The System Arrived Four Years Early, but the Anomaly Is Still a Juvenile - Chapter 107

The girl reached out to pat the golden retriever’s head, but the dog lay weakly on the ground, seemingly in low spirits.

“How old is it?” Shen Ge asked.

The girl replied, “He’ll be two this year.”

“He doesn’t look too lively.”

“Maybe… he’s tired from running around all day.”

“I’m here to visit a friend who lives in that building,” Shen Ge said, pointing randomly at an apartment block. “I have a dog too—I’ll bring him over sometime to play with your golden retriever.” He smoothly began extracting information from the girl.

By now, the girl was completely smitten, answering every question Shen Ge asked without hesitation. It took almost no effort to learn everything about the dog.

Shen Ge excused himself, claiming he had to meet his friend, and returned to the security office. However, after reviewing the surveillance footage from that time period, the guards found no trace of Old Wang.

Originally planning to head home, Shen Ge instead took a taxi to the Special Response Department (SRD). After reporting the golden retriever’s condition to the inspection team for handling, he went straight to the director’s office.

It was almost 10 p.m., and Deng Yuqi had only just found time to eat, digging into a meal from the cafeteria. She looked surprised when Shen Ge walked in. “What brings you here?”

“I have something important to report.” Shen Ge sat across from her, his expression grave.

“Go ahead.” Deng Yuqi continued eating, unfazed. After knowing Shen Ge for four months, she’d learned that the more serious he looked, the more likely his words were meaningless.

Shen Ge said, “According to the SRD’s current research, anomalies are all derived from mutated animals. But… I’ve seen a human with anomaly energy before. And today, I saw that person again.”

Pfft!

Deng Yuqi spat out her food in shock. Clearly, she hadn’t expected Shen Ge to drop such a bombshell. If true, this wouldn’t just shake the SRD—it would send shockwaves through anomaly research worldwide!

The idea that humans could mutate was as staggering as announcing the apocalypse was tomorrow.

“Are you serious?” Deng Yuqi set down her chopsticks, her expression deadly serious as she scrutinized Shen Ge for confirmation.

Shen Ge nodded. “The man’s name is Wang Defa. He used to be a security guard in my neighborhood and lived in Xingfu Community nearby. Months ago—just a few days before my first encounter with the anomaly in the rooftop water tank—I noticed black anomaly energy on him.”

“At the time, I didn’t know what it was, so I didn’t pay much attention. After my own anomaly encounter, I remembered him, but he’d already been gone for days. I went to his home, and his wife said the neighborhood had organized a trip for the staff.”

“But our rundown complex had a huge fight with the property management over fees two years ago—there’s no way they’d have the money to send security guards on vacation. Besides, Old Wang was the only one missing; the others were still working. Later, after joining the SRD, I got busy and forgot about it.”

“But today, while escorting Cheng Shengnan home, I saw Old Wang again in the opposite neighborhood—and he still had anomaly energy on him. I chased him into the complex, but when security checked the cameras, there was no footage of him entering. Inside, I ran into a golden retriever on the verge of mutation. I reported the dog to the inspection team—they’re handling it now.”

Shen Ge’s account contained some embellishments to ensure Deng Yuqi would believe the story’s consistency. Though he hadn’t been able to detect faint anomaly energy when the system first flagged Old Wang as the anomaly “Three Heads, Six Arms,” this time, even from a distance, he’d noticed wisps of black energy emanating from the man.

“How is this possible…?” Deng Yuqi was stunned. Humans mutating into anomalies was anything but good news.

After a moment of thought, she ventured, “Do you think… Old Wang might have been carrying a small animal that was mutating?”

“That’s possible. But even so, having a near-mutated or fully mutated anomaly on him is dangerous in itself,” Shen Ge pointed out.

Deng Yuqi nodded. “You’re right. Either way, we need to find Old Wang as soon as possible and get to the truth. I’ll have Feng Chengxiu lead a team immediately and coordinate with Rong City’s military and police for a citywide search.”

Shen Ge had assumed that with the SRD’s resources and the cooperation of Rong City’s authorities, tracking down one man wouldn’t be difficult.

But the next day, Deng Yuqi delivered unexpected news.

According to Old Wang’s wife, he had died months ago in a landslide during a trip to Shizhaigou. His body had been recovered and cremated, and the travel agency had paid substantial compensation. Unless Shen Ge had seen a ghost, the man he encountered couldn’t have been Old Wang.

Despite this, Deng Yuqi chose to believe Shen Ge. She knew he wouldn’t joke about something like this, and a “resurrected” Old Wang fit the profile of an anomaly event.

After careful consideration, Deng Yuqi decided not to report this to SRD headquarters—yet. The idea of human mutation was too radical, contradicting all current global research on anomalies. It was better to confirm the facts first.

Moreover, there was no definitive proof that the anomaly energy came from Old Wang himself rather than equipment or a creature he was carrying.

Additionally, reporting this would risk exposing Shen Ge’s secret to more people. Deng Yuqi trusted her team—Li Xiang, Feng Chengxiu, and others—but not necessarily headquarters.

Shen Ge, too, wanted to avoid drawing headquarters’ attention, especially with an upcoming mission in the Republic of Korea (ROK). Being “exposed” now would only invite trouble.

After discussion, Deng Yuqi and Shen Ge agreed: even if they eventually reported Old Wang’s case, they’d wait until after the ROK mission and find a way to present it without implicating Shen Ge.

One Week Later

The Asian Anomaly Research Conference was about to begin. The Rong City branch sent Director Deng Yuqi, Agent Chen Ke, Research Director Li Xiang, bodyguard Feng Chengxiu, and team members Wang Han, Ma Chao, Zhang Hu, Zhao Long—along with Shen Ge, also registered as security.

At the airport, the group went through a special security channel due to their status. When the X-ray revealed a cleaver in Shen Ge’s backpack, the security officer’s expression turned strange. But since the Rong City branch had pre-reported the weapon, there was little they could say.

The flight from Rong City to Seoul, the ROK’s capital, took about four hours. Shen Ge slept through most of it, prompting Feng Chengxiu to joke, “Man, you’ve really embraced the classic tourist routine—sleep on the ride, pee at the stops, snap photos at the sights, then sleep at home. Ask you the next day, and you’d have no clue what you even saw.”

Stretched out comfortably in his business-class seat, Shen Ge didn’t bother opening his eyes. “What’s the difference between touring the ROK and touring another province?”

Wang Han chimed in, “Well, for one, you don’t usually get a welcome committee for interprovincial travel. I heard the ROK’s arranged all kinds of special welcoming ceremonies for anomaly agents.”

Ma Chao added dryly, “Perfect for you—you’re plenty ‘special’ yourself. Just don’t let beauty cloud your judgment.”

Wang Han snorted. “Those welcomes are for the agents, not us ‘bodyguards.’ But hey, Shen, why aren’t you up in first class with the director? You’re the top agent in the Southwest Division.”

“This time, I’m also security,” Shen Ge said.

Wang Han blinked. “Huh?”

Ma Chao gave him a look. “The Southwest Branch only has six agent slots for this event. Our branch took two. You expect the director and Chen Ke to play bodyguard?”

“Oh. Right.” Wang Han nodded, then perked up. “I hear every conference showcases each country’s anomaly-tech. It’s like nukes these days—a symbol of national power. Li, this is your chance to shine.”

Li Xiang, eyes glued to his iPad, didn’t look up. “I haven’t made any breakthroughs lately. Sorry to disappoint.”

“Wait, weren’t you testing new gear just days ago?” Wang Han asked.

Li Xiang replied flatly, “It failed.”

“Uh…” Wang Han faltered, unsure how to console him. For a research fanatic like Li Xiang, failure was worse than death.

Shen Ge glanced at Li Xiang. Deng Yuqi had mentioned this—though Li Xiang’s Type Li-Xiang I Combat Armor would stun the world if revealed, she wanted to protect him from becoming a target. She also didn’t want to expose Shen Ge’s capabilities. Hence, the official line was that the research had “failed.”

Ultimately, the Rong City branch wasn’t strong enough. If it were, Lin Yin wouldn’t have been abandoned so easily.

Not wanting to dwell on Li Xiang’s “failure,” Wang Han steered the conversation back to the ROK’s “special” attractions, and the group chatted idly until landing.

Four Hours Later – Seoul Airport

Instead of a shuttle bus, a line of black sedans awaited the team. Each had a sharply dressed driver and a fully armed soldier. At the front stood the reception lead.

“Welcome, delegates from the Rong City Branch of the SRD. Please board—we’ll take you directly to the conference hotel.” After exchanging pleasantries with Deng Yuqi, the man guided everyone to their cars.

Deng Yuqi and Chen Ke took the first vehicle; Shen Ge and Li Xiang the second. This was Deng Yuqi’s arrangement—ensuring key personnel’s safety. If even Shen Ge couldn’t protect Li Xiang, Feng Chengxiu and the others stood no chance.

The motorcade left the airport, winding through the city’s bustling streets before arriving at Seoul’s most luxurious hotel.

A red carpet stretched to the entrance, flanked by rows of stunning, eerily identical female greeters.

“Welcome, SRD agents from China!” they chorused in accented Mandarin, bowing in unison.

Wang Han’s throat went dry at the sight.

Inside, the group was ushered into a massive conference hall seating over a thousand. Many agents had already arrived. As one of the world’s six major anomaly-research powers, China—like the U.S.—was seated front and center.

Though dubbed an Asian conference, all six global powers attended, with other nations free to apply.

The Rong City team had three front-row seats for Deng Yuqi, Chen Ke, and Li Xiang. Shen Ge and the others took the rear.

As more Chinese agents arrived, Shen Ge spotted familiar faces—Fang Mingyue and Luo Chenguang, whom he’d worked with before. The headquarters team had six slots, but surprisingly, Elder Ho wasn’t among them.

Not that Shen Ge cared. He folded his arms, lowered his head, and dozed off. This wasn’t the actual conference—just the ROK’s welcome ceremony.

Fang Mingyue, clearly uninterested, declined a front-row seat and headed to the back despite Luo Chenguang’s protests.

Thanks to the ROK’s meticulous scheduling, all major Asian delegations arrived within two hours.

The welcome ceremony began with a burst of  loud, energetic music as a girl group in short skirts and bare legs took the stage, launching into a performance dripping with ROK flair.

Feng Chengxiu muttered, “If I didn’t know better, I’d think we were at a variety show. Typical ROK—hard to put into words.”

Wang Han grinned. “What do you know? This is local culture. When in Rome, eh?” If not for professionalism (and the threat of a written reprimand), he’d have joined the audience interaction segment.

Deciding his companions had no taste, Wang Han nudged the dozing Shen Ge. “Agent Shen, not gonna watch this amazing show?”

Shen Ge didn’t open his eyes. “They’re chanting ‘die die die die die’ right at the start. Bad omen. I might actually die if I watch too much.”

“…”

Many shared Feng Chengxiu’s sentiment, leaving the performers to energetically entertain a largely indifferent crowd. Most attendees were dignitaries—even if they enjoyed it, they dared not show it.

Halfway through, agents like Fang Mingyue, wholly uninterested, began slipping out.

The music lulled Shen Ge into deeper sleep—until the system’s shrill alarm blared in his mind.

[Warning! Warning! Warning!]
[5th-stage anomaly detected (Trait: Three Heads, Six Arms). Host’s current strength insufficient. Recommend immediate evacuation!]

Shen Ge’s eyes snapped open. He scanned the room—since there’d been no alert earlier, the target must have just entered.

His gaze locked onto the left-side emergency exit, where a figure in a black hoodie cradled a black cat.

The person withdrew a syringe filled with dark liquid, injected the cat’s hindbrain, then hurled it into the crowd.

“MEEEOOOOW—”

The cat’s shriek morphed into a guttural roar as thick black mist erupted from its body, engulfing it in a swirling vortex of darkness.