The System Arrived Four Years Early, but the Anomaly Is Still a Juvenile - Chapter 139

Shen Ge was somewhat speechless to see Zhang Yaozu looking as if he’d seen a ghost at the sight of him. After asking, he learned that this guy had been in the VIP room when the anomaly was dealt with at “12.”

Shen Ge didn’t even need to ask anything else before Zhang Yaozu spilled everything—how he found Liu Zongrui and what happened at “12”—hoping Shen Ge would go easy on him for his “honest confession.”

Unfortunately, Zhang Yaozu knew too much about “12,” and Shen Ge had no personal connection with him. So, he took him straight to the Special Measures Department and handed him over to the investigation team.

After dealing with Zhang Yaozu, Shen Ge went to the lab to find Li Xiang and check on the research progress of the Anomalous Eye he brought back from headquarters.

Naturally, anything Shen Ge took from headquarters wasn’t going back. He privately gave the Anomalous Eye to Li Xiang, explained the situation, and also provided the research data he copied from the headquarters lab. He hoped Li Xiang could try to unravel the mysteries of the Anomalous Eye.

“There hasn’t been much progress on the Anomalous Eye research yet, mainly because the image seen through it is vastly different from current astronomy,” Li Xiang said. Though he wasn’t an expert in astronomy, he knew the basic structure of a galaxy.

In other words, if the image in the Anomalous Eye was confirmed to be “real,” it would overturn current astronomical theories.

Of course, the vast universe was an “endless” existence for human technology. No one knew if a galaxy with three identical planets existed at the edge of the universe.

“However,” Li Xiang changed his tone, operating the console to pull up two data charts. He adjusted his glasses and said seriously, “The ‘heart’ integrated into the Type II armor—the anomalous flesh found in the Twelve Branches leader’s head—I detected that this heart shares the same genetic structure as the Anomalous Eye. It confirms they come from the same anomalous corpse.”

Shen Ge wasn’t surprised by this answer. He had already inferred that the Twelve Branches leaders, using their positions at the Haiya Research Institute, took advantage of the chaos to steal the “Progenitor Anomaly” corpse. The Anomalous Eye and the “heart” now confirmed this guess.

After returning from Dajing, Deng Yuqi secretly formed a research team, mainly consisting of trusted members like Shen Ge and Li Xiang, to analyze the research material Shen Ge brought back.

What was certain now was that the first batch of anomaly researchers discovered a method to detect anomaly energy through the “Progenitor Anomaly No. 1” obtained from humans. Then, using anomaly energy detection, they found “Progenitor Anomaly No. 2” underground, which opened the floodgates to anomaly energy, leading to a series of anomalous incidents.

Then, the Haiya Research Institute was exposed and destroyed in an experimental accident. The Twelve Branches leaders stole part of the “Progenitor Anomaly” corpse—it was still unknown whether it was from “No. 1” or “No. 2.”

Later, the Special Measures Department created the “New Haiya Research Institute” dozens of miles away to salvage the Haiya Research Institute but was attacked by deep-sea giant anomalies and humanoid anomalies.

After paying a heavy price, the Special Measures Department successfully captured the deep-sea humanoid anomaly and conducted research on it, leading to subsequent human experiment accidents.

Deng Yuqi initially thought that finding the deep-sea humanoid anomaly research report at headquarters would reveal where headquarters hid the humanoid anomaly’s body.

However, according to the report Shen Ge brought back, the salvage operation at the Haiya Research Institute didn’t go smoothly. It was repeatedly attacked by sea anomalies and forced to halt.

The humanoid anomaly’s body wasn’t at the New Haiya Research Institute either. According to the report, it was destroyed after the human experiments failed.

Deng Yuqi had only three words for this:

“Like hell.”

However, as the head of the Rong City branch, Deng Yuqi had limited reach over headquarters matters and could only leave the investigation to Elder Fang and others.

But based on the investigations and defensive deployments targeting the Twelve Branches after the Dajing anomaly disaster, headquarters on the surface shouldn’t be related to the Twelve Branches. As for whether there was “infiltration” or secret collusion, they could only wait for Elder Fang’s investigation results.

Shen Ge stayed in Li Xiang’s lab until evening when Deng Yuqi returned from the hotel investigation and called him to her office. She got straight to the point: “The basic investigation results of those at the banquet today are out. It’s pretty much as you guessed. It’s not just Rong City; several other cities are also reporting that some people can’t stand the Special Measures Department having a monopoly and want to push forward this ‘city-within-a-city’ plan.”

“Headquarters’ stance is that regardless of whether the future heads toward apocalypse or if order collapses, the Special Measures Department is now the last line of defense maintaining order. A major shake-up in Rong City is inevitable. Headquarters will reassign people to those positions.”

“Those openly involved are now clear, but we don’t know who they’re secretly colluding with yet. Headquarters wants to form a task force to investigate. But this task force naturally won’t need anomaly investigators, so you don’t need to worry about those brought in today. You’re already busy enough.”

Shen Ge nodded and asked about Liu Zongrui and the others. Learning that the department had already arranged specialized surveillance, he didn’t inquire further.

Then, he told Deng Yuqi about his discussion with Li Xiang in the lab.

“Oh? The Anomalous Eye and the ‘heart’ in the Twelve Branches leader’s head are from the same anomalous corpse? That surprises me. But it’s certain that headquarters is hiding something about the deep-sea humanoid anomaly. Even if current headquarters isn’t related to the Twelve Branches, that doesn’t apply to everyone. You handled bringing the Anomalous Eye back well. As I’ve said, I trust your judgment,” Deng Yuqi said seriously.

Shen Ge was silent for a moment before suddenly asking, “At the banquet today, I tried to fish for information from Luo Baoguo and Liu Zongrui. They investigated me but found very little. This afternoon, I went to the information department to look at my file and found only post-employment information. Did you tamper with it?”

Deng Yuqi nodded.

“Why?” Shen Ge asked curiously.

Deng Yuqi thought for a moment, opened a drawer, and pulled out several reports, handing them to Shen Ge. He picked them up and saw they were original reports on some anomalous incidents he had handled.

From the “Immobility Incident,” “Intangibility Incident,” Yu Zhou incident, the Korean research institute, Han City base, to the Dajing anomaly disaster two months ago—each report was the “original,” meaning the only copy, and encrypted so that ordinary people couldn’t understand them.

Deng Yuqi didn’t expect Shen Ge to understand them either and briefly explained what the reports contained.

“After the Yu Zhou incident, the Yu Zhou branch spent months researching and investigating and found no anomalous remains in the building’s rubble.”

“The Tier 3 anomaly at the Han City base suddenly disappeared, the invisible anomaly at Tom’s supermarket… Higher-level anomalies you handle generally leave no bodies behind.”

“The Korean research institute was a fully enclosed underground facility. According to Lin Yin’s report, it was impossible for a ‘K2 Black Panther main battle tank’ to appear there.”

“During the Dajing anomaly disaster, the **** military vehicle storage factory confirmed the loss of one Type 99A main battle tank during inventory… Yes, the one you drove at Hai Cheng Park.”

“…”

“…”

“…”

Deng Yuqi briefly recounted each action report related to Shen Ge and finally said, “After the Yu Zhou incident, I realized you had too many secrets. Reporting them to headquarters would definitely raise suspicions. Having you cooperate with research would be minor, but if certain people exploited it, it could cause significant trouble. Headquarters is already a mess. Rather than explaining after each of your actions, I decided to delete the files once and for all.”

“Moreover, tall trees catch the wind. As you resolve more anomalous incidents, your status rises, and you’ll eventually attract attention from all circles. If they can’t get to you, they’ll target your friends and family. For example, at today’s ‘banquet,’ if you hadn’t compromised with Lü Xianze, the Tang family and Director Cheng would likely have become their targets.”

Shen Ge was silent for a long time before finally saying two words: “Thank you.”

“You’re my subordinate. The least I can do is ensure you can focus on your work without worries,” Deng Yuqi said seriously.

“Aren’t you curious?” Shen Ge asked with a slightly teasing tone.

Deng Yuqi said helplessly, “Is this something ‘curiosity’ can solve? You can make anomaly corpses disappear and summon tanks out of thin air. Even if I didn’t ask, I know how you’d answer.”

“Oh? For example?” Shen Ge raised an eyebrow.

Deng Yuqi said with a serious expression, “‘I am a super warrior from M78 nebula. I’ve awakened an anomaly eradication system within me that can pinpoint anomaly locations, make anomaly corpses vanish, and even conjure tanks. So, if you recruit me, I can make your branch the national champion in anomaly elimination!’”

“Hahaha! I can’t believe you remember that,” Shen Ge laughed.

Deng Yuqi said, “Looking back now… you were actually telling me the ‘truth’ from the beginning. It was just so unbelievable that people thought you were talking nonsense.”

“When did you find out?” Shen Ge asked.

Deng Yuqi replied, “When we discovered the Twelve Branches’ teleportation device, and then recalling some of your past actions… If not for these past six months of working together, I might have even suspected you were a spy planted by the Twelve Branches.”

“Oh? Then why…”

“Because of ‘motive.’ I can’t imagine someone capable of infiltrating the Han City base and Special Measures Department headquarters at will having any motive to lurk in the Rong City branch. With such abilities and means, you could easily find what you want on your own. Secondly, you exposed the Twelve Branches and killed their leader… Plus, based on your initial actions, I genuinely saw your ‘growth’ in handling anomalous incidents.”

“I see.” Shen Ge stretched lazily, leaned back in his chair, organized his thoughts, and seemed to consider how to phrase things.

“I might really have an anomaly eradication system in my body. But unfortunately, whether at my friend’s hospital or after comprehensive examinations by Li Xiang here, nothing was found. But proving its existence is simple. Come, let me show you a magic trick—”

Shen Ge leaned forward against the desk, extending his hands and rubbing his fingers together as if performing a magic trick.

Draw!

Shen Ge chose a single draw. The wheel in his vision spun once and finally landed on attribute points.

[Ding!]

[Congratulations, Host, you have drawn Free Attribute Points (2%).]

“…” Shen Ge had drawn something, but since it was attribute points, nothing appeared with a flash of white light.

Deng Yuqi initially thought Shen Ge was going to perform a grand illusion, but after rubbing his fingers for a while, nothing happened.

“?”

Seeing Deng Yuqi’s puzzled expression, Shen Ge coughed calmly and continued rubbing his fingers. “Don’t worry, let me find the right feeling.”

Draw!

[Ding!]

[Congratulations, Host, you have drawn Free Attribute Points (2%).]

“…”

Bro, the chance of drawing free attributes is only “10%.” Do you really have to be so contrary, not getting what you want when you want it?

Shen Ge kept a straight face and continued drawing. Anyway, drawing free attributes wasn’t a loss.

Go ahead, give me all free attributes!

Draw again!

[Ding!]

[Congratulations, Host, you have drawn daily supplies “Instant Noodles” x2 (case).]

Whoosh!

With a flash of white light, Deng Yuqi’s vision blurred, and two cases of Handsome Master instant noodles appeared on the desk.

“This!” Deng Yuqi’s eyes widened in shock, and she stood up from her chair.

Draw again!

[Ding!]

[Congratulations, Host, you have drawn daily supplies “Bottled Pure Water” x1 (bottle).]

“Uh.”

Shen Ge drew several more times in a row—items like “Funeral Cola,” “Six Nukes,” “Thunderbolt,” “Molotov Cocktails,” “*** Pistols,” “Submachine Guns,” etc., piled up all over the desk.

Thud!

With a loud noise, another large object appeared out of thin air on the desk.

[Congratulations, Host, you have drawn weapon “PF98 Type 120mm Anti-Tank Rocket Launcher” x1, Rocket Propelled Grenades x3.]

“Stop, stop, stop!” Seeing even an RPG appear, Deng Yuqi quickly called a halt. Was this guy really planning to conjure a tank?

“Is this… really ‘conjured’ by that so-called system?” Deng Yuqi asked.

Shen Ge said, “I initially thought so too. But after seeing the production dates and packaging of these daily supplies, and after witnessing the Twelve Branches’ teleportation device, I had some guesses. And after seeing your reports, I’m more convinced that the system’s rewards aren’t conjured out of thin air but ‘transferred’ or ‘teleported’ from somewhere else.”

Deng Yuqi frowned, seemingly pondering Shen Ge’s words.

Shen Ge continued, “Do you remember headquarters’ and Li Xiang’s research on anomalous characteristics? The reports indicate that anomalous energy can have certain special attributes, like the ‘intangibility’ that made half a building disappear, the Tier 4 anomaly in the Yu Zhou incident, the ‘enter-only’ anomalous space… In fact, I can hear system prompts telling me if there’s an anomaly nearby and what abilities it has.”

Shen Ge briefly explained the system’s abilities, such as selling anomaly corpses for system points, which could then be used to draw rewards.

As for Devour and Characteristics, he wasn’t ready to reveal all his cards yet. He only mentioned that after selling characteristic anomalies to the system, similar anomalies wouldn’t appear again.

The main reason Shen Ge chose to “come clean” was Deng Yuqi’s reports, which proved her investigative capabilities.

Shen Ge still had many questions needing investigation, such as “his father being parasitized by an anomaly,” “the connection between the Twelve Branches and the Haiya Research Institute,” “headquarters’ human research project,” etc. Most importantly, Shen Ge wanted to use Deng Yuqi’s abilities to investigate the “system” or anomaly within him.

If his father was indeed one of the first researchers at the Haiya Research Institute, then the “system (anomaly)” within him might be…

The Progenitor Anomaly!

If so, was it related to his father’s mutation?

Of course, these were all Shen Ge’s guesses. To investigate further, he needed Deng Yuqi’s help. Rather than coming up with various excuses, it was better to be honest.

Moreover, if Deng Yuqi really wanted to investigate him, she wouldn’t have encrypted those reports.

“So that’s it!” Deng Yuqi looked astonished. Shen Ge’s words finally answered the doubts she had all along.

When she invited Shen Ge to join the Special Measures Department six months ago, she had questions. Although Shen Ge had answered her “seriously” and told her the truth back then.

But during their initial meetings, Shen Ge’s “nonsensical” replies and neurotic reactions had created a major “misunderstanding,” making her never take those “answers” seriously, even though they were right in front of her.

“Sigh, so your neurotic feedback back then was actually meant to confuse me, to reduce my focus on you?” Deng Yuqi asked helplessly.

Shen Ge nodded. “I had many concerns back then. People, after all, don’t want to die. I wasn’t sure how the department would handle me if my secrets were exposed. I don’t like being monitored or constrained by rules. In life, following your heart is most important.”

“Then why are you telling me now?” Deng Yuqi asked.

Shen Ge spread his hands. “You’ve done so much for me. It’d be ungrateful not to give you some clarity. Besides, even if you tell others, they’d have to believe you…”

“Heh, alright then.” Deng Yuqi glanced at Shen Ge, looking like she couldn’t be bothered with him.

“Um… Chief.” Shen Ge hesitated.

Deng Yuqi raised an eyebrow. “Hmm?”

“Actually, there’s one more thing I haven’t told you… The rooftop anomaly incident wasn’t actually my first encounter with an anomaly. Over a decade ago, I went to the beach with my parents…” Shen Ge recounted how his father mutated, swallowed his mother, and fell into the sea, along with his suspicions about the Haiya Research Institute.

Bang!

“You’re only telling me this now?” Deng Yuqi’s expression went from “Go on, nothing surprises me anymore” to “!!!0.0!!!”. She finally slammed her hand on the desk, leaned forward, and glared wide-eyed.

“Sorry! My mistake!” Shen Ge apologized with utmost sincerity.

Deng Yuqi fell back into her chair, rubbing her forehead, and said helplessly, “Sigh, alright then. I can see our credibility is really lacking. But… you’re way too cautious. This wouldn’t have anything to do with your ‘advanced studies’ at the mental hospital, would it?”

“Ha, haha.” Shen Ge laughed awkwardly.

Deng Yuqi: …I suddenly don’t want to continue this conversation.

Shen Ge smiled and changed the subject. “The reason I’m coming clean to you, Chief, is partly because I want you to investigate the ‘system’ issue and look into the specifics of the New Haiya Research Institute. Ideally, arrange for me to go there personally. Secondly, the Twelve Branches aren’t as simple as we thought. I have a feeling they’re plotting something again in the shadows. And then there’s my dad. I suspect he was a researcher at the Haiya Research Institute.”

Deng Yuqi said solemnly, “You suspect your father’s mutation is related to the ‘Progenitor Anomaly’ at the Haiya Research Institute?”

Shen Ge nodded. “If he was one of the first researchers, like the Twelve Branches leaders, and took part of the ‘Progenitor Anomaly’ during the Haiya Research Institute accident, leading to him being parasitized by anomalous flesh and mutating later, it would make sense.”

“That’s true.” Deng Yuqi was silent for a moment before adding, “From the drowning incident back then to the deep-sea humanoid anomaly attacking the New Haiya base later… Based on the timeline, I now have reason to suspect that the deep-sea humanoid anomaly might be your father, parasitized by an anomaly.”

“I think so too.” Shen Ge had already suspected this when he saw the deep-sea humanoid anomaly research report at headquarters.

“I understand everything you’ve said. I’ll personally investigate later…” Before Deng Yuqi could finish, an alarm sounded throughout the Special Measures Department.

Both stood up alertly. Deng Yuqi immediately pressed the communicator. “What’s happening?”

“Chief, the research department is under attack!” came the urgent voice of a guard from the communicator.

Shen Ge grabbed the RPG from the desk and rushed out of the office first. Deng Yuqi took two guns and followed.

The weapons and equipment Shen Ge had randomly drawn earlier saved them a trip to the armory.

Since the underground containment room was attacked by the Twelve Branches last time, the Rong City branch had increased patrols and included anomaly investigators in the rotation.

Now that the Rong City branch had more anomaly investigators, the burden wasn’t solely on Shen Ge and Deng Yuqi, and arranging patrols wasn’t too troublesome.

Tonight, it was Tu Doupi’s turn to patrol. Just as he and the patrol team returned to the monitoring room after their rounds, the monitor spotted a shadow outside the research building.

Tu Doupi immediately became alert and rushed toward the research building with the patrol team. As soon as they arrived outside, they were attacked by three Twelve Branches members “Ke” in black hoodies.

While Tu Doupi and his team apprehended them, he immediately sounded the alarm.

By the time Shen Ge and Deng Yuqi rushed out of the main building, the operations team had already fully surrounded the three “Ke.”

Having only three ordinary members attack the Rong City branch was clearly suspicious. Feng Chengxiu immediately dispersed the team and sent people to guard the perimeter.

Then, a sniper shot shattered the streetlight on the right side of the research building, plunging the area into darkness. From the shadows, more Twelve Branches ordinary members “Ke” emerged.

“Watch out!”

Someone noticed these “Ke” were carrying submachine guns and opened fire as soon as they appeared, catching many off guard.

“Petty tricks daring to show off before the expert? Divine might, heavenly dragon!” Shen Ge shouldered the rocket launcher, leaped into the air with his Anomaly Leather Boots, and fired a shot directly into the crowd of “Ke.”

Then, a three-headed, six-armed man rushed out from the shadows. It was Shen Ge’s old acquaintance, “Old Wang,” whom he had tangled with several times before!

Shen Ge landed, reloaded the rocket launcher, and fired another shot at Old Wang, who had just thrown two operations team members into the research building.

Unexpectedly, Old Wang used his four blood-red arms to catch the rocket projectile!

Then, one of Old Wang’s heads transformed into a giant mouth. He raised his hand and swallowed the rocket projectile whole. Closing his mouth, his head swelled with a “bang.” Then, he opened his mouth and exhaled black smoke—he had actually digested the rocket projectile!

“Damn, Mask-style bomb swallowing, huh?” Shen Ge decided to end this quickly. With a snap of his fingers, he covered himself in the full-body armor’s red mist form, entering berserk mode.

Holding the Black Bone Dagger in one hand and the Butcher’s Cleaver in the other, Shen Ge, in red mist form, leaped fiercely with his Anomaly Leather Boots, shooting toward Old Wang like a cannonball.

Thud!
Thud!

The dagger pierced through the forehead of Old Wang’s head that had swallowed the rocket, instantly penetrating it. The cleaver slashed toward the woman’s head on the right.

One stab, one slash—two heads taken out in the blink of an eye!

While the dagger and cleaver struck Old Wang, Shen Ge also delivered a knee strike with the impact force, hitting Old Wang’s abdomen and sending him flying.

Boom!

Old Wang crashed through the wall and was buried under the rubble.

Wang Han, Ma Chao, Zhang Hu, and Zhao Long, who had come to support, were stunned. They suddenly felt a sense of “the grand leader makes his entrance, the grand leader is instantly defeated.”

Shen Ge’s habit was to eliminate the root of the problem. Having severely injured Old Wang, he naturally prepared to charge forward and finish him off. But he suddenly sensed something was wrong.

Whether it was Old Wang or the dozen “Ke,” they were all attacking around the research building. No, they seemed more like they were “defending,” blocking the front of the research building.

The roles of the Special Measures Department and the Twelve Branches seemed reversed!

Something’s wrong!

Shen Ge realized something and immediately pushed off the ground, using the red mist form’s jump enhancement to leap over the fighting crowd and charge into the research building.

The Twelve Branches’ target was the research building!

Was it the anomaly energy equipment, or…

Li Xiang!