The system is four years ahead of schedule, but Weird is still a cub.

Deng Yuqi pulled out a slightly worn document and pushed it in front of Shen Ge: "This happened half a year ago. Several leading enterprises and families in Rong City took the lead in organizing a large-scale charity auction dinner with the theme of supporting the construction of the anti-Guizhou area and disaster victims in Sichuan."

"The idea was good, and the scale was quite impressive. But at the crucial moment of preparation, a fifth-tier 'maverick earth worm' emerged from beneath the subway hub in the city center, causing quite a stir. Lin Yin personally led a team to eliminate it. That operation resulted in manpower losses and exposed the vulnerability of the underground pipe network system, leading to a city-wide curfew for several days. Naturally, the banquet was put on hold. With such a tense atmosphere, who would dare to gather in a crowd?"

She pointed to the document: "Later, things calmed down, and they didn't mention restarting it again. The Special Operations Department was busy dealing with the aftermath and strengthening underground surveillance, so they put the matter aside. Unexpectedly..."

Deng Yuqi sneered and continued, "They actually bypassed us and started up again without making a sound? They've got some nerve, even daring to hire outside 'security'?"

Shen Ge picked up the document and glanced at it. There were indeed several familiar names listed on it, all of whom were heavyweight figures in the business world and family power in Rong City.

He tapped the "Security Partner" section, which was previously empty: "Outside? Private anti-terrorist companies?"

"Ah."

Deng Yuqi nodded, her expression not looking too good: "The frequent occurrence of bizarre events in the past two years has spawned a number of 'anti-paranormal security companies.' Under the guise of international cooperation, they buy equipment at high prices from foreign anti-paranormal organizations or the black market, and may even recruit some capable or retired anti-paranormal agents."

"Nominally, they are 'law-abiding' civilian security personnel who provide protection and cleanup services against spies, but in reality... they operate outside of regulation, refuse official recruitment, and only care about money. We have always wanted to regulate them, but the resistance is huge, and they also have a complex network of vested interests behind them. I never expected that this time, these wealthy businessmen would directly approach them."

Shen Ge's eyes sharpened: "The Twelve Branches chose this time and this method to send the 'invitation' and 'samples,' and even specifically mentioned the banquet... It's no coincidence. This banquet itself is probably a trap they set up."

“That’s right.” Deng Yuqi stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the deepening night in Rong City. “We captured that ‘assimilation’ parasite, so they must know they’ve been exposed. Now they’ve sent an even stronger ‘sample.’ On the surface, it’s a ‘reward’ and an ‘invitation,’ but in reality, it’s a provocation and a test, perhaps even a new trap. They want to see our reaction, and more importantly, they want to use this dinner… to achieve some kind of goal. To release the parasite and create chaos? Or… is there a more important objective?”

She turned around abruptly, her gaze fixed intently on Shen Ge: "Shen Ge, we must attend this trap! Not only must we attend, but we must also disrupt their plans and uncover their true colors! Since the leader of the Twelve Branches dared to send an 'invitation' to the Special Operations Department, he will likely show up at the banquet or leave behind enough clues for us to track him down!"

"Understood." Shen Ge nodded without the slightest hesitation. He had been "idle" for more than half a month anyway, and it was time to cause some trouble for the weirdo organization.

"I'll bring some people in. List?" Shen Ge originally wanted to go to the banquet alone, but the thought of being targeted by those business celebrities gave him a headache, so he simply brought a few people in and let them handle the socializing.

When Deng Yuqi brought up the dinner again, she had already considered the choice of attendees: "Director Cheng is familiar with these business figures, so she can go in with you, which will facilitate networking and observation. In addition, Captain Yang has just finished a mission and is resting. Let her lead a team of capable plainclothes agents, disguised as your accompanying security or service personnel, to be responsible for perimeter support and emergency response. If you add Zhang Hu and Zhao Long, the manpower will be about right."

"Your goal is to find the people of the twelve tribes, identify their leaders, and ideally capture them on the spot. If not, at least figure out their intentions and methods."

"Okay." After agreeing, Shen Ge immediately inquired about the strange sample recently sent by the leaders of the twelve tribes: "That newly sent 'sample,' what about Li Xiang's side..."

Deng Yuqi's lips curled into a cold smile, determined to uproot this group of oddballs: "Tell them to hurry up with their research. If Twelve Branches dare to send it, we dare to accept it. Old Li and Peiwen will probably be green with envy when they see this 'upgraded version'."

"Perfect timing. The banquet is in two days. Let them use these two days to extract something useful from this 'sample.' Especially, rapid detection and countermeasures against this kind of highly stealthy parasite. Perhaps... we'll need them at the banquet."

In Deng Yuqi's view, the Twelve Branches' act of sending "samples" this time was undoubtedly a provocation against the authority of the Special Operations Department and a "challenge" to them.

Shen Ge left the minister's office and immediately began making arrangements. He first found Cheng Shengnan and briefly explained the situation. Although Cheng Shengnan was somewhat worried about getting involved in such a dangerous situation, she didn't want to hold Shen Ge back. However, knowing the gravity of the matter, she agreed without hesitation and began to use her network of connections to gain a deeper understanding of the inside story of this restart banquet and the detailed list of participants.

Next, Shen Ge contacted Yang Yuxin, the head of the anti-espionage team who was the most skilled in infiltration and disguise in the department.

Although Yang Yuxin had just returned from a mission, upon hearing that she would be going on a mission with Shen Ge, she immediately became energetic and quickly selected six experienced and skilled agents who were good at disguise to form a team and begin to familiarize themselves with the banquet venue.

The dinner was held at a private club. Although the security plan was made by a private security company, it was not difficult for the Special Operations Department to obtain the structural drawings and security plan.

While Yang Yuxin and Tu Doupi were investigating the environment of private clubs, the research area of ​​the Special Policy Department was still "brightly lit" late at night.

When Li Xiang and Jiang Peiwen saw the "black mud" sample that the "purification" team was escorting, which was emitting a stronger and purer strange energy fluctuation, their breaths stopped for a moment.

"This...this is the 'assimilation'...advanced version?" Jiang Peiwen's voice trembled as she looked at the astonishing data jumping on the testing instrument.

Li Xiang's eyes lit up, like a hungry wolf seeing a fat sheep: "The aggregation of the strange energy is higher! The mimicry layer is thinner and more precise! The core strange energy structure... God, it actually has a built-in micro strange energy converter. It is a biomechanical fusion that has assimilated nanotechnology! If you want to talk about it, it is similar to Old Shen's Red Mist Armor. If they break through it, there may be a second Red Mist Armor in the world."

Li Xiang was still reeling from this new and bizarre surprise when Deng Yuqi's order came immediately—within two days, at all costs, find a way to quickly detect and counteract the parasitic behavior of this "upgraded black mud"!

The entire research center instantly went into overload mode. All research projects on parasitic anomalies were reassigned, and top research resources were concentrated on this new sample. All kinds of high-precision instruments were turned on, and data flowed across the screen like a waterfall.

Time passed by minute by minute.

With only half a day left before the banquet began, Li Xiang's bloodshot eyes finally erupted with a light of wild joy.

"Found it! Junior sister! Come quick!"

Upon hearing the sound, Jiang Peiwen immediately rushed to his analysis table.

On the screen, the complex spectrum of strange energy was peeled away layer by layer, finally locking onto an extremely weak energy resonance node at a specific frequency. "This frequency!" Li Xiang excitedly pointed to the screen, "is the core 'resonance point' that allows this 'upgraded black mud' to maintain its high degree of mimicry and energy containment. It needs to constantly resonate with the basic energy field in the environment, such as urban power grids and geothermal radiation, to maintain its perfect disguise. Once this resonance is disturbed or destroyed... it could very well affect its assimilation!"

"Its mimicry will fail, and the strange energy fluctuations will be exposed instantly!" Jiang Peiwen immediately chimed in, her eyes also gleaming with excitement. "We only need to create a 'resonance interference field' covering a specific frequency band to prevent being strangely attached to by this assimilating parasite?"

"Right!" Li Xiang slammed his hand on the table. "Although the range won't be too large and the precision requirements are extremely high, it's enough for a specific target area! Quick! Get the engineering department over here and, based on these frequency parameters, urgently modify a batch of portable 'trick energy resonant jamming generators'! They need to be small, concealed, and ideally integrated into tactical wristwatches or communication headsets! We must get this done before Lao Shen leaves!"

……

……

That evening, at the banquet.

The "Cloud Top" private club was brightly lit and filled with elegantly dressed people. The city's top elites and wealthy businessmen gathered there, crystal chandeliers reflecting dazzling light, and melodious classical music flowed through the air, deliberately creating a glamorous and dreamlike atmosphere.

However, the moment Cheng Shengnan walked into the venue arm in arm with Shen Ge, the carefully maintained "calm" was instantly shattered.

The air seemed to freeze for a moment. The previously fluent conversation and clinking of glasses suddenly fell silent as countless eyes, like spotlights, focused on the tall, aloof figure at the door.

Surprise, awe, apprehension, and even a hint of barely concealed fear flashed quickly across those faces that were usually so aloof and superior.

"Captain Shen... Captain Shen Ge?" someone exclaimed in a low voice, their voice filled with disbelief.

This pillar of the Rong City Special Operations Department, the nation's undisputed number one secret agent, his very appearance sends an extremely strong signal—either a disaster is about to occur here, or there is something more worthy of his attention than a disaster!

After a brief silence came an even more enthusiastic response.

The crowd came to life instantly, like water surface after a pebble has been thrown in.

Several wealthy businessmen who were nearby almost instinctively put on the warmest and most humble smiles and tried to strike up a conversation.

But Shen Ge's icy aura that kept strangers at bay, and his deep, unfathomable eyes that seemed to see through everything, made most people freeze in their tracks, only daring to nod in greeting from afar.

"Captain Shen! What a rare guest!" An elderly man with gray hair, a prominent figure in the Rong City real estate industry, mustered his courage to approach, supported by his assistant, his face bearing an almost fawning smile. "Your presence truly enhances this charity gala! I am Wang Zhenhai, and I have long admired Captain Shen's reputation..."

"Captain Shen, it's a pleasure to meet you! I'm Li Hong from Hongyuan Group..." Another middle-aged man in a suit also quickly approached, his hand trembling slightly as he handed over his business card.

Cheng Shengnan knew that Shen Ge was not good at handling such situations when they were in the company, so she gracefully took the business card and dealt with the enthusiastic greetings for Shen Ge, cleverly freeing him from the dense crowd, while keenly observing the reactions of the people around her.

She noticed that the people from the private security company "Rock"—especially the scarred, bald captain—sharpened their eyes when they saw Shen Ge appear, becoming more wary and scrutinizing, but quickly regained their professional indifference.

Shen Ge merely nodded slightly, his gaze calmly sweeping across the entire room without lingering on anyone. His presence was like a block of ice thrown into a lake, seemingly lowering the temperature of the originally warm and inviting venue.

Those wealthy and famous people who tried to get close to him eventually kept their distance due to his invisible aura, only daring to observe from afar and whisper among themselves.

In this era rife with the bizarre, all wealth and power pale in comparison to absolute strength capable of truly confronting the threat of death. Shen Ge is the embodiment of that power. His very presence is a silent deterrent, instantly casting a layer of iron-gray, characteristic of the Special Operations Department, over the "upper-class" atmosphere of this banquet.

The charity auction began soon.

The initial stages proceeded smoothly, with renowned paintings and calligraphy, antique porcelain, and limited-edition jewelry being presented on the auction stage.

With the host's encouragement and the added boost of the "charity" theme, the atmosphere gradually warmed up. The wealthy businessmen, eager to gain fame and potential collaborations, bid enthusiastically. Several items sold for good prices, and the donation figures flashed on the screen, drawing rounds of applause.

Cheng Shengnan also symbolically raised his paddle a few times, bidding for a not-too-expensive artwork for a resettlement fund under the Special Affairs Department.

Shen Ge sat silently beside her the entire time, like a perfect statue, with only his occasional sharp, knife-like gaze sweeping across the room.

However, when the auctioneer announced the next item in a tone that was both mysterious and excited, the atmosphere in the room began to subtly change.

"Ladies and gentlemen! The next item is not from any known master artist or jewelry workshop, but its value may far exceed the sum of all the previous items!" The auctioneer's voice rose a few decibels, drawing everyone's attention.

Two burly men in "Rock" security uniforms, their expressions solemn, carefully carried a tray covered with black velvet onto the stage. The velvet was lifted, revealing not dazzling gems or exquisite works of art, but a helmet shimmering with a strange metallic luster… or rather, a Saimo Knight's helmet.

The helmet had a flowing, dark gray hue, with extremely fine, faint patterns on its surface, like the scales of a living creature. (End of Chapter)