3008’s surveillance of the Inner World was omnipresent, so during those few days, Shen Junyao remained exceptionally quiet and reserved, doing his best to minimize his presence.
Regarding the three people who had “accidentally intruded,” 3008 naturally wanted to observe and test them, but it couldn’t be too obvious for fear of falling into a passive position. Initially, it only deployed ordinary blue-clothed faceless monsters. When their attacks proved fruitless, it dispatched people from Yan Heng’s base to attempt to recruit them.
Unexpectedly, Chen Mo and his companions protected the dependents whom Yan Heng had abandoned, leading to a direct falling out with the base, and the plan failed. Upon their departure, Yan Heng hinted that they should split up, but that also failed.
At that stage, 3008 could have originally adopted a “stalling” tactic to wear them down.
However, the moment Captain Shen calculated the laws governing the Inner World’s transformations, 3008 could no longer sit still.
Consequently, it dispatched a so-called divine envoy to try and drive a wedge between him and the two captains. After that effort hit a wall as well, it finally resorted to a “dismissal plot,” packaging the trapped victims from Shencheng and returning them just to settle the matter peacefully.
Shen Junyao had never mentioned it, and the initial performance of Zhang Tao and Chen Mo had misled 3008 into thinking they had stumbled in by chance. It never imagined that they had possessed the method to enter the Inner World from the very beginning.
Chen Mo reviewed the entire sequence of events in his mind. Suddenly thinking of something, he asked, “By the way, how are Yan Heng and those lovers of his being handled now?”
Chen Mo still remembered seeing that young male companion by Yan Heng’s side kick an innocent trapped victim into a pile of monsters. People like that couldn’t just be released back into society to cause harm, could they?
Shen Junyao replied, “When we found their base, everyone inside had already been completely wiped out.”
Chen Mo was stunned for a moment, not expecting such an outcome.
Shen Junyao, however, was not surprised. “3008 hoped Yan Heng could win us over or divide us, but he failed to do so. This outcome is consistent with its processing style.”
“We will comfort and release the innocent victims based on the investigation results. As for those with blood on their hands, they will, of course, face appropriate judgment. Specialized colleagues will take over those matters.”
…
They chatted in the dessert shop for a long while. Once the matter was finally discussed to satisfaction, Zhang Tao finally remembered their purpose and asked Chen Mo, “What are your thoughts now? Give us a straight answer—are you coming to our First Team?”
Chen Mo had indeed made his decision and agreed readily, “I’m going.”
This experience made him feel that joining such an organization was actually quite meaningful.
This answer did not surprise Zhang Tao; after all, he had spent a great deal of effort trying to persuade him while they were in the Inner World.
Still, he was very happy now that it was settled. He said to Chen Mo, “Then come report to the base the day after tomorrow!”
Chen Mo asked, “The day after tomorrow?”
Zhang Tao said, “Yeah, everyone has been working overtime for over half a month on this 3008 case. We’re all exhausted. The higher-ups gave us two days off, so if you go there these next two days, you won’t see many people.”
Chen Mo nodded in agreement and glanced at the two men in front of him.
He asked with a hint of concern, “Then shouldn’t you two go back and rest?”
The discussion was essentially over anyway.
Zhang Tao said indifferently, “Not reporting to the team counts as resting for me.”
He was a bachelor; if he went back, he’d just end up training, which was tiring. He casually asked Chen Mo, “What are you doing later?”
Chen Mo looked at the mall across the street and said, “I’m going over there to buy some things.”
Mainly, after Chen Xiaomi learned he was going out without taking her, her face had puffed up with anger. He had to buy a gift to appease her.
Zhang Tao then suggested, “I’ll go too.”
Chen Mo had no objections. The two of them looked at Shen Junyao, both thinking he would surely not participate in such an activity. Just as they were about to say goodbye, the man spoke up in a casual tone: “I’ll join.”
Zhang Tao: ?
Didn’t the Captain hate shopping the most?
He knew Shen Junyao had another identity as a very wealthy mogul and well-known entrepreneur; usually, anything he wanted was delivered to his home by specialized personnel.
Chen Mo also felt it was a bit strange, though he couldn’t put his finger on why.
It was true he often accompanied his mother shopping, but three grown men shopping together was an unprecedented experience.
Men don’t spend much time picking and choosing. The three went straight to the stationery store on the second floor of the mall. Chen Mo casually picked up a plush doll of a character that frequently appeared in cartoons and was about to go check out when he heard Zhang Tao say, “I’ll give her a gift too.”
He still remembered how the little girl had been moved to tears by the Slit-Mouthed Monster that day; it was quite pitiful. Although she no longer remembered it, he would help soothe her nerves.
Zhang Tao casually picked out an Ultraman Zero and said to Chen Mo, “Tell her when you get back that Ultraman Zero will protect her.”
Chen Mo declined the offer.
He put the arm-tall “salted egg superhero” back on the shelf and pointed to the Sanrio family figurines on the other side, saying, “She likes these.”
He didn’t know if other girls liked Ultraman, but Chen Xiaomi wouldn’t give it a second glance.
Zhang Tao was very receptive. Next to Chen Xiaomi’s favorites, Kuromi and My Melody, he picked up Pochacco.
Chen Mo: …
Fine, Chen Xiaomi liked Pochacco quite a bit too.
At that moment, Shen Junyao spoke up faintly from the side, “Then what should I give?”
Chen Mo noticed he was standing very close behind him. He couldn’t help but feel his ears heat up and hurriedly said, “Actually, there’s no need to be so polite.”
Shen Junyao only looked at him. Chen Mo then pointed to an electric pencil sharpener shaped like Kuromi on the shelf and said, “This is quite practical.”
Shen Junyao then picked up the purple pencil sharpener and looked at it in his palm.
He had to admit, the stationery used by young girls nowadays was indeed pleasing to the eye.
Afterward, they each paid for their items and handed the three gifts in bags to Chen Mo.
Chen Mo thanked them on behalf of his sister, but Zhang Tao suddenly pointed at him with an exclamation, and Shen Junyao looked over as well.
Chen Mo followed their gaze to the hem of his clothes and felt his eyelids twitch.
It was that severed hand again!
When did it get here?
He abruptly pulled the severed hand off, squeezed it in his palm, and frowned, “Wasn’t this thing already contained by you guys a long time ago?”
Zhang Tao also found it strange. “Right? Our containment department is managed quite strictly. How did it run out again? And it actually came looking for you?”
Shen Junyao’s expression was not great. He took the severed hand, intending to bring it back and contain it personally, and said to Chen Mo, “This is the ‘Hand of Tris.’ The owner of the hand possesses the ability to foresee danger. Its constant clinging to you indicates that danger may occur around you soon.”
He looked at Chen Mo and suggested, “Why don’t you join the team now and move into the base dormitory? It will be safer there.”
At this point, Chen Mo no longer doubted the truth of their words. However, moving into the base? Although he missed the various training rooms there and wanted to go train immediately, moving in was definitely not an option.
No matter what, he had to discuss it with his family first.
He said, “It’s fine, I’ll try my best to be careful. As for whether to stay in the dormitory, let’s wait until after I officially join the team.”
Although Shen Junyao and Zhang Tao were not entirely at ease, they could only respect his decision.
Before parting, Shen Junyao handed Chen Mo a communicator. “This is our internal communication device. Signal remains unobstructed within domains controlled by anomalies below the S-rank intermediate level.”
This was a good item.
Chen Mo took it and saw that its appearance was similar to a mobile phone. The body was sleek and beautiful, without any brand or logo engraved on it. There were only three icons on the screen: Calls, Messages, and an app with the logo of the Bureau of Anomaly Management.
Chen Mo instinctively clicked the app to enter the home page and took a rough look; it seemed to be the internal network of the Bureau of Anomaly Management.
“I’ll send you your internal network account after you join the team. Until then, contact us directly by phone.”
Chen Mo nodded and found that the numbers of the two captains were already stored inside.
Shen Junyao added another reminder: “If you encounter danger, remember to contact us at any time.”
“Okay, thank you, Captain Shen,” Chen Mo said.
Shen Junyao smiled and said, “Just call me Captain.”
Chen Mo obediently changed his phrasing: “Thank you, Captain.”
#The Unknown Real Ending of “Devourer-3008”
Shen Junyao returned to the Bureau of Anomaly Management base and went straight to the containment zone on the third basement level.
This place was devoid of sunlight year-round, isolated from the world, and illuminated by cold, piercing fluorescent light.
The anomalies contained by the Bureau over the years—those existences that threatened human society—were locked here, never to see the light of day again.
Shen Junyao’s pace was neither fast nor slow. He was still in his casual daytime attire, the sound of his sneakers on the metal floor tiles light and steady.
If anyone were present, they would have noticed a pale, eerie severed hand resting near the collar of his sweater—the “Hand of Tris” he said he was bringing back for personal containment.
However, Shen Junyao had not come for the sake of containing the “Hand of Tris.”
In fact, he quite liked the little fellow and granted it a certain degree of freedom to move in and out of the base.
Shen Junyao’s target was Containment Room 13 at the end of the corridor, where the physical entity of the recently contained “Devourer-3008” was held.
A few days ago, “Devourer-3008” was still hidden inside that seemingly ordinary chain supermarket, waiting for an opportunity to devour every customer who entered by mistake. Now, its power had been completely stripped away. The goods and shelves “purchased for zero dollars” from all over the world via spatial manipulation had all returned to their original places due to the interruption of energy.
The chaos caused by “Devourer-3008” was about to return to normal.
If all went well, the supermarket and surrounding shops would resume normal business within a week, and residents would gradually move back.
There were not many beings capable of successfully stripping an anomaly of this level from its parasitic residence; it was Shen Junyao who had done it personally.
The current “Devourer-3008” had restored its true form. Its true body was a miniature supermarket model, the size of a palm, made of ordinary plastic. It looked like a cheap ornament displayed in a corner of an old toy store shelf, neglected by everyone.
It didn’t even look as valuable as the electric pencil sharpener he bought for Chen Xiaomi.
There were tiny “entrance” and “exit” signs on the model. Who would have thought they actually connected to an internal space of over 3,600 acres, which once trapped countless accidental intruders?
Of course, its Inner World certainly wasn’t that spacious at first. It was the result of 3008’s management and improvement over many years, day after day of luring and devouring the power of superhumans.
This world is one where the strong prey on the weak.
He who devours others must be devoured himself.
The purpose of Shen Junyao’s visit was very simple.
He was hungry.
He hadn’t been able to find suitable “food” for a while, and the appearance of 3008 was like finding a pillow just as he was getting drowsy.
Although doing this might not quite comply with the Bureau’s regulations, regulations were things always made for those who follow them.
Shen Junyao opened the door to Containment Room 13 and walked up to the model representing the physical entity of “Devourer-3008.”
The overhead lights flickered several times, making a buzzing sound of electrical current. In the unstable light, the tall shadow of the man became blurred and underwent several refractions and distortions. The shadow swayed, and in the next second, it transformed into an oppressive black giant python. Its coiled body almost filled the space, its pitch-black scales glinting with a faint, cold light.
“Devourer-3008” possessed intelligence, but it could not speak, nor could it plead.
Of course, even if it could, it could not prevent the fate that followed.
The giant python opened its massive mouth and swallowed all of its mental energy.
The entire process was quiet, silent, and without sound. There was no violence, no destruction, and not even any resistance. 3008’s consciousness trembled in a way that humans could not perceive; its mental energy vibrated violently as if in a silent scream.
It had once devoured countless human superhumans, yet it had never experienced the sensation of being devoured. It could clearly perceive its own strength slipping away bit by bit, its energy being rapidly extracted, squeezed, and absorbed until nothing remained.
Instinctive survival desire caused it to emit a final mental explosion, like a dying wail, which lasted only a few short seconds before dissipating into the air.
Consciousness collapsed; energy was annihilated.
The model became a true model—a pile of rotten plastic.
“Devourer-3008” had been devoured.
The giant python swayed its body slightly and restored its tall human form.
Shen Junyao stood in place, eyes slightly closed, silently digesting the energy he had just swallowed, feeling a long-lost sense of satiety.
After a long while, he opened his eyes, his gaze falling upon the pile of plastic wreckage.
A weak wave of energy remained there.
Shen Junyao stepped forward and picked up a fragment emitting a light purple glow from the middle of the wreckage, examining it closely.
Once he confirmed the origin of this fragment, he raised an eyebrow in surprise. “Quite an unexpected harvest.”
Just as he was preparing to leave the containment room, a sound of footsteps came from the doorway.
Shen Junyao glanced over.
The newcomer was a middle-aged man dressed in a crisp uniform and wearing high-level medals. The man had a resolute appearance and was an S-rank human powerhouse with great strength and high status.
It was precisely the Director of the Bureau of Anomaly Management, Zhuang Muheng.
Zhuang Muheng stood at the door. His gaze moved from the Hand of Tris on Shen Junyao’s shoulder to the shattered supermarket model in the containment room. His brow furrowed slightly, and he looked at Shen Junyao with a complex expression.
The two stared at each other for a moment, an implicit sense of pressure flowing through the air.
“You devoured it.” Zhuang Muheng’s voice was low. His tone was not one of surprise, but it carried a hint of warning.
Shen Junyao admitted it calmly. “Yes. It was just sitting there, wasn’t it?”
Zhuang Muheng said flatly, “After all, we have regulations.”
Shen Junyao said, “I’m hungry.”
Zhuang Muheng looked at him. “You can submit an application.”
Shen Junyao gave him face by agreeing, “Next time, for sure.”
Zhuang Muheng sighed.
He knew in his heart that even if Shen Junyao didn’t agree, he actually couldn’t do anything to him.
In similar situations, the only thing he could do now was to try his best to persuade him.
Fortunately, although this fellow occasionally acted against the rules, he almost never provoked humans on matters of principle.
The responsibility of the Bureau of Anomaly Management’s Hunting Group was to execute various anomalies that threatened human safety.
There were many ways to execute an anomaly. Becoming this person’s rations was one of them.
This was their unspoken agreement.