Chapter 186: Chapter 172: The "Pure and Good" Student Gao Neng (Part 2)

Of course, if he were forced to say anything else, it would be just three words: What the fuck!

...

「Night had fallen.」

Under Chen Bai’s guidance, the group arrived at the Military Department’s office building.

After taking the elevator to the third-floor conference room, they found more than ten uniformed military personnel already seated inside.

Gao Neng took a quick look around. The lowest rank he saw was Major.

Hmm...

And the only Major was Shen Ning’Er.

Besides her, the room was filled with lieutenant colonels, colonels... and one Major General.

’What a big-shot meeting!’

Gao Neng truly hadn’t expected such a small matter to draw out so many important figures. ’Could it be? Am I really the one who discovered a "new world"?’

’If that’s really the case, the merit I’d earn wouldn’t be small, would it?’

"Allow me to make the introductions. This is Vice Commander Chen... and Advisor Li. I believe you are acquainted with Major Shen and Gao Neng, correct? In that case, Gao Neng, could you start by telling us what happened?"

The Military Department’s way of doing things was certainly direct.

There were no lengthy opening remarks.

Upon seeing Gao Neng and Gui Zian arrive, a colonel stood up, made a brief introduction, and then got straight to the point.

Gao Neng took a mental note.

Vice Commander Chen was the only Major General present. He was a middle-aged man around fifty, with tanned skin and a small scar on his face.

As for Shen Ning’Er, she was still in her black uniform and merely gave a slight nod when she saw Gao Neng enter.

"Gao Neng, go ahead and tell them," Gui Zian said.

"Yes. Three months ago, I killed a Dark Night Elf in the Forgotten Land. Today, when I was returning to the military academy, I saw a woman at the school gate who looked exactly like that Dark Night Elf. So, I went to test my suspicion..." Gao Neng nodded and began his story.

A quarter of an hour later, Gao Neng finished speaking.

The colonel who had made the introductions earlier now frowned.

"So, you’re saying this woman ultimately escaped, correct?"

"Yes." Gao Neng nodded. "I was tied up with several mid-tier aliens at the time. She escaped through the window, and by the time I dealt with them, several minutes had passed. Plus, it was already dark... trying to catch her would have been difficult."

"Mm, it’s easy to hide in the central area of the Eastern District." The colonel nodded, then continued his questioning. "Based on your description, we can’t actually be completely certain that she is that Dark Night Elf. Her power level has changed, and she no longer has the characteristics of a Dark Night Elf. Am I correct?"

"No, I’m certain it was her," Gao Neng said, shaking his head.

"Oh? What’s your basis for that?"

"It was definitely her. Although she didn’t admit it directly, I got the feeling that she recognized me. There’s no mistaking that feeling," Gao Neng stated with certainty.

"Intuition?" The colonel nodded, then glanced around at the others.

"To conclude that an alien can be resurrected in about three months based on intuition alone... that’s a bit of a stretch, I’m afraid..." an officer said, shaking his head slightly.

"It is a bit of a hasty conclusion, but if what Gao Neng says is true, then I’m afraid our current plan will require a major adjustment," another officer chimed in.

"Mm, but if they can be resurrected, why has this never happened before?"

"If the Strongest can really be resurrected ahead of schedule, then what’s their purpose in waiting twenty years?"

...

Discussions broke out in the conference room.

Gao Neng didn’t interject. He just glanced at Shen Ning’Er, who was sitting not far away. After all, when it came to the Military Department’s affairs, he was a complete blank.

’What plan?’

’I don’t understand any of this.’

"Major Shen, where is the Dark Night Elf’s corpse now?" After another fifteen minutes, Vice Commander Chen, who was seated at the head of the table, finally spoke.

"At Military Base No. 5 in the Forgotten Land," Shen Ning’Er replied.

"Have you contacted them to inquire about the corpse’s current condition?" Vice Commander Chen nodded and continued to ask.

"Yes, I contacted them before coming here. We’ve collected quite a few Dark Night Elf corpses. This particular one was handled by Dr. Lan. It was dismembered... but the dismembered parts are still there," Shen Ning’Er replied again.

"Mm. Tell me your thoughts on this matter."

"Certainly. Based on Gao Neng’s description of the events, I’ve identified a few issues. First, the lack of a Dark Night Elf’s biological traits. This isn’t too difficult to achieve, as the biggest difference between Dark Night Elves and humans is their ears. A little surgery could easily alter them. The biggest problem is the second point: this Dark Night Elf had no energy fluctuations and had become an ordinary person."

"Yes, the issue Major Shen raised is precisely what I’ve been considering. A twenty-year cycle is something we’re all aware of. So, the biggest question now is, if resurrection is truly possible, where is the ’source’ of this resurrection? And, if such a ’source’ exists, why would it be used on a low-level Dark Night Elf instead of one of the alien Strongest?" Vice Commander Chen paused after saying this.

... 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

The surrounding officers fell silent.

Vice Commander Chen didn’t wait. Instead, he turned his gaze to Gao Neng. "Hello, Gao Neng. Thank you for taking the trouble to come all this way. My name is Chen Yichuan, and I’m the Vice Commander of the Second Army. I’d like to confirm a few final points with you, if you’d be willing to answer."

"Please ask, Vice Commander Chen." Gao Neng nodded.

"First, you said you determined it was the Dark Night Elf you killed based on your intuition. I believe you’re telling the truth, but I still want to ask: what is the source of this intuition? Is it only because you felt she recognized you?"

"Actually, there’s another reason..."

"What reason?"

"Her scream."

"Her scream?"

"To be specific, her scream of pain. The last time I killed her, I attacked a certain part of her body. This time, I attacked it again. The scream was identical. A scream that comes from the soul like that... I don’t think it’s something that can be faked." Gao Neng glanced at Shen Ning’Er, choosing a more civilized way of putting it.

"A scream of pain? I understand. Alright, my second question: are you certain she has become an ordinary person? Did you determine this based solely on the lack of energy fluctuations, or did you have other means?"

"Other means. First, during the struggle, some physical contact was unavoidable. Second, when she tried to escape through the window, I used... Iron Thorn to block her. As a result, she crashed right into it, completely defenseless."

"I see..." Chen Yichuan nodded again upon hearing this, then stood up. "Thank you very much, Gao Neng, for providing us with this critical intelligence. We now need to process and discuss this information. You may take a break outside for a while."

"Alright. In that case, may I ask a question?" Gao Neng nodded and stood up.

"Oh? You have a question for us, Gao Neng? Of course, please ask." Vice Commander Chen seemed momentarily surprised, then replied with a smile.

"If this intelligence is confirmed, will I be considered to have earned a merit?"

"Of course. And a great merit, at that!"

"Thank you, Vice Commander Chen! For you to call it a great merit, it must be very important. But, Vice Commander Chen, could you tell me directly... what kind of merit is it? I know the Military Department has things like Special-Class Merits, First-Class Merits, and so on. Would this be considered a Special-Class Merit, or a First-Class Merit?"

"Er..." A corner of Chen Yichuan’s mouth twitched. Looking at the expectant expression on Gao Neng’s face, he finally understood what the young man was really asking.

’Special-Class Merit?’

’First-Class Merit?’

’This seemingly "harmless" young man, Gao Neng, has quite an appetite!’