Hijacking the Timeline

Chapter 159 159: Though the Flower Hasn't Bloomed, May It Yet Blossom [2.6k]

Translator: CinderTL

To pit the Technology Research Institute against the Tiger Soul Research Institute, Feng Qi had tried numerous tactics.

None of them had worked.

Both the Technology Research Institute and the Tiger Soul Research Institute were exceedingly cautious.

During a core meeting of the Technology Research Institute, the Behind-the-Scenes Domain Faction controlling the institute decided it was unwise to act rashly without fully understanding the Tiger Soul Research Institute's true nature. They urged restraint.

After the meeting, Feng Qi's subsequent plans became increasingly difficult to execute.

Though he was the de facto leader of the third battle group, it was highly likely that the Behind-the-Scenes Domain Faction had planted spies within the group to monitor him.

His previous aggressive actions could be explained as an attempt to investigate the Tiger Soul Research Institute.

Now that a decision had been made in the meeting, he could no longer afford such recklessness.

Otherwise, he would likely be stripped of his position as "group leader" and demoted back to the fourth tier of the core circle.

This was something Feng Qi desperately wanted to avoid.

Yet during his time commanding the third battle group, he hadn't been entirely without gains.

From the intelligence provided by the Behind-the-Scenes Domain Faction behind the Technology Research Institute, he had learned a crucial piece of information.

Numerous Domain Forces are currently attempting to infiltrate human factions.

The Behind-the-Scenes Domain Faction behind the Technology Research Institute is just one of many. Besides the known Tiger Soul Research Institute, there may be other Domain Forces already embedded within human factions, or actively infiltrating them.

However, the Technology Research Institute has not explicitly stated the reasons behind these Domain Forces' actions.

From this information, Feng Qi confirmed a previous suspicion.

The Lord of the Mist had once said, "I did not win, but humanity has already lost."

The underlying meaning of this statement was clear: he had defeated Human Civilization, but not the other Domain Forces.

The existence of the Technology Research Institute and the Tiger Soul Research Institute was already troublesome enough. The thought of other Domain Forces already embedded within Human Civilization, or actively infiltrating it, made Feng Qi realize that his counterpart in the other timeline still had a long road ahead.

His task now was to navigate this timeline well, creating more value for his counterpart.

To shine his remaining light before life faded.

In the days that followed, Feng Qi continued to serve the Technology Research Institute, gathering more intelligence.

However, the plan to confront the Tiger Soul Research Institute had become nearly impossible to execute.

It was then that Wei Wei contacted him.

After deliberation, the Scarlet Research Institute's high-ranking members devised a plan to provoke the technology research institute into actively confronting the Tiger Soul Research Institute.

The plan was simple: inform the technology research institute that the Tiger Soul Research Institute was attempting to sabotage the Spirit Energy Nanoworm Project.

Knowing that the Tiger Soul Research Institute had made the first move, the technology research institute would inevitably retaliate.

Feng Qi knew that a werewolf from the Tiger Soul Research Institute might already be embedded within the technology research institute. But how to find him, and how to explain his knowledge of this intelligence, remained an insurmountable problem.

The Scarlet Research Institute, however, had already devised a solution. They intended to deliberately expose this information to lay the groundwork for a confrontation between the technology research institute and the Tiger Soul Research Institute.

To achieve this, the Scarlet Research Institute replaced all the data within their Twilight City Scarlet Base, leaving only some unimportant files and planting numerous "intelligence reports."

Among these was a Scarlet Research Institute investigation report. It claimed that the Tiger Soul Research Institute had infiltrated the technology research institute and was attempting to launch the "Interference Source Project" to disrupt the creation of Spirit Energy Nanoworms.

The Scarlet Research Institute had no evidence to support these claims, but that didn't matter as long as the technology research institute believed them.

In the previous timeline, the Scarlet Base in Twilight City was breached by the technology research institute years after his death.

But this time, the Scarlet Research Institute decided to accelerate this historical event.

They chose to openly confront the technology research institute, deliberately provoking a counterattack.

After Wei Wei informed him of the Scarlet Research Institute's plan, the operation commenced.

Scarlet Research Institute's subordinate battle groups launched an offensive against the technology research institute, quickly drawing the attention of its top leadership.

As the Scarlet Research Institute had anticipated, the technology research institute swiftly retaliated against their assault.

Their first target was the Scarlet Base in Twilight City, which had already been planned for destruction.

After breaching the base, the technology research institute obtained extensive intelligence on the Scarlet Research Institute and uncovered a crucial piece of information:

The Tiger Soul Research Institute had infiltrated the technology research institute and was even attempting to sabotage their most prized project, the Spirit Energy Nanoworm Project.

This revelation shook the core circle of the technology research institute, triggering an internal investigation.

During this phase, Mo, the technology research institute's most enigmatic figure, developed a new piece of black technology at the behest of a Behind-the-Scenes Domain Entity:

The Truthspeaker Device.

This massive machine, over two meters tall and three meters wide, employed Spirit Energy Technology.

Once activated, anyone lying on it would gradually lose consciousness.

In this state, their mental defenses would crumble, and they would blurt out any information requested, based solely on their memories.

Upon learning this, Feng Qi felt a surge of urgency.

Fortunately, he wasn't among the primary targets for investigation.

As an external warrior no longer involved in the technology research institute's internal research projects, he had no access to the Spirit Energy Nanoworm Project.

But if the investigation continued relentlessly, it would eventually reach him.

To eliminate any potential threats, Feng Qi, who was currently on a mission outside, contacted Wei Wei.

Wei Wei quickly provided a solution.

The Scarlet Research Institute had anticipated the danger Feng Qi would face when they launched this project. During this period, Wei Wei had developed a Memory Lock potion to counteract consciousness intrusion.

After consuming this potion, his consciousness would fade, leading to unconsciousness and sleep.

No information could be extracted from him while his mind was in this state.

Such an unusual reaction would undoubtedly alert the Behind-the-Scenes Domain Entity behind the technology research institute. However, it was still better than doing nothing and waiting for "judgment" to arrive.

After Mo's Truthspeaker Device was activated, an internal investigation began at the technology research institute.

During this period, a mole from the Tiger Soul Research Institute was indeed uncovered.

He had already reached the second core tier within the technology research institute, just one step away from joining the innermost first tier and participating in the Spirit Energy Nanoworm Project.

Upon learning this, the Behind-the-Scenes Domain Entity was enraged and questioned the exposed individual, who was now in a state of mental confusion, about whether there were any other spies.

The answer was no.

Yet this answer still sent a wave of panic through the Behind-the-Scenes Domain Entity, confirming the Scarlet Research Institute's intelligence: the Tiger Soul Research Institute was determined to destroy them.

The plan to provoke the technology research institute into confronting the Tiger Soul Research Institute was finally gaining momentum.

However, the internal investigation at the technology research institute didn't end there.

The Behind-the-Scenes Domain Faction decided to thoroughly vet all current core members. After all, even if the Tiger Soul Research Institute's spy had been exposed, there might still be hidden spies from other factions.

After several days of investigation, it was Feng Qi's turn.

On this day, he was summoned back to the technology research institute.

Upon his return, he was immediately strapped to the Truthspeaker Device.

As the machine activated, invisible psionic material began to erode his body.

With his consciousness gradually fading, Feng Qi, who had already consumed the Memory Lock Potion, suddenly fell into a deep sleep.

Witnessing this, the Behind-the-Scenes Domain Entity, who had been observing the screening process, grew suspicious.

Just then, Feng Qi suddenly woke up, vomiting blood. The scabs on his body burst open, oozing fresh blood.

The surrounding researchers were stunned by this sight.

The machine was immediately shut down.

In response to the emergency, the researchers began examining his body, ultimately reaching a conclusion:

Due to his biochemical modification, Feng Qi couldn't withstand the psionic material's infiltration, triggering a stress response in his body.

This report dispelled the Behind-the-Scenes Domain Entity's suspicions.

Considering Feng Qi's recent efforts, the entity realized it had been overly suspicious and abandoned its investigation.

Feng Qi had narrowly survived this surprise inspection.

Once the technology research institute's internal screening was complete, the retaliation against the Tiger Soul Research Institute would begin.

During this period, Feng Qi received a mission.

Lead the third battle group to destroy the Tiger Soul Research Institute's branch base outside Victory City.

Feng Qi accepted this mission without hesitation. He had waited too long for this day to arrive.

After several days of travel, he led the third battle group to the Tiger Soul Research Institute's branch base outside Victory City and launched a surprise attack under the cover of night.

Although he had undergone biochemical modification, significantly enhancing his strength, his combat prowess wasn't the strongest in the third battle group. In fact, he wasn't even in the top ten. Therefore, he didn't need to engage in direct combat.

After he issued the attack order, the third battle group's technological weapons took the lead, unleashing their devastating power.

Drones dropped compressed spirit energy bombs, swiftly demolishing the Tiger Soul branch base's external structures.

Following this, soldiers equipped with mechanical exoskeletons stormed the base.

The technology research institute's soldiers might not have been the strongest, but their equipment was undoubtedly the best. They each carried several spirit energy weapons that hadn't even been released to the public yet, armed to the teeth.

Under the cover of night, their advanced detectors clearly revealed the positions of the Tiger Soul Research Institute's defending soldiers.

The spirit energy bullets fired from their weapons, modified by Mo, possessed terrifying destructive power.

During combat, a single spirit energy bullet striking an enemy would mark them with spirit energy.

The spirit energy guns could then be switched to "tracking mode," causing subsequent bullets to home in on the target like guided missiles.

In other words, if one shot hit, every subsequent shot would automatically track and hit the target with 100% accuracy, regardless of where the gun was aimed.

There were many other powerful technological weapons as well, especially the spirit energy weapons created by Mo.

The technology research institute's strength was inseparable from Mo. He was its core figure and the most valued and protected target of the Behind-the-Scenes Domain Entities.

The battle lasted less than two hours before ending.

The Tiger Soul Research Institute's Victory City branch base personnel were all killed, not a single survivor left.

Feng Qi then ordered the third battle group to stand guard outside while he entered the Tiger Soul Research Institute's branch base with a storage device.

He went to the main control console and began copying the internal data.

The process was simple: he inserted the technology research institute's specialized storage device into the console, and the data was quickly copied.

Moreover, the thumb-sized storage device had an automatic data self-destruct function.

But before doing that, he first retrieved the mobile drive Wei Wei had given him. Before taking the base's data and intelligence, he decided to make a copy for the Scarlet Research Institute.

Compared to the technology research institute's mobile drive, the Scarlet Research Institute's drive read data more than ten times slower.

After a long wait, he removed the Scarlet Research Institute's drive and inserted the technology research institute's drive, initiating the data transfer.

Once the process was complete, he led the third battle group's soldiers back to Future City.

To be safe, he didn't bring the Scarlet Research Institute's drive back to the technology research institute. He discarded it in an uninhabited area along the way.

All that remained was to send Wei Wei a message, and the Scarlet Research Institute's soldiers would use its location to retrieve the drive.

Back at the technology research institute, Feng Qi submitted the mobile hard drive.

With New Year's Eve approaching, he received a three-day holiday for completing his mission.

After leaving the institute, he used the phone Scarlet Research Institute had given him to send a message to Wei Wei.

Upon receiving the message, Wei Wei immediately replied that Scarlet Research Institute had already dispatched combat personnel to retrieve the drive.

During his three-day holiday, Feng Qi received an invitation: a reunion of old classmates from Star City High School.

He declined the invitation, not daring to attend.

He was no longer fully human, his body covered in horrifying scars. He didn't want to frighten his former classmates.

These scars often cracked open, and he silently endured the physical pain each night when the world was still.

But compared to the physical suffering, the mental anguish was far more intense.

By now, he had spilled the blood of 289 of his own kind.

He often saw countless weeping spirits in his dreams, and he woke each morning consumed by guilt.

He understood the words his past self had spoken: death was the only release, and those who continued to walk this path were the ones who truly suffered.

Yet he never regretted his sacrifices.

Success always comes at a price.

Even if he wouldn't be the one to reach the promised land, he was willing to pave the way with his own flesh and blood, to hack through thorns and brambles, and to confront his own bloodied self.

Death could only destroy his physical form, but his faith would endure forever.

Today was New Year's Eve, and snowflakes as large as goose feathers fell from the sky.

During a brief respite, he walked alone through the bustling streets of Future City.

Red lanterns hung from every shop, their glow mingling with the starlight above. Every passerby wore a smile.

At the end of the street, a large screen displayed the latest good news: a joint operation by the domain combat teams had dispersed another Domain Field, bringing humanity one step closer to final victory.

Everyone watched the screen, their faces beaming with joy, their hearts blossoming with the warmth of spring.

He stood rooted to the spot, his expression unchanged, for he had yet to see the flowers bloom.

Sorrow spread through his heart, silent yet surging, quiet yet tumultuous, while he yearned for the true spring to arrive.

Listening to the laughter and cheers around him, he turned and walked away.

The path to salvation required lives to be sacrificed in relay. For every one of him who fell, another would take up the faith and continue the journey, refusing to stop until they reached the other shore.

He would remain eternally loyal to his dream.

Even if his body were shattered to dust, even if he were to suffer ten thousand calamities.

Time waits for no one, and he would not wait for time either, until the day arrived when he could rewrite the fate of humanity.

As the midnight bell tolled across the city's vast sky, his phone vibrated.

He picked it up and saw a message from an unknown number:

"Little brother Feng Qi, Happy New Year!"

A smile spread across his face as his figure gradually faded into the swirling snow, his back etched with loneliness.

May the long, biting winter lead to spring.

(End of the Chapter)

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