Chapter 1002: Living Animal?! This Time You Win!

Huh?

When that was said, both of them were completely stunned.

How can it be both the treasure itself and the key?

"What does it actually mean? I didn't understand," Wen Ran said, looking puzzled.

Wang Defa stared at Guo Fan, a strange hue flashing in his eyes.

He hadn't expected this guy's mind to be so meticulous.

Moreover, his methods were rather extreme.

He used his own body as bait, deceived the higher‑ups, and lured the attention of thousands of players.

Yet the true result was concealed within the bone body.

According to the timeline, his wife and daughter should have already left White Bear City under escort.

By then the sky would be high for birds to fly, the sea wide for fish to leap.

Finding the person would be no different from a fairy tale.

Hope was slim…

Thinking of this, Wang Defa exhaled and explained, "From my memory investigation—I discovered that the so‑called result is a living animal."

"Its appearance is somewhat similar to an octopus."

"Guo Fan hid a tentacle inside his daughter's body to help cure her terminal illness."

"The remaining large portion is still kept in the Imperial Company Secret Experiment laboratory."

"Only a complete version of this result holds value."

"And the box sealing the result can only be opened with a specific Gene Coding."

Hearing this, Lu Junsheng and Wen Ran exchanged glances.

Some parts they didn't understand…

She asked, "Can't this animal regenerate?"

Wang Defa shook his head, "Just as we first guessed, that thing was also stolen."

"The Imperial Company merely spent huge funds to raise it from small to large."

"Countless costs were paid during that period."

"Its function is to repair Gene Defect, allowing a lifeform's evolution to approach perfection."

"It's like…"

"Xingchen's Proposal lets players actively choose their evolution path."

"Only now the active becomes passive."

"A warrior cannot know what abilities will evolve after swallowing the living animal."

So twisted?

"No!" Lu Junsheng's mind sparked, "Why does it resemble the prison evolution mode so closely?"

Wen Ran nodded in agreement, "I also think the research results of the three companies correspond exactly to Gene Modification, Innate Talent, and the Transformation routes."

With that said, Wang Defa also felt something was fishy.

The so‑called theft technique—

Could it be that the Divine deliberately arranged it to craft this game?

"Putting the source aside, does that mean we can't obtain that tentacle now?" Wen Ran asked.

"Based on the timeline… they should have already left the city," Wang Defa mused.

"I don't think so," Lu Junsheng offered a different view, explaining, "The interior of the Air‑raid Shelter is a tangled maze, with routes intersecting in all directions."

"I recently paid special attention to its internal structure and routes."

"There are many Enforcers guarding inside; leaving the city requires a pass."

"Even if he has already arranged it, I believe other players aren't just idle."

"Someone will definitely try to force Guo Fan to comply by kidnapping his wife and daughter."

"Moreover, players' Innate Talents are already diverse; who knows if there are specialized tracking methods?"

"I think the responsible escorts couldn't enforce a strict guard."

"As long as we can successfully stall time, we have a chance."

"Regardless of the outcome, I think we must fight for it."

Wen Ran thought carefully and deemed his proposal good.

"I agree, we must obtain the Hidden Achievement!"

"The Leaderboard will open after this game; whether we can top it depends on this round."

"Boss has already explained the importance of Nobility titles; as Dependents, even if not for the team, we must think for ourselves."

"After all—"

"Evolution is judged solely by the Success‑Failure Hero Theory!"

Wang Defa saw their resolute attitudes and felt rather helpless.

As the core, he could not become a dictator and wholly reject their views.

With resignation he said, "Fine, but there's one point we must agree on in advance…"

"During the operation, everyone must obey my commands, not act impulsively, and no personal heroism may appear."

His words landed, and the two nodded.

Wang Defa stared at the unconscious Guo Fan, thought for a moment, and decided to take him away as well.

This ordinary person, escorted by a specialist, must be the Main Quest target of some faction.

At the same time, as a core figure, they might have a strange effect when looking for wives and daughters.

Deciding, Wang Defa hoisted the person onto his shoulder and signaled, "Let's go!"

The three ran out the door and saw the sky darkening.

A golden‑hued sunset bathed the earth, making the soaring flames even more terrifying.

A roar and vibration erupted together, turning the entire Lower City District into a living Purgatory.

Both inside and outside the streets, ordinary people hurried about in large and small bundles.

Fear was evident on all their faces.

It seemed they wanted to survive this disaster‑like human calamity.

"We have no vehicle; how do we get there?" Wen Ran asked.

"Cars line both sides of the street; if that fails, go to a parking lot!"

Wang Defa ran ahead, his eyes scanning for the desired item.

Soon, he reached a car and violently flung the door open.

He then dove in and started it immediately.

Seeing this, the two behind froze in surprise.

They quickened their steps and slipped into the car.

Wen Ran, seeing this, couldn't help asking, "How did you open it without a key?"

"The trick is right here." Wang De pointed to his brain.

He then gripped the Direction Wheel and said, "Hold on tight!"

"Vroom!"

The engine roared, and the car sped away.

It vanished in an instant at the street's end.

……

——

Xia Cheng Qu Luo Shui Jie.

The riot has not yet spread here.

But online forums and news have already exposed countless tragedies.

At this moment, everyone is anxious; many residential blocks have long been abandoned.

A forest on the outskirts of Luoshui Street.

Two silhouettes stood on a slope, overlooking the city and enjoying the calm before the storm.

"How about it, I wasn't wrong, right?" Su Yang said.

"Fine, you win this time." Tiger said with a helpless expression.

"What do you mean 'count me as winning'? Winning is winning; there's no room for modesty." Su Yang glanced sideways.

Tiger was speechless at his nitpicking nature.

But he didn't linger on the topic.

He then pointed to the Warehouse behind him and asked, "Are you planning to use the Bee Queen to lure him into a trap?"

Su Yang turned his head, a flash of brilliance in his eyes, "Of course!"

"What's the plan?" Tiger asked.

"I told you, I'll make him come willingly." Su Yang turned toward the Warehouse.

Tiger followed closely, bewildered, "The Bee Queen has nothing to do with the person in the picture; will it work?"

Su Yang smiled without replying.

When he pushed the door open, the Bee Queen was still lying calmly on a haystack.

The surroundings were strewn with stones, meant for insects to eat.

Hearing the movement, the Bee Queen slowly turned its head.

Su Yang, prepared, instantly put on a blindfold.

Tiger followed right behind.

The two advanced by feel, standing beside the haystack.

"Now?" Tiger asked.

"Wait!" Su Yang insisted.