enjoyebooks Chapter 68 The Parasite
Chapter 68 The Parasite
Chapter 68 The Parasite (2/5)
Inside the containment room, Cheng Xu and Director Harlan had a friendly discussion about topics related to abnormal control and containment.
On one side was the director of the Abnormal Control Section 1 of the Yuanguangxing Branch, and on the other side was a new employee of the Chengmingxing Branch this year. They had no trouble finding topics to talk about regarding their work.
With Director Xue Zijing keeping the atmosphere lively by occasionally sharing his experiences on field missions, the discussion in the containment room became increasingly heated.
"Young man Cheng Xu, we hit it off immediately! Why don't you come to my office for a while?"
During the conversation, Harlan was amazed by Cheng Xu's professional knowledge and broad knowledge, and he was able to answer many obscure questions fluently.
He recalled all the employees in his department and couldn't find a single one whose work ability could compare with the young man in front of him.
It's no wonder that this young man was able to accurately point out the possibility of information leakage caused by the [Information Worm] when the entire Farlight Star Branch was clueless.
If he weren't too embarrassed to ask, he would have petitioned his direct supervisor to poach Cheng Xu from Chengmingxing Branch to Yuanguangxing.
"As long as you don't find it bothersome, Director Harlan, I certainly have no problem with it."
Cheng Xu smiled and accepted Harlan's invitation.
The three left the containment area chatting and laughing, returned to the Farlight Star Branch Building, and went to the office of the Anomaly Control Section 1.
"Come, come, this is my collection of Crystal Waterfall Cold Extract Dew Powder, a rare find from Fenglin Star, not something ordinary people can get their hands on."
Harlan took a small box from the innermost storage box in his desk.
"Wow, they actually had such a good thing hidden away."
When Xue Zijing saw Cheng Xu give him a wink, he immediately laughed and said goodbye, "Director Harlan, I have some urgent business to attend to, so I probably won't be able to enjoy this. You two can continue your conversation."
After leaving the office, Xue Zijing took several deep breaths before he could finally calm himself down.
Inside his regular uniform, sweat completely soaked through his undergarments, leaving him feeling icy cold.
Recalling the bizarre scenes that had just occurred, Xue Zijing felt a jolt of electricity coursing through his body, leaving him numb all over.
He found a safe area where he wouldn't be disturbed and took out his communication equipment.
"Speaking of improving containment stability, I'm reminded of the cases that Headquarters issued before. The improvement measures taken by other branches have really opened my eyes."
"Indeed. Our Chengming Star Branch's 'Compassionate Reciters' have taken those cases into account and have now established extensive cooperation with major prisons in the Chengyu Galaxy."
"Oh? The [Compassionate Reciter]? I remember it's the one that needs an audience?"
"Yes, that's it. It has helped many prisoners turn over a new leaf and start anew. Our branch even received a thank-you letter from the prison."
Cheng Xu had to admit that Director Harlan, who was sitting across from him, was impeccable in terms of professionalism and was indeed worthy of being the director of the Control Section.
But the more I talked to him, the more vivid the image of the brain-shaped worm crawling out of my skull became.
"Ding ding"
The doorbell rang.
"Hmm? Is it your Director Xue who's back?" Harlan stood up and went to open the door.
The door opened, and a cloud of gray mist greeted him. Caught off guard, Harlan inhaled the mist abruptly, his legs buckled, and he collapsed forward.
Two fully armed special agents took Harlan's arms, one on each side, and carried him quickly away.
When the fog dissipated, Xue Zijing appeared in front of the door, with a thin, bald old man standing next to him.
The old man removed his filter mask, revealing a pair of sharp, eagle-like eyes that stared directly at Cheng Xu inside the office.
"This is Fletcher, the director of the Farlight Star branch," Xue Zijing introduced to Cheng Xu.
"Hello." Upon hearing that it was the branch office director, Cheng Xu took the initiative to walk to the door and shake hands with the bald old man.
"I understand the situation."
Fletcher's face was taut: "I've arranged for a dedicated team of anomaly researchers and medical specialists. Please come with me."
Clearly, Harlan's situation had exceeded the expectations of the Farlight Star Branch, and even the branch director had personally intervened.
The group took a teleportation ladder to the underground area of the Yuanguang Star Branch.
On the way, Xue Zijing explained the latest situation to Cheng Xu.
For the sake of confidentiality, Xue Zijing did not contact any personnel from the Yuanguangxing branch immediately, but instead contacted the headquarters directly.
Because of Cheng Xu, Xue Zijing had the contact information of the General Administration's commissioner. After reporting everything that had just happened, the commissioner replied that the General Administration would contact the Yuanguangxing branch.
Because Cheng Xu's abilities were involved, the General Administration deliberately concealed some facts, only informing Director Fletcher that "there is a parasite in Harlan's brain."
When the three arrived at the secret room in the underground area, Harlan, who had fallen into a coma, had already been restrained and strapped to the operating table.
"According to the information provided by the General Administration, the parasite in Harlan's brain is a rare organism from the Dark Sky Galaxy called the Boken Brain-Eating Worm."
Fletcher said in a deep voice.
After Xue Zijing informed the liaison officer of the description of the brain-like worm, the General Administration quickly found the information on the parasite in Harlan's brain in the database.
This parasite can infiltrate the central nervous system undetected, becoming part of the human brain, and is almost undetectable by any examination.
The brain-eating worm, after undergoing a special treatment, can even manipulate the host's behavior to a certain extent, causing it to perform specific actions, while the host's subjective consciousness will be replaced by a false memory.
"Luckily, it was discovered in time; otherwise, once the Boken brain-devouring worm left his body, Harlan would have been doomed."
Xue Zijing's Adam's apple bobbed. He had personally witnessed the brain-devouring worm crawl out of Harlan's head and then be "stuffed" back in by Cheng Xu.
"Using the [Information Worm] as a smokescreen, we develop preconceived notions and overlook the anomalies in the original containment device of the [Crack]."
Fletcher's voice was hoarse.
He didn't continue. But both Cheng Xu and Xue Zijing could understand his unspoken meaning—
Even if Cheng Xu hadn't discovered any trace of the [Information Worm], the Purge Bureau would probably have deliberately released intelligence to make the Farlight Star Branch's investigation focus on the [Information Worm].
At that time, Harlan's suspicion of leaking information will be completely cleared, and at most he will only receive some punishment before he will become a trusted mid-level manager again.
If it hadn't been discovered in time, Harlan, controlled by the Boken brain-devouring worm, would have become a thorn in the side of the Farlight Star branch.
Even Harlan himself wouldn't know that he had actually become a pawn planted by the Purge within the Administration.
"What a vicious conspiracy—" Xue Zijing's voice turned cold.
"I've already had people investigate Harlan's movements in recent years. It's likely he was ambushed during one of his missions—by the Purge!"
Fletcher gritted his teeth.
The reason why the Bureau of Anomalies has records of the Boken Brain-Eating Worm is because a high-level rebellion occurred in the past.
That incident dealt a devastating blow to a branch office in a certain star system under the Administration, but the Administration could only find out that the culprit was the Boken Brain Eater, but never knew who the mastermind was.
The Bureau is now finally able to confirm that the mastermind behind that rebellion was none other than the Great Enemy Suppression Bureau.