Chapter 103: What a Ruthless Method! (Seeking Monthly Votes!)

In the quiet laboratory, Shi Gaofei sat in his wheelchair. On the metal workbench before him, a transparent apparatus was injecting various medicinal additives into a small pool of blood.

On the large transparent screen above, data flickered rapidly in response to the chemical reactions. Shi Gaofei’s expression was grave. His fingers moved swiftly across the console, pressing buttons to list every possible analytical outcome of the data.

Gradually, a hint of solemnity appeared on his face, and his eyes grew intense, flickering with a touch of excitement and agitation.

Just then, the heavy door behind him opened slowly and automatically, accompanied by the sound of soft footsteps.

Disturbed, Shi Gaofei showed a trace of annoyance. He frowned, and without turning his head, he said coldly, "I believe I made it clear: once I enter the laboratory, I am not to be disturbed by anyone!"

A smiling voice replied from behind, "Does that include me?"

Hearing that voice, a look of helplessness crossed Shi Gaofei’s face. The scientific madman snorted, and his wheelchair automatically pivoted to face the intruder.

"Fine. I should have known. You’re the only audacious person on this island who dares to ignore my rules and barge into my laboratory!"

Shi Gaofei stared at the newcomer. The man responded with a relaxed smile; his clean, handsome face looked elegant, yet even as he smiled, his eyes held an indelible coldness that made his friendly expression seem somewhat eerie.

"What’s wrong? Finished with your business in South America? How do you have the time to come here?" Shi Gaofei pressed a button on his armrest. A glass tray automatically extended from a nearby metal cabinet, holding two glass vessels filled with deep red liquid.

"I recall that drinking is not allowed in the laboratory," the man said, still smiling.

"Spare me the lecture. Rules are useless when it comes to you," Shi Gaofei grumbled. He lifted his gaze to look at the man. "Fox, every time you come to see me, you bring some kind of trouble! What is it this time?"

Fox, the Jack of Spades in the Service Society, walked slowly to the liquor cabinet. He picked up the bottle with three fingers, unscrewed the cap, sniffed it, and chuckled. "A very fine vintage."

"Enough! What is it you want?" Shi Gaofei glanced at the large screen overhead. "I’m very busy right now."

Fox narrowed his eyes and sighed. "I didn't come to bring you trouble this time... That boy—he’s been to the island, hasn't he? And you’ve seen him?"

Shi Gaofei smiled. "You’re here for him? Yes, he came, I saw him, and I performed a thorough examination. Unfortunately, you weren't on the island when he arrived."

Fox went silent for a moment, then suddenly chuckled.

"My friend, that was no coincidence."

"Not a coincidence?"

After a long silence, Shi Gaofei frowned.

"No, it wasn't," Fox shook his head. "Someone arranged it deliberately. They chose the exact time he arrived on the island to send me away!"

Shi Gaofei’s expression darkened, but he spoke firmly, "I don't want to hear this! I’ve told you before, I have no interest in your committee's internal affairs, and I never will! Internal strife... it’s everywhere!"

"It's not that simple," Fox shrugged, appearing nonchalant. "Actually, it may not be mere infighting. It's just that our opinions differ. Some people exploited loopholes to intentionally shuffle away those who oppose them—like me."

Shi Gaofei’s gaze shifted, but he continued to shake his head. "Why tell me this? You know my principles!"

"My friend!" Fox stepped closer, looking at Shi Gaofei earnestly. "Some things aren't as simple as you think. I must say, you are a genius, but only within your own field. Your grasp of political intrigue is still too shallow."

"I am a scientist; I don't need to play politics," Shi Gaofei insisted.

"Ha!"

As if hearing something absurd, Fox laughed out loud. Then, turning his gaze away from Shi Gaofei’s eyes toward the screen above, he said languidly, "I know you don't want to hear this, but what if I told you this has to do with the Purification Serum?"

Sure enough, as a scientific fanatic, Shi Gaofei had been racking his brains lately, hoping to study Chen Xiao’s blood to reverse-engineer the components of the Purification Serum. It was his greatest challenge of late.

His eyes became instantly focused. "What are you trying to say? What about the Purification Serum? Do you... have data on it?" His voice trembled slightly at the end.

Fox walked to the metal workbench, bottle in hand, and sat down casually, barely twenty centimeters away from the instrument. This action caused a flicker of irritation in Shi Gaofei’s eyes, but he suppressed it, forcing himself to be patient. "What information do you have on the Purification Serum?"

"There is a problem within our ranks!" Fox took a long drink, then sighed as if savoring the taste. He looked at Shi Gaofei, who immediately understood. Shi pressed a button and said coldly, "Done! Every word we say here is now completely secure! You’d better speak quickly. If you're talking nonsense, I guarantee you’ll never step into my lab again, nor will you get any new equipment from me!"

"The Bio-pod!" Fox spat out the words quickly. He looked at Shi Gaofei. "The bio-pod belonging to that Blue-Blooded girl. I was the one who brought it back from Chen Xiao’s home." He wore a cryptic smile. "You should remember that my report clearly stated: the Purification Serum that infected Chen Xiao was hidden in that bio-pod all along, but none of us knew. It ended up being found by that boy, right?"

"Correct," Shi Gaofei said flatly, his tone dissatisfied. "That was your responsibility! Damn it! Two excellent members of the field team were sent to monitor Chen Xiao, yet they never thought to check the bio-pod? You let him find it first! Such a mistake is pure incompetence!"

"That’s not it," Fox shook his head, his face turning serious. "Shi Gaofei, the truth is: even I was kept in the dark!"

"What do you mean?"

"Why would that boy know to open the hidden compartment at the bottom of the bio-pod? He was just an ordinary kid. In his eighteen years, he had never seen such precise equipment! How would he know to check the bottom? It was as if he knew something was hidden there all along!" Shi Gaofei sneered coldly. "Someone told him!"

"Who?"

"Red Seven is compromised." Fox hesitated before saying it. He sneered, "None of us knew the serum was hidden in the base of the bio-pod! But Red Seven knew! She was the one who told the kid, prompting him to check the bottom!"

"What else?" Shi Gaofei frowned. "And how do you know this? Surely that girl Red Seven didn't just walk up and tell you herself!"

"Let me finish!"

Shi Gaofei said calmly, "I didn't know at first, but later, I carefully read the diary left by Chen Xiao’s mother. Clearly, there was a message at the end of that diary! That message wasn't for Chen Xiao, but for Black Three! Which means Black Three must have read that diary!"

Shi Gaofei’s eyes lit up.

"I investigated later; that diary was kept in the hidden compartment at the base of the bio-pod along with the serum!" Fox’s smile was eerie. "That leads to the first question: if Black Three read the diary, she couldn't have seen the diary without seeing the serum! Because the two were kept together, right?"

"That makes sense!"

"Of course, there is another possibility—that the diary wasn't originally kept with the serum. But the bio-pod was entrusted to Black Three by Chen Xiao’s parents. Even if the diary wasn't originally with the serum, Black Three must have been the one to put it there! Either way, there is only one conclusion: Black Three could not have been unaware of the serum's existence!"

Shi Gaofei’s breathing grew rapid.

"Black Three is one of us. Even though she is only a Group Three member, she should have known enough to understand the importance of that serum! Yet she concealed it!" Fox pursed his lips. "That leads to the next question!"

"This is an act of blatant betrayal," Shi Gaofei exclaimed. "Damn it! That serum is vital! Black Three... I’ve read the report on the Chen Xiao incident. She may have had a personal friendship with his parents, but she is a member of the organization first! We all took an oath! To hide something so significant..."

"What if she did report it?" Fox said quietly. "What if there’s a possibility that she reported it, but not to me? What if she reported it to someone else?"

Fox’s voice was icy. "Black Three was trained by me. I know her character. While she values emotions, she wouldn't normally risk the organization's interests for personal reasons. Therefore, I suspect she didn't hide it; she reported it truthfully. But as for who she reported to... it certainly wasn't me." Fox continued to sneer, "Let's analyze further: at first, we defined this as a general violation of regulations, and Black Three received a disciplinary action. Even if the organization didn't take it seriously, according to procedure, we sent Red Seven and Black Seven to monitor and protect Chen Xiao. How could no one have checked that bio-pod?"

He spoke mysteriously, "Even if we didn't prioritize it before, checking the bio-pod was a mandatory step! Yet, if it was checked, why wasn't the serum found?"

Shi Gaofei was finally stunned.

"According to procedure, the ones who checked the bio-pod were those assigned to monitor Chen Xiao! In other words, either Black Seven or Red Seven. Both are suspects."

Fox said languidly, "But based on subsequent events, Black Seven was cleared of suspicion because she was clearly unaware of the serum. She was the one who saw Chen Xiao retrieve it, and in her shock, she rushed into his home, causing the serum to leak, which infected him and cost her her powers. From that, we can conclude Black Seven is innocent."

A cruel smile appeared on his lips. "So, the situation becomes clear: Red Seven is the suspect!"

"You... investigated her?" Shi Gaofei frowned. He knew his friend’s character and methods well. What he called an "investigation" was, in fact, an interrogation!

"Yes, I investigated her." Fox sighed. "Old friend, think about it. First, Black Three had a problem; she didn't report to me, but to someone else—I suspect a higher-up in the committee. Then, Red Seven had a problem; she concealed the truth from me, even though I am her direct superior. A Black Three and a Red Seven—both excellent field members—acting in such severe violation... do you think this could be their own individual behavior? If it were Black Three, there might be a reason, given her personal connection to Chen Xiao’s parents. But Red Seven? She has no connection to them whatsoever!"

"And... what were the results of your investigation?" Shi Gaofei asked in a low voice.

Fox hesitated for a moment, took a heavy drink, and said gloomily:

"Red Seven is dead."

Dead?

Shi Gaofei’s eyes widened!

"Suicide," Fox said blandly. "I sensed something was wrong. I let her continue monitoring Chen Xiao to avoid alerting the others. But later, after I called her back, I used an excuse to take her to South America, where I secretly detained her. I had to avoid certain people, you understand? I began the interrogation, but unfortunately, she killed herself right at the beginning!"

Shi Gaofei felt a chill. Regardless of the circumstances, the death of a Group Seven member was no small matter. Such a grave event was enough to shake the committee!

"Red Seven’s suicide proves one thing: there is definitely something wrong with this case!" Fox stated solemnly.

Shi Gaofei remained silent.

"So, the only remaining lead is... Black Three!" Fox gave a bitter smile. "But today, when I returned to find her, I was told she had been sent on a mission to Africa."

Shi Gaofei’s gaze flickered. "You... what are you trying to say?"

"I suddenly thought of a hypothetical possibility," Fox said bitterly. "Black Three, Red Seven, and certain high-ranking members of our committee colluded to manipulate this, violating the organization’s rules! That leads to one possibility: the Purification Serum was tampered with during the process! That is to say—between the time it was handed to Black Three and the time it reached Chen Xiao, it may have been under the control of certain people! It might have even been researched, sampled, or even..."

Deep concern flashed in Fox’s eyes. He bit his lip. "Shi Gaofei, let me ask you a question. Suppose—and I mean suppose—someone put a sample of the Purification Serum in front of you, could you replicate it?"

Shi Gaofei thought for a moment. "It’s entirely possible! My only difficulty has been calculating the formula and composition. If I had a finished product, I could easily analyze it! Once I have the formula and proportions, replication is simple! Even mass production wouldn't be difficult!"

Fox sighed. "That is exactly what I fear. If you can replicate it, why couldn't others? The serum was under the control of unknown parties for a period of time. It’s very likely the secret has already been leaked!"

"That’s impossible!" Shi Gaofei shook his head. "The replication I’m talking about is through me! Within the entire Service Society, only I have the capability and technical conditions to do that!"

"True, only you have that skill," Fox nodded. "I never doubt your ability, my friend! But... what if it were someone outside the Service Society? There may not be anyone in the world better than you, but there are certainly those who are on par!"

Shi Gaofei’s face turned pale.

Fox’s deduction led to a terrifying conclusion! Someone had colluded with members inside the Service Society to conceal information and leak the secret of the serum... perhaps even colluding with outsiders! Such behavior was a blatant betrayal!

They looked at each other in silence, their expressions grim.

Suddenly, a red light began to flash on the laboratory door—the signal for an emergency!

Shi Gaofei frowned and pressed a button. The intercom on the door relayed the voice of his "attendant": "Mr. Shi Gaofei, emergency situation. The committee is calling an emergency high-level meeting!"

"What happened?" Shi Gaofei asked calmly.

The attendant’s voice came through: "We just received an urgent call from the African branch. They were attacked by a large group of unidentified powered individuals. The losses are heavy. Four peripheral members were injured, and six members have unfortunately died—including one field team member!"

"A field team member? Who?" Shi Gaofei asked instinctively.

"It is Black Three, Mr. Shi Gaofei. Black Three has sacrificed herself for the organization."

Hearing this, Shi Gaofei and Fox looked at each other, both seeing the shock in the other’s eyes.

Red Seven committed suicide! And now Black Three is dead!

The leads were all broken!

Fox’s expression shifted several times before he whispered:

"What a ruthless method."

"Are we really going just like that?" Chen Xiao looked at Phoenix, who had already changed her clothes. Seeing the beautiful girl before him, he couldn't help but feel a rush of sweetness.

Phoenix smiled sweetly. "Of course. I’m worried that Yacha and the others might wander off. If they get away, it will be troublesome to find them again."

Chen Xiao couldn't help but ask, "Phoenix, I’ve always been curious, what... what exactly are you? You said you know Fireworks, but I know she never meets anyone twice! Yet you are an exception. And you seem to have supernatural abilities; there’s nothing you can’t do... You aren't with the Service Society, you aren't with the Club... Who, exactly, are you?"

Phoenix sighed, looking at Chen Xiao with a pleading look in her eyes, and said softly, "Chen Xiao, please don't ask, okay? In any case, I will never harm you. When the time is right, I will tell you. You—you believe I wouldn't harm you, right?"

Chen Xiao looked into Phoenix’s gentle eyes and nodded firmly. "Of course! I naturally trust you!"