Chapter 127 – Shuguang Technology

Seeing how interested Lin Xi was in the bank robbery case at Jinrui Bank, Xia Xun chatted with her for a little while before leaving.

She headed straight to Guard Corps Headquarters in Z City, arriving just as Captain Zhao Xing pulled up in his car.

They entered the Guard Corps building together. The person who received them was Guo Huating, a capable female officer from the Forensic Technology and Information Department.

Guo Huating got straight to the point.

“The blood and tissue samples you sent us aren’t human. They came from an artificial human.”

Xia Xun: “…”

Zhao Xing: “…”

They exchanged a look, both rooted to the spot.

“An artificial human?!” Xia Xun’s mind immediately went to C City.

Known as both the City of Artificial Humans and the City of Despair, C City “produced” artificial superpower users in great numbers.

They modified humans to combat Dark Realm Disaster threats. Since this involved human experimentation, the other cities refused to condone their methods.

As a result, the other cities placed strict controls on everything originating from C City-especially its people.

Zhao Xing was about to ask a question, but Guo Huating answered before he could.

“I’ve already checked with the Border Guard Corps in Z City. They haven’t caught any illegal entrants from C City recently.”

“I don’t believe the artificial superpower user who robbed the bank came from C City. I think they’re one of our own people here in Z City.”

Guo Huating’s words pointed directly at one of the biggest financial backers of the Guard Corps and the Countermeasures Bureau-Shuguang Technology.

If anyone in Z City had the ability to conduct research into artificial superpower users, it could only be Shuguang Technology.

Xia Xun and Zhao Xing both thought of Commissioner He Mingyuan, whom Shuguang Technology had sent to liaise with them on the case. He had been extremely evasive about what was inside the safe. Could that have been because the item was connected to an artificial superpower user?

…

Of course it was.

It was a “heart”-the core of an artificial superpower user from C City.

Shuguang Technology intended to use it in the newest artificial superpower user it had created.

He Mingyuan stood before a desk with his head bowed, waiting for his superior, Director Wu, to unleash his fury.

Director Wu’s full name was Wu Fa. He was one of the highest-ranking people in charge of Shuguang Technology’s Secret Research Project on Artificial Superpower Users.

After the first bank robbery case at Jinrui Bank, not only had the item nearly been stolen, but Wu Fa’s brother, Wu Tian, had also been shot dead by the robbers.

Furious, Wu Fa had specifically sent He Mingyuan, one of his most capable subordinates, to liaise with the investigation as Commissioner.

Earlier, He Mingyuan had confidently declared that he, Zhao Xing, and Xia Xun of the Countermeasures Bureau had set a trap together. He had sworn the plan was foolproof and that they would capture all the robbers in one fell swoop.

Instead, the enemy had turned their plan against them, and He Mingyuan was the one who fell into the trap.

In the end, not only did they fail to catch the robbers, but the extremely valuable artificial human core from C City-hidden in the safe and slated for imminent experimentation-was stolen as well.

What was supposed to have been a guaranteed victory had ended in a complete disaster. The mere sight of He Mingyuan made Director Wu’s blood boil.

The phone call he had just received had also put him on edge.

Yelling at He Mingyuan wouldn’t solve anything, so he forced down his anger and said coldly,

“The person we planted in the Guard Corps’ Forensic Technology and Information Department just reported that the test results are in for the robbers’ blood and muscle tissue.”

“The samples aren’t human. They’re from an artificial human.”

“Huh?!” He Mingyuan jerked his head up in astonishment. He had never imagined this would be the result. “Where the hell did an artificial human come from to steal our stuff? Did those guys in C City who sold us the core decide to double-cross us?”

“Idiot!” Wu Fa suddenly exploded. “What do you mean, ‘criminals robbing criminals’?! Shuguang Technology is the dawn of Z City! We’re as aboveboard as they come!”

“Every last one of our research projects is intended to benefit the citizens of Z City.”

“It’s just that most of the idiots out there don’t understand that we’re doing this for their own good!”

As a mere corporate underling, He Mingyuan could only stand there and take his superior’s tirade.

After he finished berating him, Wu Fa continued, “The Z City Border Guard Corps hasn’t found any suspicious individuals from C City. The robbers most likely aren’t from there.”

“In other words, this particular member of the robbers is from Z City.”

“And since she’s an artificial human, she must have come from one of the laboratories run by Shuguang Technology!”

“Investigate!”

“Dig through the laboratory’s entire history!”

“Pay special attention to the accidents. The answer has to be hidden somewhere in those records!”

Wu Fa’s reasoning was clear: the artificial human among the robbers had to be closely connected to the research of Shuguang Technology into creating an artificial superpower user.

“Yes, Director!” He Mingyuan knew this was his only chance to redeem himself.

Wu Fa said irritably, “Zhao Xing and Xia Xun went to Guard Corps Headquarters. They already know the robbers include an artificial human.”

“Once they rule out the possibility that she’s from C City, they’ll undoubtedly turn their attention toward Shuguang Technology.”

“I sent you to drag Zhao Xing and Xia Xun into investigating the bank robbery case, but it ended up backfiring on us. Now those two may become a problem as well.”

“Fortunately, Shuguang Technology is one of the financial backers of the Countermeasures Bureau. They don’t have any solid evidence either, so they won’t be able to cause us trouble anytime soon.”

Wu Fa pondered for a moment before issuing new orders.

“First, conduct an internal investigation. Find the connection between this particular member of the robbers and our laboratory as quickly as possible, and identify who she is.”

“Second, get in touch with Old K. I suspect we’ll soon have need of his team-the strongest mercenary squad in Z City.”

“Understood!” He Mingyuan knew this was no longer as simple as catching the robbers.

They could no longer rely on Zhao Xing and Xia Xun from the Countermeasures Bureau. They would be lucky if those two didn’t come after Shuguang Technology instead.

Calling in the elite mercenary squad led by Old K made their intentions perfectly clear:

Find this member of the robbers. No matter who she was, kill her, retrieve the core, and bring the entire affair to a clean conclusion.

“Sigh… Perhaps we should have done this from the start,” Wu Fa said with a sigh. “Mingyuan, make sure you handle it cleanly this time. No loose ends.”

“I’ll hold off the Countermeasures Bureau. Just focus on getting it done.”

“You must understand that our research has reached a critical stage. The Artificial Superpower User Laboratory cannot be shut down.”

“Unlike C City, we aren’t pursuing mechanical ascension. Our goal is to create a superpower user even stronger than a Magical Girl.”

“In the future, Shuguang Technology will be the one to protect Z City, eradicate monsters from the Dark Realm, and repel an invasion from the Dark Realm.”

“Those idiots outside have no idea what Shuguang Technology is truly capable of.”

“We are the dawn of Z City, and one day, we will become the dawn of all humanity!”

“Admittedly, the laboratory has suffered a few accidents. A few people died, and several sites were destroyed. But what great undertaking has ever been accomplished without sacrifice?”

The more Wu Fa spoke, the more worked up he became, as if Shuguang Technology were the very “sun” of the people of Z City.

Before leaving the office, He Mingyuan made a solemn pledge: he would bring the entire matter to a satisfactory conclusion within one week.