22: White Star

[Consciousness Space]

Almost the instant Lu Jianchuan's message arrived, Han Chengyu "heard" the System's relay.

"He's asking about it!" Han Chengyu's spirits lifted. "System, quick! Didn't you say before that with the permission upgrade, you could access external networks? Hurry and check the surveillance around that aquarium, plus their internal records. See if you can find out how that White Whale escaped and what exactly happened! Organize any useful information, and we'll send it to him!"

[Command received. Attempting to access municipal traffic surveillance network and civilian monitoring devices around the target venue... Access successful. Retrieving video records from the relevant time period. Simultaneously scanning public network platforms and residual data on the target venue's internal servers (low security level).]

The System's efficiency was extremely high. Indigo-blue data streams flashed and converged in Han Chengyu's "vision" at an unprecedented, frenetic speed. A few seconds later, several key video clips and some text summaries were filtered out and presented before Han Chengyu.

[Information preliminarily integrated. Analysis based on acquired surveillance footage from seven different surrounding angles confirms: **1. The target individual (White Whale) has undergone severe physical mutation and possesses terrestrial locomotion capability. 2. When it breached the venue, its forehead released a high-intensity, visible blue-white energy wave. This wave caused a total of 23 surveillance cameras in the surrounding blocks to instantly malfunction or experience severe picture interference. This energy release pattern highly resembles the characteristics of an electromagnetic pulse (EMP). 3. Its last captured image shows it moving at extremely high speed towards the southeast direction, i.e., the location of the Quiet Sea.**]

"So it really did evolve! And it can release electromagnetic pulses..." Han Chengyu looked at the blurry yet impactful image of the white mutated form in the footage and the energy effect that instantly turned the surveillance screens to static, feeling a surge of alarm. "But what triggered it? There must be a reason. Could it be depression from being locked up in the aquarium for too long?"

[Negative. Evolution trigger involves a clear external stimulus.] The System's electronic voice stated emotionlessly while pulling up new data.

[Based on retrieved, incompletely deleted fragments of Zookeeper shift handover logs stored on the venue's internal servers, and some short-coverage, non-core area surveillance footage (audio portions) showing: **- The target individual (designation: White Star) was long maintained in an abnormal state of care. The logs contain multiple mentions of abnormal behavior, such as 'abnormally agitated,' 'refusing food,' 'unexplained injuries found on body surface.' - Key evidence: Retrieved three short videos from different dates, recorded by other employees on personal phones and mistakenly uploaded to internal work groups (promptly deleted, but cached remnants exist in the cloud).**

The video content shows that the Zookeeper numbered 'Zhao' (facial match with the on-site injured person: 99.7%) used non-standard tools (including a high-pressure water gun, metal rods) to drive away and provoke the target individual. One video segment contains noticeable electrical noise and the laughter of said Zookeeper. Combined with the word 'electric' in the injured person's delirious mutterings, it can be reasonably inferred that long-term abuse, especially electric shock stimulation, is the direct trigger that activated the target individual's evo factor and guided its evolution in this direction.]

A brief, System-noise-reduced mobile phone video was played. The image was shaky, but it clearly showed Zookeeper Xiao Zhao holding something like a stun baton, approaching the water's surface. Accompanied by a "zizzi" noise and a triumphant laugh, the white figure beneath the water violently convulsed.

Han Chengyu's consciousness fell silent. Anger and an indescribable sorrow welled up. "So... it never wanted to become a monster. It was forced into this..." he murmured. "To go home, to survive..."

[Logical chain complete. Evidence credibility: High.] The System summarized.

Han Chengyu looked at the evidence, his heart filled with complex emotions. He felt sorrow for the White Whale's plight and anger towards the abuser.

[Real World - Corridor]

Lu Jianchuan gripped his phone tightly, his fingertips turning slightly white from the force. The screen finally lit up with the reply he had been waiting for.

**: I found out. It really is a mutated Whale, though it's more like evolution than mutation.

Lu Jianchuan's pupils contracted slightly, and he immediately pressed: Evolution?

.: Yes, this is essentially an evolution for survival. And all the life we will face now is for this reason. That's my fault, I forgot to mention this to you. .: But aren't you busy with this matter right now? We can talk about it after you're done. .**: It probably headed towards the Quiet Sea.

"The Quiet Sea..." Lu Jianchuan softly repeated the direction, firmly committing it to memory. Just as he was about to put away his phone, another message and a video file popped up.

.**: Before you leave, I want you to see this.

With a sense of foreboding, Lu Jianchuan tapped open the video, which was only a few seconds long. The image was shaky, the angle concealed—clearly a covert recording.

But the content was cruelly clear—Zookeeper Xiao Zhao's face twisted in a malicious grin, holding what was clearly a prohibited high-voltage stun baton, thrusting it into the pool without hesitation! Accompanied by a "zizzi," teeth-grating electric noise, the massive white figure beneath the water violently, painfully convulsed!

"Crack."

A soft sound came from Lu Jianchuan's knuckles as he clenched his fist with extreme force. A surge of emotion—shock, disgust, and overwhelming fury—instantly rushed to his head, making him almost dizzy. All his previous doubts—Wang Hai's fear, Xiao Zhao's madness, the unreasonable destructive power—found their answer in this moment.

This was no accident. It was a desperate act of revenge and escape, triggered by a long, painful attempted murder!

He stared fixedly at the now-black phone screen, took two deep breaths, and barely suppressed the impulse to immediately rush out and drag Wang Hai up. With slightly trembling fingers, he typed a reply.

Lu Jianchuan: ...I understand. Wait a moment.

Tucking the phone back into his pocket, when Lu Jianchuan looked up again, his eyes had turned cold and hard, as if covered by a layer of frost. He turned and walked back towards the chaotic main exhibition hall with firm steps.

Inside the hall, his colleague Zhao Dawu had Director Wang, whose face was ashen, backed into a corner. Zhao Dawu's burly frame exuded strong pressure as he spoke sternly: "Director Wang! I'm asking you one last time! What exactly happened with the aquarium's surveillance? The mental state of employee Zhao Yongqiang and the White Whale's abnormal behavior—did you really know nothing about it? I'm warning you, telling the truth now still counts as voluntary disclosure. Once we find out ourselves, the nature of this will be completely different!"

Wang Hai was sweating profusely, his expensive suit collar soaked. His eyes darted around, his lips trembling. His psychological defenses were on the verge of collapse, about to give way.

At that moment, Lu Jianchuan walked straight up to him. Without a word, he just stared at him with eyes that seemed capable of seeing through everything.

"Director Wang," Lu Jianchuan's voice wasn't loud, but it was like a cold dagger, precisely piercing Wang Hai's last shred of hope. "Did you think deleting the surveillance meant no one would know about White Star being subjected to long-term electric shock abuse by Zhao Yongqiang?"

These words exploded like thunder in Wang Hai's ears. He jerked his head up, his eyes filled with incredulous terror, his body visibly trembling violently. His biggest secret—the other party knew it in such specific detail!

"I... I..." Gurgling sounds came from his throat, but he couldn't form a complete sentence.

Not giving him time to organize his words, Lu Jianchuan pressed his advantage, his tone growing even colder: "Now, will you voluntarily admit to the facts of managerial negligence and condoning abuse, or shall we wait until we uncover more and let you shoulder even heavier responsibility?"

"I'll confess! I'll confess everything!" Wang Hai's legs gave way. If not for leaning against the wall, he would have collapsed to the ground. His psychological defenses completely crumbled.

Pointing in the direction where the stretcher had been taken, he shrilly shifted blame, trying to grasp at the last straw: "It was all him! It was all Zhao Yongqiang acting alone! He's just psychologically disturbed! I... I warned him, but he wouldn't listen! I was just lax in management, the main responsibility lies with him! It's all his fault!"

Wang Hai lay on the ground as if his bones had been removed, only having the strength to repeat his shifting of blame. Zhao Dawu watched this scene, then glanced at Lu Jianchuan beside him who had broken Wang Hai with a single sentence. A flicker of surprise and approval passed through his eyes, but more prominent was professional curiosity.

He hauled the limp Wang Hai up, handed him over to a colleague for temporary custody, then walked over to Lu Jianchuan. Lowering his voice, he asked with some puzzlement: "Jianchuan, impressive! But... how are you so sure it was electric shock abuse? And how do you know such specific details?"

Lu Jianchuan had already prepared his explanation. He put on an appropriately convincing expression, one common in investigations that hinted at a bit of luck. He pointed to his own ear, then gestured towards the direction where Xiao Zhao, still not fully conscious, was being supported by medical staff:

"Brother Zhao, did you forget? Just now, when that Zookeeper Zhao Yongqiang was raving, he kept repeating 'electric,' 'stop shocking.' It sounded off to me. Combined with Director Wang's guilty look, I thought I'd just bluff him directly. Didn't expect I'd actually guess right—he confessed immediately."

This explanation was reasonable, attributing the source of intelligence to observation of on-site details and sound psychological tactics. Hearing this, Zhao Dawu had a sudden realization and gave Lu Jianchuan a firm pat on the shoulder: "Good lad! Sharp observation, quick thinking! Well done!"

Having resolved the internal question, Lu Jianchuan immediately steered the conversation towards the next course of action. His expression turned serious as he looked at Zhao Dawu:

"Brother Zhao, the animal abuse issue is clear now, and Wang Hai needs to be taken back for a detailed statement. But the biggest problem remains unsolved—where exactly did that Whale go?"

He paused, then volunteered: "Here's what we can do, Brother Zhao. You take on the tough job of bringing Wang Hai and the related evidence back first. There are still many aquarium staff and citizens here who need calming down and questioning. The preliminary investigation work to find the Whale's whereabouts, leave it to me. I'll follow the direction it likely disappeared in and start tracking down leads."

Zhao Dawu looked at the chaotic scene and the person in charge who needed escorting back. After a brief consideration, he nodded: "Alright. This place is a mess and definitely needs manpower. Then leave the cleanup here and the follow-up investigation to you. You must find a way to locate that Whale's whereabouts. Who knows how such a huge creature just vanished!"

"Don't worry, Brother Zhao. Leave it to me." Lu Jianchuan nodded solemnly.

Soon, Zhao Dawu and another colleague escorted the ashen-faced Wang Hai, started the police car, and left the scene.

The commotion seemed to subside somewhat with the departure of the police car. Lu Jianchuan stood in place, watching his colleagues begin the orderly cleanup work. He took a deep breath, knowing his real task was just beginning.

He hesitated no longer. His gaze turned towards the southeast direction—the direction where the "Quiet Sea" lay.

The intelligence provided by The Forger, the Whale's last known direction of movement, and its instinctive desire to return to the sea—all pointed there.