14: Interrogation ended

The door to the Interrogation Room closed softly behind him, shutting out the scrutinizing gazes of Zhan Yong and Chen Xing. Lu Jianchuan walked back along the empty corridor, his footsteps echoing in the silence, each step seeming to land on his own hollow heart. He returned to his workstation, slumped into his chair, and shivered slightly at the cold touch of the desk.

He was oblivious to the sympathetic and hesitant looks cast by his colleagues. The world was isolated again; the low conversations, ringing phones, and keyboard clicks in the office all blurred into background noise. Before his eyes, only Uncle Li's face, a clear mixture of sternness and concern, vividly appeared.

He remembered the jokes he made when he first joined the police force, how Uncle Li would scold him for being “Clumsy” while helping him clean up the mess; he remembered the first dangerous mission, where Uncle Li silently shielded him; he remembered countless nights working late, the cup of always-too-strong tea Uncle Li handed him, and the words, “Kid, in our line of work, just be worthy of this uniform and worthy of your conscience”... Bit by bit, these memories flooded his heart, bringing sharp pangs of grief. Tears uncontrollably blurred his vision again. He squeezed his eyes shut and dug his fingers deep into his palms, using the pain to force himself to calm down.

He couldn't continue like this. What Uncle Li exchanged his life for was not for him to wallow in sorrow and despair here.

That monster... those horrors hidden beneath the normal world... did not disappear with the monster's death.

Uncle Li's vengeance might not just be against that one monster, but against the world that gave rise to such monsters—a world on the brink of dramatic change.

He slowly raised his left hand and, through his sleeve, touched the cold armband. This was no longer a childhood fantasy, but a heavy responsibility, a power gained through Uncle Li's sacrifice that must be used correctly.

A thought gradually became clear and resolute.

They... don't seem to have recognized me. Lu Jianchuan recalled the interrogation. The Investigator named Zhan Yong, though his gaze was sharp, it was more of a standardized scrutiny, lacking the keenness of “I've found you.”

Their questions were mainly focused on Uncle Li and his interpersonal relationships, with no probing concerning the “Silver Armor” or “supernatural abilities.” Was it because the armor covered his entire body, preventing confirmation based on appearance or physique? Or were there other clues at the scene that interfered with their judgment? He didn't know the specific reason, but this was undoubtedly good news, a precious moment of respite.

He could not waste this opportunity. He could not quit his job as a police officer. Not only because this was the place he and Uncle Li had worked together, filled with memories, but also because the identity of a police officer was a perfect cover and source of intelligence. If an abnormal report appeared anywhere in the city, the police were always among the first forces to arrive at the scene. Staying in the Police Station allowed him to intervene in incidents with the most reasonable identity and the fastest speed, which was far more efficient than being a rootless “Urban Hero.”

Since the other party didn't seem to recognize him, this was the best opportunity.

However, power could not rely solely on combat bursts and luck. The crudeness of last night's fight and the severe exhaustion after reverting from the transformation clearly told him that he must master this power, rather than being led by it.

He needed to find an absolutely safe, undisturbed place to systematically test the transformation and familiarize himself with the armor's various abilities, at least enough to control its activation and deactivation freely.

He needed to start high-intensity physical training to cope with the terrible energy consumption. He also needed to prepare large amounts of high-energy food... A difficult yet clear path gradually emerged from the ashes of his sorrow. His eyes were no longer full of confusion, but held a trace of resolute determination.

He did not know that he had just undergone a precise Particle Concentration Scan and “passed safely.” He merely based his most favorable judgment—to hide, utilize his identity, and master his power—on the attitude of the Investigators.

Outside the Police Station, Zhan Yong and Chen Xing returned to their black official vehicle. The moment the doors closed, the noise of the outside world was shut out.

Chen Xing looked at the newly recorded information on the tablet and the stable “0.007%” reading, and spoke first, his tone carrying a sense of analytical conclusion: “Brother Zhan, the scan results confirm an evo factor particle concentration of 0.007%, which is within the absolutely latent range. We can rule out the possibility of him being the armor individual. His emotional reaction... although very sorrowful, logically fits the behavior of a young man who just learned of his mentor's death in the line of duty.”

Zhan Yong did not respond immediately. His hands gripped the steering wheel, his gaze, like a hawk's, peered through the windshield, still fixed on the direction of the Police Station, as if he could penetrate the walls and see the despondent young man inside.

“The timing of his sorrow is wrong.” Zhan Yong's voice was low and calm, like stating a law of physics.

Chen Xing was slightly startled: “Wrong timing?”

“The people in the station only received the definitive notification this morning. But his sorrow...” Zhan Yong slightly narrowed his eyes. “That wasn't the shock and collapse of just hearing bad news; it was more like... a heavy grief that had settled overnight. Did you notice the emptiness and exhaustion in his eyes? That's not caused by an instantaneous blow; it requires time to ferment.”

Chen Xing immediately recalled that Lu Jianchuan's state was indeed closer to an exhausted numbness rather than a sudden bolt from the blue.

Zhan Yong continued: “We found fragments of a violently torn police uniform outside the warehouse perimeter, which we initially judged to be his clothing. Coupled with the blurry surveillance footage along the way showing a figure similar to him heading east... too many clues subtly point to him.”

“But the scan results...” Chen Xing pointed to the data on the tablet, which was the hardest evidence.

“The scan results only prove he isn't one *now*.” Zhan Yong turned his head and looked at Chen Xing, his gaze sharp. “But don't forget what we are dealing with. The evolution of the evo factor is an irreversible one-way street. Once activated and fixed in form, it is impossible to 'devolve' back to a normal latent state—that is an ironclad rule.”

He paused, speaking word by word: “Therefore, only two possibilities exist. One, he is extremely lucky, and all these clues are coincidences, meaning he has nothing to do with the warehouse incident. Two...”

Zhan Yong's voice became heavier: “Although he is not the armor individual itself, he must have some extremely close, unknown connection with that armor individual! Perhaps a witness, perhaps a Symbiote, or perhaps even... the Controller? The scanner detects his own particle concentration, but what if the armor is some kind of separable, independent creation?”

Chen Xing gasped, instantly understanding Zhan Yong's profound meaning. If the armor could exist independently, then the Aptitude Holder's own particle concentration could be completely latent! This overturned his previous understanding.

“I understand, Brother Zhan. So the scan results not only fail to rule him out as a suspect, but may actually point to a more complex, unknown situation?”

“Exactly.” Zhan Yong affirmed, then pressed the in-car communicator and connected to headquarters. “Command Center, this is Zhan Yong. Preliminary screening of target Lu Jianchuan revealed contradictions. His internal evo concentration is latent, but multiple highly correlated indirect pieces of evidence link him to the scene of the H-77 Incident. Based on the 'Evolution is Irreversible' principle, we suspect the target has a deep, unknown connection with the observed armor individual. Recommend immediately activating Level Three Surveillance Protocol to monitor his movements, communication, and social interactions comprehensively. I need to know his every move.”

“Received. Level Three Surveillance Protocol authorized and deployed.”

The communication ended, and a brief silence fell over the car. Chen Xing looked at the bustling street outside the window, feeling an invisible net had been quietly cast.

Zhan Yong finally started the car, the engine rumbling softly. “Evolution doesn't lie, Chen Xing. If he hasn't evolved, then he definitely knows something, or... he himself is part of the answer. Keep a close eye on him; the answer might surface on its own.”

The car slowly drove away, merging into the traffic flow. A surveillance operation, deduced based on strict logic and the rules of the world, had officially begun.