Superstars of Tomorrow

Panda Novel

When Fang Zhao found Zhao Chao, the captain was standing before a building on a call. His expression didn’t seem so good.

Surrounding the building were personnel from the Whale Island Guard.

Fang Zhao only went over after Zhao Chao ended the call.

“The person went in?” Fang Zhao asked.

Zhao Chao kneaded his own forehead. “It’s a comprehensive laboratory. Animals outside the laboratory aren’t allowed in more than seventy percent of the areas inside. The guard have already sent in some men, and we have already contacted the staff inside to cooperate. Now this building is locked down. People can enter, but nobody can exit.”

Laboratories were the places that inspection dogs were least willing to go. Even if they were permitted inside, their mental states would be affected. The atmosphere and smell inside made inspection dogs nervous.

Fang Zhao first got Curly Hair to stay outside with another inspection team member before following Zhao Chao in.

The laboratory facility was divided into three different sub-units, and the target had entered from Unit One. Thus, after the building had been locked down, the focus of the search was at Unit One.

Staff within the facility had already received the order to stay in their respective offices or labs without avoid moving around too much and to keep an eye out for any suspicious characters.

When Fang Zhao and Zhao Chao entered, they were met by a person wearing a white suit. The tag he wore on his breast indicated that he had considerable status here. His face showed no sign that he was worried or uneasy. Instead, he had a slight look of disgust. This look wasn’t targeted at Fang Zhao and the others but at the infiltrator.

“You all must increase your efficiency! The person still hasn’t been caught?! Can you imagine the consequences of this sort of sterile environment being contaminated… by bacteria and germs from the outside?!”

Zhao Chao paused but didn’t reply. Instead, he introduced the person to Fang Zhao. “This is the person currently in charge of this comprehensive lab facility’s Unit One, biochemical virus specialist Prof. Diem Nicolas.”

Here, the unit manager of this laboratory building wasn’t like the caretaker of a student dormitory. It was entirely different. His status was similar to a CEO of a company. Many of the experimental projects within this facility were presided over by this person. Personnel from the Inspection Team and the Whale Island Guard also required his authorization in order to search the interior of this facility.

Of course, under the current circumstances, this unit manager was still rather cooperative. Surveillance footage showing the inside of the facility was handed over, but he wasn’t too satisfied with the efficiency of the search.

“You can just call me Prof. Nick.”

Unit Manager Nick was only in his fifties. This was considered rather young in the science and research domain. Being able to possess such status at his age meant that his research abilities couldn’t be doubted.

However, what Zhao Chao didn’t say was that Unit Manager Nick was indeed very impressive in terms of research ability. Given his ability and research accomplishments, he could have already taken charge of many important projects and become a unit manager in Whale Island Region’s research facility ten years ago. As for why he had only just become a unit manager at this time…

This individual had offended too many people!

Prof. Nick didn’t know what Zhao Chao was thinking. He had previously explained to personnel of the Whale Island Guard about the laboratory facility’s layout and once again gave Zhao Chao and the others a simple introduction.

“… For the conference period, there are at least three types of highly dangerous pathogens that are deposited at our facility. But don’t worry, please have trust in our security system. Furthermore, the pathogens that can be brought in have already been handled…”

Prof. Nick was very animated as he talked about the projects he handled.

Biochemistry and toxicology had always been popular spheres of research. This wasn’t only because of the catastrophic Period of Destruction, but also because the immigration plan required manufacturing vaccines and antidotes to raise defensive ability. As a result, these research spheres were able to garner a lot of funding, groom many talents and attain accomplishments that were admired by many.

Biological organisms and substances that could be made into weapons were forbidden from being used. However, humankind had never stopped studying them.

Because of the catastrophic Period of Destruction, people were fearful when they talked about these things. But they needed to be overcome.

Prof. Nick rambled on and on. It appeared that he got more excited the more he talked. It seemed like he wouldn’t stop, so Zhao Chao interrupted him. They didn’t have the time to listen to Nick’s rambling. They only needed to know the general situation inside.

The personnel from the Whale Island Guard that had previously entered to search had yet to apprehend the suspect. Surveillance footage had only shown the target entering a section inside the building before all traces of him were lost.

Not every part of the laboratory facility had surveillance facilities. Some places didn’t have surveillance facilities installed because of its sensitive nature. And clearly, the suspect was also a person adept in evading surveillance.

This was indeed a thorny situation.

“Looks like the aid surveillance footage can provide is limited.” Zhao Chao furrowed his brows.

Prof. Nick spread out his hands and shrugged. “I have already done all I can to help. I am really anxious now. Please be understanding towards a toxicology researcher’s obsession with cleanliness.”

Zhao Chao glanced at him. Just solely from his expression, Zhao Chao could notice a clear look of disgust but not a single hint of worry.

However, Zhao Chao also fretted about the situation at hand. He had contacted the Whale Island Guard captain that had lead a squad over. They hadn’t been able to discover any clues on their end either.

The suspect was definitely within the building. As for where exactly, it was still difficult to pinpoint in the short term. The facility was so big. How long would they need to search? Each minute wasted was another minute of uncertainty and danger.

“I think we should let the dogs in to search.” When machinery was unreliable, Zhao Chao thought of dogs.

Nic didn’t give an immediate reply. He pondered for a bit before saying, “There are a few floors within the building that require special attire to be worn. There are also all sorts of sterilization procedures required. These procedures might not affect humans, but I can’t be sure for dogs. We don’t have specialized attire for dogs here. If you people can’t find a more effective way, you can bring the dogs in, but the risk is yours. Also, there are many places with self-cleaning procedures. Even the most exceptional inspection dog might not be able to sniff out anything.

Fang Zhao was listening to Unit Manager Nick’s exchange with Zhao Chao while his eyes were fixated on the surveillance display screen. At this point, he said to Zhao Chao, “Curly Hair is outside. The inspection squad nearby should have reached here as well. You can get them to search the floors which don’t require too many complicated procedures first. At the same time, you can let me try listening to any audio surveillance. My hearing ability isn’t too bad.”

A member from the Whale Island Guard shook his head. “We have already tried analyzing the audio recordings of the surveillance footage. There is just too much noise, and it is really difficult to determine the suspect’s path.”

There were too much sounds from the various apparatus and equipment in operation. Even if there were layers of filters, it was impossible to determine which were the sounds produced by the target’s movements and which were just noise.

“I can try,” Fang Zhao said.

Zhao Chao considered for a short moment and agreed.

Zhao Chao got the squad outside to bring the inspection dogs in and search the few floors that didn’t require any complicated procedures. At the same time, Fang Zhao used the audio surveillance to try to track the target’s movements from the point of infiltration.

This wasn’t Fang Zhao’s first time doing such a thing. It wasn’t just in his previous life either. Back when he had been on Planet Wai, Fang Zhao had used this sort of method to track down a killer.

There was indeed a lot of sound interference inside the facility. Fang Zhao broke down every sound and tone, differentiating, analyzing and filling in required information in his brain. After, he tried to consider different angles. If the suspect was here, where would he head to and where would he hide?

With his extraordinary hearing ability, abundant experience in tracking, fleeing for danger and survival instincts, Fang Zhao was able to choose a route that practically coincided with the infiltrator’s route!

Furthermore, Fang Zhao’s pursuit speed wasn’t any slower than the infiltrator’s speed!

The men dispatched by Zhao Chao and the Whale Island Guard to follow weren’t able to catch up and lost him.

Inside the main control room.

Zhao Chao and the Whale Island Guard captain watched the scenes on the display with gaping mouths. On it was the live feed of Fang Zhao’s real time situation and a route indicator.

The Whale Island Guard captain managed to move his jaw that had nearly fallen out from shock back into position. He pointed at the screen and exclaimed, “Those ears of his… No wonder so many people are interested in it!”

This was the first time Zhao Chao had witnessed firsthand the miraculousness of Fang Zhao’s ears. “No wonder! No wonder a reserve duty musical artist would be recommended here!”

“Is his hearing ability very good?” Prof. Nick asked.

“You don’t know him? I always thought that those who did research were very interested in those ears of his,” Zhao Chao said.

Nick shook his head. He was a researcher in the field of biochemistry and toxicology. He rarely paid attention to any news outside of research and didn’t really know much about Fang Zhao.

Zhao Chao gave him a summary of the services that Fang Zhao’s miraculous ears had rendered.

“Nowadays people like to jokingly call him “Diting”. Seems like it isn’t an exaggeration! He can really catch what other people are unable to hear. Those ears are even more effective than machines!!” Zhao Chao’s professional habits acted up and his first reaction was to compare it from a pragmatic point of view in regards to work.

However, Unit Manager Nick’s focus was completely different from Zhao Chao’s. His face turned slightly uncomfortable when he heard Zhao Chao’s evaluation of Fang Zhao..

“So, as long as it isn’t completely soundproof, if he is in a suitable range, he can actually hear other people’s conversations?” Nick pulled a long face.

“In theory, this sounds about right.”

“That means that he can hear the classified information of many laboratories?” Unit Manager Nick asked.

Zhao Chao stuttered. He was suddenly aware of what Unit Manager Nick meant.

The areas with surveillance cameras and the audio recordings provided to Fang Zhao didn’t need to be classified. However, Fang Zhao’s movements had taken him through a few areas that belonged to non-surveillance zones! All of these touched upon important classified research!

And Fang Zhao only had temporary clearance to enter this place for work related matters. There was certain information that he shouldn’t come into contact with.

No wonder Nick’s face had turned black in an instant.

“He has signed a non-disclosure agreement.” Zhao Chao could only say this. After all, Fang Zhao was a member of his team. Whatever he was doing was to help capture the target as soon as possible. Zhao Chao had to protect him.

“All those don’t count. What I require are the high level non-disclosure agreements for the projects that are precise to the level of the culture medium!”

Nick stared firmly at the Fang Zhao’s route indicator displayed on the screen and said frostily,

“One set of non-disclosure agreements.”

And as the indicator representing Fang Zhao continued to move quickly——

“Two sets of NDAs.”

A short moment later.

“Three sets.”

“Four sets!”

…

Unit manager Nick’s face was turning even more rigid by the minute. As he watched the path taken by Fang Zhao on the screen, he thought to himself, Has this guy really heard our research secrets? How much has he heard?

Regardless whether he heard, non-disclosure agreements had to be signed in any case!!

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