As night deepened, a few faint stars dotted the pitch-black sky, their dim light tinged with desolation.
Around seven-thirty, a large truck laden with full bins of garbage rolled slowly out through the heavily guarded gates of the research institute, heading toward the incinerator plant fifty kilometers away.
Meanwhile, inside an office on the twelfth floor of the institute.
Huo Jingyang sat leisurely in his chair, waiting for his latest blood test results.
The frown that had perpetually furrowed his brow of late had completely smoothed away, replaced by an expression of ease.
It had been a long time since he had felt this relaxed.
Ever since the symptoms of mutation had emerged, it had felt as though an electric drill was ceaselessly boring into his brain at every waking second, causing a splitting headache and a cacophony of noise so agonizing that he had wanted nothing more than to blow his own head off with a gun just to find relief.
He had been forced to fight constantly to stay lucid, willing himself to remain calm so as not to succumb to the demonic voices whispering in his mind.
Yet not long ago, he had almost lost control completely and mutated into an Abomination.
Fortunately, at the critical juncture, a shred of his sanity had prevailed; instead of pouncing on Dr. Xue, he had lunged toward the blood sample cabinet.
Never could he have imagined that by sheer happenstance, he would strike such incredible luck!
Sparks of excitement danced in the depths of his dark eyes. Huo Jingyang curled his lips into an uncontrollable smirk, his slender, defined fingers slowly clenching tight with anticipation.
His recovery of sanity was undeniably linked to the blood he had consumed.
As long as he found the owner of that blood and proved that “they” were indeed effective at suppressing the mutation, that person would undoubtedly become the Savior who could halt this apocalyptic catastrophe!
If he could control “them,” it would be equivalent to controlling the hope of all humanity.
When that time came, who could possibly stand against him?
Just the thought of it was exhilarating!
The wait was not long. Soon enough, Dr. Xue pushed the door open and hurried inside.
“General, the results are in.” Holding a stack of test reports, his expression was thoroughly thrilled. “All of your mutation indices have dropped to their lowest levels, virtually identical to a normal person’s. You shouldn’t experience any mutation flare-ups anytime soon. This is nothing short of a miracle!”
Huo Jingyang was not in the least surprised by these results; no one understood the changes in his body better than he did.
“Have you identified the owners of that blood?” he asked instead, focusing on the question he cared about most.
“Rest assured. Every test tube has a corresponding serial number, and I’ve already sent Gao Wen to lead a team to redraw their blood,” Dr. Xue said, pushing up the glasses on the bridge of his nose, unable to hide his excitement. “I believe that as long as we find them, the development of the new vaccine is sure to succeed. Humanity is saved!”
Huo Jingyang made no comment, only emphasizing, “This matter must not be publicized for now. It must be kept strictly confidential!”
“Yes, yes, absolutely. Rest assured, General.” Knowing full well the gravity of the matter, Dr. Xue gave his repeated guarantees.
As they spoke, Gao Wen hurried into the room.
Her aloof, striking face was exceptionally grave, and her voice sounded dead serious. “General, several Mutants have escaped from the detention center.”
“Oh?” Huo Jingyang raised an eyebrow slightly, somewhat surprised. “Who are they?”
Security at the research institute was tight; this was the first time he had heard of Mutants successfully escaping, and several of them at that!
Gao Wen replied, “It’s that Jiang Wanzhou—the one you arranged a cell for back then—along with her roommate, Qiao Bei, and a child.”
Huo Jingyang searched his memory for a moment before recalling whom she was referring to, then immediately pressed, “Was their blood among those samples as well?”
Otherwise, she would not have come specifically to report this at such a time.
“Yes, they were among them.” Gao Wen dared not conceal the truth, shame washing over her face.
After all, they had escaped under her watch. No matter how it was sliced, it was a dereliction of her duty!
Upon hearing this, Huo Jingyang’s gaze turned abruptly chilling.
Surging to his feet from the chair, he demanded urgently, “How did they escape? Do you know where they went?”
“I checked the surveillance footage carefully. They seem to have hidden inside the garbage transport truck to escape the research institute,” Gao Wen replied hastily. “We’ve already contacted the truck driver and instructed him to keep driving so as not to alert them. I’m preparing to take a team to pursue them now.”
“Go, right now!” A storm of impatience roiled in the depths of Huo Jingyang’s dark eyes. “You must bring all of them back to me. Alive!”
“Understood!” Gao Wen promptly took her orders and departed.
Soon, three armored trucks sped out through the research institute’s gates, hurtling northwest toward the incinerator plant.
About twenty minutes later, along a highway passing through a slum district, the armored trucks intercepted the garbage truck.
Bright, glaring headlights pierced the night as a squad of elite guards armed with weapons dismounted, completely surrounding the garbage transport truck.
With a wave of Gao Wen’s hand, the well-trained guards immediately opened the cargo doors and climbed inside to search.
Before long, however, a guard emerged to report, “Captain Gao, the targets weren't found in the truck.”
“Not there?” Gao Wen’s brow furrowed at once. “Did you search thoroughly?”
All the clues clearly pointed to the garbage truck. How could they not be there?
“Indeed not. We inspected all the corpses, and none of them are our targets,” the guard continued reporting. “However, someone painted words on the wall of the cargo container...”
Without waiting for him to finish, Gao Wen stepped forward to see for herself.
The cargo container was fitted with an interior light, which had now been turned on, casting a dim yellow glow over the space.
Down along the bottom of the right wall, four large words had been scrawled in fresh blood.
WORSE THAN TRASH!
Beside them was a crooked, ugly smiley face, seemingly grinning wide in mockery at everyone who looked upon it.
Rate on N.U.
