479: Chapter 475 It's best if it isn't.

"Is that how it is..." Ye Ouyang's voice dropped, then rose again. "But you also said there's a possibility of being controlled, right?"

He glanced at Shen Mingyuan.

"I think Li Mo... since he's capable of saving people, he probably wouldn't do something like this."

Lu Jianchuan shook his head. "You haven't known him for long enough."

"You don't know what a person is truly like inside. People are always complex; they can wear any mask in front of anyone."

He sighed. "If that's really the case... but if it's not, then what else could it be?"

Shen Mingyuan took off his rubber gloves and rolled them into a ball.

"Another possibility is Autonomous Evolution. The grief for the child was too deep, and the emotions kept suppressed in his heart eventually affected the factor, causing him to evolve."

He paused. "Another way of evolving. But it's better if it's not like that, otherwise... it feels so bloody, so cruel."

Lu Jianchuan looked at him. "Is this not bloody and cruel then?"

Shen Mingyuan didn't respond. He stood up and brushed the dust off his knees. "Let's go. There's no evidence against Li Mo right now, so we can't force anything."

"What if we look for evidence?" Ye Ouyang followed behind him. "Li Mo wouldn't be stupid enough to just leave evidence in the lab, would he?"

Lu Jianchuan shook his head. "Certainly not."

The three of them had their phones ring at the same time. Lu Jianchuan took out his phone and tapped the icon with a gray background and white border. A new message popped up in the group chat; the profile picture was a starry sky, and the nickname was a simple period.

.**: The new forms are ready. I've upgraded all of yours.

.**: @Shen Mingyuan, your reaction speed couldn't keep up before, so I've enhanced it this time. I added something new to your Basic Form; your Dual Pistols now have an extra mode switch. In addition to the Sniper Rifle mode, there's now a close-quarters combat option.

Shen Mingyuan stared at the screen, typed a few words on the keyboard and then deleted them, finally only sending: "Great. What is it?"

.**: I added a shotgun mode to the Dual Pistols. The assembly method is different—the Sniper Rifle connects front-to-back, while the shotgun stacks top-to-bottom.

It fires buckshot, with short-range explosive power even stronger than the Sniper Rifle, and it's even more powerful after charging up. I plan to give you a Sublimated State in the future, an ultra-long-range, ultra-powerful Sniper Cannon. Of course, it will sacrifice some mobility and defense.

Just as Shen Mingyuan typed "Okay," another message popped up.

.**: By the way, have you thought of a name for that snake of yours? I need to make an adaptation for it.

Shen Mingyuan glanced at the green snake behind him. It was coiled on the armrest of his chair, its head resting on his wrist, eyes half-closed as if napping. He looked down and typed.

Shen Mingyuan: I've decided. Abyssal Terror War Dragon.

.**: ...Fine. I'll make adaptations for both you and the snake. The Sublimated State will be a transition; the Final Form will come later.

Ye Ouyang's message cut in.

Ye Ouyang: What about me? What about me? What's my upgrade?

.**: You and Lu Jianchuan are both following the Vibration Style. Yours are High-Frequency Vibration Claws; you've given up healing abilities for raw stats. I've also added some surgical elements—you can quickly find foreign objects in a biological body and perform precise incisions.

Later, it will develop into a Surgical Form, combining cutting, healing, and sterilization. It's not fully finished yet; it'll be adapted gradually.

Lu Jianchuan: What about mine?

.**: Yours is ready too. Same as usual, you can't transform during the update and upgrade period.

Wei Ziqing sent a message in the group; it was short, and the tone was unreadable.

Wei Ziqing: What about me?

The other side was silent for a moment.

.**: I haven't fully decided on yours yet. I'm still considering which direction your Third Form should take. For now, I've enhanced your Toxin Ability, making it faster-acting and harder to overcome.

Wei Ziqing: Great, leaving me out again. Hmph.

.**: By the way, Ye Ouyang, your Second Form won't be going online directly this time.

Ye Ouyang sent a question mark.

.**: It needs further adaptation and adjustment. Mainly because of that plant you just subdued; since it's parasitizing your hand, I've also obtained its data.

I'm planning to make a specialized adaptation for you so that your Second Form can fight in coordination with it.

The Basic Form can also work with it for some auxiliary enhancements, while the Second Form will be for primary offense. So, this armor set needs temporary modifications; the Second Form will have to be pushed back a bit.

Ye Ouyang sent an "Okay then."

Lu Jianchuan's message popped up. Lu Jianchuan: Can the upgrade wait until we're finished with things here?

.**: What's wrong?

Lu Jianchuan briefly explained the crime scene. He didn't mention Li Mo's name, only saying that they might need to transform for combat soon.

.**: Alright. Then I'll give you all a unified upgrade after this is over.

Lu Jianchuan sent a nodding emoji.

Lu Jianchuan: That's for the best, thanks.

Lu Jianchuan put his phone away and looked at the flickering streetlamp across the street. The officers had already loaded the body into the vehicle, with the forensic doctor following behind. The car door closed, and the red taillights slowly receded into the night.

"I'll keep looking," he said, his voice low. "Whatever that thing is, I have to find it first."

Shen Mingyuan stood beside him, also watching the departing vehicle. "Ye Ouyang and I will head back to the base first. We'll go rattle Li Mo and see if this has anything to do with him. We'll scare him a bit while we're at it."

Lu Jianchuan nodded. "Alright."

Shen Mingyuan patted Ye Ouyang's shoulder, and the two turned to walk toward the base. Their footsteps gradually faded on the empty street.

Lu Jianchuan straddled his motorcycle, and the engine hummed softly in the night. He glanced in the direction the body had been taken, then at the dark alleys around him. He didn't know which way that thing would go, but there had to be a starting point.

He twisted the throttle, and the motorcycle slowly glided out. Using the location where the body was found as the center, he began to circle outward.

Meanwhile, Ye Ouyang and Shen Mingyuan returned to the base and headed straight for Li Mo's laboratory.

The lights in the corridor were bright, and their footsteps echoed in the empty hallway. Ye Ouyang walked in front while Shen Mingyuan followed behind, their pace slowing until they finally stopped before a door labeled "Biological Research Department — Li Mo."

Ye Ouyang looked back; Shen Mingyuan was leaning against the wall with his hands in his pockets, nodding to him.

"Go on in," he whispered. "I'm counting on you. Just feel him out indirectly, give him a little nudge, and ask some questions.

You can't really interrogate him—he won't admit anything. He knows we don't have evidence, and unless we have something critical to rattle him, he'll keep his mouth shut. Just beat around the bush and chat casually."

Ye Ouyang nodded, his fingers gripping the hem of his shirt.

"This might alert the enemy," Shen Mingyuan continued, "but sometimes, when you alert the enemy, they panic and are more likely to reveal their trail. So don't worry too much about it. Just relax, okay?"

He glanced at Ye Ouyang's hand. "You're shaking like a leaf."

Ye Ouyang looked down at his hand, clenched it into a fist and then released it, taking a deep breath.

"Okay," he said. "No problem."

Shen Mingyuan sighed and shook his head. "Alright, go on in. I'll wait for your news here."

Ye Ouyang turned around, stood before the door for two seconds, and raised his hand to knock. A voice from inside said, "Come in," and he pushed the door open and walked in.