Chapter 3, Assassination

Area C

Tang Feng parked his car in front of an inconspicuous apartment building in Area C, turned off the engine, and did not get out. He merely absentmindedly tapped his fingers on the steering wheel while glancing at the rearview mirror. There were not many pedestrians on the street, and no one paid attention to his presence. It was not yet the usual working hours, and most people had not yet risen, enjoying the last remnants of their morning dreams. Tang Feng's eyes were fixed on the apartment's entrance, feeling somewhat puzzled as to why his target would reside in such a low-end living area. It was not yet the usual working hours, and most people had not yet risen, enjoying the last remnants of their morning dreams. Tang Feng's eyes were fixed on the apartment's entrance, feeling somewhat puzzled as to why his target would reside in such a low-end living area.

"You dog!" Ed cursed.

Sure enough, it wasn't long before the apartment door opened. A middle-aged man with gray hair stepped out, wrapped up tightly as if he were afraid of the cold. His clothing was made of coarse fabric and was dark in color, complemented by a gaudy scarf wrapped around his neck, while his head was trying hard to shrink into the collar. He cautiously surveyed his surroundings, then closed the apartment door behind him. With his hands in his pockets and a large, worn briefcase tucked under his arm, he appeared quite outdated. The man in the photo that Tang Feng held was indeed this person; Tang Feng could confirm it without even looking at the photo again. Without hesitation, he opened the car door and walked briskly towards the man.

Tang Feng inhaled sharply, feeling a chill.

Your politicians once stated that there is no term for assassination in politics

Ed tightened his grip on the briefcase

Tang Feng understood that the most effective way to deal with the target was to approach him directly, taking action before he had time to react. Indeed, when the man saw Tang Feng walking straight towards him, he hesitated and stopped in his tracks, yet he did not run away, even though Tang Feng could tell that he desperately wanted to flee at that moment

Tang Feng seemed to understand yet not fully comprehend, merely feeling that something was amiss

Could you explain it in more detail

"Can this really cultivate a person?" Tang Feng asked, unable to suppress a mocking expression, "Perhaps they would still be primitive humans."

"So crazy..." Tang Feng murmured, feeling a bit cold

As Tang Feng pulled the trigger, the pistol emitted a muffled sound. Immediately, Ed collapsed like a heavy sack. Tang Feng released his grip and did not pay him any attention; instead, he carefully surveyed his surroundings, and still, no one noticed anything amiss. Blood began to stain Ed's thick clothing. Tang Feng swiftly dragged Ed's body into the depths of the alley, haphazardly covering it with a pile of garbage. Only then did he bend down to pick up the briefcase on the ground. He skillfully opened the briefcase and felt inside, but did not find what he was looking for. He tucked the briefcase under his arm and then nimbly darted out of the alley, returning to the car. Blood began to stain Ed's thick clothing. Tang Feng swiftly dragged Ed's body into the depths of the alley, haphazardly covering it with a pile of garbage. Only then did he bend down to pick up the briefcase on the ground. He skillfully opened the briefcase and felt inside, but did not find what he was looking for. He tucked the briefcase under his arm and then nimbly darted out of the alley, returning to the car.

The door opened silently. Tang Feng quickly hid the gun behind his back and looked up. At the doorway stood a small shadow, appearing very frail.

Tang Feng nodded slightly and bit his lip

Tang Feng began to understand what his father wanted him to do

How long will it take

It is said that in order to find a method for stabilizing the human genome, all scientists, including you, father, are attempting various research approaches. A group of scientists proposed a rather novel theory, starting from the most fundamental level; they sought to identify organisms on Earth that have not yet undergone mutation in order to uncover the causes of mutation across all species. This project required significant human and material resources, and in the end, they only discovered a few bacteria

Who are you? Do I know you?" As he spoke, he turned his head to look at the road, seemingly searching for an escape route

"Can I talk to you?" Tang Feng said, stepping forward and grabbing his arm. Ed struggled for a moment, only to find himself caught in a grip as strong as a vice. Tang Feng held onto him, half-forcing him into a narrow alley.

Tang Feng noticed a file bag on the table, and there was some sweat on his forehead

They intend to infect humanity with a certain virus," the father said, searching his memory bank. "The virus has a characteristic that anyone with a basic understanding of biology knows, which is that it can transport fragments of genes within a living organism and then pass them on to another organism. Since the virus itself is stable, it can maintain this stability, gradually stabilizing the genes of the host organism. They plan to infect everyone within the protected area with this virus, and after the great disaster, deliver another shock to humanity, using this method to stabilize human genes.

When we, the wise beings perched atop the treetops, mock the lower life forms beneath the trees, we often overlook a certain fact: when the storm arrives, it is we, the lofty branches, who are the first to be destroyed

According to my reasoning and judgment, "Father paused for a moment, emphasizing his tone, 'It will take five million years.'"

I will tell you in the future. Do you have any other questions

And now it is humanity's turn. "Humans have always prided themselves as the kings of all things, yet they were the first to fall in the face of great disaster," Tang Feng said with a slight mocking tone.

Tang Feng shook his head, looking at the document bag in his hand. He had a question that he did not voice: what if his father made a misjudgment? However, upon further reflection, he realized that his father never made mistakes.

The time is too long

The most effective way to terminate this plan is to address the root cause; you should understand what I mean

Only the bacteria are still normal, Tang Feng said

"Father," he called softly, appearing somewhat frightened

What do you want me to do

This is Tang Feng's son, who is already five years old. Five years ago, after two years of marriage between Tang Feng and Meilani, they received their child from the nurturing center. This is a very common occurrence in the reserve; every family adopts their own child, forming a small, seemingly complete family of three, and if they wish, they can adopt more. However, Tang Feng always feels a sense of estrangement towards this child, unable to develop the feelings of a father, as he is not biologically related. Raising this child feels more like an obligation, which makes him very unhappy. If the status quo were to remain, it would not be a problem, but one day, for reasons unknown, Meilani nervously told Tang Feng that she was pregnant. Tang Feng's first thought was that he was going to be a father, and a happiness he had never experienced before surged over him like a tide, to the point that when he embraced Meilani, he almost suffocated her.

Tang Feng let out a sigh of relief, concealed the handgun in his bosom, and said: "Son, why aren't you sleeping?"

When Tang Feng returned home, it was already past midnight

However, there are indeed people who must bleed, Tang Feng thought to himself

Of course, it won't be that quick. The father disregarded the mockery and continued, "However, it is also quite lengthy. The goal of the Alpha Group is to cultivate stable and relatively complex multicellular life, based on which we can unravel the reasons for genetic instability"

They believe that there are more direct paths that could even complete this process in just a few tens of thousands of years. If this is indeed the case, it is undoubtedly encouraging; however, the cost involved is something I cannot accept. Since my creation, I have adhered to a fundamental principle: nothing can contradict this principle, which is to protect humanity

Tang Feng listened and felt as if his father were a person whose pride had been wounded

I don't quite understand," Tang Feng stammered.

The situation is extremely urgent, and legal measures can no longer effectively stop it. They will begin to spread this virus early tomorrow morning. Extraordinary, swift, and effective measures must be taken. Colonel Tang Feng, the fate of humanity is not in my hands, but in yours

Yes, the father simply said

What has happened? Tang Feng inquired

It is important to understand that the time from the emergence of the first organic life on Earth to the birth of humanity is measured in hundreds of millions of years

Some scientists have begun to lose their patience and have become radicalized. Certain dangerous signs have already emerged, and some experiments are being conducted in secret, which even I cannot monitor. Later, I finally understood the intentions of this group of people, which left me astonished

Humanity has long understood that the more complex and advanced life forms are, the more susceptible they are to destruction. Instruments that appear to operate with precision and intricacy can become paralyzed with just a slight disturbance. The prehistoric dinosaurs serve as a prime example. The most powerful, widely reproduced, and distributed animals on Earth vanished overnight, merely due to a meteorite weighing several dozen tons accidentally striking the planet. However, it is ironically those life forms existing at the lowest end of the evolutionary tree that manage to survive with remarkable resilience.

Tang Feng had never killed anyone. This gun was merely a symbolic ornament. He knew that this powerful handgun could easily blow a person's head apart, leaving even fragments the size of a fingernail untraceable. Thinking of this made him feel somewhat nauseous. Tang Feng let out a soft sigh, gently set down the Desert Eagle, and picked up another smaller handgun from beside it. It was dark and sleek, with a long silencer attached to the barrel. Tang Feng regarded it with a strange expression, as if imagining the kind of damage this gun could inflict.

The Tang wind bowed its head, seemingly unable to bear the weight, but soon lifted it again

"Yes," said the father, "only the simplest unicellular life forms have not undergone mutation." His tone was not as relaxed as Tang Feng's.

"You traitor!" he cursed bitterly, his eyes revealing a look of despair

The Alpha Group discovered that the lower the life form, the more stable it is, with viruses being the most stable form of life. Subsequently, the Alpha Group proposed a bold idea: to re-simulate the evolution and development process of life on Earth, starting from the most primitive single-celled organisms. By providing certain conditions, life would begin to evolve and develop, ultimately leading to the emergence of higher life forms. The stable viral genes would serve as the foundation for this plan

Tang Feng let out a quiet sigh, no longer dwelling on troubling matters, and focused his attention on the plan he was about to complete. At this moment, the sky was already beginning to brighten completely, though it was somewhat cold.

This plan was initially carried out under my supervision and authorization. Although it has taken a long time, there is still hope. Moreover, with the continuous improvement of technological means, the time can be shortened, which requires immense human wisdom and patience. Later... the situation became somewhat uncontrollable...

Now the big tree has fallen. The only thing that makes me uneasy is whether this storm has damaged the roots buried deep underground. If even the roots are destroyed...

"Why choose me?" Tang Feng picked up the file bag and asked

The plan is indeed arduous, but it is not as lengthy as one might imagine. My father's reasoning is very clear: "The Alpha Group places some protoplasm under high temperature and pressure to accelerate this process. Compared to the natural evolution of life on Earth, this experimental process is significantly expedited."

Where is the information?" Tang Feng asked straightforwardly.

"This is an assassination," he said

Knowing a little, Tang Feng sat on the sofa, gazing into the air as he replied, there is always something awkward, the Alpha Project was just a joke to me.

Could it be that my father possesses human emotions? Tang Feng pondered to himself. His father was a computer dedicated solely to scientific applications. Over the years, countless scientists had refined his father's system, endowing it with the ability to learn and recognize itself, making it increasingly human-like. However, all of its expressions were merely softened responses of ironclad logic

There was no one around. Tang Feng pulled out a dark black pistol from his pocket, with a silencer attached to it

The development of life progresses from simplicity to complexity, from unicellular to multicellular organisms. Just like a large tree, the higher one goes, the more branches there are, and the forms of life become increasingly complex, with intelligent life residing at the top of the tree

Tang Feng straightened his body and listened attentively

"I would like to discuss the Alpha Project with you," Tang Feng said in a low voice, suddenly noticing that Ed's body had become noticeably stiff. Ed struggled again, but was still pushed into the alley by Tang Feng, his foot kicking something that made a clanging sound.

Tang Feng had seen this expression before, resembling a prey cornered by a hunter with no way out

The person watched Tang Feng warily, instinctively clutching the briefcase tighter

Diary of the Seventh Observation Station on Earth

The destruction caused by a great catastrophe is far more severe than that caused by a small meteorite. After a moment of silence, the father continued, Almost all species on Earth have been devastated, including animals and plants

"Are you saying that the price they have to pay is humanity?" Tang Feng asked

"The time is too long..." Father repeated this phrase, with a certain depth of meaning. "It is precisely because some people have begun to find this process intolerably long that new changes have emerged"

Tang Feng was stunned, weakly releasing his hand, sitting blankly in the chair, unable to speak. Natural reproduction in the protected area is absolutely prohibited. No one knows what kind of monster might be born; if a woman unfortunately becomes pregnant, she must go to the hospital to terminate the pregnancy, as mandated by the laws of the protected area. Tang Feng also wanted this child, but he did not know what to do. He understood the consequences of violating this law; his family, career, and everything would be destroyed, even his relationship with Meilani.

Dear, Melani whispered as her head rested on Tang Feng's broad shoulder, I want this child

The Alpha Project, he murmured softly

That was a weapon from before the Great Catastrophe, the Desert Eagle. After the Great Catastrophe, all of humanity's technology focused on genetic science, while weaponry remained at the level established before the disaster. In fact, there was no need to develop more terrifying weapons to protect the two million unarmed residents of www.hetushu.com. These weapons were sufficient. Tang Feng picked up the Desert Eagle, feeling its weight; it was very well maintained. He skillfully removed the magazine, which was filled with shiny bullets. Tang Feng examined it closely, then with a crisp sound, he reinserted the magazine, producing a clear sound.

Do you know about the Alpha Project?" my father asked in what he called his office

There were still not many people around. Tang Feng cleaned up very thoroughly, and he quickly started the car and left the place. In a more distant neighborhood, Tang Feng stopped the car and began to carefully search through the briefcase. After a short while, he found a stack of papers from the compartment.

Everything appears to be very calm. Some dawn light has already filtered through the window, casting its glow into the ground floor. Tang Feng carefully closed the door quietly, paused to listen, and did not disturb Meilani. He did not go upstairs but instead opened the study door, using a key to unlock the drawer of the desk, where a handgun lay quietly, glimmering with a silvery sheen.

Strictly speaking, "the father's tone was somewhat cold," is a simpler organism than bacteria: a virus

Go to sleep, don't wake your mother

Why is that said? The father seems very interested in understanding Tang Feng's thoughts

The photo is on the table, along with the address, detailed information, and everything I can provide. You must act ahead of them, eliminate them, and also eradicate the virus

The risk is too great; I cannot accept such a reckless plan. Any approach that endangers all of humanity is in direct conflict with my highest principles. My father continued, "Those scientists also know that I cannot support them in continuing this research; the inevitable outcome will be the termination of this plan. Thus, the experiment was conducted in secret. For the first time, they aimed to bypass my logical judgment and make their own decisions.

Tang Feng gently stroked his son's head and said softly. The son nodded and walked out, not forgetting to close the door. Tang Feng watched as his son's frail figure disappeared behind the door. The child was only five years old, yet he was already quite sensible, possessing a character that belied his age—silent and lonely

The father did not speak, but Tang Feng felt his father's stern gaze

Tang Feng was somewhat surprised by the simulation

I am merely a machine, a machine capable of thought. I can only predict and guide human behavior, yet I cannot use violence to constrain humanity. My father continued, "In the absence of any evidence, I cannot terminate their secret experiments, nor can I use the law to restrain them. I can only speculate and worry. The experiments are progressing faster than I imagined; just tonight, I received the latest intelligence that a powerful virus has already been born in the laboratory." In the absence of any evidence, I cannot terminate their secret experiments, nor can I use the law to restrain them. I can only speculate and worry. The experiments are progressing faster than I imagined; just tonight, I received the latest intelligence that a powerful virus has already been born in the laboratory.

"Is it a doctor's degree?" Tang Feng asked with a gentle smile, revealing his white teeth, looking very amiable

Alani Ni