The System Arrived Four Years Early, but the Anomaly Is Still a Juvenile - Chapter 110

“Are the two researchers being held here too?” Shen Ge asked Lin Yin.

Lin Yin shook her head. “No, they’re locked up in the Seoul base. But their families are being held in the city. I found some leads earlier and reported them to Director Seven. She said she’d arrange for informants to rescue the researchers’ families first, then figure out how to extract them.”

“I was misled—thought they were in this research facility. Got caught almost immediately after sneaking in. Ugh, what a disaster.”

“Feng Chengxiu and the others are gonna laugh their asses off when I get back. So embarrassing.”

Shen Ge gave her a strange look. He was genuinely curious how someone with Lin Yin’s hulking physique even attempted “sneaking” in the first place.

And here she was, covered in blood, worried about being laughed at?

That said, the revelation about the two researchers—that they hadn’t betrayed their country but were coerced into helping Korea—wasn’t surprising.

Times had changed. Decades ago, people had to rely on sheer patriotism to push through hardship. But now, with ample funding (assuming corrupt officials didn’t skim most of it), researchers were well-supported.

For other projects, embezzlement might be common, but when it came to anomaly research? Anyone dumb enough to interfere would be signing their own death warrant.

That was why the Rong City branch was stationed downtown, with round-the-clock patrols securing the labs and dormitories.

Seriously, if a central stronghold in Sichuan’s capital could be breached, China might as well close up shop tomorrow.

“We’ll deal with the researchers later. First, let’s get you out.”

Shen Ge snapped his fingers and approached Lin Yin. Black tendrils of decaying flesh extended from his wrist, forming a grotesque maw that clamped onto the chains binding her.

The stomach acid from the “Stomach” anomaly could dissolve even anomalies in seconds, let alone ordinary iron chains. But gunfire outside was intensifying—without Little Seven controlling it, the tank was just a glorified barricade. Shen Ge needed to hurry.

With one hand controlling the flesh-maw, he pulled out a grenade with the other and held it out to Lin Yin. “Help me with this.”

Lin Yin yanked the pin without hesitation. Shen Ge lobbed it through the gap between the tank and ceiling, landing it perfectly among the advancing Korean soldiers.

BOOM!

The explosion sent them scrambling back just as the maw finished corroding the chains. With a metallic snap, they broke apart.

Shen Ge tore the chains off Lin Yin and hauled her toward the tank.

“What the hell was that? New anomaly-tech gear? Since when does our broke-ass branch have stuff like this?” Lin Yin stared at the black flesh retracting into Shen Ge’s wrist.

“Li Xiang’s latest prototype,” Shen Ge said, thinking, You’re really badmouthing the branch in front of the director’s favorite, huh? He helped Lin Yin climb into the tank.

“Li Xiang? That kid who’s always calling people ‘country bumpkins’?” Lin Yin grunted as she pulled herself up. “Damn, didn’t think the brat had it in him. Spent months in the lab with nothing to show but wasted materials—figured he was useless. Turns out he’s a genius?”

“Pretty rich coming from someone only a few years older. You sound like you’re from Chen Ke’s generation.”

“Pfft. I’ve been here longer than Chen Ke. Everyone’s scared of him—not me.” Lin Yin smirked.

Once she was inside, Shen Ge addressed his wrist device: “Little Seven, plot a route to the elevator. Full speed ahead.”

“Understood!” Little Seven extended tendrils to the tank’s controls, maneuvering it forward.

“Whoa, this thing can even drive a tank? I’m putting in a request for one when we get back,” Lin Yin said excitedly.

“You’d need another anomaly-pig brain. The chips alone are cutting-edge tech, but this gear is a fusion of multiple anomalies—currently one-of-a-kind.”

Shen Ge wasn’t lying. The chips were just a high-end “Xiao Ai”-style AI without the pig brain’s unique “Never Forget” trait and the “No Release” anomaly energy that allowed seamless fusion.

Finding another pig brain was unlikely, but the real bottleneck was the “No Release” energy—absorbed by the system and now permanently gone. Without it, even with a new pig brain, the fusion wouldn’t work.

“Wait… the pig brain you’re talking about—is it the one in our branch’s underground containment?” Lin Yin’s blood-streaked face twisted in shock.

“Yeah. Problem?”

“That was mine! I almost died retrieving it! Was gonna ask HQ’s experts to turn it into gear—and you just—ugh, whatever. You saved my life. Guess it’s yours now. Drinks on me when we get out.”

Shen Ge blinked. So that’s why Deng Yuqi had initially refused his request. The pig brain had been Lin Yin’s prize.

He handed her a pill and bandages. “Take this and patch up. We’re gonna have to fight our way out.”

Lin Yin swallowed the “Internal Injury Recovery Pill” and wrapped her wounds. Within seconds, her condition improved visibly.

“Holy shit, what is this? Feels like magic,” she marveled.

“Stole it from the lab. Experimental ‘healing factor’ drugs.”

“Then shouldn’t we, y’know, steal—I mean, liberate—the research too?”

“Already copied all their files while searching for you.”

Lin Yin gave a thumbs-up. “Damn. Director Seven wasn’t exaggerating—you really are the future’s top anomaly investigator. She wouldn’t shut up about you. But turns out you’re even more badass than she said. I got caught immediately, and here you are, blasting through with a tank.”

Lady, with your build, stealth was never an option. Should’ve gone full Schwarzenegger with a minigun.

Outside, gunfire raged while the two chatted inside the tank—a surreal contrast. Not that the Koreans were weak; they just hadn’t expected a tank to materialize underground.

Assault rifles versus armor? Only in a world where Korean military tech was made of cardboard.

“Report.” Little Seven’s voice came through Shen Ge’s earpiece. “Ammunition depleted. Prepare for engagement.”

The last shell loaded, the tank fired at a cluster of soldiers hiding behind lab equipment.

BOOM!

The explosion shredded workstations and sent bodies flying. Screams filled the smoke-filled chamber as the survivors retreated.

“Little Seven, charge straight through!” Shen Ge ordered.

“Understood!”

Lin Yin eyed Shen Ge. “Hey, real quick—why’d you name the AI ‘Little Seven’? As in, the Seven?”

“Yeah. Why?”

“Nothing. Just… you’ve got balls.” To name it after the director and still be alive—this guy’s skills must be insane.

“Get ready. We’re breaking out!” Shen Ge eyed the converging soldiers.

“Roger that. Oh hell yeah, a minigun!” Lin Yin hefted the weapon, her frame making Shen Ge briefly imagine Arnold Schwarzenegger in drag.

With that build, she and Feng Chengxiu would make the ultimate anomaly-fighting duo.

The Twin Juggernauts of Special Response!

“I’ll go first. Follow in ten seconds.” Shen Ge snapped his fingers, retracting Little Seven to activate his full-body armor.

“No way. You’re too scrawny to—what the fuck is that? Kamen Rider’s puke version?” Lin Yin gaped. Today had been full of shocks, but Shen Ge lived up to Deng Yuqi’s hype—a walking surprise (or horror) generator.

Kamen Rider’s puke version?

Really?

Sure, the armor’s black, melting appearance resembled Venom after a bad meal, but “puke version” was harsh.

“It’s high-tech,” Shen Ge grumbled, leaping out of the tank. Soldiers fired, but he double-jumped to their squad leader, slicing the man’s rifle in half with his cleaver before kicking him back.

BANG BANG BANG!

Bullets hit an invisible barrier—Shen Ge’s “No Release” domain deflecting the initial volley before he dodged the rest.

Tennis training had honed his ability to manipulate projectiles. He didn’t need to stop bullets midair—just predict trajectories and deploy barriers accordingly.

Then, Invisible Domain: Collapse!

The soldiers’ vision blurred as the floor beneath them warped. Before they could react, they plummeted downward.

Sucking on an anomaly-energy canister, Shen Ge intercepted another squad, his left arm morphing into a meter-wide tortoise-patterned shield.

CLANG CLANG CLANG!

Bullets ricocheted off the shield as he charged, knocking out several men with brutal punches before drawing his cleaver to finish the rest.

“Tch. Thought only movie idiots shot at shields. Guess real life’s got ‘em too.”

More guards poured in from side corridors. With a battle cry, Lin Yin popped up from the tank’s hatch, minigun roaring.

“HAHA! How’s it feel, you bastards? Eat lead!” She mowed down the soldiers but ran dry too soon, jumping down to grab two assault rifles.

“Come on! Come on!” She sprayed bullets wildly, taking hits to her limbs but refusing to fall.

“Fall back!” Shen Ge shielded her retreat toward the elevator.

Even wounded, Lin Yin’s endurance was impressive.

Another squad emerged from the elevator bay. Shen Ge rushed ahead, armor and shield deflecting gunfire—until grenades arced toward them.

“Look out!” Lin Yin shoved Shen Ge forward, sacrificing herself as the corridor collapsed behind them.

BOOM!

Debris buried her. Shen Ge, now amid enemies, unleashed his flesh-maw and cleaver in a whirlwind of violence.

He sighed. “High-tech, remember? Bulletproof, obviously.”

After dispatching the soldiers, he dug Lin Yin out. Little Seven’s scan confirmed non-fatal injuries—she’d just been knocked unconscious.

Hoisting her over his shoulder, Shen Ge activated Invisibility and Soundlessness, slipping into the elevator.

Riding it up was risky, but the facility’s design was idiotic—four elevator exits and zero stairwells. Were they trying to trap intruders or themselves?

As punishment, Shen Ge triggered the timed explosives he’d planted earlier, igniting nearby Molotovs.

WHOOSH!

Flames engulfed the underground lab.

Slow-roasted bastards.

His own situation wasn’t ideal, though. Halfway up, the elevator jerked to a halt—they’d locked it down.

No matter. Shen Ge inhaled from an anomaly canister and used Collapse to phase through the ceiling, climbing the shaft with his enhanced boots.

In the security booth, guards puzzled over the elevator’s empty surveillance feed, calling for backup.

Then the doors burst open, and a human projectile—Lin Yin—slammed into them.

THUD!

Before they could recover, Shen Ge knocked them out cold, grabbed Lin Yin, and bolted.

“Yangtze to Yellow River, mission accomplished. Requesting extraction,” Shen Ge said into his comms.

Deng Yuqi, back at the hotel after the conference, nearly jumped when her device lit up. She’d been too worried to contact him, fearing she’d compromise his mission.

That ridiculous call sign meant he was safe—and successful.

“Where are you? Are you hurt? Did you get Lin Yin? Need backup? Did you sneak or fight your way out? Compromised? Pursuers? Can you reach the extraction point?”

“Boss, slow down. This isn’t a Chinese Takeout Order Rap,” Shen Ge deadpanned. “Mission’s a success. Lin Yin’s stashed in a dumpster near Gangnam Mall—tracking device on her. Have Li Xiang locate her and extract her first.”

“I’m drawing heat downtown to buy time. She took a few bullets—not life-threatening, but needs treatment ASAP.”

After escaping the mall in his armor, Shen Ge had stuffed Lin Yin into a large dumpster. With Korean reinforcements swarming the area, extracting her directly would’ve risked exposing Deng Yuqi’s informants.

Better to let them handle her while he played decoy.

“I’m sending backup!” Deng Yuqi insisted.

“No, keep them near the Seoul base. I’ll head there after shaking the tail.”

“Wait—the base? Did you fail to get the research? If so, forget it! Just come back!”

“Lin Yin told me the researchers were coerced. Their families are hostages. I’m checking the base.”

“No! I already knew about the researchers—we’re handling their families. Don’t risk it!”

To Deng Yuqi, Shen Ge’s safety outweighed two researchers.

But Shen Ge wasn’t doing this for them. The drug lab had yielded zero anomalies—with spare canisters, he’d raid the base for more.

Korea might be small, but surely they’d captured at least one trait-bearing anomaly.

“Relax. It’s under control.” Shen Ge hijacked an SUV. He couldn’t drive, but Little Seven—who’d piloted a tank—had no trouble.

As the SUV tore through downtown, chased by patrol cars, the spectacle made live news.

Back at the hotel, Luo Chenguang and other agents watched the broadcast.

“Who’s dumb enough to play hero for Korea?” someone scoffed.

Luo Chenguang grabbed his jacket. “Not helping them. But if someone’s wrecking Seoul, I’m joining the party!”

A colleague pulled him back. “We’re here as China’s representatives. Stirring trouble risks an international incident.”

“Like Korea cared when they deployed THAAD?” Luo shot back.

“Wait—that driver’s not human! It’s a monster!” another agent exclaimed.

“An anomaly that can drive? How do we fight that?”

Fang Mingyue, by the window, mused, “Might be anomaly-tech gear.”

“Whatever. You in or not?” Luo asked.

Soon, four agents joined him, heading downtown—only to find blockades. A scuffle broke out immediately.

Other Asian agents, also disliking Korea, seized the chaos to stir trouble. Not their country, not their problem.

Though their antics didn’t help Shen Ge much, they diverted some heat. Once he’d led pursuers far enough from Lin Yin, he ditched the SUV in a parking garage, shed his disguise, and slipped away.

Deng Yuqi informed him that informants near the Seoul base were creating a diversion for his infiltration.

Korea’s rapid response forced him to hitch a ride on a garbage truck to bypass checkpoints.

Inside, his system’s warnings guided him straight to the anomaly containment wing—netting him 150 points for “braving the beast’s den.”

The setup mirrored Rong City’s: heavy external guards, lax internal ones.

Seven anomalies were held here—rabbits, rats, even a horse and cow—ranging from Tier 1 to 3. Sadly, none had traits.

“Little Seven, can we disable the cameras?”

“Signal jamming can buy time with looped footage.”

“Do it.”

Black tendrils snaked out, interfering with the feeds as Shen Ge moved in. He sold five dead anomalies (three Tier 1, two Tier 2) for 1,600 points, then butchered a live Tier 2 horse anomaly for 500 more.

Even after spending 1,300 points earlier, his total now stood at 3,381.

High risk, high reward.

As he prepared to release the Tier 3—a nightmarish fish-Cthulhu hybrid—Little Seven warned, “Jamming detected. Reinforcements incoming.”

Shen Ge breached the cell, unleashing the abomination to wreak havoc.

Chaos was his best shot at finding the researchers.

The Koreans, though caught off guard, mobilized tanks and troops to contain the creature, calling all anomaly agents back from the conference.

Deng Yuqi, suspecting Shen Ge’s involvement, volunteered Rong City’s team to “help.”

Meanwhile, Shen Ge looted the base’s anomaly-tech stash—mostly scraps and canisters, but the latter were invaluable.

No researchers, though.

By the time international agents subdued the Tier 3, Shen Ge had slipped to its corpse.

[Sell Tier 3 anomaly corpse? Reward: 1,500 points.]

Yes.

The creature vanished, sparking panic.

“Where’d it go?”

“Did it regenerate?”

“Who killed it? Was it anomaly-tech?”

“Impossible! A Tier 3 can’t just disappear!”

Amid the uproar, Shen Ge fled, returning to the city.

As he ditched his disguise near the hotel, a voice called out:

“Agent Shen!”

Fang Mingyue jogged up, beaming. “What are you doing here?”

How the hell did she recognize me?

“You… just grew a beard? But I’d know your silhouette anywhere.”

Damn it, Deng Yuqi’s disguise skills suck.

Fang Mingyue rambled on, oblivious. “I skipped the conference—hate pointless meetings. Wanna grab food?”

“Sure.”

The Next Morning

Deng Yuqi stormed into Shen Ge’s room after returning from the base.

“You idiot! I was worried sick, and you were here feasting? Next time, follow orders! Your paid leave is canceled!”

The others stifled laughs. After all that buildup, that was the punishment?

But they knew Deng Yuqi’s anger came from genuine concern—especially after learning Shen Ge had single-handedly rescued Lin Yin from a Korean stronghold.

Feng Chengxiu and Ma Chao regretted not blowing up more barracks in retaliation.

“What? I just pulled off a miracle, and you dock my vacation?” Shen Ge protested.

“I’m the director. My call.”

“Don’t push me.”

“Or what? You’ll hit me?” Deng Yuqi taunted. Without his armor, she could take him easily.

“Little Seven!” Shen Ge barked.

Deng Yuqi paled. Is he seriously suiting up to fight me?

But Shen Ge just smirked.

“Change ‘user’ designation to… Master.”

“Understood, Master.”

“Good girl.”

“Little Seven.”

“Yes, Master?”

“Little Seven.”

“How may I serve you, Master?”

The room fell dead silent.

…

…

…

Li Xiang gave a thumbs-up. Legendary.

Feng Chengxiu and the others turned away, bracing for the carnage but inwardly applauding Shen Ge’s audacity.

Absolute madman.

“SHEN GE, I’LL KILL YOU!“