Right now he felt energy surging through his body, his mind cool and wonderfully clear; even if his strength only matched that of a Level Two Awakened.
But to An Conghao that was enough—sooner or later the lab would produce better results, and when it did, his turn would come.
While An Conghao was imagining the future, on the road opposite the company tower…
…a plain-looking young man in gray and a girl in a red top, her long hair dyed in a riot of colors and braided into a thick twist, were staring up at the Haoyang Real Estate building.
The Braided Girl, Zhang Qing, sucked on a lollipop and mumbled, "Uncle, we're here—why aren't we grabbing him yet?"
"Observe first; see if any other Awakened are guarding him," Cao Liangyuan beside her explained.
As the two watched, several Gray Military Humvees escorting a Troop-Transport screeched up to the curb.
They halted right outside Haoyang Real Estate; dozens of soldiers in Black Uniforms poured out and stormed the building.
Across the street, Cao Liangyuan and Zhang Qing exchanged glances. Zhang Qing said uncertainly, "Uncle, looks like something unexpected just happened?"
"Let's wait and see," Cao Liangyuan muttered, frowning; he couldn't tell whether these soldiers were also after An Conghao.
Inside the tower a middle-aged officer barked, "Four stay here to secure the lobby, two to the rear exit—no one gets in or out. Activate the Signal Jammer!"
"Yes, sir!" A soldier took position at the door; another slung off a huge pack, revealing the Signal Jammer inside.
The ground-floor staff froze, bewildered by the sudden raid.
A soldier strode to the reception desk and roared, "Call the lift—An Conghao's private lift!"
The Receptionist, startled by the shout, went pale and hurriedly swiped the elevator open for them.
On the 30th floor, seven or eight Bodyguards stood silently outside the office doors.
Ding! The elevator chimed; reflexively they turned to look.
Inside stood a dozen soldiers with rifles at the ready. The lead soldier barked, "Everyone—hands on your heads and squat!"
Most guards dropped at once; the slow ones were clubbed down with a rifle-butt.
The rest of the soldiers rushed to the door. Finding it locked, they simply shot the lock off.
Bang! Startled by the gunshot, An Conghao looked up from the documents he was reviewing.
The door burst inward; seven or eight riflemen stormed in and leveled their weapons at him.
A stern-faced middle-aged officer stepped in. "An Conghao, we have evidence you're connected to the S-Class Fugitive Jiang Yan—come with us."
An Conghao glanced at the Sickle Badge on their shoulders and his face changed. "Sickle Special Forces? Arrests are the Inspectorate's job—and where's your warrant?"
Two soldiers seized him, and a third slipped a black hood over his head before marching him out.
The officer sneered, "Warrant? We are the warrant. Move!"
The Xuanjian Division had already reached Liuyang City; all he had to do was deliver the prisoner.
An Conghao let himself be carried along. Hearing more soldiers shouting in the corridor, he chose not to resist—too many bystanders, too awkward to act.
He was bundled into the elevator and held between two soldiers.
He didn't know when he'd been exposed, but he understood his public identity was finished.