Chapter 368 - 339: An Opportunity or Not

Chapter 368: Chapter 339: An Opportunity or Not

"I remember. It was after the ’Luoying Plan’."

As a participant in the plan, Zhang Minglu knew full well that the people who had been fired were all connected to Jiang Lanying, the target of the Luoying Plan.

At the time, these people had even written a joint letter demanding the removal of the person in charge, Gao Liangwei, but they were all rounded up in one fell swoop instead.

"The higher-ups suspect a fish slipped through the net. Whether that fish has found a new master or is trying to wipe its slate clean, it’s a potential threat to the lab. So, you need to be extra careful."

"..."

After leaving Gao Liangwei’s office, Zhang Minglu couldn’t help but wonder if the director’s words held a hidden meaning.

’Does Gao Liangwei suspect that Academician Han, Han Qiu, is the "fish"? Did he agree to this collaboration with me just so I could monitor him?’

After a moment of thought, Zhang Minglu shook his head.

He really didn’t want to get dragged into these matters; he just wanted to do his job. But things had progressed to a point where he no longer had a choice.

’I should give Shadow a heads-up first. He’s in contact with the head of Ascender’s Home, so he might have more information about the Mind Network...’

...

「Sennantata Town.」

The small town, which usually had a fixed, stable population, was experiencing its peak-ever foot traffic today. It was a dense, swarming sea of people.

In addition to the throngs of Alien Intelligence enthusiasts already present when Guan Tong and Shangyuan Zi arrived, hundreds of people from the contact delegation had been added to their number today.

Sikokun had soldiers transport them to the town and drop them off, from which point they were free to take a train and depart.

Some left immediately, but others chose to stay behind for the time being.

While Louis and a few others stayed because they still hadn’t given up on contacting the Alien Intelligence, the rest remained because the townspeople had begged them to.

These members of the contact delegation may have been miserably cooped up at the Landing Site for days, but they had seen the Alien Intelligence with their own eyes. That alone put them head and shoulders above everyone else in town.

People crowded around them, bombarding them with questions. This gave some delegation members a sense of superiority, making them willing to stick around for a couple of days to brag and show off.

Through their boasting, the townspeople learned that Louis was the very first person to ask the Alien Intelligence a question.

This created a huge stir. Everyone started calling Louis "The Pioneer of Third Contact," and they all scrambled to take a picture with him.

"You’re the first person who asked it a question! Your name is going down in the history books! Come on, let’s get a photo!"

"That’s right! Any future history written about aliens will have to mention you."

"Let me get a picture, too!"

From a corner of the bar, Guan Tong and Shangyuan Zi watched the crowd swarm around Louis.

Shangyuan Zi watched for a few moments before looking away. She turned to Guan Tong. "You’re quite interested, aren’t you?"

When Guan Tong hadn’t left immediately after getting his revenge yesterday, choosing instead to stay the night, Shangyuan Zi knew he wasn’t being entirely honest with himself.

He had told her he’d only come to Sisiya to settle a personal score and that it had nothing to do with the Alien Intelligence. But now, it seemed that wasn’t the whole truth.

"Yeah." Guan Tong didn’t bother trying to save face and simply nodded in admission.

"You want to ask a question?"

"...If I can test my theory."

Guan Tong’s theory, of course, was his idea of using the Living Dead as food.

If it worked, he could use his stored Psychic Power to create a large number of Living Dead. He could then have them take the place of the Parasites as food, thereby earning himself a chance to ask a question.

Shangyuan Zi reminded him, "Sisiya has been heavily fortified. They aren’t letting anyone near it. Don’t forget that, Captain."

Guan Tong said, "I have a connection to Sisiya’s current Governor. I might be able to get an opportunity."

Shangyuan Zi was surprised. She never would have imagined that Guan Tong knew Yelena.

"It’s just..."

"Just what?"

Guan Tong’s expression was complicated. "The man I killed for my revenge yesterday... was her brother. So whether or not I can get that opportunity is another matter entirely."

"..."