At 1 PM, 13 put on his windbreaker and arrived at the agreed location – Genesis Group headquarters.
From a hundred meters away, he saw the human wall formed by crowds of armed police. There wasn't a trace of surprise on 13's face. He knew that without "White Tiger," even a small pistol bullet could be fatal to him.
But everyone has an unavoidable weakness: dependence on tools. As long as they have a weapon in hand, they believe they are superior to their peers, capable of deciding others' life and death.
The outermost police officers raised their submachine guns of the same model.
13's pace didn't change.
"Halt! This is a restricted area. Please state your identity and submit to inspection."
The crisp sound of bullets being chambered echoed.
Because Hong Yang had refused, the armed police force couldn't enter the building. But the Police Chief didn't dare to give up; protecting Hong Yang was a direct order from the Chairman. So they had to set up defenses outside, preventing any suspicious individuals from entering the building.
Leading the team was an experienced armed police platoon leader in his early thirties. Over two hundred armed police soldiers were deployed this time. It was more than enough not just to protect one person, but even to prevent a terrorist attack.
"Please place your hands on your head and submit to inspection. We are the Shanghai Armed Police. Cooperate with us, and we will definitely not harm you." The platoon leader noticed something was wrong; this person's eyes were too peculiar. His men had also unconsciously chambered their rounds just now. In his eyes, there was none of the innate human fear of firearms. Even when aimed at by hundreds of weapons capable of easily ending his life, his steps didn't falter.
13 seemed not to hear, his hands hanging limply at his sides.
"Stop where you are immediately! Stop approaching!" The captain surprisingly raised his own gun too.
For some unknown reason, with every step the person in front took closer, his heartbeat quickened. It was fear!
If an outsider saw this now, they would surely find it strange: hundreds of fully armed soldiers were flustered by a single, unarmed ordinary person? Upon closer observation, some soldiers' legs were trembling uncontrollably.
One step, two steps, three steps. No words.
Sweat dripped from the captain's forehead.
"Don't shoot!" The security chief from the morning suddenly rushed in front of the captain. "He's a friend of our President! Mr. Hong invited him."
The tension eased. All guns were lowered, and the fear from moments ago dissipated.
13 walked up to the chief and the captain, pausing for a moment.
"When pointed at by guns, I get the urge to kill. I scared you just now, sorry." 13 didn't look at the stunned captain and entered the building.
The chief ignored the captain and quickly followed 13.
The captain watched 13's retreating back, feeling an inexplicable familiarity.
"Immediately transmit that young man's appearance back to headquarters and verify his identity information!" the captain sternly ordered his subordinate.
Intuition again. He wasn't simple.
The front lobby of the building was spacious, supported only by four marble pillars, each requiring two people to encircle and twenty meters high.
"The President is waiting for you at the coffee lounge in the back hall." The chief walked ahead of 13 to lead the way, his tone lacking warmth.
"Which seat number?" 13 asked.
"Number 5. Do you know the location?" The chief looked surprised.
"Number 5? That's by the fourth floor-to-ceiling window. I know where it is, no need to lead." 13 smiled.
"That's right. Have you been here before?"
"Killing also requires 'homework'," 13 patted the chief's shoulder.
"I warn you!" The chief sidestepped 13's hand. "Whatever your relationship with the President, if you dare harm a single hair on his head, I will definitely kill you!"
"I understand." 13 retracted his missed arm, put it in his coat pocket, and walked towards coffee seat number 5.
At this time, Hong Yang was sipping red tea while reading the newspaper. He paid special attention to the "death list" reported on the cover; some were former colleagues. Thinking about how they warmly chatted with him on the surface but engaged in corruption privately, his hand holding the newspaper trembled and clenched tightly. Because it was the May Day holiday, the company seemed deserted.
"Sorry to keep you waiting," 13 greeted politely.
"Not long at all, sit." Hong Yang smiled and gestured for 13, as if meeting an ordinary junior.
"Would you like something to drink?" Hong Yang put down the newspaper and handed the menu card on the table towards 13.
"No need, thank you." 13 shook his head.
"Oh, really?"
"Alright, before you tell your story, can you let those few people come out?" 13 chose a comfortable position and leaned back on the soft sofa.
"I told you we couldn't hide from him." 1 walked out from a concealed spot.
"Can't stand it, your nose is as sharp as a dog's." 36 emerged next.
"Long time no see, 13." 24's voice trembled. Although smiling, his eyes were somewhat blurry.
"Indeed, long time no see. Are you all okay?" 13 said calmly, seemingly without much emotion.
"Not bad, just without you, kid, life has become boring." 1 sat in the empty seat next to 13.
"You really know how to hide. No news at all for two years. Hiding is indeed your forte," 36 also sat down.
"Why didn't you contact us?" 24 seemed to be blaming him.
"I just wanted to live a new life." 13 looked out the window. "My current name is Zhang Jie, no longer some special operations member. I'm just an ordinary person."
The coffee shop fell silent.
"You've changed." It wasn't a special operations member who said this, but Hong Yang.
"You used to show no expression even when killing people. Just now, you actually learned to sigh with emotion." Hong Yang smiled with interest. "I guess if Nie Yun saw you now, he would definitely jump around with excitement."
"Can you tell me what your story is about?" 13 looked intently at Hong Yang.
"You," Hong Yang stated firmly.
Memory is a person's attachment to the past; it preserves bygone eras, bygone joys, and bygone stories.
In 1993, Hong Yang was 45 years old, serving as the Deputy Director of the State Administration of Taxation. He was considered a "red star" in the political arena. Hong Yang earned all this through his own abilities. Socially, no one knew he was close friends with State President Zhao Xiang and top national scientist Nie Yun.
He remembered it was the spring of that year when Nie Yun, who had suddenly disappeared for two years, reappeared before Hong Yang. Before he could ask about his situation, Nie Yun pulled him to the laboratory, pointed at an infant in a glass tank, and smiled, saying, "Look, this is the god I am about to create." A guilty conscience made him argue fiercely with Nie Yun, condemning his cruelty. But one sentence from Nie Yun made Hong Yang ponder deeply.
"For the strength of the nation, I am willing to be a sinner."
Nie Yun sought Hong Yang regarding research funding. Normally, such matters should have been broached by Zhao Xiang, but having a State President incite his official to "embezzle" was something Zhao Xiang couldn't bring himself to do. So Nie Yun played this role. Their plan was simple: privately alter national tax data, diverting funds close to 10% of the GDP into Nie Yun's secret research. As long as Hong Yang agreed to modify the data, Zhao Xiang would use his power to promote him to the position of Director of the State Administration of Taxation. After struggling painfully for two days, Hong Yang gritted his teeth and nodded. With just that slight nod, Hong Yang agreed to deceive over a billion hardworking ordinary citizens across the country.
The promoted Hong Yang was not happy, asking himself every day if what he did was right.
Days passed. Some people reported issues with the tax bureau to Zhao Xiang, but Zhao Xiang's only action was to transfer the whistleblowers away from Beijing, "exiling" them to the border regions. Gradually, the few who knew the inside story dared not speak up anymore. Everyone understood how strong Hong Yang's backing was.
On the day Adam was born, Nie Yun called Zhao Xiang and Hong Yang. They truly couldn't believe their eyes. Just two hours old, Adam looked at the three men before him and said, "Hello."
Every day thereafter, Hong Yang and Zhao Xiang would check on Adam's progress. His growth rate showed Zhao Xiang the hope of national strength and also made Hong Yang feel his burden of sin was worthwhile.
On the tenth day, Nie Yun's demeanor changed. He decided to erase Adam's existence but was vehemently stopped by Zhao Xiang. Nie Yun shook his head, saying he was wrong, he himself was wrong, Zhao Xiang was wrong, and Hong Yang was wrong too. Adam wasn't a blessing bestowed upon China by God, but a punishment visited upon the world. He would inherit his ancestors' will, destroy humanity, and reset the world to zero. But Zhao Xiang completely refused to listen to Nie Yun's words. He only knew Adam was exceedingly intelligent; his terrifying alien intellect could solve all problems. Finally, over the issue of Adam, the long-time friends fell out. Zhao Xiang took over Adam's upbringing rights from Nie Yun. In exchange, Zhao Xiang had no right to interfere with Nie Yun's research.
Why did it happen this way? Hong Yang didn't know. In the face of "God," emotions seemed like a thread thinner than thin, snapping with the slightest breeze.
Not long after, 13 was born. Nie Yun seemed genuinely insane to Hong Yang. He actually used the funds transferred by Hong Yang to build the "School," employing incredibly cruel training methods solely to temper 13. For his growth, people died in the "School" every day.
Seeing the expressionless 13, Hong Yang asked Nie Yun, "What have you created? Do you just want an emotionless, pure killing tool?"
Nie Yun closed his eyes and replied, "Because he is a substitute, a product that shouldn't exist in this world. He must endure what ordinary people cannot imagine. I believe he will grow, he will change bit by bit. He is a seed, experiencing wind and rain, feeling cold and warmth. When he sprouts, he will be the strongest tree. His roots will be firmly planted deep in the earth, his leaves will protect the land. Even God can do nothing against a great tree."
In 2005, Hong Yang was truly tired. The country was completely developing in the direction decided by these two men. He was just a spectator. Hong Yang knew there were too many actors on the national stage. Hong Yang decided to withdraw. He transferred 20% of the funds to Nie Yun in one go, as his final support as a friend. Ignoring the repeated pleas from Zhao Xiang and Nie Yun, he still decided to go into business in Shanghai.
(Fortunately, the school wasn't a research institute, so the required maintenance funds weren't large; Nie Yun could still manage.)
Although eight years had passed, after seeing the things 13 handed him, Hong Yang understood that even if he forgot some things, others still remembered.
This is the sorrow of memory.
Nie Yun's words were right, "For the strength of the nation, I am willing to be a sinner."
Once you become a sinner, you are a sinner for life.