Chapter 296: A Breach of Secrets

“Continue!”

The sounds fluctuated between fast and slow.

They ignored the hissing admonitions.

With Ming Luo and the others in tow, Yenir shot over the small island, his gaze icy as it swept over the ground below.

On the dark silver metal structure, an alloy gate had been battered into a dent. A colossal fist imprint marked the surface — undeniable evidence of Liang Lie’s formidable power.

“Such a robust defense… Is this system material?”

“It’s so vast… Whatever lies inside must be remarkable…”

His eyes flickered with anticipation.

As Liang Lie struck again, those inside seemed to realize that Yenir had no intention of stopping.

In a fit of rage, the man’s voice thundered once more:

“I said, stop!”

“This is a Central-affiliated Research Institute! I’m Yuan Xiao, under Division Seven! What you’re doing is already a violation of…”

Before he could finish, a crashing boom rang out as Liang Lie’s punch reared, the alloy gate groaning in torment.

“Stop!”

“I’m opening it! Open it now!”

Realizing that words were futile, Yuan Xiao inside had no choice but to unseal the gate.

At this rate, the place was bound to be torn apart!

“Clack.”

A series of mechanical clanks filled the air.

With three alloy gates swinging open, the interior was unveiled — an underground tunnel-like scene.

At the tunnel’s mouth stood Yuan Xiao, his face ashen from the recent message.

After receiving Fang Teng’s update, he’d doubted anyone would dare breach this place. But after Liang Lie’s two devastating punches, he understood exactly why Fang Teng was so frantic.

This was nothing short of a madhouse!

His gaze swept past Yenir, locking onto the middle-aged man whose presence exuded oppressive authority.

As the strongest asset at the base, his advanced Third-Stage prowess should have quelled every problem. This was a defense standard of the highest caliber.

Yet facing Liang Lie, he felt an unexpected surge of fear!

To halt Yenir’s inquiry, it wasn’t Yenir who was the issue — a mere Third-Stage Beginner could be crushed with one hand! The real problem was this machine-like man!

“Guardian!”

“This is your final warning: withdraw immediately!”

“I know your duty is to protect him, but this kid is wreaking havoc! Everything here is a state secret. If anything goes awry, you won’t be able to shoulder the responsibility!”

“I give you my word — there’s no issue here! The three committee members have all reviewed this area!”

Suppressing his anger,

Yuan Xiao growled each word deliberately.

He’d heard of Yenir too, and in his eyes, Yenir’s sudden intrusion was pure tomfoolery!

What kind of nonsense about beast tides or anomalies is this?!

He personally guarded this place — could he be so oblivious to what was happening?!

To him, this was nothing more than Yenir venting revenge on Fang Teng by stirring up needless trouble!

He paid no heed to Yuan Xiao.

Meanwhile, Liang Lie stood like a lifeless husk, turning his head blankly as if seeking confirmation, his eyes fixed on Yenir.

His final order was clear: protect Yenir and obey all commands.

Aside from Yenir and the three others, no one in Huaguo had the authority to command him!

Beside Yenir, Ming Luo and the others stared in dismay at the dark red slogans emblazoned along the tunnel, their hearts pounding furiously.

This was an A+ military zone — a clearance beyond anything they were allowed to enter.

Yenir’s actions had truly gone overboard.

If they didn’t trust him, they would have left in a heartbeat! Staying any longer meant facing a military tribunal!

“Yenir…”

“We…”

They instinctively tried to dissuade him.

Honestly, they all felt they shouldn’t push further. With an advanced Third-Stage whose word was as good as law, and confirmation from three committee members, if nothing was found, they all knew the consequences. And if something was uncovered, it would be catastrophic…

There was no response.

Yenir ignored Ming Luo and the others’ anxious glances.

He fixed his calm gaze on Yuan Xiao, who stubbornly blocked their way.

“Clear the way in three seconds!”

“I need every bit of information here — including the records from four days ago!”

His tone brooked no argument.

Hearing Yenir’s commanding tone, Yuan Xiao hesitated in shock before erupting into furious laughter.

“You’re ordering me?!”

“Who do you think you are?!”

“Let me tell you something! Don’t say you’re just a committee member! Not even if the Army Commander shows up do you have the right to search here!”

“Either you…”

Before Yuan Xiao could finish his sentence,

the next second, Yenir sighed softly and said:

“Uncle Liang, take him out!”

“I’m taking over here in one minute!”

“Boom!”

In an instant, upon receiving his order, Liang Lie erupted like a rampaging beast, unleashing a crushing punch.

……….

One minute later.

Inside the cold, underground alloy hall, over thirty researchers and Awakeners stared in terror at the imposing figure of Yenir before them.

The battle had ended in record time.

With Yuan Xiao reduced to grievous injuries, writhing on the ground in pain, every obstacle melted away.

“You lunatics… you crazy fools…”

“Hah…”

“You’re finished, you little bastard… you’re doomed!”

“I’ll definitely report this to the Military! Just wait…”

“Ming Luo, shut him up.”

Ignoring Yuan Xiao’s threats and insults, Yenir furrowed his brow and rapidly sifted through the retrieved documents.

Time was running out for him.

If nothing else, Fang Teng was likely frantically mobilizing forces — even if it meant bending the rules — to bring them down.

He skimmed through the pages, his mind racing.

As he absorbed the information on paper and screens alike, a grim seriousness flickered in Yenir’s eyes.

The secrecy level here was extraordinarily high.

Every document was stamped “Confidential.” Moreover, the contents were so shocking that even in his previous life he hadn’t imagined Huaguo undertook such research!

“Sea Beast Modification… Gene Extraction…”

“Biological Fusion… Embryo Screening…”

“Rustle, rustle…”

Pages flipped rapidly.

Gazing at the bizarre images of captured sea beasts, it became painfully clear what this research institute was up to.

“Fourteen years ago, with special approval from the Central Authority,”

“Based on a proposal from an old chief ***, Fang Teng remained in the East Sea as a research institute member to push studies forward.”

“His wife, Wanrou, meanwhile, worked as a researcher in the Capital on another front.”

“The plan capitalized on the coastal location of the East Sea Safe Zone to capture various sea beasts for research…”

“And the focus was on uncovering the source of the sea beasts’ power… to see if that power could be harnessed by the Military…”

…

“Seven years ago, the initial research direction was scrapped.”

“Sea beasts, resembling zombies, no longer fit the definition of a ‘biological’ entity that could be controlled by humans.”

“Whether through implanted electrodes or skill control, sea beasts simply couldn’t be ‘tamed’…”

“Worse still, multiple sea beast breaches had occurred…”

“Thus, four years ago… the research shifted to extracting sea beast genes and experimenting with fusing them into the human body.”

Suddenly, he looked up.

A shock ran through Yenir as he stared at a horrifying photo in the report, his eyes locking onto the highest-ranking researchers.

“Are you trying to fuse infant embryos with sea beasts?!”

“Are you attempting to synthesize mutant organisms?!”

He demanded harshly.

Ming Luo and the others, who hadn’t dared to review the documents with him, were startled and instinctively turned their gaze toward the report.

On the stark black-and-white document, an anatomical diagram of a deformed creature — a human-headed monstrosity — emerged.

Stretched along the enormous, sprawled tentacles on the dissection table, a baby-sized head covered in countless suction-cup eyes stared back.