Chapter 187: The Fish That Got Away

“The Ruins Base was breached. By the time people from the major groups arrived, it was a total mess. All the experimental data was destroyed.”

“They say there was infighting at the base. A scientist supposedly defected with samples and data. Who knows what corner of the Ruins they’re hiding in now?”

“It wasn’t breached. The base was exposed, so they did an emergency relocation. When the groups’ people got there, all they found was an empty shell and destroyed lab equipment.”

“The base was massive. Behind it, there was a burial pit where they found tons of bones. There were also many children’s bodies preserved in preservative fluid. Those people are too cruel. They were using live subjects for their experiments.”

“I heard a lot of the explorers who went into the Ruins never came back. It wasn’t because they were eaten by Mutant Beasts, but because the base captured them for experiments.”

“Stop talking. It wasn’t a relocation at all. Remember the sample leak from before? The base got into a fight with two other groups that were investigating them. The story about the scientist escaping is true, too. Someone already found the Genetic Transformation Liquid. After injecting it, he used fifth-tier Star Power to defeat a seventh-tier Shock Explosion Tiger. He blew up the tiger’s head in just two punches! His Star Skill’s power was boosted by at least three times. There are pictures to prove it…”

…

On the internet.

Rumors were flying everywhere.

All sorts of “pictures to prove it.”

With Li Ye’s abilities, arranging a few “performance matches” was as easy as could be.

Meanwhile.

A bounty for a single vial of Genetic Transformation Liquid appeared on the internet, with the price exceeding twenty billion Star Coins. It wasn’t just on the black market, either—it was brazenly displayed on the homepages of major websites.

The bounty announcements even bore the official seals of the major corporate groups.

…

「Star Map Group Headquarters.」

The chairman stared at the information that had suddenly exploded across the internet and flew into a rage. “What is going on? Who posted this bounty?”

“It was Third Master Chu,” the group’s general manager said, trembling. “He posted the announcement in his own name. We suspect Third Master Chu is really one of the base’s people. They’re probably the ones who deliberately released all this information to muddy the waters.”

“Chu the Third is really one of them?” Chairman Nan asked, his face dark.

“Pang Baisheng and Qin Xiuwen, who disappeared a while back, both posted similar announcements.” The general manager wiped the sweat from his forehead. “Chairman Nan, my guess is that the base wants to stir up chaos so they can disappear again.”

“…” Chairman Nan’s brow furrowed. ‘This can’t be that simple. Chu the Third isn’t that reckless. There has to be something else going on…’

“Chairman Nan, what’s done is done. A huge number of people are already flooding into the Ruins to treasure hunt,” the general manager said. “Chairman Nan, should we still send people?”

“Send them. Find someone to go in and see what’s really happening.” Chairman Nan stood up. “I suspect the Genetic Transformation Liquid research was successful, and the base is likely trying to use this opportunity to stage a coup. Old Tang, send out the order. The entire group is to be on standby and enter the highest state of alert.”

“What about the matter with the Flat Pan Group? Should we keep investigating?” The general manager hesitated for a moment before asking. “So far, there hasn’t been a single peep from the Flat Pan Group. It’s as if the Ruins Base incident has nothing to do with them. They’re not even bothering to put on an act.”

“Investigate. Don’t let a single suspicious detail slide.” Chairman Nan paused for a second, then said calmly, “I don’t care if the Flat Pan Group is the real mastermind or if they’re being framed. I want it all figured out.”

…

Similar scenes were playing out in different corporate groups.

By now, they could no longer distinguish what was real from what was fake.

The only thing they could do was send more people into the Ruins to search for that fictitious base laboratory, or to find a vial or two of the Genetic Transformation Liquid.

Swept up by the tide of events, no one could remain on the sidelines.

…

「The Federation President’s Mansion.」

The President and a middle-aged man were fishing by the river out back.

Beside them was an arrangement of wine, exquisite fruits, and several fine dishes.

“Mr. Xue, what are your thoughts on this matter?” The President took a sip of fine wine and put a bite of food into his mouth. “Your culinary skills have improved yet again, sir.”

“The work of a fellow professional, no doubt.” Xue Yang, wearing sunglasses, watched the bobber on the river’s surface and shook his head with a smile. “He realized I wasn’t dead and even built such a massive corporation. My counterpart must have been terrified, forced to resort to such crooked schemes to break the deadlock. This newcomer is pretty lucky, though. He transmigrated directly into the Federation instead of dying on arrival.”

“Mr. Xue, I don’t quite understand what you mean,” the President asked, confused.

“Demon Qi needs influence to grow. Right now, the entire Federation is the Flat Pan Group’s domain. No matter what he does, he’s under my surveillance.”

Xue Yang raised his wine glass and drained it in one gulp. He looked at the empty glass and chuckled. “So, if he wants to grow, his only option is to find another path. He needs to lure people away from the Federation and into the Ruins. Once they’re out of my surveillance, he’ll have an easier time making his moves. That guy already sees me as his rival. Judging by his skilled methods, this probably isn’t his first transmigration.”

“Mr. Xue, don’t we need to stop him?” the President asked with a frown. “What if he grows too powerful…”

“We’ll counter his every move by remaining constant. Let’s just watch him make a fuss. I have to say, the guy’s quite active.” Xue Yang shook his head. “But in this world, no one can shake my position. If he’s smart enough not to provoke me, and if he hasn’t been possessed by a demon, I can recruit him. But if he dares to have a single thought he shouldn’t, his life is over. In a little while, after he’s built up the reputation of these demonic items, we can just sit back and reap the rewards.”

“You want to recruit him, sir?” the President asked.

“I need more help,” Xue Yang said, looking up at the sky. “His methods are so practiced. He must have been through one or two other worlds and gained mature experience in handling demonic items. Or, to put it another way, he’s already communicated with them. Anyone who has communicated with demonic beings knows that Earth is no place to stay for long. This universe is the real main stage. The universe is filled with countless God-Demons. If we’re ever to break through this world’s shackles, how can we possibly do it with just the few of us? I need more assistants…”

“…” The President was silent for a moment. “Mr. Xue, when will I be able to use a demonic item?”

“Old Gao, you’ve seen how unruly these demonic items are. It won’t be too late to give you one after those two have been tamed.” Xue Yang looked at the President. “Old Gao, remember one thing: you can’t rush a good thing. As long as I’m here, and as long as there is Demon Qi in this world, the Demon Hunting Bureau will keep sending it over. Sooner or later, there’ll be a demonic item that’s right for you…”

As he spoke.

He suddenly jerked his fishing rod. A carp about a foot long was yanked out of the water. Its scales glittered in the sun as it thrashed from side to side, unable to shake the hook. “Old Gao, that guy is just like this fish. No matter how much it struggles, it can’t escape being reeled ashore…”

Before he could finish his sentence.

The carp came off the hook and went flying, plummeting back toward the water.

Xue Yang’s face darkened. With a flick of his hand, he sent out a bolt of Star Power that shot through the carp.

The scales peeled away, and its innards were removed.

Before it even hit the water, the carp had been transformed into perfectly sliced sashimi. A platter made of ice materialized out of thin air above the river.

The sashimi landed on the platter, which then glided across the water’s surface back to the bank.

Xue Yang bent down, picked up the ice platter, and added, “And if it gets off the hook, it can’t escape its fate of being turned into a dish.”