Chapter Ninety-Six: Division Eight

Jiang Chao'an left the conference room and entered the adjoining room.

He picked up the phone and spoke with someone thousands of miles away.

"Lin Heng wants to meet Yang Luo... I know, but..."

"Since that is his request, perhaps we should make some allowance..."

"Yes, yes, I've already tried to persuade him, but..."

"I understand... All right, I'll go back and tell him."

Jiang Chao'an hung up and returned to the conference room, lowering his head slightly toward Lin Heng.

"Sorry, Inspector Lin. For now, we still can't let you meet Yang Luo."

With a faint, bitter smile, Jiang Chao'an went on, "—In truth, the main issue is not Yang Luo's side, but rather... we hope to ensure your safety."

"...Because I have only just begun my transformation, is that it?"

The words from Lin Heng's mouth sounded almost like a sigh.

The expression on Jiang Chao'an's face shifted, and he did not continue along that line. Instead, he changed direction.

"Inspector Lin, your current condition... may not be suitable for returning to work at the Provincial Department. So the State has arranged a new position for you, and it should be quite fitting—Director of the Superhuman Project and Special Adviser to Section Nine. What do you think?"

"Does Yang Luo have a similar post?"

Though the words from Lin Heng sounded faintly mocking, there was no trace of ridicule in his face.

"...Yes."

Jiang Chao'an nodded.

"Then where will this new position be based?"

"In the Imperial Capital."

Meeting Lin Heng's utterly unreadable gaze, Jiang Chao'an added, "However, starting from now, Inspector Lin, you and Yang Luo will be separated and assigned to two different bases for different research projects."

"I understand."

Lin Heng let out an almost imperceptible sigh and nodded at Jiang Chao'an.

"I accept the position... So when do I leave?"

Looking at Lin Heng, who wore no expression at all yet somehow seemed utterly disheartened, Jiang Chao'an did not answer at once. He paused.

Then he said softly, "Inspector Lin, the northbound departure should be on the eighteenth... a day or two later than today."

But today was the sixteenth. If it was only two days apart, why emphasize "a day or two"?

Lin Heng's pupils contracted slightly as he stared fixedly into Jiang Chao'an's eyes. Jiang Chao'an gave a faint, wry smile, but said nothing further.

So that was it...

Lin Heng nodded at him again.

"I understand."

He understood completely.

...

After the meeting ended, Jiang Chao'an still had other work to attend to, so he left the conference room first, leaving behind two staff members with recording and video equipment, assigned to "protect" Lin Heng at close range.

Naturally, before leaving, he also had to determine, as he had with Yang Luo, whether Lin Heng had truly become a superhuman.

So Lin Heng casually demonstrated a few feats—twisting iron into pulp with one hand, catching bullets barehanded, and the like—and thus became the second name entered into the register of a new institution established only days earlier under a secret department: the Superhuman Registration Center.

Once everything was done, Jiang Chao'an hurried out of the conference room.

Lin Heng gazed after his departing figure with deep, shadowed eyes, then turned back for another look.

The two staff members beside him were dressed in plain clothes, but even so they carried an air of grim severity. Their waists bulged, making it easy to imagine what they were carrying.

These were special personnel assigned by Section Nine. Their backgrounds were spotless, with three generations traceable, and they knew a little of the hidden truth about the superhuman world. As a result, when they looked at Lin Heng, their eyes were filled with respect and amazement.

But their excellent professionalism required them not to ask him a single question on their own initiative.

"I..."

Lin Heng fell silent for a moment. Looking at the two men, he was reminded of his days at police academy. Back then, he too had seemed to possess infinite loyalty and passion, even able to die without hesitation for a single goal.

As he looked at them, a somewhat lonely smile appeared on his face.

"May I go to a few places next?"

"Of course. You are our superior now. As long as you do not leave Qingxia City and allow us to accompany you, you may do as you please. Even if you want to leave Qingxia City or Qingjiang Province, as long as you file a report in advance stating your destination and confirm that you can return within the remaining two days, there will be no problem."

One of the staff members looked at Lin Heng with a warm, friendly smile.

"I see."

Lin Heng took out his phone.

"Then I'll call a taxi now..."

The other staff member hurriedly stopped him.

"Director Lin, you now have dedicated transport. Driving for you is also part of our job."

Hearing that, Lin Heng was stunned.

—So my treatment is already this good?

He thought for a moment, then nodded to the staff member.

"All right, then I appreciate the trouble."

...

Just as Lin Heng boarded the official car and slowly left the Provincial Department building, elsewhere—at the airport on the outskirts of Qingxia City—a man descended the gangway.

"Mr. Yang, I've been waiting for you."

Jiang Chao'an, who had arrived at the airport only minutes earlier, walked up with a genial smile and extended his hand toward Yang Luo.

Yang Luo laughed loudly, but did not take his hand.

"Mr. Jiang, there is no need to be so courteous. Though I can't help feeling you only just arrived at the airport yourself?"

"Mr. Yang is jesting. Including myself, every member of Section Nine sincerely looks forward to your arrival in Qingxia City, and to your coming to the Imperial Capital as soon as possible, so that the relevant work may proceed swiftly."

Jiang Chao'an smiled without a flicker of change. The hand that had gone unreceived flowed naturally outward, turning into a gesture of welcome without the least awkwardness.

"Mr. Yang, our vehicle is already here to take you. The hotel for tonight is—"

Before he could finish, Yang Luo shook his head and cut him off.

"No need to say it. Whatever hotel it is tonight, I'm afraid I won't be staying there."

At those words, a dangerous light immediately flashed in Jiang Chao'an's eyes.

"Mr. Yang, what exactly do you mean by that? Please do not forget... if you violate the contract, whom will you be making an enemy of?"

His hand quietly moved toward his waist, and the staff behind him all grew stern at once. In an instant, the sound of many pistols being readied rang through the airport.

But Yang Luo did not strike. He merely looked at Jiang Chao'an coldly, while a sinister smile surfaced at the corner of his mouth.

"Mr. Jiang has misunderstood. Who said I intend to violate the contract? I only wish to make a few small changes."

Changes? What did that mean?

Jiang Chao'an's pupils narrowed slightly.

And just then, behind Yang Luo, a familiar figure suddenly appeared. Standing beside him, that person gave Jiang Chao'an a cold smile.

"So it was Director Jiang Chao'an. Long time no see."

"...You?"

Jiang Chao'an's face froze.

"Director Xu Jingyuan of Section Eight...?"