The System Arrived Four Years Early, but the Anomaly Is Still a Juvenile - Chapter 68

Just as everyone stood guard, Shen Ge suddenly stepped forward and crouched right in front of the supernatural pig, barely thirty centimeters away. The move startled Feng Chengxiu and the others.

Feng Chengxiu, Wang Han, Ma Chao, Zhang Hu, and Zhao Long immediately raised their guns, encircling the pig, terrified it might suddenly lunge and swallow Shen Ge whole.

Shen Ge pulled out his phone and snapped a close-up of the creature’s face. “This little guy’s got personality, but relax—it’s deader than disco.”

“Dead?” The team exchanged surprised glances.

Deng Yuqi ordered Li Xiang to scan it. After a thorough sweep with his device, Li Xiang confirmed the pig contained only trace amounts of supernatural energy—likely frozen mid-transformation.

This was a first for the team. Before Shen Ge joined, the Special Measures Department had mostly been on standby. They’d rarely encountered active supernatural entities, let alone one frozen mid-evolution.

“Bring in the manager,” Deng Yuqi said.

Zhang Hu and Zhao Long nodded, escorting in a pudgy, bespectacled middle-aged man with an ingratiating smile.

“Officers, what’s all this about? We run a clean establishment—all our ingredients pass multiple inspections! Just last month, the health bureau audited us. I can show you the certificates—” The manager tried to sidle toward the door but was blocked by Zhang Hu and Zhao Long.

Deng Yuqi’s voice turned icy. “I doubt they noticed this… cephalopod-pig hybrid during their inspection. Care to explain its origins?”

“O-Oh! That? That’s just imported Spanish pork! Fully certified! See, the paperwork’s right there!” He pointed frantically at a framed certificate on the wall.

Deng Yuqi glanced at Feng Chengxiu. “Cut him a slice. Let’s see how romantic he finds it.”

“…”

“No need for the theatrics.” Shen Ge magically produced a chunk of the bloody, undercooked pork tenderloin from earlier. “Here—your server said ‘medium-rare is our romance.’ Why don’t you savor it?”

The manager gagged, covering his mouth. “I-I can explain! Really!”

“Take him away.” Deng Yuqi had no patience left. She ordered the entire staff detained for questioning.

“We should confiscate all the ingredients for testing,” Shen Ge suggested. He’d noticed faint black smoke wafting from other meats—yet again, no one else seemed to see it.

Was the system’s upgrade after devouring the Invisible enhancing my perception? he wondered. Could he now detect residual supernatural energy too faint for instruments?

“Oh, and the two parrots at the entrance,” he added.

As he spoke, Shen Ge knelt beside the pig’s flank, drew a butcher’s cleaver from his satchel, and sliced off a chunk of meat from its thigh.

Then, something bizarre happened.

Where the cleaver had cut, the flesh twitched. Blood vessels writhed like living threads, bubbling as new tissue slowly regenerated.

Li Xiang’s eyes lit up. “Regenerative-type supernatural entity?”

Deng Yuqi, long desensitized to weirdness, was more intrigued by Shen Ge’s impromptu weapon. “You’re… branching out into butchery?”

“Ah, this? Family heirloom. ‘The Dragon-Slaying Saber—Supreme among blades. None dare disobey its wielder. Only the Heaven Sword rivals its might…’”*

Recognizing the wuxia reference hurtling toward a full-blown monologue, Deng Yuqi raised a hand. “Stop. I know Legend of the Condor Heroes. My question is—since when do you carry a cleaver around?”

“Before I had Special Measures credentials, walking around armed would’ve gotten me arrested. Now? Flash the badge, and cops just nod. So convenient.” Shen Ge grinned.

Deng Yuqi: -_-

Your honesty is… refreshing.

“Wait. You’re carrying a gun too?” Her stomach dropped. Had he stolen one from the department?

While field agents could be armed, theft was a felony.

Shen Ge, reading her mind, pulled out a Beretta. “Relax, not department-issued.”

“Then how—” Deng Yuqi’s expression soured. Are you Doraemon? A satchel that spits out cleavers and handguns?

“Well, it all started on a trip to Hawaii—”

“Save it.” She turned to Li Xiang. “Confiscate everything—including the parrots.”

Li Xiang, thrilled at the prospect of fresh lab specimens, nearly disassembled the restaurant on the spot.

“Shen, you can really see supernatural energy unaided?” He stared at Shen Ge’s eyes like a kid at a candy store. “Even our scanners miss traces this faint! Let me run some tests—”

“…”

“Ahem. Priorities, Li Xiang,” Deng Yuqi interjected.

“This is priority!” Li Xiang waved his arms. “Most supernatural transformations begin with latent energy buildup in hosts. If we can detect pre-transformation entities, we could harvest specimens effortlessly—like today! This could revolutionize containment, equipment development, everything! It’s a world-shaking breakthrough!”

Deng Yuqi’s voice turned grave. “This stays in-house. Shen’s ability is now a Class-1 secret. Feng Chengxiu, Zhang Hu, Zhao Long, Wang Han, Ma Chao—if this leaks, I’m holding you six accountable. If headquarters asks, direct them to me.“

Li Xiang muttered, “What if you leak it?”

“…”

Shen Ge had two thoughts:

First, Deng Yuqi’s protectiveness—whether genuine or strategic—earned his respect. She’d resisted probing his secrets, opting for trust.

Second, Li Xiang’s scientific brilliance had to be stratospheric. No one with that lack of filter survived bureaucracy otherwise.

Regardless, thanks to Shen Ge’s vision, the department had secured its first zero-casualty supernatural specimen.

As technicians packed evidence, Shen Ge enthusiastically assisted—not out of altruism, but to milk the awakened system for points.

[Host’s meticulous search uncovers a nest of juvenile entities—containment successful! +20 points] x3
*(Bagging pork/beef = 60 points!)*

[Host fearlessly grapples with abyssal horrors barehanded! +20 points] x3
*(Seafood tank duty = another 60!)*

[Host grows reckless, strutting through a monster den unarmed! +50 points] x3
(Solution: Prancing in/out of the restaurant entrance like a performance artist.)