Chapter 71: After the Mission

One week later.

Processing Bureau, an unnamed secret base.

Lu Tianxu walked down the corridor with several assistants following behind him, his expression extremely grim.

He had failed.

Although he had utilized HCSD-1531 to influence that eerie city.

An accident occurred, and the overflowing "Mist City" was now randomly appearing in various places, pulling unlucky people into it!

Although the threat was much smaller compared to before, when the entire city would randomly appear in a certain neighborhood.

It now possessed far more uncertainty!

That city was now divided into several parts by the "Mist," and they might be in an uninhabited wilderness one second, only to drift to the residence of a national president the next, swallowing a head of state!

Lu Tianxu turned a corner. This book is first published on Tiantiankan Novels -> ttk. tw, providing you with an error-free chapter and non-scrambled chapter reading experience.

If it weren't for the fact that his operation this time had indeed reduced the threat and become a case within the organization of successfully using an anomalous object to counter an anomaly, he likely would have been dismissed from his post, and that would have been the light version.

Even so, his superiors had vetoed his application to further use anomalous objects on the grounds that the coincidence and accident probability were too high.

They only granted him the use of a few limited anomalous objects confirmed to be relatively safe.

At this moment, he arrived before a valve and stopped his steps.

……

"I'm telling you," Ding Mo sat on a chair, locked inside an unknown alloy cage, and said helplessly into the microphone:

"I've already said it, well-behaved, might like eating ice cream, likes teddy bear dolls, relatively obedient, looks very cute……"

"Regarding Xiao Yu's situation, didn't I tell you all about it a few days ago?"

A voice came from the broadcast on the side:

"Mr. Ding, the individual named Xiao Yu was the original intent behind the establishment of that city; the first mayor built that city specifically to commemorate her,"

"So we need to know every single detail!"

"……" Ding Mo sighed, just about to say something, when he heard a burst of static from the microphone.

Following that came a sentence: "Interrogation over, someone is here to see you."

Who? Just as Ding Mo was thinking this, he saw a man wearing the Processing Bureau uniform walk in alone.

Lu Tianxu……

Recognizing the person who had arrived, Ding Mo became expressionless in an instant.

As for who launched those missiles that almost killed them back then, he could figure that out with his eyes closed!

Naturally, he had no pleasant expression at this time.

Lu Tianxu entered the room, glanced at him, and said:

"Those missiles back then were a last resort; if we hadn't bombed it, the Mist might have spread out."

"At that point, I'm afraid even the surrounding terrain would have changed!"

"A last resort?" Ding Mo gave a cold laugh,

"I admit, you all are just like a bunch of clowns, you've amused me."

"That Mist was clearly something you created yourselves, wasn't it? You messed it up yourselves, yet you want to sacrifice us to make up for it?"

"You take a dump and throw away the paper, then want us to use our lives to wipe your ass for you?!"

Amidst the voice containing a trace of anger, Lu Tianxu remained silent and walked over to sit down opposite Ding Mo.

After sitting down, his first sentence was:

"Open the protective net."

From the broadcast came a sound of surprise: "Huh? But……"

"Open it!"

A moment later, Lu Tianxu arrived opposite the now-unshielded Ding Mo.

"Regarding the previous matter, I only did what I had to do; perhaps I owe you an apology,"

"But I have nothing to apologize for; everything I did was for the sake of humanity!" Lu Tianxu said without yielding in the slightest.

Then, under Ding Mo's frowning gaze, he handed over a document.

This is…… Ding Mo saw the words "Dong Xiaoyu" written inside!

"She only recognizes you; she won't listen to anyone else at all." Lu Tianxu tapped the armrest of the chair:

"I want you to help me control her."

"What a joke, why would I help you?" Ding Mo asked back without the slightest hesitation.

"If you don't help me, I will kill her." Lu Tianxu said:

"Although she is no longer an ordinary person, the Processing Bureau has various means and the world's most cutting-edge technology; do not doubt this point!"

"……Huh?" Ding Mo asked in confusion:

"What makes you think this can threaten me?"

Lu Tianxu did not speak.

As their eyes met, Ding Mo's gaze was calm as water, without any fluctuation.

"So that's how it is; I had thought you two……" Lu Tianxu suddenly smiled and added:

"Since that's the case, let's make a deal."

"You help me control her and make her cooperate with us, and I will share the research results obtained through her for your use."

"After this period of research, we have discovered that she possesses some astonishing potential!"

Facing the devil-like temptation in his ears, Ding Mo shook his head once again.

"I guarantee it!" Lu Tianxu stared at the man before him who remained unmoved:

"This can significantly increase your survival rate in the 'Typewriter' Task!"

"Don't you want to survive? Like those who have survived the most Tasks, transcending human limits to become..."

He stopped abruptly at this point.

Become what? Ding Mo's heart stirred, but seeing Lu Tianxu's expression, he immediately understood.

Leaving his words half-said—this man was likely trying to swindle him!

Ding Mo rolled his eyes and made a show of going to sleep.

"..." Seeing that Ding Mo remained unmoved, Lu Tianxu showed nothing on the surface, but felt anxious inside.

Among the anomalous items approved by the higher-ups of the Processing Bureau, the most powerful one was the newly acquired "Dong Xiaoyu"!

Yet, because she had self-awareness and would not listen to others, she could not be controlled.

... No, he must obtain her!

"What will it take for you to help me?" Lu Tianxu said coldly.

He had laid his cards on the table.

Upon hearing this, Ding Mo raised his eyelids and glanced at him:

"It's not impossible, but I have a few conditions."

"As long as it is within my authority, I will do my best to satisfy you," Lu Tianxu said, staring at him.

Ding Mo's gaze flickered as he held up three fingers:

"First, I need any items that can increase Task survival rates in the short term."

Lu Tianxu was not surprised by this: "Agreed."

"Second," Ding Mo continued:

"I need to be able to see Dong Xiaoyu whenever I want."

That girl, she probably regarded him as her only psychological reliance now...

Besides, she was currently highly sought after in the eyes of the Processing Bureau and was undoubtedly a good helper; seeing her more often was not a bad thing.

Lu Tianxu nodded as well: "No problem, as long as it isn't too frequent."

"Third, and this is the most important point: unless Dong Xiaoyu is willing, all of this is off the table!"

"She is not an 'item' for you to lock in a room; she has her own will!"

The first two points were fine, but once this third condition was raised, Lu Tianxu could not help but frown.

"No!"

"Then..." Ding Mo spread his hands.

Off the table!

If they wouldn't even grant the most basic rights of a human being, what else was there to talk about?

"You!" Lu Tianxu was somewhat enraged!

"Aren't you afraid I'll kill you!?"

"You know that doesn't scare us Polluters, otherwise you would have said so from the start. Besides, if you kill me, you won't get anything either," Ding Mo said indifferently.

"..."

Lu Tianxu appeared to be struggling intensely, but finally gritted his teeth and conceded:

"Fine!

"But, she cannot go back on her word! Once she agrees beforehand, she cannot renege during the process!"

Ding Mo smiled upon hearing this:

"I know her; she is not like some of the unidentified creatures in society."

"Good." Lu Tianxu stood up and extended his right hand: "Deal."

"Deal? Heh..." Ding Mo chuckled, ignoring him and not shaking his hand.

Lu Tianxu did not mind; he withdrew his hand and walked toward the exit, saying:

"After a while, once I finish handling the matters at hand, I will arrange for the two of you to meet."

"Wait a moment, has Zhang Yunfan returned from the 'Typewriter' Task?"

Lu Tianxu's footsteps paused slightly; he seemed to hesitate, but replied anyway:

"He did not return."

His tone had not the slightest fluctuation, and he left after speaking.

"..." Inside the room,

Ding Mo fell silent and remained motionless for a long time.