Chen Gu's heart skipped a beat; it looked serious. He couldn't help but look towards Marcus, the team leader, who gave him an encouraging smile. "Don't worry, it'll be fine. Remember, no matter what happens, Team Five will always be your strong support!"
Chen Gu nodded at him, took a deep breath, straightened his posture, and walked away with the experts.
The experts quickly brought him to a sturdy safehouse. One of them sighed in relief, "The operation outside must have started."
Chen Gu was puzzled. "What's going on?"
A younger expert explained, "According to our examination data, Marcus's mental state is extremely unstable, with a probability of mutation and corruption exceeding 87%!"
Chen Gu froze. He thought the experts' grave concern was because of him, but it turned out to be about the team leader! And they had specifically called him away to deal with the team leader separately.
But the team leader had always seemed perfectly normal. He was a good leader and a good father. When did his mental state become so dangerous? A mutation probability as high as 87%?!
He asked anxiously, "What are you going to do? What operation? The team leader won't—"
The experts raised their hands to stop him. "We understand how you feel right now." The young expert sighed. "Please don't think we're just trying to comfort you—we truly understand. Situations occur almost every few months."
"Marcus is a veteran special agent. He has been through countless missions and encountered numerous Mutants. Even the smallest accumulations over time have made his situation very dangerous by now..."
Chen Gu fell silent. Tʜe sourcᴇ of thɪs content ɪs NoveI[F]ire.net
He remembered how before every operation, Marcus would emphasize safety to everyone. He had also specifically told Chen Gu that the work of a special agent was filled with all kinds of dangers. At the Moonship Hotel, he learned that temptation and corruption were real. Now, he finally understood that the dangers of being a special agent were truly everywhere!
At that moment, a message came through the experts' communication channel. The young expert, relieved, said to Chen Gu, "The operation is over. Marcus has proven himself a veteran special agent. He held on and didn't mutate on the spot."
Chen Gu let out a long sigh of relief. "Can I see him?"
The expert shook his head. "Unfortunately, you can't. You must understand that he still poses a high risk of mutation and corruption. Coming into contact with him also carries the risk of temptation and corruption."
However, the internal affairs experts were considerate. "We can send you a segment of surveillance video later, once it's been confirmed safe. You can see Marcus in that video."
"Thank you," Chen Gu sighed softly.
The young expert smiled. "The good news is, your mental state is fine. If you're still uneasy, you can use the Limit Law to confirm it yourself."
"Okay," Chen Gu replied, his spirits low. He bid farewell to the experts and left.
He had just returned to Team Five's office when Mei Lixue arrived. The director's expression was very solemn. Chen Gu knew she was secretly worried about Marcus.
"Marcus... has some personal matters to attend to, which might take a very long time. During this period, Melincha will act as the team leader of Team Five."
Melincha suddenly stood up. "The team leader, he..." Her lips trembled slightly, unable to say the words.
Mei Lixue's gaze swept over everyone. "The situation isn't too dire. We will do our utmost to save him. Everyone, please carry on with your work calmly."
She shook her head and left. The fact that Marcus hadn't returned after going with Chen Gu for the mental examination carried a clear meaning, one that every special agent understood well.
The office was suddenly enveloped in a somber silence.
On his way home, Chen Gu received a video from the experts.
Because the risk of Marcus mutating and succumbing to corruption was very high, he might unconsciously release certain "temptations" into his surroundings.
Therefore, Chen Gu couldn't meet or talk with him in person. Even this surveillance video had to be confirmed as safe multiple times, due to the fear that Marcus might embed "information" from the Endless Realm into his actions.
Marcus was confined within an empty cell, devoid of any tables or chairs. He simply sat in silence in the center of the room, motionless throughout the entire video.
Chen Gu watched with an indescribable discomfort in his heart and quickly turned off the video.
A sudden realization struck Chen Gu: Perhaps one day, I will also end up in that room.
He changed his mind. Instead of going home, he called Selena, the 'witchy girl.' "Where are we going tonight?"
Selena was surprised when she received the call. She had hinted to Chen Gu several times, "Sis can take you out for a wild time." Chen Gu had always remained unmoved.
Selena felt deflated. She wanted to treat Chen Gu as a "wallet," but the 'wallet' wasn't playing along.
Selena quickly named a club, and Chen Gu changed his destination. Twenty minutes later, his maglev car passed the traffic system's security check and entered a floating island.
In this era, any floating island above a city was synonymous with high consumption.
The nightclub was named "Snip." Chen Gu didn't understand the significance of the name at all. The 'witchy girl,' decked out in what was supposedly the latest fashion—a style Chen Gu couldn't appreciate in the slightest—was waiting for him at the entrance.
She led Chen Gu inside. Contrary to his expectation of frenzied music and a wild crowd, the music in the club had an eerie and mysterious style: a mix of bizarre electronic sounds interspersed with the roars of unknown giant beasts.
The people inside were immersed in it, swaying along, their bodies as pliable as noodles.
Chen Gu was here to test the Limit Law, so without hesitation, he splurged on twelve Myriad Starshields for the most expensive drink package in the entire venue.
The DJ announced it to the whole club with an exaggerated voice. Then, a team of fiery ladies and handsome, muscular young men, holding all the drinks, circled the venue under dazzling lights to deliver them to Chen Gu.
Almost everyone looked at Chen Gu with eyes full of envy and jealousy. For an ordinary person, the feeling of showing off would have peaked at this moment.
But Chen Gu's heart was as still as water.
Afterward, various women approached him, while the 'witchy girl' was chatting with a few good-looking young men, exhibiting an air of cool detachment.
Suddenly, she approached Chen Gu and said considerately, "Pick a few. Don't worry, I won't tell Qing Ruyan and Dora."
Chen Gu smiled bitterly internally. Looking at those women, he still found them unappealing.
He needed to complete this Limit Law trial, so he shifted his gaze elsewhere. The 'witchy girl' chuckled. "So you like a challenge."
Chen Gu noticed a few girls sitting in a dimly lit corner. They were oblivious to everything around them, having rejected several groups of people who had approached to start a conversation.
Chen Gu walked over. Selena pursed her lips, a look of understanding dawning on her. "The Limit Law? This guy is pretty cautious."
Forget him, this little queen will enjoy herself on her own.