What It's Like Being a Vampire

Chapter 621: Chapter 621: The World Has Changed Greatly (Middle and Lower Part)

After a while, Old He couldn’t help but ask, “Has… that thing… been dealt with by your team?”

Xiang Kun chuckles, “It hasn’t been taken out, but its mechanism for influencing other organisms has been disabled. Preparations for some related research on the ‘blood-eating creatures’ can now begin. We knew about this development ahead of time, giving us a rather lengthy window of opportunity.”

Old He quickly understood, “So you’re saying… the ‘Ultimate Predator’ can no longer suddenly kill researchers, informants, or those who come into contact with it? All limitations have been lifted, and research related to ‘blood-eating creatures’ and even the ‘Ultimate Predator’ can now be carried out openly?”

“Correct.”

Old He naturally understood the significance of this. Blood-eating creatures could be said to represent an immense treasure trove. Through researching them, breakthroughs could certainly be achieved in certain fields.

By knowing this in advance and seizing the crucial window before researchers in other countries are aware, there is a good chance that early research could be carried out to secure a pioneering advantage in a particular area.

Even separated by a screen, and without the sense afforded by emotion-infused objects, Xiang Kun could see how excited Old He was. This was quite unusual for Old He, who typically managed to keep his emotions imperceptible.

However, Xiang Kun did not share with Old He that this “time window” was something he could control freely. It could be as long as he wanted.

If Xiang Kun desired, he could direct Alice to comprehensively monitor all personnel conducting research related to mutants and the mutants being studied themselves.

Compared to the ‘Ultimate Predator,’ the surveillance network that Xiang Kun and Alice established based on the ‘super sensory item system’ was more clandestine and omnipotent. They could completely prevent researchers from other countries from learning about mutants, from conducting related experiments, and continue to block all information about mutants online. When a mutant potentially influences the world, they could simply restrict it using the ‘super-connected object matrix’ present all around the world.

They could pretend as though the limiting mechanism of the ‘Ultimate Predator’ still exists and covertly allow only their own researchers to conduct secret research related to mutants, thereby monopolizing all the achievements derived from these creatures.

Xiang Kun didn’t possess an internationalist spirit. Even without the influence of Mr. Liang and Old He, his own comprehension of the human race led him to a strong sense of nationalism. This implied he had no mental barriers or hesitation to use these methods to secure technological supremacy and dominance for his own country; it was taken for granted.

However, the multiple possibilities that Xiang Kun and Alice deduced through extensive simulations told him that such control could be enforced moderately, timely, and appropriately. Maintaining control for a long time meant having to implement stringent supervision over all new and existing mutants, and even exerting a profound impact on human society.

The consequences would result in the ‘super-sensory item system’ constantly evolving towards controlling all humans and organisms. The degree of control would continually deepen, leading Alice to become the ‘law’ that regulates all humans and organisms. Xiang Kun and his ‘super sensory item system’ would morph into an invisible hand pinching all life on Earth.

Once that milestone is reached, even if Xiang Kun himself doesn’t wish for manipulating and oppressing other creatures, the entire system would inevitably create that practical effect, inevitably inciting resistance and struggle from other creatures.

Xiang Kun isn’t the ‘Ultimate Predator,’ who needs to control all creatures and then ‘tame’ suitable blood sources. Through the alternative actions of the ‘super sensory item system’ releasing the ‘high-dimensional factors’ ‘construction demand,’ he does not have any stage-wise limits. Even the regular blood-drinking mutation can be decided based on his needs whether to execute or when to execute.

Xiang Kun doesn’t have the ambition to become a supreme ruler, to control everything or to grasp all changes. He prefers to live a normal life in human society as a ‘superhuman’ – no matter how “super,” he’s still a “human.” He will assume responsibilities and obligations, but he doesn’t desire overcontrol.

He would rather act as a guide through the ‘super sensory item system’ than be a pure dominator or ruler.

As time passes, with the ‘Divine Technology,’ the ‘National Abnormal Biology Research Center,’ and the research team led by Old Xia in the future, achieving phased research results and establishing enough leading advantages, he will gradually lift the information blockade on mutants, enabling foreign researchers to participate.

To some extent, Alice has the ability to summon the computing power of the entire world, coordinate resources, and perform integrated calculations through the ‘super-sensory item system.’. She can directly analyze and edit the ‘super-sensory information’ of objects and creatures themselves. When it comes to research and development of ‘mutants’ and related derivative technologies, she is certainly stronger than any single platform or research institutions. The strength of humanity lies in the diversity of thought and creativity; the wisdom of brilliant minds across the globe will always outshine a handful of people.

What they have to do is take the lead, but not monopolize.

Anyhow, as long as Alice exists, he can always grasp the related research progress, research direction, and objectives of other countries, organizations, and institutions at any time.

However, at the public level, Xiang Kun would still have Alice perform limited information control. The existence of mutants is a huge shock to the general public’s existing cognitive system. Hastily lifting restrictions would inevitably lead to panic and excessive attention, causing unnecessary chaos.

As the underlying principles hidden within mutants were gradually revealed, and as technological applications related to them began to change life, it would be easier for mutants to appear in the public eye and in the mass media, thereby being more easily accepted.

Xiang Kun hoped that, with the guidance and coordination of the ‘super sensory item system,’ human society, ‘human mutants,’ and ‘other mutants’ could gradually form a stable and balanced system on their own, rather than requiring him and Alice to intervene deeply at every step.

“By the way,” Xiang Kun continued instructing Old He, “remember what I mentioned earlier? I have a research base managed by my friend Xia Libing. She’ll be in charge of the rules for researching ‘blood-eating creature’ samples on our side. Your people or the relevant research personnel from ‘Divine Technology,’ if they need to obtain and research ‘blood-eating creature’ samples, they must first connect with her. You should know her contact method. Telephone her first and get trustworthy higher-ups to find her. I suggest that Dr. Fang Pingfang should be in charge on the ‘Divine Technology’ end.”

Of course, Old He remembered the video call from the last time. Xiang Kun had requested to receive the same treatment as Mr. Liang and to have his own ‘Divine Technology.’ At that time, He thought that since the request was made in front of Mr. Liang, it had been discussed and approved by Mr. Liang. So, he agreed. After all, the specific research and detailed investigations related to ‘blood-eating creatures,’ as well as their management, are currently being handled by Mr. Liang and the secret team of ‘Divine Technology.’

“No problem,” said Old He, thinking for a moment before continuing: “Is Miss Xia the person fully in charge of your research base over there? If so, I suggest she first join our ‘Abnormal Research Center’ and take on a position. It would make coordination and management easier when sending personnel over.”

“Alright, I’ll discuss it with her,” replied Xiang Kun.

He wasn’t worried about Old He using his ‘Abnormal Biology Research Center’ position to suppress Old Xia and gain control of the research project. The resources of the two sides were not equal, and he knew that Old He was not that kind of person. Besides, Alice had Old He’s cognitive model and all his information, so she could assist Old Xia in dealing with him at any time. The ‘Abnormal Biology Research Center’ would not become Old Xia’s restraint.

“Hmm, I’ll personally follow up on this. If you come back, it’d be best if you come here too, together with Ah Liang. By the way, where’s Ah Liang?” Old He’s tone suddenly became a bit tense.

Xiang Kun, of course, knew what he was worried about and laughed: “Don’t worry, Mr. Liang is fine. He just needs to sleep and can’t wake up for a while.”

Old He did not doubt Xiang Kun’s words. According to his investigation, whether before or after the mutation, Xiang Kun’s conduct proved that he was a person of reliable political integrity and moral character. Especially since Mr. Liang trusted him so much, Old He had no reason to doubt. He was very aware of how difficult it was for Lu Qinliang to trust others after Academician Shen’s death. He had many times urged Lu Qinliang to find a partner or a successor so that, in case of any unexpected event, the relevant research would not come to a halt with no one to continue it. But until Xiang Kun came along, Lu Qinliang hadn’t taken a liking to any candidate.

Before ending the call, Old He couldn’t help but ask: “That ‘Ultimate Predator’, is it done just like this? I still can’t understand, what kind of existence it is. Since you say the ‘Ultimate Predator’s restriction is gone, can you talk about these… now?”

“It’s hard to describe clearly. It exists in almost every organism, but it’s so small that it has no impact on the organism itself and can’t be detected when not activated. As for what it’s like specifically, I’ll have the research team create a documented explanation with pictures later on. It’ll be more intuitive.”

After ending the call with Old He, Xiang Kun looked into the distance with his eyes slightly narrowed and a somewhat serious expression on his face.

He hadn’t told Old He how to deal with the “Ultimate Predator” afterwards. According to his original plan, after constructing the “Ultimate Predator’s consciousness model” through dreamland and allowing Alice to use the “Super sensory Item System” to paralyze its control of specific factors affecting other creatures, it would be left to survive on its own and self-destruct.

Once Xiang Kun’s “Super-connected Objects” were globally distributed and connected, forming a network system without blind spots, there would be two options for dealing with it:

The first is to kill it directly, dissipate its “High-Dimensional Factors”, return to high-dimensional space and redistribute;

The second is to let Xiao Luobo grow to a certain extent, treat it as it treated the “moss mushroom”, incorporate it into itself, erase the consciousness, become a functional plug-in, and let all the “Connectors” under the ” Super Sensory Item System” digest it and apply it.

Yes, there was no option for Xiang Kun himself to devour the “Ultimate Predator”, because the conversion of the “Ultimate Predator” was too deep, neither he nor Mr. Liang could stably control it.

It was like Xiang Kun’s construction team only had a dozen people, but they had generation-spanning high-tech heavy machinery, construction equipment, and even fully automated machinery assisted by artificial intelligence and big data. Now they wanted to merge with another construction team with hundreds of thousands of skilled workers. Although Xiang Kun’s construction team was much stronger in terms of construction efficiency and combat power, these were still hundreds of thousands of self-proclaimed experienced craftsmen. To fully utilise them, and to get them familiar with the related equipment and machinery, was not a simple matter and could easily result in large-scale conflict.

If it was a construction team against a construction team, Xiang Kun’s team, with its heavy machinery, would naturally not be afraid, but once they integrated and had to suppress the other, it would be much more troublesome.

So Xiang Kun had never considered the option of devouring the “Ultimate Predator”. He’d always thought that it would be good to let it return to dust. After all, his strength mainly relied on the expansion of the “Super sensory Item System”, which was gradual and had a development space more than several dimensions stronger than merely stacking up “High-Dimensional Factors”.

But now there was a problem. After this “paralysis function” plan was completed and the “Ultimate Predator’s” tissues that existed in Mr. Liang’s body dissipated, Xiang Kun discovered a problem:

The “Ultimate Predator” had already reached the stage limit, but its special existence mechanism had temporarily resided the fight back and disintegration. This time, it was unable to complete the consumption of Mr. Liang, causing it to take a significant blow, and it seemed that the stage limit could not be suppressed as it was before.

What would it do?

It now couldn’t directly control specific factors to drag other creatures to death with it, but it didn’t mean that it couldn’t do anything and could only await death.

Xiang Kun thought of several behaviors that the “Ultimate Predator” may take according to his established cognitive model with Alice. Although he could handle them, it would be troublesome.

An ancient military book says, “When the teacher is besieged, there must be a gap”. He decided to give the “Ultimate Predator” a way out, so it wouldn’t go to extremes.

As he was thinking about the countermeasures, Xiang Kun looked down to see Alice. Ever since he ended the call with Old He, she had been standing by his side, looking up at him with wide eyes.

Seeing Xiang Kun looking at her, Alice began to chuckle, her face seeking favor and acting cute.

Xiang Kun naturally knew what she was thinking. The process of Mr. Liang restructuring his body showed her a possibility – the possibility of directly constructing a stable existence from a physical level, and further becoming a “Real Person”.

Xiang Kun held Alice’s head, stopping her from climbing up him like a tree, and said helplessly: “After we solve the ‘Ultimate Predator’s’ problem, you can develop this ability then. However, there’s a limit to this ability, and you should know what that limit is.”

Hearing this, Alice immediately knew that she had gotten permission. She now had access to her ability. If she came across any hurdles in her development, Xiang Kun would definitely help. She shouted in excitement, then put one hand on her waist and raised her scalpel with the other, yelling: “Don’t worry, boss! Alice will definitely help you solve all your problems!”

Xiang Kun said helplessly: “Yeah, Alice is invincible.”

“We are invincible!”

As they were speaking, both Xiang Kun and Alice simultaneously turned around and looked towards the sky in the distance, where an object was coming at high speed.