Chapter 1644: Capture Alive If Possible

"As long as they follow the research institute's management rules, they can come in and continue the experimental project." Zhang San pressed his throbbing temple and asked, "Have you notified the Tang family?"

Through the emails Di Ming stole from Huang Wanmao's office at Bai Yi University—emails Huang Wanmao used to communicate with the outside world—Zhang San determined that Huang Wanmao had close ties with the Blue Blood Alliance. This time, Zhang San approved the inspection application Huang Wanmao had submitted, luring him into the Northern District One territory and letting him see the hidden valley, all to confirm his connection with the Blue Blood Alliance.

The day before yesterday, Daya hacked Huang Wanmao's computer and discovered he had been sending encrypted intelligence about the hidden valley to an encrypted mailbox, which confirmed Huang Wanmao as a member of the Blue Blood Alliance.

Over the past two days, Zhang San had rejected Huang Wanmao's applications to enter the valley again and again, intending to force him to take extreme measures so they could arrest him with full justification.

The Tang family was tasked with carrying out the arrest. When Tang Ning accepted the mission, she asked whether they could simply kill him outright, since Huang Wanmao's existence threatened Tang Huai's safety.

Xia Qing didn't need to consult her idol on this question and answered directly, "Huang Wanmao is a member of the Blue Blood Alliance and should be handed over to the relevant department for handling."

Tang Ning responded crisply, "Understood. We'll make sure we capture Huang Wanmao alive and keep him capable of confessing."

As for the rest—his ability to move his hands and feet, for instance—whether that can be preserved will depend on how the mission goes.

To leave nothing to chance, the Tang family not only hired Yan Long and Huo Zhun at high prices to protect Tang Huai, but also hired Xin Yu's trained birds to scout for intelligence. The possibility of failure was very small.

Xia Qing didn't bring up these troublesome details for her idol and gave a direct affirmative answer, "Notified. Everything is ready. We're just waiting for Huang Wanmao to make his move."

Zhang San glanced at Xia Qing's wildly painted face and didn't press further, only instructing her, "Leave Huang Wanmao to the Tang family. You focus on dealing with Guo Qingbin."

Tomorrow is the sixth day of this batch of experts' inspection. According to the itinerary, tomorrow they will visit the Northern District One territory and the Ninth Center to learn about the implementation results of Hui San Base's "1N Territory Construction New Model."

"Don't worry, I know how to handle him." Xia Qing took a small bag of Green Lantern Mountain walnuts from her backpack and set it on the table. "Third Brother, did you finish the walnuts I gave you last time? These few were just picked out by Little Flying Hair. Eat three a day, and when they're gone I'll bring you more."

When Zhang San explained to Xia Qing what Co-frequency Evolution was, Xia Qing only half understood—in fact, even now she still found this ability utterly fantastical—and in the flow of conversation she suggested that when Zhang San waited for Guo Qingbin to try using Co-frequency Evolution to connect to his brain, he could simply overload him with information and destroy Guo Qingbin's brain.

Xia Qing swore she had only said it off the cuff at the time; she never expected her idol to take it seriously.

After repeated deliberation over the past few days, Zhang San concluded this method was worth a try.

Worried her idol's brain might not be a match for Guo Qingbin's, Xia Qing brought out the best brain-boosting food from her stockpile to nourish her idol's brain.

Xia Qing worried about Zhang San, but Zhang San worried even more about Xia Qing, this New Human.

The experts' itinerary for visiting the territories tomorrow had been set long ago. Territory One, Territory Three, the Ninth Center, and Territory Twelve were the key areas for the visit. Zhang San hoped Xia Qing could be in peak condition to handle the inspection team.

To that end, he specifically instructed Yan Long not to train Xia Qing too brutally these past few days, and at least leave her with a face presentable in public.

When Xia Qing came over yesterday, her face was indeed a bit cleaner, but today it was back to this state again—clearly she had been given a harsh lesson. Zhang San didn't need to ask; he could guess this New Human had done something stupid that Yan Long couldn't stand.

As for what that stupid thing was, Zhang San didn't want to ask. He only instructed, "Guo Qingbin is a high-level Brain Domain Evolver. Don't try to play mind games with him—you'll only shoot yourself in the foot. Whatever he asks you, answer directly if you can, and if you can't, just play dumb."

"Understood." Xia Qing asked solemnly, "Third Brother, is Guo Qingbin really not a member of the Blue Blood Alliance?"

"Ninety-nine percent not. The Blue Blood Alliance has no need to let him join. Because he's a well-known scholar whose ideas are completely aligned with the Blue Blood Alliance, his policy recommendations and Blue Blood's actions already have strategic synergy. Letting him join would actually undermine the social credibility and rallying power of his 'banner.'"

Zhang San pressed his forehead and answered rigorously, "The remaining one percent is that there might be a de facto alliance relationship between the Blue Blood Alliance and him—for instance, some of his research funding might indirectly come from Blue Blood, or Blue Blood might have sent people to protect him."

Guo Qingbin not being Blue Blood actually made Xia Qing more worried. "Third Brother, if you directly destroy his brain and tear down this banner, will the higher-ups hold you responsible? Even though he didn't reach the top of the pyramid, he's still a well-known scholar and a protected special ability user."

Zhang San, who was pressing his forehead, looked up at the New Human across from him and gave a cold smile. "Hold me responsible for Guo Qingbin's illegal use of abilities and my forced counterattack?"

With those words from her idol, Xia Qing felt reassured and answered with a brilliant smile, "Third Brother, I feel like you're more confident and unfathomable than before. If Guo Qingbin dares to clash head-on with you, he's asking for death!"

Zhang San's hand, which had been pressing his forehead, stopped.

He was indeed more composed and confident than before now. His true confidence didn't come from the research institute's ample funding or the important research projects progressing smoothly, but from the New Human in front of him who, even in the face of a world-ending catastrophe, had already figured out how to build a boat and take him along to survive.

This New Human gave Zhang San, who had been fighting alone for the past ten years, the confidence that even if everything here were destroyed, he could start over from scratch.

But a big shot couldn't say something so sentimental. He simply chased the wildly painted New Human out of the laboratory.

Wearing a one-way light-blocking protective mask, Xia Qing walked with steady steps out of Territory Seven, drove into the Ninth Center, carefully reviewed the expert reception procedures Yan Yue had established, checked on the growth of the overwintering wheat, and only then returned to her own territory.

After parking the car in the yard, Xia Qing pushed open the car door and didn't want to take a single step. "Boss, Wolf Lao Er, my legs hurt so bad, this whole big patch is bruised..."

Wolf Lao Er stepped forward to sniff Xia Qing's leg, bared its fangs in a murderous snarl. Sheep Boss, squinting as it lay in the sun under the eaves, didn't move a muscle.

Xia Qing quickly scratched Wolf Lao Er's neck to reassure it. "Don't be mad, Wolf Lao Er. My leg isn't a fresh injury—it happened during this morning's special training. I'm fine. Wolf Lao Er, is everything normal at home?"

Wolf Lao Er turned and walked to the sheep pen door, turned its head, opened its mouth, and grinned happily at Xia Qing.

That look meant something was up. Xia Qing slowly got out of the car and limped over. "Wolf Lao Er, what's going on in the sheep pen? Did a companion come..."

Before Xia Qing could finish, she saw a dirty little head with snow-white fur poking out from the hay bales stacked inside the sheep pen.