Burning with Hunger
Drugs… Drugs!
Xie Junping wasn't stupid. His mind quickly processed the situation, but his mood worsened with each passing thought.
Quantum Corporation didn't give anyone an easy way out.
The Xie Family had substantial business in the production and sale of cutting-edge drugs. Yet compared to Quantum Corporation—one of the world's top three market-value giants—they were still insignificant.
Quantum Corporation had skyrocketed to prominence after the war. In the early '90s, they proposed the concept of Burners based on Archetype Formatting Theory. They single-handedly created the Deep Blue Platform and introduced the Deep Blue Walkers. Their work had revolutionized the war between humans and Mutants, reclaiming vast human territories. By any measure, this was a company that had changed the world.
To the discerning eye, Quantum Corporation appeared to be developing a weapons platform—but in truth, their research was a major life sciences breakthrough. Their expertise in related fields ranked among the very best globally.
Now, this capitalist titan was extending its reach into the pharmaceutical field. Even the few companies the Xie Family held stakes in were likely panicking.
Yet for any competent capitalist, having reliable insider information was an incredible fortune.
Zhang Yingying crossed her arms, sneering as she saw Xie Junping in a daze.
"Sheep, is it worth it?"
"It's worth it! Absolutely worth it!" Xie Junping's face, usually worn and sold to the highest bidder, lit up as he slapped his own cheek lightly. "Yingying, you've done me a huge favor. I'll remember this for the rest of my life…"
Zhang Yingying's delicate face could have been squeezed for water, but she remained unflinching. "Okay. This year's fees increase by 50%, right? I'll thank you on behalf of the boss."
Xie Junping went slack, fumbling over his words. "Mm… Oh, right. Does Quantum Corporation hold a grudge against Luo Nan? That Archetype Formatting Theory…"
Zhang Yingying replied lazily, "No matter how academically flawed Yan Hong is, the results sold to Quantum Corporation are already locked in. The contributions of one individual mean nothing to a financial group. Quantum Corporation won't care about these little ants. Don't scare yourself."
Though Xie Junping wasn't particularly concerned, he hesitated before addressing another worry. "Luo Nan has been brought onto the warship… do you think he'll…"
"If you're worried I'll sell you out, just say it," Zhang Yingying interrupted, sneering.
"It's not that! Really!" Xie Junping tried to protest.
"Though selling you out would be normal, from what I've heard, he hasn't said a word since being detained."
"Really?" Xie Junping was skeptical. Logically, there was no reason for Luo Nan to take the blame for him.
Zhang Yingying shrugged. "You'll never know the mind of a 'hero of darkness' who wants to leave his mark in history. For example… videos."
"Video?"
"Yes. Your 500 million RMB Phantom automatically records security footage. You really think the police won't see it?"
"Ah… ah! That… that…" Xie Junping's face turned pale as realization hit.
Zhang Yingying sighed. "By the time you react, the police's criminal record will be gone. Relax—it's already deleted."
Xie Junping clasped his hands repeatedly, thanking her. "Thanks to your thorough consideration, Yingying."
"No need to credit me… This is another righteous act of the 'hero of darkness.'"
"Damn! Benevolence!"
Xie Junping was stunned. The Phantom was registered in his name. No matter what, he would have had difficulty clearing suspicion without cooperation. Yet Luo Nan deleted the video and stayed silent, giving him an incredible favor.
He racked his brains, still unable to comprehend how Luo Nan had pulled it off. All he could do was sigh:
"Benevolence… Benevolence unparalleled!"
Even as he said it, Xie Junping considered his next move. Should he go along with the current and let the 'hero of darkness' take the blame? Compensation could be discussed later.
But whether he took the blame himself or framed Luo Nan, complications would increase, and uncertainty would skyrocket.
In the end, the Phantom was under his name. No matter what, washing himself clean would be difficult.
And when he thought of Luo Nan and those mesmerizing pupils, Xie Junping felt an icy chill. He wasn't sure where the limits lay.
"Yingying… say it…"
"What? Thinking of something crooked?"
"No! Nothing of the sort!" Xie Junping stamped his foot heavily, deciding not to voice such thoughts. Luo Nan had gone this far. He couldn't be a coward. He would wait to see how the 'hero of darkness' acted.
Yes—let Luo Nan, unparalleled in benevolence, continue his ways.
Meanwhile, Luo Nan sat alone in a corner, encased in ice-cold metal plates. No markings adorned the four sides; the rough, hard texture of the warship pressed into his mind.
He quickly processed the foreign mental environment, but the others in the cabin were restless.
No one expected a routine public security incident to result in confinement aboard a military ship.
Initially, the rich kids clamored about procedures and lawyers, but after an hour of silence, only ice-cold combat robots guarded the cabin. The bulky anti-riot guns only heightened their panic.
In the end, the dozen or so detainees gradually calmed, staring at one another.
Luo Nan's head hung low. His breathing was faint but audible.
It was 8 a.m. Normally, he would be in class and have eaten at least five breakfasts by now—the energy cost of maintaining a body like his was high.
Now, he could only eat. Using traditional human chemical methods, he converted food into energy to replenish consumption. He had even brought an energy bar.
But the morning's incident had exhausted it. He had no way to replenish energy. Luo Nan felt as if a black hole had opened in his stomach, endlessly consuming the energy of his flesh and blood.
Normally, hunger wouldn't feel so extreme. But being carried onto the transport ship required extra energy.
Luo Nan had been detained on suspicion of illegally carrying banned drugs. Though police didn't interrogate him, mandatory tasks—urine tests, sampling—were conducted shortly after boarding.
The procedure was necessary, with no reason to waive it.
Luo Nan could swear to the heavens—he was 100% not a drug addict, never touched the drugs in the box, and was not part of Xie Junping's gang.
Yet he had injected an entire tube of drugs before leaving his house that morning. The ratio of banned ingredients was astronomical—far beyond the combined intake of everyone else present.
By logic, Luo Nan would be in serious trouble, unable to explain himself.
To counter this, he activated his Appetite King skill the moment the incident occurred, accelerating his metabolism to the max.
Time sped up for Luo Nan.