OBS Chapter 67 Brain-shaped Worm
Chapter 67 Brain-shaped Worm
Chapter 67 Brain-like Worm (1/5)
At the beginning of the investigation, Cheng Xu did not actually notice anything unusual.
According to the relevant records of the Yuanguangxing branch, all procedures and tests were basically in compliance with regulations and were difficult to criticize.
His onboarding training at the Chengmingxing Police Station and his more than six months of experience in anomaly containment work made him more cautious, and he began to personally study the purple steel container stored in the containment room.
By comparing the containment records kept by the Farlight Star Branch, he noticed that the "accidentally damaged" purple steel container differed from previous containers in terms of material strength.
Following this clue, Cheng Xu began to study the traces left on the inner wall of the container and soon made a discovery.
【Peeling Marks】The frequency of claw-shaped marks left on its inner wall is the same as before, but the difference is that the damage caused by claw-shaped marks to the inner wall is about 30% higher than that of the previous containers.
Therefore, Cheng Xu continued to investigate the factors that might affect the purple steel container, and finally found a clue in the maintenance solution.
Using his ability to rewind time within a small area, he traced back the maintenance fluid sample stored in the Farlight Star branch to the time point when he maintained the purple steel container.
A small amount of Hippoly gel was found in the maintenance solution sample at this time.
Hippol gel can react with stainless steel containers, reducing the material strength of the stainless steel without changing its appearance or most other physicochemical properties.
Therefore, Cheng Xu became convinced that the failure of the containment measures for the [Cracks] was caused by human error.
But when he went back to investigate the process of preparing the special skincare solution, he saw an unexpected name in the signature column of the final reviewer:
Harlan.
According to the special regulations of the Yuanguangxing Branch regarding the "Cracks", the maintenance solution needs to undergo three verification procedures after it is prepared.
Harlan, the head of the Abnormal Control Section, was the last person to review the case.
"During the review process for the maintenance solution, Director Harlan, you were the last one to sign off."
Cheng Xu showed Harlan, who was standing in front of him, an approval process diagram that he had captured from the system.
"If the first two reviewers added Shipol gel to the preservation solution, then Director Harlan should have been able to detect it in the test sample."
As Xue Zijing listened to Cheng Xu's analysis, he looked at the silent Harlan in disbelief.
"Furthermore, I retrieved the surveillance footage, which shows that Director Harlan personally went to the containment area to collect the sample of the maintenance solution."
"However, the sample composition you tested and archived did not contain any components of Hippoly gel."
Cheng Xu sighed: "Based on all the clues, I have deduced that the Hippoly gel in the maintenance solution could only have been added by Director Harlan when he took the sample."
"Director Harlan, do you have anything to say in your defense?"
If Cheng Xu were to speculate with the utmost malice, he would think that everything, including being locked in the interrogation room, was a play orchestrated and staged by Harlan himself.
The fact that the "information worm" chose to infiltrate Harlan's office equipment was also a deliberate act by the Purge.
Because he knew very well that, in the absence of evidence proving that Harlan had voluntarily leaked the secrets, the Administration's regulations did not allow them to do anything to him.
But if that's the case, how do you explain the fact that Harlan's multiple lie detector tests showed no abnormalities?
This was also the key factor that puzzled Cheng Xu. Whether from the instrument test results or from his own observations, Harlan seemed genuinely unaware of the information leak.
The silence in the containment room was broken when Harlan, who had been silent all along, spoke up: "I have absolutely no recollection of any of this. I remember I was just sitting in my office, analyzing the component data transmitted from the auditing system, just like before—"
Cheng Xu didn't speak, but silently brought up the surveillance footage stored in the containment room on the transparent tablet.
In the footage, Harlan approaches the pool containing the maintenance solution and skillfully uses a container to take a sample from the pool.
Just then, the image suddenly blurred for a few seconds. When the image returned to clear, Harlan had already completed the sampling and registered it on the instrument.
"I have no recollection—I don't remember—"
Looking at these images, Harlan murmured as if in a dream, holding his head in his hands and trying hard to recall them.
"I really don't remember. I was in the office—I didn't come to the containment area—"
"No, if I didn't come, how do you explain this recording—did I come or not—?"
The light in his eyes disappeared, his gaze lost focus, and the words he spoke began to contradict and become incoherent.
Xue Zijing took a deep breath, quietly moved his feet, and walked behind Cheng Xu, protecting him in front of him.
Even he could clearly sense that his old acquaintance was in a very strange state.
Cheng Xu's expression was grave. If Harlan himself didn't have these memories, then what exactly happened?
"I don't remember—ahhh!"
Suddenly, Harlan let out a pitiful scream, his body convulsing uncontrollably.
Under the watchful eyes of Cheng Xu and Xue Zijing, a bloody, mangled slit appeared in the center of his scalp, revealing his white skull.
The next moment, a teeth-grinding grinding sound came from inside the skull, and a hole the size of a fingertip was drilled out from the inside.
A long, slender creature, its color and texture resembling the folds of a human brain, crawled out of the hole. Countless pairs of thin legs moved along its sides, as if it were about to escape from Harlan's brain.
What is this?
At that moment, Cheng Xu could not find a species in his memory that matched this creature.
But he saw that the life in Director Harlan's eyes was rapidly fading, leaving only a final look of horror.
This creature parasitizes Harlan's body; if it detaches, it will cause his death.
"Go back!"
Without hesitation, Cheng Xu rushed forward and slammed his hand down on the head of the brain-shaped worm.
The ability to rewind time was activated, and the long worm uncontrollably retreated into Harlan's brain, its body shrinking back into the opening in the skull.
The hole in the skull was repaired, the cracks in the scalp were healed, and Harlan's eyes regained their sparkle.
A wave of weakness washed over Cheng Xu, but he still did not stop activating his abilities.
He vaguely guessed that the reason the long worm crawled out of Harlan's brain was likely because he realized there were gaps in his memory.
Since that's the case, let's go back a bit further!
The confusion and doubt in Harlan's eyes began to fade, gradually turning into the joy of being released from the interrogation room and gratitude towards Cheng Xu.
Cheng Xu let go and took a few steps back. Xue Zijing reacted quickly, catching his tired body and preventing Cheng Xu from collapsing to the ground.
Harlan snapped out of his daze, his eyes regaining their clarity as he looked at the two people in front of him.
"Director Xue, is this young man Cheng Xu? Hmm? Why are you two in this position—"
With Xue Zijing's help, Cheng Xu steadied himself and said, "Director Harlan, I am Cheng Xu. My legs went numb from sitting for so long that I almost fell, but thankfully Director Xue was there to support me."
He leaned close to Xue Zijing's ear and whispered, "Don't make a fuss. Go to the Yuanguangxing branch and ask someone for help."