329: New teammates.

The official personnel acted with high efficiency. Fully armed GUPA field teams and biological containment experts in hazmat suits quickly took over the scene, setting up cordons and systematically conducting lockdown, evidence collection, and containment work.

Lu Jianchuan and Wei Ziqing were at a temporary rest point a short distance away. They had deactivated their transformations and were each holding a bottle of high-energy nutrient solution to replenish their spent energy. The exhaustion from the battle eased slightly as the liquid flowed into them.

Lu Jianchuan tossed the empty tube into a specialized recycling bag, exhaled a sigh of relief, and spoke to the scene commander walking toward them:

"That's the basic situation. Xu Yan, a key fugitive technician from Prometheus, has been confirmed captured. Chen Changqing of the Evergreen Group escaped during the chaos, but his identity is clear and the company's stronghold has been exposed. Issuing a warrant and following up on the investigation shouldn't be difficult."

He paused and pointed toward the core area of the laboratory with a serious expression.

"Most critical is that giant exotic flower, along with its subsidiary blossoms and pollen. The hallucinogenic effect is extremely potent and acts rapidly. Samples have been initially collected; your lab needs to perform a comprehensive analysis and hazard assessment."

The commander took notes diligently and nodded.

"Understood. The flower and all related samples will be properly sealed and transported back. If the analysis confirms the uncontrollable risks are too high or if there's a danger of active transmission, destruction protocols will be initiated. All related research data and residues will also be thoroughly cleared."

Wei Ziqing interjected:

"Then there are those Dinosaur Persons. We engaged individuals with special mutations and subdued them."

"However, several ordinary ones escaped through the walls on the upper floors earlier. A few fell to their deaths, but there might be a small number of survivors roaming the city."

"They possess a certain degree of aggression. Although their intelligence doesn't seem very high, they still pose a hidden threat."

The commander's expression sharpened. He immediately began making deployments via walkie-talkie and then assured the two:

"Don't worry, we will immediately retrieve surrounding surveillance footage, increase patrol and search forces, and activate the anomalous creature tracking contingency plan. Although the numbers may not be large, we will not allow them to cause harm in the city. Thank you for providing this critical intelligence."

The scene remained busy, but everything was now on track. Lu Jianchuan and Wei Ziqing exchanged a glance, knowing that the professional matters here no longer required their direct involvement.

The next morning, at the research center of a certain GUPA branch. Lu Jianchuan and Shen Mingyuan stood outside an analysis room, watching the busy figures of Researchers through the glass.

A Researcher wearing a white lab coat, with somewhat disheveled hair but sharp eyes, walked out holding a tablet computer to synchronize the latest progress with them.

"Regarding those Dinosaur Persons that escaped last night," the Researcher pushed up his glasses and pulled up several photos.

"We expanded the search area. In the early hours of this morning, at two different locations about eight hundred meters away from the building, we found three more corpses."

"Combined with those who initially fell to their deaths outside the building, the current number of discovered corpses basically matches the preliminary count of damaged cages at the scene."

"Falling from such a height, even if they could still move at the time, the damage to their internal organs and skeletons was fatal. They couldn't have lasted long."

He switched the screen to show a detailed diagram of the damage in the cage area.

"Of course, we can't rule out that a single cage originally held multiple individuals, or that there's an extremely lucky 'stray fish' that managed to buffer its fall and hide successfully."

"The search and monitoring will continue for a while, but based on all the corpses found so far, the risk of a large-scale escape and infiltration has significantly decreased."

Lu Jianchuan nodded; this was considered good news. However, the Researcher's next words made the atmosphere turn solemn again.

"More importantly, we conducted preliminary analyses overnight on the captured special individual, as well as the blood and tissue samples left at the scene."

The Researcher's expression became exceptionally grave.

"The results show that these Dinosaur Persons... or rather, these creatures created through forced evolution, possess an extremely dangerous and efficient 'proliferation' ability. They do not—or rather, do not only—rely on conventional reproduction to increase their numbers."

Shen Mingyuan keenly caught the keyword: "'Proliferation'? What do you mean?"

"It's infection," the Researcher uttered the heavy word.

"Infection?" Lu Jianchuan's brow furrowed.

"Exactly, a blood-based assimilative infection." The Researcher pulled up several microscope images and complex gene sequence comparison charts. "Their blood contains an extremely active and highly aggressive 'Transformation Factor'."

"Their method of attack is also very specialized—the interior of their sharp claws are hollow tube structures. During an attack, they can inject their own blood directly into the target's body through the tips of their claws."

He pointed at the images and explained: "The outcome of this 'infection' depends on the strength of the injected individual's immune System and their own life form."

"If the recipient's immunity is low or they are inherently fragile, the 'Transformation Factor' will take effect rapidly. Within a very short time—perhaps hours to days—it triggers violent systemic mutations. The process is excruciatingly painful and ultimately forces the target to transform into a Dinosaur Person form similar to them."

"And if the recipient has a very strong immune System or a relatively stable life form that cannot complete a total transformation in the short term," the Researcher's tone grew even more solemn,

"this 'Transformation Factor' can at least deeply rewrite the target's genetic information. The worst-case scenario is that even if the individual shows no obvious mutation, their germ cells will be contaminated, causing their offspring to exhibit Dinosaur Person traits from the embryonic stage. This is... a contamination of the gene pool."

After hearing this, Shen Mingyuan's face also turned grave. "In that case, this thing is even more dangerous than expected. Fortunately, most have been controlled or found. But if there's a stray one, or if they infected an ordinary person before being taken down..."

The Researcher nodded heavily. "That risk does indeed exist. The biggest problem is that the timeframe is too short; we haven't yet developed equipment that can quickly and non-invasively detect this specific infection. Identification requires complex blood and genetic analysis and cannot be screened on a large scale. I am working on it, but it will take time."

"Then we can't just sit around and wait," Shen Mingyuan flexed his wrists, his eyes sharpening. "We have to do something. Investigating suspicious signs, searching for potential infected... this job sounds quite suitable for me. I'll go have a look around."

Beside him, Lu Jianchuan rubbed his temples, his face looking somewhat tired. "Alright, I'm relieved to leave this to you. On my end... I'm feeling a bit unwell, probably from the heavy exertion yesterday. I need to go lie down in the medical department for a while to recover."

"Don't worry, Brother Lu. I can handle the work of two by myself," Shen Mingyuan replied.

"There's no need to handle it all alone," the Researcher quickly interjected, flipping through his tablet. "I'll arrange a temporary partner for you; it'll help to look out for each other. Let me think... oh, here we go. He happens to be at the base. I'll go call him over."

As the Researcher spoke, he walked away quickly.

Not long after, the Researcher returned with a young man. He looked to be about eighteen or nineteen, with a thin but upright build. His face was somewhat pale, yet his eyes held a calmness that had been tempered by hardship.

Most striking were the specially shaped, faintly glowing metal rings he wore on his neck, wrists, and ankles—clearly some kind of Suppression Devices.

At his waist, he wore a sophisticated-looking silver-grey armband bearing the GUPA logo. Its design was somewhat similar to Lu Jianchuan's armband, but with more mechanical detail.

Shen Mingyuan sized him up. "You are...?"

The young man stood straight, his voice steady. "My name is Lin Xun." He paused, his gaze sweeping over the suppressors on his body and the armband at his waist before continuing his explanation.

"You might have heard of me... when you were dealing with that 'Doctor' in the lab, the second form you encountered—that very fast silver individual—was me. But now, I am conscious. After assessment and negotiation, I have officially joined GUPA."

Shen Mingyuan realized, "Oh! The one who was incredibly fast! Wei Ziqing mentioned you to me, saying he almost couldn't keep up. So it was you." He recalled Wei Ziqing's brief description of that battle and immediately had a direct impression of the young man before him.

Lin Xun nodded and pointed to the suppressors on his body. "These are stabilization devices to prevent the unstable Evolution Factors in my body from going out of control."

He then touched the armband at his waist. "And this is a 'Prototype Stabilizer' modeled by the research department after the principles of your armor System. It allows me to briefly stimulate and control a portion of my power to fight in a humanoid form when needed."

"But the prerequisite is that the suppressors must function normally. Once the suppressors are forcibly removed or fail, I might be forced back into that... unstable high-speed combat form."

His explanation was clear and concise, without lingering on past details, only stating his current status and ability limitations.

"Understood," Shen Mingyuan extended his hand. "Partners, right? Sure, I'm Shen Mingyuan. Our mission is to head out and look for clues regarding Dinosaur Person infections. Your speed should be of great use."

Lin Xun reached out and shook his hand, a very faint smile appearing on his pale face. "Mhm, I'll do my best. Let's go."

The two didn't delay any further. After saying goodbye to the Researcher and the resting Lu Jianchuan, they left the analysis room together and headed toward the exit of the base.