“Now, I will give you a chance to prove your faith.” In the broadcast, Billy's narration was still not over, “Not long ago, I have placed a highly infectious and deadly virus in the body of that man named Austin. This virus can spread in ways you cannot understand, and ordinary protective masks or isolation measures are completely ineffective against it…”

Before he finished speaking, the security guards surrounding Brother Jue subconsciously took a few steps back.

“Currently, the virus is still latent and does not yet have infectious power.” Billy's next sentence reassured them somewhat, but he immediately changed the subject, “However… once the virus breaks out, all humans in this base will die within twenty-five minutes, without exception.”

“You think I'll believe you just because you're spouting nonsense like this…” Steven aimed his gun at the puppet on the metal platform, approaching step by step, “Will I?”

“Heh…” Brother Jue, kneeling on the ground, interjected with a sneer, “He doesn't need to prove anything to you, Steven. The question is… do you dare risk a virus outbreak and ignore his 'nonsense'?”

“How many times do I have to tell you?” Steven turned his gun again, roaring at Brother Jue, “I told you to shut your mouth!”

“Severe surgical trauma or death will cause the virus in Austin's body to erupt.” Billy's next sentence made Steven pause, “The end of the incubation period will also lead to a virus outbreak…” He paused, “So… listen carefully now… the rules of the game are that you must bring him to the ***-055 room within a limited time…”

At this moment, what Billy was saying was actually not important; he was purely stalling for time.

Billy's real purpose was… to distract Steven as much as possible before he completed "that thing." He brought up ***-055 at Brother Jue's suggestion, because Brother Jue believed… the ***-055 room was the safest place in this facility. If the other party really did as the broadcast said, then staying near 055 would give him some room to maneuver.

And as the broadcast continued, Billy dragged Dr. Jonathan's wounded body to the front of a containment facility.

Here, a project called "shy_guy" was being held.

…………

【Item #: ***-096】

【Object Class: euclid】

【Special Containment Procedures: ***-096 is to be contained at all times in a sealed air-tight steel cube, 5 m on each side. Weekly checks for any cracks or holes are mandatory. There are to be absolutely no video surveillance equipment or optical tools of any kind inside ***-096's cell. Security personnel will use pre-installed pressure sensors and laser detectors to ensure ***-096 is present inside the cell.

Any and all photos, video, or recordings of ***-096's likeness are strictly forbidden without approval of both Dr. [DATA EXPUNGED] and O5-[?].】

【Description: ***-096 is a humanoid creature measuring approximately 2.38 meters in height. Subject shows very little muscle mass, with preliminary analysis of body mass suggesting mild malnutrition. Arms are grossly out of proportion with the rest of the subject's body, with an approximate length of 1.5 meters each. Skin is mostly devoid of pigmentation, with no sign of any body hair.

***-096's jaw can open to four (4) times the norm of an average human. Other facial features are similar to an average human, with the exception of the eyes, which are also devoid of pigmentation. It is not yet known whether ***-096 is blind. It has shown no signs of any higher brain functions, and is not believed to be sapient.

***-096 is normally extremely docile, with pressure sensors inside its cell indicating it spends most of the day pacing by the eastern wall. However, when someone views ***-096's face, be it directly, via video recording, or even a photograph, it will enter a stage of considerable emotional distress. ***-096 will cover its face with its hands and begin screaming, crying, and babbling incoherently.

Approximately one (1) to two (2) minutes after viewing, ***-096 will begin running to the person who viewed its face (hereafter referred to as ***-096-1). Documented speeds have varied from thirty-five (35) km/h to [DATA EXPUNGED], and seem to be dependent on distance from ***-096-1.

At this point, no known material or method can impede ***-096's progress. The actual position of ***-096-1 does not seem to affect ***-096's response; it seems to have an innate sense of ***-096-1's location.

Note: Viewing artistic depictions does not trigger this response.

Upon arriving at ***-096-1's location, ***-096 will proceed to kill and [DATA REDACTED] ***-096-1. 100% of cases have left no traces of ***-096-1. ***-096 will then sit down for several minutes before regaining its composure and becoming docile once again. It will then attempt to make its way back to its natural habitat, [DATA EXPUNGED].

Due to the possibility of a mass chain reaction, including breach of Foundation secrecy and large civilian casualties, retrieval of subject should be considered Alpha priority.】

…………

“Oh! Doctor, what happened to you?” The security guard outside the 096 containment room saw Jonathan covered in blood and jumped up from his seat in surprise.

Due to the special nature of the project, there were not too many security personnel stationed here. It was only necessary to find someone to sit in a small room and watch the data on the sensors.

“I… I was hijacked by a D-class personnel…” Billy's acting was good. While speaking "painfully," he slowly approached the other person.

“Good heavens, look at your wound… You need a doctor!” The security guard had been stationed at his post and didn't know much about why the doctor was here, so he let Jonathan approach him without any defenses. “You lie down first, Doctor, I'll go get you… Ah!”

In the next second, a sharp weapon pierced his neck.

Billy ended the other person's life very quickly, then turned and stood facing the containment cell.

Seconds later, he deactivated the shielding for all nearby surveillance cameras and… stopped the broadcast.

…………

At the same moment, in Monitoring Room B7.

"What's wrong?"

The sudden end of the broadcast made Steven and the other security personnel feel uneasy.

"Sir! We have a situation here!" Suddenly, a staff member sitting in front of the console shouted, "It's Dr. Jonathan! He suddenly appeared at the entrance of the ***-096 containment room!"

"What!" Steven turned his head sharply and looked at the surveillance screen, "That's impossible!"

In the picture, the doctor, covered in blood, was standing there silently, and next to him was a corpse.

"John! This is Steven… please respond." Steven quickly picked up the walkie-talkie, wanting to contact the two security guards who had just escorted Jonathan out, "John? Marvin? Respond quickly if you hear me!"

“Hahahaha…” Feng Bujue laughed loudly, “Do you think it's still possible for them to answer you?”

"Bastard…" Steven didn't care about any virus anymore. He rushed to Brother Jue in one stride, grabbed the latter's collar and said, "There's no way you could have completed the brainwashing in less than thirty minutes! What exactly did you do to the doctor?"

"Heh… does that matter?" Feng Bujue replied calmly, "Right now, instead of investigating the 'method' I used to control the doctor, you should be more worried about…" Saying that, he tilted his head and glanced at the surveillance screen.

At this moment, Steven seemed to realize something…

Then, he and all the security personnel present looked at the monitor screen in unison.

But all they saw… was a bulge slowly appearing on one of the steel walls of the containment cube. In just two seconds, the bulge grew larger and larger, and finally cracked.

In the same instant, Feng Bujue… quietly closed his eyes.

And everyone else except him saw through the surveillance camera that ***-096 was prying open the steel plate, trying to escape like crazy…