Chapter 76: Primordial Research Institute

"The Metropolitan Circle?"

Lin Qing wasn't really surprised.

After all, those two transport vehicles escorting the kidnapped people already bore the Metropolitan Circle's insignia.

Even the Inspector General had no authority to search this kind of transport vehicle.

"Yes, the Metropolitan Circle."

Kou Guoyong nodded and said, "It was probably over a dozen years ago. The Radiant Society once had a very important figure within the Metropolitan Circle. They say it was to optimize the genes of Earth's people, so he established the 'Primordial Research Institute' under the Radiant Society's name, using living people for genetic modification experiments, killing who knows how many tens of thousands."

"Primordial Research Institute? Optimizing Earth's people's genes…" Lin Qing looked thoughtful.

"That's right."

Kou Guoyong sighed and said, "It's said that among the extraterrestrial civilizations where the Zhixing Group is located, genetic awakening is innate. But among us Earthlings, it takes who knows how many tens of thousands of people before one successfully achieves genetic awakening—and that's only because of the Chaoyang Training Method promoted by the Chaoyang Martial Arts Hall. Otherwise, it would be even fewer."

Lin Qing nodded slightly.

He had also heard that practicing the original Chaoyang Training Method could increase the probability of genetic awakening.

Although it was still very difficult even after the increase, it was certainly much easier than without practice.

"That important figure of the Radiant Society used this very excuse to keep capturing people for genetic modification experiments."

Kou Guoyong said, "Back then there were volunteers and there were the coerced, but the mortality rate of the experiments was simply too high. Very few survived, let alone were successfully modified. So this method faced resistance at the time, and I heard that important figure was also locked up."

He shook his head slightly and said, "I didn't expect the Radiant Society to still be collecting living people now—probably also for genetic modification experiments."

Lin Qing suddenly understood.

No wonder the Radiant Society had so many genetically modified people.

"Doesn't the Metropolitan Circle care?" Lin Qing couldn't help but ask.

"For such trivial matters, how would the Metropolitan Circle side bother to pay attention?" Director Kou shook his head and said, "Look how few people were captured this time?"

Lin Qing fell silent.

Outside the Metropolitan Circle and inside the Metropolitan Circle truly did seem like two different worlds.

"The Metropolitan Circle's interior has only one requirement for the whole world, and that is stability on the surface."

Director Kou said with rare sarcasm, "That's why… things have become the way they are now. Otherwise, as long as it were explicitly forbidden, who would dare defy it?"

Lin Qing slowly shook his head: "No wonder the Radiant Society is so brazen…"

"But actually, the earliest Radiant Society wasn't like this, and its peak period had long passed."

Kou Guoyong said with feeling, "I was also born in the seventies, and the Radiant Society's peak period was even earlier. I heard that as early as before the civilization's reconstruction, in the post-apocalyptic era, the Radiant Society already existed."

"The post-apocalyptic era?" Lin Qing couldn't help but raise his brow slightly.

"That's right." Kou Guoyong nodded and said, "I heard that the earliest Radiant Society existed for the purpose of finding a bright future for Earth. Regardless of status, regardless of origin, as long as one was helpful to Earth, that was enough. So it took in many people, and every member had a sun tattoo, though the design was a bit different from the current one."

Only now did Lin Qing understand.

No wonder the Radiant Society's members were spread across the globe, even reaching into the Metropolitan Circle.

"However…"

Kou Guoyong sighed with feeling, "As the Radiant Society's power grew ever greater, its members became a mixed bag, and different factions developed. Internal conflicts grew larger and larger, and by today, it has completely fallen apart and utterly declined."

"Declined and still this strong?" Lin Qing couldn't help but sigh softly.

"A starved camel is still bigger than a horse."

Kou Guoyong suddenly lowered his voice and said mysteriously, "I heard that both the Chaoyang Martial Arts Hall and the Dawn Group are organizations that split off from the early Radiant Society, which is why they were named that way."

Lin Qing was astonished.

At first hearing, it actually seemed to make sense.

Chaoyang and Liming both symbolize light, and indeed both were established after the Radiant Society's birth.

"The current Radiant Society is no longer the Radiant Society of those days." Kou Guoyong shook his head slightly. "The ones stirring up trouble this time are probably the remnants of the 'Primordial Research Institute' established by that important figure of the Radiant Society who was locked up over a dozen years ago."

"Primordial Research Institute…" Lin Qing committed the name to memory.

"Since this case involves the Primordial Research Institute, it would be better to let the Inspector General Headquarters investigate."

Kou Guoyong looked at Lin Qing and admonished, "The Primordial Research Institute has produced too many modified humans. Even if the Metropolitan Circle doesn't care, for us it's very terrifying. You need to be extra careful."

Lin Qing nodded slightly.

He didn't even need to think to know that a powerful force established by such an important figure of the Metropolitan Circle—even if just remnants—was certainly many times stronger than an underground force like the Yuanhong Society.

"But you don't need to worry too much either."

Kou Guoyong comforted, "The Yuanhong Society has the Radiant Society's Primordial Research Institute as its backing, but you have the even more powerful Inspector General Headquarters behind you, and even the Inspector General Headquarters is backed by an extremely powerful force within the Metropolitan Circle."

Lin Qing nodded and said, "I understand. They should be the ones more afraid."

If they were truly powerful enough, they wouldn't have become an underground force that has to hide.

Of course…

Whether it was the Inspector General Headquarters or the Primordial Research Institute, to him they were both overwhelmingly powerful forces impossible to resist.

Besides leaning on the great tree that was the Inspector General Headquarters, his own strength was also very important.

The latent threat of the Radiant Society's Primordial Research Institute made Lin Qing increasingly aware that… his own strength was still far from enough.

He had to keep moving forward.

……

Days passed one after another.

The interrogations of the Yuanhong Society members were winding down, and the rescued kidnapped people were gradually being sent home.

Because the case involved the Metropolitan Circle and the Radiant Society, the City Inspector Bureau decided to keep the commendation ceremony as low-key as possible—only having bureau leaders personally present medals for higher rewards, and abandoning any formal ceremony.

Lin Qing hadn't cared in the first place, so he naturally didn't mind this kind of formalism.

Three days later.

Although he hadn't yet received new merit rewards, Lin Qing once again came to the secret room in the branch bureau used for learning combat techniques.

"Lin Qing, why have you come again today?"

That somewhat hoarse voice chuckled: "Oh, six days have passed. It seems... you have already mastered the combat technique 'Soft'?"

"Yes." Lin Qing nodded slightly and said, "I have come today to learn a new series of combat techniques."

"A new series?"

That somewhat hoarse voice said, "You have not yet cultivated your entire 'Free Body' series of combat techniques to the instinct level. Actually, I do not quite approve of you wasting time on a new series of combat techniques, but... can you state the reason?"

"During this patrol mission, I ruined the Goodwill Council's Original Research Institute's plans, so I need to improve my strength as much as possible." Lin Qing said frankly.

"Original Research Institute?"

The hoarse voice realized, "That indeed requires vigilance, but the Headquarters is also pursuing the Original Research Institute now. The Original Research Institute is under immense pressure; you do not need to worry too much."

He paused, then said, "However, life and death are in your own hands. It is not wrong for you to want to learn a new series of combat techniques, but this will delay your progress in cultivating the 'Free Body' series of combat techniques. Just make sure you have considered it clearly yourself."

"I have considered it clearly." Lin Qing nodded.

He had nothing to consider at all.

The 'Free Body' series of combat techniques had already been cultivated to the instinct level, so naturally there was no impact.

"Very well."

The hoarse voice asked, "Which series of combat techniques do you wish to cultivate next?"

(End of this chapter)