Inside the safe house, Ye Zhenguo and Zhao Dezhu were still gushing nosebleeds.
Jiangnan, meanwhile, was sensing his body. Li Bing’s treatment had been flawless. Every injury had healed completely.
He had made up his mind. Until he reached platinum, he would never max out Blood Burn again. Otherwise he really would kill himself playing with it.
The only reason he was still alive was sheer, colossal dog-shit luck.
Just then, Jiangnan’s expression froze.
He had not noticed earlier, but now he realised that, although blood now flowed through his entire body, a tiny trace of cool energy still lingered in the corners.
With a thought, the energy moved. It gathered in his palm into a mass that glowed faint blue.
It was fully the size of an ostrich egg.
Han Menglu shot to her feet in shock, pounced over, and shoved her head right up to his hand.
“Bos… boson particles? How can you control boson particles? This…”
Jiangnan stared blankly at the energy in his palm. It was definitely boson particles.
Even Boson was utterly astonished. “Impossible. You are human, a three-dimensional creature. Only we can control boson particles. You…”
“You… are not human?”
Jiangnan: (๐･᷄_･᷅)
What kind of twisted logic is that?
It somehow sounds a tiny bit reasonable.
Han Menglu looked as though she had discovered a new continent. “Try using it. I’m curious.”
Jiangnan scratched his head, raised his hand, and fired the boson particles.
The bottle of otaku happy water on the coffee table was struck. A thick layer of white frost instantly coated its outer wall.
And then… nothing else happened.
“Uh… so now I have a new skill for chilling drinks?”
Far too useless. And the boson particles stored in his body were completely spent.
He could not produce more himself. Even the drink-chilling skill was single-use only.
Han Menglu’s eyes sparkled. “No, no, no. This is an epoch-making discovery.”
“You previously used boson particles to replace your blood. Could your organs have gained greater tolerance to boson particles because of that?”
“You’re space-type. It’s not impossible.”
Boson sounded puzzled. “Something is definitely wrong. Just now, while healing, I sensed a stream of boson particles flowing somewhere beyond my control… mmph!!!”
Jiangnan pounced again and clamped his hand over Boson’s mouth.
He felt awful all over.
So that was why he had gained this ability?
Han Menglu said excitedly, “It must be. I have to record this in the research files for future scientists to study.”
Jiangnan was close to tears. Please do not record that kind of thing.
What would those researchers think of me?
“Quick, try replenishing boson particles for Jiangnan.”
Boson poked a finger into Jiangnan’s stomach. Boson particles surged in.
Sure enough, his body once again stored an ostrich-egg-sized amount.
Gone once used, needing Boson to refill…
So, because of certain unspeakable reasons, he had become a human-shaped boson particle battery?
Jiangnan was speechless. Apart from chilling cola, it was utterly useless.
Yet Han Menglu was thrilled beyond words. No one understood better than her what this truly meant.
It meant limitless possibilities for humanity.
Jiangnan really was her greatest treasure.
Even Ye Zhenguo and Zhao Dezhu stared at Boson in amazement.
Back during the Spiritual Calamity, the old pioneers had encountered plenty of bosons, but this one seemed different from those…
Once Ye Zhenguo and Zhao Dezhu’s injuries were mostly healed, the group left the safe house, headed straight for the airport, and boarded a flight home.
Only after returning to China would they be truly safe. Throughout the journey, Jiangnan dared not use his abilities, afraid something might go wrong.
Boson slipped directly into high-dimensional space, staying with Jiangnan every step, never leaving his side.
He was her light.
When Longyuan headquarters received the news, everyone breathed a huge sigh of relief.
Yang Jian clenched his fist tightly. “They’re back alive. Awesome.”
Not only did he bring all the data home, he even lured Boson back too?
Jiangnan had truly completed the mission to perfection.
Hong Long said worriedly, “The American side…”
After something like this, America would never let it rest. Overt and covert pressure would come relentlessly.
Yang Jian grinned. “That’s my problem. Once something’s swallowed, there’s no spitting it back out.”
“We’ll bear whatever risks need bearing.”
The data and Boson’s presence were enough to catapult China’s curse-script field straight to international leadership.
In this great era of spiritual revival, leading meant power.
Jiangnan had earned monumental merit this time.
When Shan Mao and the others heard Jiangnan was safe and returning soon, the weight finally lifted from their hearts.
Katerina wiped her nose, bowed deeply to everyone. “Thank you all, truly. And I apologise for the earlier White Shark matters. I’m sorry.”
“Then I’ll head back…”
Yang Jian smiled. “Back where? Back to White Shark?”
Katerina’s eyes dimmed, her face full of bitter smiles.
Yang Jian continued, “Don’t go. Any interest in joining Dark Night? I can sort your identity.”
“If you like, you can operate in your homeland under Dark Night’s banner…”
Katerina stared at him. “Re… really? My background isn’t clean. I previously…”
Yang Jian laughed. “What’s not allowed? What matters is now, right? Picking up a platinum-tier talent for free. We’re the ones who profit.”
“I reckon Jiangnan would be glad to see you join Dark Night too.”
Katerina rubbed her eyes, nodding repeatedly. “Join. I’ll join. Thank you. I really…”
Shan Mao smiled and patted her shoulder. After the Metropolis incident, everyone knew exactly what kind of person Katerina was.
Trustworthy.
…
America eventually issued an official explanation for the Area 53 incident.
Destroyed by force majeure natural disasters such as volcanic eruption. Deep regret, etc.
Pinggu Volcano was renamed Pinggu Great Crater.
They could hardly announce internationally that Jiangnan had flattened Area 53, abducted Boson, and escaped unscathed.
Did they want face or not?
Of course, the excuse was only for the public. The higher-ups knew exactly what had happened.
Having lost both wife and soldiers, America was naturally furious and began applying pressure both openly and behind the scenes.
They also clamped down hard on the Light Society.
Even now, Pierce remained convinced the curse-script data was in Light Society hands.
Think about it. If Jiangnan had given the magician fake data, why risk everything to come back and seize Boson?
That would be idiotic.
He must have given real data to the magician. Then, in a fit of rage, that kid Jiangnan snatched Boson on impulse.
It had to be that.
Little did they know… Jiangnan abducted Boson simply because he felt like it.
North Atlantic Light Society secret base.
Odin God Lord hurried in with the magician.
A blonde woman holding a folder rushed to meet them. “God Lord, you’re finally back. So many of our arrangements in America have been struck.”
Odin God Lord waved grandly. “Haha. Let them strike. We’re big enough not to miss a few bits. Anyway, the data is ours now. We should let them vent, or they’ll burst from anger…”
The magician looked deeply guilty.
He had heard Jiangnan abducted Boson, so what he received should be real.
It has to be real. Don’t screw me over.
One trip to Metropolis, lost all his teammates. If he brought back fakes, the God Lord would kill him.
And now, because of the data issue, Light Society had to endure American retaliation. The price was enormous.
Blonde woman: “Andre and Victoria are still on the run, haven’t escaped. Multiple pleas for aid. Blue Wave and Pink Wave are missing too. Can’t find them…”
Odin God Lord waved again. “Rescue them. Send people. These are our great heroes. Light Society never abandons a comrade.”
The magician’s face went even paler. I already abandoned them. More than once…
The two reached the computer. Odin God Lord stretched out his hand. “Come on. Give me the data drive.”
The magician swallowed hard and handed it over.
Plugged in. Reading contents.
Odin God Lord rubbed his hands, face full of eager anticipation.
(･᷅ᴗ･᷄人)
Suddenly the screen displayed an extremely complex security program.
In the centre, English prompt: “Please insert security key to unlock program before viewing files.”
Odin God Lord’s eyes lit up. As expected, there is security.
“Key? Where’s the key?”
The magician froze. Damn.
Really, there really is a security program?
It’s real? I snatched the genuine article?
Jiangnan wasn’t acting that day?
The magician flushed with excitement. Good thing I didn’t hand it to Pierce, or I’d have lost everything.
