102: starfish

Before Lu Jianchuan could recover from the shock of that cliché line, Director Zhang flipped another page of the script and said in an even more mysterious tone, as if revealing the truths of the Universe: "And this isn't even the climax! At the end of the story, you and Kamen Rider will stand side-by-side against the ultimate darkness!"

"You will discover that the mastermind pulling all the strings and creating countless monsters, the ultimate villain—"

He paused deliberately to build suspense, then announced word by word: "Is actually your long-lost biological father whom you, Lu Jianchuan, have been searching for all these years!"

Lu Jianchuan: "!!!"

Director Zhang was completely immersed in his creative passion as he continued to ramble: "In the end, you need to defeat him alongside Kamen Rider, but more importantly, you must use love and justice to influence him, calling back the humanity deep within his heart, making him realize his mistakes so he sacrifices himself at the final moment to save the world!"

"What do you think? Isn't this plot full of ups and downs, filled with a sense of destiny and the brilliance of humanity?"

Lu Jianchuan held the script, looking at the director whose face was flushed with excitement. He remained silent for a full five seconds before finally squeezing out a sarcastic remark from between his teeth: "...Director, if we film it like this, then I'll truly be 'filially powerful' and 'filially moving the heavens'."

Director Zhang seemed oblivious to the sarcasm, instead slapping his thigh: "Exactly! That's the kind of complex emotion we need! Little Lu, your Comprehension Ability is truly high!"

The subsequent filming process was completed by Lu Jianchuan in a state of near numbness.

Following the director's instructions, he first raised his left hand high, then swung it across his chest, and finally reluctantly shouted, "...Armored!", completing the filming of the transformation sequence.

When the day's filming task finally ended, Lu Jianchuan felt more exhausted than if he had fought a battle. He rode that flashy motorcycle back to the GUPA Base, wanting nothing more than to return to his lounge and have some quiet time.

However, as soon as he passed through several security checkpoints and entered the base, he keenly sensed that something was wrong. People in the corridors were hurrying with solemn expressions, and the air was thick with a tense state of combat readiness. Warning lights rotated silently in the distance, emitting a faint red glow.

He stopped a Researcher walking quickly past and asked, "What happened?"

The Researcher recognized him and quickly explained: "It's that giant head 'Golden Bone' brought back! While the lab was dissecting it for samples, they discovered a well-camouflaged, starfish-shaped unknown Parasite deep in its brainstem! It suddenly activated the moment it was cut, injuring two Researchers. In the chaos, it broke a sealed pod, snatched some of the previously collected 'Bursting Crystal Umbrella' spore samples, and escaped the base!"

"Where is Golden Bone?" "Commander 'Golden Bone' has already led an elite combat squad to pursue it immediately! But quite some time has passed, I'm afraid..."

Lu Jianchuan immediately followed up: "Do you need me to deploy?"

The Researcher shook his head: "It's probably too late to chase now. The primary task at the moment is an internal sweep!"

"We're afraid that Parasite might have left eggs or others of its kind inside the base, so we're organizing personnel for a comprehensive scan and cleanup. Comrade Yin Hai, if you're willing, you could help us check; your perception might find details we've overlooked."

"Understood." Lu Jianchuan nodded without hesitation. "Give me a scanning device. Which area should I start with?"

A security supervisor immediately handed over a handheld multi-spectral life-sign scanner and quickly designated an area: "Comrade Yin Hai, please take charge of the preliminary sweep of the logistics corridors and ventilation ducts from Sector C to Sector E. These areas have complex structures where conventional scans might have blind spots. Our people are conducting carpet searches in other key areas."

Lu Jianchuan took the device and, without another word, immediately set off for the designated area. These logistics corridors were far from the core labs, dimly lit only by weak emergency lights, with the air smelling faintly of engine oil and metal. He turned on the scanner, and the light spots on the screen shifted slowly as he moved, capturing any abnormal energy residues or life signals.

He checked very carefully, not missing a single pipe joint, the back of any equipment, or the gaps in the ventilation grilles. While checking beneath a narrow backup power pipe in Sector D, the scanner suddenly emitted a faint "beep," and the screen displayed a small, weak biological heat signature that was out of place with the environment.

He crouched down and shone his flashlight into the shadow where the pipe met the floor. Sure enough, he found several clusters of translucent, grape-sized egg-like objects adhering there, their surfaces covered in a slimy membrane with something seemingly squirming slightly inside.

"Suspicious biological eggs found in Sector C, coordinates D-7." He immediately reported via the communicator.

"Received, the disposal team is on their way!"

Soon, a team wearing fully enclosed protective suits and carrying specialized sealed containers and decontamination equipment arrived, carefully collecting the eggs.

As the sweep progressed, other teams also discovered similar slimy egg clusters in various remote corners—some attached to cooling water pipes, others even hidden in boxes of discarded parts. Clearly, the escaped Parasite had laid eggs multiple times and rapidly along its escape route, attempting to increase the chances of its species' survival and dispersal.

Most of the eggs were marked and sent to high-temperature incinerators for complete destruction, but a small number were extremely cautiously sealed and sent to the highest-level isolation labs to study their biological characteristics and find countermeasures.

After completing the scan of the last ventilation main in Sector E, Lu Jianchuan had no new findings for the time being. Following instructions, he headed to a temporarily established assembly and supply point to replace the scanner's batteries.

Just as he was crossing a skybridge connecting two auxiliary research buildings, a somewhat familiar figure made him stop in his tracks.

It was a tall figure wearing the white uniform of a GUPA internal Researcher, standing by the corridor window holding a stack of documents, seemingly taking a brief break. She had short light-purple hair and skin so fair it was almost transparent. Most importantly, she faintly emitted a very subtle scent similar to a fresh plant fragrance.

Sensing Lu Jianchuan's gaze, she turned her head. When she saw his face, her light-colored pupils widened slightly, and a gentle, sincere smile immediately appeared on her face.

"It's you... Mr. Yin Hai." She spoke up, her voice soft and carrying a sense of relieved tranquility.

Lu Jianchuan recognized her as well. It was the Evolver from the Botanical Garden who had been controlled by "Prometheus" and could release highly corrosive enzyme mist—"Crystal Orchid."

"It's you." Lu Jianchuan nodded, his tone calm. "It seems you're doing well here."

"Yes!" Crystal Orchid nodded vigorously, her eyes filled with gratitude and the glow of a new life. "Thanks to you... for not giving up on me back then and helping me break free from the control. Afterward, GUPA conducted a comprehensive evaluation and treatment on me, confirming I was free of control, and... well, as they put it, my evolution direction has high research value and certain application potential."

She smiled somewhat shyly and shook the documents in her hand. "I'm now considered a member here, primarily responsible for assisting in the analysis of certain biological sample characteristics. Although it's completely different from my previous life... I really like it this way. At least, I feel at peace; I don't have to live in fear anymore, and I'm not forced to hurt others. Plus, I've basically landed an 'iron rice bowl,' right?"

Seeing the genuine, relaxed smile on her face, Lu Jianchuan felt a sense of relief in his heart. At least his power didn't only bring destruction; it had also saved a life like hers.

"That's good," Lu Jianchuan said. "Keep it up."

"I will!" Crystal Orchid nodded earnestly. "Are you... participating in the sweep mission? Please be careful."

"Just a routine check." Lu Jianchuan didn't say much. He gave her a nod and, holding the scanner with its fresh batteries, returned to the intense sweep work.