83: nation

The dust had not yet fully settled. Lu Jianchuan knelt on one knee, the cracks on his silver armor appearing particularly jarring in the dim light.

The sonic cannon blast that had just struck his helmet directly was incredibly powerful. Even with the protection of his armor, the intense vibration left him dizzy, his ears ringing incessantly. His internal organs felt displaced, and waves of nausea kept surging up.

He tried to stand up straight but stumbled, having to reach out and grab a nearby twisted metal shelf to barely steady himself.

Just then, the heavy and rhythmic sound of metallic footsteps rang out again, approaching from a distance and finally stopping not far in front of him.

Lu Jianchuan struggled to lift his head, his azure eyepiece meeting Golden Bone's cold tactical eyepiece.

Only now, after the clamor of battle had subsided, did Lu Jianchuan suddenly realize—from the start of the fight until the two cadres escaped, this GUPA member equipped with an advanced exoskeleton seemed to have remained on the periphery of the main battlefield, acting more like... an observer?

A chill mixed with doubt welled up in his heart. Enduring the discomfort, he spoke in a raspy metallic voice, his words intermittent due to weakness: "You... before..."

"The people need a hero."

A processed, emotionless electronic voice interrupted him, direct and cold, as if stating an established fact.

Lu Jianchuan was stunned, the questioning words that followed stuck in his throat.

Golden Bone looked down at him and continued in that flat electronic voice: "The growth rate of abnormal events worldwide has increased by four hundred percent in the past three months. Deviants, evolutionary phenomena, unidentified organizational activities... the frequency and intensity are constantly breaking through thresholds. We are short-handed, the cost of suppressing information is rising, and society's endurance is not infinite."

He tilted his head slightly, seemingly scanning Lu Jianchuan's condition or perhaps evaluating him.

"We can still barely maintain the facade for now, but according to this trend, one day the truth will be like a bursting flood, impossible to hide any longer. At that time, panic will consume order. People need to see a lighthouse in the flood, a symbol that can stand tall in the face of the unknown and fear. They need a hero, one who can be understood, one who they can pin their hopes on... one of 'their own'."

Listening to this almost cold macro-analysis, the sense of absurdity in Lu Jianchuan's heart nearly outweighed his physical suffering. Bracing himself against the shelf, he slowly stood a bit straighter, his eyepiece fixed on the other: "Why... me?"

"Not just you."

Golden Bone's answer remained devoid of emotion. "You are just the one on our observation list who currently performs most in line with expectations and has the highest potential assessment. We are simply... investing in advance for a certain future possibility."

He paused, the light of his tactical eyepiece seemingly focusing slightly, penetrating the layer of silver biological carapace to land on Lu Jianchuan's true self.

"Am I right?"

—Lu Jianchuan."

That name was clearly uttered by the cold electronic voice, exploding in Lu Jianchuan's mind like a clap of thunder. All disguises, all concealment, seemed to be completely stripped away at this moment. He knew his identity; GUPA had known from the very beginning!

"You actually... know my identity." Lu Jianchuan's voice carried a hint of imperceptible dryness, his body beneath the armor tensing slightly. Having his greatest secret exposed to his face made him feel an unprecedented threat.

"Don't underestimate the power of a state machine." Golden Bone's electronic voice remained steady, as if stating the simplest of facts.

"From the first time you transformed in the warehouse to the traces left by every subsequent action, locking onto your identity was not difficult. However, after confirming your identity and basic behavioral patterns, we implemented information isolation for the lower-level executive units."

He paused briefly, as if retrieving data. "Your direct supervisors, colleagues, and even most of GUPA's peripheral personnel have only received processed reports regarding an 'unknown silver individual'."

"Those who know your true identity are limited to a very few with the corresponding clearance. This is a form of protection, and also to avoid unnecessary panic and interference."

"That list... what is it?" Lu Jianchuan pressed, catching another key point.

"An observation catalog. It records all individuals who have shown special potential in abnormal events and whose Heart-Nature has undergone a preliminary assessment, deemed capable of potentially assuming the roles of 'symbol' and 'guardian' in the future."

Golden Bone explained.

"Some are 'wild' evolvers like you, while others are loyal operational personnel within the system. And your performance in multiple events—especially your consistent prioritization of the safety of ordinary citizens when facing Rogue Evolved Beings and the threat of 'Prometheus'—has allowed you to pass our preliminary screening, making you one of the highest-ranking candidates on the list."

He looked at Lu Jianchuan, his cold eyepiece seemingly able to peer into one's soul.

"Considering your original profession was a police officer, maintaining order and protecting the people is already part of your duty. This will give you higher credibility and public acceptance during your future 'role transition'."

"Therefore, we are preparing to formally incorporate you into GUPA's establishment through a procedural transfer order as a 'Special Talent Recruitment.' At that time, you will receive more resources and intelligence support, and of course, you will need to follow the overall strategic arrangements at critical moments."

"Slowly, at the right time, through some controlled 'information leaks' or 'heroic deeds,' you will gradually step from the shadows to the forefront, becoming a symbol that the people can see and trust. This is to prepare for the day that will eventually come when the truth can no longer be completely hidden."

These words almost laid out GUPA's future layout in its entirety. Lu Jianchuan remained silent, digesting this massive amount of information. It wasn't coercion, but rather an "invitation" placed before him that couldn't be easily refused—a pre-planned path.

Golden Bone keenly captured the complex emotions contained in his silence. "You seem to be worried about something." It wasn't a question, but a statement.

Lu Jianchuan raised his head, his voice from beneath the armor tinged with self-deprecation: "I thought... I would face forced containment, or... human experimentation, things like that."

"Pfft..." An extremely faint sound, seemingly a simulated sigh, came from beneath Golden Bone's mask, carrying a stylized "helplessness."

"What are you thinking? Those are the bottomless and inefficient barbaric acts that only illegal organizations like 'Prometheus' would be keen on. We represent order and civilization; our strength stems from discipline, technology, and collective will, not from sacrificing individual freedom and dignity."

His electronic voice grew slightly heavier, carrying an unquestionable firmness.

"Have faith in the state, Comrade Lu Jianchuan."

The address "Comrade" made Lu Jianchuan startle slightly. It carried an old-fashioned yet incredibly solemn meaning, as if it were a confirmation of identity and an assignment of responsibility.