ATL | Chapter 11

Ganlin asked, “What?”

“An encrypted file was sent to the backup magnetic card,” Cizhu said. “Take a look first.”

Yase, from Huizhi District’s Nanlu Street, born in New Calendar 154, currently 25 years old, companion gene black mamba snake, height 187, weight 79kg.

Yase’s companion gene was inherited from his father, who was an ordinary employee of a data stream company, providing data outsourcing services to some small and micro enterprises in Huizhi District. When Yase was twenty, he died in a ground rail traffic accident on his commute.

Yase’s mother’s companion gene was otter, and she worked at the South City Branch of the Living Water Quality Monitoring Center in Huizhi District, holding the position of Junior Lab Technician, responsible for the daily water quality sampling and analysis of the water supply system within her jurisdiction. Very unfortunately, she also passed away from illness ten years ago.

“Both parents are dead, and from then on there were no direct relatives.” Ganlin said, “That part fits Lin Bai’s file pretty well.”

The biggest advantage of sparse kinship was that it was hard to judge truth or falsehood from relatives’ mouths.

The data showed that Yase completed both basic education and secondary education in Huizhi District’s schools. His specialty direction in secondary school was evidence analysis and public safety. In the early period after graduation, he had briefly worked at the Huizhi District Archives Management Bureau.

“He’s not highly educated, just above average in Huizhi District,” Cizhu said. “Because he performed outstandingly at the Archives Management Bureau, Yase was transferred to the Yujing Shuguang Southwest District 2 police team, where he served as an archive analyst. Later, because of his excellent physical abilities, he was transferred again to the criminal investigation field unit.”

“However, because it wasn’t through formal channels, and he didn’t have internal connections in the police bureau, Yase never managed to get a lifelong post, and so he still hasn’t been able to settle in Shuguang District to this day. He remains a Third-Rank Police Officer.”

Ganlin asked, “You suspect there are too many coincidences?”

“Yes,” Cizhu said. “Whether it’s kinship or work opportunities, both sides are reasonable, but both sides are very difficult to verify. So although the process of checking was easy, the authenticity can’t be guaranteed.”

“Besides the above,” Ganlin added, “Yase also worked at the archives bureau.”

“According to his age and job permissions at the time, the possibility of him altering his own file is infinitesimally close to zero.” Cizhu thought for a moment. “If you suspect that, then the entire basis for Yase’s existence could be overturned, after all, most of the investigation results were drawn from the official files.”

Ganlin lowered his eyes and carefully finished reading Yase’s file after entering the police bureau.

“He’s often sent out,” Ganlin said. “Most of the time, the specific task content shows [CONFIDENTIAL].”

“He hasn’t been promoted all these years, mainly because his companion gene isn’t suitable.” Cizhu asked, “You know the gene discrimination chain inside the police bureau, right? Wolves, dogs, and feline are the best, then comes nonvenomous reptiles, birds, and other mammals.”

“But that’s only the publicly announced standard. Internally, of course, the police bureau would rather use the group that has ability, is vicious enough, and is able to crack down on crime. From that perspective, Yase is very suitable. But he’s been at Third-Rank for so many years, there must be other serious flaws.”

“Yase doesn’t seem good at socializing.” Ganlin was silent for a moment, then changed his wording. “He doesn’t seem to do much upward socializing, and rarely chats with coworkers.”

“It’s only been one night. How did you draw so many conclusions?” Cizhu held it in. “Have you been with him the whole time?”

Ganlin turned his face away. “Not really.”

He briefly described what had happened. Just as his last word fell, he heard Cizhu’s tone rise slightly.

“A2 type, I’ve never tasted it before.” Cizhu asked, “How is it, is it delicious?”

Ganlin was silent for a moment, and in the end squeezed out a crooked “mm” through his teeth.

“If you plan to keep in contact with him, remember to send me a few boxes.”

“Of course.” Ganlin said happily. “I still suspect Yase has something to do with Jingran Group.”

Following that line of thought, Cizhu figured out the key point.

If Yase actually already belonged to Jingran Group, one of the four major conglomerates, then his several transfer opportunities would all have a reasonable explanation, and he himself was also very likely secretly serving Hetaweis. If they couldn’t catch Ganlin, the employer would know to look for a scapegoat, and SEC could naturally have similar thoughts.

Because of his height, build, and even the high similarity in age and companion gene, by then if Ganlin’s mouflon horns were cut down and ground smooth, and then an eye dyeing surgery was done, that would also count as the final method to give an account to Golden Mane.

In other words, Hetaweis might not be as bright and upright, and as capable, as the reports said. How he could quickly climb to this position today, no matter how you looked at it, contained family power and some commonplace dirty methods.

“Yase has the probability of wanting to hand me out as a favor, although the chance isn’t high.” Ganlin said unhurriedly, “After all, Lin Bai comes from a lowly background, has no power or influence, only a Younger Brother with autism, he’s too suitable for quietly disappearing.”

“Right now, he seems to be trying to get familiar. However, if he can really be delivered to Hetaweis’s liking, then Yase getting a permanent residence permit in Shuguang District naturally won’t be a problem.”

Cizhu slightly added emphasis to his voice. “Ganlin, you want to use him, or even use Hetaweis, to get close to Jingran Group? That’s too risky, you...”

“If desire really shows itself, then it becomes less to be feared.” Ganlin said carelessly, “I didn’t plan to throw myself into danger. I just wanted to muddy the waters even more. Besides, all of this is based on my malicious speculation.”

“If Yase doesn’t have other intentions toward me, then he won’t be harmed because of me at all, and can still gain some friendship, can’t he?”

“All right, how’s Lu Mingzhe’s side?”

“Since you left these past two days, only one person has been to the clinic.” Cizhu said, “No matter how long Rust Belt’s hands are, the main branch is still in Lower Nest. Their infiltration into Shuguang District is very limited, or perhaps, Lu Mingzhe isn’t actually that important to Qize.”

Ganlin was not at all discouraged. He briskly checked the visitor records, but as soon as he scanned over a name, he stopped.

“Lingsheng?”

He remembered. He had heard this name from Duyu just yesterday, said to be the Lead Performer of the project they were responsible for, “Ruins Abyss’s Prayer.”

“He was actually disguised.” Cizhu said, “But after I used face matching, I couldn’t find any related information, so I had to hack the old surveillance of the adjacent block before I could barely identify his real appearance.”

Lingsheng’s companion gene was white crane.

The photos in the file numbered in the dozens, but almost all of them were various on-set stills, with only one slightly younger ID photo.

The other party was very thin, with narrow shoulders and a slim waist, a long build, his complexion somewhat haggard, yet still stunningly beautiful. Lingsheng’s skin was extraordinarily fair, almost translucent, faint bluish veins could be seen, yet there was a red mole at the corner of his eye.

Brilliant like cinnabar.

This was a face that fit the Eastern aesthetics of the old world extremely well, slender and beautiful, like an immortal in a painting. Even though Ganlin had already seen all kinds of beauties in Nanke, he had never seen such a unique temperament.

“The data shows that he was born in Lower Nest in 155, near Birdcage. At five years old he was discovered by a song and dance drama talent scout and fortunately left Lower Nest. But only recently did Lingsheng truly become famous.”

Birdcage.

Similar to Sanpan Lane, this was a residential gathering place in Lower Nest. The architectural style was sloppy, like containers piled up haphazardly, with countless narrow rooms inside the containers. Fortunately, most of the people living here were small bird companion gene holders, like sparrows.

Residents climbed up and down briskly. Tens of thousands of people lived here, and it was considered one of the largest communities in Lower Nest.

However, large and medium bird companion gene holders like Lingsheng actually mostly lived in Huizhi District and Shuguang District. The fact that he came from Lower Nest made Ganlin slightly surprised.

“I didn’t believe it at first either.” Cizhu said, “But inter-district downward transfer does exist.”

No matter what, Lingsheng had already returned to the position originally set by Yujing.

“I didn’t see this name in the stolen Rust Belt roster.” Ganlin said, “The reason he went to find Lu Mingzhe is still unclear, but combined with his experience of living in Lower Nest as a child, the two of them may already have known each other, and there may be a private relationship.”

Ganlin suddenly sat up straight. He looked outside through the window gap, and in the afterglow of the setting sun, he vaguely saw someone, and hurriedly pushed the door open and ran out.

He did not forget to bring along a bouquet of biomorphic flowers he had just made by hand.

Earlier, inside the small apartment where he lived alone.

Yase had been temporarily reassigned to help catch a few robbers in Three Districts. By the time he finished and came home, it was almost dusk. While he was organizing the Canus Case materials, he listened to his Deputy report the latest progress of the investigation.

“All the bodyguards stationed outside the door that night have already been checked.” Kane said, “No one had any private contact with Ganlin, and no one secretly went to Nanke. Boss, the clue about inside and outside collusion can be preliminarily ruled out.”

Hopper immediately took up the conversation. “I’ve also sorted out the roster on my side.”

Heta asked, “Still no trace of Ganlin?”

“No.” Hopper said, “That Little Lamb is definitely still in Shuguang District, he’s just hiding deep enough. He’s in the dark, we’re in the light, maybe he’s already hidden in some private domain.”

“Young Boss, the biggest problem right now is the lack of evidence, private domain checks are hard to handle, how about you just...”

“Hopper.” Kane added forcefully, “Stop talking.”

The gray wolf shut his mouth resentfully.

“Fine,” Heta was silent for a moment, “I’ll handle it.”

After the communication ended, the light screen was full of Ganlin’s information.

Ganlin, born in New Calendar 157 in Lower Nest’s Sanpan Lane, 22 years old at the time of the incident, net height 178cm, weight 60kg.

But all the information about his parents was blank.

This was actually very common. Residents from Lower Nest, apart from their time of birth, which would be forcibly registered and recorded by the population statistics bureau, had the rest of their growing-up history not very easy to verify. Because Lower Nest was chaotic and dark, breeding endless evil and depravity, and very few people would care about how some person born in Lower Nest and dead in Lower Nest spent their life.

When Ganlin climbed upward, everything became different. Since being brought to Shuguang District, every word and action of his had been recorded, and his blank past was also whitewashed.

Nanke spent a great deal of money cultivating him, custom-made for him a past steeped in romance and pain, making him become the magnolia flower rising from the mud, the tender lily-of-the-valley that had never withered in the cold wind.

Who knew how much of it was true? How much was false?

However, truth and falsehood were the least important things. It was enough that the dandies of Shuguang District were enthusiastic about this kind of romance. One only needed to generously bestow pity, or cruelly cut him down by hand.

It was only during this investigation that Ganlin’s barren past was finally torn open and presented before SEC’s eyes. The original file was not long, just a single page, and Hetaweis already knew it by heart.

Ganlin had once studied at the Fourteenth Public Welfare Academy in Lower Nest, but he failed to complete the three-year compulsory education and dropped out halfway through.

He disappeared for a period of time, then was seen wandering and begging in Lower Nest, after which he lost track again. The third time he appeared, he had already been sold to Shuguang District’s Nanke Club, becoming the most dazzling New Recruit.

At the end was exactly that floral arrangement photo. Ganlin was actually turned slightly away from the screen, exposing the snow-white skin beneath his neck. His movement could actually be called elegant, yet it just happened to reveal an elusive seduction.

It seemed that in the next instant, the person in the photo would turn around breathing.

However, in the next instant, what truly changed was the suddenly popping up reminder.

“Dinner with Lin Bai.”

The two characters “Lin Bai” covered the photo, just right to block Ganlin’s water-red eyes.

Hetaweis immediately collected his thoughts and pushed the door open to head for the garage.

It was also rather strange to think about. Lin Bai and Ganlin were both caprinae, similar in build and age, and even both born in Lower Nest’s Sanpan Lane, yet they could be so different as heaven and earth.

If Ganlin meant mature sin and honey, then Lin Bai was far too immature.

At the start of their meeting, he had also suspected that Lin Bai was Ganlin’s disguise, but the blood test results were right in front of him, and the mouflon horns were real too. And most importantly, if Ganlin had already successfully escaped from Shuguang District, why would he come back again in such a short time?

Hiding in Lower Nest was the better choice.

Heta drove the hovercar, and in the noisy evening wind, he thought lazily.

Ganlin was far better at performing than Lin Bai.

The cunning he showed was not cunning. Lin Bai was isolated and helpless in Shuguang District. Willing to overcome his fear of snake species and take the initiative to start a conversation, or even show goodwill, he must have some scheme.

Perhaps a temporary shelter, or perhaps he wanted to borrow Yase’s strength to barely gain a foothold in Shuguang District.

Getting close to Lin Bai was not impossible. Just by virtue of him sharing the same place of origin as Ganlin, it might bring effective clues.

This was essentially mutual benefit. Lin Bai would not be harmed because of this, and could still gain some comfort, couldn’t he?

Before he knew it, the Floating Gold Opera House was already before his eyes. Since there had been no performances these past few days, the entrance was very open. If Lin Bai came out of the temporary dormitory, Hetaweis would be able to see him at a glance.

Heta leaned against the car, looking into the distance and waiting, until the sunset clouds interwove and faded, and a half-pool of moonlight climbed onto Dawn Tower.

Lin Bai still had not appeared.

At this point, a full hour had already passed since the agreed time.

Hetaweis stood in place, never moving from his position. A vein on his temple seemed to twitch faintly, and he silently realized.

Either Lin Bai had run into some trouble.

Or, he had just gotten his first-ever taste of being stood up.