บท 7: Observer
บรรณาธิการ: Nyoi-Bo Studio
There was an intense action film playing on the giant ring-shaped holographic screen.
The images on the screen were constantly changing. The battle scenes were exceptionally intense.
Zhou Lang lay back in his chair and propped his feet up on the luxurious wooden office desk as he lazily watched the movie.
There were two smaller lit-up screens in his left hand that allowed him to clearly see the two people standing outside the door.
Zhou Lang didn't sense that something was off. However, he had a sense of foreboding.
He was a naturally sensitive man. He could always sense danger before it happened.
Zhou Lang had only managed to become the person in charge of the Beiyang State because of this talent.
The Beiyang State had a lot of land and very few people. It was also cold all year round. Despite that, it was still a large state with a generous variety of materials and resources.
As the Blood Deity Association's person-in-charge of the area, Zhou Lang lived a comfortable life.
The Beikun Base was a project that had been delegated to him by his higher-ups. The project had originally been started with the intention of experimenting with Spirit Beings' Genes.
However, as the years went by, they lost all contact with the person responsible for the project.
But a large number of funds and resources had already been injected into the Beikun Base by that point, so Zhou Lang, who was afraid that his superiors would audit their results, had no choice but to keep the base in operation.
They'd only managed to nurture a few dozen young assassins in ten years.
In all honesty, Zhou Lang felt that they'd taken a huge loss.
The association had invested a few million dollars into Beikun Base. That amount of money could've been used to employ a small fleet of warships.
The young assassins still had a lot more room to grow. However, it'd take too long for them to develop, and it was hard to guarantee any profit.
However, they'd already trained the assassins. They couldn't let them go to waste.
As the person-in-charge, Zhou Lang had to find a way to squeeze every ounce of value out of the young assassins.
Because he just wasn't interested in getting to know anyone at the base, he let Xu Hui handle everything.
It was strange that the captain of the guards, Vulture, would bring along someone and come looking for him.
Xu Hui was in charge of Vulture. Why would Vulture skip the chain of command and come looking for him?
Zhou Lang didn't mind meeting Vulture. However, he felt uneasy and uncomfortable.
He deliberated for a moment but didn't reply to Vulture. Instead, he contacted Xu Hui.
Zhou Lang was surprised when there wasn't an answer from Xu Hui's end. He turned on the screen of the optical computer and used his credentials to search for Xu Hui. However, he couldn't find Xu Hui's location.
Zhou Lang now felt even worse. What was going on?
He stroked the black ring on his left ring finger. What kind of danger could there be in a completely sealed base?
Zhou Lang looked at Gao Xuan through the screen and started deliberating.
He did remember this student. That was because he was just too handsome. It was impossible for anyone to forget a face like that.
Gao Xuan was extremely handsome. He was a born ladykiller.
However, the kid was wearing a pair of sunglasses, and his eyes were shut. What was going on?
Zhou Lang had committed many atrocities and was exceptionally cautious. He'd also had a sense of foreboding just now. Now that he saw that something really was off, he immediately became even more cautious.
Through the alloyed metal door, Gao Xuan, whose eyes were closed, could sense the minute changes in Zhou Lang's mental state.
The Six-Winged Heavenly Cicada was the best in terms of spiritual quality.
With his eyes closed, Gao Xuan's Six-Winged Heavenly Cicada became even more sensitive.
Zhou Lang had already sat up straight in his chair. The Source Power in his body circulated rapidly as his expression became more doubtful.
His entire being had entered a high state of alertness.
Zhou Lang lived up to his reputation as the person-in-charge of the Beiyang Stage. He was being extremely cautious.
Gao Xuan was very familiar with Zhou Lang. He had worked for Zhou Lang for a few years in his previous life.
It was only because Zhou Lang had forced him to sell his body that he'd valiantly fought back. It was during that battle that Yun Qingshang died in order to save him.
On the timeline, this event happened seventy to eighty years ago.
Gao Xuan still felt as if it were a dream every time he thought about it.
However, now that he'd been reborn, he was going to seize his own destiny. He wasn't going to let the tragedy that had happened in his previous life happen again.
Since Zhou Lang had grown suspicious, so there was no way they could easily sneak into his office anymore. Gao Xuan knew that he could no longer remain silent. He lifted his head slightly and said, "9673, open the door. I have something urgent to speak to you about."
Zhou Lang was shocked. "Who are you?"
9673 was his secret codename in the Blood Deity Association. Only his direct superiors knew this codename.
Not even Xu Hui knew about it. Gao Xuan was merely a trainee. How did Gao Xuan know his secret codename?
"Don't be nervous. I'm an observer of the Spirit Beings' Genetic Plan and Dr. Xu Yan's direct subordinate. My serial number in the organization is 9031."
Gao Xuan calmly reported his serial number and occupation in the Blood Deity Association.
Dr. Xu Yan was the host behind the Spirit Beings' Genetic Plan. It was because something bad had happened to Xu Yan that the plan had been discontinued halfway through.
This was all confidential information. Zhou Lang was the only one at the base who knew about it.
Gao Xuan had been reborn, so he naturally knew everything there was to know about the base. He scared Zhou Lang into a daze.
Anyway, the Beikun Underground Base was sealed from the outside world, so Zhou Lang didn't have direct contact with anyone from the outside.
Zhou Lang had no way of ascertaining Gao Xuan's identity, even if he was suspicious.
There was a strict hierarchy within the Blood Deity Association. The serial number Gao Xuan had reported was numerically before Zhou Lang's.
So, under normal circumstances, Zhou Lang had to follow Gao Xuan's orders.
Of course, Zhou Lang was the boss in this sealed underground base, and because he was crafty and paranoid, there was a possibility that he wouldn't follow orders.
Zhou Lang deliberated for a little longer but ultimately didn't dare to act recklessly. He well knew how terrifying the organization was. He had to decide what to do only after he was clear about what was going on.
With a beep, the alloyed door slid apart on both sides. The armed robots guarding the door also took two steps back and created a path.
Yun Qingshang followed Gao Xuan into the office and heard the alloyed door slowly close behind her. She internally heaved a sigh of relief. They were finally in.
To think that Gao Xuan knew their secret language. Who knew where he had gotten that information from.
Yun Qingshang was extremely confused. Gao Xuan, as he was today, was extremely mysterious and deep. She couldn't understand him at all.
However, no matter how much Gao Xuan changed or how many secrets he had, all she had to do was follow him. Everything else didn't matter.
Yun Qingshang was forward-thinking and decisive. Her personality made it so. It was only because of this that she'd emerged victorious amongst the many assassin trainees and taken the top spot.
Yun Qingshang didn't think too much about Gao Xuan's transformation. Instead, she focused all her attention on Zhou Lang.
Zhou Lang's office was huge, over 300 square meters large. All of the furniture in the room was made of real wood. There was also a pure white sheepskin rug and a few modern art pieces on display. The office was extremely luxurious.
Zhou Lang, who was sitting behind the office table, looked to be about forty years old. His hair was combed back, and his mustache was neatly trimmed. His clothes were also ironed and fit him well.
His eyes were as sharp as a hawk's and were incredibly intimidating.
Yun Qingshang instinctively lowered her head and averted Zhou Lang's gaze when their eyes met.
Zhou Lang didn't pay Yun Qingshang any mind.
Vulture was a fighter, not a manager, so he was unimportant to him.
Gao Xuan was more important. When did this eighteen-year-old trainee assassin become an observer for the organization? And his serial number was ranked before his? It was unbelievable!
"Wow, your office is so luxurious… Tsk tsk…"
Gao Xuan was very relaxed now that he had managed to enter the office, so he started to talk.
"D*mn it. I've trained bitterly every day and almost died a few times, yet you're enjoying life in this office. How unfair."
Gao Xuan wasn't in a hurry to do anything yet. He headed over to the display case with interest and nonchalantly played around with a few of the items inside it.
Zhou Lang became even more confused when he saw how confident and calm Gao Xuan was. Had his superiors really sent over this lad to observe him?
Gao Xuan didn't look at Zhou Lang. Instead, he picked up a pair of black matte daggers from the weapons stand. The blades were thirty inches long and double-edged and had a nice heft to them.
"Made by Xuanwu using titanium. This is good stuff!"
Xuanwu was a massive arms company that had dealings across many galaxies. They were especially adept at creating high-end weapons and equipment.
This pair of titanium-alloy daggers was worth at least seventy to eighty thousand Credit Points.
Gao Xuan pulled out the pair of daggers and twirled them around in the air, then cleanly slotted them back into their scabbards.
He picked up the daggers and snapped them onto the back of his belt. Then, he politely told Zhou Lang, "Sir Zhou, you sure are generous, giving me such a valuable present. We only just met. I feel a little embarrassed."
Zhou Lang's face was expressionless. He didn't see any hint of embarrassment on Gao Xuan's face, and he didn't look like he planned on giving the daggers back.
This pair of Black Crow Daggers was the most valuable item in the collection. They were highly useful in battle.
Gao Xuan had incredible foresight for a mere trainee and had dared to so insolently claim the item for himself. Zhou Lang became even more sure that Gao Xuan was actually an observer.
Gao Xuan nonchalantly walked to the front of Zhou Lang's desk. "Sir Zhou, give me all of the records of the Spirit Beings' Genetic Plan so that I can answer to the professor…"
Zhou Lang's gaze was ice-cold as he watched Gao Xuan approach him. Gao Xuan had stepped into his safety zone. He couldn't hold himself back any longer.
Just as Zhou Lang was about to take action, Gao Xuan suddenly stopped in his tracks. He smiled and said, "Sir Zhou, you look a little nervous. Relax. I'm only a Level Three warrior. Do you really think I can ambush you? Hahaha…"
Zhou Lang didn't laugh. However, he felt that Gao Xuan was right. The Source Power in Gao Xuan's body was only at Level Three. He couldn't fake that.
At just Source Power Level Three, there was no way that Gao Xuan could try any tricks in front of him.
Zhou Lang was about to say something when a blood-colored ray of light that had unparalleled sharpness stabbed through the air and pierced straight toward the middle of his forehead.
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