Chapter 353: Conflicting Agendas
by xennovel“What are they doing?”
Inside the bar the candlelight flickered casting shifting shadows across the room.
Chen Xun sat bolt upright on a high stool his hands pinned to the table by shards of glass. Blood pooled beneath them.
Waves of excruciating pain assaulted him a constant torture whether he moved or stayed still. It felt as if sharp glass fragments were flowing into his blood vessels along with the blood. His hands trembled uncontrollably each movement amplifying the agony.
He tried desperately to shift his focus taking in the changes around him.
He wasn’t an Ability User but the tremors shaking the building and the faint roars echoing from several floors above gave him a rough idea of what was happening. A helpless bitter smile touched his lips. “What is that guy doing now?”
“Does he really think the God’s Body can be killed with brute force?”
“And what is Dr. Zhao Shiming doing?”
“After all this time do they still not understand the true power of a god?”
…
He muttered his thoughts and his hand twitched involuntarily.
Immediately intense pain shot through his mind yanking him back from rational thought.
It hurt so much.
He knew pain was just a normal reaction a signal sent from damaged nerves to the central nervous system.
It shouldn’t be a big deal.
But damn it really hurt!
…
…
“The experiment succeeded. The god… has descended!”
While Lu Xin pursued the god who loved burrowing through holes chasing it floor by floor several figures shrouded in black cloaks sat in a perpetually dim meeting room in Central City sharing the latest message from the forward outpost.
The person delivering the message spoke with barely suppressed excitement.
“The Black Table’s experiment succeeded. Our investment has paid off.”
“Congratulations everyone.”
“From this moment on you are among those who can wield the power of a god!”
…
Compared to the messenger’s barely concealed exhilaration his voice soaring as if reciting poetry.
The others however were markedly calmer.
“Multiple Ability User teams are heading to Water Buffalo City. Can we ensure they won’t interfere with our plans?”
A slightly overweight man his voice steady and calm clasped his hands over his lower abdomen and leaned back asking peacefully, “Also has the safety and controllability of the experiment subject been assessed?”
“I believe we will have answers soon.”
The messenger regained some composure and said:
“Those Ability Users were always part of our test for the experiment subject’s power and reliability. At least according to current reports they stand almost no chance against it. This proves the experiment subject’s strength.”
“As for higher levels of safety and reliability…”
“I think the Black Table has already given us sufficient demonstrations!”
…
A slight silence fell around the long table as the figures seemed to weigh important matters.
Clearly these were not people easily swayed by excitement.
“In that case…”
Amidst the brief silence another figure tall and thin spoke softly, “When do we show our hand to the Research Institute?”
The moment the words “Research Institute” were uttered everyone fell silent.
Merely mentioning the name made their hearts pound involuntarily.
“The Research Institute hasn’t reacted at all so far.”
“Did they not notice or…”
…
A tense silence spread through the dark meeting room.
“Smack!”
Suddenly someone slammed their hand on the table stating firmly, “We made this choice. We need to see it through.”
“The Research Institute is ultimately just a bunch of bookworms. Besides conducting all sorts of research they understand nothing. Letting a group obsessed only with pursuing so-called ‘truth’ run wild is extremely dangerous and insane…”
“If they hadn’t interfered Central City and the other high-wall cities wouldn’t still exist as an Alliance.”
“Besides…”
His voice softened as if considering something. Then he abruptly threw back his black hood revealing a long gaunt and grim face illuminated by the faint light filtering in from the courtyard.
Everyone else was visibly startled. Clearly they recognized this person.
They just hadn’t expected him to dare reveal his face.
The man who had shown his face scanned the others with determined eyes and spoke in a low voice, “The Research Institute was indeed powerful but years of betrayal internal strife failed experiments lost parasitic items… these consecutive blows have severely weakened its strength… So it’s time for us the Administrative Main Hall to take over the Research Institute’s specific affairs.”
…
Some felt a surge of excitement clenching their jaws firming their resolve.
But others simply sat in silence.
After a long pause someone spoke as if telling a joke, “This has been planned for so long there’s no reason to abandon it midway. It’s inevitable for the Administration Hall to control the Research Institute. So please rest assured everyone…”
“The Research Institute is just a bunch of ivory tower lunatics. They care about nothing but research so it’s normal for them to react slowly.”
“Perhaps right now they’re only concerned about getting to the cafeteria for dinner…”
…
Central City comprised two main cities one large and one small.
The smaller Second Main City located east of the main one was exceptionally clean and orderly.
Here it seemed every road was built with a certain aesthetic precision.
The building walls were so clean they almost reflected light.
Upon closer inspection one would notice perfect symmetry in the building clusters the greenery the rivers and the lakes.
At the city’s core lay a complex featuring neat buildings and large lawns.
The entrance consisted of two four-meter-high iron gates currently only half-closed easily pushed open with a gentle hand.
Standing outside the main gate now was a man in a crisp military uniform his posture ramrod straight.
Behind him military vehicles were lined up each packed with fully armed elite soldiers.
The man didn’t push open the iron gate; he simply waited outside.
He could see a scene of leisure unfolding behind the gate.
It was dinnertime. Young people and old professors some bald some wearing wigs clutching books or clad in white coats emerged from various buildings strolling casually towards the cafeteria.
On the lawn some energetic young people who still had some hair left were shouting and kicking a ball around.
Their skills were undoubtedly terrible.
The man in the military uniform glanced at his wristwatch resisting the urge to charge through the iron gate several times.
But he held back nursing an impulse to pull out his gun and shoot the damn ball they were kicking.
After waiting for what felt like an eternity… thirty-seven minutes and forty-two seconds to be exact.
Finally a girl researcher in a white coat with messy long hair and black-rimmed glasses came running from the Research Institute. She looked like she was struggling running breathlessly yet her speed was slow enough for a tortoise to lap her…
“The Director responded…”
She reached the iron gate gasped twice rested her hands on her knees for a moment then spoke urgently.
The man in the military uniform grew anxious stepping forward quickly. “Does he approve?” he asked in a low voice.
As he spoke he glanced at his watch again. “The enemy could make a move at any second. I suspect multiple armed units have already entered the First Main City from various directions. Also news from Water Buffalo City indicates the Black Table’s forbidden experiment succeeded. If they decide to attack the Research Institute with the monster they created we’ll have no preparations whatsoever…”
“You…”
The female researcher waved her hand catching her breath again. “…Let me finish first or my thoughts will get jumbled.”
The military man choked back his words forced to wait silently and anxiously for her mind to clear so she could finish speaking.
“The Director… the Director says he’s very busy right now…”
The female researcher’s voice finally became a bit clearer as she spoke.
“Very busy?”
The military man couldn’t help himself again asking gravely, “Did you explain clearly? What could possibly be more important right now?”
“You… quiet!”
The female researcher waved her hand forcefully before continuing, “The Director said… he’s about to win.”
“Win…”
The military man froze momentarily utterly incredulous. “Win?”
“Yes!”
The female researcher stated, “An all-of-one-suit hand.”
The man in uniform desperately wanted to believe he’d misheard but he knew he hadn’t. He fell silent.
If he had to describe his inner thoughts there were only two.
Either barge in and put a bullet in that Director’s head.
Or put a bullet in his own head right here.
Drawing on immense self-control he remained silent for a long moment before asking, “Then… what should we do?”
“What do you mean what should we do?”
The female researcher finally spoke more quickly glancing at the man in uniform. “Isn’t the Director’s meaning obvious?”
“Handling forbidden experiments dealing with special pollution isn’t that all the Administrative Main Hall’s responsibility?”
“It was agreed upon from the start. The Research Institute doesn’t handle administrative matters and the Administration Hall doesn’t interfere with the Research Institute’s affairs. Everyone performs their own duties supports each other maintains peace allowing Central City and the entire Alliance to develop peacefully and well.”
…
“But…”
The military man’s head was spinning from her bureaucratic jargon.
He couldn’t help but ask, “What if someone no longer wants to maintain this peace?”
“Heh then that’s their problem.”
The female researcher chuckled waving her hand dismissively.
“Alright I’m going to eat. They have sweet and sour pork ribs in the cafeteria today.”
She turned to leave but then looked back at the military man unable to completely ignore his plight offering some well-meaning advice:
“You should go home and eat too. Look at the time.”