Captured By The Cold Detective (BL)-Chapter 476: For A Better Future
"...What?" He Juan’s voice escaped in a hushed whisper, laced with thick disbelief.
But Luo Xuan seemed utterly oblivious to the tumult of emotions on the man before him. He took another leisurely sip of his tea, and his lips hooked into an even wider smile as though he could already envision the world he was going to make. "Omegas are born weak; it’s our fate to always stand below Alphas and Betas. After all, the world always favors the strong. That’s why I have been searching for a way to fix it. And look?" He directed a triumphant beam at He Juan. "I am the living proof, am I not? I am proof that Omegas can be stronger than Alphas and Betas. Who would dare to challenge me? Who would dare to provoke me? Only when every Omega mutates will we break free from the shackles of this wretched society, just like I did!"
He Juan took a slow, deep breath. Yet it was still not enough to quell the numbing chill on his body. He felt dizzy from the onslaught of information Luo Xuan had just revealed to him. To mutate all the Omegas in the world? It was so... absurd, unbelievable, but knowing the man before him, he definitely had a way to make it come true. Again, He Juan’s gaze landed on the small piece of paper on the table, and an inconceivable thought flashed through his mind, one that sent shivers down his spine. He bit the tip of his tongue and used the pain to ground himself, "Are you... the investor? Did you really fund that facility?"
Inwardly, he prayed, Please, don’t. Please don’t let it be true...
But God seemed unwilling to show him mercy this time, as his greatest fear still turned out to be reality.
Luo Xuan let out a helpless sigh, "I didn’t intend for you to find out this way. I know what you’re thinking, XIU. But before we delve further, let me tell you that this facility is different from others. Here, our goal is not to create mutated Alphas, but to cultivate Omegas. Can you see my grand vision, XIU? With the help of the serum made from my blood, our success rate surpasses fifty percent! And that’s with only three years of research!" He exclaimed, eyes sparkling and cheeks flushing in excitement.
"Three years..." He Juan murmured before his laughter burst forth, hollow and bitter.
Three years. The research facility had been in operation for three years, and that more or less coincided with the time when Luo Xuan began to throw all matters regarding the organization to He Juan, claiming that he wanted to have a vacation. Was this the so-called vacation he spoke of?
During the span of those three years, didn’t the notion of telling He Juan never cross his mind even once? Wait, that’s not right. He did consider it, for it was three years ago that He Juan had entered the Queen of Spades— the very year he’d discovered the existence of the mutated pheromones. But it took him three long years to get here. He couldn’t help but wonder if he had moved faster, if he had found this signature sooner, could he have persuaded Luo Xuan in time?
Once again, Mo Feng’s words echoed in his mind, and the sting from his own previous denials felt tangible on his cheek akin to a phantom slap. It was he who outright denied Xuanlong’s involvement, it was he who never doubted Luo Xuan in the first place. And see where it took him?
"Do you realize what you have done?" He Juan’s voice trembled, anger bubbling within him— both toward Luo Xuan and himself. "Three years. How many Omegas have you torn from their homes by force? How many Omegas have been sacrificed in the process? How many more must suffer for your damn grand vision?!" His chest rose and fell rapidly, his words bordering on a growl. "Do you even realize what you have done, Luo Xuan? At this rate, you will be no different from those researchers who harmed you!"
CRASH!
A teacup hurtled past He Juan’s ear to shatter against the wall behind him. A glint of anger ignited in Luo Xuan’s eyes, his voice laced with suppressed fury, "How dare you... how dare you associate me with those bastards! Why can’t you understand it, XIU? I am doing this for a greater good, for a better future!"
A knock echoed at the door, presumably the staff member who had heard the commotion inside the room, but none of them could afford to care about it right now. "Did they ask you to do that?!" He Juan seethed. "Did they ask to be wrenched from their families? Did they ask to be imprisoned, to be subjected to endless experiments, to suffer in agony for the rest of their lives... all for the sake of your ’better’ future?!"
"What do you know?!" Luo Xuan’s voice rose as he argued. "You’re an Alpha, you are born to stand on top of the world. What do you know about our pain, who have to live in fear and anxiety every single day?!"
"Excuse me, Sirs—"
"Because I have witnessed it firsthand!" He Juan was so angered that he shot up to his feet, the chair tumbling behind him. He locked eyes with Luo Xuan and hissed, "One year. I have raided twenty three facilities across six provinces. I have seen everything that I have to. And you’re still asking me what I know?!"
Aware that his anger was getting the better of him, He Juan raked his fingers through his hair and paced back and forth in the private room akin to an agitated beast. He painstakingly suppressed the restlessness of his Alpha that wanted to go berserk and destroy something— anything.
Recalling that the staff was still outside, he went to open the door by a crack and subtly chased them away, reassuring them that everything was fine. But when the door closed again, he found that he had not calmed down at all.
How could he possibly remain calm in this kind of situation?! How... How was he supposed to get it into Luo Xuan’s head that the power he sought was twisted and destructive?
He took a deep breath and tried again, "Stop it, Boss. I understand that you want to protect Omegas, but your method is wrong. Have you ever thought that more than power, what they truly wish is peace and stability?" His voice softened, almost into a plea.
He knew it because that was what he wanted for Mu Yuze too. If he was given the choice between Mu Yuze gaining strength through sacrifice or leading a normal, healthy life, he would choose the latter within a heartbeat. It was because he couldn’t bear to see the boy get hurt. Omegas were born to be cherished and protected, and he was certain that parents, siblings and lovers of Omegas around the world would echo his statement.
"You don’t need to do this. You might not be aware of this, but this year an Omega has been elected to be the prime minister. This can be the turning point—"
"Stop," Luo Xuan interjected, his demeanor icy and unyielding. "You don’t need to say more, XIU. I understand that this is hard for you to grasp. You are too soft-hearted, and you will never understand how some sacrifices are needed for greater good. Leave, we will talk again later."
All the words and reassurance He Juan was going to say was stuffed back to his throat. A hoarse laugh slipped out of his lips, laced with thick disbelief. "Some sacrifices are needed... for greater good?" Looking at Luo Xuan, he knew that whatever he said at this moment would fall on deaf ears, because the man had already made up his mind.
He was really going to do it. He was going to continue the experiment, even if it took years or decades, until he got the results he wanted. He Juan laughed again, more towards himself this time, mocking how stupid and naïve he had been. Why hadn’t he seen through Luo Xuan’s twisted nature until today? He had believed they shared the same goal, that they were working to make Xuanlong strong enough to brace any wind or storm that came their way. He thought... they were going to be comrades who would watch each other’s backs through thick and thin.
Yet somewhere in between, he was left all alone to walk through this path, for the other person had set his sights on a different destination— one that might clash with his.
"You’re insane," He Juan said, shaking his head. "You have gone fucking insane, Luo Xuan." That was the last sentence He Juan said before he stormed out of that place, his expression thunderous.
As soon as he got into the car, he swiftly made a call to the head of the accounting department in Xuanlong. "Put the cash flow records from the past three years on my desk. All of them. I’m going to review them when I return."
He had to put an end to this madness, no matter what it took.
