Chapter 148: Ability Fusion

Vladimir tapped his slender index finger against the table in exasperation, followed by a sound of profound dissatisfaction.

"So, you are the only one who came?"

Standing before him was a young girl with long golden hair, her arms crossed, projecting an air of haughty arrogance. "Vladimir, you had better explain yourself clearly. You have no idea how difficult it was for me to sneak out of the house."

After receiving Vladimir's message, Ye Ling had hurried to his office without pause, yet she found no one there but the two of them.

"Where are the others?" Ye Ling asked, referring to everyone other than Xie Liu.

"I am not entirely sure of the situation myself. None of them have replied, as if they had all agreed to stay silent." Vladimir expressed his deep confusion regarding the lack of response from Lin Yang and the others. "This matter is not something you can handle alone. I have summoned someone else to accompany you."

"Come out, Wendy." Vladimir tapped the window glass behind him. Ye Ling then saw Wendy clinging to the pane like a spider, flashing a smile at her.

"Your mission is simple: protect Xie Liu and ensure he does not die at the hands of the military. If possible, kill that pair of cyborg mother and daughter." Vladimir issued his command.

The expressions of both Ye Ling and Wendy shifted slightly. Wendy, still clinging to the window, spoke up: "Must we deal with that mother and daughter?" It was clear she was not keen on the task. Vladimir shook his head. "As long as that mother and daughter exist, they represent a grave danger. They must be eliminated. Of course, you don't have to do it yourselves—you could leave it to the military."

"It is best to resolve this issue before more people become aware of it," Vladimir said with a stern face. Ye Ling and Wendy nodded. "We understand." Though they were reluctant, they could not defy Vladimir’s orders.

Wendy climbed through the window and took Ye Ling’s small hand, comforting her, "It’s alright. I’m here for you."

...

Qili peered anxiously out of the window. After a moment, she rose and paced back and forth, but after only a few steps, she sat down again, patting the sleeping infant in her arms with a look of worry on her face.

"It is already dawn; why hasn't he returned yet?" Qili was filled with anxiety. The baby girl in her arms seemed to sense her mother's distress, opening her eyes and staring up at Qili with large, watery, unblinking eyes.

"It's fine, everything will be fine." Qili kissed her daughter's forehead. Meng'er’s pair of small cat ears twitched rapidly, as if she were very happy.

"Bang!"

The door was kicked open, and several figures strode in. Leading them was Wang Qi, the man Qili had been longing for.

"Li'er!" Wang Qi exclaimed. Qili cried out softly and threw herself into his arms.

When Xie Liu walked in, this was the scene that greeted him. He had one foot across the threshold, but he immediately pulled it back and turned to leave.

"Must not look at indecency," Xie Liu muttered as he walked away, only to be grabbed by a girl with silver hair and green eyes.

"You said you had a secret to tell me, so why bring me here? Don't think you can fool me. Believe it or not, I’ll cripple you right now." A2 put on a fierce look. Xie Liu shrugged helplessly and pointed behind him. "This is hardly the time to ask about secrets, is it?"

"I don't care." A2 also caught sight of the embracing Wang Qi and Qili. She frowned and said, "Is this the secret you were talking about? While it is rare for a cyborg and a super-powered individual in the Alliance to fall in love, it is not without precedent."

"That isn't the secret." Xie Liu pointed at the couple. "Look at what the cat-girl is holding."

A2’s gaze shifted to Meng'er in Qili's arms, and the smile on her face froze. She stepped forward and demanded loudly, "You! That... what is in your arms? Give it to me!"

Startled by the sudden voice, Qili turned around to find A2 blocking her path. "Who are you?"

"Get lost!" A2 snapped. Before Qili could react, she had snatched the baby from her arms.

"What are you doing!" Qili bristled instantly and lunged at A2, only to be held back by Wang Qi. He knew exactly what kind of terrifying power lay hidden within this seemingly petite woman.

"An infant?" A2 held Meng'er in her arms, eyeing her with confusion. "Whose child is this?"

"She is mine!" Wang Qi blocked his wife, standing before A2. "Do not hurt her."

After her initial shock, A2’s expression shifted rapidly. Finally, she turned to Xie Liu and said in a chilling voice, "Is this the secret you spoke of? This child... is the offspring of a cyborg and a super-powered human."

"Correct." Xie Liu nodded. He trusted that A2 understood the significance of this child. "Well? Is this secret weighty enough?"

"It is. More than enough. This secret..." A2 looked at the baby girl, biting her lip with a strange expression. "It is absolutely explosive."

"Huh?"

Xie Liu was surprised; A2’s choice of the word "explosive" felt odd. Just then, A2 looked up sharply. Her black blade, *Contract*, unsheathed itself, the flash of steel streaking out of the window. A second later, it flew back, and Xie Liu heard the sound of two heavy bodies hitting the ground outside.

"What happened?" Wang Qi asked, startled as he watched A2 sheath her blade.

Xie Liu frowned and answered in a low voice, "She killed the two special forces soldiers outside the door."

"Indeed. The fewer people who know this secret, the better." A2 sheathed her blade, looking as calm as if the two people killed outside were of no consequence. She looked down at the baby girl.

"What is her name?"

"Meng'er," Xie Liu said, stepping in as Wang Qi and his wife remained stunned.

"Meng'er, Meng'er?" A2 repeated the name softly, then nodded. "A common name, but a good one. Yet, her birth dictates that she will not be common."

"Her existence could trigger a massive upheaval, and I think you understand that." A2 was no fool; she grasped the importance of the child. "The war between cyborgs and super-powered individuals is the root cause of the conflict between the Alliance and the City. We special forces and mechanical troops were all evolved from the wars that followed."

Xie Liu nodded in affirmation, continuing where A2 left off. "The war has lasted over a hundred years, and everyone is tired of it. So, in recent years, anti-war sentiment has gradually grown."

"However, there is a reproductive barrier between cyborgs and super-powered individuals. It is an obstacle many cannot cross, because we believe we are no longer the same species. Thus, peaceful coexistence between us is considered impossible." A2 cradled the baby, soothing her while continuing the conversation.

"But the appearance of this baby girl will change everything. It will spark a storm of public opinion. People will re-examine their enemies; soldiers will question whether their fighting has any meaning. Everything will fall into chaos."

A2 stared at Xie Liu, detailing the reality of what would unfold.

"Even so, do you still intend to protect this child?"

Wang Qi and Qili clung to each other. The life of their daughter had now been elevated to a level that could affect two gargantuan powers. With their own abilities alone, they could no longer protect her.

"The child is innocent. I cannot tolerate those who use the banner of 'the greater good' to harm a helpless infant," Xie Liu said righteously. A2 fell silent for a moment, then gently stroked Meng'er’s small head.

Meng'er did not seem afraid at all. Her tiny hands gripped A2’s slender finger tightly, refusing to let go, and she actually began to giggle, her little cat ears twitching.

"She isn't afraid of me?" A2 was taken aback. In the face of the infant, she had lost the arrogance of an A-rank special operative, becoming nothing more than a flustered young girl.

Even Wang Qi and Qili were astonished that their daughter was not afraid of this female special operative. Xie Liu explained the situation.

"She has the [Telepathy] super-power. Although it is very weak, I detected it. She can sense your goodwill, which is why she isn't afraid."

This left not only A2 but also Meng'er’s parents stunned. "Super-power? You mean Meng'er has a super-power?"

"Yes, I scanned her earlier. Meng'er shows a very faint super-power reaction. Based on the data, it should be of the telepathic variety. Currently, she can at most sense our attitudes toward her—whether we are being kind or malicious." Xie Liu spoke softly, then shook his head. "I know what you are thinking. Yes, a super-power has appeared in a cyborg. The characteristics of a cyborg and the traits of a super-power have successfully merged."

Everyone looked at each other, realizing the implications. For over a hundred years, the Special Alliance had attempted to bestow super-powers upon their soldiers and cyborgs, but every single attempt had ended in failure.

"There is one more thing I noticed. Meng'er’s awakened ability is a mental one, while Wang Qi’s ability is gene-mimicry, which is a genetic ability. Generally, a child’s super-power is inherited from their parents, so Meng'er’s power must come from Miss Qili."

"Mine?" Qili pointed at her own nose. It was common knowledge that cyborgs could not acquire super-powers, and Xie Liu’s statement clearly overturned traditional views.

"Exactly. I believe that cyborgs can possess super-powers; we just haven't known how to guide them out," Xie Liu said after some thought. "Of course, I cannot be certain. After all, super-powers can also mutate."

"Hmm?" Upon hearing Xie Liu’s explanation, A2 turned her gaze toward the baby girl with great interest, as if she had discovered a new continent. Her eyes suddenly lit up.

"I’ve decided! I want to have a child with a super-power too!" A2 laughed, looking at Xie Liu. "I am one of the strongest special operatives. If my child had a super-power, inheriting my abilities and the father’s super-power, how strong would they be?"

"Uh... that’s a nice thought, but why are you looking at me?" Xie Liu felt the way A2 was sizing him up was like looking at merchandise, and he couldn't help but feel a bit afraid.

"Super-powered individuals and we are like fire and water. Where would I find one to be the father of my child?" A2 said, taking a step closer, cornering Xie Liu.

"Since you’re right here, you’ll have to do."

Xie Liu’s forehead was covered in black lines. He pointed at Wang Qi. "Isn't there another super-powered individual right here?"

Wang Qi jumped up as if his tail had been set on fire. "What does that have to do with me?"

A2 glanced at Wang Qi and said dismissively, "He is already second-hand. I don't want him."

Wang Qi: "..."

A2 handed Meng'er back to Qili and turned to Xie Liu with a smile. "Alright, let's find a place to make a baby."

"Are you joking!" Xie Liu nearly exploded. "Have you lost your mind? Besides, I am a physical augmentee, not a 'true' super-powered individual. Big sister, you’d better look elsewhere."

"That’s even better! A hybrid super-power. I’m looking forward to seeing what kind of child we can produce." A2 continued to press toward Xie Liu, who retreated repeatedly.

"No, don't!"