The System Arrived Four Years Early, but the Anomaly Is Still a Juvenile - Chapter 108

“Seven o’clock direction—anomaly spotted. You two go protect Li Xiang. Oh, and remember to shout a few times to alert the others.” Shen Ge patted Feng Chengxiu and Wang Han on their shoulders.

“…”

What?
Anomaly?

Wang Han had been thoroughly enjoying the view of the dancers’ legs when he turned and saw a swirling mass of black fog near the emergency exit. His mood instantly soured.

An anomaly at an event like this? What the hell is the ROK even doing?

“Anomaly at seven o’clock!”
“Anomaly spotted!”

The two immediately stood and shouted. The nearby crowd reacted first, turning to see the anomaly before chaos erupted.

Fortunately, most of the “bodyguards” were well-trained and swiftly moved to protect agents, researchers, and officials. After instructing Feng Chengxiu and the others to secure Li Xiang, Shen Ge left his seat and sprinted toward the exit—not for the anomaly, but for the figure who had just slipped out.

A week ago, he had encountered Old Wang again, though at the time, the system hadn’t alerted him due to the distance. Now, the man had shown up at the Asian Anomaly Research Conference’s welcome ceremony to release an anomaly.

Since Shen Ge’s rating had improved, he could now detect faint traces of anomaly energy. When the system alerted him to Old Wang’s presence, the black cat in his arms had shown no signs of mutation—until it was injected with that dark liquid.

What the hell was that substance?
And what’s Old Wang’s goal?

Shen Ge chased through the emergency exit. Given the importance of the conference attendees, security was tight inside and outside the hotel, including a squad of ROK soldiers guarding this exit.

The moment Shen Ge stepped out, the soldiers raised their weapons.

Their reaction gave him a bad feeling—as if he were the first person to come through this door.

Still, he asked one of them, “Did you see where the person who just left went?”

“.? (I don’t understand. Do you speak Korean?)” the soldier replied sternly.

To Shen Ge, it was pure gibberish. His Korean vocabulary began and ended with “sseumnida,” leaving him frustrated.

The soldier gestured back toward the hall, rattling off more unintelligible words. Though Shen Ge couldn’t understand, the meaning was clear: Go back inside.

Ignoring him, Shen Ge scanned the hallway. Two soldiers grew impatient, stepping forward to block his path while barking orders.

“Alright, alright, sseumnida, now get lost.” Shen Ge’s gaze swept the corridors, searching for any trace of Old Wang.

When he tried to move toward the lobby, the soldiers blocked him again. One reached out to grab his shoulder.

Shen Ge swatted the hand away. The soldier, incensed, raised his rifle and shouted at him.

As the barrel swung toward his face, Shen Ge sidestepped, then drove an elbow into the man’s chest with a Baji Iron Mountain strike. He yanked the soldier back, hooked his ankle, and slammed him to the ground, stepping on his weapon hand.

“Speak Chinese, OK?” Shen Ge said coolly.

“You don’t understand Chinese, but since you kiss up to American soldiers, you should at least know English, right?” He didn’t flinch as a dozen rifles trained on him.

“? (What’s happening?)” A sharp-dressed ROK man—the lobby manager—hurried over with several hostesses after hearing the commotion.

Knowing even the “bodyguards” from the conference weren’t to be trifled with, the manager clearly wanted to avoid conflict.

Shen Ge asked, “Anyone here speak Chinese?”

The manager turned to the hostesses—handpicked for their multilingual skills.

“I-I do!” one woman stammered, raising her hand.

Shen Ge said, “Ask them if they saw a man in a black hoodie leave through here before me.”

After a quick exchange, the hostess relayed, “Sir, they say no one exited before you. This is a secure exit; all entries and exits are logged.”

From spotting Old Wang to giving chase, about two minutes had passed. If the soldiers were telling the truth, only two possibilities remained:

1. Old Wang had vanished like in the neighborhood incident.

2. The soldiers were covering for him—implying collusion with the ROK.

Shen Ge doubted the latter. If the ROK wanted to sabotage the event, they wouldn’t need Old Wang to release an anomaly so conspicuously.

Inside, the music had stopped. Gunfire and screams echoed as chaos erupted.

The soldiers and hostesses instinctively turned toward the noise—just as bullets struck the exit’s doorframe. Rifles snapped up in response.

Shen Ge released the soldier beneath his foot and barked at the hostess, “There’s a monster in there. Tell them to evacuate non-combatants to the lobby.”

She froze, then relayed the message. The manager bolted immediately, the hostesses scattering in panic.

But the soldiers advanced toward the exit.

“Tell them to back off!” Shen Ge snapped.

The hostess turned to shout—just as the exit’s curtain was torn open.

A monstrosity the size of a rhino barreled out—crimson feet, green skin, writhing tentacles.

Before the soldiers could react, they were sent flying. Two were ensnared by lashing tendrils.

“Ah—!”
“Help!!”
“Monster!”

The hostess collapsed, screaming. Shen Ge didn’t need a translation for that word.

As the anomaly coiled its limbs around the soldiers, two more lashed toward Shen Ge and the woman.

He dodged, then lunged at her, snapping his fingers. His left hand sheathed in black, rotting flesh—the Li-Xiang I Combat Armor’s glove form.

Six gestures controlled the armor’s forms: fist for shield, open palm for stomach, and four snaps for the rest.

Glove activated, he grabbed the tentacle aimed at the hostess while yanking her back by the collar.

Her already-revealing red dress rode up, flashing black lingerie—though she was too terrified to care, clinging to Shen Ge’s arm.

He pulled hard, trying to drag the anomaly forward, but it didn’t budge. Sensing his threat, it sprouted more tendrils.

The first attack missing, the second swept horizontally. Shen Ge dropped low, tackling the hostess into a roll.

He hauled her up—only to hurl her unceremoniously onto a nearby couch like trash.

The woman’s mind blanked. One minute ago, she’d faced death; the next, this man had saved her. Though his roughness caused a wardrobe malfunction, his decisiveness radiated reliability.

For a fleeting moment, she envisioned a K-drama romance—time slowing as the hero swept her into his arms.

Then reality returned as her “prince” threw her away.

What just happened?

Meanwhile, Shen Ge slid beneath flailing tentacles, closing in on the anomaly.

He rose—punching its head into the wall with a crack.

No damage.

Tough hide.

Thankfully, the armor glove spared his knuckles.

The creature bore no resemblance to a cat now—more like a rhino-hippo hybrid.

“Gurgle—”

Its head split vertically, jaws widening to swallow Shen Ge whole.

Gloves braced, he strained against the bite—until forced to release.

Just then, several figures burst from the exit—Asian anomaly agents, armed with containment gear.

Their combined efforts quickly subdued the creature. Shen Ge, stepping back, retreated to the lobby before rejoining Deng Yuqi inside.

Leaning close, he briefed her on the hooded man and the black serum.

Her face paled. “You’re certain the cat showed no anomaly energy before injection?”

“None,” Shen Ge confirmed.

Deng Yuqi wasn’t doubting him—but the implications were staggering. If a serum could force mutations, it rivaled the shock of human transmutation.

Every nation had tried injecting animals with anomaly energy. The result was always the same: instant death.

Anomaly origins had remained a mystery until studies linked abuse and death to mutations. Li Xiang’s research had detailed the stages—how trace energy fused with DNA over time.

A direct mutagen threatened global security. Imagine it deployed in war.

The ceremony, abruptly halted, was postponed. Attendees were escorted to their hotels while Deng Yuqi relayed Shen Ge’s findings.

Unsurprisingly, higher-ups were stunned. An emergency video conference was called—which Shen Ge, as a “bodyguard,” happily skipped.

Back in his room, he texted Cheng Shengnan and Tang Jinze.

Tang had made progress on the “Internal Injury Recovery Pills,” identifying “meat-like” tissue. Shen Ge planned to introduce him to Li Xiang—suspecting both the pills and “Mind Apples” used anomaly flesh.

Mass-producing such medicine could be a game-changer for SRD operatives.

After messaging Tang, he checked in with Cheng Shengnan.

“Aren’t you on a business trip?” she replied.

“Minor hiccup. The bosses are in meetings; I’m too low-level, so I’m stuck in my room.”

“More like you ditched to avoid boring talks.”

“Wow, you know me so well.”

“At the company, you skipped 7 out of 10 national conferences and slept through the other three. If not for your results, I wouldn’t have covered for you.”

“Did I really?”

She sent a “I’m annoyed but smiling” emoji.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Shen Ge assumed it was Deng Yuqi or his teammates inviting him for cards—until he opened the door to the hostess he’d saved.

“Mr. Shen, I’m Park Jung-yeon. I didn’t get to thank you earlier. I asked your colleagues for your room number.” She bowed deeply, the motion very revealing.

“Don’t mention it.” He moved to shut the door.

“Wait! Could I… come in? I’d like to talk.”

“No. We’ve got nothing to discuss.”

Park Jung-yeon: ?

I’m literally speaking Chinese.

She batted her lashes. “I want to properly thank you. Without you, I’d be dead.”

Shen Ge eyed her. “Sorry, but modified cars might be fast—too much silicone makes shifting uncomfortable. And as a gun mount, you’re ten centimeters too short. Plus, I prefer factory settings. You’re not my type.”

“…”

As she gaped, the door slammed shut.

Undeterred, she adjusted her dress—enhancing her cleavage and hiking her skirt—before knocking again.

“Mr. Shen~” She leaned seductively against the frame.

Shen Ge looked exasperated. “Try Room 308. That guy loves plastic.”

Just then, Wang Han emerged next door, blinking at the scene before grinning at Shen Ge.

“Get her out of here,” Shen Ge said. “And find out which idiot gave her my room number.”

Wang Han froze.

Uh… that would be me.

Earlier, when the group left the venue, Deng Yuqi had instructed that if a ROK woman asked for Shen Ge’s room, they were to provide it—part of a cover operation where a decoy would replace him.

Park Jung-yeon had simply arrived first.

As Wang Han waffled, Shen Ge shut the door again.

Maybe the wrong woman?

Wang Han sighed. “Look, Agent Shen’s our heartthrob. Half the department’s after him—plus he’s got a gorgeous, loaded girlfriend. Home cooking beats takeout, y’know?”

“…” Are you comforting me or rubbing it in?

“How about drinks?” Wang Han offered.

“Sorry, I have work.” She hurried off.

“…” Wang Han sighed. Even as a bystander, I get rejected. This world runs on looks.

Back inside, Shen Ge picked up his phone to a flood of messages from Cheng Shengnan:

“Cat got your tongue?”
“I hate meetings too. They’re soporific.”
“Hello?”
“Where’d you go?”
“Hmph!”
“Rage flip table!”

He chuckled at her barrage of emojis—a far cry from her usual ice-queen demeanor.

“Back. Saved a hostess from an anomaly earlier. She came to ‘thank’ me—sent her packing.”

A pause. Then—Video Call Incoming.

Cheng Shengnan, in black pajamas, waved. “Hiding a girl in there? Let me vet her.”

Shen Ge panned his phone. “No space to hide anyone.”

“Like the pajamas?”

“Meh.”

She set the phone down. Minutes later:

“This set?”

Shen Ge squinted. “Same as before?”

“…”

She suppressed a “No wonder you’re single” and vanished again.

Due to her traumatic childhood, Cheng Shengnan had always distrusted men—until she met this eccentric colleague who defied every expectation.

His aloofness masked deep scars, much like her cold exterior. Over time, she’d grown fond of his quirks.

Then came the anomalies.

His calm amidst chaos. His repeated rescues.

Somewhere along the way, she’d started calling him—for movies, dinners, walks.

If he wouldn’t make a move, she would.

Now, she played her hand.

“Better?” She reappeared in considerably shorter attire.

Shen Ge’s eyes widened.

Very short.

“Your drawer’s packed. Wanna show me more?” he asked, feigning professionalism.

She deadpanned. “Or I could just lie prone while we chat.”

“Can you?”

“…” Should’ve seen that coming.

Grinning, she dangled two white lace sets. “If you come back safe, I’ll model these.”

“Deal.”

“Pinky swear?” He extended a finger.

She laughed. “How old are you?”

“Women renege.”

“Men lie.”

They chatted until nearly 11 p.m., when Cheng Shengnan declared, “Beauty sleep calls.”

“Rest well. You’re fighting monsters, not paperwork.”

“Back at the company, you’d have me pulling all-nighters.”

“Then, I was your boss.”

“Now?”

She tilted her head. “Girlfriend?”

Shen Ge nodded approvingly. “Good answer. Ever seen The Eighth Suspect?”

“Yes.”

“What if you were the heroine?”

“I’d flee that night with my family, not wait till morning. You?”

“Me? I’m an SRD agent—saving the world.”

She smiled.

“Sleep tight.”

“Bring me a gift. Make it count.”

“Will do.”

After hanging up, Shen Ge lay back, staring at the ceiling.

Over the months, their relationship had deepened organically—only a thin barrier remained.

But his unstable psyche and the system’s unpredictability held him back.

Yet if she took the first step, retreating would be cowardly.

Screw overthinking.

His phone hit the bed. That minx… Just wait till I get back.

A loud knock interrupted his thoughts.

“Enough! I said no takeout—” He yanked the door open. “Oh. Director. Done with the meeting?”

Deng Yuqi arched a brow. “Since when do hotels offer that kind of delivery?”

Shen Ge shrugged. “The plastic hostess from earlier.”

“Surprised you resisted.”

“Even starving, I wouldn’t eat junk food.”

“Charming.”

She got straight to business: The black serum was real.

“Recently, a mutated elephant appeared in a warzone. Witnesses said it was normal until a syringe struck its head. Within minutes, it mutated—just like today’s anomaly.”

The incident had forced opposing armies to ceasefire and collaborate.

Shen Ge smirked. “Who knew anomalies would broker peace? Maybe we need more ‘truce monsters.’”

“Focus. We don’t know their endgame. What if it’s world domination?”

“Director, lay off the movies. Not every villain craves conquest. Maybe they just hate America’s meddling.”

Deng Yuqi rolled her eyes. “Regardless, I’ve arranged a body double for you. After a quick disguise, you’re free to investigate.”

She opened a silver case.

“You can do disguises?”

“A little.”

Her “disguise” amounted to fake scars and a mustache.

“You call this disguise?”

“Modern espionage uses lookalikes, not magic masks.”

“Does mine match my looks?”

“No, so I’m making you uglier.”

“…”

Soon, two agents arrived. After briefing them, Deng Yuqi left with the now-“disguised” Shen Ge.

“The main conference is in three days—when ROK’s security will be tightest. That’s your window. Scout the area until then. Data’s on this USB.”

“It explodes if plugged in?”

“…No. Your armor’s chip can read it.”

“Since when?!”

Deng Yuqi facepalmed. “How do you even talk to Li Xiang?”