Chapter 1004

Fragments, a little boy?

Translation: "Fragments, a little boy?" (Keep punctuation? We'll keep as is.)

Upon hearing that, Lin An's eyes narrowed, and instantly he formed an image in his mind that gradually overlapped with the boy the red‑clothed mutant had spoken of.

Translation: "After hearing that, Lin An's eyes sharpened; in an instant he formed an image in his mind, which gradually overlapped with the boy mentioned by the red‑clothed mutant."

His eyes sharpened, and in an instant he formed an image in his mind that gradually overlapped with the boy the red‑clothed mutant had spoken of.

We'll keep natural.

Could it be the same person?

Translation: "Could it be... the same 'person'?"

His mind was unsettled.

Translation: "His mind stirred."

As Lin An fell into solemn thought, the formerly lively atmosphere suddenly stiffened.

Translation: "As Lin An began to think solemnly, the previously lively atmosphere suddenly froze."

It was as if the air had come to a standstill.

Translation: "It was as if the air had been stilled."

Given the huge gap in their life levels, the aura he unintentionally released was no less than that of a top predator to ordinary people.

Translation: "Given the vast gap in life level, the aura he unintentionally released was no less than that of a top predator to ordinary people."

No one dared to speak, and even the hand holding the meat trembled and froze mid‑air.

Translation: "No one dared to speak, and even the hand holding the piece of meat trembled, frozen in mid‑air."

And the eldest director nearest to Lin An, Zeng Hongtian, dared not even breathe, afraid he might have misspoken.

Translation: "The nearest to Lin An, the former bureau chief Zeng Hongtian, dared not even breathe, fearing he might have said something wrong."

Lin An only frowned slightly, yet he felt as if his heart were being clenched.

Translation: "Lin An merely frowned slightly, yet he felt as if his heart were being clenched."

The pressure Lin An exerted on them was simply overwhelming.

Translation: "The sense of oppression Lin An gave them... was truly too strong."

"Lord Lin An, is something wrong?"

Translation: "\"Lin... Lord Lin An, is... is there something wrong? \""

Stammering, Zeng Hongtian had to steel himself and ask carefully.

Translation: "Stammering, Zeng Hongtian had no choice but to steel himself and ask carefully."

He, who had once boasted of meeting many great leaders, felt no pressure before any big shot, but now he truly understood what it meant to be a top‑tier powerhouse.

Translation: "He who had once boasted of seeing many big leaders, feeling no pressure before any great figure, now truly understood what it meant to be a top‑tier powerhouse."

No wonder the channel claims that awakened ones and ordinary people are no longer the same species.

Translation: "No wonder the channel says Awakened Ones and ordinary people are no longer the same species..."

Even a slight shift in General Lin An's emotions made them feel pressed to the ground, making breathing a struggle.

Translation: "General Lin An merely had a slight emotional fluctuation, and they felt as if pressed to the ground, even breathing becoming difficult."

"Nothing, I just thought of something."

Translation: "\"Nothing, just thought of some things. \""

Seeing the crowd as silent as cicadas, Lin An finally realized how much pressure his unintentional emotional shift had imposed on these ordinary people.

Translation: "Noticing the silent crowd, Lin An finally realized how much pressure his unintentional emotional fluctuation had imposed on these ordinary people."

After calmly retracting his aura, Lin An put on a gentle smile to indicate everyone need not be nervous.

Translation: "He calmed down, retracted his aura completely, and Lin An then put on a gentle smile, signalling everyone to relax."

"Do you have any photos or videos of that boy from back then?"

Translation: "\"Do you have any photos or recordings of that boy from back then? \""

"Is that child dead or alive? Do you remember what he looked like?"

Translation: "\"Is that child dead or alive? Do you remember what he looked like? \""

The most pressing question.

Translation: "The most pressing question."

While at the Long'an Base, he had Red Clothes draw him an image of that third‑stage mutant.

Translation: "When at Long'an Base, he had Red‑Clothed draw a picture of that third‑rank mutant for him."

The depicted appearance was very clear, after all it was a third‑stage mutant in the form of a little boy, and it left Xuan Ziyi with an indelible memory.

Translation: "The likeness was clear, after all it was a third‑rank mutant with the same little‑boy appearance, and it left Xuan Ziyi an unforgettable memory."

Although the odds of them being the same person are slim—one was in the Dongshan war zone, the other in Linjiang, and the distance between them was enormous.

Translation: "Although the chance they are the same person is small—one was in the East Shan War Zone, the other in Facing the River, the distance between them extremely great."

But for some reason, Lin An always felt there was an inexplicable affinity between them.

Translation: "But for some reason, Lin An always felt there was a mysterious affinity between the two."

Especially... the fragments!

Translation: "Especially... the fragments!"

The fragments buried in Red Clothes' mind can trigger his own aberrant state, and the dream meme is also related to the fragments.

Translation: "The fragments buried in the red‑clothed one's mind can trigger his own aberrant state, and the dream meme is also related to the fragments."

No matter how you look at it, the two share a great similarity.

Translation: "However you look at it, the two share a great similarity."

This concerns the deepest secret of his past life—how could he not take it seriously?

Translation: "Since it concerns the deepest secret of his past life, how could he not take it seriously?"

When he retracted his aura, the whole atmosphere relaxed; as Lin An's face broke into a smile, Zeng Hongtian felt the tension in his chest suddenly ease.

Translation: "When he restrained his aura, the whole atmosphere relaxed; as Lin An's face showed a smile, Zeng Hongtian felt the breath he'd been holding suddenly release."

His brows remained furrowed, and after a moment he answered softly:

Translation: "His brows knit tightly; after a while he answered softly:"

"General Lin An, if you need that information, perhaps it's available in Space City."

Translation: "\"General Lin An, if you need this kind of data... perhaps it's available in Space City. \""

"At the time, the meteorite passed over our launch base; the nearby military district intercepted it directly to avoid loss, and the fragments produced by the explosion mostly melted in the air, with only the remainder falling inside Space City."

Translation: "\"At the time the meteorite passed over our launch base; the nearby Military Region intercepted it to avoid loss, and the fragments produced by the explosion mostly melted in mid‑air, with only the remainder falling inside Space City. \""

"I was on site giving the visiting children an astronomy lesson when that fragment happened to break through the glass and strike that child by sheer coincidence."

Translation: "\"I was on site giving astronomical knowledge to the sightseeing children; that fragment happened to break the glass and struck that boy by sheer coincidence. \""

Zeng Hongtian's face showed regret; speaking of this, even he felt it was too much of a coincidence.

Translation: "Zeng Hongtian's face showed regret; speaking of this, even he felt it was too much of a coincidence."

"The fragment wasn't large; that child probably didn't die, just suffered massive chest bleeding and was rushed to the hospital."

Translation: "\"The fragment wasn't large; the boy should not have died then, only suffered major bleeding in the chest and was rushed to hospital. \""

"As for his appearance..."

Translation: "\"As for his appearance.. \""

While speaking, he glanced at Lin An somewhat embarrassedly:

Translation: "As he spoke, he glanced at Lin An somewhat embarrassedly:"

"General Lin, I have face blindness—I can't remember faces, and... the people present at the time seemed..."

Translation: "\"General Lin, I have aphantasia... I can't recall faces, and... the people present at the time seemed... \""

Looking around, Zeng Hongtian's expression darkened, he sighed and continued:

Translation: "Looking around, Zeng Hongtian's expression darkened, he sighed and continued:"

"Everyone present at the time died; I'm the only one left."

Translation: "\"Everyone present at the time died; only I remained.. \""

"So, if you want that image data, you'll probably have to go to Space City to look for it. I really can't describe what that child looked like."

Translation: "\"So, if you want those images, you'll probably have to go to Space City to look for them. I really can't describe what that child looked like. \""

"Of course."

Translation: "\"Of course. \""

Zeng Hongtian added one more thing:

Translation: "Zeng Hongtian added one last thing:"

"If the military hasn't deleted it, there's definitely footage in the Space Exhibition Hall!"

Translation: "\"If the military hasn't deleted it, the recordings in the Space Exhibition Hall definitely still exist! \""

After patiently listening, Lin An couldn't help but frown. Meanwhile, Xiong Hanzi, who was eating hot pot, curiously interjected:

Translation: "After listening patiently, Lin An couldn't help but frown. Meanwhile, Xiong Hanzi, who was eating hot pot, curiously chimed in:"

"Face blindness? What's face blindness?"

Translation: "\"Aphantasia? What's that? \""

Hearing Xiong Hanzi's question, Lin An sighed inwardly and explained offhand:

Translation: "Hearing Xiong Hanzi's question, Lin An silently sighed and gave a casual explanation:"

"Face blindness means one cannot visualize any image in the mind, nor imagine anyone's face; it's akin to being blind in imagination."

Translation: "\"Aphantasia means being unable to visualize any image in the mind, or imagine anyone's face—equivalent to being blind in imagination. \""

No sooner had the words fallen than Zhang Tie, looking at him like a rare animal, edged up beside the embarrassed Zeng Hongtian, looking him up and down.

Translation: "No sooner had the words fallen than Zhang Tie, eyeing him like a rare creature, sidled up to the embarrassed Zeng Hongtian, looking him up and down."

"Good grief, there are actually people like this?"

Translation: "\"Good grief, there are actually people like this? \""

"You, surnamed Zeng, how can you be a director if you're blind?"

Translation: "\"You Zeng‑family guy, how can you be a bureau chief if you're blind? \""

Xiong Hanzi's face wore a strange expression, as if he wanted to crack open Zeng Hongtian's skull to have a look.

Translation: "Xiong Hanzi's face turned strange, as if he wanted to crack open Zeng Hongtian's skull to have a look."

Zeng Hongtian's face showed alarm; he quickly put on a mournful expression, startled, and retreated two steps to stand beside Lin An.

Translation: "Zeng Hongtian's face startled; he quickly put on a mournful expression, stumbled back two steps, and hid beside Lin An."

"I have face blindness, but my mind is fine! This doesn't affect my research!"

Translation: "\"I have aphantasia, but my mind is fine! This doesn't affect my research! \""

They were arguing noisily.

Translation: "They argued noisily."

Seeing the scene before him, Lin An, feeling somewhat helpless, told Zhang Tie not to cause trouble; at that moment he only felt speechless inside.

Translation: "Watching the scene, Lin An felt somewhat helpless and told Zhang Tie not to cause trouble; inside he only felt speechless."

Everyone who had seen the boy was dead, the sole survivor was face‑blind, and the video records are supposedly in Space City?

Translation: "Those who had seen the boy were all dead, the sole survivor is an aphantasic... and the video data is in Space City?"

His expression odd, for a moment Lin An felt that since stepping into this place, everything seemed far too coincidental.

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but let out a quiet sigh, and had no choice but to give up investigating.

No way, Zeng Hongtian might not know, Spaceflight City had long turned into ruins, or rather was destroyed by his own hands...

As for that place, not to mention video recordings being preserved, not even a single intact brick remains, and that exhibition hall was destroyed in an instant during the battle.

Looks like, to figure out this matter, one can only follow the direction the army disappeared and keep searching.

In the dark, Lin An couldn't help but have a premonition.

The direction the army disappeared—could it also be in Soviet Russia?

You know, to the north of Long River lies Outer Mongolia, and further north it borders Soviet Russia...

There.. what exactly happened?

"Lin Dui, are we really going to the Soviet Russia war zone?"

Gritting his teeth, Zhang Tie put one foot on the aircraft seat, grabbed the remote with one hand, and kept switching between the fighter jets in the projector's movie.

Inside the cabin, Lin An kept flipping through the map, his finger with a red pen, constantly marking circles and dots on the map.

"Well, when we get there, unless it's absolutely necessary and there are humans present, we should avoid using transformation as much as possible."

He raised his head, Lin An rubbed his brow, and replied wearily.

Multitasking, he not only had to constantly operate the disaster power, but also think about the road ahead.

If it weren't that the Long An faction didn't need him to worry, he would suspect himself of splitting into three people.

The greater the ability, the greater the responsibility, and the greater the pressure.

During a brief rest, Lin An calmly looked out the window; fluffy white clouds sped past the field of view, and under the midday sun, a thin golden veil was draped over the clouds.

All the way we've come to now.

He is no longer himself.

Just as Chu An said.

He is the spiritual symbol of the Long An faction, also the pillar of AnXia and Jing Tian, the spark of Huaxia, and moreover the hope cherished by countless Survivors.

Wanting to become that umbrella, naturally, comes at a cost.