147: Shared responsibility

Looking at the struggling beast that had lost its ability to move, Shen Mingyuan slowly stepped forward. He pressed the muzzle of the sniper rifle, which was still radiating heat, against the side of its head, near a relatively fragile sensory organ covered by thick bone armor.

"Do you have anything else to say?" the electronic voice asked coldly.

The beast’s clouded eyes rolled, focusing with effort on Shen Mingyuan. Its raspy voice was filled with a final obsession: "Don't... kill... my brother..."

Shen Mingyuan was shaken. "What do you mean? Zhou Zihui... is he still alive? Where is he?"

"Inside... body... inside..." The beast's voice grew fainter and more intermittent. "Protect... him..."

Shen Mingyuan understood instantly. This massive shell was a "fortress" and "weapon" spawned by the sub-consciousness (the elder brother) to protect or imprison the younger brother. Zhou Zihui’s original body likely still existed in some form at the core of this monster!

There was no time to hesitate. He focused his mind again, fully mobilizing the remaining energy in the armband and injecting it into the sniper rifle. A dangerous red light glowed from the muzzle once more, but this time it wasn't for destruction, but for... a precise "surgical procedure."

Based on the beast's physical structure, his faint perception of energy flow, and the direction pointed out by that obsession, he lowered the muzzle and pressed it against a relatively thin area of bone armor between the beast's chest and abdomen.

"Endure it," he whispered, unsure if the other could hear him.

He pulled the trigger.

"Ssh—!"

A highly condensed and precisely controlled dark red energy beam pierced through, melting the outer armor and cutting through layers of flesh and biological tissue without causing a violent explosion. Like the most precise scalpel, the beam carved out a path inside the beast.

As the beam dissipated, a biological structure as complex as a nest was faintly visible within the melted wound.

Deep inside, a curled-up humanoid figure wrapped in a translucent biological membrane was connected to the surrounding tissue through a dense network of fleshy tubes—it was Zhou Zihui!

His face was pale and his eyes were tightly closed, as if he were in a deep sleep, but his chest still rose and fell slightly.

Shen Mingyuan quickly used his Arm Blade to carefully widen the incision, cut the connecting tubes, and lifted Zhou Zihui out of that warm yet terrifying "biological cradle."

The moment Zhou Zihui left the shell, the massive body of the beast shuddered violently, and the last trace of life receded like a tide.

The clouded eyes turned completely dull, and the heavy body stiffened, no longer making any sound. That obsessive protective consciousness perished along with the bloody fortress it had built for itself and its brother... On the rugged mountain road, a black SUV drove toward the city. In the passenger seat, Zhou Zihui, wrapped in Shen Mingyuan's spare jacket, slowly woke up. He first looked blankly at the roof of the car, then slowly turned his head to look at Shen Mingyuan, who was driving.

"Who are you...?" His voice was raspy and dry.

Shen Mingyuan looked straight ahead, his tone calm. "Shen Mingyuan, your defense lawyer." He paused and added, "Also... the black Armored Man who was fighting you, or rather, your brother, just now."

Zhou Zihui was silent for a long time, as if digesting this information, and also as if feeling some empty yet faint connection within his body. There was no expected agitation, fear, or questioning; his face only held a deep, almost enlightened exhaustion and calm.

"I... have nothing left to ask," he said softly. "I... felt it all. What my brother... wanted to do, why he did it... I understand completely now."

"He killed people," Shen Mingyuan stated the cold hard facts. "Legally speaking, that means 'you' killed people. As your lawyer, I will do my best to defend you, but this point cannot be changed. What I can fight for is the best possible outcome, not an acquittal."

"I know." Zhou Zihui's voice was soft but firm. "I won't run. That was a crime committed by me... and my brother. I will accept judgment... I will atone for it, taking him with me."

Shen Mingyuan glanced at him. "'Taking him with you'? Didn't your brother's consciousness already... with that body..."

"No, he's not dead." Zhou Zihui raised his hand and pressed it gently against his heart, where a faint, warm pulse seemed to remain. "What you destroyed was only the 'shell' he created to protect me... or rather, to trap me. His true consciousness... a part of it is still there, very faint, right here. I can feel it. He's just... too tired and has fallen asleep again."

He looked out the window at the night scenery flying past, his eyes complex. "This time, it's my turn to teach him. Teach him what is right, what is wrong, what is anger, and what true protection is... Then, we will face everything we need to face together."

The air in the car was silent for a moment, save for the hum of the engine.

"Have you thought this through?" Shen Mingyuan asked.

"Yes." Zhou Zihui nodded, burying his face in the jacket that smelled of a stranger. His voice was muffled, yet it carried an unprecedented sense of relief and determination. "Take me back. To the police station, to the court... anywhere is fine. We... are ready."

The car drove for another stretch and reached a relatively flat highway. The outline of the city was faintly visible on the horizon ahead.

"How much do you know about that 'Zhu Zicong', and the organization behind him?" Shen Mingyuan spoke again, his tone returning to the calmness of a lawyer investigating facts. "Any detail could be important."

Zhou Zihui leaned back in his seat, trying to remember, his face filled with regret. "I... I really don't know much. After the murders happened, I was terrified. My mind went blank, and I only knew how to run. It was him... 'Zhu Zicong' found me and took me into the mountains. He said there was a 'safe place' there."

He paused and continued, "My emotions were completely broken then, and I didn't pay attention to where we were going. I only remember entering the mountains, twisting and turning, and passing some places that looked like abandoned mine shafts or old air-raid shelter entrances. Then... I was taken into a facility.

It was very clean inside, with lights and some instruments I didn't understand, but there didn't seem to be many people. That's where he injected me with something and told me about Chimeras, the evo factor, and all that."

Zhou Zihui shook his head. "Later, because I couldn't accept the changes in my body and what 'Brother' had done... my mind was too messy and I was too scared, so I ran away from there.

I was scrambling in a panic when I ran, so I couldn't remember the route. But I'm certain their 'base' or stronghold is in that mountain area of Wild Fox Ridge. As for the specific location... I really can't say."

"That's enough." Shen Mingyuan nodded, his eyes sharp as he looked ahead. "Knowing the general area gives us a direction. As for the rest, I'll investigate."

During the conversation, the vehicle had already entered the city and was driving toward Zhou Zihui's home.

"I'll take you home to see your parents first," Shen Mingyuan said. "Regarding your brother and your physical condition, you can choose to tell them or keep it quiet for now. That is your right. However,"

His tone turned serious. "Whether you speak of it or not, your parents must begin to prepare themselves mentally. You are a minor, but the nature of the case is extremely serious.

Even considering your special circumstances, along with surrendering and cooperating with the investigation, a lawyer can try to secure the maximum possible leniency or reduction in punishment, but..."

He paused and stated the most realistic possibility. "In all likelihood, you will still need to enter a juvenile detention center or a special custodial treatment facility for a significant period of supervision, education, and psychological intervention.

The possibility of a complete exemption from punishment... is slim to none. You need to be mentally prepared, and your parents even more so."

Zhou Zihui listened quietly, without agitation or rebuttal. He looked at the increasingly familiar street scenes outside the window and gave a soft "Mm."

"I know," he said. "I won't hide from what I must bear. As long as... I'm given a chance to let my brother and me truly learn how to face this world, instead of being driven mad by it or turning into monsters... I'll go anywhere."

The car slowly stopped at the entrance of the residential area where Zhou Zihui lived. In the early morning hours, all was silent, with only a few windows still lit, including the Zhous'—those poor parents were likely having another sleepless night.

"Go on," Shen Mingyuan said. "I'll contact you as soon as possible to handle the upcoming legal procedures. Until then, stay calm and do not disclose details of the case or the supernatural elements to anyone, including your parents, unless you have thought it through."

Zhou Zihui unbuckled his seatbelt, took a deep breath, and pushed open the car door. Before stepping out, he looked back and said very softly to Shen Mingyuan, "Lawyer Shen... and, the black one... thank you."

After saying that, he turned and walked toward that light shining for him, filled with anxiety and expectation, his steps somewhat stumbling but firm.

Shen Mingyuan sat in the car, watching the boy's back disappear into the Unit door. It was a long while before he restarted the engine.

For him, one commission had temporarily ended. But another larger, more dangerous mystery had only just begun to reveal its tip.