Full-Time Public Enemy-Chapter 741 - Five Hundred and Sixteen: Human-like_3

Rainbow also hadn't noticed.

Chen Gu shouted to the operatives who were chasing down the remaining bug streams, "Capture them alive!"

Some operatives immediately fell back, while those whose professional skills were more suitable lunged forward. Over ten minutes later, the last three bug streams were captured.

The cleanup team had already prepared special containers. They broke down the bug streams, and each bug was enclosed in a transparent container the size of a finger.

Wu Yihuo picked up a few containers and brought them to Chen Gu and Rainbow.

Chen Gu picked one up. The bug inside looked somewhat like a horsehair worm, but it was an entirely different species.

Even though he couldn't see its eyes, Chen Gu could feel the creature looking at him.

Its sturdy and powerful body kept slamming into the container, trying to break free. When Chen Gu moved closer to observe it, the bug suddenly sprouted sharp spines all over its body, like raised hackles. Its volume also swelled several times.

But such a display did not intimidate Chen Gu. He smiled and, with a flick of his finger, opened the container. The bug shot out with a WHOOSH, only to be gently pinched between two of his fingers and rendered immobile.

A mysterious aura emanated from Chen Gu. Bright energy rose from between his fingers, quickly spreading throughout the bug's body. Chen Gu's pupils, shrouded by a hazy light, seemed so profound they could see through anything.

「...」

Hundreds of kilometers away, in a desolate mountain area, a native cat-like beast deftly leaped onto a large tree. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

The ancient tree, its age unknown, was thick and lofty. It raced to the treetop and leaped into a crevice in a steep nearby rock face.

Then, with a RUSTLE, its entire form disintegrated, transforming into a swarm of bugs.

These bugs then recombined, forming a strange worm, a creature somewhere between an earthworm and a venomous snake. It opened its large mouth, letting out a HISSING roar. From deep within the crevice, a similar but much larger bug crawled out unhurriedly.

"Your nest has been destroyed," the first bug said, surprisingly, in human language.

"So what?" the larger one let out a cold chuckle. "The truly important things aren't there."

"Humans possess many mysterious abilities!" the first bug stressed.

"I know," the larger one responded. "I've devoured the brain of one they call a Quantum Wizard. I'm quite familiar with those methods and have already severed all connections. They can't possibly find us."

"That Chen Gu is among those who came!"

The larger one grew excited. "Is that so? How very interesting! He's shown great power before, foiling one conspiracy after another. I've always wanted to face him!"

The first bug seemed somewhat helpless. It shook its head gently, then its body disintegrated and reformed into the cat-like creature. Light and agile, it started to walk away. "I've warned you," it said. "Be careful."

Just as it was about to leap away, the larger bug behind suddenly called out.

It looked back, puzzled, only to see its counterpart's body writhing as a human face formed on its head. "Hey," it asked, "don't you think we're becoming a bit too human?"

"The more brains I devour, the more I feel it."

The other replied, "Remember His Majesty's words: the more we resemble humans, the better we can infiltrate their society."

Then, with a powerful leap, it jumped back onto the tree.

A sigh emanated from the crevice. Starting from the face, the bug's body slowly began to change, gradually transforming into a human form.

Below this cliff lay an abandoned mine with a vast interior. In its darkest depths, a huge cocoon lay hidden, something inside it writhing fitfully.

「...」

The bug between Chen Gu's fingers turned to ash in the light. Rainbow immediately asked, "What did you see?"

Chen Gu shook his head in confusion. Strange…

It was indeed strange. This bug seemed to have no connection to anything at all. Chen Gu couldn't even discern the condition of other bugs from it.

"The entanglement and connections associated with this bug have been completely severed by some force."

Chen Gu immediately grabbed another bug and performed Quantum Divination again, with the same result.

Chen Gu quickly reached a conclusion. "These things have specifically evolved to target Careerists! They can become immune to some of our abilities!"

Rainbow's expression turned grim. With a wave of her hand, she ordered, "Conduct a thorough search of the entire town!"

The Bureau of Mystic Security brought in surveillance equipment from the highway outside town. Sure enough, they found security footage of them heading towards the Songshan Garment Factory.

But there was no footage of them returning.

"They delivered those raw materials elsewhere. Then their bodies disintegrated, and they returned as individual bugs from the wilderness. This way, they avoided surveillance, making it impossible for us to determine where the materials were taken."

After deep thought, Chen Gu proposed, "If we had an Eighth Energy Level Quantum Wizard with even stronger abilities, they might be able to break through this evolutionary countermeasure and find their true hiding place!"

Rainbow said, "I'll contact Headquarters immediately and request support."

However, Eighth Energy Level Careerists weren't so easily summoned.

Chen Gu felt a profound unease in his heart. It must be from Mind Belief, he thought. Something terrible is about to happen.

Suddenly, Chen Gu considered another possibility. What if the severed connections of those bugs weren't due to evolution, but to a Careerist ability?

"Only a Careerist can contend with another Careerist"—this was a well-known adage in their field.

But could those bugs also become Careerists?

"Combat Rooster!" Chen Gu called. The Dimensional Prison Ring opened, and the Combat Rooster appeared once more.

A mere thought from Chen Gu was enough for the Combat Rooster to understand its master's intent. It roared affirmatively, signaling it was ready.

Chen Gu brought another bug close to the Combat Rooster.

The effect of the Ursa Major Combat Suit that the Combat Rooster had consumed activated. Within a certain range, it suppressed all Careerist abilities, converting them into its own power.

"How is it?" Chen Gu asked immediately. The Combat Rooster focused intently, then nodded emphatically. Although the 'power' feedback from such a tiny bug was very faint, it was definitely there.

A smile touched Chen Gu's lips. "Watch me find you!"

Quantum Divination activated once more. This time, as his eyes became veiled in light, Chen Gu saw a vast, desolate mountain range.