Chapter 182: Ghost Agent and the Temple

Talent?

When they heard Sui Bian say that, many of the children stared at each other.

Honestly, the children didn't think they were any different; if anything, their circumstances were rather tragic.

Thinking of that, some people couldn't help but look sorrowful.

Seeing this, Sui Bian gave no further explanation; after all, it's unrealistic to make all these children understand everything in a short time.

Then, with a sidelong glance behind him, he addressed the two AIs: "Red Queen, White Queen, take these children to familiarize them with Minos Island, arrange their lodging first, and this afternoon I'll personally tell them the true nature of this world."

"Yes (okay)." The two AIs replied in unison.

Afterward they stepped forward, leading the children back onto the vehicle, while security continued to drive the Wart Pig out of the parking lot toward the base's building complex.

"We'll go too, Lai'ang." Watching the convoy recede, Sui Bian also walked toward the base's building complex and said to Lai'ang, who was beside him:

"Seeing those children's bewildered faces today reminds me of how you and your brothers were back then, much like those kids, now…"

Speaking, Sui Bian looked up at Lai'ang, then refocused ahead and, rarely, teased:

"Now everyone's like giants—hard to go anywhere, and I have to design custom seats for you all, haha."

"Hmm." Lai'ang nodded wistfully in response.

The personal instruction Sui Bian gave back then, along with the lectures from Alekxia, Rebecca and other researchers, and the moments living with his brothers, are all vivid in Lai'ang's memory.

In the blink of an eye, time flew, and the OriginalBody group has all grown into adults.

They can no longer live together as before, joking before sleep and splashing cold water after waking; instead they each lead their own Astate, stationed on three heavy escort ships.

Fortunately, humanity's current range of activity is limited to the Earth‑Moon region, and during holidays the brothers can still gather properly.

But Lai'ang knows that since his father "helped" the company develop the fold‑jump engine, humanity will inevitably traverse the Solar System, and soon venture beyond it.

By then, the brothers will be scattered everywhere, distances measured in light‑years.

As for birth, aging, illness and death, they are no longer within Lai'ang's considerations.

Alekxia once told the OriginalBody that the implanted G‑glands contain components of the blood‑man flower.

References to the blood‑man flower can be traced back to 1998.

Umbrella, in Peru's Amazon Rainforest, discovered the ruins of an Inca City and a giant centipede mutated by the blood‑man flower.

After Stalker T‑02 eliminated the giant centipede, the site became Umbrella's research hub for cultivating the blood‑man flower.

The blood‑man flower's secreted sap can extend cellular lifespan; in other words, no one knows Lai'ang's or the other OriginalBody's exact lifespans, nor those of the Astate.

However, the blood‑man flower is extremely hard to cultivate, cannot leave its habitat, is scarce and cannot be mass‑produced, yet it suffices for Umbrella's senior research and use.

Thus Lai'ang isn't worried about Sui Bian "growing old and dying"; moreover, he thinks Sui Bian seems to need the blood‑man flower not at all, since their father has far too many secrets.

Sensing Lai'ang's emotional shift, Sui Bian didn't point it out, but after a moment of silence said:

"Although these children with Spiritual Energy potential aren't qualified for G‑gland implantation, and there's no blood relation between you and me, they are still orphans I've adopted; think of it… they're like your younger brothers and sisters."

Rog hasn't left Lockford Island yet, so later have Rog come over to share his insights on countering anomalous phenomena with the children.

"Rog?" Hearing that, Lai'ang recalled his blunt‑mouthed brother and said, "Hope he can keep his mouth in check."

"Hehe, not just Rog; I'll also have Robert and John come to Minos." Sui Bian said with a laugh.

"Hmm, I haven't seen the other brothers in a long time." Lai'ang replied.

The upcoming Sui Bian will return to his "old trade," teaching NuoWa and the other orphans life lessons and how to skillfully wield Spiritual Energy.

After all, "Reaper" Hank must serve as Minos's principal, the USS need to train new recruits, and carrying out the company's black operations would stretch them thin.

Moreover, the USS's deterrent power has waned.

Thus Sui Bian needs to form a force that fully replaces the USS, to continue black operations, silently eliminate enemy leadership, and oversee and deter within the company.

Ghost agents are the optimal choice.

That's why Sui Bian places such importance on NuoWa and the others.

———————

…

Summer.

At high noon under the scorching sun, within a forest dense with trees…

"Cicada—! Cicada—!" A swarm of teal cicadas clung to trunks and branches, screaming wildly from the heat.

"Chirp~ chirp~"

Between the cicada cries, a few bird calls intermix, as if trying to prove their existence while also complaining about the heat and the green cicadas.

The weed‑filled soil isn't very moist, and together with European spruce trees and large green‑leaf cicadas, indicates this is a forest within Europe.

Groups of roe deer gather in the forest, grazing on fresh wild grass, looking utterly relaxed.

!

The leisurely deer suddenly lift their heads and all look toward the forest's southeast.

Through the gaps between trunks, a few human figures flash by.

"Step! Step!" Seeing humans approach, the deer bolt away without looking back, after all Europeans love hunting them deep in the woods.

Soon, three men and two women arrive at the spot the deer had just grazed.

They wear breathable, comfortable casual short‑sleeve shirts, long pants and hiking boots, but they carry hiking packs full of gear instead of the hunting rifles that frighten the deer.

They're not old, looking like students or recent university graduates.

Two of them have the Oxford University crest embroidered on the right chest of their short sleeves, confirming they are university students.

The male student at the front holds a rugged tablet, glancing at the map on its screen while surveying the surroundings, leading his classmates through the forest.

The screen shows they are currently in a deep forest on the border of Bulgaria and Greece, time 2007/07/21, 11:32.

The five students continue trekking for over twenty minutes, and when the blazing sun is overhead, they finally reach a lake with an open view.

Below the cliffs on the lake's opposite shore stand numerous heavily weathered, collapsed and tilted Doric‑style marble columns, suggesting an unknown temple once stood here.

(End of chapter)