218: Differential treatment

Not alike.

Completely different.

The young man on the tablet, though not astonishingly handsome, was definitely good-looking with a distinguished aura.

However, this “Lin Yu” in front of them had ordinary features, the kind that would disappear in a crowd.

The two faces had nothing in common except for their gender.

“What the hell?” the adjutant cursed in a low voice. “Is this kid crazy? Of all people to impersonate, he chose him?”

Zhou Zheng also felt a surge of anger.

He most disliked these attention-seeking individuals. To use such a clumsy method to gain attention at such a serious incident site was simply courting death.

He strode over to Lin Yu, looking down at him from above.

“You said your name is Lin Yu?”

“Yes.”

“Then look at this.” Zhou Zheng handed the tactical tablet to him. “Do you think you look like him?”

Lin Yu glanced at the screen.

On the screen was his original appearance.

With all the chaotic things happening, he had forgotten about this... “I understand.”

Lin Yu suddenly spoke.

Zhou Zheng was about to erupt but was startled by this abrupt statement.

What do you understand?

Lin Yu raised his hand and, in front of everyone, gently rubbed his cheek.

Vitality Nourishment (Origin).

A faint life energy, almost imperceptible to anyone, began to precisely act on his facial muscles and bones under his control.

“Click... clack...”

A subtle, teeth-grinding sound of bones rubbing came from his face.

Everyone's eyes widened.

Lin Yu's unremarkable face was changing at a speed visible to the naked eye.

His cheekbones adjusted, his nose bridge slowly rose, and the lines of his jaw became clearer and sharper. His originally somewhat ordinary features seemed to be re-sculpted and rearranged by an invisible divine hand.

The entire process took only a few seconds.

There were no light and shadow effects, no energy fluctuations.

It was purely a physical deformation at the material level.

This was more impactful than any dazzling illusion!

“Brother...”

Lin Yao covered her mouth, her beautiful eyes filled with disbelief.

She knew her brother had a way to change his appearance, but she always thought it was some special item or a skill like a diversion.

She never expected that her brother's “disguise” was actually... live face-sculpting!

Was this still within the realm of human ability?

Wang Qingxuan was also stunned. Although it wasn't the first time she had seen it, each time she saw it, she still found it incredible!

To mold one's own flesh and bones like clay, what terrifying control that was!

And Zhou Zheng, who was directly facing it, along with the special agents around him, had completely turned to stone.

They stood with their mouths agape, their minds blank.

A living person, right in front of them, changed faces like a magic trick.

A few seconds later, that handsome and resolute face belonging to “288-star examinee Lin Yu” clearly appeared before them.

It was identical to the person on the tactical tablet.

Not a single difference.

Lin Yu released his hand, moving his still somewhat stiff facial muscles, seemingly not entirely satisfied with the operation.

After all, he hadn't done it many times, so his control over the force and angles wasn't perfect yet.

He looked up at the completely stunned Zhou Zheng.

“Captain Zhou.”

His voice also returned to its original clear tone.

“Now, can you tell me why you are looking for me?”

Zhou Zheng's mind went blank for a moment.

In his twenty years of service, he had encountered countless bizarre cases and witnessed all sorts of strange professional abilities.

Disguise, illusion, shapeshifting... these were all routine operations.

But what the hell was live face-sculpting?

Zhou Zheng's tactical helmet was the pinnacle of military technology, equipped with top-tier illusion-breaking and anti-reconnaissance functions.

Even a master illusionist with thousands of mental power would be exposed under his helmet's scan, revealing at least traces of energy fluctuations.

But now.

The scan results showed everything was normal.

The facial structure of this young man was purely a physical, real existence.

No traces of illusion.

No energy residue.

Nothing.

Zhou Zheng swallowed with difficulty, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down.

Nonsense, of course there wasn't.

Lin Yu used Vitality Nourishment (Origin) to perform a cell-level precise physical reconstruction on himself.

What did that have to do with illusion?

It would be a ghost if there were any traces.

“Captain Zhou.”

Lin Yu's voice sounded again, pulling Zhou Zheng back from his petrified state.

Zhou Zheng suddenly snapped back to attention. He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the turbulent waves in his heart, and re-examined Lin Yu before him.

The previous disdain and impatience had completely vanished.

In its place was an unprecedented solemnity.

Now, he somewhat understood why Commander Qin Zhan and Zhong Huai were so concerned about this young man.

Just this uncanny “disguise” method alone was enough to put him in the most dangerous category on any intelligence agency's list.

“Mr. Lin Yu.”

Zhou Zheng's address unconsciously changed from “you” to the honorific “you” ( you), even using a respectful title.

“According to the energy detector's records, an extremely high-intensity energy burst occurred here ten minutes ago. May I ask if you know anything about it?”

“No, I came to pick up my sister.”

Lin Yu's reply was calm and indifferent.

The surrounding special agents also held their breath.

They looked at their captain, then at the young man named Lin Yu, unsure how to react for a moment.

This kid was too arrogant.

At a Special Operations Department scene, facing the captain's inquiry, he dared to be so perfunctory.

However, to everyone's surprise.

Zhou Zheng did not get angry.

He was silent for a few seconds, and then, his tense, weathered face slowly relaxed.

He waved his hand, signaling the surrounding team members to relax.

“Since you're here to pick up your sister, there's nothing for you here. The scene is a bit chaotic, so I'll send someone to escort you and your family back.”

When these words came out, not only were his subordinates dumbfounded.

On the other side, Li Wen, who was being watched by two special agents, was even more completely incredulous.

It wasn't like he hadn't been caught by these guys before!

When had they ever been so accommodating!!!

Is that it?

Li Wen had prepared ten thousand excuses in his mind, ready to twist facts in front of the Special Operations Department, push all responsibility onto Lin Yu, and even paint him as a traitor colluding with the Abyss Domain.

But now, looking at Zhou Zheng, who was “chatting happily” with Lin Yu not far away, he couldn't utter a single word.