My cat…
The computer expert froze. "Wait, Mr. Qin, are you implying my cat has a problem?"
Qin Yexuan looked at him. "I know this sounds hard to believe, but I've confirmed that Haotian's consciousness has hidden itself in the cat through you."
The computer expert shook his head repeatedly. "It's just an ordinary Ragdoll cat, left by my ex-girlfriend."
Qin Yexuan said calmly, "Did you ever board her at a pet store before?"
The computer expert scratched his head. "Never. When I was busy, I'd ask a cat-loving friend to help look after her."
"So, why did you send her to a pet store this time?"
The computer expert's expression changed again.
He paced back and forth. "Yeah, why did I send her to a pet store? And not the small one near my place, but the largest flagship store in the city, over twenty miles from my home."
He hadn't entrusted her to his cat-loving friend, nor had he found a convenient pet store near his residence. Instead, he had sent her to the flagship store twenty miles away.
It was truly incomprehensible.
Qin Yexuan shook his head. "That's because Haotian left this command in your consciousness, altering your mind to make you do it involuntarily."
The computer expert gritted his teeth. "No one can control me!"
"It's not control, but rather a command left in your subconscious, making your brain do what it wants. This cannot be changed, and you cannot resist it."
The computer expert fell silent.
Qin Yexuan patted him. "Now it's time to talk about you."
"Me? What is there to say about me?"
Qin Yexuan sneered. "Tell me your true identity. How did you go undercover in the research group? Does Dr. Zhao know who you are?"
Zhang Min was shocked. "He's a mole? How did you know?"
The computer expert began to back away.
Qin Yexuan looked at his hands. "You're the kind of person who handles guns often, aren't you? It must be hard pretending to be a computer expert."
The computer expert looked at his hands, seeing nothing wrong with them.
Qin Yexuan didn't explain.
He had recognized the computer expert's identity at first glance.
Especially his hands. The muscles on the backs of his hands were very well-defined, requiring a certain strength and stability for frequent firearm handling. The veins on the back of his hands would also be very prominent.
Furthermore, there were some abrasions and scars on the knuckles of his fingers, due to frequent operation of triggers and magazines when using firearms.
When he saw hands with obvious lines, strong muscles, flexible fingers, firm palms, rough skin, scarred knuckles, and lingering stains, he could be certain that these were the hands of a firearms expert who had undergone training and use.
And in China, only special personnel had so many opportunities to handle guns.
"You're different from them. You came here with a purpose from the very beginning."
The computer expert thought for a moment. "You are indeed an unusual person. Come with me. I'll explain once we're in a safe place."
Qin Yexuan nodded to Zhang Min, indicating he could trust him.
Two cars, one after the other, sped towards the city.
The computer expert led them to his apartment. After parking, he made a gesture.
He first went to the adjacent apartment and then opened a row of monitors.
"Both buildings are mine. This side can serve as an emergency safe house."
Qin Yexuan smiled. "Only agents would do such things."
The computer expert smiled. "I wouldn't call myself an agent, but it's similar in nature."
Everything was normal on the monitors. The computer expert led them back to his apartment. On the first-floor wall, he pushed aside a painting. Beneath the painting was a keypad with a screen.
He quickly entered three different passwords. The floor split open, revealing a basement.
Qin Yexuan and Zhang Min followed him down. Their eyes widened.
It was a complete underground parking garage that had been converted, spanning at least three thousand square meters. It was filled with computers, workstations, and various instruments. To the right, a secure room contained a complete arsenal of weapons.
At this moment, at least thirty people were sitting in the underground garage. They stood up upon seeing the computer expert and said, "Director, you're back?"
The computer expert made a gesture for everyone to sit down, then looked at the dumbfounded Zhang Min. "This is our office."
He then pointed to Qin Yexuan. "Comrades, this is the real Qin Xuan, who has traveled through dimensions."
The people in the underground garage looked at Qin Yexuan with excitement, their gazes like those of people at a zoo watching monkeys, but with a sense of anticipation.
Qin Yexuan frowned. "What kind of organization are you?"
The computer expert smiled. "Our internal codename is the Fourth Investigation Office. The full name is the Fourth Investigation and Research Office. My surname is Wang, you can call me Director Wang."
"Director Wang, what is the nature of this Fourth Investigation and Research Office?"
Director Wang sat down, asked for tea to be poured, and then recalled. "You might not believe it when I say it, but the state established this independent investigation office a long time ago, but it was never used. Our office isn't that old, it was formally established in the 1980s."
He said with emotion, "In the 1980s, qigong was popular in China. It was not long after the reform and opening up, and all sorts of trendy ideas, trendy movies, and martial arts novels poured in, leading many people in society to become obsessed with things like qigong."
This, Qin Yexuan knew. He had witnessed it firsthand when he was young.
"The qigong craze lasted for nearly a decade. At that time, some influential figures were half-believing, half-doubting. Coupled with the constant emergence of strange legends, the authorities sent out multiple investigation teams, but in the end, they couldn't find anything. Instead, some investigators were deceived."
"Mostly magic tricks and con artists," Qin Yexuan said.
Director Wang's expression turned serious. "But for those in charge, after some strange events occurred, they always had to investigate thoroughly. If the incidents escalated, they would need to explain to the entire nation and prevent more people from being deceived."
"Therefore, our group was established. My predecessor spent his entire life in the office, investigating no anomalies. Just as he lamented that the office was about to be dissolved, that so-called 'mini-universe' appeared in Jinhua Apartment."
Director Wang's expression became agitated. "Some of our older comrades waited for thirty years, just to achieve something. I never expected to encounter your situation right after taking office."
Qin Yexuan smiled. "Are you sure now?"
"Yes, I've been working with Dr. Zhao in the laboratory, collecting all the data. At least you truly exist and have truly traveled through dimensions. As for the person who escaped the laboratory, only we can deal with him now."
Qin Yexuan interrupted him. "How many resources do you have access to?"
Director Wang chuckled. "I've already reported to the higher-ups. In this city, I have unlimited resources at my disposal. You can have anything you want, even mobilize the nearby military..."
Qin Yexuan immediately waved his hand. "The fewer people, the better. The smaller the area, the more advantageous."
He explained, "Haotian's consciousness has existed in that mini-universe for billions of years. The more people there are, the easier it is for him to blend in. The larger the area, the more opportunities he has to escape."
"Our world is different from the mini-universe; it has infinitely vast possibilities. If Haotian escapes abroad, or even leaves Earth, we'll never be able to catch him."
Director Wang immediately said, "You are the only one who knows him well. Tell us how to proceed with the next plan."
"It's very simple. Find the person he is currently possessing, choose a suitable battleground, and duel him to the death before he has a chance to cultivate."
Director Wang frowned. "But you haven't cultivated either? If cultivation truly exists."
Qin Yexuan smiled. "Su Qing was not trapped by Chen Xing, but deliberately left there. She is currently accumulating spiritual energy. Once Haotian is found, she will transfer the stored spiritual energy to me."
This was a plan that had been made long ago.
Director Wang's eyes flickered. "So, the question is how to find Haotian."
"Start with your cat. If we find your cat, we can uncover more clues."
Director Wang immediately turned around. "Monitor the Aibao Pet Flagship Store comprehensively. Arrange four teams in the vicinity. They will enter under the guise of a fire inspection. Don't startle the store manager or the ordinary people. Not a single pet inside, not even an insect, should be allowed to leave."
He quickly opened the armory. "Qin Xuan, let's go together. It would be better for you to inspect the scene yourself."