Professor Guo suddenly gave a mysterious smile and took out a syringe from his pocket.

He placed it on the table and said, "Although I don't know why you're in such a hurry to find the Zodiac Pig, it seems you're pressed for time, so let's make a deal."

At this moment, Wu Liang finally understood what this old man quietly came to his room alone for.

It wasn't because of something he said that had influenced him, or because higher-ups had given instructions.

He simply wanted to obtain something from him.

"Let me draw a vial of blood for my research, and I'll tell you the details about the Zodiac Pig," Professor Guo pledged with confidence. "I can also assure you that other than me, those who know the truth are completely out of your reach at this stage."

"Just like you said, higher up."

Saying this, he pointed to the ceiling.

This gesture was the same as when Wu Liang explained to the Zodiac Rabbit yesterday afternoon, indicating that the higher-level leaders were fully aware.

After hearing this, Wu Liang did not immediately respond.

He just glanced at the syringe on the table, gleaming coldly, and then at Professor Guo's face, which was already approaching seventy, masked by thick glasses that obscured his expression.

After a few seconds of contemplation, Wu Liang nodded.

What this old man said made sense, he only had about ten days to find the Zodiac Pig.

If he slowly approached the higher-ups and earned their trust to get the relevant information, it would be too late.

Chengyang City couldn't wait that long!

"Alright! I agree to your deal, but I also have a condition — regarding my research results, Yuan Yi must not be informed," Wu Liang said, picking up the syringe.

He was genuinely afraid that the madwoman Yuan Yi would be waiting in Chengyang City to dissect him upon learning the situation.

Once he got a clear answer, Professor Guo smiled broadly, the loose skin on his face bunching up all his wrinkles: "No problem."

Thwack—

The tiny needle pierced Wu Liang's arm, as a stream of almost indistinguishable crimson blood from an ordinary person was drawn.

Professor Guo's expression grew more vivid.

Afterward, he contentedly wrapped the syringe in some fabric pieces and put it back into his pocket, clearing his throat before narrating the matter unhurriedly:

"The Symbiont Fierce Ghost of the Zodiac Pig can transfer some kind of influence from itself to all marked objects, like a curse amplifier."

Wu Liang raised an eyebrow.

He could not understand this ability.

For example, if the Zodiac Pig marked ten people, and someone cast a curse or something like that on him, he himself would be completely unharmed, while those ten people would be cursed.

"However, after a certain extermination mission, the supernatural influence he transferred inexplicably reached its limit. Though the mission was ultimately completed, his own sanity was completely replaced by the Fierce Ghost within him."

"Over the past two years, we've been trying to develop a solution to rescue Symbionts from possession, but all attempts have failed without exception."

Professor Guo's expression seemed somewhat bleak.

As a researcher, having failed to fully understand the situation and retrieve the Zodiac Pig's sanity, he still felt quite guilty.

"But half a month ago, he suddenly became quiet, and even for the first time in two years, there was a clear and steady verbal record!"

"He kept repeating — 'They have returned, and will lead us to the Land of Milk and Honey,' before falling into a two-day sleep."

Upon hearing this, Wu Liang's eyes gleamed sharply.

The Land of Milk and Honey!

This indeed referred to the Promised Land!

The extermination mission the Zodiac Pig participated in must have been the eradication of the Promised Land that Minister Long mentioned, yet now he spoke words reminiscent of the absurdity espoused by Wu Xiaoyao's Bionic Man.

Did the Zodiac Pig betray them?

No, he shouldn't have. He was one of the main participants in the extermination mission!

"But on the third day, all the researchers overseeing him inexplicably fell asleep, and when they woke up, he had vanished from the room, leaving only an object like this on the ground."

After saying this, Professor Guo took out a pure white square chip-like object from his pocket.

"When we examined it, it no longer contained any supernatural power, so we couldn't determine its specific effectiveness."

"The day after the Zodiac Pig disappeared, the officials discovered that most of the civilian Awakened in the Capital City had the Zodiac Pig's transfer markings."

"In order to prevent a large number of civilian Awakened from being transferred with lethal supernatural influences, the authorities decided to temporarily bring them back for preventive measures, which was mistakenly believed as expanding the recruitment of Awakened."

"Of course, I can't disclose the content of these preventive measures to you, as it is a secret enough to protect all civilian Awakened in the Capital City."

But Wu Liang didn't inquire about those preventive measures. Instead, he took the white chip from Professor Guo's hand.

The veins on his forehead couldn't help but throb a bit.

The researchers were unable to deduce its effects as it had lost its supernatural power.

But he recognized it!

Wasn't this the Unlimited Transmission Chip that Wu Xiaoyao's Bionic Man used to transfer and leave from the rooftop of the Dongri Grand Hotel?!

Indeed, it was the Promised Land's doing!

The Zodiac Pig hadn't betrayed them! He was taken away using the Transmission Chip after falling asleep!

In such a heavily guarded official base, avoiding the detection of many Awakened and even numerous Zodiac Department Symbionts to take the Zodiac Pig away was incredibly unlikely.

The only possibility was — there was truly an insider threat!

"Who were the researchers that fell asleep on the day the Zodiac Pig disappeared?"

Listening to Wu Liang's somewhat stern tone, Professor Guo wasn't a fool; he immediately guessed what the other party was contemplating.

Shaking his head, he said, "They've already been investigated, and even had their memories checked by Awakened. All three are fine."

"Heh, what if they themselves weren't aware of their own issues?" Wu Liang retorted sarcastically.

Not aware of one's own issues.

This sounded seemingly absurd, but having experienced the Dongri Grand Hotel incident in Chengyang City, Wu Liang knew there was something capable of this — the Desire Monkey Claw!

If the insider cleared their own memory completely with the Desire Monkey Claw after doing everything, then upon waking up, they themselves wouldn't know there was an issue.

Checking the memory naturally would yield no result!

The most successful deception must first start by deceiving oneself!

"All three are my students. If you don't trust them, I can take you to see them now," Professor Guo said, somewhat frowning and in a bad mood.

After all, having someone doubt the innocence of his three students, who had already proven themselves, wouldn't make anyone happy.

Upon hearing this, Wu Liang directly stood up and opened the door.

Pointing towards the elevator not far away, he said:

"Then please, Professor Guo. I hope you have some quick-acting heart pills in your pocket too, or you might faint from high blood pressure shortly."

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