âIan, you have got work to do now. Time to earn your keep!â
The young man said as he stepped into the room. He had just arrived at the very luxurious villa in a luxury car. He looked indifferently at Ian, who was on the phone and was about to repeat himself.
Ian then looked up and made a sign asking the young man for a moment, and then he smiled as he said on the phone, âDarling, letâs watch a movie later at night. Iâll pick you up at seven at the University of Washington. Iâll see you there. Love you!â
Once he had hung up on her, his smile vanished instantly, like it never was there before. His entire temperament had changed completely, and he now resembled a ferocious beast thirsting for fresh blood.
He glared at the young man coldly and said, âThey want me to get Xiao Han, the Thousand-faced Killer, right?â
âThatâs right.â
The young man replied and nodded. âDo it right now and use your tracking ability to catch him, Mr. president is alreadyâ¦â
SWOOSH.
Ian teleported in front of the young man in a flash and grabbed him by his throat. His fingers sunk into his neck deeply as he pushed him against the wall and said, âWhat if I said no?â
Despite being in a precarious position, the young man showed no sign of panic. He replied, âIan, you were on death row. You should consider yourself very lucky that the federal government chose you to take part in the genetic warrior program. Wouldnât you say that itâs because of us you can live a normal life again and even date someone?â
Thereâs no free lunch in this world, nor is there absolute freedom. Itâs all about âgive and take.â Look, every one of us is shackled, in one way or another. Let me remind you that everything you possess now, including your life, had been granted by the federal government. Obey the federal government unless you want to lose everything you have attained so far.â
Ian blinked as he let him go, then punched the sturdy wall just at the side of the young manâs head. But good sense prevailed, and he knew what he had to do. He did not want to lose his second chance in life.
That wall crumbled as his punch broke through the wall as if it had pierced through soft beancurd.
Ian heaved a sigh like a beast, brimming with dangerous killing intent. âIf I wanted, the federal government could disappear from this world soon!â he scowled.
âBut you wouldnât do that, wouldnât you?â
The young man became even calmer and at ease, for this was not the first time he had encountered such a situation. âWithout the special drug provided by the federal government, your body will fester within half a month. You would become food for maggots, and even before you die, your body will be filled with them. You would probably be still very conscious then, and you would only die after they suck your brains dry. It is probably one of the worst and disgusting ways to die.â
His words seemed to have hit a soft spot, and it made Ian sweat profusely. The young man was skillful in manipulating a personâs mind, and he quickly convinced Ian.
The young man patted Ianâs shoulder and comforted him. âIan, donât be stubborn. Every one of us lives like a dog. I am no different, and sometimes I have to accomplish whatever tasks my master gives me. Iâve to carry them out at all costs, as if my life depended on them. If I donât do my job, Iâm a dead man. Think about it, and youâll realize that you are far luckier than most people.â
As long as you obey the federal governmentâs order, you get to enjoy an endless amount of wealth. And you can seek love, too. I know you love that Chinese girl, and you want to be with her forever. Since you love her and want to be with her, then fight for it. Thereâs no such thing as a free lunch. Fight like your life depends on it, and thatâs the only way to get what you want.â
Ian remained quiet as his conflicting emotion cleared. He had to protect his precious relationship with Huang Ruoran.
******
******
After Xiao Luo destroyed the Pentagon, the headquarter of the Department of Defense shifted to a secret underground bunker in Washington.
President Bama and the cabinet ministers gathered there. There were many high-tech instruments and four eighty-two inches monitors mounted on the walls. The military command-and-control system was also located there, and a few young military officers were busy working.
âMr. President, the genetic warrior has been dispatched, and he is now at the Mojave Desert,â a technician reported the status to President Bama.
âWhat is he doing there? Is Mie presently at the Mojave Desert?â President Bama asked.
The technician nodded and replied, âYes, it seems so.â
What was Mie doing in the Mojave Desert?
None of them knew the reason, but they had faith in the genetic warriorâs ability to track people down. As long as it had registered the scent of its target before, the genetic warrior could locate his mark in any corner of the world. It was in their genes that they could track down their targets like hunting dogs.
âCould it be that heâs going to the invisible jet research base at the Mojave Desert?â a cabinet minister suddenly exclaimed.
âGasp!â
Everyone drew in a quick breath. The Mojave Desert Invisible Jet Research Base had been built through the allocation of an immense fund. The latest fighter jet, the Phantom 5, was now undergoing its most crucial stage of development. If Xiao Luo disrupted its testing in any way at this stage, then the enormous funding they had invested earlier would all go down the drain.
âFound him! I found that Mie!â a technician called out.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
President Bama, the ministers, and senior ranking officers looked over. On the large wall-mounted monitors, they saw a black dot moving across the screen. When the technician zoomed in, they began to make out the form of a person running.
That technician turned to the president to explain. âI scanned the map with a satellite and triangulated his position based on his last known location and direction of travel,â he said, as he continued zooming in, âItâs unbelievable! He is running at a speed of a hundred and fifty kilometers per hour!â
What?
Everyone widened their eyes in shock, unable to process what they just heard. How could an ordinary human being run at that speed?
âAre you sure that heâs on foot and not using any means of transport?â the defense minister asked.
âThe satellite image shows heâs running, and the distance of each step is about fifty to eighty meters,â the technician replied.
âWhatâs going on? Is he a genetic warrior created by the Hua nation?â
The defense minister took a deep breath and turned to president Bama, âOur genetic warrior is hardly at par with Mie.â
President Bama did not respond to him, and his drawn face turned dark again. He was anxious that the Mei nation was not the only country that possessed such a formidable weapon.
After the technician analyzed the photo captured by the satellite and other corresponding data, he looked shocked. âIt doesnât seem like heâs running, but itâs more like⦠Heâs flying, Sir!â
Flying?
My God, what kind of joke are you cracking, boy? How could a man fly without the help of a machine?
How could that be possible!
Everyone was even more shocked this time, and the flustered defense minister yelled, âWhat the f*ck are you saying? Flying? You mean heâs a Superman now?â
âSir, these are the pictures snapped by our scouts at the Mojave Desert.â
The technician projected the images onto the giant screen. They were all shot taken in the desert and showed a stretch of sand-colored undulating terrain. âThe desert here is where Mie passed earlier, but he did not leave any traces on the sand. How could a person run in a desert, leaving no traces of footprints? Unless heâs flying, of course.â
When he finished speaking, everyone was in a stupor.
Flying? What the hell was going on? How did that guy do it?