Translator: CinderTL
Reading this, Feng Qi finally understood something crucial.
His early death in this timeline wasn't due to external forces, but rather a deliberate sacrifice made by his future self.
Every future version of you is a true hero, unafraid of death.
"I'll take that as a compliment."
He continued scrolling through the email messages, searching for confirmation that the technology research institute was indeed the dark force.
Once he had definitive proof, his future plans would center on targeting the institute.
He could then establish an organization to oppose them.
Without Le Ping'an, the institute would never discover his covertly growing momentum.
493. Recently, a rumor has spread claiming I'm a domain creature spy planted among humans, citing numerous fabricated incidents as evidence.
This confirms the dark force is growing restless. They're launching their first wave of attacks through public opinion, attempting to disrupt my research progress.
Many rumors now claim Cellular Regeneration Technology is a forbidden art, that resurrected humans are easily controlled by domain creatures, and that the technology must be banned.
The more they push, the more I'll publicize it.
503. Today, I gave an interview to external media. Beforehand, Wei Wei and other Scarlet Research Institute executives prepared a script for me to memorize.
As the interview began, I followed the script and launched into a full-blown hype session.
The key message was this: this technology is absolutely groundbreaking. If we succeed in developing it, domain creatures will no longer pose a threat.
This PR campaign was highly effective. Combined with my previous announcement about "limb regeneration" technology, many outsiders now firmly believed in the existence of this technology.
508. Great, the criticism against me has only intensified.
What truly left me speechless was how the dark force had dug up my academic records from Star City High School and twisted them into propaganda.
They argued that while my grades had been decent, I was far from a genius. My sudden acquisition of superhuman talent suggested I might be a spy planted by domain creatures within Human Civilization.
In short, a growing chorus of voices began demanding I abandon the development of Cellular Regeneration Technology. But I remained completely unfazed, because this technology had never existed in the first place. (shrug.jpg)
543. Major news: we've confirmed that the technology research institute is the dark force.
Today, the technology research institute experienced a surge in personnel departures, followed by an attack on the Scarlet Research Institute.
Fortunately, the Scarlet Research Institute had anticipated the attack and successfully repelled it, even capturing several humans.
But before we could interrogate them, their bodies rapidly dissolved into a puddle of liquid. They had committed suicide by some unknown means, leaving no time for intervention.
The powerful individuals who had been lying in ambush near the technology research institute followed them here, confirming beyond any doubt that they were from the institute.
544. Now that I've been completely exposed, the technology research institute is likely to launch a series of assassinations against me. I could die at any moment. Therefore, I've entrusted my email account to Wei Wei, who will assist you in obtaining the Star City Shelter's access credentials and other critical information.
545. A core meeting was held today to discuss various matters.
One thing is now certain: the non-core members of the technology research institute are on humanity's side. They are unaware of the institute's true nature, while the core members have long been infiltrated by domain creatures.
Thus, Mo Fei never discovered the full truth before his death.
546. I suddenly remembered something Mo Fei mentioned in his email messages.
He said that the technology research institute had been researching Spirit Energy Technology for a long time and had already achieved significant breakthroughs, yet they had never publicly released these advancements.
At the time, Mo Fei speculated that the institute might have considered the technology insufficiently refined and planned to wait until it matured before making it public.
Now it's clear that the situation is far more complex. The institute's top leadership has deliberately blocked the technology's release.
The email message abruptly cut off here.
Feng Qi knew exactly why.
Clearly, after leaving this message, his future self had been assassinated within the Scarlet Research Institute.
To ensure the smooth execution of their subsequent plans against the Technology Research Institute, the Scarlet Research Institute couldn't publicly reveal that he had been murdered by a dark force. They had no choice but to conceal the truth.
Otherwise, the Scarlet Research Institute would become the Technology Research Institute's next target.
With both sides revealing their cards, the Scarlet Research Institute couldn't guarantee victory. Moreover, they couldn't be certain if the Technology Research Institute was the only dark force involved.
Pretending ignorance was their best option.
How tragic! He didn't even have time to say goodbye before he was gone. Quick, check what important information Wei Wei left behind.
Hearing the Narrator's words, Feng Qi immediately clicked on the list to the right of the email interface and opened the message box labeled "Wei Wei."
1. Hello, time-traveler Feng Qi... Hello my ass! After reading your previous emails, you called me an "old woman"?
Where am I old? You call me "Sister" to my face, but behind my back, you show your true colors. Hah, men.
2. We couldn't determine the cause of your death. There were no visible injuries on your body, yet you inexplicably died suddenly. Whatever it was, it definitely wasn't a natural death.
3. Mu Qing came to claim your remains. After discussion, we decided to hand them over to her.
Seeing her hostile expression, I wondered if she would have resorted to force if we had refused.
The audacity!
Too bad Xiao Muqing has grown up; I can't beat her in a fight anymore QvQ.
4. I've been pondering a question. According to the information you provided, the Scarlet Research Institute will face relentless attacks from the dark force (the technology research institute), leading to the destruction of several of our branch bases.
This proves that the technology research institute has been actively hindering human progress.
Yet you also mentioned that your teacher, Wang Jinsheng, was hailed as a historical figure. If he achieved such great accomplishments, why wasn't he targeted or assassinated?
Could it be the protagonist's aura?
This beauty now suspects your teacher is a werewolf. Should I seize an opportunity to have him eliminated? Better to kill the innocent than let the guilty go free (beauty's fierce.jpg).
Forget it. There might be hidden circumstances. Still, I can't shake the feeling that something's off about your teacher. His success is too smooth, suspiciously so.
I hope I'm just overthinking things.
6. The public criticism against you is relentless. Many claim you died because of your research into Cellular Regeneration Technology—a forbidden art that could destroy humanity.
The internet is suddenly flooded with fabricated scandals about you, fueling public outrage and demands to revoke all your honors.
Perhaps this is humanity's folly—how easily they are swayed by public opinion, becoming pawns of hidden forces.
As for the technology you mentioned... it never existed. The Scarlet Research Institute has publicly announced the abandonment of its research into this technology.
7. Regarding the Star City Shelter access account you requested, I can only promise to try my best. After all, we might be gone at any moment.
But the Scarlet Research Institute does have a secret experimental base. In case of an emergency, it will serve as our final refuge. Perhaps you can find answers there. Your genetic data will be preserved indefinitely, and the secret base will remain permanently accessible to you.
8. As for the "little black" you mentioned, we will investigate him for you. If my subsequent email messages don't mention anything about him, it means I've already died before uncovering that information.
However, you can search for relevant information within the secret shelter. Our successors may have already found the answers for you.
10. Shocking! An eighteen-year-old beauty is regularly exchanging emails with a possibly nonexistent time traveler! What could this be...? Actually, I just wanted to share some good news: the development of Xiao Mu Qing has made significant progress! This beautiful lady is so thrilled!
25. After three sleepless nights of research, we've hit another bottleneck. But the recent conference brought some good news.
We seized a batch of resources originally earmarked for the technology research institute. I heard dozens of masked operatives were involved...
The enemy lost resources, and we gained domain resources—a win-win situation.
74. The technology research institute seems to have uncovered some of our secrets and has begun taking action against us. Just as you predicted, our Scarlet Branch Base in Twilight City was attacked and destroyed.
Fortunately, we were prepared. We had installed demolition charges in the data storage room.
We remotely detonated the charges, completely destroying all the data. The technology research institute gained nothing.
But their attack proves they've gathered some intelligence about us, possibly even learned about the Anti-Infiltration Plan. The conflict will likely escalate rapidly.
78. The situation is dire. The technology research institute's momentum is overwhelming. We've lost several core combat personnel recently, all killed during missions targeting the institute.
This reminds me of what you once said: after establishing the Dawn Army, Mu Qing carried out a massive purge of domain combat teams.
Could it be that the Technology Research Institute secretly controlled several Top Domain Battle Groups, and Mu Qing discovered their corruption, leading her to mercilessly slaughter them all?
82. I suddenly remembered you mentioning that Mu Qing would later commit massacres. Could this be related to Mu Yao's guidance after her appearance?
Did that old woman Mu Yao uncover some secret that required such drastic measures?
Damn it! You've left me with so many unsolved mysteries, my head's spinning with questions and wild guesses. Screw your grand theories—I need to focus on my research!
125. I haven't been paying much attention to the Technology Research Institute lately. My priority remains perfecting Xiao Mu Qing.
If I fail to create Xiao Mu Qing, you'll be without her protection after your time travel.
As for our conflict with the Technology Research Institute, it's now an open war, with both sides engaging in overt and covert battles. I'll keep you updated on any major developments.
131. Fuck! Your weapon research failed again.
I'm baffled. Without the rune crystal from Mu Qing's body, can't we replicate or clone her using other rune crystals?
147. Mu Qing has established the Dawn Rebels, and we can no longer contact her, nor do we dare to.
She has now completely positioned herself as an enemy of humanity, at least overtly.
Anyone caught secretly communicating with her would face severe consequences.
If discovered, the Scarlet Research Institute would likely be destroyed, even without the technology research institute's intervention. The major factions would gang up on it.
Therefore, you must find your own way to resolve the question of why Mu Qing massacred the city.
We will handle the issue of your access account and the subsequent investigation into little black's origins.
As long as the Scarlet Research Institute exists, there will be a way to help you find the answers.
268. The Dawn Rebels are expanding rapidly, with large numbers of scavengers joining their ranks. That old woman, Mu Yao, seems to be serving in a management role within the Dawn Army, but her origins remain a mystery to me. I don't understand her at all.
692. Mu Qing died, and Mu Yao took over as leader of the Dawn Army, continuing the fight against the dark forces. During this time, they destroyed several branch bases of the technology research institute, which was so satisfying I cheered out loud.
As for our Scarlet Research Institute's branch bases, they remained untouched, never attacked.
It's clear Mu Yao knows exactly who the hidden enemies of Human Civilization are.
729. A major crisis has erupted. The outside world now believes the Scarlet Research Institute is secretly colluding with the rebels, even with domain creatures.
They've compiled a list of incriminating evidence. Let me show you a few examples:
730. Mu Qing's rune augment project was completed within the Scarlet Research Institute, implying we were secretly manipulating her.
This... we can't really refute. We can only explain that Mu Qing severed all ties with us after completing the rune augment experiments.
733. Feng Qi proposed the Cellular Regeneration Technology while working at the Scarlet Research Institute.
These idiots still think there's something wrong with Cellular Regeneration Technology! How are we supposed to explain this?
735. The dawn rebels have been conquering territory and massacring civilians, yet why have the Scarlet Research Institute's branch bases remained untouched?
This... how are we supposed to defend against these fabricated accusations? (Slams fist on table in anger)
The outside world demands an explanation and believes the Scarlet Research Institute is deeply flawed.
We're already in a state of utter chaos.
If I hadn't been inside the Scarlet Research Institute and known the truth, I would have suspected the institute myself.
738. A top-level meeting was convened. The Scarlet Research Institute is likely relocating to our underground Secret Base.
The technology research institute now holds an absolute advantage in all areas, and the outside world has completely lost faith in the Scarlet Research Institute.
We're powerless to clear our name.
Our best option is a covert relocation. We'll transfer all critical equipment and data to the Secret Base and simply refuse to offer any explanations.
It just occurred to me that you might be exonerated in the future. People will probably blame the Scarlet Research Institute for your death, since we're beyond redemption.
749. This is likely my final message. We're evacuating.
For security reasons, the Secret Base won't have external internet access, only an internal LAN. As a researcher, I'm not allowed to leave, so all external resources will be managed by the cultivators trained by the institute.
From now on, I'll be a Glorious Underground Party Member. Farewell, and may we meet again in the future!
Clasped hands in farewell (farewell.jpg)
If fate allows, see you in the Future Dream Realm!
Seeing this, Feng Qi sighed helplessly.
The Scarlet Research Institute's fate was equally tragic. Despite their arduous efforts, they were ultimately branded as "reactionaries."
In their conflict with the technology research institute, they were completely outmatched.
Fortunately, now that the dark force had been identified as the technology research institute, they no longer needed to search blindly for the enemy.
Checking the time, Feng Qi decided to immediately head to the Scarlet Research Institute's Secret Base.
It was likely to contain the privileged account he needed, as well as detailed information about little black.
(End of the Chapter)