Chen Xuan wished the floor would swallow him whole. His embarrassment could have dug through three basement levels.
Just then, Lin Xiangdong arrived, breathless with worry.
The smell of burnt fur still hung in the air.
"Son, are you hurt? Let me see."
"I'm fine. The tiger was too weak. One hit and it was over."
Lin Bei stood proudly, chin up.
Lin Xiangdong blinked, glancing from the smouldering corpse to his son.
"You… killed it?"
"What happened here?"
Chen Xuan cleared his throat and stepped forward. "Are you Mr Lin from the Lin Group?"
"Yes."
"Oh. I thought I recognised you."
He gave an awkward smile. "I'm Chen Xuan, Captain of the Superpower Bureau. It's an honour, Mr Lin. And this is… your son?"
"Yes. I hope he hasn't caused you trouble."
Chen Xuan waved both hands quickly. "No, no! Your son's a hero. He killed the mutant tiger and saved lives."
Lin Xiangdong stared. "That can't be right. My son—he has… an intellectual disability. How could he possibly kill that thing?"
Chen Xuan hesitated. So I wasn't imagining it. He really is…
He coughed lightly. "Mr Lin, I believe your son may be an awakener."
Lin Xiangdong's eyes widened. "Truly?"
"Yes. Some awakened individuals experience physical or neurological changes that affect their intelligence. We've seen cases before."
"But my son's condition came from a car accident."
"Well…" Chen Xuan rubbed the back of his neck. "It's hard to be certain without testing. Why not let us examine him at our Bureau's Research Division? We'll know for sure."
"Good idea."
Lin Xiangdong nodded. He'd planned to visit the Abnormal Human Research Centre anyway. The Bureau's own lab was safer—more authoritative.
And if his son really was awakened… it would be the best news in years.
Under Chen Xuan's escort, the luxury convoy sped toward the Superpower Bureau.
Inside the institute, futuristic machines hummed softly under white light.
Lin Bei sat on a chair, eyes darting from screen to screen. It was far more interesting than home.
Chen Xuan stood nearby with several officers and Lin Xiangdong. Two whispered quietly:
"Who did Captain Chen bring?"
"No idea. Heard he's the one who killed the mutant tiger."
"You're joking…"
"Silence," Chen Xuan said sharply. He turned toward Lin Bei—ready to tell him to put the toys aside—but one glance at that Pikachu stopped him.
After what he'd witnessed, he wasn't touching it.
"Uncle, the detection bracelet's ready," said a woman in a lab coat.
Chen Xuan frowned. "How many times have I told you—call me Captain Chen in the Bureau."
"Oh, right, okay, uncle."
He sighed. "…Forget it."
The woman, Chen Yourong, was his niece and a researcher here. Even in a lab coat her figure drew too much attention, earning half the male staff regular lectures from her uncle.
Yourong approached Lin Bei, holding a silver testing bracelet that gleamed under the lights.
"Here, wear this."
But Lin Bei's gaze had already drifted downward—to the obvious.
He reached out and poked.
"Well… not bad," he murmured.
A collective gasp swept the room.
Yourong froze. Chen Xuan froze. The agents froze.
For years they'd all wanted to, none had dared.
Lin Xiangdong was stunned—and secretly, shamefully proud. He really is my son.
Ding! System severe warning: Stop using your brain condition as an excuse to do whatever you want!
(Optional addition — if you approve: "Even Gojo wouldn't save you from that one," the system muttered.)
"You—pervert!"
Yourong shrieked and stepped back, cheeks scarlet.
Chen Xuan rushed in. "Don't be angry, he's… unwell," he said, tapping his temple.
If it had been anyone else, he'd have exploded—but Lin Bei had just taken down a B-class mutant.
And, well… the boy wasn't right in the head.
Yourong exhaled, forcing herself to calm down. "Fine. Let's just get this over with."
She handed the bracelet back, keeping her distance.
Lin Bei slipped it on, admiring the sleek silver design. "Nice."
Everyone held their breath, watching.
Nothing happened.
"Yourong?" Chen Xuan asked.
She rolled her eyes. "What do you think? He's not awakened. Waste of time."
Murmurs rippled through the team.
"He doesn't look awakened."
"Captain Chen must've been mistaken."
Chen Xuan frowned. No… I saw him electrocute that tiger. With a doll.
Unless… was the doll awakened?
He shook his head. Impossible. Only living organisms mutated. No one had ever heard of a toy coming to life.
"Captain Chen," Lin Xiangdong said quietly, disappointment shadowing his face, "if that's the case, I'll take my son home."