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

"Wait for our passive reaction, wait for us to be led by the nose by this letter, wait for us to become anxious because we can't figure it out, split up our forces, and expose our weaknesses." Shen Ge thought about it all night last night, and he and Xiao Qi analyzed the intelligence they had at hand, trying to find out the movements of the Twelve Branches.

Meanwhile, Xiaoqi maximized the "proliferation" ability of the Red Mist Armor, breeding countless blood spiders overnight and sending them to various parts of Rong City to "lay out" their plans.

“‘The stage has been set for you,’ but the play will not begin until the main character appears. The more nervously we set up defenses and search everywhere, the more likely we are to fall into their pre-set rhythm. The fact that the information blockade went smoothly last night proves that they have no intention of putting pressure on public opinion for the time being; that is not their goal.”

"Then what exactly is their purpose?" Yang Yuxin couldn't help but ask, the eerie and terrifying scene of the fusion still lingering in her mind.

"The purpose... might be hidden in the letter itself."

Shen Ge pointed to the analysis report: "Writing with the 'blood' of a fear aggregate is a mark, a provocation, and more likely a kind of...positioning."

"It might not just be a declaration of war, but also an anchor point, a beacon pointing to the final 'stage'." He paused, a cold calculation flashing in his eyes. "Li Xiang's analysis mentioned that the blood has strong spiritual pollution properties. Perhaps it's waiting for a sufficiently powerful and 'delicious' spiritual source to touch it and activate it."

There was silence in the conference room.

Shen Ge's speculation points to an even more chilling possibility—the letter itself is a trap, a bait aimed at him or the higher-ups of the Special Operations Department.

Yang Yuxin frowned and said, "If it's about finding a powerful enough person to touch it, then when you received this letter, Captain Shen, wouldn't they have had the opportunity to activate it?"

"Perhaps it's not the right place or time yet. Don't forget, the Monster Organization has launched attacks on our Special Operations Department base multiple times." Deng Yuqi said solemnly. Her reminder made everyone recall that since the arrival of the strange phenomenon, the Monster Organization had launched at least ten attacks on the Special Operations Department.

The three most serious incidents, which nearly led to a tragedy, were all thwarted by Shen Ge. The most recent one involved bringing back a sample of the strange creature captured in the parking lot, which almost resulted in the research area being breached.

If the Twelve Branches were to follow suit, using this "letter of bizarre flesh and blood" as a breakthrough point to mark the Special Affairs Department's research area, and then launch a multi-dimensional and cross-dimensional deployment similar to the charity auction house, the research area would be irreparably destroyed, which would be a fatal blow to the Special Affairs Department's anti-monster operations.

Fortunately, Shen Ge took this into account when handing over the samples this time, and Deng Yuqi and Li Xiang also made thorough preparations this time because of their "oversight" last time.

The letter containing the bizarre flesh and blood, along with the sample of the fused bizarre creature, were transferred to the highest-level bizarre containment room at the Quanlong Mountain base for safekeeping.

Even so, the Special Operations Department has to take the strange events that might occur in the research area at headquarters very seriously.

Just then, a jarring encrypted communication alert sounded.

A communication request with the highest security clearance icon pops up on the main screen—Source: Dajing, Special Operations Department Headquarters.

Deng Yuqi's eyes narrowed, she took a deep breath, and signaled to answer the call.

The screen lit up, but instead of the supreme commander, it showed a middle-aged man with a cold face and sharp eyes like a hawk, whose shoulder insignia indicated a very high rank.

Behind him stood several equally imposing anti-espionage agents, dressed in headquarters' specially made black combat uniforms, their expressions solemn.

"Minister Deng." The middle-aged man's voice came through the loudspeaker, carrying the unique authority and unquestionable tone of headquarters.

"I am Chen Su, Director of the Special Operations Bureau at Headquarters. Headquarters has received a preliminary briefing regarding the 'Cloud Top' incident that occurred in Rong City last night and the subsequent large-scale paranormal energy pollution disaster in the city center. The incident is egregious in nature and has a significant impact, involving new types of paranormal phenomena, suspected applications of space technology, and direct provocations against core personnel of the Special Operations Department..."

His gaze swept across the screen, finally lingering on Shen Ge for a moment, his eyes so sharp they seemed to pierce through the screen.

"Given the severe situation facing Fuzhou and the new level of threat exposed in the incident, headquarters has decided to immediately dispatch a 'Special Operations Investigation Team' and '12 Task Forces' to Fuzhou to assist your department in conducting in-depth investigations, threat assessments, and joint operations command. The special plane will arrive at Fuzhou Airport in three hours."

How many hours to reach Fuzhou Airport?
Clearly, this is not a discussion, but a "notification".

Deng Yuqi understood, but remained outwardly calm as she said, "Thank you for the great importance and strong support that headquarters has given to the work in Rong City. All members of the Special Operations Department's Rong City branch will fully cooperate with Director Chen and the task force, share all intelligence and resources, and find out the truth as soon as possible to eliminate the threat."

Her wording was impeccable, emphasizing "cooperation" and "sharing".

As for the reality, it depends on what kind of people this "task force" really is. If they're genuinely here to help, then cooperating is fine. But if they have their own ulterior motives, then don't blame her for being impolite.

Chen Su nodded slightly, his tone softening: "Minister Deng, the Rong City Special Operations Department has performed outstandingly in numerous mysterious disasters, especially Captain Shen Ge, whose meritorious service is highly recognized by headquarters."

"This incident is of a special nature and involves a wide range of issues. The primary task of the task force is to clarify the 'Crow' organization's network, modus operandi, and core objectives in Fuzhou, especially..."

He changed the subject, his gaze once again fixed on Shen Ge: "...Regarding the organization's leader 'Raven' and the forbidden technology and sample information he possesses, which may originate from the core of the multiple bizarre spaces in Australia."

"Headquarters hopes that Captain Shen Ge can provide all relevant information he possesses without reservation, including but not limited to experimental reports obtained in Australia, sample analysis data, and all details of last night's contact with the target. This is crucial for us to understand our adversary and formulate countermeasures."

The old drunkard's intentions are as clear as day.

The focus is not on "assisting," but on "acquiring."

The target was the core secret that Shen Ge brought back, which had not yet been fully disclosed to headquarters.

Those key pieces of information that may reveal the source of the strange organization's power or even the nature of multiple bizarre dimensions.

Deng Yuqi could sense that Shen Ge's aura beside her remained completely still, as calm as an icy pool. She calmly replied, "Please rest assured, Director Chen, the Rongshi branch of the Special Operations Department will certainly fulfill its duties and fully cooperate with the headquarters' task force."

He paused, then continued calmly, "As a key participant in the incident, Captain Shen Ge will report all the information he possesses to the task force in detail, provided that it does not involve any highly classified missions currently being carried out, while ensuring his own safety."

"A highly classified mission?" Chen Su raised an eyebrow, catching the subtle qualifier.

This is a very subtle statement. When the task force needs Shen Ge's "cooperation," Deng Yuqi can simply refuse to cooperate by saying, "Captain Shen is on official business," and then they will have made a wasted trip.

“Yes,” Deng Yuqi met his gaze, her tone resolute, “The operation to track down and eliminate the ‘Crow’ leader and his core members has been directly authorized by me to Captain Shen Ge. The operation is currently in the highly confidential and execution phase.”

"Until the operation makes key progress or intelligence security is ensured, some details need to be kept confidential to avoid alerting the enemy. This is based on the current special threat situation in Fuzhou and the need for maximum operational efficiency. Please understand, headquarters."

She cleverly used the phrases "maximum operational efficiency" and "avoid alerting the enemy" to cover up Shen Ge's operational authority, thus both responding to headquarters' concerns and preserving crucial operational space and secrets for Shen Ge.

Chen Su remained silent for a few seconds, his gaze sweeping between Deng Yuqi and Shen Ge on the screen, an invisible pressure permeating the air, clearly pondering how much truth and falsehood Deng Yuqi had expressed.

Finally, he slowly spoke: "I understand. But Minister Deng, please make sure that any acquisition of key information and decision-making on major operations are reported to the task force in a timely and comprehensive manner, and are subject to unified coordination and command when necessary. After the task force arrives, we will listen to Captain Shen Ge's detailed report as soon as possible. I hope your department will make the necessary preparations."

The communication ended, and the screen went dark.

The atmosphere in the command center was even more tense than before. The people from headquarters were not friendly; they claimed to be helping, but in reality, they were there to supervise and extort money.

The Special Operations Department of Fuzhou City not only has to deal with the "Crow" who is lurking in the shadows and uses unpredictable methods, but also has to deal with the pressure and suspicion from the higher-ups inside the city.

Deng Yuqi looked at Shen Ge with a complicated expression: "Shen Ge, headquarters has its eyes on what you brought back. Chen Su is not someone to be trifled with, and his 'special task force' has a lot of authority. Unless you completely break ties with headquarters, you're bound to get into some trouble because of them this time."

It's easy to completely break ties, but for Deng Yuqi, "obeying orders but not orders" is already her limit.

If you really break off relations completely, you'll easily be labeled a "traitor."

Shen Ge stood up, his face still expressionless. When he connected with headquarters, he already had a plan in mind: "It's alright. Since headquarters is so eager to help, and we're already short-handed for the city's martial law, let them participate in the operation to track down the Twelve Branches. As for the things brought back from the Australian ghost disaster, I'll discuss it with Li Xiang and then deliver them."

Deng Yuqi nodded upon hearing this. It was perfectly safe to have Shen Ge and Li Xiang handle this matter, because whenever it involved research data and experimental samples, those two would always keep quiet, one of them a liar.

Deng Yuqi looked at Shen Ge and said, "Li Xiang's side is in your hands. Remember, the principle is—'active cooperation, limited sharing'."

She emphasized the last four words.

Shen Ge nodded slightly, then headed straight for the core research area located underground.

Deep within the research area, the highest-level isolation laboratory is brightly lit.

Li Xiang was leading a group of researchers in a high-intensity analysis of the bizarre "black mud" fusion sample. His eyes were bloodshot and his hair was disheveled, but he was unusually excited, as if he had discovered a new continent, immediately reminding people of the "mad scientist" in science fiction movies.

"Old Shen!" Upon seeing Shen Ge enter, Li Xiang immediately put down his tablet and hurried to greet him, his face showing a mixture of anxiety and excitement.

"You've come at the right time. That 'letter,' and the sample of the fusion, are too eerie. Preliminary molecular scans show that the biopolymer that makes up the letter has 'active inertness.' It is extremely stable under normal conditions, emitting almost no energy, but once it comes into contact with certain mental fluctuations... especially mental energy with strong emotions, it's like..."

He waved his arms, trying to find a suitable metaphor: "Like a dry match, it can ignite at the slightest spark. We suspect that its 'activation' condition is a sufficiently strong mental force with a specific 'flavor,' such as... anger, or extreme killing intent. Emotions, ah, this is a bizarre thing that can devour emotions!"

This almost confirms Shen Ge's speculation at the meeting that the letter itself is a mental trap targeting the strong.

"Don't get too excited yet. Headquarters already knows about our situation. Without any negotiation, the task force has already set off and will arrive in Rong City in three hours." Shen Ge briefly explained to Li Xiang the requirements of the headquarters task force, which Deng Yuqi had relayed.

After hearing this, Li Xiang's excitement was instantly replaced by disdain and resentment: "Damn it, those officials at headquarters, cough, why did they have to come 'assist' us when we were already overwhelmed by the weirdo organization's new gadgets? Assist my ass! They're clearly here to steal the fruits of our labor and grab the core research data."

"Old Shen, those things brought back from Australia, especially the sample analysis about the possible connection between the core of the multi-dimensional space and the strange organization, must not be handed over entirely!!"

Shen Ge said calmly, "Of course we won't give them everything. We need a 'gift' that's substantial enough to leave them speechless and bitter."

Li Xiang was taken aback, stroking his chin: "Like a mute eating bitter melon? You mean...give us fake data? No way, the risk is too great. Those people at headquarters aren't pushovers either; they've definitely brought top analysts with them."

“No, I’ll give it to them for real.” A cold glint flashed in Shen Ge’s eyes. “But it’s not what they want.”

Just then, Jiang Peiwen, one of the core members of the research team, who was meticulous and had in-depth contact with the headquarters' past research projects, pushed up her glasses and thoughtfully interjected, "Captain Shen... perhaps we can package up the complete set of research data related to the 'deep-sea humanoid anomaly' and give it to them?"

Jiang Peiwen explained, "Most of this information comes from the core files that Team Leader Shen brought out from the secret headquarters base 'Research Institute Zero' during the Great Jing Ghost Disaster. Later, we added some more information in the Australian Fragment World."

“These studies were highly confidential, even taboo, at headquarters back then. They were conducting live experiments and ‘freak’ transformation research. The Rongshi Special Affairs Department should not have had access to this information.”

"If we now 'voluntarily' and 'unreservedly' hand over this 'weighty' 'sincerity' to the task force... what do you think their reaction would be?" (End of Chapter)