It was only then that Zhang Lei realized something was amiss. The deputy director's words lacked any hint of self-praise. Normally, after going to such lengths to help Zhang Lei, the director would at least offer some kind of subtle encouragement. Although Zhang Lei wasn't an official in the Bureau of Foreign Affairs, he could still offer assistance to these ordinary officials in many ways.
"But what is it? Please tell me quickly!" At this point, Zhang Lei's tone was no longer as polite as before.
"It's quite a coincidence that we found her clues today, but just the day before, she was the one who was raped and murdered, one of the three women."
Zhang Lei felt a buzzing in his head. Although he had acted swiftly and decisively when Liu Yun died, whether it was helping him find peace or dumping his body in the wilderness, it was during a critical moment. At that time, even the slightest hesitation could have been fatal.
But afterwards, it was impossible for Zhang Lei not to feel any nostalgia or guilt towards Liu Yun. Although he was certain that he would act just as quickly if given the chance, he sometimes wondered if he had really acted too quickly.
Especially these past few days, I keep dreaming about Liu Yun, about when we first met, and about the care and love Liu Yun showed him.
But now, Liu Yun's sister, whom he entrusted to him on his deathbed, is dead. Just the day before, Zhang Lei suddenly felt that the deputy director's last words were a bit strange. It seemed that he was emphasizing that they found the clue to Liu Yu today. There are many ways to express the same thing, and each one is more concise and clearer than this. What made him emphasize that she had an accident before they found her?
Unless, she didn't die before they found her!
Zhang Lei suddenly thought of a possibility, very likely... very likely that it was his search that brought the devil to Liu Yun's sister. As far as Zhang Lei knew, there was only one person who liked to rape and murder women.
I probably don't trust that deputy director either. He's just an ordinary team member, and the deputy chief is also from the State Administration of Foreign Exchange. If the deputy chief asked him to tell him the news a few days in advance, would he not do it?
Zhang Lei's thoughts became increasingly unfocused, and he didn't notice that the vortex in his head was growing faster and wider, eventually occupying his entire brain. His brain was now its territory for absorbing internal energy.
Episode 4: An Eye for an Eye, a Teeth for a Fist - Chapter 70: Life is Like a Dream (Part 1)
"Brother, be gentle! Ningning can't take it anymore!" Ningning's scream woke Zhang Lei up.
Suddenly, Zhang Lei was stunned. What was this in front of him? When did he hit her so hard? Liu Ning's "little bottom" was covered with whip marks, one after another. Even when he first met Liu Ning, the little girl's bottom was not this bad.
But did this little girl's butt get swollen from being spanked? It looks so much bigger now. More importantly, will a swollen butt become even perkier?
Zhang Lei was slightly puzzled. He turned his head to look around and realized that the surroundings were clearly not his home. What was going on?
Liu Ning seemed to notice that Zhang Lei had stopped. "Brother, you can hit me. It's okay. Ningning will understand in the future. Ningning knows that brother actually cares about Ningning! Hit me, brother!"
Liu Ning's voice seemed much more mature, and Zhang Lei subconsciously waved his hand down.
What's that on his hand? A rattan cane? Why is there something like that on his hand? His hand doesn't even feel like his own anymore; it's clearly an adult's hand now. Although it's been washed very clean, Zhang Lei can still faintly smell the stench of blood, a smell that seems to have seeped deep into his flesh.
Last time in Japan, I felt something like this after killing seven or eight people, but it disappeared after washing my hands a few times. Now, this...
Zhang Lei's mind suddenly felt like it was exploding, and countless memories flooded in!
……This is a bloody dividing line……
"What are everyone's thoughts on this mission?" Fatty Qian wasn't as fat as he used to be, but his demeanor remained as amiable as ever. "Since no one's willing to take it, then let's send Zhang Lei from the Fifth Team!"
"Chief, sending that madman isn't a good idea. He's too bloodthirsty; he causes chaos wherever he goes. This mission isn't with an enemy country, and most of the people on board are Chinese..."
"What can I do if I don't send him? None of you are willing to take the mission. Do you think I want to send him on missions? Every mission he's on has caused me a lot of trouble. But you guys, you won't take the mission if there's danger, you won't take the mission if you're unhappy, you won't take the mission if you don't like it, you won't take this mission, you won't take that mission. Now that the mission has been assigned, what do you want? To send it back? Do you think this is still the case from a few years ago? You guys are only slightly more capable than the average person now. Let me tell you, the higher-ups are already considering disbanding the National Special Abilities Bureau. You'd better start thinking about how to make a living!"
Deputy Director Qian is now the director, and his aura has grown considerably. More importantly, what he said is true. Apart from developing their superpowers earlier, resulting in higher superpower indices, these people really don't have anything special. Many of their previously powerful superpowers have suddenly become useless. It's a shame they still have the nerve to stay in the National Bureau of Supernatural Powers.
The Bureau of Foreign Affairs has been transformed from a branch bureau into a formal bureau, and as such, they are under even greater pressure.
Those with superpowers have no choice. Basically, as soon as they develop superpowers, they are plundered by the National Bureau of Supernatural Powers. Apart from a few large families, what other means of making a living do they have? Even if they are from large families, their status among the family heads plummets. When everyone has superpowers, then these so-called superpowers are as normal as eating and farting. What is there to boast about?
However, the term "superpowered individual" is somewhat outdated, because almost everyone is a superpowered individual now. Superpowered individuals, who used to be as proud as swans, are nothing now. Unless they are newly emerged superpowered individuals with low superpower indices, not reaching the qualitative leap of one thousand, it is likely that the National Bureau of Superpowers has not been disbanded by the higher-ups, but has already been disbanded.
The atmosphere in the entire conference room suddenly fell silent, including that of Director Qian. Although he, as a civilian employee, could be transferred to another department, he would probably become the former director.
It's easy to go from simplicity to extravagance, but difficult to go from extravagance to simplicity. Similarly, once you've taken office, it's definitely not pleasant to be removed from your post, especially if you haven't done anything wrong.
"I'll go!" "I'll go!"... Several people stood up in the room, but this did not include fire-type ability users.
Fire-based abilities have become largely useless, and this applies not only to fire-based abilities but also to many other types of abilities.
All of this stemmed from a sudden change three months ago. Three months ago, people on Earth witnessed a great battle through satellite images—a battle in which one person annihilated an entire fleet. (For details, please see the preface to my utterly wicked work.)
The fleet wasn't at sea, but in space. This battle directly proved the existence of aliens. Many people initially thought it was a gimmick for a Hollywood movie, but later realized it was impossible. No film company could afford such a large-scale production, and the scene wasn't shown in a movie news report.
This wouldn't have been a big deal. Humanity has long held expectations for extraterrestrials. The victorious alien didn't even make a friendly visit to Earth. This sensation should have passed quickly, except that the alien sparked a trend of learning martial arts, and Earthlings witnessed the best performance of the highest level of physical strength defeating the highest level of technology.
However, what followed was that the concentration of vital energy on Earth began to increase rapidly. Initially, it was confirmed that cultivators and people with supernatural abilities were absorbing internal energy at a rate tenfold higher.
What followed was the large-scale emergence of people with superpowers. At least 60% of them developed special abilities, and the percentage was generally higher among those who were physically stronger. Almost 100% of the normal population between the ages of 20 and 35 possessed these abilities, although most of them only had minor abilities such as holding a matchstick in the air or lighting a match. Even so, it was enough to change a lot.
Moreover, these people with superpowers knew that their abilities were like this at the beginning, and that the effects of their abilities would become greater as their proficiency increased.
When everyone has superpowers, the Bureau of Extraordinary Abilities will naturally become unnecessary, unless it can find a place to restructure its assets, allowing these people to have a way to contribute their remaining energy. Fortunately, Zhang Lei has been around for the past few years, so basically no one likes any missions, which are given to that guy with the "broken brain" (a derogatory term for someone who has been trained to the point of madness). Anyway, that guy won't refuse. In this way, the Bureau of Extraordinary Abilities doesn't give people too bad an impression.
Moreover, as the concentration of vital energy increases, many supernatural abilities begin to become ineffective. For example, fire and electric abilities, apart from extreme high temperatures and super strong currents, have less and less effect on the human body. On the contrary, many of the original useless supernatural abilities have begun to emerge, but their application still needs to be studied.
…………
Summer is here, and Lao Gui, who works in refrigeration, will be busier and busier. Sometimes he simply can't find time to come online during the day, so he'll put two chapters together in the evening. But don't worry, the word count will be the same, it won't be reduced.
Episode 4: An Eye for an Eye, a Blade for a Teeth - Chapter 70: Life is Like a Dream (Part 2)
Zhang Lei sat there blankly, the events of the past eight years flashing before his eyes like a revolving lantern. Fortunately, these were all his memories, so although his head was throbbing, it didn't explode.
"Damn it, eight years have passed already?" Zhang Lei pounded his head hard. He couldn't believe it, but all the appearances and his memories told him that it was all true.
"Brother? What's wrong?" Liu Ning was prepared, but the fact that she hadn't managed to hit anything for so long made her feel a little strange.
"It's nothing. You've suffered so much over the years!" Zhang Lei gently stroked the buttocks covered in whip marks.
Eight years is enough time to change a lot of things!
Eight years ago, Zhang Lei relaxed his monitoring of the brain cyclones and failed to stop them in time when they were spinning and expanding wildly. By the time he realized it, it was too late.
Zhang Lei could only use strong suggestions to solidify his training into an instinct, as well as some other instincts in his daily life; that was all.