Part 2
Luo Shizhen looked at him strangely instead. “We’re pretending to be scammers. If everyone thinks we’re the real deal, wouldn’t that be a failure?”
Lin Ke: “…Oh, oh, right.”
That’s true, but most people wouldn’t look at it that way! Even if itâs a disguise, seeing yourself being criticized and insulted would still make you feel bad, right?!
Luo Shizhen didn’t just look at them; he looked at them without any reaction. Lin Ke discovered with a complex mood that Shizhen had even pulled out a [Table of Netizens’ Comments Insulting Zou Tangzheng across Various Platforms] and compared it with the insults against himself.
“The number of people insulting me is also greater than those insulting Zou Tangzheng.”
Luo Shizhen seriously compared various data, copied them into a new table, and then sent all the tables into the mission group chat.
[Next, can we see if any Anomaly has targeted Zhen Shiluo?]
Compared to Lin Ke, the other young Awakeners who had known Luo Shizhen longer knew his personality better. Cheng Yunshao, Chu Xiao, and Lu Qiujin also shared the data they were responsible for monitoring.
Cheng Yunshao: [Since yesterday, the number of patients booking treatment has skyrocketed. Currently, thirty people can be booked every day.]
Chu Xiao: [The number of people is too high. Shizhen will be tired. It can be reduced to fifteen people.]
Lu Qiujin: [Ten people is enough.]
Rong Nian: [Do we have to treat them? Aren’t we scammers?]
Luo Shizhen: [Letâs keep it at thirty people. Iâm fine with it and don’t feel tired.]
The pollution levels of these ordinary polluted people and Awakeners seeking help from the public weren’t actually very high. For example, for the first patient, although his condition was serious and could even be fatal to him, for Luo Shizhen, the pollution in his body was roughly equivalent to the fingernail-sized wound on his “Big Brother’s” neck from that accidental injury.
Luo Shizhen: [@Rong Nian, Zou Tangzheng always hires shills. Although he is a scammer, everything he does is to increase his credibility. Therefore, taking orders and treating people also fits Zou Tangzhengâs behavior pattern.]
Xiao Shan: [Take the patients first. If you’re tired and want to rest, just rest. We’ll handle the rest.]
Wen Hu: [+1.]
The mission group quickly reached a consensus on the next steps. Luo Shizhen would continue to treat patients normally as Zhen Shiluo, while the others would play their roles and observe for any approaching Anomalies.
Chu Xiao sat in his room, looking at the messages on his computer. Because a large number of Awakeners were returning home, various platforms were discussing not only whether TCM treatment for pollution was effective but also the environment abroad. Among them, Country X was discussed the most because even at a time like this, it was still engaged in internal conflict.
[Still fighting at a time like this? Country X has had three presidents take office and three pass away; what a straightforward political struggle.]
[The military in Country X has split off now, right? I heard they merged with the CCA there.]
[Itâs not called the Awakener Center over there; itâs called the CCA. But I heard the person in power behind the CCA is a Xia Country person.]
[?? Real or fake? Did they change their nationality?]
[Definitely changed. I heard itâs an old wealthy family that has been established in Country X for a long time. Taking this opportunity, they rose through bloodshed, took the lead, and bought off most of the Awakeners in Country X, successfully overtaking everyone.]
[After all, only Awakeners can deal with Anomalies now. Whoever controls the Awakeners is the one holding the most important resource.]
[Damn! I haven’t heard this gossip. Tell me more, which family is it?]
Chu Xiao stared at the posterâs reply on the screen:
[No photos of their family can be found on social media. I only heard this from my relative in Country X. Itâs said that to prevent being cursed through photosâwhat with pen spirits, voodoo, and voodoo dolls being common nowâthey found an Awakener who can directly erase photos and erased all photos of their family members.]
[The surname is public, though. I heard itâs Fu? Wait, I have a recording that only caught a silhouette. It seems to be the current boss of CCA ordering an execution. Itâs very blurry and nothing can be seen; see if you guys can make anything out.]
Fu.
Chu Xiao stared coldly at that character, then slowly scrolled his mouse to look at the posted image. It was indeed very blurry, clearly filmed from far away. The background was likely a skyscraper; through the glass, a group of people in suits could be seen facing off in a hallway. One figure was sitting down, his form blocked by bodyguards. He just waved his hand, and several gunshots rang out as the people opposite fell.
The video ended there, but Chu Xiao noticed that on the blurry silhouetteâs knees, there was a dark grey blanket with white borders.
Chu Xiao closed the computer. He opened his door and walked out to see Luo Shizhen and Lin Ke leaning together, looking at a map.
“Shizhen,” Chu Xiao called out.
Luo Shizhen heard him, turned his head, and smiled. “Chu Xiao, hurry up and eat something. We’re setting off soon.”
“Okay.”
Chu Xiao went to the kitchen, brought out the breakfast Luo Shizhen had left for him, sat down beside him, and began to eat slowly. As he ate, he suddenly asked:
“I remember you used to have a blanket you liked very much. You often wrapped it around your legs for warmth when you were studying at night. Why haven’t I seen it lately?”
Luo Shizhen, who was checking the map between the Zhen Family Clinic and their villa to easily catch any Anomaly that might appear, didn’t react at first. He thought for a few seconds.
“I have many blankets I like. Which one are you talking about?”
Luo Shizhenâs grandmother used to do handicraft work, and one of the projects was weaving blankets. During that time, Luo Shizhen would also help weave during his holidays. However, he was clumsy, and the blankets he wove weren’t pretty; people didn’t want to buy them. Fortunately, the materials weren’t expensive, so Luo Shizhen simply used them himself.
Chu Xiao spoke in a casual tone as if chatting. “The grey one with white borders.”
“Mmm…” Luo Shizhen tried hard to remember. “I think I gave it away, but I don’t really remember who I gave it to.”
To him, this was something that happened a long time ago. Hearing him say he didn’t remember who he gave it to, Chu Xiao let out a laugh.
“Itâs nothing. I just dreamt about it last night and suddenly remembered, so I thought Iâd ask.”
Lin Ke, who was observing, looked at his inexplicably joyful expression and felt this was definitely not a casual question. But Luo Shizhen believed him. He gave an “Oh” and continued to analyze the map with Lin Ke. “I think this location might be targeted…”
Lin Ke stole a glance at Chu Xiao and found that he indeed looked to be in a very good mood, even eating slower than before. High-sequence Awakeners are truly all strange.
Except for Luo Shizhen.
The disguised Luo Shizhen once again began his career as Doctor Zhen Shiluo. The Zhen Family Clinic wasn’t very large, and when they arrived, it was basically surrounded by people. Seeing the white-haired Zhen Shiluo, who looked exactly like a divine doctor, the crowd immediately swarmed forward, only to be easily blocked by Xiao Shan and Wen Hu.
Cheng Yunshao stepped forward. “I can understand everyone’s desire for treatment, but our Zhen Family Clinic does everything by the rules. We still have to go by the numbers. If you haven’t received a number, please wait outside.”
Someone came carrying a box of gold bars, opening it on the spot and piling it forward.
“Doctor Zhen! Please treat my daughter first!! This gold is all for the consultation fee! If itâs not enough, give me some time; I can gather even more!”
“Doctor Zhen, don’t listen to him! I have a house in Beishi, a large apartment in the city center. Treat me first, and Iâll transfer the house to you immediately!”
“Doctor Zhen, Doctor Zhen! I run a matchmaking agency. Do you have a girlfriend? I can introduce one to you. Doctor Zhen, please treat me first! I have plenty of excellent male resources as well!! I have whatever type you want! Ladyboys and crossdressers are both fine, Doctor Zhen!”
Xiao Shan, who had been calmly blocking people, suddenly became significantly more aggressive.
“Get back! Get back! Line up properly and don’t pull any of that stuff. Doctor Zhen doesn’t accept gifts!”
Luo Shizhen whispered behind him, “Actually, I do.”
Xiao Shan: “…”
Zou Tangzheng was a scammer who did everything for money. How could he refuse large piles of gifts being offered to him? He would even actively hint to the patients’ families to give gifts. Luo Shizhenâs acting plan for today was to give hints during the treatment process. He had even prepared his lines for the hints, but before he could even start, people were already offering gifts.
Reluctantly, Xiao Shan made way for Chu Xiao to communicate with those offering gifts. At least until they lured out that Anomaly, they had to act as if they were “accepting gifts.”
After escorting Luo Shizhen inside and hearing the noise outside, Xiao Shan looked at him.
“Gifts can be accepted, but what about when they offer people?”
Luo Shizhen was playing Zou Tangzheng too seriously; Xiao Shan was truly afraid he would say something like, “Zou Tangzheng changes girlfriends frequently, so I should also learn to change girlfriends frequently.”
Fortunately, Luo Shizhen quickly waved his hands. “People cannot be accepted.”
He had never even been in a relationship himself. Working hard for the mission was fine, but a nineteen-year-old was still incapable of intimate contact. Moreover, Luo Shizhen felt that if he interacted with others, he would surely be exposed.
Fortunately, he had already seen Zou Tangzhengâs extensive romantic history and was prepared. Luo Shizhen reached into his briefcaseâone that perfectly suited a seventy-year-oldâs aestheticâand pulled out an examination report. He naturally handed it to Xiao Shan.
“If anyone gets suspicious, show them this,” he said, patting his chest and giving a guarantee. “Don’t worry, I asked Teacher Sui to have someone make this. Itâs very realistic.”
Xiao Shan was puzzled. “What is this?”
Luo Shizhen adjusted his clothes, lowered his voice, and spoke in the voice of a seventy-year-old man:
“An examination report confirming my erectile dysfunction.”
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