Chapter 316: Melancholy Mushroom

"Target confirmed! The mutant's Mutation Value has reached 70, prepare the mutation suppression grenade! If it completely loses sanity, kill on the spot!"

The captain of the Supervision Bureau's action team, who arrived first, barked orders, his voice echoing through the loudspeaker over the dead silence of the scene.

Countless muzzles simultaneously aimed at the boy in the center, whose instincts were hostile toward everything around him.

The boy, who had almost completely become an Aberrant Species, let out a painful scream, as if resisting the fate that was about to arrive.

But everything was already decided.

Deep within the Academy, Lin Xin had already returned to the laboratory.

A harsh alarm blared here as well; he had just arrived when the alarm sounded, and immediately Professor Luo De'an rushed out, temporarily entrusting everything in the lab to him before hurrying away.

Without even thinking, he knew what this was about.

He had gone to great lengths to hide Luo Jinyou in Mitra Academy, believing he had eliminated all potential danger, yet he did not realize the mutation had been lurking beside them for a long time.

He focused briefly and saw the live footage from that side.

Luo Jinyou appeared to have completely lost self-awareness in the mutation; the Supervision Bureau was intent on an immediate on-site kill, but if any remnants of his self-awareness remained, there might still be a chance of rescue.

But he exhibited a large number of Mutation Features, and his self-awareness had almost entirely vanished.......

From the Church's standpoint, it could already be deemed beyond saving.

Oh, Professor Luo De'an has arrived on the scene.

Hmm, Professor Luo De'an argued with the Supervision Bureau and temporarily secured Luo Jinyou, but he was still locked with heavy energy restraints and temporarily detained by the Supervision Bureau.

That's good, that's good; otherwise he wouldn't know how to report to his superiors.

Lin Xin let out a brief sigh of relief, then immediately felt a throbbing headache.

He had observed that Hong Ling and Luo Jinyou had made decent contact, but at that time he had no intention of stepping in; he originally wanted to see the situation, at least investigate the purpose of their Field Operations Department's visit to Mitra.

He never imagined that before he could even tamper with Luo Jinyou, Hong Ling directly triggered the mutation on his body, causing Luo Jinyou to be forcibly transferred into the hands of the Supervision Bureau.

The nails they had previously planted in the Supervision Bureau had long since been pulled out, making it impossible for them to act there.

He needed to quickly spread the news that Luo Jinyou had been taken away by the Supervision Bureau, and also find a way to rescue that unlucky colleague who had doomed himself and ended up locked in the Chen Family, unable to leave.

Lin Xin's face showed no expression change; he simply stared at the screen, while a huge turmoil had already risen in his mind.

He knew it! Trying to loaf around in Tianmian City is unrealistic!

It's fine in ordinary times, but once real action is required, none of these colleagues are reliable!!!

Lin Xin picked up the silver metal box beside him that hadn't been sent out yet, his fingers lightly brushing its icy surface, hoping the chill would calm his increasingly heated brain.

"It seems the Gloomy Fluorescent Stone research project will now be taken over by me."

——————————————

The Supervision Bureau's main force escorted the mutated Luo Jinyou away, and the follow‑up handling team gradually arrived on the scene to investigate, both the cause of Luo Jinyou's mutation and the reason those clearly non‑Academy personnel were present here.

"Captain! We've found something here!" a squad member shouted from the greenbelt.

Hearing this, the squad leader hurried over and saw the member using tweezers to pick a very inconspicuous mushroom from the damp soil and fallen leaves.

The mushroom was only the size of a fingernail, its cap a dull silver‑gray, the stalk short, overall looking wilted and listless.

It was as if its life were nearing its end, ready to retire, yet someone forcibly yanked it out to work.

"What variety is this? I've never seen it," the captain said, leaning in with a slight frown.

Mitra Academy's landscaping is good; occasional mushrooms aren't surprising, let alone the dedicated Exotic Plant Garden.

"It could be a rare saprophytic fungus? Or an unrecorded mutation strain, but the energy it contains is too weak."

The captain nodded, giving it no further attention.

Just a single small mushroom; although its location and timing are a bit coincidental, it doesn't count as a significant clue. We'll just inform the Academy's exotic‑plant researcher later.

Professional matters should still be left to professionals.

"How is the victim's condition?" he asked, turning to the other side.

Yu Cai had been untied, being helped by a female squad member onto a nearby bench, while another medical Special Ability Practitioner was conducting a preliminary examination.

Her complexion was pale, her forehead bore abrasions, her arms and calves had multiple bruises, but her consciousness had largely returned, though her eyes still showed lingering fear.

"Vital signs are stable; the main issues are external injuries and excessive shock, requiring further examination," the medical officer reported.

"Can you speak? Do you remember what happened?"

The captain walked up to Yu Cai, his tone as gentle as possible.

Yu Cai took several deep breaths, tried to focus, and spoke intermittently, recounting everything she knew.

"Meng Kexin?" the captain's eyes narrowed, "You mean those people were originally after this person?"

"Yes, that seems correct, but I'm not clear on who that... why Luo Jinyou got involved; maybe it was because they wanted to find the teacher."

The captain noted this clue.

If the attack truly involves Meng Kexin, the nature of the incident becomes more complicated, possibly involving internal rifts within those families and even implicating the Chen Family.

"First, take this student back for a detailed medical examination and statement, and ensure her safety," the captain ordered, then added for the on‑site technicians.

"Speed up, seal off this area after gathering all evidence; the Academy will cooperate with our follow‑up investigation,"

——————————————

Jiangdu sat at a four‑person table against the wall, with two already lukewarm set meals in front of him.

He clasped his hands together, occasionally looking up toward the cafeteria entrance.

He had arranged with Yu Cai to meet in the cafeteria for lunch after she finished today's Disciplinary Committee patrol.

Although Yu Cai's personality is strong‑willed and hot‑tempered, she is quite patient with Jiangdu, the classmate who, after amnesia, is like a blank slate and withdrawn.

From the early days of enrollment, she helped him become familiar with the surroundings, and later pulled him into the group; Yu Cai has practically served as half a guide and protector for him.

Jiangdu knew in his heart that Yu Cai's actions might stem from her duties as a class officer and her own sense of justice, yet he remained deeply grateful.

Usually at this time, Yu Cai would have already rushed into the cafeteria, loudly complaining about the monotony of patrol while eating heartily, but today...