novelraw Chapter 54: Assessment Report, ranked 9349th
Chapter 54: Assessment Report, ranked 9349th
"Holy crap..."
Yu Yuan almost gasped out loud.
Looking at the photo of that black-furred giant rodent baring its fangs and brandishing its claws, he nearly dropped what he was holding.
It was a genuine psychological trigger.
When he recovered, he realized his back was soaked with cold sweat and his heart was racing.
"No! I have to eliminate that thing as soon as possible, otherwise I won't be able to eat or sleep peacefully. It's just too disturbing."
After calming his emotions, his gaze toward the document folder in his hand had become extremely sharp.
There were seventeen photos in total, all of that large black rodent.
The photos were taken from covert angles, mostly somewhat blurry, with only seven being relatively clear.
The background of the photos showed a section of the sewer, with the large black rodent appearing smaller than its current size, only about 1 meter long.Over a dozen people wearing police uniforms surrounded the large black rodent, poised for action.
Each held a handgun, scattered bullet casings could be seen on the ground, and speckles of blood were visible on the large black rodent's fur. But clearly, even at this stage, it already possessed considerable bullet-resistant capabilities.
The final photo showed the Giant Mutant Rat squeezing into a narrow sewer opening to escape.
The expressions on the faces of the dozen police officers watching the escaping mutant beast were quite dramatic.
There was shock, fear, pallor, relief...
Among them, Yu Yuan also spotted a familiar person—Bald Fries.
He hadn't expected that Baldy was already a police officer before the wasteland era.
As for why he was certain the photos were from before the wasteland period—because Fries' demeanor and appearance in the photos showed none of the caution, indifference, and vigilance characteristic of wasteland survivors.
Not just him, the other officers were the same.
Their uniforms were quite clean too; although they had gotten dirty with sewage water while capturing the Giant Mutant Rat in the sewer, the quality of the fabric was obvious at a glance.
Finally, their skin condition—each had tender, delicate skin. One who clearly looked in his twenties, probably just passed the officer exam, even showed a trace of shyness on him.
All this proved the photos were from before the wasteland period.
Below the photos was an investigation report. Perhaps because of the Giant Mutant Rat connection, Yu Yuan was very interested in this report.
[Preliminary Assessment Report on Abnormal Phenomena at Johnck Zoo]
Assessing Unit: Security Observation Team, Zoo Qualification Review Committee
Assessor: Ning Zhe
Assessment Target: Johnck Zoo
Assessment Reason: Continuous reports from surrounding residents about abnormal animal cries and ground vibrations.
After 92 days of covert observation and infiltration investigation, we confirm that while Johnck Zoo operates normally on the surface, it is actually conducting animal modification experiments in its underground facilities and enclosed exhibition halls. The core objectives of the experiments are: animal gigantification, mutation induction, and behavioral controllability. The experiments have currently achieved phased results and pose extremely high biosafety risks.
Furthermore, behind the animal experiments, the presence of a mysterious organization called the Aurora Animal Assistance Association has been discovered. They have substantial financial resources and operate covertly.
It is suspected that Johnck Zoo has been infiltrated and controlled by this organization.
We found the animal experiments mainly proceed in three directions:
Gigantification: After being injected with some hormonal catalyst, animals continuously secrete growth factors, causing their size to become enormous and uncontrollable.
Mutation Induction: Investigation shows that after injection with this hormonal catalyst, animals have a probability of undergoing organ mutation.
Controllability: Johnck Zoo attempts to control mutant animal behavior by implanting brain chips in the mutated creatures.
Additionally, we have clarified the zoo's facility layout, with the ground disguise zone operating under the pretense of a normal zoo.
The underground testing area (B1~B3) is the live animal experimentation zone, controlled by the Aurora Animal Assistance Association.
This experimental zone has an extremely high risk coefficient, with risks including test subject escape, ecological contamination, and militarization application as biological weapons.
We recommend the Safety Committee conduct quarantine and destruction on Johnck Zoo and the Aurora Animal Assistance Association.
Detailed investigation materials and backups have been stored on a USB drive. The drive encryption key can only be activated through the observer's computer. Additionally, we thank Mr. Loris, Senior Inspector of the Eastern City Police Department, for providing crucial evidence materials.
The moment Yu Yuan finished reading the entire assessment report.
[Ding...]
[Critical node triggered: History—The Secrets Hidden Behind Green Forest City]
[Achievement unlocked: Echoes of History!]
[Achievement Points obtained: 200 points]
[Shelter ranking updated; Current ranking: 9349th (↑150 places)]
Looking at the Leaderboard that had jumped another 150 places, Yu Yuan didn't feel the usual excitement and thrill.
Because this improvement was completely baffling; he couldn't see what value this investigation report could possibly have for him.
And this achievement—Echoes of History—was equally confusing, yet it actually rewarded 200 Achievement Points directly.
Yu Yuan narrowed his eyes as he looked at the report and photos in his hand.
One thing was certain: any achievement that could cause a ranking jump was absolutely not simple. Last time, when he obtained the complete sewer network blueprints for the entire eastern district, he only got 200 Achievement Points.
That this achievement [Echoes of History] could also reward 200 Achievement Points spoke volumes.
He couldn't figure out the reason now, with only one possibility—that he hadn't reached the stage where he could access these things yet.
In other words, this investigation report was too advanced for him.
Also, didn't the previous Water Service Center investigation report say the appearance of the Giant Mutant Rat was related to some religious ritual in a room in District 9?
How did it get connected to the zoo now?
"The secrets hidden behind Green Forest City... animal experiments... religious rituals... hormonal catalysts... Aurora Animal Assistance Association... Giant Mutant Rat... Loris..."
His mind kept recalling all the intelligence he had gathered since entering the wasteland. A vague thread seemed to be forming in Yu Yuan's mind, but no matter how he tried to grasp it, he couldn't catch hold of this clue.
But Yu Yuan had a premonition that this thread might have some indescribable connection to how Green Forest City became what it is now.
If that were the case, then obtaining 200 Achievement Points would make sense.
What he needed to do now was search for intelligence that could connect all these clues together.
The appearance of that mutant black rat probably wasn't as simple as he had imagined either.
Even the peaceful coexistence between the Black Shield Police Department and the Aurora Animal Assistance Association in the East District might hide unknown secrets.
He stuffed the report and photos back into the document folder, then into his backpack.
Regardless, this exploration of the Orleans Hotel wasn't a wasted effort.
Yu Yuan elevated his assessment of the threat posed by the Aurora Animal Assistance Association to the same level as the Black Shield Police Department.
He had originally thought this organization wasn't very threatening, after all they only stayed around the zoo area.
But now it seemed they were involved in truly dangerous activities.
Just the thought of potentially dozens of mutant rats moving through the sewers in the future made Yu Yuan shudder.
Temporarily pushing these chaotic thoughts aside, Yu Yuan began searching other rooms. Since Room 0813 had a Safe, what about the other rooms?
Yu Yuan couldn't help but lick his lips.