Hunter of Mysterious Creature

"You're right about that." Iron Arm nodded, "Even if you actually managed to create a bizarre creature, it wouldn't survive more than five seconds in this place."

"Now that we've fought, will you let me in to see the big boss?" Sun Hang asked, "I'm actually quite curious. I wrote everything that happened on Nameless Island in detail in my mission report. Even if you ask me personally, that's all I've got. I really don't know why he wants to see me."

"You'll have to ask Mr. Pei about that yourself." Iron Arm stepped aside, pointing to a door on the other side of the hall, "You can go in by yourself."

"By myself?" Sun Hang turned to look at Yang Qi, then glanced at the two escorts who showed no intention of moving, and finally looked at Iron Arm, "Just me?"

"Yes," Iron Arm nodded, "That's also Mr. Pei's request. He wants to meet you alone. During the meeting, no matter what happens, no one is allowed to enter."

"No one is allowed in? Not even you?" Sun Hang asked.

"I'll be guarding the door." Iron Arm replied.

Sun Hang suddenly felt that his initial joke was not wrong; this guy really has transitioned from a bodyguard to a security guard.

"If I were an assassin, wouldn't that be a big problem?" Sun Hang rubbed his chin, "No matter what happens... So if there's an explosion or screams from inside, you still wouldn't come in?"

"My task is just to guard the door; I have no authority over other matters." Iron Arm replied.

"Sun Hang!" Yang Qi could finally hold back no longer, "Can you say less without dying!"

"Aren't I just pointing out security loopholes in Dubhe Tower?" Sun Hang said with an aggrieved expression.

Yang Qi: "..."

…

…

Two minutes later.

Upon seeing the humanoid holographic projection emitting a bluish glow before him, Sun Hang finally understood why Dubhe Tower wasn't worried about him possibly being an assassin...

The so-called "Mr. Pei" wasn't in the room; only a projection remotely controlled by him was present.

Misunderstanding cleared, it seems Dubhe Tower's security measures are still quite rigorous.

"You're much younger than I imagined." Sun Hang was the first to speak, "I thought I'd meet an old man with a white beard, or at least someone of venerable middle age."

The appearance of the humanoid projection was quite young, looking at most in his early thirties, wearing a lab coat indistinguishable from that of an ordinary researcher, with a hairdo that was popular decades ago.

"The aging of the flesh is irreversible, but given the chance to reshape my virtual image, I still prefer how I appeared in my youth." The humanoid projection gestured for Sun Hang to sit on a nearby sofa, while it circled around the table, and a mechanical arm descended from the ceiling, placing a wine glass in front of Sun Hang, "Would you like something to drink?"

"Coke, iced." Sun Hang replied, "Coca-Cola, not Pepsi. Sugared, not sugar-free."

Two ice cubes fell with a crisp clink, followed by a tube extending from the mechanical arm, filling the glass with a bubbly brown liquid.

Sun Hang took a sip, closing his eyes to savor the sensation of those bubbles popping in his mouth—if not for the fine bubbles at the rim, one might think he was savoring some fine wine.

"A bit disappointed, perhaps?" The humanoid projection smiled at Sun Hang, "I can see everything happening outside. What you said makes some sense... but don't misunderstand, I'm not afraid of an assassin; it's just that my physical condition has deteriorated to such a poor state that I have to resort to holographic projection for this conversation."

"...Are you about to die?" Sun Hang asked bluntly.

"Given my age, I should have died long ago." The other didn't mind, "But fortunately, I've lived in an era of rapidly advancing technology. Given my potential to contribute to human civilization, the Xiazhou Federation has used considerable resources to extend my life thus far... However, unless there's a breakthrough in the related technology, this extension is about to reach its limit."

"Is this something you can casually talk about?" Sun Hang tilted his head, "For people at your level, your health status should be top secret within the Federation, right?"

"Of course, it shouldn't be casually revealed. If you repeat this to others, it could bring you considerable trouble." The humanoid projection sat down across from Sun Hang, "I need to ask a favor of you: please keep everything we discuss here confidential."

"Alright." Sun Hang agreed.

"You may already have guessed why I wanted to see you." The humanoid projection spoke again.

"It can't be that you're looking for a successor, right?" Sun Hang recalled his last conversation with Mr. Lee.

"Why not?" The humanoid projection smiled with keen interest.

"I'm an infected person; let's set that aside." Sun Hang said, "As the top figure in Dubhe Tower, the Xiazhou Federation has gone to great lengths to extend your life because of your unrivaled achievements in researching mysterious entities, not because of your combat abilities... Even if you're looking for a successor, you should choose from those researchers in lab coats, not someone like me who can't even memorize the list of known mysterious entities."