"Report! A concealed chamber has been discovered!" A soldier dashed before Guo Mingqing.
"Lead me there immediately!" Mingqing sprang up abruptly from the sofa.
Following the soldier, they arrived before a bookshelf in Nie Yun's study.
"Thermal imaging indicates a room behind this..." the soldier stated, observing his holographic helmet display.
"Have you located the opening mechanism?" Mingqing inquired.
"Negative, it appears to be activated by voice command or remote control..." the soldier analyzed.
"That scoundrel Nie Yun, still keeping secrets..." Mingqing clenched his fists tightly. "Blast it open!"
"Affirmative!"
Within merely one minute, the periphery of the bookshelf was laden with plastic explosives. Mingqing retreated five meters to stand clear. Soldiers lined up before him, raising their sniper rifles in vigilant readiness.
The soldier responsible for detonation pressed the switch. "Pop..." A soft sound ensued. The bookshelf, along with the steel door behind it, collapsed onto the floor.
The scene that materialized before them stunned the soldiers, and shocked Mingqing even more profoundly.
A colossal glass cultivation vessel faced the entrance directly. Within the verdant liquid floated a nude male form, an oxygen mask covering his mouth. It was 13.
"As expected, he's still alive!" Mingqing's voice trembled. "So Nie Yun had concealed him here all along!"
"Sir, shall we proceed inside to search?" the soldier who had just detonated the explosives inquired.
"Naturally, we must search!" Mingqing exclaimed, almost euphoric. "We were originally seeking the seed, and now we've stumbled upon such a prize. It seems another commendation is imminent. Hahahaha!"
"Congratulations, Sir!" the soldier said obsequiously.
Over ten soldiers swiftly charged into the room.
The space was effectively a laboratory, cluttered with various electronic instruments, the floor a complex network of cables.
At this juncture, another object within the room captivated everyone's attention...
Suspended on one wall was a peculiar set of armor. Pure black surface, distinct lines, its helmet also entirely black, with four blue camera lenses flanking its sides. The overall impression was more refined than the White Tiger armor, and its thickness appeared somewhat reduced.
Examining the shoulder of the breastplate revealed a deeply etched metallic insignia—13!
"Old fool! Not only did you privately harbor the seed and rescue the nation's traitor, but you also designed specialized equipment for him!" Mingqing furiously kicked aside a nearby instrument.
The soldiers were aware of Mingqing's infamous fiery temper; none dared provoke him in his current state. They dispersed to search the cramped room. Approximately ten minutes later, the soldiers reconvened before Mingqing.
"Reporting, Sir. No other suspicious items have been located. It is presumed the seed is not here."
"Never mind. Since Nie Yun is already apprehended, we have ample time to leisurely 'interrogate' him regarding the seed's whereabouts." Mingqing approached the cultivation vessel, observing the slumbering 13 through the glass. "Let's transport the equipment and this individual back for analysis first... Remember to notify me immediately once he is awakened. I wish to ascertain the nature of this so-called Sniper King."
"Affirmative!"
The soldiers commenced the removal process. However, the cultivation vessel was excessively large, necessitating assistance.
Guo Mingqing, eager to report back to base, departed ahead of the others.
Within five minutes, a military transport vehicle arrived at the research institute's entrance.
Mentally cursing their superior, over ten individuals collectively hoisted the cultivation vessel, weighing fully two tons. Perhaps overly focused on the task, no one observed 13's finger twitch subtly.
"Finally done!" The leading soldier massaged his shoulder as he closed the vehicle's door.
"Damned thing, so heavy, my hands nearly broke..." the soldiers grumbled.
"Cease your complaints. Let's hurry back, take a shower, and tonight the boss will treat you all..."
"Excellent!!" The previously complaining soldiers cheered exuberantly.
The leader proceeded to the transport vehicle's cabin, conversed briefly, and the driver, proving quite generous, readily agreed to let them return first, assuming responsibility for transporting the cargo shortly thereafter.
The transport vehicle proceeded calmly along the highway, while within its cargo bay, the cultivation vessel began undergoing changes. The green liquid churned violently. 13's chest rose and fell with increasing amplitude.
Encountering a red light, the vehicle braked. 13's eyes snapped open. Seeing the red light would persist for some time, the driver seized a moment of leisure to retrieve a cigarette. Suddenly, the vehicle lurched violently. He hastily exited to investigate.
The unlit cigarette dropped from the driver's mouth to the ground. The rear doors were flung open, the cultivation vessel's glass utterly shattered...
Guo Mingqing, yet to reach headquarters, received this dreadful news. Upon hearing of 13's escape, cold sweat rapidly beaded on his forehead. He understood that failing to find 13 was one matter, but allowing him to escape after discovery constituted negligence sufficient to ruin his promising future. Within two minutes, Mingqing resolved—not to report the discovery of 13. Since 13's whereabouts had always been uncertain, let them remain so...
Within the Z Country Special Ops National Defense Force Beijing Headquarters, located in the suburbs of BJ, Nie Yun was incarcerated in a dark interrogation room. After a short while, the sealed door opened once more...
"Doctor Nie, long time no see." The room was excessively dim; Nie Yun could not initially discern the visitor's features clearly, yet his voice was strikingly familiar.
"Do you remember me?" The speaker approached the room's sole, minuscule pendant light. Nie Yun's mind instantly went numb...
"Adam..." Seated at the table, Nie Yun's voice trembled.
"Quite surprising, isn't it?" The visitor smiled faintly. Upon closer inspection, it was indeed the young man in the tracksuit from 13's graduation examination, who had subsequently eliminated Special Ops Team 6.
"Why are you here?" Nie Yun's body quivered as well; he was afraid. Afraid from the depths of his soul.
"Doctor Nie, how peculiar? I am the Commander-in-Chief of the Special Ops National Defense Force. Why shouldn't I be here?" The young man deliberately displayed his epaulets for Nie Yun's inspection.
"The Commander-in-Chief of the Special Ops National Defense Force is you?!" Considering the force's establishment over a year prior, their commander had never appeared publicly, the Chairman explaining it was a clandestine unit requiring a special individual at its helm, whose identity could not be revealed.
"Well? Are you astounded that I could ascend to this position?" His smile grew even more radiant.
"What precisely are you plotting?" Nie Yun leaped frantically from his seat, disregarding his fear, seizing the man's collar with his cuffed hands. "I warn you! Do not interfere with Z Country!"
"With what do you warn me?" His countenance darkened, nearly merging with the surrounding gloom. "With that substitute of mine?"
Adam forcefully broke free from the grip on his collar. "Do not forget what you told me when you brought me into existence. 'Adam, you are the true god, nothing in the world is more perfect than you. You are God's gift to Z Country...'"
Nie Yun slumped back into his seat, appearing decades older in an instant.
"I... I was mistaken..." Tears streamed down Nie Yun's face relentlessly. "The greatest regret of my life was creating you..."
"Do not overestimate yourself." Adam's tone was laced with sarcasm. "I merely utilized your hand to be born into this wretched world. I have come to redeem this world."
"If only the genes had been directly extracted and cultivated initially, none of this would have transpired. Why, solely due to intense curiosity, did I use the original..." Nie Yun continued reflecting on his transgressions.
"This is all divine providence!" Adam stated gently. "Even arranging for you to discover the seed in 'Noah' was preordained. Now your task is complete. You may deliver the seed to its rightful owner..."
"Impossible..." Nie Yun shook his head. "I will not err again. The seed cannot be entrusted to anyone besides 13."
"13 again!" Adam exclaimed. "He is merely a replica extracted from my DNA. His purpose was sacrificial..."
"That is not so..." Nie Yun wiped the tears from the corner of his eyes. "He differs from you; he was a blank slate at birth. He could possess a life entirely his own. Through that battle in TB, I know he has begun to master his own destiny. I am gratified. You, however, are a book, a history. You harbor no thought of integrating into the world, into ordinary humanity. To you, they are inferior creatures..."
"Even so, I still regard you as my father..." Adam's gaze conveyed to Nie Yun that he spoke truthfully.
"If you genuinely consider me your father, then promise me you will not meddle in the human world. Allow us to forge our own world." Nie Yun looked towards Adam imploringly.
"That is unfeasible..." Adam sighed. "Since God placed me in this world, I must assume responsibility, guide humanity onto the correct path..."
"And what if humanity does not develop according to your arrangement?" Nie Yun questioned.
"Disobeying my words means the Earth will only slowly progress towards destruction. I cannot permit such an eventuality. I will use the seed to conclude everything here, reset the world to zero, and recreate it."
"Every life possesses the right to exist. You are merely eradicating life. I, Nie Yun, am the world's greatest sinner. I cannot continue down this erroneous path, thus the seed will never fall into your hands..." Nie Yun stated resolutely.
"It matters not." Adam was not angered by Nie Yun's defiance. "As long as we find 13, the seed's location will likely be revealed. I have time to wait. Since you are already here, I trust locating him will not prove difficult..." With that, Adam exited the room without a backward glance.
"13..." Nie Yun closed his eyes, no longer gazing into the darkness before him.
The gears of fate continued to turn...