Chapter 50: Revealing the True Identity

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The “Camellia” super-sized salvage vessel, bridge command center.

The catastrophe aboard the salvage ship had subsided. According to the secondary containment plan drafted by the research director, the containment agents transferred the forbidden object onto the transport ship; soon, this forbidden object would be shipped to the containment transfer station.

Once the containment plan was perfected, the object’s classification, properties, and other data would be archived, assigned its own unique serial number, and stored in a hidden, unknown location.

To containment agents, forbidden objects were not inherently terrifying. What was truly frightening was ignorance of their properties; not being able to discern their nature was both horrifying and dangerous.

Conversely, once the properties were understood, there were countless methods to safely contain them.

For instance, the forbidden object involved this time posed its main threat through electromagnetic signal-induced distortions and a possible communication-summoning property. As long as its electromagnetic emissions were suppressed, safe containment could be achieved.

Drawing on past experience, Special Response Team Leader Bastian had already considered several containment methods: using another forbidden object with opposite properties to suppress it, constructing a dedicated Faraday cage, deploying energy extraction devices to continuously absorb electromagnetic waves, or exhausting all its pheromones, among countless other strategies.

However, these matters were not his concern; containment agents only needed to complete preliminary containment, with subsequent steps handled by other specialists.

In sum, this was a containment operation marked by some unexpected events but, overall, free of major upheaval—little different from previous missions.

The atmosphere in the command center was relatively relaxed, as the members who had completed their task would soon return to Salvation City.

“An unfamiliar superhuman has appeared in the safe zone—and from Salvation City, no less?” Bastian listened to his team member’s report, stroking the stubble on his chin. “Most likely a civilian awakened who hasn’t been recruited by the Control Bureau yet, trying to covertly harvest some pheromones to strengthen himself.”

The containment agent Matthew echoed, “Exactly. Judging by the nature of this forbidden object, it should be an electromagnetic-type superhuman.”

“Start with a background check. If their history is clean and they’re worth cultivating, follow the procedure. Electromagnetic-types are quite valuable. If not, also stick to procedure—you know what to do, Matthew.”

Matthew froze, quickly protesting, “Chief, why is it always me? You know I’m not exactly reliable…”

The short-haired female agent, Vena, smiled warmly. “This is to hone your skills. It means the chief values you. I wish I could get such opportunities, but he never assigns them to me.”

“Then I’ll let you have it.”

Vena turned indifferently, fiddling with her nails. “I’m going back to the city for vacation, so I don’t think I’ll get the chance.”

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Bastian pondered aloud, “Matthew’s right, he is somewhat unreliable. Vena, I trust your work, and you’re an electromagnetic-type as well. Go with Matthew.”

Vena fell silent, cursing herself for her earlier remark.

Matthew glanced at her, grinning as he left the command center.

…

A91 Safe Zone, Former Federal Government Temporary Office.

Li Nanke looked at the young man and woman before him, both dressed in crisp uniforms.

The man was short, with a mop of brown curls, appearing lively and easygoing. The short-haired woman had a striking, athletic build; her gait revealed her mastery of martial arts, and her expressionless face betrayed her foul mood.

Matthew placed the documents on the table, flipping through a couple of pages. “William Mendes, male, twenty-five, native of Salvation City, formerly employed by the city-state fire brigade…”

The further Matthew read, the more suspicious he felt. He flipped a few more pages and muttered, “This seems like a fake record.”

Li Nanke feigned dissatisfaction. “What exactly do you want? I haven’t broken any laws, nor obstructed your agency’s work.”

“Just because I used my abilities to rescue survivors, you want to detain and interrogate me?”

Matthew waved his hand. “Don’t misunderstand, this isn’t an interrogation. Personally, I admire your rescue efforts. Most of us are from wilderness safe zones ourselves.”

“You can tell by our uniforms what we do. We’re here to have an honest conversation. If you’re willing to cooperate, we can talk amicably; if not…”

Vena, unable to bear it any longer, sighed and interrupted, “Step aside, let me handle this.”

She looked at Li Nanke solemnly. “We are containment agents from the Salvation City Crisis Control Bureau. We need to verify your true identity and the purpose of your visit to the A91 Safe Zone. Please cooperate.”

Li Nanke knew this was the start of official procedure. He calmly removed his synthetic face mask, revealing his true appearance. “I came here to save people. I know you won’t believe me just on my word… Please, check for yourselves.”

Vena raised her eyebrows. As an electromagnetic-type superhuman, she could resist electromagnetic interference from forbidden objects, allowing all her electronic devices to function normally. She took out her communicator, snapped a photo, and soon a flood of information arrived.

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Li Nanke, male, twenty, born in wilderness A69 Safe Zone…

Eight years ago, survived a “critical-level” catastrophe triggered by forbidden object 3–826, “Phantasmal Music Box.”

Pheromone radiation from the forbidden object caused malignant genetic mutations. Preliminary diagnosis: neurogenic disease—ALS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Control Bureau assessment: no evidence of superhuman potential, not considered for cultivation…

Three years ago, Li Nanke obtained residency rights in Salvation City’s Development District D, opened an artificial dream retail shop to make a living, and recently suspected of engaging in illegal dreammaking…

Medical records indicate that last December, Li Nanke was formally diagnosed with ALS at the City-State First Hospital and is currently symptomatic…

Spending records show that since moving to Salvation City three years ago, Li Nanke has made numerous sizable donations annually to aid reconstruction in disaster-stricken safe zones, until cessation at the end of last year…

All available data, analyzed by AI large model, indicates Li Nanke is of a helper-type personality: gentle, friendly, easygoing, never directly expresses needs, tactful, a classic nice guy…

Vena reviewed the detailed records and quickly pieced together the story.

Li Nanke, like most containment agents, had endured forbidden catastrophes. The difference was that containment agents were fortunate, gaining superhuman potential from their ordeal, whereas Li Nanke was among the many unlucky ones.

Later, he earned enough to obtain temporary residency in Salvation City, but he never forgot his past suffering, continuing to donate to safe zones.

After being diagnosed with a terminal illness and knowing he wouldn’t live much longer, he changed his identity and joined the rescue team, seeking to devote his final days to others…

Perhaps good deeds are rewarded. After his illness set in, he unknowingly awakened superhuman powers. Cases of malignant genetic mutation leading to superhuman awakening are exceedingly rare; it would not be an exaggeration to call it providence.

These thoughts were based on the data, and Vena, highly professional, would never let herself be swayed by subjective impressions like Matthew. She carefully compared survivor testimonies with the records and soon uncovered a series of significant discrepancies.