The System Arrived Four Years Early, but the Anomaly Is Still a Juvenile - Chapter 57

A soldier who had taken shelter in a room with another woman was reporting the situation to Deng Yuqi via walkie-talkie. When he mentioned that one of their comrades had fallen from the building, a brief silence followed over the comms.

Then, Huo Yu brought good news—the soldier and the short-haired woman had landed on the safety air cushion. However, the soldier had fractured his right arm while protecting her.

Upon hearing Huo Yu’s report, Deng Yuqi simply replied with a “Good” and said nothing more.

Shen Ge remarked casually, “Director, I’ll kill anomalies if you ask me to, but don’t expect me to risk my life saving people like that.”

“Shen Ge…” Deng Yuqi hesitated, then fell silent.

Shen Ge’s voice turned grave. “He got lucky this time, but I don’t believe luck will always be on his side. He could’ve saved more people, but instead, he nearly threw his life away for someone who wasn’t worth it. To me, that’s not heroism. When it comes to strangers, every life carries equal weight. I’d kill one to save five hundred—but that one will never be me.”

The classic trolley problem: one person on the left track, five hundred on the right. The train is out of control, and you hold the lever to decide its path. What do you choose?

Shen Ge’s answer was straightforward and pragmatic—he’d save those he knew first. If he knew none, he’d save the greater number. But he would never sacrifice himself.

His “three years of advanced training” had left too deep a mark. He wasn’t cut out to be a soldier.

Then, Shen Ge spoke firmly: “According to the Special Measures Department’s regulations, if the director isn’t inside the anomaly space, command falls to the elite investigator. As of now, I’m taking over Captain Feng’s authority. All soldiers are to sweep each floor, confirm survivors, and instruct them to stay inside. If another situation like earlier arises, abandon the rescue. Anyone who risks their life to save someone before confirming that every resident from floors 13 to 33 is safely indoors will be expelled from the department immediately!”

Feng Chengxiu hesitated. “Shen Ge, this…”

“Listen to him,” Deng Yuqi said sternly.

“Yes, sir!” Feng Chengxiu stood at attention, his voice loud and clear.

Due to the earlier mishap, Shen Ge had missed his chance to locate the “Invisible” entity on the upper floors. Now, he had no choice but to continue searching floor by floor.

Strangely, after ascending just one level, they found themselves back on the collapsed floor.

The long-haired woman shrank back as Shen Ge entered. “M-my friend… is she okay? Don’t you dare—”

Shen Ge snatched her phone, froze it with the cryo-device, and crushed it underfoot. Even Steve Jobs himself couldn’t resurrect that.

“Okay? Because of you two idiots, we lost a soldier! If I hear one more word out of you—or if either of you breathes a word of this nonsense after we get out—I’ll make sure you personally experience the full weight of my psychiatric evaluation.”

The woman met Shen Ge’s icy gaze through his gas mask and shuddered. That wasn’t the look of a soldier—it was a murderer ready to carve her into pieces.

Shen Ge ordered the nearby soldier to ignore her. If she wanted to run out and die, so be it. Then, he sent the soldier to inform the family of five next door to stay put.

With that, Shen Ge and Cheng Shengnan continued upward.

Three floors up, they encountered Feng Chengxiu and another soldier emerging from an apartment.

“Shen—Captain, here are two packaged items.” Feng Chengxiu handed over the octopus, then stood at attention with the soldier, awaiting further orders.

“Captain Feng, continue searching for survivors. If you encounter an anomaly, do not engage alone,” Shen Ge instructed.

Feng Chengxiu nodded and sent the soldier off but remained behind.

“Something else?” Shen Ge asked.

Feng Chengxiu said, “Captain, I understand you’re looking out for the soldiers. But you must also understand—when we wear this uniform, we honor it. If even we give up on them, what hope do they have? I can’t speak for everyone, but most of our comrades have long since set aside their fear of death. People make mistakes when terrified—that doesn’t mean they don’t deserve to live.”

“I admire you. But I can’t do it. Resume the operation—keep searching for survivors on other floors,” Shen Ge replied.

Feng Chengxiu persisted, “I’ve fought anomalies multiple times. Staying with you means I can assist and search for survivors.”

Feng Chengxiu and Team 1 had entered the anomaly space with three objectives: deliver supplies, locate survivors, and—above all—ensure Shen Ge’s safe extraction.

It wasn’t just because he was an elite investigator. It was because… he could detect anomalies.

With Shen Ge as their “radar,” the Special Measures Department could nip disasters in the bud before they escalated into mass-casualty events.

The department could afford losses—but not Shen Ge. In fact, Deng Yuqi already regretted allowing him inside.

Even if the entire Rong City branch were wiped out, a new director and soldiers would take their place—or Shen Ge might even be transferred to headquarters.

Of course, Deng Yuqi hadn’t reported this “secret” yet. She knew headquarters would reassign him immediately, likely sparking his resistance.

After just a few days, she’d gleaned enough about Shen Ge’s personality. His earlier “frivolous” act and his home security measures revealed a deeply cautious man.

Such individuals couldn’t be controlled—only cooperated with.

Both Shen Ge and Deng Yuqi sought a mutually beneficial partnership, but reality was rarely so simple.

Feng Chengxiu’s words—“Honor the uniform”—sounded noble. If everyone lived by them, society would thrive in peace and prosperity.

But no matter how diligently the orchard is sprayed, worms still find their way into the fruit.

As the saying goes, two groups are beyond reproach: soldiers, who defend the nation, and firefighters, who save lives. The more such people there are, the closer society comes to an ideal “golden age.”

Feng Chengxiu wasn’t just tall in stature—his presence was towering.

But Shen Ge? He wasn’t like that.

Even when he’d helped Cheng Shengnan against the “Immobile” anomaly, it was only because it interested him. Had it not, he’d have fled after doing the bare minimum.

“Splitting up is faster for both finding survivors and the anomaly. That’s an order,” Shen Ge said flatly, refusing Feng Chengxiu’s request before turning toward the stairwell.

Cheng Shengnan followed. She knew Shen Ge wasn’t really searching for survivors—on previous floors, he hadn’t even bothered entering apartments, just gestured for people to stay inside before moving on. If he were looking for survivors, he wouldn’t skip entire units.

She suspected he was hunting the anomaly. Even though the rooms were stable, sticking with Shen Ge felt safer.

Not that she’d be foolish enough to call him out on it.

After consulting Deng Yuqi on a private channel, Feng Chengxiu ultimately didn’t pursue Shen Ge, instead continuing his own search.

Deng Yuqi was gambling—betting on her earlier hunch that Shen Ge could locate and eliminate anomalies.

The stakes? Two anomaly-energy devices and their human “radar.” Win, and the department grew stronger. Lose, and the situation spiraled out of control.

…..

Two floors later, the system alerted Shen Ge again.

[Warning!]

He grabbed a handful of pre-cut octopus from the containment bag, signaled Cheng Shengnan to ready her gun, then stepped into the hallway.

As he sprayed the cryo-device, he pinched a piece of octopus between his fingers and clicked his tongue. “Tsk tsk tsk, come and get it!”

Standing in the center of the elevator lobby, he tossed a chunk of octopus onto the floor and watched intently.

Seconds later, a bite-sized chunk vanished from the meat.

Shen Ge immediately blasted the spot with the cryo-device. Frost spread rapidly, forming a circular patch nearly a meter wide.

“Heh. Got you, you little bastard.”

Immobile!