The System Arrived Four Years Early, but the Anomaly Is Still a Juvenile - Chapter 206

Shen Ge raised his hand and gripped Kaede Hanabusa’s neck, slamming her against the door with a thud. The noise immediately drew the attention of the flight attendant in the corridor.

As the “VVVIP” specially noted by the airport manager, the flight attendant had been closely monitoring Shen Ge’s movements. Seeing a beautiful female passenger follow him into the restroom right after he entered caused her a moment of internal surprise. Suppressing any urge to intervene, she positioned herself near the corridor entrance to “keep watch” for Shen Ge.

Hearing the thud from inside the restroom, the flight attendant couldn’t help but think to herself… Quite intense. Too bad the space is so cramped, not ideal for group activities.

Shen Ge, of course, had no idea about the flight attendant’s vivid imagination outside. He tightened his grip. The Corrupted Blood Armor already coated his hand. Even without “Strength Enhancement,” crushing Kaede Hanabusa’s neck would be effortless.

“Wait, wait, I… can… explain. Mr. Shen. I… am not… a weirdo.” Feng Hua Youcai no longer cared about her torn and exposed clothes, and grabbed Shen Ge’s hand tightly with both hands.

But Shen Ge’s hand was encased in the Corrupted Blood Armor. No matter how hard Kaede Hanabusa struggled, she couldn’t budge him an inch.

Shen Ge loosened his grip slightly. Kaede Hanabusa immediately gasped for air, then hurriedly continued, “Mr. Shen. I know. You. Think this… cough… this red fleshy growth is the mark of the Anomaly-Cultivator Organization. But, it’s not that we are cooperating with them… rather… we were… infected.”

Kaede Hanabusa’s Chinese was far from fluent, but aside from the可笑 intonation, the general meaning was understandable.

“Oh?” Shen Ge raised an eyebrow, signaling her to continue.

Kaede Hanabusa continued haltingly, “After Hakoe City completely fell, an epidemic broke out in Takiguchi City. At first, we thought it was a plague caused by too many corpses. But upon investigation, we found that a large number of parasitic monsters had hatched in the city ruins. The rescue teams… they all got infected by these parasitic anomalies… and then these fleshy growths appeared on their necks. At first, they were only the size of a fingernail. Within three months at most, they grow to fist-size.”

“After that, those in better condition might last six months. Those worse off… four or five months before their bodies deteriorate, either dying from illness or… turning into piles of fleshy monsters.”

“We organized elite Anti-Anomaly squads multiple times to investigate the disaster zone, trying to find the origin of these parasitic anomalies and a way to stop their spread.”

“I entered the disaster zone with a reconnaissance team half a month ago. Not only did we fail to find a solution, but I also got infected.”

“The organization believes that you, Mr. Shen, have the capability to emerge unscathed from an Anomaly disaster zone. Therefore, you likely possess the strength to venture deep into such areas. We implore you to lend your aid, to help us resolve this… nation-ending catastrophe.”

Kaede Hanabusa wasn’t exaggerating. Previously affected by the Anomaly disaster, only Takiguchi City was trapped within the Anomaly Space. Back then, the spatial expansion was very slow. Estimates suggested it would take several months, even a year or two, to worsen significantly.

However, after the international Anti-Anomaly coalition’s rescue mission failed to contain the disaster, the Anomaly Space “ruptured.” This bizarre and mysterious parasite emerged. Once infected, victims had at most six months to live, ending either in death by disease or transformation into grotesque fleshy creatures.

Crucially, these parasitic anomalies weren’t geographically confined. Though born in Takiguchi City, they were now spreading across Sakura Island.

The number of safe cities on Sakura Island was already very small due to the strange disasters. Now that this parasitic anomaly has spread, Sakura Island has begun its countdown to extinction.

After much deliberation, those in power in Sakura saw no better option. They pinned their hopes on the one person known to have evacuated safely from an Anomaly disaster zone: Great Celestial Empire’s top Anti-Anomaly Agent.

Shen Ge stared into Kaede Hanabusa’s eyes in silence for a moment, then smiled and asked, “So, when did you start having people tail me?”

“From what I know, my organization attempted to make contact with you about a month ago. But the Special Countermeasures Department’s protection around you is very tight. Several of our attempts were intercepted by their personnel. After that, the remaining operatives didn’t dare act rashly. I was transferred to Rong City a week ago, hoping to find an opportunity to contact you. Then I discovered you had purchased a ticket to Dajing. I thought to seize the chance on the plane,” Kaede Hanabusa explained honestly.

Shen Ge raised an eyebrow. “You even know about my ticket purchase? Seems you have quite a few people embedded here, huh?”

“Actually… this is all ordinary information that can be bought with money. The organization originally just wanted to give it a try, and it spent a lot of money. Unexpectedly… we actually managed to buy your information.” Kaede Hanabusa’s expression was somewhat subtle, clearly they hadn’t expected such an unexpected surprise at first.

In fact, when they first received the intelligence, members of Kaede Hanabusa’s team suspected it was a trap set by the Special Countermeasures Department to catch them all.

Kaede Hanabusa, fearing there might not be a better opportunity, decided to take the risk even if it was a trap. Hence, she bought a first-class ticket to try her luck.

Honestly, Shen Ge wasn’t surprised by this “answer.” Since the so-called era of big data popularization, basic privacy for citizens had become a thing of the past.

You search for a product online, and for the next few days, whether through short videos or phone calls, a barrage of similar products comes crashing down on you!

“Mr. Shen, we really have no ill intentions. We just want to ask you to consider our human perspective and help us…” Kaede Hanabusa was interrupted by Shen Ge before she could finish speaking.

“Stop right there. Don’t put that lofty hat on me. I don’t have such high-minded consciousness. It doesn’t matter if it’s your Sakura or any other country in the world suffering. I don’t stand at the height of humanity’s savior. At best, I can only manage my own little plot. Look, even with me in the Great Celestial Empire, anomalies are still everywhere, aren’t they? Dealing with anomalous events can never be turned around by the power of one individual alone!”

Shen Ge wasn’t being modest; this was simply the reality. No matter how strong his personal Anti-Anomaly capabilities were, he was still just “one person.”

They can manage Rong city, but not Dajing, not to mention the strange organizations that are like rats causing trouble behind the scenes, in addition to the normal bizarre events.

The Great Celestial Empire’s control over anomalous events far surpassed other countries, firstly due to its national conditions, and secondly, thanks to the efforts of the Special Countermeasures Department’s soldiers and researchers.

After all, looking across the globe, it’s hard to find another country’s Anti-Anomaly department that popular the Anti-Anomaly Three-Piece Kit to even its elite fighters, let alone the Eight-Piece Kit for its Anti-Anomaly Agents!

“Mr. Shen…” Kaede Hanabusa tried to persist, but Shen Ge’s expression suddenly turned grim.

It wasn’t that Shen Ge detected anything amiss with Kaede Hanabusa. Rather, Little Seven reported that the dispatched blood spider probe had vanished.

According to the visual and signal feedback from the probe, it disappeared suddenly after entering the economy class cabin, without even capturing an image of the perpetrator.

Shen Ge released his grip, letting Kaede Hanabusa slide down. He still had some details from the “future” to verify with her. As for helping Sakura again… he hadn’t considered it for now. Moreover, he was well aware of Sakura’s situation. There wasn’t much need for further in-depth investigation; it wasn’t worth the risk of facing a new Anomaly King.

Shen Ge casually pulled a set of clothes from his Bloodskin Backpack and tossed it to Kaede Hanabusa. “There seem to be quite a few rats like you who followed onto this plane. I don’t have time to deal with you right now. As for your request… we’ll see based on my mood. If I’m in a good mood, a business trip might be possible.”

With that, Shen Ge pulled the door open and walked out.

Kaede Hanabusa, clutching the clothes, slumped to the floor, biting her lip until it turned white. Sakura was once a world power. Who could have imagined it would be reduced to a state where its survival depended on someone else’s “mood”?

Regardless, the orders given to Kaede Hanabusa from above were to use any means necessary to establish contact with Shen Ge and try to get him to cooperate with the organization.

To save the nation, the power of Great Celestial Empire’s top Anti-Anomaly Agent was indispensable!
At that moment, Kaede Hanabusa made a firm resolution. She changed into the clothes Shen Ge had thrown her and followed him out. Meeting the gaze of the flight attendant stationed at the corridor entrance, the latter was momentarily taken aback by her appearance.

The flight attendant glanced at the red marks on Kaede Hanabusa’s neck and her changed attire, couldn’t help but internally mutter about how intense things got, then put on a professional smile. “Ma’am, is there anything I can help you with?”

Kaede Hanabusa looked toward Shen Ge’s empty seat and asked, “Did you see where the gentleman sitting there went?”

“I believe he went toward the economy class section,” the flight attendant replied.

Kaede Hanabusa nodded and immediately headed in that direction.

Just then, the plane encountered turbulence as if hitting strong air currents. The flight attendants immediately instructed passengers to return to their seats and fasten their seatbelts.

A series of strange noises emanated from the lower cargo hold, alerting the crew.

Two crew members were dispatched to check if the luggage straps had come loose. As soon as they stepped into the cargo hold, they felt as if they had entered a freezer, shivering from the cold.

One crew member flipped the switch by the entrance. The lights in the cargo hold flickered pop, pop, pop before fully illuminating the space.

“Old Zhao, don’t you think it’s really cold in here?” the crew member who turned on the lights asked.

Old Zhao rubbed his arms and nodded. “Yeah, why is it so cold… Could the cooling system be faulty? Since we’re here, might as well check. Old Wang, you check the luggage belts. I’ll inspect the cooling system. Don’t want to come back again if we find a problem with it later.”

“Sounds good,” Old Wang agreed.

The two men walked into the cargo hold, one going left, the other right. Old Zhao went straight to the cooling system unit in the corner, unlocked the metal door, and began checking the circuits.

“Strange, everything seems fine. Then why is it so cold?” Old Zhao muttered, turning to look in Old Wang’s direction.

Oddly, he had clearly seen Old Wang enter the cargo hold compartment earlier, but now he couldn’t see his colleague’s figure, nor hear any movement.

“Old Wang?”

“Old Wang!”

Old Zhao called out a few times, but received no response.

Thud!

Thud!

Just then, a dull thudding sound came from a suitcase under a shelf in the corner of the cargo hold, as if something alive was trapped inside.

“Is that you, Old Wang?” Old Zhao walked toward the source of the sound. As soon as he stepped into the luggage storage compartment, a zzzt sound of electric current crackled overhead.

Then, the cargo hold lights flickered erratically a few times before pop—they went out completely, plunging the space into darkness. The faint sound of thudding could still be heard.

“Old Wang?” Old Zhao felt his way forward along the shelves. Suddenly remembering he had a flashlight in his tool belt, he quickly reached to his back, found it, turned it on, and continued forward.

He soon reached the suitcase making the noise. As he approached, the thudding grew louder, as if a living thing was desperately trying to break free.

Old Wang shone his flashlight. It was an ordinary black suitcase, without a “lock,” just a regular zipper.

He pulled the suitcase from the shelf. It felt quite heavy. He pondered, as this flight shouldn’t have any “pets” being transported. Mustering his courage, he began to pull the zipper.

As soon as Old Zhao pulled the zipper open a small gap, it suddenly zipped open further on its own, as if the thing inside was actively opening it.

Thud!

The black suitcase fell open to both sides, hitting the floor with a heavy thud. But when Old Zhao saw what was inside, he froze in terror.

The “thing” in the suitcase was none other than the missing Old Wang. But he was no longer a whole person. He had been like a doll, violently crumpled into a ball and stuffed inside.

As the suitcase opened, the blood from Old Wang’s crushed and contorted body spilled out. His arms and legs hung limply over the edges. His head hung at a grotesquely twisted angle over the side, milky white eyes “looking up” at Old Zhao.

Old Zhao had no time to think about why Old Wang had suddenly been stuffed into a suitcase or how he ended up in this state. His mind was filled with nothing but fear.

Crack.

Crunch.

Snap.

At this moment, a strange sound of bones crushing came from Old Wang’s body. His neck, which was twisted into a pretzel shape, began to turn and stretched like rubber. As his neck stretched, his already dead head was also pushed up.

When Old Wang’s head reached about the same height as Old Zhao’s, it suddenly split open with a squish, transforming into a terrifying, gaping maw of flesh and blood. Before Old Zhao could react, the bloody mouth snapped shut, biting off his head.

Thud!

Old Zhao’s headless body fell straight to the floor. At that moment, a black octopus-like tentacle extend from the shadows of the left-hand shelf, wrapped around the corpse, and dragged it into the shelving.

Thud, thud-thud!

A moment later, eerie thumping sounds echoed from the dark overhead bins, first one or two, then more than a dozen, seemingly emanating from every single suitcase in the bins!

As the noises from the bins grew louder, the turbulence on the plane intensified. A flash of lightning illuminated the bins, and through the light, a large swarm of creatures, like countless worms, could be faintly seen crawling towards the upper decks!