“Is there anything else that needs testing?” Lei Ting asked with gentle patience in the unfamiliar training grounds.
“No, that’s all, that’s all...” A group of people scrambled up from the floor, marveling as they felt their limbs. Just moments ago, they had been in agonizing pain, yet now there wasn't a single bruise or scar left. They couldn't help but sigh in admiration, “As expected of a ‘Double-S’...”
“Then is there anything else for today?” Lei Ting asked politely. “If not, I’ll go find a place to stay.”
“There is, of course there is.” The leader of the group smiled. She was a handsome female Alpha and the head of this special task force. According to her self-introduction, her primary name was He Yan; she was forty-two years old and an A-rank esper.
“Your timing is perfect. We’ve been monitoring a target for the past two days and have finished gathering evidence.” As He Yan spoke, she sent a file to Lei Ting’s terminal. “The man is one of the heads of the medical station system for Kang’s Pharmaceuticals. We originally planned to arrest him tonight, but he’s suddenly attending a business social involving some very important people.
“We were worried he might do something desperate if cornered, so we were going to postpone the plan. But since you’re here, we can proceed as scheduled.”
With that, she quickly scanned the mission document to ensure it hadn't been tampered with by any external forces before forwarding it to Lei Ting as well.
Lei Ting read through both files, processing the information related to the mission in his mind: a shadowy organization of unclear origins was lurking within the Federation, rounding up children with esper potential. The Federal Parliament believed they might be working for an enemy of the Galactic Complex. Most of the children who were abducted or ‘adopted’ met grim ends, while the small remainder became the organization’s new pawns...
Seeing this, Lei Ting suddenly remembered what Director Lei had said back then:
*“...Send some supplements over. The kind your older brothers and sisters drink...”*
Indeed, there were many other children who had been victimized just like him. And some of them had already turned into new villains themselves.
If those so-called ‘supplements’ really existed, they likely weren't anything normal...
“Is there anything I need to prepare before we set out?” Lei Ting asked.
“Good question. Follow me.” He Yan led him to a locker room at the edge of the training grounds and gestured inside. “A full set of standard-issue gear is in there. Have you learned how to put it on?”
“I have.” Lei Ting nodded and walked inside. “Thank you.”
“Why are you so damn polite...” He Yan muttered. She watched him disappear behind the curtain, her gaze meeting those of several team members nearby.
Then, she opened the communication list on her external optical link and sent a message to an ID named ‘Onjah’: [He is very normal.]
[Describe in detail,] the other party replied.
[Aside from his powerful control and confidence during combat, he behaves like an ordinary Beta with some talent. He is polite, gentle, and follows the rules—perfectly matching the public standard for a ‘normal person,’] He Yan said.
Deep within a private manor, Onjah sat alone in a small, warm lounge. He looked at the text and smiled with interest.
[For this mission, have him kill someone,] he said.
[Understood,] He Yan agreed without hesitation. Then she asked: [If he loses control...]
[He won't,] Onjah replied.
He didn't quite believe a ‘Double-S’ could truly be mentally stable... but if this Double-S were prone to losing control, the Headmaster would never have allowed him to come to the Third Planet, nor would she have let him continue his studies.
After all, she didn't hate the Parliament enough to want everyone to die.
Onjah disconnected the communication, settled into his chair, and continued watching the surveillance feed before him.
On the screen, a handsome blonde man accompanied by a graceful blonde youth walked into an integrated entertainment complex, surrounded by a crowd.
“Essengar Kang, Lucas Kang...” He whispered the two names, his gaze scanning the crowd before finally landing on two visitors from ‘Far-Light Fine Materials’ at the rear edge.
Or rather, he ignored the Vice General Manager entirely; his eyes were pinned solely on the black-haired man.
“Enan Valen...” He smiled. “If it’s really you, then over these years... you’ve been through a lot, old friend.”
“...Yvanheiler?” Upstairs, Essengar suddenly heard the name and was momentarily stunned. “Hmm?”
“It’s like this—the kids in my family are all fans of ‘Starstream.’ They asked me to ask you when the authentic weapon replica merchandise will be re-released,” the person who asked the question said.
The surrounding crowd began to joke about the man’s devotion to his children.
Regarding this topic, no one worried whether the president of the ‘Corn Factory’—ahem, Kang’s Pharmaceuticals—would have a negative reaction.
It was common knowledge that although Essengar Kang didn't have a great relationship with ‘Starstream’ in their youth, his precious son Lucas was a die-hard fan. Back when Lucas was in school on the Third Planet, he had even gotten into fights because someone spoke ill of the uncle he had never met. Later, he followed in the man’s footsteps and entered the First Military Academy... Though he missed out on piloting esper mechs due to his physical constitution, he was now a formal cadet in military command.
Furthermore, the image rights for Yvanheiler brought the Kang family a massive income every year. After all, among the powerful, he was exceptionally good-looking; among the beautiful, he was an exceptionally fierce fighter; and his abilities were unforgettable. He had vanished at the height of his fame, his legend cut short, leaving countless people with a lifelong sense of unresolved regret...
Valen walked solemnly behind the Vice General Manager, who only reached his shoulder. He listened to the flawless social platitudes around him, wearing a flawless expression of his own.
A strange sensation told him he was being watched. He didn't react, simply playing the role of ‘Enan Valen’ without looking aside as they entered the building, which had been temporarily closed to the public.
The building’s doors closed. In an alley across the street, a group of people moved silently. Many members split off along the way, vanishing into the shadows of the lights.
“Their job is to guard the target’s potential escape routes.” He Yan, carrying an unknown heavy weapon shaped like a coffin, gestured to those who had dispersed. She then pointed to the few people following her. “Our task is to capture the target and eliminate the enemies.”
“As for you...” She looked at Lei Ting, who had changed into combat gear with a long-sleeved civilian jacket over it. “You’re coming in with us. You’ll be responsible for protecting the civilians while we capture the target.”
Those weren't exactly ‘civilians’... at least, most of them weren't.
Lei Ting blinked, remembering the glimpses of Lucas and Valen he’d caught earlier, and gave a calm affirmative.
“By the way, Vice Speaker Upton Onjah sends his regards. He thinks highly of you.” He Yan suddenly smiled. “Also, regarding your act of bravery when you first arrived here, the higher-ups will be giving you a new reward.”
“Thank you very much,” Lei Ting said. He wasn't about to turn down anything he had earned.
“Then let’s split up here. The department’s AI will help you bypass their surveillance. You just need to make sure you don't alert the staff.” He Yan paused, then added, “...And those business types. Their perception enhancement modules are annoying. We can’t just jam them at will, or we might get sued.”
“I understand. Thank you for the warning,” Lei Ting said. He observed the scene through his military-grade enhancement filters and quickly found a suitable infiltration route.
Before he entered the maintenance passage at the side of the building, a sudden, sharp gust of wind made He Yan jerk aside to dodge a potential attack.
But it was only a gust of wind.
She and her team members turned back in shock, only to find the alley empty. The young man who had been standing there just a second ago had vanished.
They activated their optical visors and instinctively looked around but couldn't find him. When He Yan looked up, she saw a dark shadow faintly flicker past the edge of the building around the fortieth or fiftieth floor. After that, there was nothing.
“...” She clicked her tongue. “...Impressive.”
...
Lei Ting landed on the edge of the building’s aerial parking lot on the fiftieth floor, moving silently through the dark corners toward a nearby garden-style lounge.
This wasn't the roof; the actual roof was on the eighty-eighth floor. Honestly, that number felt remarkably familiar—it practically screamed ‘good fortune and prosperity.’
The garden was empty; the building was closed to the public today. Security personnel and drones patrolled rigorously, but few had their perception enhancement modules active. In a place like this, if they accidentally overheard something they shouldn't—even a few words—it would be enough to land them in serious trouble.
Lei Ting didn't make things difficult for the hardworking security guards. Relying on the police AI to bypass them, he released his psychic power, performing a subtle and swift scan of the area.
As expected, there were esper security consultants inside the building. The attendees of the small banquet were heading to the eightieth floor. If he wanted to follow, he would inevitably run into them.
Lei Ting silently opened his communication interface and pulled up Lucas’s contact. But after a few breaths, he stopped typing. It was hard to find a normal reason to ask Lucas to help divert the security personnel.
After a moment of deliberation, Lei Ting glanced at Valen’s contact. He dismissed the idea in less than half a second and silently closed the communication system.
*Forget it, I’ll just go knock out a few espers...*
It wasn't much trouble anyway. For them, it would just be like taking a nap. It didn't matter.
