Chapter Seventy-Five: The Brain in the Sand

“Are you not planning to kill that Ji Cheng?” Beside Zuo Hao, a slightly translucent boy appeared.

Back when Yao Lun used a Data Ether Entity to bet with Ding Wei, Ji Cheng ended up taking first place, so the slot didn’t go to Sha City, and it was handed to Zuo Hao instead.

“My goal has always been singular: to find a Second-tier Gene Prototype. Even the worst, purely auxiliary type would suffice!”

Zuo Hao continued in a deeper tone, “I’ve sensed something amiss in Southport. If I can’t become a Second-tier Ability User, I’ll be nothing but cannon fodder from now on. So don’t mention Ji Cheng in front of me—I haven’t got time for him.”

To ordinary people, the status of a First-tier Ability User was already high enough, but compared to the council members, they were merely expendables used to collect crystal ore.

Mining livestock.

Zuo Hao had only heard this term last night, and he found it apt—it seemed it came from Ji Cheng’s own mouth.

Every year, one or two new First-tier Ability Users emerged, and just as many died in the mines—one crop replacing another; the fortress was made of iron, the soldiers flowed like water. Only those lofty council members were the true foundation of the city-state.

“But didn’t you promise Yao Lun to take care of Ji Cheng in exchange for this identity card?” the boy asked in confusion.

“Why do you think I acted like I was competing with Ji Cheng for credit earlier? It was just to show Yao Lun where I stood.”

Zuo Hao replied smugly.

“I don’t really understand,” the boy shook his head.

“You don’t need to. You’re just a high-level intelligent lifeform; your job is to observe the surroundings for me.”

The boy fell silent.

Newborn Data Ether Entities were at zero-level for all types of knowledge, so he didn’t even know he was a Data Ether Entity.

Zuo Hao skirted a passage with a recognition system, stepped over the gravel, and hurried forward.

“As long as I find a Second-tier Prototype and successfully inject it, I’ll become council-level. As a fellow council member, having never truly offended Yao Lun and showing him a good attitude, no matter whether Ji Cheng dies in the Hive or not, Yao Lun shouldn’t give me any trouble.”

As the prodigious Ability User in Yao Lun’s squad, he had once proactively befriended Yao Zhenyuan.

Despite Yao Zhenyuan’s council-member father, the gap between Ability Users and ordinary people was deeply ingrained; Zuo Hao’s association with him was an act of humility.

That seemingly gloomy, calm, yet not particularly clever Yao junior, unwittingly revealed an important secret to his Ability User friend:

Yao Lun possessed an identity card granting access to the central area.

“To be honest, I really should thank Ji Cheng. If he hadn’t killed Yao Zhenyuan, that fool, who knows how much more effort I’d have needed to get this card.”

Zuo Hao played with the card in his hand, unable to conceal his delight. A streak of bright red danced lightly between his fingers.

“With this Research Supervisor identity card, as long as I’m careful and avoid passages requiring biometric recognition, there’s every chance I can slip into the central area.”

“The Hive Laboratory has been explored for years, but the central region is rarely entered. The odds of finding a Second-tier Gene Prototype inside are very high—exceptionally high.”

There would certainly be danger, and considerable at that, but if he could obtain an exceedingly rare Second-tier Prototype, he would risk anything.

If he didn’t become a Second-tier Ability User, he was doomed to have his genome destroyed by accumulated radiation from one mining mission after another, his flesh collapsing until death.

Zuo Hao plunged resolutely into a passage.

—Recognition successful, please enter.
—Research Supervisor Wei Changshun.

……

September 10th, 6:30 AM. Two hours had passed since entering the Hive Laboratory.

Over forty Ability Users were scattered like droplets merging into the sea, each in different places.

“As expected, this Area A network hub is just a firewall made from a few basic defensive matrix combinations.”

Ji Cheng, restored to strength, stood up from the ground, his expression invigorated.

“I didn’t find any information about that case, but I did stumble upon a nice surprise!” Xia Na said softly, “It turns out the Hive Laboratory’s main research focus is precisely the Gene Prototype you desire.”

Gene Prototype technology fell under biological genetic knowledge, but generally, few people studied or purchased such knowledge.

Directly buying Gene Prototypes was much more cost-effective—unless one needed them in bulk.

“Level-one biological genetic knowledge can at most develop Second-tier Gene Prototypes, and past evidence proves the Hive contains Second-tier Prototypes.” Ji Cheng grinned excitedly, “What does this mean? It means there’s a high probability of finding Second-tier Prototypes.”

“You want to go to the central area?” An Chan frowned.

Both had read the materials provided by Zhou Ze and were naturally aware of the Hive’s area divisions.

Besides the four peripheral research zones—A, B, C, and D—there was also a central region.

“Exactly. These peripheral zones have already been searched many times—the chance of finding Second-tier Prototypes is too slim. Since the Hive Laboratory specializes in Gene Prototypes, the central region almost certainly has some Second-tier Prototypes.”

Ji Cheng was exceedingly confident.

The former owner of Baishan Star had chosen to develop Second-tier Prototypes themselves, surely for some reason requiring a large quantity; otherwise, it wouldn’t be cost-effective.

“Large quantity—I love that term,” Ji Cheng’s lips curled uncontrollably. “If there are seven or eight to choose from, I should be able to pick out at least one usable one.”

The only problem now was his identity card’s low clearance—the central area wasn’t easy to access. He’d need to find another way.

Beep—beep—

A buzzing sounded in his headset.

Ji Cheng raised a finger, signaling the two women to remain silent, then focused his attention on his right ear.

Soon, Zhou Ze’s solemn voice sounded across the communal headset:

“Attention, everyone, attention.”

“Based on current intelligence, and after analyzing the Hive’s humidity, radiation levels, lithification characteristics, and building structure, we’ve reached a preliminary conclusion.”

He paused, then spoke gravely,

“The Hive appears to be forming an ultra-high-risk mining zone, named ‘The Brain in the Sand.’ Be cautious, everyone.”

The Brain in the Sand? Ji Cheng was stunned—this type of mining zone was extremely dangerous.

Xia Na and An Chan exchanged puzzled glances.

“What exactly is that?” An Chan’s face was proud, but her tone carried concern.

“I don’t know how such a high-risk zone could form,” Ji Cheng scratched his head, “but The Brain in the Sand has a unique feature: its cerebral cortex—frontal, parietal, occipital, and temporal lobes—experiences intense psychic contamination, while the central insular region is much less affected.”

Xia Na pursed her lips and asked gently, “So it’s like a human brain, where neural activity is more frequent in the cortex?”

“That’s a good way to put it.” Ji Cheng nodded with a smile. “If this really is The Brain in the Sand, then the Hive Laboratory’s four peripheral zones—A, B, C, and D—likely correspond to the four lobes of the brain’s cortex.”

“And the central area of the lab would correspond to the insular region.”

An Chan thought for a moment and made a guess, “So the Hive’s central area is actually safer?”

“Yes, but not entirely,” Ji Cheng replied.

“Hm?” An Chan snorted, “Can’t you be less cryptic?”

Ji Cheng, as if waking from a dream, patted her head and then explained with a smile, “The closer you get to the center, the more you’ll encounter radioactive rock particles—like amphibole, uranium rhinestone, inferior radon granite—that are highly harmful to humans. And you’ve forgotten something important.”

“That is, the Hive Laboratory’s own defense systems.”

According to the Complete Guide to Crystal Ore Prospecting, in The Brain in the Sand mining zones, the outer areas are indeed more dangerous; radiation injuries are much easier to handle than psychic contamination.

But here, it’s not just a mining zone—it’s a laboratory. The central area’s defense systems are naturally more robust and stringent.

In this situation, whether the outer zones or the central area are more dangerous is open to debate.

“But regardless, knowing what kind of mining zone this is can only be a good thing.”

Ji Cheng felt his courage growing—he was, surprisingly, not nervous or afraid at all.

He was even a little excited at the prospect of finding Second-tier Prototypes.

Beep—beep—

Another transmission came through his headset.

“Given the excessive danger, after research and discussion among Second-tier Ability Users from all city-states, you are now permitted to withdraw.”

“Anyone wishing to leave the Hive Laboratory may register in your team channel and return via your original route as soon as possible. Gather at the ventilation shaft entrance in three hours for decontamination and psychic status checks.”

The transmission ended.

Xia Na moved closer to Ji Cheng, “Are we retreating now, or…?”

“Retreat? Not a chance.” Ji Cheng refused without hesitation.