"Dad! You have to prove my innocence... I'm innocent..."
Ren Tao, who had just awakened, was completely unaware of the disaster he had almost caused.
As Professor Guo dragged him to the lab for further investigation, he cried out to Ren Jian Country, who was standing not far away.
The voice gradually faded at the other end of the corridor.
"Hehe, Captain Jian Country, I suggest you make sure your son spends less time with those dubious friends in the future. Last time, he was almost fractured by the Shadow," Zodiac Rabbit chuckled as he patted the anxious man before him.
"Sigh... Your advice is correct; I have indeed been negligent in educating my son," Ren Jian Country sighed, pondering something unknown.
At this moment, Zodiac Pig walked over.
He said seriously to Wu Liang and the others, "I plan to apply for a meeting to report this issue to all the officials in the Capital City. I'll need everyone here to assist with the report tomorrow."
This "Pioneer" incident revealed an extremely serious issue with the authorities — neglecting the threat level from Awakened individuals!
Since the establishment of the Paranormal Handling Department, their greatest threat and main focus had always been on the resurgence of the supernatural.
This led to increasingly aggressive action against "ghosts" but increasingly neglected threats from "humans."
Zodiac Pig felt it was necessary for higher-level leaders to realize the need to increase vigilance toward "humans"!
"Wait! I have an objection!"
Wu Liang suddenly raised his hand, interrupting Zodiac Pig's arrangements, drawing everyone's attention to him, wondering what he intended to say.
After all, he frequently made shocking comments that seemed mentally unstable; who knew if he was having an episode again this time.
"I don't want to show my face, can I not go?"
Due to the exposure risk of the Ghost Compendium, Wu Liang was quite averse to putting himself in the spotlight.
At this point, people might only know he's pretty strong, but no specific information was known.
Even amongst the Zodiacs and Professor Guo, they only knew that his physical and spiritual power were strong, his Symbiotic Ability was the Mist, and he possessed a mask-like Supernatural Object.
The most important thing is, these people wouldn't reveal his information to the outside world for no reason.
But being suddenly placed in the spotlight, having all the Capital City's officials looking at him explaining how to deal with the "Pioneer" in a report.
Wu Liang wasn't used to it and couldn't accept it.
"Uh, but you are the key figure! If you don't come, what am I supposed to report, the spring breeze? We can't just say the 'Pioneer' mysteriously self-destructed, right?" Zodiac Pig scratched his head, feeling at a loss.
"Do whatever you like, how about you publicly credit this underage girl?"
Wu Liang shrugged and pointed to Zodiac Rabbit, who seemed to be in a daze still digesting the details of the previous incident.
Indeed, she didn't even jump up to retort the "underage" comment, indicating her mind was truly blank.
"Humph! I heard that! I'm just coming up with something, I'm really smart!"
Suddenly, she proudly bounced over to Zodiac Pig, then tiptoed over to whisper in his ear.
After a few seconds, Zodiac Pig's eyes brightened.
"Good good good, you're quite the little genius!" Zodiac Pig said, turning his head toward Wu Liang with a smile, "You, you'll definitely come tomorrow!"
"Heh, if I really go, I'm not called Wu Ming!"
"Hello, everyone! I'm Zodiac Pig, I'm sure many of you know my previous status, today's report will start from here..."
The next day at noon, in the largest stepped meeting room in the headquarters building.
Zodiac Pig was at the forefront, reporting the situation from the podium.
Beside him sat Zodiac Rabbit, Professor Guo, and the tied-up Willow Leaf and Ren Tao.
But there was also a mysterious person sitting with his legs crossed, dressed in a suit with a "Sun Wukong" mask on his face, sitting next to Zodiac Pig, even closer to the podium than Zodiac Rabbit and Professor Guo.
Everyone below, aside from attentively listening to Zodiac Pig's report, was curiously guessing this person's identity.
Except for one man and woman whispering at the very back, visibly puzzled—
"Holy crap, doesn't that person's figure look like Shadow?" Fu Juan was shockingly close to fainting.
"Sure enough, Yingzi probably did this, but it should be...," Jin Chenghua was also a bit numb.
From the time he picked up Shadow from the airport until today, it had been less than two weeks, right?
Why did such a high-level official headquarters meeting have this person sitting in the reporting seats?
"Above is the truth behind the mass recruitment of Awakened individuals previously, and an integral part of the 'Pioneer' plan." Zodiac Pig's report left everyone in disbelief.
No one expected such a terrifying Awakened assault to take place secretly this month!
But soon Zodiac Pig pointed to the man in the suit beside him and solemnly said, "The main details remaining will be explained by Zodiac Monkey, he's the one with the greatest credit for this incident!"
As soon as these words were spoken, all the captains of the Supernatural Squads, department heads, and a few upper leaders participating via virtual projection turned their attention to him.
Even a few Symbionts, who weren't paying much attention to the report, suddenly stood up!
They were the ones who knew best that there were still three vacant positions in the Zodiac Department!
Which were Rat, Tiger, and Monkey!
Everyone of the scarce Symbionts was fighting to get in those positions, yet there was no sign of the leaders relenting.
This person silently occupied the Zodiac Monkey position without anyone knowing!
Damn! Who exactly is he!?
"Cough cough, mic check, one~two~three, okay no problem, good noon, audience friends." Zodiac Monkey stood up and his first words to the microphone made those expecting tighten up.
Such a serious, urgent meeting! Discussing the direction of official focus work for the whole entity!
Yet here you are acting like a radio station host!?
Even though Zodiac Monkey's voice seemed to be specially processed, sounding slightly hoarse and low, his seemingly bizarre tone instantly silenced Fu Juan and Jin Chenghua.
Dammit! Definitely Shadow, that bastard!
There's no need to guess at this point!
Only he would go crazy at such an occasion!
"'Pioneer' was wrecked by me, 'Promised Land' revived, the headquarters has traitors — these two lads here, okay, I'm done." Wu Liang finished testing the mic and summed up the events in one sentence.
The others couldn't hold it any longer!
What the hell did you report, exactly!?
Is this disorganized person really suited to be Zodiac Monkey? Tʜe sourcᴇ of thɪs content ɪs NoveI-Fire.ɴet
Zodiac Pig, who foresaw this outcome, shrugged, skilfully taking over the podium again to continue detailing the report.
His goal had already been achieved—
To alert upper leaders about 'Promised Land's' significance to facilitate future operations, and to have Shadow successfully seated in the Zodiac Department!
Oh, by the way, he said if he came, he'd no longer be called Wu Ming, haha, I wonder if this guy figured out a new name yet?