Half of the room was lit up by the dim light.
Hu Hao stood respectfully in front of the desk with a straight posture.
"I've confirmed it with Old Luo. This bullet is one of the two armor-piercing bullets that Qi Yuan exchanged from him yesterday. The line of fire matches as well. It's the bullet that was shot from the Eagle."
Situ wore a silver-gray nightgown and sat on the high-back chair. He was smoking a cigar in his mouth. He held a deformed armor-piercing bullet between his fingers and observed it for a long time. Then, he put it down gently.
"Is the test result on the Rock Lizard's body out?"
"It's out," Hu Hao said in a deep voice.
"There's no poison or anesthetic residue. The fatal wound is the bullet that was shot from the left eye. The bullet went through the Rock Lizard's brain and killed it in one shot!"
The room became quiet. Situ exhaled a smoke ring and stood up from the chair. The hem of his nightgown was dragging on the carpet in the room. He walked slowly to the huge floor-to-ceiling window and looked down at the dimly lit Black Stone Town.
"You're suspecting that Qi Yuan killed the Rock Lizard?"
"Yes!" Hu Hao's eyes were serious.
"I think this bullet is enough to prove the killer's identity."
"After I returned to Black Stone Town, I've been observing the hunters that came back from the watchtower. Qi Yuan's clothes are ragged. It's obvious that he went through an intense battle. However, he didn't bring back any prey. This doesn't make sense!"
"Qi Yuan went out to hunt on foot. The hunting range wouldn't be more than thirty kilometers. There shouldn't be any powerful insectoids within this range. Qi Yuan has the Eagle Type II Revolver and two armor-piercing bullets that Old Luo gave him. Adding on his defensive ability, the only insectoid that could make him look so bad and return empty-handed, other than the abandoned mine, is this Rock Lizard."
Situ was silent for a while. Suddenly, he said, "There's an investigation report on Qi Yuan on the table. Take a look."
Hu Hao picked up the investigation report and read it carefully. Qi Yuan's background was very simple, but when he saw the contents, he could not help but open his mouth wide.
Qi Yuan was not an outsider. He had already lived in Blackstone Town for three months. Two days ago, Qi Yuan was still an ordinary person who did not even have the strength to truss a chicken. He had even been knocked unconscious and sold to One-eyed Qiang as bait. In the end, One-eyed Qiang had died, while Qi Yuan had returned alive. He had brought back two Corrupt Wolf claws and fangs, as well as a defense that even a pistol could not break through at close range.
"This investigation report was only delivered to me this afternoon, and you're telling me that he killed the Rock Lizard tonight. Tell me, how do you feel right now?"
"I …"
Hu Hao's mouth was agape. Although all the evidence pointed to Qi Yuan as the mysterious person who killed the Rock Lizard, when all the evidence was put together with the investigation report, it seemed so ridiculous.
An ordinary person living in the lowest rung of Blackstone Town, in a life and death crisis, awakened an extraordinary ability and killed Cyclops and the Corrupt Wolf. Such a small chance of coincidence was rare, but it was certainly possible.
However, if this person awakened an extraordinary ability in the Combat Domain on the first day, then awakened an extraordinary ability in the Psionic Domain on the second day, then it would no longer be a coincidence. It would be absurd.
"Could it be that he got the Evolving Serum from Xu Kui?"
"Xu Kui has not been having a good time recently. He does not have such a serum." Situ shook his head.
"Moreover, this enhanced bullet attack ability belongs to the Psionic Domain."
Psionic Domain!
Hu Hao frowned. Compared to the commonly seen Awakened ones in the Combat Domain, Perception Domain, and Elemental Domain, Awakened ones in the Psionic Domain and Mystic Domain were very rare. The main reason for that was the Evolving Serum. Occasionally, large companies and shelters would circulate a few Evolving Serums for the Elemental Domain and Combat Domain. However, no one had ever bought the Evolving Serums for the Psionic Domain and Mystic Domain.
Even in the Black Steel Shelter, these two types of Evolving Serums were very rare. It was impossible for them to circulate in the wilderness.
Other than relying on these mysterious and dangerous Evolving Serums, hunters in the wilderness could only rely on their own awakening to awaken extraordinary abilities. Elder Luo had awakened a Tier 1 Shapeshifting ability, which was why he had such a high status.
After a long silence, Situ slowly said, "If my guess is correct, then he is a human.
"If I'm not wrong, this Qi Yuan might be a genetic warrior!"
"Genetic warrior?" Hu Hao was a little surprised. It was obvious that he had never heard of such an existence.
"Those lunatics from the Flesh and Blood Alliance. They created artificial humans through genetic coding. They have already released a lot of defective products into the wilderness."
After Situ gave a simple explanation, he did not say anything else. These were the results of the game between the large organizations. A gathering point at the level of Blackstone Town had no right to change anything.
"Remember to hide the fact that Qi Yuan killed the Rock Lizard. Find a way to let Xu Kui test Qi Yuan's true strength," Situ said.
Hearing this, a smile suddenly appeared on Hu Hao's face.
"Xu Kui's people might be looking for trouble with Qi Yuan. He killed Cyclops Strong, and Cyclops Strong has secretly accepted Xu Kui's invitation. With Xu Kui's impulsive personality, he will not let him go."
Situ shook his head slightly.
"You underestimate Xu Kui too much. He is not as stupid as you think. He is just arrogant. Otherwise, Quicksand Shelter would not have thrown him here to fight with me."
"Tell your men to not have a direct confrontation with Qi Yuan. No matter what his purpose is for sneaking into the mine to kill the Rock Lizard, at least he has not threatened our interests yet. If he has a direct confrontation with Xu Kui, we can secretly help him. However, do not get too close to Qi Yuan. If he is really a genetic warrior, then he is not on our side."
"Yes, sir!"
Hu Hao turned and left, leaving Situ alone by the window, looking at the night scenery outside. His resolute face was reflected on the glass through the hazy smoke, and one could vaguely see that there was some worry in the depths of his eyes.
"Black Steel Shelter … Quicksand Shelter … Genetic warrior … Blackstone Town is getting more and more chaotic."
…
Under the dim light.
Qi Yuan lay on his back in the bathtub filled with hot water, recalling the battle with the Rock Lizard bit by bit.
If I had been a little slower, or if I had not fused with a suitable talent, would I have been dead by now?
The first checkpoint almost cost me my life, and the checkpoints after that are even more dangerous. It's really hard to deal with!
The checkpoint below Situ's residence had not been figured out yet, but the other abandoned mine was a good opportunity.
Xu Kui was recruiting people to clear out the insectoids in the mine. If he could join the clean-up team, would he be able to win without having to do anything?
Time passed by slowly, and the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub seemed to drop slowly. After an hour, it was still as warm as before. In the midst of the warmth and comfort, a wave of drowsiness assaulted Qi Yuan. He closed his eyes and slowly fell into a deep sleep in the bathtub, his breathing gradually becoming long and steady.
In the shadows of the corner of the room, a vague figure appeared. She stared at Qi Yuan in the bathtub for a long time. After finding no abnormalities, a slim figure wrapped in tight black night clothes slowly walked out of the darkness.