27: conversation

When the sonar equipment was activated, Company Commander and the others looked serious. They even put on camouflage military uniforms and hid on the riverbank, their weapons specially designed to harm underwater targets.

The only reason their Company received this mission was because this particular set of weapons had been tested by them in the past.

"Silence now. No unauthorized movements without my command. The target possesses extremely strong long-range strike capabilities. Do not treat it as a beast; treat it as our most powerful enemy."

Both sides of the riverbank were covered with Soldiers, all wearing camouflage and holding special firearms, their sharp gazes fixed on the river.

A military officer had already accessed the surveillance feed, observing the monitor.

The rain poured, and the mist was hazy, yet the atmosphere here was incredibly stern.

So many Soldiers stood like statues in the rain, unmoving.

This scene made Ding Weilong, Zhou Kubo, and the others' eyes flash with admiration.

Setting aside everything else, in terms of military discipline, these were absolutely the most elite Soldiers!

Time slowly passed, but the Giant Octopus's figure never appeared.

It wasn't until night fell, with the bright moon hanging in the night sky, casting its light, that Company Commander began to gather his Company, his gaze turning to the professors.

"This sound wave can travel over ten kilometers. I'm certain that Octopus heard it," Professor Lu said with conviction, meeting Company Commander's gaze.

"If that's the case, this Octopus's intelligence might exceed our expectations. This also explains why we failed to lure it out last time."

"It must have witnessed the battle between our stun guns and the Giant Eel, and coupled with its previous injury from the Chinese Chub's electrical discharge, it might have sensed our threat."

"While Octopuses possess strong territorial instincts, they will abandon their territory if they perceive a threat!"

"I suspect it might be leaving this place!" Professor Jin Weiguo said.

"First Platoon, arrange immediately for a carpet search! Wants to run? We'll see if I agree to that!" Company Commander shouted.

"Mission accomplished, First Squad, move out!" Following the First Platoon leader's command, a squad of Soldiers, fully equipped with underwater gear, jumped into the river.

"First Platoon, stay behind and provide fire support. Everyone else, go to the Public Security Office for dinner."

"Professors, comrades, let's go have dinner first. I have a feeling tonight will be a prolonged battle."

After Company Commander finished speaking, he led everyone to the Public Security Office, where a mess hall was already set up and cooking.

At the dinner table, Company Commander suddenly spoke, "The higher-ups attach great importance to this matter and have warned against any leaks. However, they discovered that our underwater surveillance cameras were once hacked."

"What!" Professor Jin Weiguo frowned, and Fang Chenjin immediately checked the computer.

"Professor Jin, in reality, this is understandable. After all, the Bureau of Flora and Fauna Administration's work doesn't actually require highly confidential technology."

"Moreover, I've found the person who hacked in; he's right here in Yangxi Town. He's a student about to enter his final year of high school, Chen Xu."

"Fortunately, he hasn't leaked any information yet," Company Commander said with a smile.

"A high school student!" Everyone was a bit surprised, especially Fang Chenjin. If it were a hacker, that would be one thing, but a high school student had completely outmaneuvered him. Where would he put his face?

"Professors, don't be surprised yet. This Student Chen Xu, along with another student named Lin Fei, once bought an Octopus online about a week ago."

"According to our investigation, this is the only living Octopus in all of Yangxi Town."

"The most interesting thing is, according to the mobile phone positioning I accessed, Student Lin Fei was at the riverbank on the night of July 2nd. The location is exactly the same as the wolf disappearance point you found," Company Commander said meaningfully.

"What! Captain Tao, do you mean that this Giant Octopus is the one Lin Fei bought online? And, it even..." Professor Jin Weiguo asked seriously.

At this moment, a Soldier walked over, leaned down, and whispered something in Company Commander's ear.

"Professors, this is the Soldier I sent to Lin Fei's home earlier. He got Lin Fei's clothes from the night he went to the river. They hadn't been washed yet, so we took them to the nature reserve for testing. We collected hair samples from them, and they match your wolf," Company Commander said.

At this moment, Liu Ye, Fang Chenjin, Lin Meng, Huang Chaoyao, Professor Jin Weiguo, and the other professors' expressions changed drastically.

"Are you saying?" Professor Jin Weiguo's face showed great shock.

"That's right. In fact, your wolf ran out of the reserve itself and attacked Student Lin Fei by the riverbank that night."

"But coincidentally, that Octopus was nearby and saved Student Lin Fei," Company Commander said with a smile. This was why he still had confidence.

If the Octopus had truly recognized Lin Fei as its master, then there would be a way to lure it out.

"That's impossible! Octopuses are cold-blooded animals and don't possess such complex emotions. Even if it was indeed raised by Lin Fei, it would never act this way," several professors retorted, stating it was unscientific.

"In the past, I would have refuted that too, but now it's different. Various Mutated Creatures are emerging endlessly, and this Octopus can even shoot Laser Beams. It cannot be viewed with common sense."

"However, I hope this matter doesn't involve Student Lin Fei," Professor Jin Weiguo said, looking at Company Commander with a serious expression.

"In fact, I've already invited him and Student Chen Xu over," Company Commander said, his expression momentarily stiff, a bit awkwardly.

As he spoke, two seventeen or eighteen-year-old boys were brought over by several Soldiers, followed by their respective parents.

At this moment, the parents of the two boys were trembling slightly at the sight. There were too many military personnel and Armed Security Officers. This display made them afraid.

"It's over. Are we going to rot in jail?" Chen Xu whispered to Lin Fei, feeling guilty.

"The fact that they're looking for us like this means they haven't caught the Octopus yet," Lin Fei replied, not directly answering the question.

Professor Jin Weiguo glared at Company Commander, then stood up and proactively approached the parents of the two boys, smiling as he said, "Please don't worry. The reason we've asked for your sons is because they discovered a very rare protected animal, so we specifically sought them out to inquire about the details."

Company Commander also walked over, repeatedly apologizing, realizing his actions had been too direct.

"So that's it. Please feel free to ask. They'll definitely tell you everything they know," Lin De breathed a sigh of relief and quickly said.

"I always said my son, although a rascal, has never done anything illegal or criminal..." Chen Xu's father, Chen Dabiao, also quickly chimed in.

After Professor Jin Weiguo allayed the parents' concerns, he led the two boys back to the innermost dining table.

"Student Lin Fei, Student Chen Xu, I am Professor Jin Weiguo, working at the Bureau of Flora and Fauna Administration. This is Captain Company Commander, and these are..." Professor Jin Weiguo smiled as he introduced the surrounding people to the two boys, also calming their nerves.

"We know we were wrong. We will never abuse our hacking abilities again," Chen Xu said first, before anyone could ask.

"Students, while that is one of the reasons I sought you out, it is not the main reason." Company Commander and the others had smiling faces; their intentions were too obvious, even a Security Officer could see it.

Professor Jin Weiguo chuckled and said, "Student Lin Fei, I know this Octopus was purchased by you online, and it even saved you from a wolf. Can you tell me more about it in detail?"

Lin Fei's expression stiffened. He hadn't expected to be discovered, but he still stubbornly said, "I don't know anything about a wolf. I just bought an Octopus, and later my dad had the maid throw it into the river."