397: Chapter 394 introduces a new character.

In another place.

Inside a dark laboratory, only the indicator lights of a few instruments flickered, casting hazy outlines of the surroundings. The air was thick with the smell of disinfectant and an indescribable, scorched odor.

In the very center sat a metal bed.

Li Jianguo lay upon it, motionless. His chest still rose and fell weakly, each breath carrying a wheezing noise—as if it were being squeezed out of a leaking bellows.

His body was covered in a layer of dark silver carapace, but it was no longer intact; it was cracked in multiple places, revealing the pale skin beneath.

Especially at the chest cavity, there was a massive gash. The edges were slowly writhing, attempting to heal, but the speed was so slow it was almost imperceptible.

Two people in white coats stood by the bedside.

One was slightly older, in his thirties, wearing thin-framed glasses. With his hands in his pockets, he stared at Li Jianguo on the bed with a flat expression, his thoughts unreadable.

The other was younger, in his early twenties, with delicate features. He was currently looking down at a data pad in his hands, his fingers sliding across the screen.

"Li Mo," the elder one spoke, his voice low, sounding somewhat cold in the empty laboratory. "How is it? How is the research coming along?"

The younger one—Li Mo—looked up, the corners of his mouth curling slightly.

"Not bad," he said. "That special cell in his body is truly interesting. It's a pity it died so quickly."

He turned the data pad around to show the older man.

"It died after thirty minutes. I only managed to extract a small sample, but even this little bit is interesting enough."

He walked to the bedside and looked down at Li Jianguo.

Li Jianguo's eyes were half-open, his pupils dilated, looking at nothing in particular. His lips quivered slightly as if he were trying to say something, but no sound came out.

"But you've already done your best," Li Mo said softly, as if speaking to an old friend. "To retain your consciousness as much as possible after evolution. But now..."

He paused.

"It doesn't seem like you possess human consciousness anymore. Just what is going on with this factor?"

The person on the bed did not respond. Only that wheezing breath continued.

The older Doctor walked over, stood beside Li Mo, and also looked down at Li Jianguo.

"In that case," he said, "let me perform some modifications on him."

Li Mo glanced at him and put away the data pad.

"I'm leaving."

The Doctor tilted his head. "Where are you going?"

"I've already applied to join the The Authorities," Li Mo said, his tone flat, as if he were saying the weather was nice. "It's been approved. I'm going to be a Researcher there starting immediately."

The Doctor was taken aback for a moment, then laughed.

"Hmph, how bold."

Li Mo shrugged.

"It doesn't matter. In any case, I'm only doing it to fulfill my dream—or rather, my wish."

He turned around, took two steps toward the door, and then stopped.

"Following Prometheus before was only because they could experiment without any morality. Now that they're gone, I can only join the The Authorities. Though there are some restrictions, my dream will not stop here."

He glanced back at the Doctor.

"Are you staying here?"

The Doctor didn't look back, still staring at the body on the bed that barely resembled a human anymore.

"Me?" His voice was airy. "I'm just quite interested in the things here. Purely, I want to study them for a bit."

He raised his hand and pushed up his glasses.

"I became this Doctor simply because of pure curiosity. Unlike you, who has a very clear wish. So, don't mind me. I'll go where I want to go when the time comes."

As he spoke, his gaze shifted to the computer screen in front of him.

The images on that screen were not quite right.

Data was jumping, pages were switching automatically, and files were opening and closing on their own. It didn't feel like a hacker intrusion—it was more like... the computer itself had come to life. It had its own thoughts, was verifying something on its own, and was flipping through those research data pages one by one.

The faint glow of the screen reflected on the Doctor's face, and the corners of his mouth seemed to curve a bit more.

Li Mo stood at the door, looking at him and then at that eerie computer, remaining silent for two seconds.

"Alright," he said. "Then I'm off."

He pulled open the door, his figure disappearing into the darkness.

The Doctor did not look back. He just stood there, watching the computer operate itself and the data jumping across the screen, as if he were watching a growing child.

Meanwhile, on the other side.

Shen Mingyuan, Wei Ziqing, and Ye Ouyang finished their meal and walked back leisurely. The sunlight felt warm on their bodies. Wei Ziqing rubbed his stomach with a look of satisfaction. Ye Ouyang was still savoring the roasted beef from earlier, smacking his lips.

"Let's eat at this place again next time," he said.

Shen Mingyuan glanced at him. "Next time, it's your treat."

"Sure, once I get paid."

The three of them chatted and laughed as they entered the base gates and turned into the corridor on the side of the experimental area.

Not far ahead, two people were standing at the entrance of a laboratory.

One was an old white-haired Researcher whom Ye Ouyang knew; he was from the Biological Research Department and would nod in greeting when they met. The other was a young man, seemingly in his early twenties, with delicate features. Dressed in a white coat, he was slightly bowing his head, listening to the old Researcher speak.

The old Researcher looked up, saw Ye Ouyang, and waved his hand.

"Ah, Ye Ouyang! You've come at just the right time."

Ye Ouyang walked over, with Shen Mingyuan and Wei Ziqing following behind.

The old Researcher smiled and pointed to the young man beside him.

"Come, let me introduce you. This is Li Mo, a Researcher who recently joined our Research Institute."

The young man—Li Mo—looked up, his gaze sweeping over the three of them before landing on Ye Ouyang. He gave a small smile and extended his hand.

"Hello, Ye Ouyang," his voice was gentle, carrying a bit of a newcomer's restraint. "I am Li Mo, the newly joined Researcher."

Ye Ouyang was startled for a moment, then reached out and shook his hand.

"Oh, hello, hello." He looked Li Mo up and down, unable to help saying, "You're quite impressive, joining at such a young age."

Li Mo smiled, the expression carrying a hint of modesty.

"Yes, as a civilian, it really wasn't easy to study all of this."

Shen Mingyuan listened from the side without speaking, though his gaze lingered on Li Mo's face for an extra second.

Ye Ouyang didn't notice and continued to ask, "What is your field of research?"

Li Mo turned to look at him, his eyes lighting up slightly.

"Anti-aging, I suppose," he said, his tone turning a bit serious. "The evo factor has infinite potential; it should be very useful for things like extending life. Don't you think?"

Ye Ouyang thought about it and nodded.

"I see... well, good luck with that."

Li Mo smiled, this time more deeply than before.

"I will certainly work hard," he said, his voice not loud, but every word was clear. "After all—Immortality is my dream."

The three continued walking forward, their footsteps echoing softly in the corridor.

Shen Mingyuan suddenly stopped and looked back toward that laboratory. The door had already closed, and Li Mo's figure had disappeared behind the glass.

"I feel..." he spoke slowly, "that Li Mo doesn't seem like a good person."

Ye Ouyang was stunned and also looked back, but he couldn't see anything unusual.

"Really?" He scratched his head. "He seemed pretty nice to me."

He spoke as he walked, his tone carrying a touch of earnestness. "As a dream, Immortality might be impossible to achieve—it defies modern physics in many ways—but I think it's a fine dream. People need to have some kind of pursuit, after all."

Shen Mingyuan retracted his gaze and continued walking.

"You don't understand," he said, hands in his pockets. "It's a Detective's intuition."

Wei Ziqing listened from the side without interjecting. He didn't feel anything particular; that Li Mo looked like an ordinary Researcher who spoke politely and seemed fine. To say he was suspicious... was a bit of a stretch.

Ye Ouyang tilted his head to look at Shen Mingyuan. "So, are you going to investigate him?"

Shen Mingyuan shook his head.

"No," he said, his tone carrying a hint of uncertainty even to himself. "It's just a Detective's intuition; I just feel like he's not a good person. But intuition is something that is sometimes reliable and sometimes not."

He paused, then suddenly smiled.

"At least for now—having this kind of feeling is quite interesting."