Just as Pei Yan's condition stabilized at the hospital, he was escorted by Pei Jin and Elder Lin under the highest level of protection onto a special plane heading to the new headquarters of the Investigation Bureau. Ye Jiumu and the others did not have such privileges and had to return via the local Teleportation Array on their own.

Although this event had a profound impact on the future development of the Investigation Bureau, for the ordinary people in society at the time, it wasn't as much of a talking point compared to the explosion incident at the Capital Investigation Bureau Headquarters. It was merely a scrolling text on the news, briefly mentioning an earthquake-induced landslide in the Minshan Region that created a barrier lake, with local armed police already deployed for emergency rescue. Such news hardly made a ripple on contemporary social media and was quickly drowned out by a plethora of hot topics.

While the Investigation Bureau was in the process of wrapping up the clearance operations against the remnants of the Divine Desire Organization and escaping individuals domestically, on the open sea, there was a large cruise ship. In a room decorated luxuriously with extravagant interiors, seven large armchairs were aligned. An Asian youth, slim-built, wearing an eyepatch and mask, with an elegant demeanor, sat in the middle, fingers lightly resting on the armrest as he listened to a report from those below. Next to him, lazily slumped against the seat back, was Mu Fanchen, the mastermind behind the repeated confrontations with the Investigation Bureau.

"So, you're the return gift she sent over?" After hearing the subordinate's narrative, the youth stood up from his seat and squatted in front of a dismembered Mu taken out from a wooden box, smiling as he asked.

In Mu's current state, he could no longer respond to any questions, his eyes blinked with nothing but the pain and hatred.

"Him surviving is already a miracle, sending him to another world now is the greatest mercy from you and me," a white woman dressed in revealing clothes, with a seductive posture, said in English while crossing her long legs and tending to her nails beside Mu Fanchen.

"A replica is just a replica. Fan Chen, he's much weaker than your original body, isn't he?" sneered the youth, turning his head back towards Mu Fanchen.

From his state of feigned sleep, Mu Fanchen raised his eyelids slightly to gaze at the young man before him. He didn't know the actual age of this person but since their initial contact fourteen years ago, this man hadn't changed in appearance whatsoever. Twelve years ago, it was also through his introduction that he entered Divine Desire.

Compared to the Investigation Bureau, who now only grasped the name Candle Dragon, Mu Fanchen understood a lot more about him. The more he understood, the more he felt a sense of dread; a fear even greater than when he faced the Origin Body. If it weren't for his repeated probing over the years, he would have almost thought this person to be an Origin Avatar from another plane.

Such speculation arose because he was part of the operation that dissected the Origin Body and became one of those who could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with other plane origins, a testament to his formidable power. Not to mention his other identity, the founder of the massive superpower underground kingdom, Divine Desire.

Thinking of this, he leaned forward and spoke in a low voice, "I am chiefly responsible for this mission. I underestimated the Investigation Bureau's commitment to the Origin Body and also neglected Pei Yan. All that has transpired has exceeded Mu's capabilities, I..."

"No need to be so eager to admit faults! I didn't say anything!" Candle Dragon spoke, standing up and flicking his fingers towards Mu's head. With a puff, a hole burst open on Mu's forehead, and after a few gurgling sounds, his body stopped twitching. Without waiting for further instructions from Candle Dragon, several black-clad men standing silently in the corner of the room efficiently lifted the corpse out of the room and began cleaning up the bloodstains from the floor.

After executing a subordinate in front of everyone, Candle Dragon's expression remained unchanged as he pulled out a handkerchief to wipe his hands before tossing it onto the ground and saying, "This wasn't your fault. If there's misjudgment, it's my responsibility. It seems those old timers have defected. Without them, the Investigation Bureau alone couldn't have subdued that woman. These people no longer wish to collaborate with me and have turned to work with official organizations. Initially, it was they who feared the Origin Body falling into official hands would empower superhumans in this world. Now, they're thinking of me as the threat."

Seated back in his chair with legs crossed and chin propped on his hand, Candle Dragon asked, "How are the preparations in the other planes?"

"It needs another half year of preparation. Due to the previous two probing actions and the closing of connections with the Hell Plane, it's finally garnered the attention of the top factions from the other three planes. The situation across the other planes has also become tense, so our originally planned activities for the second half of this year might be delayed until early next year," a female secretary with outstanding bearing replied softly, holding a dossier at the room's center.

"And how are our preparations coming along?" Candle Dragon inquired absentmindedly, popping a cherry from the fruit bowl into his mouth.

"The yield for superpower replicators is very low, with only less than thirty-two individuals achieved, far from the expected results. Yet, we've made key breakthroughs with human enhancements, allowing subjects to retain their sanity and successfully implementing three types of superpower grafts aside from physical enhancement. With further research in our extradimensional laboratories over the next six months, surely we'll see even more promising results. As for the research on Origin Superpower Users, that project is temporarily shelved due to the failed Origin transfer."

Mu Fanchen, clearly intrigued by the secretary's report, asked, "Has the experiment enhanced lifespan in fortified humans?"

"There has been a slight improvement. Barring force-type enhancers, none of the other three types of superpower graft recipients have shown premature aging, but the frequent rejection responses they experience cause intense suffering, leading to great mental instability manifesting in aggression, bloodlust, enhanced sexual drive, insubordination, among various negative emotions."

"That's not really a problem since we're not raising obedient children, don't you all agree?" said a burly, broad-shouldered, rugged looking middle-aged man sitting at the far left, chuckling.

"Indeed, but a lack of discipline hampers future operations. Without self-will, they lack autonomy; with self-awareness, they're hard to control. It's a dilemma. The researchers need to quickly find a way to exert absolute control over these subjects. I can overlook their minor faults, but they must obey orders unequivocally," Candle Dragon commanded, tapping his forehead lightly with his finger.

"Yes!"

Having given these commands, Candle Dragon turned his head aside, looking at Mu Fanchen, and smiled, "Your prized protégé managed to survive and return from the battlefield, a silver lining in misfortune! He was gravely injured and is mentally impacted, so be sure to counsel him well. After all, he's among the promising talents of our Divine Desire Organization's younger generation. I've heard that in this operation, the young talents from the Huaxia Investigation Hall are emerging in great numbers. We can't fall behind; we must carefully nurture our organization's outstanding talents!"

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