HPDBC Chapter 425 - 410: My Things
Chapter 425 - 410: My Things
Before Gu Xi arrived, the investigation team had already met with several of the base’s managers. Though it was supposedly a routine inquiry, the nature of their questions was so pointed that even a gruff soldier like Shen Zhennan could tell something was wrong.
...Their ill intentions toward Gu Xi were just too obvious.
Just then, the doors to the conference room were suddenly pushed open from the outside.
Gu Xi stepped into the conference room. Her gaze swept past a man she didn’t recognize—a Mr. Zheng with shifty eyes—before she calmly looked away.
The members of the investigation team, who clearly hadn’t expected Gu Xi to arrive so quickly, all tensed up instinctively. They stared nervously at the woman once known as the Evil God of the apocalypse.
...It was obvious they knew their previous actions had been despicable.
But Gu Xi simply walked calmly to the other side of the conference table, showing no intention of starting a fight.
Li Ming had once taught her that matters of power and profit could never be solved by brute force alone. This was especially true for someone as powerful as her; if she were to rashly join such a game of thrones, a single misstep could make her a casualty of the conflict.
In the past, Gu Xi hadn’t fully understood this.
Until now.
Gu Xi walked over to face the group, pulled out a chair, and slowly sat down.
At that same moment, the investigation team members sitting across from her felt as if they were facing a storm of blood and carnage.
The pressure was so intense it was suffocating.
The suffocating pressure lasted until the old general, who was sitting in the corner as an observer, let out a cough.
"Zhou, since Gu is here, let’s get started." Shen Zhennan glanced at the middle-aged man beside him and added meaningfully, "After all, everyone’s time is precious."
The middle-aged man he addressed as Zhou was clearly not in a good mood.
He hadn’t received any warning before Gu Xi walked through the door.
Something was clearly wrong.
’What happened to the men I stationed around the administration building?’
’Why didn’t a single one of them report to me when they saw her?’
’Or could it be...’ The middle-aged man’s gaze fell on Gu Xi, his mind racing with suspicion. ’Did someone secretly interfere and block all communications, or... is her power so immense that she’s already taken control of everyone outside?’
Perhaps because the latter possibility was so terrifying, the heart of the man, Zhou, sank further and further.
He had deliberately chosen this seat in the corner to distance himself from the other investigation team members—at least in appearance.
But he hadn’t expected that sly old fox Shen Zhennan to ruin his plan the moment he opened his mouth.
’How was he supposed to play the good guy in front of Miss Gu now?’
Despite his wariness, now that Shen Zhennan had put him on the spot, the man named Zhou had no choice but to speak.
"You must be Gu. We haven’t met before, and you probably don’t know most of the people here. Allow me to make some introductions. I’m Zhou, from the investigation team. This is..."
From the introductions given by the man who called himself Zhou, Gu Xi learned that the composition of this so-called joint investigation team was quite complex. In addition to people from the base authorities and the military, it also included members from the Abnormal Ability Research Institute, the Superpower Union, and other organizations.
There were even two people who were supposedly representatives of the general populace.
Of course, whether they were truly ordinary civilians was anyone’s guess.
Gu Xi merely glanced at the two of them before looking away.
Yet, anyone who met her gaze felt a bone-chilling fear.
After Zhou finished the introductions, a young man in a white lab coat sitting in the middle opened his personal terminal. After a few taps, he enlarged the light screen, projecting it for everyone to see.
Gu Xi saw that the screen displayed information from the Farm 0101 forums—the very data on superpower applications she had entrusted Mr. Zhou to release publicly.
Gu Xi couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow.
"Miss Gu," the young man in the center began, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose, "according to our investigation, you are the source of this information, correct?"
"Correct." Gu Xi nodded, noticing the expressions of the investigators across from her shift subtly.
This was especially true for the two supposed civilian representatives, who even exchanged a smile right in front of her.
The excitement and cunning in their eyes were practically overflowing.
’Do they take me for a blind person?’
Gu Xi suddenly found the situation amusing.
Seeing Gu Xi’s admission, the bespectacled young man asked with keen interest, "Why would you make such precious information public?"
Gu Xi retorted, "Is there a reason I can’t?"
"Of course you can. However," the young man’s expression turned serious as he continued in an accusatory tone, "by releasing it to the public so thoughtlessly, did you not consider the detrimental effect it might have on social stability?"
Gu Xi found this laughable. "Is that so? Then how should I have considered it? How should I have released it?"
Perhaps it was Gu Xi’s easygoing attitude, or maybe her deceptively young and harmless appearance that gave the young investigator the wrong impression.
He stated self-righteously, "This information is extremely valuable. You should have submitted it to the Abnormal Ability Research Institute, or even the Superpower Union. Only after being vetted by professionals should it have been released to the public..."
"But why should I?" Gu Xi suddenly cut him off.
The young investigator froze, likely not expecting such a question. He instinctively started to glance to his side, but halfway through the motion, he seemed to remember something and abruptly stopped.
He then pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose and said with feigned seriousness, "Since you were willing to release this information, you must want to contribute to the advancement of all humankind. In that case, why not..."
"Why not?" Gu Xi cut him off again. Meeting his stunned and resentful gaze, she said slowly, "Because it’s mine."
’Since it’s mine, I’ll do whatever I want with it. What fucking business is it of yours.’
The young investigator clearly understood her unspoken message. His face instantly flushed red, though it was hard to tell if it was from embarrassment or anger.
The atmosphere in the vast conference room suddenly grew tense.
It was only then that some of them remembered just who Gu Xi was, and the tension in the room thickened.
Just then, Zhou suddenly spoke up. "Gu, about the Death Swamp... you were the one who first dealt with it, correct?"
’Finally, the real topic.’
Gu Xi met his beaming gaze, her own eyes perfectly calm. "I was."
"To be honest, the Land of Death has troubled us for many years." Zhou sighed, then suddenly stood up to face Gu Xi. "Gu, on behalf of all the survivors of A City Base, I want to thank you."
With that, he gave Gu Xi a deep bow.
’Say what you will, he’s certainly putting on a good show.’
Gu Xi remained silent, waiting for what he would say next.
Sure enough, after his little performance, Zhou skillfully steered the conversation toward the Superpower Seed in just a few sentences.
Gu Xi listened nonchalantly, admiring him in a way. ’This man certainly has a way with words. Somehow, he’s managed to frame my property as a treasure belonging to all of humanity.’
’And the crazy part is, no one listening seems to think anything is wrong with it.’
’If that’s not talent, what is?’
And Gu Xi had always valued talent. So, she simply released the guardian from her space.
"This is the person in question," she said slowly. "He is also the sole survivor of the Starfire Plan. If you have questions about the Superpower Seed, you can ask him directly."
The people across from her: "..."