Chapter 481

Chapter 481: Who is the Devil?

“Is this Mr. Speaker’s intention?”

The “Shadow Master” stood in a large comprehensive laboratory, where researchers hurried back and forth around him, most too busy with their tasks to pay attention to the "far-off" guest.

Only Ji Yongxing, who had received prior notice, waited there. When the “Shadow Master” delivered the wriggling round package to him, Ji Yongxing finally understood what it meant to have “captured a Fifth Level Extraordinary Beast alive.”

“Yes, this extraordinary beast has a high level of intelligence and can even… curse, so be careful during the interrogation and don’t let it provoke you.”

Ji Yongxing nodded as he received the package, weighing it slightly in his hands, feeling its weight far heavier than a human head, and handed it to his assistant.

The disheveled, dazed researcher’s expression turned fierce the moment he took the head, as if the object were a battery, instantly revitalizing him with new life force.

“The professionals from the Ministry of Internal Affairs will arrive soon; you can interrogate together. They will mainly be in charge of the interrogation while you’re the experts in asking questions.”

“Then let’s hope they come soon.”

The assistant casually slung the bag containing the head over his shoulder:

“I’ll do my best to keep it alive until then.”

After saying this, the assistant made a gesture to Ji Yongxing and took the head toward a separate laboratory.

“This…”

The “Shadow Master” was startled by the fierce demeanor of the researcher; in his impression, the majority of researchers were calm and reserved like the director Ji before him, and it was rare to see someone so intense.

“Uh…”

Ji Yongxing explained with a heavy tone:

“Zou Cong is recognized as a radical. After his parents died in the beast tide, he became even more so… We’ve all gotten used to it.”

The “Shadow Master” suddenly understood but feared the other’s reckless actions:

“Let’s keep an eye on him; the sample is very precious.”

“It’s fine. Although he’s a bit crazy, he is actually very focused on the bigger picture, and [Skydome] will assist him.”

“Be careful of that extraordinary beast; it might suddenly break free from captivity.”

The “Shadow Master” considered another possibility.

“That is even less of a concern.”

Ji Yongxing extended his right hand forward, an invisible vortex slowly spinning within.

“If there is truly a problem, I can delay until support arrives at the research institute.”

—

At the research institute, in a laboratory where no extraordinary beast could be found.

“Ah ah ah ah ah!

“You will not get anything out of me!”

The Fifth Level Extraordinary Beast let out a screeching electronic roar from its grayish-white head, which was still piercingly sharp even after passing through several layers of material.

After the roar ended, the head in the container opened its eyes and looked at the human several meters away.

No, could it truly still be called a human?

The extraordinary beast felt perplexed.

The other’s sinister expression, pale face, and occasional eerie cackles sent shivers down the spine of the Fifth Level Extraordinary Beast.

At this moment, the figure leaned forward, hands pressed against the glass wall, watching it struggle helplessly, devoid of any trace of compassion in their gaze.

Meanwhile, the two middle-aged men clad in Internal Affairs Clean-up Team uniforms silently shifted a round stool to the corner of the room.

Their bodies instinctively leaned against each other, resembling two penguins huddling in the cold, their faces twisted with fear and dread, as if the room had been plunged into an icy chill.

The extraordinary beast, now reduced to just a head, was hooked up to a basic nutrient supply to stave off death.

This, of course, would grant it a chance at revival, as the external nutrients could restore it to its former glory.

Zou Cong, the researcher and interrogator, had foreseen this. To prevent the interrogation from spiraling out of control and risking the Fifth Level Extraordinary Beast unleashing chaos in the heart of Hope City, he had specifically confined it within a sturdy container crafted from new materials.

Yet, such a container could hardly contain the resurgence of the extraordinary beast. The power of a Fifth Level entity was not something a mere vessel could restrain—it was akin to a gas tank ablaze, destined to explode into a spectacular display at the most inopportune moment.

It was here that Zou Cong demonstrated his exceptional intellect, making the extraordinary beast realize why he was regarded as one of the most unconventional minds in the research institutes.

If the container was prone to bursting under pressure, the solution was simple: install a release valve.

And Zou Cong did just that. He designed the release valve to be narrow and twisted. As the extraordinary beast’s body began to regenerate uncontrollably, the newly formed tissues were forced to squeeze through the narrow opening, resulting in excruciating pain.

It was a self-inflicted torment—pressure, crushing, breaking…

When the relentless squeezing finally ceased, the surviving tissue reached the end of the pipe, only to be met with the whirring of a rotating blade and the ominous hum of a small incinerator.

This agony had persisted for an hour, and the extraordinary beast’s heightened intelligence granted it the capacity to teeter on the edge of collapse.

The current “commander” had been pushed to the brink of madness.

The two professionals observing from the corner dared not utter a word.

Though both had over a decade of experience, their expertise lay in dealing with humans. They had never imagined that facing such a formidable extraordinary beast could involve such elaborate tactics…

Why had they even been summoned? Was it to learn advanced Iteration techniques?

As they trembled, they genuinely began to consider whether some of these methods could be applied to the most heinous of criminals.

Meanwhile, at the glass wall, Zou Cong stood unwavering, his gaze locked with the extraordinary beast’s.

“It says it won’t tell you anything,”

[Skydome] offered a gentle reminder.

“Would you like to try a different approach?”

Zou Cong shook his head and lightly murmured,

“Increase the current.”

“Ahhhhhhh!”

The extraordinary beast’s roar erupted once more, and Zou Cong rubbed his ears. [Skydome]’s voice returned:

“The internal and external volume has been rebalanced to prevent hearing damage.”

“Thank you.”

“No need, it’s just…”

The inexperienced artificial intelligence sounded puzzled:

“You’ve been torturing it for so long. Why not ask? At this rate, it’ll be nearly cooked.”

“Ask what?”

“Questions, of course. Ask for the intelligence it possesses.”

“Why ask?”

Zou Cong replied with genuine curiosity.

This left [Skydome] momentarily flustered.

After a brief silence, Zou Cong severed communication with the extraordinary beast and turned, as if explaining to [Skydome], or perhaps to the two professionals in the corner:

“Extraordinary beasts are incredibly cunning. Our questions could inadvertently reveal our intentions, giving it room to manipulate us. We must wait for it to speak on its own—only then can we uncover the truth.”

“But it hasn’t spoken yet. Doesn’t that mean the plan is failing?”

[Skydome] sounded anxious, but Zou Cong calmly shook his head:

“That only means the current isn’t strong enough.”