49 Apocalypse Rules

Chapter 330: Chapter 307: Formation of the Intelligence and Investigation Team

"It looks like the martial law was lifted today."

In an abandoned building in Antu City, Shangyuan Zi watched the crowds moving on the streets.

Pedestrians had been appearing since morning, and the number of Sheriffs patrolling the streets had also decreased significantly. It seemed the Sakura Prayer government had shifted its policy.

"Yeah." Behind her, Guan Tong was holding his phone. "’Martial law officially lifted today.’ The government just put out a notice."

"Isn’t that strange?" Shangyuan Zi turned to look at him.

"Something might have been decided at the Human Federation meeting," Guan Tong guessed. "And based on the timing, the interrogation of that guard should be finished. The Strategy Research Room will probably send me an update in the next day or two."

Shangyuan Zi was silent for a moment. "I hope there’s news about her."

Guan Tong knew "her" referred to Shangyuan Guangmei.

Shangyuan Zi hadn’t found her mother in the underground prison earlier, which had left her deeply disappointed and speculating that the Mizusawa Clan might have other secret prisons.

"Let’s wait. I included your mother’s case in the list of questions I gave the Strategy Research Room. If there’s any news, they’ll tell me."

"Okay."

Shangyuan Zi nodded.

Just then, Suzuki came up from downstairs.

Her condition had improved slightly. Her physical injuries had been healed with some items, but the psychological trauma from the torture and interrogation wouldn’t heal overnight.

"I contacted a few of my colleagues at the sheriff’s department, and my superior," Suzuki said, holding her phone.

Worried that Guan Tong might misunderstand, she quickly added, "I didn’t tell them where I am now, or that I’m with you. They all want me to return to the department as soon as possible. They said they’re looking for me."

"You should stay with us for now," Shangyuan Zi said. "If you go back at a time like this, they’ll definitely just arrest you again."

"She’s right. Once the investigation team is formed, I’ll have you join as a member. It won’t be too late to go back then."

Guan Tong had previously agreed to Gao Liangwei’s proposal for a "joint investigation team" during a video call.

He thought it was a great idea.

Investigating with only Shangyuan Zi meant he had to operate in the shadows.

But having the "imperial envoy" status granted by the Human Federation through a "joint investigation team" would be different. He could investigate openly and officially, which would not only be more convenient but also open up more channels for investigation.

"I’ll follow your arrangements."

Suzuki was helpless right now. She knew she would definitely be arrested if she returned to the sheriff’s department; even her colleagues and superior wouldn’t be able to protect her.

Staying with these two dangerous figures, Guan Tong and Shangyuan Zi, actually made her feel safer.

BUZZ BUZZ.

Guan Tong’s phone vibrated. He picked it up and glanced at it.

"It’s from the Strategy Research Room."

The message informed him that the interrogation of the Divine Son Guard was complete. Combining that with information from the freed prisoners, the Strategy Research Room had pieced together a general outline of what the Divine Son, or rather, the Mizusawa Clan, was up to.

For the specific details, they had requested a video call with Guan Tong.

Guan Tong agreed. Ten minutes later, they established a video link.

This time, Gao Liangwei from the Strategy Research Room wasn’t there. It was just Zhang Minglu.

"Mr. Gao is busy, so he won’t be joining this video call," Zhang Minglu said. "I’ll brief you on the relevant matters."

"Alright."

"On your end..."

Zhang Minglu noticed someone else besides Guan Tong on the video feed and paused.

"This is Shangyuan Zi. She’s in the same boat with us and has a right to know about this."

Suzuki had tactfully gone downstairs already, but Shangyuan Zi had stayed. As Guan Tong said, after everything she’d been through, she had a right to know.

"Alright, as long as you trust her."

Zhang Minglu paused for a moment before beginning his explanation.

"First off, from the interrogation of the guard codenamed ’Xin,’ we have the answer to your most pressing question. Divine Son Mizusawa Chun is indeed still alive."

Even though Guan Tong and Shangyuan Zi had suspected as much, hearing it confirmed was still a shock.

"...How did he survive?" Guan Tong asked with a frown.

He had destroyed Mizusawa Chun’s head. That was definitely not something that could be fixed with healing items or abilities.

As for resurrection? So far, no one in the world was known to possess such a heaven-defying item or ability.

"According to Xin’s testimony, Mizusawa Chun is a monster," Zhang Minglu said grimly. "His body isn’t a normal human’s. He doesn’t have a human neck, chest, or abdomen. Instead, those parts are all replaced by heads."

Guan Tong was stunned by this.

Beside him, Shangyuan Zi spoke up: "Orochi..."

Zhang Minglu nodded. "Yes. Xin said Mizusawa Chun told him he possesses the ’bloodline of the Great Serpent’s descendant,’ which is why he grew eight heads. He can’t be killed unless all eight heads are destroyed."

"So that’s how it is..."

Guan Tong was speechless. He didn’t have X-ray vision; how was he supposed to know Mizusawa Chun had a bunch of heads under all those thick clothes?

But thinking about it in hindsight, it was the middle of the night, a time for sleeping, yet Mizusawa Chun was in his own room dressed in layer after layer of clothing. That was indeed abnormal.

But at the time, Guan Tong was only focused on killing him instantly and paid no attention to such details.

"So his ability is also from a bloodline. No wonder he came after me," Shangyuan Zi said in a low voice.

"No, we can’t be sure of that yet," Zhang Minglu said. "We can’t completely trust Xin’s words, because it’s possible Mizusawa Chun was deceiving him."

"That’s right." Guan Tong nodded. "The man is completely cold-blooded and only cares about himself. He would be guarded even with his personal guard and wouldn’t reveal the secrets of his ability without reservation. But regardless, it’s certain that he’s still alive."

"Yes. But your attack must have made him extremely vigilant, which is why he deliberately released the official news that the ’Divine Son’s assassination was successful’ to lull you into a false sense of security."

Guan Tong and Shangyuan Zi exchanged a glance. They both knew this meant Mizusawa Chun would definitely go into hiding, and finding him again wouldn’t be easy.

"Excuse me," Shangyuan Zi said. "Does Xin know anything about Shangyuan Guangmei?"

"We asked that question as well." Zhang Minglu’s tone was tinged with regret, and his eyes held a hint of pity as he looked at Shangyuan Zi. "He said that person was sent to the ’Snake Cave’ three months ago."

"Snake Cave? What is that place?" Shangyuan Zi quickly asked, the name giving her a bad feeling.

"It’s the laboratory where they conduct gene-mixing experiments. They call it the ’Snake Cave.’ The goal is to create Snake People controlled by Mizusawa Chun."

"According to Xin, the experiment has made considerable progress. On one hand, Mizusawa Chun’s blood cells are very special; some humans undergo a serpentine transformation after being mixed with them. On the other hand, the Mizusawa Clan has spent a fortune hiring personnel from all over the world with gene-related Psychic Power abilities or items to assist in the research."

"As for the ultimate goal of the research, aside from creating a large number of Snake People to be used as weapons of war, Mizusawa Chun himself seems to have another purpose. Xin doesn’t know the specifics, but he speculates it has something to do with Mizusawa Chun personally. He said there are a few experiments that only Mizusawa Chun can oversee, and no one else in the Mizusawa Clan is allowed to interfere."

After finishing, Zhang Minglu glanced at Shangyuan Zi. "That Shangyuan Guangmei is your relative, isn’t she? I’m very sorry."

Sent to the lab several months ago... one could easily imagine the outcome.

Shangyuan Zi was silent for a moment. Just as Guan Tong was about to speak, she asked, "Where is the laboratory?"

"Xin confessed the location, but I don’t think it would do any good even if you rushed over there now," Zhang Minglu said. "After the assassination attempt and the discovery of the prison, the Mizusawa Clan must have moved the laboratory elsewhere."

"What if there are clues left at the scene?" Shangyuan Zi looked at Zhang Minglu. "For that reason alone, it’s worth investigating."

"She’s right," Guan Tong said.

Zhang Minglu nodded. "We think so too. That’s why I’m also recommending it as the investigation team’s first destination."

"The joint investigation team has been formed?"

Zhang Minglu shook his head. "There is no ’joint’ team. Only we, North Star, will be forming an investigation team. Mr. Gao brought the matter up at the Human Federation meeting, but it was opposed... because right now, every country is overwhelmed with the Alien Spores issue. They don’t have the manpower to spare for Sakura Prayer’s affairs."

’...That’s understandable.’

Guan Tong had been keeping up with the situation outside these past few days. He knew that many people had been affected by the spores and that the various stages of parasitism were becoming increasingly dangerous.

He could remain vigilant, but that didn’t mean others could resist the temptation.

Even North Star couldn’t stop so many of its people from being infected by the Spore Parasites, let alone other countries.

Zhang Minglu then added, "But you can rest assured. Mr. Gao presented a great deal of evidence of their crimes at the meeting. Because of that, Sakura Prayer’s demand for the Human Federation to issue a collective warrant for your arrest will absolutely not be met after this meeting."

Guan Tong nodded. "So, the investigation team will only have North Star members. What about the personnel?"

"You’re the team leader, so you can make suggestions. However, I have two recommendations for you. Both are people you know who are also aware of your identity."

"Oh?"

’That’s a pretty small pool of candidates,’ Guan Tong thought.

"Silver Fox and Chen Na."

Zhang Minglu didn’t beat around the bush and said their names directly.

"Speaking of which, Silver Fox was the first to figure out your identity. I don’t need to elaborate on her skills; you already know them. As for Chen Na, since you’re conducting an investigation this time, having a skilled sensor like her will also be a great help."

"The two of them, plus you and Ms. Shangyuan Zi here, would form a small four-person investigation team. The Sakura Prayer government will be required to cooperate with you. Of course, the Strategy Research Room will provide support with remote data analysis, intelligence organization, and so on. What do you think?"

"I had originally considered sending Dragon Soul and Bai Xuewu as well. But the rules are about to end, and we can’t predict how much of a threat the Spore Parasites will become, so we have to keep powerful Ascenders in reserve... Besides, when Bai Xuewu heard the investigation was related to snakes, she immediately turned it down."

Guan Tong remembered Bai Xuewu. She was the germaphobic Ascender who piloted a Mecha.

Indeed, back on Holy Grail Island, she had shown an extreme aversion to disgusting things. He had used that very fact to persuade her to back off from competing for the Holy Grail.

"Silver Fox and Chen Na’s help will be enough."

Chen Na’s ability was indeed very useful. As for Silver Fox... although she was formidable, Guan Tong felt that sending her was partly a way to "keep an eye on him," but he didn’t mind.

In any case, he was grateful that the Strategy Research Room had helped receive the prisoners, conducted the interrogations, and gathered intelligence.

Now, hearing Zhang Minglu mention the end of the rules and the "Spore Parasite threat," Guan Tong decided to return the favor.

"After the rules end, if there’s anything I can help with, I won’t be stingy with my strength."

Zhang Minglu smiled. "Of course. That’s exactly the kind of mutually beneficial, long-term cooperative relationship we want to establish with you."

After everything that had happened, the Strategy Research Room, now led by Gao Liangwei, had shifted its goal from "hoping to get Shadow to join the Research Room" to "establishing a long-term cooperative relationship with Shadow."

Rather than forcing a capable person who didn’t want to be tied down to join them, it was better to choose cooperation. From a pragmatic standpoint, both sides would gain something. It was a win-win.

"We’ll get the two of them to the border as soon as possible."

"Good. I’ll go pick them up then."

After the video call ended, Guan Tong looked at Shangyuan Zi.

He wanted to offer some words of comfort, but ultimately decided against it. After all, she wasn’t a child.

"The spore rules are about to end. When they do, every country will experience some turmoil, and Sakura Prayer will be no exception. Launching our investigation at this time has its pros and cons, but no matter what, we will get to the bottom of this."

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