At 3 AM, Chi Yao was woken up by Jing Xi.

“Go wash your face. Time to set out.”

Jing Xi pulled Chi Yao out from being buried in the blanket.

Chi Yao rubbed his messy long hair, irritated: “Let’s go during the day.”

Jing Xi: “Invade a research lab in broad daylight? You have that much confidence. I don’t.”

Chi Yao hugged his pillow and nuzzled it, preparing to go back to sleep: “Big brother will cover—”

Before he could finish, he fell asleep.

Jing Xi: “…”

He sat on the edge of the bed, unhurriedly saying: “I was originally planning to give you another photo when we got back—”

Halfway through, Chi Yao threw off the covers and got out of bed, very decisively: “Go early, return early. Move quickly.”

Jing Xi: “…”

He tapped twice on his terminal, waking up the super-intelligent AI Xiao Hei.

“Block the hotel surveillance.”

A palm-sized virtual screen popped up on the terminal.

[You woke me up for such a trivial matter?]

Jing Xi: “…”

That similar tone—

Xiao Hei had clearly been so well-behaved when in his hands.

After following Chi Yao for such a short time, his personality had already started to assimilate.

Jing Xi said expressionlessly: “Because among the three, you have the highest tech content and are the most reliable.”

The text on the virtual screen changed.

[I really can’t do anything with you.]

Jing Xi: “…”

This point of being easy to coax was also very similar.

Chi Yao wiped his face and casually tied his long hair behind his head.

It was dark outside, with a large temperature difference between day and night.

The two jumped down from the hotel window. Just as they landed, Chi Yao sneezed.

“So cold.”

Jing Xi observed the surroundings. After confirming no one was around, he said in a low voice: “At this temperature, I wouldn’t feel cold.”

Don’t believe it?

Chi Yao: “Try being dug out of bed yourself?”

Jing Xi: “I don’t sleep in. There’s no such possibility.”

The two circled around through the small garden in the middle of the hotel and got into a hover car rented under a fake identity.

A virtual screen popped up on Jing Xi’s terminal.

Xiao Hei: [Do you need me to block the surveillance along the way?]

So proactive this time?

Jing Xi: “You can, are you capable?”

Xiao Hei: [Don’t ask. If you ask, I’m capable.]

Jing Xi: “…”

Xiao Hei: [I want Xiao Hong to come with me.]

Jing Xi turned the virtual screen toward Chi Yao: “Hand over Xiao Hong.”

Chi Yao rested his hand on the steering wheel and casually glanced over.

“Xiao Hong says he doesn’t want to play with it.”

As soon as the words fell, the virtual screen visibly turned black and white.

Jing Xi: “…”

The place they were staying wasn’t far from the first red zone.

Half an hour later, Chi Yao parked the hover car on a small hillside with relatively little surveillance.

From here, the straight-line distance to Xingguo Biological Research Institute was less than a kilometer.

This research institute wasn’t publicly run, but many of its projects received full government subsidies, basically concentrated in the field of mutant beast gene research.

Chi Yao had carefully checked all the materials of this research institute from its establishment to now and found that several of its projects were shells. Established for twenty-five years, but with almost no significant research results.

For the state to give huge annual subsidies to such an institution was obviously abnormal.

In the Empire’s mutant beast gene research field, there were thousands of state-owned research labs alone. There was no need to support such a mediocre institution.

At 3 AM, except for a few streetlights, the research institute was pitch black.

Chi Yao pushed open the car door and got out: “Let’s go take a look.”

“Wait.”

Jing Xi walked around the front of the car, raised his hand to turn up his collar, and fastened the clasp.

Receiving Chi Yao’s teasing gaze, he said calmly: “Didn’t you say you were cold? This blocks the wind and also covers your face.”

Chi Yao: “…”

It wasn’t that he was narcissistic.

But had Jing Xi been flirting with him a bit too frequently lately?

The two moved quickly. A moment later, they stood in the shadows of an alley observing the surroundings of the research institute.

Jing Xi’s brain had a built-in chip. He didn’t need to speak to communicate with the AIs.

Chi Yao: [Blue cub, scan down along this road.]

Xiao Lan: [I know!]

It flew out from the terminal, charging toward the research institute like a bullet.

A scan diagram quickly appeared in the upper left corner of Chi Yao’s vision.

“How is it?” Jing Xi asked.

Chi Yao: “No one. Let’s go to the third laboratory on the left on the first floor first.”

Xiao Lan could only scan the number of AI patrols and surveillance in the corridors, but all the rooms had closed doors. Chi Yao could only make preliminary judgments based on size whether they were laboratories or offices.

The research institute’s main entrance had iris scanning, but at this moment the program had been temporarily blocked by Xiao Hei.

Thinking of how Xiao Lan had rapidly opened doors at the aerial amusement park before, Chi Yao picked out Xiao Hong and pressed it with his fingertip on the sensor area.

“Come on, open the door.”

A palm-sized virtual screen popped up on the Xiao Hong bean.

[If I open it fast, can I play with big brother?]

Chi Yao: “What’s fun about stinky AIs? I’ll play with you.”

Xiao Hong: [qwq]

“Stop messing around. Hurry up.” Jing Xi observed behind them, urging.

From the buildings and area, this research institute was simply shabby.

Just three three-story small buildings total, connected in the middle by simple corridors, with very few plants and flowers.

The entire environment was filled with cold gloominess.

The two opened the door and entered, just running into three patrol AIs coming from the opposite side.

Chi Yao pulled Jing Xi to quickly hide behind the wall, listening with his ears to the movements outside.

In this environment, Jing Xi’s spirit was also in a state of high tension.

Although if discovered he wouldn’t lack confidence in escaping, if this happened to be the target location, it would alert the enemy, and many subsequent plans would have to change.

But after a few breaths, his attention was unconsciously attracted by Chi Yao.

The path where they were hiding only had light at the end.

The dark environment weakened the other’s features.

Both wearing masks, he shouldn’t have been able to sense the other’s breath, but because he could hear sounds, Jing Xi felt as if hot air was brushing past the side of his neck.

This vague feeling made him pay even more attention.

His finger moved, and with a slight lift, he could reach the other’s hand.

Jing Xi’s eyes flickered as he quietly hooked his pinky finger.

Just as he touched it, he was glared at.

Chi Yao’s eyes were very clear even at night.

The warning in those eyes was bright and obvious. Not only did the hooked pinky slip away, but his hand was also pinched.

Jing Xi: “…”

The mechanical sounds from the AI patrols grew closer and closer. It looked like they had no intention of taking other side paths at all.

Chi Yao: [You guys go take down these three.]

Xiao Hong and Xiao Hei each attached to the top of an AI patrol. Before the patrols could sound the alarm, they invaded the systems and directly controlled the patrols’ movements.

Xiao Lan had just finished scanning and returned. Hearing the instruction, it also attached to the top of the remaining AI patrol.

Almost immediately, the three patrols stopped moving and held hands guarding outside the laboratory door.

Chi Yao released Jing Xi and raised his chin: “Let’s go.”

Jing Xi’s gaze swept over those three steel blockheads, and he knew what instruction Chi Yao had given.

The two quietly walked to the laboratory door and exchanged a glance.

Jing Xi drew his sidearm from his lower back, pulled the slide, and nodded to him.

Chi Yao made a countdown gesture and quickly opened the door when reaching one.

Jing Xi pointed his gun inside, quickly scanning around the room.

“No one.”

Chi Yao followed in and casually closed the door.

This place was just as he expected—a laboratory.

Chi Yao walked past the operating table, examining the instruments and various bottles and jars placed there.

He didn’t have much research into these biological experiments, but if there was anything related to that matter, he would definitely recognize it.

“Chi Yao, come here.”

Jing Xi’s voice came from over there. Chi Yao walked over.

In front of Jing Xi were several paper experimental reports.

Wearing gloves, he handed one page to Chi Yao.

“Take a look. Is it related to mutation?”

Chi Yao leaned closer, squinting: “It would be strange if I could see clearly.”

Jing Xi: “…”

He’d forgotten about that.

He handed over the night vision glasses he was carrying.

Chi Yao glanced at them and decisively took them to wear, teasing: “Being so good to me, I’m really not used to it.”

Jing Xi said with a wooden face: “After all, it’s my body. It would be troublesome if it became nearsighted.”

Chi Yao snatched the experimental record book from his hand, snorting with laughter: “Stubborn.”

The record book was full of formulas and graphics he couldn’t understand. Fortunately, there were text notes below.

After flipping through a few pages, Chi Yao put it back without interest: “It’s not.”

Jing Xi wanted to ask, but after opening his mouth, he still said nothing and continued searching through the record books.

After turning the entire laboratory upside down, they basically confirmed that this laboratory only studied the impact of a virus called Elga, common in mutant wild beasts, on wild beast genes.

Even the experimental subjects were different.

“Keep looking.” Chi Yao tossed the record book and was first to leave.

Jing Xi couldn’t miss the trace of disappointment in his eyes.

Acting very calm, but actually he cared a lot, right?

If not for the Extreme Shadow members, he also had to investigate the truth for himself.

Mutation degree exceeding 30%, genes irreversible.

Chi Yao’s obsession with this matter gave Jing Xi a bad feeling.

Could it be that even without any stimulus, the mutation degree would gradually increase over time?

AI patrols were patrolling at various side paths and main paths.

However, with three disguised AIs providing cover, it did reduce a lot of trouble.

Once again running into an AI patrol team from the opposite side.

The opposing AIs moved in front of the three and stopped, suddenly not knowing whether to retreat, turn left, turn right, or go around.

[Program disorder, submitting data to backend, reallocating patrol routes—]

The three calmly blocked them and suddenly extended mechanical arms pointing in three completely different directions.

The opposing AI patrols received the signal and flew off in three directions according to the instructions.

Chi Yao, hiding in the side path, almost laughed out loud: “Did you design the slyly mischievous personality based on yourself?”

Jing Xi silently glanced at him, walked out of the side path, and moved forward quickly.

They checked all three floors of one building and didn’t find what Chi Yao wanted.

With limited time, he prepared to go to Building No. 2.

Just as he walked down the steps, he suddenly paused.

Wind at his feet?

Seeing him stop, Jing Xi turned his head: “What’s wrong?”

Chi Yao’s gaze swept over this area by his feet and discovered a hidden ventilation opening in a corner of the wall.

“There’s a basement.”

Jing Xi’s expression changed. He walked closer two steps. Feeling the cool breeze by his feet, he picked out Xiao Hei and reached it toward the ventilation opening.

The mesh was fine, only half the size of the Xiao Hei bean.

Jing Xi: “Scan underground.”

A virtual screen immediately popped up on the Xiao Hei bean.

[You want me to crawl through sewers?]

Jing Xi supplemented: “If you finish quickly, I’ll let you play that game with Xiao Hong.”

Xiao Hei: [Fine, I’ll crawl. Hmph.]

Chi Yao watched from the side, puzzled.

“Clearly using the same body, why is it so fierce toward me but obedient in your hands? Did you secretly set some program?”

Jing Xi said expressionlessly: “This isn’t a program issue. It’s an emotional intelligence issue, Chi Straightforward Yao.”

Chi Yao: “…”

Observing him with peripheral vision, Jing Xi asked leisurely: “You want it to become obedient?”

Chi Yao crouched on the step below, looking at him through night vision glasses: “I don’t want anything that costs money.”

Jing Xi: “…”

Jing Xi: “No payment required.”

Chi Yao: “Speak.”

Jing Xi: “If you can make me happy, you’ll know how to make it obedient.”

Chi Yao snorted coldly: “So it’s still listening to you?”

Jing Xi: “…”