Wen Dizhi... This name exploded like a thunderclap in Zuo Feng's heart.
The Gang Leader of Wild Wolf Gang whom Zuo Feng had almost forgotten! The one who first put the pathogen into application, creating numerous Mutants and pathogens!
Zuo Feng naturally trusted what Professor Yan said. If Professor Yan had truly been involved in this conspiracy, he would never have been able to detect and inform Zuo Feng of the pathogen's existence after entering Firefly.
This indicated that the true source was not Professor Yan, but Wen Dizhi. Professor Yan was merely a pawn manipulated by Wen Dizhi. He used Professor Yan's obsession with scientific research to induce him to develop the pathogen-creating agent!
This was the root of all disaster. A cold glint flashed in Zuo Feng's eyes as he muttered under his breath:
"The rat hiding its tracks, I've finally caught your tail."
As for Wen Dizhi's current whereabouts, ever since Zuo Feng destroyed the Wild Wolf Gang, Wen Dizhi had been absorbed by the Three Giants and was currently active within the Luoxia Alliance's sphere of influence.
Zuo Feng quickly took out paper and pen, writing down neat lines of text:
"At all costs, go to the Luoxia Alliance and capture Wen Dizhi alive. I will explain the specific reasons in detail after I arrive."
Zuo Feng folded the letter and handed it to Kong Ling, instructing:
"Kong Ling, deliver this letter to Da Bai Tu as quickly as possible!" Kong Ling nodded and then vanished into thin air.
The oppressive atmosphere in the Laboratory did not ease with Kong Ling's departure; instead, it grew heavier due to the core secret discussion that had just taken place.
The humming of the cold instruments seemed to grow a few decibels lower. The researchers were as silent as cicadas in winter, even intentionally slowing their breathing, fearing they might disturb the Chief's wrath, which seemed like a volcano on the verge of erupting.
Professor Yan's face was still pale. His knuckles, gripping the operating table, were white from the force. The look behind his glasses was complex and hard to decipher, containing fear, resentment at being used, but more so a sense of confusion and immense pressure after his understanding had been overturned.
He opened his mouth,
"Chief, I..." Professor Yan's voice was dry and hoarse.
Zuo Feng gently raised his hand, interrupting him, and said:
"Professor Yan, this is not your fault. You were beyond your control at the time, used by Wen Dizhi. Don't worry, I still trust you. Later, I will go to H to escort the half-corpses, and they will all be given to you for research. For now, please continue your work."
Professor Yan's lips moved slightly, but he ultimately said no more, merely nodding slightly and turning to silently immerse himself in his work at the experiment table.
Zuo Feng watched his hunched back, a complex expression flashing in his eyes, then he composed himself and left the Laboratory. He called for Da Mi Tao and Da Yuanyuan. Later, Da Yuanyuan would accompany him to escort the half-corpses. As for Da Mi Tao, Zuo Feng specifically instructed her to secretly and closely monitor Professor Yan and his research team, reporting any abnormal behavior immediately.
Although Zuo Feng trusted Professor Yan's character, after the incident with Wen Dizhi, he had to be vigilant. After all, this involved not just personal safety, but the safety of the entire world, and he could not afford the slightest oversight.
Moreover, who could guarantee that there were no moles planted or bribed by Wen Dizhi within Professor Yan's team?
Time was pressing, and the situation was grim. Zuo Feng did not delay. Together with Da Yuanyuan, he led 13 Qingying Vanguards directly to H City. The reason for bringing 13 Qingying Vanguards was that Da Yuanyuan needed absolute deterrent force to escort the half-corpses. The half-corpses were extremely powerful, and without the suppression of the Qingying Vanguards, they would surely riot during the escort.
Half an hour later, Zuo Feng and Da Yuanyuan went directly to the temporary command post of the Steel Fortress. The moment he saw Da Bai Tu, Zuo Feng immediately asked, "Has Wen Dizhi been caught?"
Da Bai Tu replied:
"Mao Wudi and two others personally went to the Luoxia Alliance to apprehend him. They haven't returned yet. Please wait a bit longer. However, Xiao Nan Ren, why do you suddenly want to capture Wen Dizhi?"
Zuo Feng's gaze was cold, and his voice was low:
"Because Wen Dizhi is very likely the mastermind behind everything. His true identity is far more complex than we imagined.
We'll discuss this when Mao Wudi and the others return. Let's first escort the half-corpses back. You go and coordinate with Da Yuanyuan."
Da Bai Tu's pupils contracted, and she didn't press further, turning to walk out of the command post to coordinate the escort arrangements with Da Yuanyuan.
Zuo Feng stood at the entrance of the command post, gazing at the gloomy sky in the distance. Dark clouds churned like boiling ink, seemingly foretelling an even greater storm about to arrive.
Ten minutes later, Da Bai Tu, having completed the handover, returned to the command post. Meanwhile, Da Yuanyuan led 13 Qingying Vanguards to escort the half-corpses. A few more minutes passed, and Mao Wudi and the two others returned, their figures appearing at the horizon, bringing the heavily injured and unconscious Wen Dizhi amidst the rising dust.
The moment Zuo Feng saw Wen Dizhi again, a cold glint flashed in his eyes. This Wen Dizhi certainly had a lot of guts, daring to remain in Dream City even after knowing Wan Youyu had been captured. He was truly reckless.
However, it was understandable when he thought about it. Wen Dizhi was originally the Gang Leader of Wild Wolf Gang, with powerful strength. After being absorbed by the Luoxia Alliance, his position within the Luoxia Alliance was not low. In this encirclement operation, the Luoxia Alliance fully cooperated and participated, so he naturally had access to a lot of intelligence and knew that although Wan Youyu was captured alive, he had not revealed his information.
Therefore, he dared to continue staying in Dream City.
Of course, the complete blockade of Dream City by the Three Overlord Powers also made it difficult for him to escape easily, thus forcing him to stay.
Zuo Feng sneered, the situation now clear in his mind—Wen Dizhi was self-important, thinking no one could see through his identity.
In the temporary command room of the Steel Fortress, Zuo Feng gazed at the heavily injured and unconscious Wen Dizhi, then turned his gaze to Mao Wudi and asked in a deep voice, "What happened?"
Mao Wudi wiped the blood from his face and said in a low voice:
"This guy is problematic. The moment he saw us, he tried to escape and resisted extremely fiercely. But with his limited abilities, he was no match for us. We subdued him in a few moves."
Mao Wudi's phrase,
"The moment he saw us, he tried to escape,"
was like a heavy hammer, striking Zuo Feng's heart and shattering Wen Dizhi's disguise.
Zuo Feng looked at the blood on Mao Wudi's face; clearly, the capture process was not as easy as Mao Wudi claimed.
Zuo Feng shook his head helplessly, eyeing the blood on Mao Wudi's face teasingly, "Chief Mao, it probably wasn't as easy as you say, was it?"
Mao Wudi gave a wry smile, tearing off a torn sleeve to wipe the corner of his mouth:
"This fellow has something unusual inside him; his power is incredibly violent. I, Tie Zhenshan, and Rou Moyu had to work together to subdue him. The dog hid too deeply. If we hadn't fought him, no one would have imagined that his strength was actually much greater than Wan Youyu's."
Tie Zhenshan stood by, his expression solemn, and nodded at the words:
"Mao Wudi is right, Wen Dizhi hid too deeply. This guy is not only good at disguise, but he also seems to contain some kind of abnormal power within him, and his strength is extremely unstable, as if it could erupt at any moment."
Rou Moyu gently stroked her arm and asked in a low voice, "Chief Zuo, is there something wrong with him? Why are we capturing him?"
Zuo Feng's expression was serious, his gaze sweeping over the three:
"He is very likely the true manipulator behind Wan Youyu, and even the core figure of the entire conspiracy. Wan Youyu was merely a pawn on the stage, while Wen Dizhi is the one truly hiding in the shadows, orchestrating everything."