234: New teammates.

The chaos at the scene was quickly taken over by the arriving GUPA cleanup squad.

The unconscious Liu Hongwen was carefully transferred from the motorcycle to a special restraint stretcher and loaded onto a sealed transport vehicle.

That Starfish Monster lying limp in the charred puddles, despite many small starfish individuals carbonizing and falling off its body surface, had a core that was still squirming and attempting to regenerate extremely slowly, showing amazing vitality; it was also loaded and transported away by professional containment equipment.

Shen Mingyuan and Wei Ziqing deactivated their transformations and leaned against a relatively clean wall to rest.

Shen Mingyuan's face bore the relaxation of a finished mission as he spoke with Wei Ziqing; the latter listened, nodding from time to time, and the atmosphere lightened considerably.

While Lu Jianchuan stood alone to the side, looking down at his hands.

The silver-white armor had already been deactivated, but the strange sensation of the violent electric current piercing through his arms just now, along with an energy output far beyond his control, still lingered in the slight numbness of his fingertips and the doubt in his heart.

He clearly only wanted to use a strong electric shock once to restrict the opponent's movement; why did it trigger that kind of energy storm that was nearly out of control?

Just then, the encrypted phone in his pocket vibrated. He took it out to check, and the screen displayed that familiar starry sky avatar.

.: As expected... it still turned out like this. It can't be stopped, it simply can't be stopped.

Lu Jianchuan frowned and replied quickly.

Lu Jianchuan: What can't be stopped? What exactly was with that abnormal current just now?

.: Remember that unfinished experimental catalyst-type 7 from Prometheus you forcibly injected before?

Lu Jianchuan's heart sank: I remember. Is it a problem with that drug?

.: Yes. That drug... combined with my subsequent intervention, though it didn't cause you to "physically explode," it forcibly raised and... solidified the active concentration of the evo factor in your body.

Moreover, it seems to have established an inefficient but continuous "pressure-boosting" circuit. Your factor concentration has been climbing at a very slow but naturally non-decaying rate...

.: I've been trying to crack this circuit for the past few days, or find a way to safely divert it, but... the effect has been minimal. According to this trend, your concentration will soon Breakthrough 10%.

.: The theoretical limit for the evo factor concentration any complex biological physiological structure can withstand is 10%. Once exceeded, cells will be unable to carry such high-density primitive evolutionary energy, leading to an irreversible "self-collapse" starting from the genetic level.

.: You'd better... try to avoid high-intensity combat and energy output. That will accelerate the process. I'm thinking of a way, but... time may be running out.

Lu Jianchuan looked at the lines of text on the screen, remaining silent.

After a few seconds, Lu Jianchuan: Understood.

After returning to the GUPA Base, his tensed nerves were able to relax slightly.

Shen Mingyuan, Lu Jianchuan, and Wei Ziqing deactivated their transformations in the designated area and each took high-energy nutritional supplements to replenish their intense consumption.

Just as they were taking a short break, Golden Bone's tall and upright figure appeared at the entrance of the corridor, walking over with steady steps.

"Looks like everyone has recovered." Golden Bone's gaze swept over the three of them, his tone as direct as ever, "There is a new mission that requires your coordinated execution."

He paused, his gaze turning sharp: "Regarding 'Prometheus,' our previous cleanups and strikes have exposed a more troublesome problem—there may be a 'shadow' within the organization providing them with information or protection.

This shadow is hidden very deep, and conventional investigations would easily alert the enemy."

His gaze fell upon Lu Jianchuan, Shen Mingyuan, and Wei Ziqing:

"Therefore, we need a group that is eye-catching enough, efficient in action, and has sufficient justification to go all out on the surface to track down Prometheus's core laboratories and remaining high-level members."

"Your activity will be the best cover, capable of drawing most of the opponent's attention and creating conditions for our side's true investigation in the dark."

"At the same time, this group also needs enough combat power to deal with sudden threats."

Golden Bone stepped aside, gesturing toward someone who had been standing quietly in the shadows behind him, "So, I have arranged a new teammate for you."

The person took a step forward and walked into the light.

It was a young girl who looked to be about eighteen or nineteen; most striking was her layered medium-length white hair, interspersed with a few strands of light gray highlights, her hair fluffy and tied up on one side.

Her eyes were a very striking deep blue, like the frozen heart of a lake.

She wore a uniquely styled black-and-white color-blocked short top and black high-waisted shorts; the top was adorned with a simple Taiji pattern on the chest, and her waist was decorated with a silver chain and a blue cross ornament, with a long streamer hanging from one side.

"Cynthia," Golden Bone introduced, "she also has a deep grudge against Prometheus and possesses the abilities needed to assist you in completing the mission. From today on, she will join your action group."

Cynthia's deep blue eyes looked calmly at the three of them, and she nodded slightly, her voice clear and carrying an imperceptible tension: "Hello. I am Cynthia."

"Lu Jianchuan." Lu Jianchuan responded succinctly and nodded.

"Shen Mingyuan." Shen Mingyuan also nodded in greeting, his gaze carrying a lawyer's typical scrutiny and preliminary assessment.

"My name is Wei Ziqing! Code name 'Hero Shadow'!" Wei Ziqing appeared more active, curiously sizing up this uniquely styled new teammate.

Cynthia returned their gazes in turn; her posture seemed calm, but deep within her dark blue eyes, a certain determined fire seemed to burn. She looked at Golden Bone, then turned back to her new temporary teammates, her tone solemn:

"My parents went missing because I was kidnapped by that organization. As long as I can obtain information about them, find them, and destroy that organization... I will fully cooperate with any action."

"The specific mission briefing, permissions, and logistical support will be sent to your dedicated channel later."

Golden Bone finally summarized, "The four of you will act as an independent investigation Unit. The base will provide intelligence, equipment, and necessary remote support, but frontline judgments and actions will be decided by you.

Remember, your primary goal is to ascertain Prometheus's current core movements and potential threats, especially their possible connection with internal abnormal nodes.

As for Ms. Cynthia's personal goal," he glanced at Cynthia, "within the premise of conforming to the overall mission framework and laws and regulations, we will provide assistance."

Cynthia pursed her lips, a determined light flashing in her deep blue eyes; she didn't speak, only nodding again.

After the brief introductions, the atmosphere among the four relaxed slightly, but they still maintained the caution of a first meeting. As a lawyer skilled in communication, Shen Mingyuan naturally led the conversation:

"Since we'll be acting together from now on, perhaps we can get to know each other's basic situations a bit, especially our connections with Prometheus. Young Miss Cynthia, if you don't mind..."

Cynthia nodded, a somber but determined light flashing in her deep blue eyes.

"There's nothing that can't be said." Her voice was steady, but when mentioning the past, her speaking rate quickened slightly, revealing suppressed emotions, "My parents... my mother was a Researcher at a research institute, and my father came from a Family with some history.

My Physique has been rather special since I was a child, and I easily attract some... unusual attention.

About a year ago, people from Prometheus found me, kidnapped me, and locked me in a laboratory."

Her fingers resting on her knees tightened slightly,

"They... performed many experiments on me; I don't want to recall the specific details. Later, a GUPA strike team raided that place and rescued me.

But..." She took a deep breath, "my parents went missing after that.

Without a trace. I believe this must be related to Prometheus; they took them away for revenge or some other purpose.

So, finding that organization, destroying it, and then rescuing my parents is something I must do."

Her narration was concise and full of emotional tension; logically, it matched the common tragedy of "victim's Family being implicated," and that look mixed with trauma, anger, and obsession was also very persuasive.

Lu Jianchuan listened quietly, his face expressionless, but his gaze held a scrutinizing calm. Shen Mingyuan showed a look of sympathy and understanding, nodding:

"I understand. I'm sorry you had to go through that. Our goals are aligned in this regard."

Wei Ziqing was somewhat moved and said seriously: "They are too detestable! Don't worry, together, we will definitely find clues!"

Cynthia nodded slightly at the three's reactions, accepting this initial resonance. Afterward, Shen Mingyuan and Wei Ziqing also briefly spoke about their several encounters with Prometheus, while Lu Jianchuan only mentioned contacts related to official missions. Time passed unknowingly, and the sky outside had darkened.

"Let's end it here for today." Cynthia stood up, her posture crisp and neat, "I need to go back and organize some scattered information I've personally collected; it might be useful for the subsequent investigation. Keep in touch." She showed the encrypted communicator issued by GUPA on her wrist.

The three also agreed and exchanged basic contact information.

Cynthia didn't engage in much small talk and walked out of the rest area.

Just as she was about to walk out of the porch, Golden Bone, who had been standing a bit further away and seemed to be reading information on a tablet, suddenly spoke without looking up:

"Cynthia."

Cynthia's footsteps paused, and she turned sideways, her deep blue eyes looking at him with question.

Only then did Golden Bone look up from the tablet, his quiet eyes looking over, asking a question that seemed completely unrelated to the current affairs:

"Do you think... what determines a person to be 'this person' is the memories they were given in the past, or... everything they have actually experienced from birth until now?"

"...Officer Jin Gu? Why are you suddenly asking this?"

Golden Bone's expression didn't change, as if he really just mentioned it casually: "Nothing. Just while processing some old files, I happened to see some... philosophical discussions. I was suddenly a bit curious how a young person with a special experience like yours would view this question. Don't mind it, just asking casually."

Cynthia stared at him for two seconds, seemingly trying to find some clue from that expressionless face, but failed. She thought for a moment before answering somewhat uncertainly:

"I think... it's both. Past memories form the foundation, but the things one experiences also constantly shape and change a person. It's hard to separate them completely."

Golden Bone listened to her finish quietly; after a few seconds, he gave a nearly imperceptible nod, his gaze falling back onto the tablet screen, his tone returning to his usual businesslike manner:

"Is that so. If that's what you think... then that's fine. Be careful on the road."

Cynthia glanced at him again, but in the end, she said nothing more, turned, and quickly left the rest area, the white tips of her hair drawing an arc under the corridor lights.

Walking through the empty base corridor, Cynthia's brow still didn't completely relax. Golden Bone's final nonsensical question and his unfathomable manner made her feel inexplicably uneasy.

"Honestly... how strange and mysterious." She muttered in a low voice and shook her head, temporarily tossing this small doubt to the back of her mind as she walked toward the temporary dormitory assigned to her.