Chapter 498: Trials Under a Crimson Tide

8:48 p.m. – Doll eliminated the ‘Mermaid’ pollution trait of Sea Country and disbanded the field.

8:50 p.m. – A squad of Support Team personnel, dressed in uniforms that looked as if they were canned, set out to assess the experimental base.

9:05 p.m. – The Support Team reported that the ‘Mermaid’s Curse’ pollution in Sea Country had been neutralized.

……

Doll found themselves surrounded by people who had rushed out from the Command Center.

They were immediately ushered into a prepped professional testing room for a Mental Power assessment and data recording.

Countless people surged out, gathering excitedly and yelling outside the testing room.

Four bulky helicopters roared in from above, and four auxiliary Ability Users were quickly taken in for tests.

A large number of Support Team staff began entering Sea Country’s Isolation Zone, distributing food and providing emergency treatment to the severely injured and those in critical condition, while also calming the many people who were panicking as they started recovering.

The entire experimental base became enveloped in an atmosphere of excitement, with everyone smiling and bustling about.

Although everyone had already drained much of their energy from the experiment, it seemed as if a new surge of courage had suddenly erupted—the sound of boots clattering on the deck even drowned out the rolling of nearby waves.

……

……

Lu Xin watched the lively commotion on the deck silently, settling onto a nearby bench and casually pulling out a cigarette.

The first phase of the Heaven’s Kingdom Plan experiment had been completed. They must be really happy, right?

By all rights, the Heaven’s Kingdom Plan wasn’t truly finished yet—only the initial experiments were done.

Yet everyone knew that this experiment’s significance went far beyond that.

Completing this experiment meant that there were no theoretical flaws in the Heaven’s Kingdom Plan.

If those who could be healed in Sea Country could be saved, then Doll could help Qinggang fend off a dreadful pollution like the ‘Mermaid’s Curse’—which could otherwise destroy the very foundation of a nation—not to mention other minor issues.

The most crucial step had already been taken; all that remained was refinement.

Lu Xin could tell that everyone was overjoyed.

And he felt happy for them too.

Truly.

Yet amidst this lively crowd, he always felt somewhat out of place.

The louder the celebration grew, the more like an outsider he seemed.

The reason…

Lu Xin mulled it over in detail until he reached an answer: perhaps he was just a guard…

That would explain it—guards always feel left out at celebration banquets…

Besides, his family had already left. This experiment’s success seemed to have a profound effect on them. His sister appeared downcast, like a child who didn’t get the toy they wanted; his father had a trace of smug satisfaction; only his mom was odd—leaving with her usual calm demeanor, though a hint of worry shadowed her face…

She had looked forward to this experiment, so why was she like this?

Could it be that some developments didn’t go her way?

“Give me one.”

As Lu Xin pondered these questions, a low, deep voice suddenly came from beside him.

Lu Xin turned slightly and saw Professor Bai had appeared at his side without warning.

Having shed his heavy protective suit, he hadn’t yet had time to change, so his white suit looked a bit crumpled; even his usually neat, glossy hair now stuck out in awkward tufts.

Sweat from the experiment still stained his forehead, not yet wiped away.

He crouched next to Lu Xin and pointed at Lu Xin’s cigarette pack.

Lu Xin looked at him in mild surprise. After a brief silence, he pulled out a cigarette and handed it over, lighting it for him.

Taking a puff, Professor Bai immediately started coughing harshly.

Lu Xin looked at him even more incredulously.

Professor Bai extinguished the cigarette butt and tossed it into the sea, awkwardly explaining, “I’ve been quitting for years, but at a moment like this, I suddenly craved one. Only after this puff did I realize I just can’t get used to it…”

Lu Xin continued to regard him with a peculiar look.

Professor Bai offered an embarrassed smile, “It’s nothing—just a few coughs…”

Lu Xin slowly shook his head, remarking, “What a waste…”

……

Professor Bai was momentarily stunned, unsure of how to respond.

Lu Xin dismissed him with a disdainful smirk.

Turning away, he faced the dark sea and kept smoking.

In doing so, he left behind Professor Bai—who had come armed with a chest full of heartfelt words he’d hoped to share.

Professor Bai felt rather awkward…

He had planned the entire conversation—from stirring topics to emotionally charged climaxes—but right from the start, his momentum was abruptly halted.

After letting the moment simmer for a bit, a smile gradually spread across his face as he said, “This experiment…”

Lu Xin interjected, “And besides, tossing cigarette butts into the sea is not right…”

……

Professor Bai’s train of thought was cut off once more.

Lu Xin shot him a glance and added, “It pollutes the sea.”

Professor Bai hesitated, then half-jokingly responded, “It’s just one cigarette butt.”

Lu Xin countered, “That won’t do.”

He said seriously, “In the words of our Old Director, a cigarette butt is a trivial matter—”

but adding one is a matter of attitude.

“And attitude is everything.”

……

Unable to string his thoughts together, Professor Bai continued along with Lu Xin, “Do you think the sea would mind?”

“The sea wouldn’t mind one butt—it’s just a cigarette butt,” Lu Xin mused.

His expression remained inscrutable as he added, “But even one cigarette butt is pollution. One person tossing one might go unnoticed. Two might not matter either. But if a hundred people did it… perhaps the sea would get angry?”

“That would have severe consequences,” he concluded.

……

Professor Bai’s expression grew solemn. After a moment, he asked, “Where did you learn such a theory?”

Lu Xin looked at him steadily and replied, “From an elementary geography textbook before the Red Moon. It taught that people must care for the environment.”

With a slight hint of skepticism, he added, “You’re so educated—haven’t you learned that already?”

……

Finally, Professor Bai left with his head hanging in embarrassment.

He had prepared so many things to say, yet he couldn’t bring himself to utter a single one.

The most critical point was that he believed he wasn’t foolish at all—indeed, he prided himself on his intelligence.

But even until his departure, he remained clueless about whether the guard’s subtle hints were directed at him…

Or if they were merely about discussing how cigarette butts pollute the sea?

Normally, when someone as important as this speaks, every word is worth pondering.

So it must have been a message meant for him.

Yet the more Professor Bai thought about Lu Xin’s calm, frank tone—combined with his usual demeanor…

Deep down, he wondered if he was simply overthinking things.

Maybe the conversation was just about an elementary textbook after all?

With a headache from all the pondering, he approached his Assistant and tapped his temple, saying,

“Go tell them: effective immediately, all proactive research and observation on the Single Soldier are halted.”

Then, pausing briefly before walking away, he added, “Also, notify the Support Team that when dismantling the experimental base and treating the affected Sea Country citizens, they must also collect all types of marine trash…”

“After all, we need to protect the marine environment.”

……

……

After Professor Bai left, Lu Xin quietly enjoyed his solitude.

He knew that when Professor Bai had approached him, it was to discuss something important. That old man was very clever—so much so that even if one were to examine every fold of his brain’s cortex, they might not understand why he was so intelligent. Perhaps during the experiment he had already noticed something different…

But Lu Xin wasn’t in the mood to talk about such things now.

So he purposely found an excuse to exchange a few idle words.

It turned out that the old man did seem a bit rattled by Lu Xin’s intentionally vague yet pointed remarks.

After all, it was just rhetoric…

And Lu Xin understood that all too well…

His eyes wandered over the surroundings, which had come alive with activity—people celebrating here and there, others already busy with preparations for the next phase of work, all orderly and a stark contrast to the earlier chaos and repression.

In such a short time, the sea had transformed completely.

It was as if it had returned to a real, tangible world.

But…

As Lu Xin slowly puffed on his cigarette, he surveyed the area.

Somehow, he sensed that from this place onward, something had been altered forever.

The dark, boundless sea seemed to hide another world within its depths. For a fleeting moment, as Lu Xin stared into the black water, it was as if his gaze pierced through to a blood-red realm where countless monsters roamed, howling and spreading the news of everything that had transpired at lightning speed…

On one side of the sea, everyone cheered in celebration of their success…

While on the other side, the monsters seemed even more excited—almost frenzied!

……

Taking a deep breath, Lu Xin refocused; the disturbing visions he’d seen were nothing more than illusions.

In the sea’s reflection, only the image of a Red Moon remained, subtly tinting the waves a dark crimson.

Lu Xin suddenly felt a pang of boredom sitting there.

Then, with a small smile, he shook his head and gently tossed his cigarette butt into the sea.