337: So what is the answer to the question?

Lin Xun looked at the Chameleons twitching on the ground, noticeably smaller in size after being electrocuted, and gasped:

"No... the 'big one' I saw before was different from these.

It seems they combined and used synchronized camouflage to impersonate a Giant Chameleon... Anyway, it's temporarily solved."

Before he finished speaking, his body swayed, his armor automatically disengaged, and he collapsed onto the ground due to exhaustion and the effects of the minor electric shock.

The scene was a mess: Lin Xun was unconscious; several Dinosaur Persons who had been knocked out earlier were lying on the ground, along with the already comatose New Evolver, who had been 'finished off' by the indiscriminate electric shock just now. Wreaths of smoke were rising from him, and his condition was worrying.

The enemies lying nearby:

"That really is quite miserable..." Lu Jianchuan canceled his transformation, rubbed his slightly numb arm, and twitched his lips as he looked at the 'scorched' scene all over the floor.

Soon, dense footsteps were heard from outside.

Fully armed GUPA Field Personnel quickly entered the scene with large numbers of stretchers, restraint devices, and specialized suppressors, starting their work in a well-trained manner:

Checking vital signs, applying suppressors, and securing the unconscious Dinosaur Persons and Chameleons onto stretchers.

A Scene Commander looked at the Chameleons, which were perfectly scorched and still twitching unconsciously from the electric shock, and felt confused:

"Didn't they say it was Dinosaur Persons and a new evolving individual? Why are there Chameleons? This species... seems different from what the report mentioned."

Lu Jianchuan helped Lin Xun up while replying, "They were 'reinforcements' or rather, 'Predators' who arrived later. Take them back and 'question' them properly; maybe we can find out something else."

The commander nodded, signaling his subordinates to carefully contain the Chameleons as well.

Before lifting the New Evolver onto the stretcher, a Researcher wearing protective gloves squatted down, carefully used a tool to forcibly pry open a gap at the mouth beneath the metal face mask, and then inserted a tube of Highly Concentrated Nutrient Solution, slowly injecting it.

"After such a violent evolution, the energy consumption is astronomical, and he also suffered an electric shock... If we don't supplement him soon, he might actually 'starve to death'," the Researcher explained.

After confirming that all targets were properly secured and transport had begun, the scene cleanup work also commenced simultaneously.

Lu Jianchuan carried the unconscious Lin Xun on his back and followed the containment team toward the exit. The unexpected engagement of the night had finally concluded, but the 'samples' and questions brought back were clearly more numerous than anticipated.

GUPA Headquarters, Special Biological Isolation Interrogation Room.

Several Chameleons, having recovered some vitality but still bearing burn marks from the electric shock and injuries from peeled scales, were placed inside custom-made Transparent Observation Capsules simulating their natural habitat, connected to life monitoring devices and energy suppression fields.

Their condition was obviously poor; they lay listlessly, yet their eyes still held the unique vigilance of wild animals and a hint of undetectable arrogance.

The person in charge of the interrogation was a seasoned veteran specializing in dealing with Paranormal Intelligent Creatures.

He knew that as long as the subject possessed intelligence and could communicate, regardless of their form, the basic principles of interrogation—applying pressure and breaking psychological defenses—remained effective.

Shen Mingyuan and Lu Jianchuan stood behind the One-Way Glass, listening quietly.

The interrogation process was unexpectedly "smooth." When the Interrogator posed questions about their origins, purpose, and relationship with the New Federation, one slightly larger Chameleon, who appeared to be the leader, confessed with a hoarse, strange accent, offering almost no resistance:

"Us? Scavengers of the New Federation, and also 'Observers.' We came looking for those escaped 'big lizards.' You humans don't understand... their blood is a heaven-sent weapon."

Its long tongue licked its scorched eye socket, and its tone carried a cold fanaticism. "Think about it, as long as they bite a few more people, infect a few more... even if it doesn't work this time, their children, and their children's children, will eventually become one of us.

Humans? They will slowly disappear. Culture, consciousness, those noisy civilizations... will all vanish along with the Bloodline. When the ground is crawling with 'big lizards,' they will naturally understand who the true future masters of this planet are. At that point, joining the New Federation will be the only path."

The Interrogator recorded everything expressionlessly, not debating the feasibility of the plan, but calmly pressed for details regarding the method of contact, Liaison Points, and the New Federation's specific expectations for this operation.

The Chameleon seemed to feel that revealing the information was harmless, even possessing a sense of superiority that implied, "You can't stop us even if we tell you," and gradually divulged more information.

Animal thinking differs from human thinking; the concept of "secrecy" might not be as deeply ingrained, and survival and current circumstances are often more important. Coupled with a certain arrogance based on species difference, the interrogation yielded considerable intelligence.

After the interrogation, the Interrogator came out with the report and met with Shen Mingyuan and Lu Jianchuan.

"Did you hear all that?" The Interrogator handed the report to the two men. "The plan is vicious; it targets the continuity of humanity as a biological species."

Shen Mingyuan scanned the report, his brow furrowed: "Wow, this... is a bit too poisonous. Cutting it off at the root."

Lu Jianchuan's gaze was sharp: "Truly terrifying. Packaging species extinction as 'Evolution' and 'Belonging'."

But the Interrogator shook his head:

"But they are destined to fail. In their efforts to oppose humanity, they only calculated the speed of infection, but underestimated or even ignored humanity's own adaptability and counter-attack capability—for instance, the speed at which we develop Targeted Vaccines and reversal agents. Furthermore," he pointed to the isolation room,

"They have been captured now, and the plan is exposed. The New Federation tried to steal the chicken but ended up losing the rice this time."

As the three were discussing, Golden Bone appeared at the end of the corridor sometime, walking slowly toward them. He clearly had already been briefed on the situation.

"The New Federation..." Golden Bone took the report and quickly skimmed it, his voice steady and thoughtful. "It is a nuisance, but it is unrealistic to expect that destroying one or two organizations like the New Federation, or Prometheus before it, will completely resolve the fundamental contradiction arising from evolution between animals and humans."

He raised his head, his gaze sweeping over Shen Mingyuan and Lu Jianchuan: "The contradiction stems from resources, living space, and the imbalance of power and fear brought about by evolutionary differences.

As long as these fundamental issues persist, if you eliminate one 'New Federation,' groups like the 'New Life Alliance' and the 'Evolutionary Co-Prosperity Society' will soon emerge.

We need to deal with specific threats, like today, but we must also understand that the true long-term solution goes far beyond fighting and destruction."

"Solving it at the root..." Lu Jianchuan repeated Golden Bone's words in a low voice, his brows tightly knitted, his eyes filled with deep confusion and a hint of powerlessness. "But what exactly is this root... and how should it be solved?"

He took a step, his tone growing more intense:

"For humans to survive, they must acquire energy, they must eat! Eating meat necessarily harms animals and deprives other lives of their right to exist.

Fine, what if we don't eat meat and only eat vegetables?" He sneered. "But what about plants? What about plants that might evolve consciousness and perceive pain in the future?

Starting from the most basic Food Chain, the existence of life itself seems to be built upon the consumption of other life. Predator and prey, consumption and being consumed... this is something engraved in the natural Law.

Now, it's just that the evo factor has suddenly given a portion of the consumed the ability to resist, or even reverse positions."

He looked at Shen Mingyuan and Golden Bone: "This fundamental contradiction has existed since the beginning of life. How can it be 'solved at the root'?

Should all life no longer require energy? Or should all life forms, consciousness levels, and power Ranks be completely identical? Is that even possible?"

Shen Mingyuan crossed his arms, leaned against the wall, and responded:

"So, is this destined to be an endless battle? Just like in the Food Chain, the prey evolves toxins or hard shells, and the Predator evolves resistance or stronger armor-breaking abilities... repeating endlessly.

Now, the stage has simply expanded from the wilderness to the entire civilized world, and the stakes of the confrontation include intelligence and technology."

He paused, his tone carrying the calmness of a Detective analyzing the essence of a case, mixed with a hint of confusion. "Predators need prey to survive, and prey must resist or flee if they don't want to be eaten... When both sides are endowed with the 'evolutionary' power capable of changing the rules, what will the final outcome be? Will it be the achievement of a cruel yet dynamic new balance, or... will it continue until one side is completely unable to sustain itself?"