Chapter 161: X‑Ji Weird

Federal Weird Investigation Bureau, Zui Gao Zhanlue Huiyishi.

The air solidifies to the point of suffocation.

On the central holographic display, a satellite image floats silently.

On the map of Beimei Dalu, Chicago's location is replaced by an ugly, snarling circular scar.

The charred land and lingering radiation glow, even through the screen, still assault the senses with a destructive aura.

Not long ago, the mushroom cloud that first blossomed over a bustling city this century left a lingering afterimage etched onto every attendee's retinas, searing their nerves.

"The Technology Department's analysis report is ready."

An analyst wearing black-rimmed glasses, with deep-set eye sockets, stood up; his voice was dry and hoarse.

"Based on partially leaked data from the Prometheus Institute and combined with our intelligence analysis, we officially designate the source of this Chicago incident as Sequence 016 – Green-faced Ghost Infant."

He paused briefly, then pushed his glasses.

"And the individuals infected and proliferated by it are designated Sequence 017 – Spider Humanoid."

"What about the rating?"

A military representative asked in a deep voice.

"The Green-faced Ghost Infant itself is assessed at a threat level of B Ji."

The analyst's words made many present furrow their brows: B Ji? A B Ji Weird forced the North American Union to deploy nuclear weapons?

"However," the analyst emphasized, "the Spider Humanoid it spawns reaches an individual threat level of A Ji. More crucially, they possess limitless proliferation and rapid evolution, holding terrifying potential to become S Ji Weirds."

"Ultimately, based on its destructive consequences and societal impact, we set the overall rating of this incident... as Quasi‑S."

When the words fell, the room fell into another heavy silence.

A B Ji source gave rise to a Quasi‑S disaster.

This rating system appears so pale and powerless before these newly emerged monsters.

"Everyone,"

Wei Gong, who had remained silent, finally spoke slowly.

He lifted his tea cup, gently blew the steam, and his gaze calmly swept over everyone present.

"You seem to have overlooked the most critical issue,"

"It is merely a single spore taken from that ghost ship,"

"Spore."

The word caused the temperature in the room to drop several degrees abruptly.

Everyone's gaze simultaneously turned to another small screen beside the main display.

There, a blurry surveillance clip was looping.

A cruise ship named "Haiyang Ningjing Hao" on the pitch-black sea was swallowed by a bizarre dense fog, then reappeared mysteriously.

"Agenda, shift to Haiyang Ningjing Hao,"

Wei Gong set down his cup, producing a soft clink.

An elderly scientist with white, graying hair stood up; his body trembled slightly, not from age but from a mix of fear and excitement.

"Director, colleagues! I believe our current D Zhi S Ji Pingji Tixi is insufficient to describe Weirdes like Haiyang Ningjing Hao!"

"It is like a Pandora's box; if you don't touch it, it drifts silently. But once someone cannot curb curiosity and opens it, what is released is a plague capable of destroying a city!"

"Chicago's tragedy is a blood lesson!"

"Therefore, I propose! Adding an entirely new rank!"

The senior scientist inhaled deeply, almost shouting.

"——X Ji!"

"X?" someone asked, puzzled.

"Yes, X! It stands for the unknown, for the forbidden!"

The senior scientist's excitement grew; he pointed at the ghost ship on the screen.

"X Ji Weird possesses the following traits: First, it may not have the power to directly destroy the world, nor actively harm humans. Yet, once humanity violates its set rules or taboos, it will bring about catastrophic ruin!"

"Second!"

He raised his second finger.

"For such Weirdes, the optimal response is not containment, not study, but 'no contact' and 'maintaining reverence'! We must designate it as a top‑level forbidden zone, prohibiting any form of exploration or approach, lest we again breach unknown taboos!"

This brand‑new concept made everyone present feel a terror deeper and more helpless than even S Ji.

It is a sense of insignificance when confronting unknown cosmic laws.

Wei Gong's clouded eyes stared quietly at the excited senior scientist; after a long moment, he nodded.

"I agree with this concept."

Those simple seven words sealed the new rank decisively.

The atmosphere in the room was suppressed to the extreme.

From Quasi‑S Spider Humanoids to the forbidden X Ji ghost ship, each topic weighed like a boulder on everyone's hearts.

However.

Amid this solemn atmosphere, Wei Gong's tone suddenly shifted.

"Alright, now that the bad news is out, let's look at the good news,"

A rare hint of approval appeared on his otherwise placid face.

He gestured toward his secretary.

Soon, an encrypted action report was distributed to everyone.

Title — 【"Grindstone" Action Summary Report】.

Lead: Core Action Team Captain Qin Zhixia, codename "Mei".

"Just as the North American Union pays a painful price for their arrogance, the advisory team we sent to Bu Lie Dian has already reported good news."

Wei Gong's tone was steady, yet it carried an uplifting force.

The atmosphere in the conference room finally loosened a bit.

Everyone opened the report and began skimming it quickly.

The report's content was concise, yet shocking to the eye.

【Sequence 015 – Silent Doll Anna】, Zhun A Ji Guaitan—contained.

The description of the containment method made all the experts present nod in agreement.

Qin Zhixia did not choose conventional firepower suppression or physical destruction.

She designed an ingenious trap that lured "Anna" into a specially made alloy box.

The core material used to forge this alloy box came from another Weird—Fake Person's extract!

Weirdness can resist each other, even counteract each other.

In the confrontation with the doll Anna, the Fake Person gained the upper hand, successfully confining it within the alloy box, preventing it from moving on to the next victim's home.

"Zhun A Ji… this should still be the highest‑level Weird we have contained so far, right?" a researcher muttered, eyes full of disbelief.

That's not all.

The report continued.

【Sequence 011 – Midnight Nightmare】, Quasi‑S‑level Strange Tale, has been successfully halted from spreading within Bu Lie Dian.

Qin Zhixia controlled the situation at the smallest cost.

Either of these two victories alone would be a huge merit.

And now, they both belong to the same name.

"Qin Zhixia…"

Someone whispered the name, tone full of awe and admiration.

Once upon a time, this woman was considered "untalented"; to join the Investigation Bureau she almost died in a "ghost wall".

Who could have imagined she would grow to this point.

"She did a beautiful job." Wei Gong's praise was never cheap.

He stood up, hands behind his back, pacing and surveying the room.

"…Comrades, the success of the 'Whetstone' operation is of great significance."

"The North American Union, after the Chicago incident, is in domestic turmoil; their previous arrogant attitude has been completely shattered."

"What happened over there and the resolution of the Bu Lie Dian Weird incidents are not secrets to the international senior executives; they can only be hidden from the ordinary public."

"Other countries that were still hesitating, after witnessing the North American Union's tragedy and seeing our clean, decisive solution in Bu Lie Dian, are now showing momentum to join the Quanqiu Weird Yingduo Alliance."

"Our plan to globalize the Investigation Bureau has been greatly advanced by this war!"

Every sentence rang out with weight.

In everyone's eyes, the light reignited.

Indeed.

Wei Gong's voice was loud and powerful, echoing in every corner of the conference room:

"'Mei' and the advisory team she leads will soon return home."

"And Bu Lie Dian has already sent us a formal invitation, designating it as the host country for the Investigation Bureau's first overseas branch!"

Ten thousand meters above ground.

A passenger aircraft flying from Bu Lie Dian to the Federation was smoothly cruising above the sea of clouds.

In the first‑class cabin.

Qin Zhixia leaned against the window, gazing at the rolling clouds outside.

The cloud sea was dyed a gorgeous gold by the setting sun; her eyes were sharper than the cold wind outside.

Beside her sat a young girl who looked only seventeen or eighteen.

The girl wore black‑framed glasses, her demeanor a bit timid, head down, curiously fiddling with a silver‑white Hand Ring on her wrist.