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

Just then, Shen Ge's eerie eyes suddenly caught sight of a cloud of eerie black mist appearing at the location of the ceiling he had collapsed while chasing the bald captain.

Three blood-red tentacles shot out like lightning, pinning the spreading black mist to its ground. What was truly chilling was that a shrill cry, like that of a baby, emanated from within the black mist, and countless human faces appeared on its surface.

"What the hell is this?" Shen Ge narrowed his eyes, and the putrid blood tentacles suddenly tightened.

Just then, the blood spider controlled by Xiaoqi also noticed: "Master, strong spatial fluctuations have been detected. It's that bald guy—"

Is the bald captain of "Rock" back again?
The moment this thought crossed Shen Ge's mind, a loud "boom" was heard.

Suddenly, the entire western wall of the upper level burst open, revealing a black vortex two meters in diameter. The long-absent Rock Security Captain stood in the center of the vortex, a sinister smile on his scarred face. In his hands, he held a pulsating, tumor-like object, its surface covered with black vein-like patterns.

"Captain Shen, I've heard so much about you." The bald man's voice was like the scraping of metal. He scrutinized Shen Ge with a superior's condescending tone and continued, "The leader asked me to pass on a message to you—"

Shen Ge didn't give him a chance to finish speaking. He unleashed his full seventh-order demonic energy, transforming into a blood-red afterimage as he charged forward.

But just as he was about to touch the bald head, the other person suddenly crushed the tumor in his hand.

"Wow--"

All the glassware in the hall shattered simultaneously, and a rapidly expanding black vortex engulfed the bald man's figure. Shen Ge's rotting blood tentacles only had time to tear off half of his arm before the severed limb turned into black ash in mid-air.

"Captain Shen, why are you in such a hurry?"

"I originally wanted to talk to you, but since you have no intention of doing so, then so be it."

"I hope you like the gift the chief gave you!"

As soon as the bald captain finished speaking, something terrible happened. The corpses of the strange cats imprisoned in the eerie containment boxes suddenly convulsed violently, and the black mud on their bodies rose into the air as if alive, rapidly multiplying and bursting through the containment boxes, rushing towards the nearest living person.

"Help! Help me!" Zhou Hongyu, still conscious, let out a pig-like scream. The next second, black mud was smeared on his face and quickly seeped into his seven orifices. Spiderweb-like black lines immediately appeared under his skin, and his eyeballs instantly turned into a murky, eerie green.

Then, with two "pop" sounds, the tumors on the left and right sides of his head burst open, and two ugly human heads grew out.

Shen Ge acted decisively, raising his hand and transforming his blood-corroding tentacles into blood blades to sever Zhou Hongyu's two mutated heads. The blood-corroding tentacles then wrapped around the heads and threw them into the bizarre containment box, before tossing them to the anti-monster warriors behind him, instructing them to immediately move the heads away.

Meanwhile, the black mud, which had completely merged with the strange cat and was trying to "resurrect," attempted to devour the mutated Zhou Hongyu, but Shen Ge saw through its purpose at a glance and would not let it succeed.

A blinding red light flashed, and the black mud parasites that splashed into the air, along with most of the devoured monster cat's corpse, were cut into minced meat by the blood net. At the same time, Zhou Hongyu's remaining body below was firmly locked in a specially made bizarre restraint device to prevent him from continuing to mutate, and then the logistics team stuffed it into a lead alloy bizarre containment box.

"Notify Li Xiang to prepare the highest-level isolation laboratory and send him back to headquarters immediately." Shen Ge ordered Zhang Hu, who was standing next to him. Zhou Hongyu was able to complete the mutation in a short time, so he must have the secrets related to the Twelve Branches.

Then, he bent down and picked up a metal plate that the bald captain had dropped. It was etched with the insignia of the twelve zodiac signs, and on the back was a line of small print:
Next time we meet, I'll give you a real gift—

【crow.】

"crow?"

Are these the "real names" of those twelve leaders?

The reason why the twelve branches are called the twelve branches is because they were previously named after the "twelve earthly branches" in the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches system. "Crow" obviously does not belong to one of the twelve earthly branches, so this "change" surprised Shen Ge for a while.

Alternatively, the "leader" is a separate figure from the twelve captains and is not included in the captain-level ranking.

In any case, this "crow" successfully caught Shen Ge's attention.

Shen Ge ran his fingertips along the cold engravings on the metal plate. The name was like a poisoned thorn, piercing his thoughts.

The chaos subsided temporarily, but the stench of blood and the sense of fear still lingered in the luxurious ruins.

Zhang Hu directed the logistics team to carefully load the containment box containing the remains of the strange cat, black mud samples, and most importantly, Zhou Hongyu, who was restrained in a lead alloy containment box and constantly emitting faint hissing sounds, onto a specially made heavy armored transport vehicle.

After receiving basic treatment for her injuries, Yang Yuxin forced herself to direct her team to clean up the scene and comfort or restrain the survivors.

Cheng Shengnan then used her network of connections to begin handling the subsequent public opinion and appeasement efforts.

Everything seemed to be operating efficiently according to the Special Operations Department's emergency procedures.

But the unease in Shen Ge's heart grew thicker and thicker, like ink dripping into clear water. Was it too smooth? No, it was too… deliberate.

The bald captain's appearance, provocation, escape, and even the final revelation of the name "Crow," all seemed like a meticulously orchestrated drama. Did they go to such lengths to create this chaos merely to deliver a stronger "sample"? To demonstrate their power to the elite? To kill some insignificant tycoons?

The cost is too high, and the benefits are too small.

This is not in line with the usual practice of the Twelve Branches.

"Team Leader Shen, the escort convoy is ready and can depart for Quanlongshan Base at any time," Zhang Hu reported in a low voice as he walked to Shen Ge's side.

He looked tired, but his eyes remained sharp.

Shen Ge's gaze swept over the armored vehicles that gleamed with a cold, hard metallic sheen, and then looked at the street outside the clubhouse, which was temporarily blocked off, but still exuded countless curious and fearful gazes.

Time is of the essence; the samples must be sent back to the base as soon as possible, especially Zhou Hongyu. The secret of his mutation may be related to the "purpose" of the Twelve Branches, which is of utmost importance.

"Let's go," Shen Ge said in a deep voice, without saying anything more.

He was the first to get into the command vehicle, and the convoy drove away from the wrecked "Genting" clubhouse amidst the blaring sirens. For security reasons, the Special Operations Department evacuated civilians from parts of the city center in advance, citing "exercise" and "sudden major criminal incident," and set up temporary roadblocks.

However, due to the suddenness of the incident and its location in a busy area, a large number of citizens remained in nearby office buildings and shopping malls, anxiously watching through windows or gaps in the cordon.

The convoy sped along the planned fastest route, the neon lights of skyscrapers flashing past the windows, casting bizarre shadows. The atmosphere inside the vehicles was heavy; no one spoke, only the occasional brief reports from the escort personnel in each vehicle came through the communicators.

"Report to the command vehicle: Escort vehicle number one (the cat-like sample) is in stable condition with no abnormalities."

"Report to command vehicle: Escort vehicle number two (black mud sample) is in normal condition, energy readings are stable." "Report to command vehicle: Escort vehicle number three (Zhou Hongyu)... the target is exhibiting intermittent low growls, vital signs are fluctuating significantly, but restraint devices are secure. A strong sedative has been administered."

"Roger that. Stay alert and advance faster," Yang Yuxin replied, her eyes fixed on the city map and real-time monitoring screen on the tactical tablet.

Just as the convoy was about to leave the busiest commercial district and enter the expressway leading to the suburban base—

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Three deafening explosions occurred simultaneously and without warning at three different locations: in front of the convoy, on its flank, and behind it.

The explosion was not directed at the convoy, but rather precisely struck the base of giant billboards on several high-rise commercial buildings and a critical load-bearing point on a pedestrian overpass.

In an instant, the sky collapsed and the earth cracked!

The giant billboard, engulfed in flames, crashed down onto the blocked street below with a deafening metallic ripping sound, like a firebird with broken wings.

A section of the pedestrian overpass twisted and broke, with concrete blocks and steel bars pouring down like a torrential rain. The shockwave from the explosion, carrying flames and thick smoke, instantly swept through the nearby streets.

"what--!"

"Help!"

"It collapsed! The building collapsed!"

"Run!"

Citizens trapped in shopping malls and office buildings, already under high tension, witnessed this apocalyptic scene. Their accumulated fear, anxiety, and dissatisfaction with the official lockdown exploded like a powder keg.

Panic spread like a real plague at an alarming rate.

Screams, cries, shoving and trampling, and the rumbling of collapsing buildings... all converged into a destructive torrent that swept away the temporary cordon set up by the Special Operations Department.

Countless terrified citizens poured out of the buildings like a flood bursting its banks, trying to escape this hellish scene, only to be plunged into greater chaos and despair as the roads were blocked by fallen billboards, overpass debris, and burning vehicles.

"Report! The road ahead is completely blocked by the wreckage of a giant billboard!"

"A large number of panicked people are charging at the cordon from the flank! Debris from the overpass behind them has blocked their escape route!"

"Civilians have been injured! Requesting assistance!"

The communication channels were instantly flooded with chaotic reports and cries for help. The convoy was forced to brake abruptly, like a giant beast stuck in mud.

Zhang Hu's face turned ashen: "Damn it! It must be those guys from the Twelfth Division! They deliberately detonated the bomb to create panic and chaos, trapping us here!"

Looking out the car window at the hellish scene, Yang Yuxin's heart sank to the bottom.

She instantly understood where Shen Ge's unease came from—this was perhaps the true purpose of the Twelve Branches: the attack at the auction, the appearance of the strange cat, the bald captain's provocation... were all just the prelude!

Their real goal is to take advantage of the inevitable "major operation" by the Special Operations Department to escort high-risk samples and bring the source of panic to the most bustling and densely populated area in the city center!
Then, it triggered panic!
Sitting in the command vehicle, Shen Ge watched as the red heat map representing riots and panic on the tactical tablet spread and deepened at an alarming speed, like thick ink dripping into clear water, quickly staining most of the city center red.

He got it.

Got it all.

“What a wonderful ‘gift’…”

Shen Ge's voice was terrifyingly low, like a volcano about to erupt: "'Raven'... what it wants to give us is probably the fear of the entire city!"

She wants to create a "mysterious disaster" in Rong City!
The instant he finished speaking, an indescribable, cold, viscous, and enormous surge of eerie energy erupted without warning from the epicenters of the city's most intense panic—the smashed shopping malls, blocked streets, and trampled crowds.

Accompanying the fluctuations of eerie energy was a thick, eerie black mist.

This strange energy fluctuation did not originate from any specific creature, but rather seemed to be directly "condensed" from the desperate screams, death-defying fears, and hysterical madness of countless people—these extreme negative emotions!

Terrifying roars, inhuman and filled with countless agonizing screams, exploded in the sky above the city. Visible black mist, like thick ink, surged and converged wildly from the panicked crowds, from the burning ruins, and from the twisted cracks in the steel.
They twisted, swirled, and expanded in the air, vaguely forming a massive, indescribable, terrifying silhouette composed of pure darkness and despair that obscured part of the sky. The eerie pressure emanating from it even made the lower-ranking agents in the convoy feel suffocated.

Panic is being catalyzed, shaped, and... born into an unprecedented, bizarre, gigantic "emotional aggregate" that uses the entire city as its breeding ground.

This is the true "gift" of the twelve leaders, "Crow": a city-destroying catastrophe ignited in the heart of Fuzhou City, catalyzed by the Special Operations Department and fueled by the fear of millions of citizens!

Shen Ge abruptly pushed open the car door, standing at the center of chaos and despair. He looked up at the terrifying black shadow gradually taking shape in the sky. The red mist armor silently covered his entire body, and dark red eerie energy rose and roared around him like flowing lava.

"Xiao Yang, Zhang Hu, you two protect the sample vehicle, establish a defensive perimeter, and evacuate the crowd to hand it over to the subsequent support troops!"

"Notify Minister Deng to activate the highest-level emergency response plan!"

"As for this 'gift'..."

"...I'll take it apart!"

Shen Ge looked up, and the corrosive tentacles lashed out forward, attaching themselves to the surface of a building and pulling him into the air. Soon, guided by the corrosive tentacles, his figure shot towards the black mist like a crimson meteor, facing the colossal entity formed from the despair and fear of the entire city.

"Roar--!!!"

The terrifying roar, a distorted mix of countless screams, howls, and dying wails, struck like a physical sonic cannon, making the already chaotic city below even more shaky. Burning building debris fell in the sound waves, and fleeing crowds clutched their ears and collapsed in agony.

The crimson mist emanating from Shen Ge instantly solidified, transforming into a flowing blood-red shield that forcefully blocked the destructive sonic shockwave.

The surface of the shield rippled violently, displaying the terrifying power of this aggregate.

"Master, the target's energy composition is extremely chaotic. The core area is driven by pure negative emotional entropy increase, and the physical structure is unstable, but the total amount is staggering. Threat level... estimated to be above level six!" Little Seven quickly reported the situation of the black mist to Shen Ge. (End of this chapter)