Full-Time Public Enemy-Chapter 553 - 461 The Protagonist

Number 18, named Zheng Qihe, was an executive at a local construction company. Despite his excellent academic performance from a young age, his personality had always been extreme because his mother had abandoned him and his father when he was three years old.

During college, he encountered the concept of "purity" and became increasingly obsessed with it. Two years after graduation, he joined the Digital Group as Number 18.

That was over twenty years ago.

Since then, the Digital Group had been lying in wait. All its members believed Zero's words that "purity" required the right moment. Although they took no action, all members of the Digital Group were secretly preparing.

For example, a few years ago, after his company undertook the research institute's construction project, Number 18 used his authority to clandestinely build an underground space there, hiding one of the Digital Group's labs inside it.

That time, he used construction robots to work at night when no one was around, so Robert was completely unaware. The security guards on-site were also from the construction company. Number 18 would invite them out for drinks at night. After he left, the construction robots would activate and work according to the preset program.

Afterward, Number 18 would secretly delete the relevant data from these robots' storage units.

The construction robots were highly efficient and completed the task in one night. The next day, no one noticed anything amiss.

During the entire construction process, Number 18 had the opportunity to get close to Robert. As Robert was new to the Confederation, he was more than happy to befriend a local.

Later, when Robert's lab was recruiting local staff, Number 18 recommended many "talents"—all of whom were, of course, his subordinates.

Thus, for a long time, Number 18 secretly cultivated malevolent creatures without Robert or the other researchers knowing.

However, Chen Gu also learned from Number 18's memories that the moss virus hadn't originated from this research institute. Rather, after the institute was built, Number 18 had received a mailed sample of the original virus, which he then used to cultivate the malevolent creatures.

Over the years, no matter how careful they were, they inevitably gave themselves away a little.

Employees at the research institute who noticed something amiss would often "resign" suddenly the next day. They wouldn't show up; a resignation letter would simply be sent to Robert's email.

These people, of course, had been kidnapped by Number 18 and his group. They became test subjects for cultivating the "weapons," thus contributing to "purity" in their own way.

Chen Gu searched through all of Number 18's memories. Although he understood the situation with Robert and the institute, it was of little help in rooting out the Digital Group. The new intelligence he gained was pitifully scant.

Chen Gu sighed internally. "Have the office staff come over and check all the equipment here. See if they can trace any valuable leads."

"Yes!" Chu Zheng crisply acknowledged the order.

Chen Gu had no sooner stepped out than he received a call from Ding Zhou. "About the live broadcast incident," Ding Zhou said, "there are still some problems."

"Public opinion has started to ferment. People are discussing what exactly that battle was all about."

"I've discussed it with Marshal Bai, and we think we should just go with the flow," Ding Zhou continued.

Chen Gu was somewhat perplexed. "Go with the flow?"

"Most of the audience thinks it was a promotional clip for a new movie, and they're full of anticipation for the realistic special effects," Ding Zhou explained. "Since that's the case, we might as well make a movie."

Chen Gu was about to nod when Ding Zhou's next sentence left him dumbstruck: "You'll be the lead actor."

Great Actor Chen... Although he shamelessly claimed to be an emperor of acting every other day, that was just a goal. In his past life, he had been a minor actor, the kind who had never even played a lead role in a tiny, low-budget production. Suddenly, to have a leading role in a top-tier blockbuster literally fall into his lap, his instincts from his past life kicked in, and he nearly blurted out "Thank you, boss!" in excitement.

Fortunately, he restrained himself. Seeing his prolonged silence, Ding Zhou thought he was upset. After all, asking a special agent to become a public figure and act in a movie was asking a lot.

The Deputy Director hastened to explain, "We have no choice. We know it's tough on you, but rest assured, we won't forget any of the sacrifices you've made for the Bureau. The Bureau will promote you one rank first, and for the movie, you'll get the top star salary: one hundred million!"

"There's precedent for star players from the Behemoth Alliance to make movies, so it's justifiable to the public. Only by handling it this way can we minimize the incident's impact."

"You also don't need to worry about not being able to act. We'll hire a personal acting coach for you, so don't worry about any of that."

Chen Gu's eyes went wide. As expected! Without Aviloya in power, my treatment at the Bureau of Mystic Security has skyrocketed! Just look at this: helping me fulfill my dream, pocketing a hundred million, and getting a rank increase on top of it! One more rank and I'll be T8! MHM, MHM, MHM... Same rank as that unfilial son, HAHAHAHA!

"Alright, I'll give it a try," Chen Gu said, his voice tinged with reluctance.

Ding Zhou breathed a long sigh of relief on the other end. "The situation there has concluded. For now, the follow-up work will be handed over to the experts from the internal affairs team. Hurry back. We need to deliver the rewards we promised you and start promoting the new movie as soon as possible to mitigate any negative impact."

"Okay."

Number 18 had basically become a vegetable. He had fiercely resisted Chen Gu's attempt to forcibly read his memories using spiritual power tentacles; this vegetative state was the inevitable result.

The experts from the internal affairs team were more useful for pursuing further leads than the special action team members. Chen Gu staying here would no longer be of any use.

He took Chu Zheng, Ma Changlong, and the others aboard the military-arranged spacecraft back to Capital Star.

On the way, Chen Gu received word that the other groups hadn't uncovered any useful leads. However, upon his arrival at Capital Star, he learned that the team led by Chen Jixian had found a setup similar to what Chen Gu had encountered. This discovery was made in a sewage treatment plant they investigated. Consequently, the Bureau inferred that the Digital Group had premeditated actions this time but had abandoned their subsequent plans due to Chen Gu's outstanding performance.

Chen Gu couldn't help but smile. 'Creator Zero' is probably hopping mad at this point, he mused.

But the smile was fleeting. The moss virus still loomed over everyone's heads like a sword.

Qing Ruyan came to meet their spacecraft. Upon seeing Chen Gu, she smiled slightly and said, "Congratulations, the youngest T8 rank special agent in the history of the Bureau of Mystic Security!"

Chen Gu checked his Bureau of Mystic Security account; sure enough, his status had been updated to "T8".

"Come with me back to the headquarters building," Qing Ruyan said. "During the last mission, you earned the reward of one piece of equipment. This time, we'll go select it."

Chen Gu also felt a touch of anticipation. I already have the Father-Son Sword for combat, but I lack supportive gear altogether. The items I had before are no longer strong enough now that my rank has increased.

The maglev vehicle sped for forty-five minutes and stopped precisely at an internal parking spot in the headquarters building. Chen Gu and Qing Ruyan stepped out. Chu Zheng, cheeks puffed in anger, trailed behind.

During the journey, Chen Gu and Qing Ruyan, being old friends, conversed cheerfully, her bell-like laughter frequently echoing in the cabin.

Since they both shared numerous interests in traditional cuisine, Chu Zheng found herself unable to interject. Eventually, she resorted to sulking by herself in the back seat. And there she was, still pouting even after they had disembarked.

Chen Gu was a little puzzled. "What's wrong with you?"

Chu Zheng turned away with a hint of grievance. "It's nothing."

Chen Gu didn't dwell on it and followed Qing Ruyan deeper into the headquarters. Arms crossed, an increasingly annoyed Chu Zheng trailed behind them.

Qing Ruyan then looked at her strangely. "Why are you following us? The area we're entering has a very high security clearance; you can't go in."

Chu Zheng stomped her foot and ran off, leaving Chen Gu utterly baffled.

He wasn't blind to Chu Zheng's feelings for him, but as she was Dr. Meng Ji's niece, Chen Gu couldn't bring himself to cross that line.

The "Armory" of the Bureau's headquarters was heavily guarded. Qing Ruyan led him through a long underground passage. Along the way, she told him, "This is the only link between the headquarters building and the Armory. It incorporates clever architectural designs that ensure even those who have been here from the headquarters before wouldn't know the Armory's exact underground location."

"With the practical application of dimensional technology now possible, the Bureau has plans to construct a dimensional space Armory and eventually relocate everything there."

After passing through four strict identity checks, Chen Gu finally stood within the vast and renowned Armory.

"You don't need to bother with these items on the first level; they're for those below the Third Energy Level," Qing Ruyan said as she led him further inside.

Chen Gu observed the items sealed within various transparent vessels around him. Although these vessels were crafted from special materials designed to maximally contain the items' energies, he could still sense their power!

"Indeed, worthy of the headquarters' collection!" Chen Gu exclaimed. The items I'd received before were all excellent, but they seem quite ordinary here.

Upon entering the second level, Qing Ruyan spread her arms. "Pick whatever you like; these are all for use by those at the Fourth Energy Level or above."

"Let me search for you," Qing Ruyan said while operating the system. Images of eleven items flew out. "These are all numbered items. If I were you, I'd pick one from amongst these."

But the moment Chen Gu stepped in, he was drawn to something else. It wasn't among the numbered items but was instead sitting in a corner, a hexahedral gemstone pendant that had been cut and polished.