Chapter One Hundred and Twenty: Zhang Sheng’s Diary

Snap.

Ji Cheng pressed the switch on the desk lamp. A cluster of light bloomed slowly, first filling the interior of the lamp before passing through the pale yellow shade, bathing the room in a warm tone.

"Why is it still a stool?" He walked behind the desk, only to discover that there wasn't even a standard office chair, just a single iron-framed seat.

Sitting on a stool like that forced one to keep their back straight. It was clear that the owner of this place was an ability user with high self-discipline.

"Look over there," Shana said, pointing to the only ornament on the desk.

It was a small photo frame facing the stool. Inside was a color photograph that had already yellowed with age, depicting three people.

"Is this Chairman Zhang's home?"

Looking at the young Zhang Lingfei and Zhang Jing'e in the photo, alongside a smiling middle-aged man, Ji Cheng understood. It was no wonder this residence wasn't marked on the map; it made perfect sense.

Nangang's political system was nominally a parliamentary one, where important decisions generally required a vote from all council members. However, as the only Tier 3 ability user and the actual founder of New Nangang, Zhang Sheng held immense privileges. To Ji Cheng's knowledge, Zhang Sheng held six votes in the council alone—meaning all the other six members combined were needed to stand against him. Consequently, it was entirely logical for his residence to be omitted from maps. Ji Cheng wouldn't even have been surprised if an entire district had been designated just for his home.

Of course, there were more abnormal things right in front of him.

Recalling his thoughts, Ji Cheng stood up and, along with Shana, began to carefully inspect every corner of the room, over and over again. During the search, he immediately discovered a few dark bloodstains on the floor. He then cautiously pulled out the wastebasket from under the desk; a brief glance revealed numerous blood-stained paper balls.

Combining these clues, Ji Cheng became even more certain about Zhang Sheng's condition.

"Can't be careless," he muttered. He continued to sweep the room, and only after ensuring there were no traps or mechanisms did he relax, walking slowly back to the desk to sit down. After all, this was the residence of a powerful chairman; if one touched things without a thorough inspection, they would have no one to blame but themselves if they met an untimely end.

Click.

He uncapped a fountain pen sitting on the desk. Beneath the brass cap was a shovel-shaped nib with delicate engravings, about a centimeter long. The pitch-black barrel and the gleaming steel tip, topped with a polished sphere of platinum-group metal, made for a rare piece of elegance in the room.

Shana said softly from the side, "It's a normal fountain pen, no danger."

"Yes, I know."

His gaze shifted downward to the desk drawer. Though he felt it was somewhat unethical, curiosity got the better of him, and he tried pulling it. With a soft clatter, a mechanical dial lock swung down. The dial didn't have numbers, but letters engraved upon it.

This... was a bit redundant. No matter how sturdy the lock was, the desk itself was made of ordinary material; if someone really wanted to steal what was inside, they could just bore a hole through the wood.

As he pondered this, he subconsciously flicked the pen cap open and shut. The clicking sound helped him calm down.

"He's not a fool, either. I suspect that if one were to force it open, the contents might be destroyed," he thought. "But in a place like this, ordinary people wouldn't be able to get in. For Zhang Sheng, the combination lock is likely just for peace of mind. Besides, the drawer must be opened and used frequently... so the password certainly won't be too difficult."

Ji Cheng's gaze returned to the small photo frame on the desk. This picture was at least ten years old; the Zhang sisters looked young and innocent, both wearing ponytails with bright, generous smiles. Ji Cheng couldn't even tell them apart.

As for the man between the two, Ji Cheng had seen his photos and footage many times. But in those, Zhang Sheng's eyes always revealed a deep-seated cruelty, completely different from the smiling figure in the photograph.

Click. Ji Cheng gripped the dial and turned it to a letter counter-clockwise. Click. He turned it again. After six turns, the lock opened.

"The password really was the initials of Lingfei and her sister. It seems that at least before his rejection reaction spiraled out of control, Zhang Sheng loved them." He whispered to himself. In truth, he had wanted to ask Zhang Lingfei and her sister about Zhang Sheng's situation before, as they would know the truth as his family. But having spent time with them, he noticed the two never mentioned their father, so he hadn't brought it up.

Clatter. The drawer opened. Inside was a large pile of paper documents. By Nangang's conventions, the most important files were often recorded with pen and paper. Ji Cheng flipped through them casually; most were dossiers on ability users, and he even found his own.

He then discovered that these files had been artificially divided into two stacks. The top stack consisted of those heading to the Hive Laboratory this time; their ages, primal assimilation levels, and other data had been circled in ink.

Beneath the documents, separated by a handkerchief, lay a diary. With a hard cover and back, the corner of the title page bore a single name: Zhang Sheng.

Ji Cheng checked the signature once more to confirm. He didn't rush to read the diary entries; instead, he swept the room again before turning the page. The diary didn't contain dates, but judging by the fading of the ink, the time span covered was over a year.

...

I. My physical condition has been getting worse lately. I keep forgetting things. I've decided to start a diary; since my brain can't remember, I'll rely on these written records. I'll use this fountain pen; I don't think I've used it since Jing'e gave it to me.

II. I still don't know what that phrase means, but I have a vague, ominous premonition. Should I believe it...?

III. A resolution was passed in the council today. It was unanimous, but I could tell some were just putting on a show. They need to be kept in line. Perhaps my decision to have those councilors fake their deaths in public was a mistake, but the deed is done, and there is no turning back. I hope we can actually obtain enough high-level intelligent lifeforms when the time comes.

IV. I feel things are moving in a bad direction.

V. I don't understand. "Beware of coincidences"? Why should I beware of coincidences? With so many of them, how am I supposed to be careful? And what consequences will it bring me?

VI. I have a way. As long as I set enough rules—strict enough rules—I can minimize the occurrence of coincidences! I'll start tomorrow. I'll convene a council meeting, talk it over with Yao Lun first; as long as one person agrees, it's enough. But I can't be too abrupt about it.

VII. Everything is going smoothly. The coincidences I've encountered in the last few months have finally decreased, but I feel as though I'm gradually losing control. Thinking back now, I really shouldn't have injected that Tier 3 primal strain discovered at Relic No. 13. Especially since I was already a Tier 3 ability user. Thank goodness I only injected half, or my body would have collapsed long ago.

...

"This is a massive amount of information."

Seeing this, Ji Cheng paused for a moment and rubbed his brow.

"He actually knows that phrase—'Beware of coincidences'—too."