issue. He quickly honed in on the key point:
“So, you’re saying this has never happened before, and it only started in the past few days?”
Ji Yongxing asked, steadying his breath as he ran.
“Yes,” Fulan replied. “His Excellency the Eye of God believes some hidden changes have occurred.”
Fulan hesitated to mention her own involvement in the recent anomalies, instead focusing on the mycelium-controlled extraordinary beasts attempting to extract nutrients from household waste.
Ji Yongxing understood the implications all too well. He was also vaguely aware of the major events Fulan and Paster had hinted might unfold in Hope City.
It was precisely for this reason that he had been reassigned to the Weapon Research Department, and his thoughts immediately turned to the matter at hand—
The legendary first superhero team, hailed as humanity’s safeguard against extinction, and its iconic member, the man who single-handedly ensured humanity’s survival under the sun, had recently fallen ill.
Since joining the Weapon Research Department, Ji Yongxing had learned the details of this situation.
The superpowered individual numbered 00005, “Holy Shield,” a man in his fifties and nearly as old as the new era, had been in declining health.
This pivotal figure possessed the ability to create a shield that selectively allowed matter to pass through, enveloping the entire outer city of Hope City.
For decades, this shield had served as an invisible barrier, repelling beast tides that sought to attack from land or sky.
But as his health deteriorated, the shield’s strength waned, its duration and coverage diminishing.
This information was confined to a small circle. To prepare for the potential loss of this critical figure’s abilities, the council had devised two strategies.
The Department of Life Technology had begun exploring ways to extend the superpowered individual’s life, while the Weapon Research Department had resurrected past proposals, even those that had once drained budgets, in a desperate bid to find a shield replacement as quickly as possible.
With these assumptions in mind, Ji Yongxing formulated his plan.
The first step was to confirm whether the mycelium in the nutritional paste matched that found in living samples.
Without this confirmation, he would struggle to persuade his superiors, including Zhou Zhuo.
The second step was to obtain daily samples of the nutritional paste produced over the past month, pinpointing when the mycelium deactivation had failed. He would then compare this timeline with the onset of “Holy Shield’s” decline to establish any connection.
If a link was confirmed, an immediate investigation into the distribution of all failed mycelium deactivations would follow, with efforts to assess the mycelium’s threat as swiftly as possible.
Time was of the essence.
Otherwise…
Ji Yongxing dared not dwell on the worst-case scenario, hoping his efforts would still make a difference in time.
With his plan firmly in mind, he arrived at the laboratory entrance.
After swiping his identification card to sign in, the cutting-edge laboratory of Hope City welcomed him once more.
However, this time, it wasn’t just Ji Yongxing who entered; there was also a wise creature that was eager for knowledge.
“Ji Yongxing, no, [Pioneer], what is inside that jar?”
“…”
“[Pioneer], can you give me a pipette? I promise to take good care of it.”
“…”
“[Pioneer], I think I smell a companion, no, an extraordinary beast’s evil aura. Is it nearby?”
“Could you not call me by my code name? It’s really embarrassing.”
Ji Yongxing said as he gently covered his mouth.
He automatically ignored why a cat would know the names of those instruments, instead focusing on the strange aspects of the conversation.
The name [Pioneer] came purely from a moment of boldness.
As a sixteen-year-old boy, Ji Yongxing, while calm and cautious, also had various fantasies about his future.
Having read many stories about great scientists, he always imagined becoming someone like them.
So when the organization that saves the world from the shadows asked each member to take a code name, he blurted it out without a second thought.
Originally, this code name would only exist on paper and in his developed programs, yet now someone, or rather, a being hardly worthy of being called a person, was incessantly calling his name.
Ji Yongxing’s face slightly flushed, and he said with a hint of embarrassment:
“You must have a code name too, right? Can I call you by your code name?”
“Fulan’s code name is [Fulan], oh, the master said this is called real-name online.”
A voice filled with pride emerged from the collar of the coat.
“This name was personally given by the master; Fulan doesn’t want any other title.”
Ji Yongxing felt an urge to slap his thigh. He should have used a verified identity too; after all, he had met several companions from the organization, and code names felt rather unnecessary.
But when he thought of the possibility of more members joining the organization in the future, a sense of vanity filled with the desire to be respected surged in his chest.
Surely only this cat would be so impolite…
Should be…
Although his mind raced with thoughts, Ji Yongxing did not pause in his actions.
He had already begun the first step of his plan.
At that moment, he was looking for traces of fluorescent mycelium in the blended nutritional paste under a low-power microscope.
The mycelium that had been completely peeled off earlier had already perished under the ten major tortures of the researchers, and it was now made into permanent slices, preserved on another lab bench.
His gaze moved steadily through the nutritional paste, trying to find his target.
Just then, the laboratory’s magnetic access door emitted a sound, and a somewhat familiar footstep approached from the entrance.
Ji Yongxing’s ears twitched slightly as he lifted his head to look at the door.
A somewhat bulky figure appeared in the doorway.
“Deputy Director?!”
Seeing that the newcomer was Zhou Zhuo, Ji Yongxing’s face showed a look of surprise. Although he did not know why his teacher was here, he was known for being a polymath.
With him around, the pace of the research would surely speed up significantly!
