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Chapter 31 Encrypted Notes
After Lu Zhao left, Su Wanqing inserted the flash drive he brought into the laptop. The screen flashed a few times and an encryption prompt appeared.

"We need a password," Su Wanqing said, "Lu Zhao didn't tell us the password."

Xiao Ran frowned. "This could be a trap."

Aze shook his head. "If he wanted to set a trap, it wouldn't have to be this complicated."

He walked over to the computer, his fingers lightly touching the keyboard. "Let me try."

A light blue light appeared on Aze's hands, and water droplets condensed on his fingertips, then dispersed into fine mist and seeped into the gaps between the keyboard.

After a few seconds, the characters on the screen began to change.

"Water-based abilities can sense the flow of electricity and data," Aze explained. "I can feel the structure of the code."

After a few tries, the lock icon on the screen opened, revealing a series of folders.

"It worked," Su Wanqing said in surprise.

Ah Ze took a step back, his body swaying slightly. "This consumed a lot of energy. Lin Che wants to come back."

He closed his eyes, and when he opened them again a few seconds later, his eyes had returned to their normal color.

Lin Che looked around blankly.

"We've cracked the code," Su Wanqing explained to him, "and now we can check Lu Zhao's information."

Lin Che nodded and stood aside, looking a little uneasy. Su Wanqing noticed his expression.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

"Lu Zhao," Lin Che whispered, "I remember him. He once came to the lab to observe us."

Xiao Ran looked at Lin Che warily. "What did he do to you?"

Lin Che shook her head. "I can't remember clearly. Just a blurry image. A white coat, glasses, a notebook. He was always taking notes."

Su Wanqing turned to the computer screen. "Then let's see what he recorded."

Several folders appeared on the screen: Experimental Data, Element Holders, Virus Research, Source Project, and Security System.

Su Wanqing clicked on the "Source Project" folder. Inside was a single document titled "Source Zero: Initial Concept."

She opened the document and found that most of the content was encrypted, with only a few lines of text clearly visible:
"Project codename: Origin Zero. Objective: Open an interdimensional channel and find a new living space.

Key technology: Elemental energy conversion and aggregation. Project leaders: Zhang Ming and Lu Zhao.

Budget: [DATA EXPUNGED]."

"Source Point Zero," Xiao Ran read, "Sounds like some kind of classified military project."

Su Wanqing clicked on the "Virus Research" folder, which contained dozens of documents, all named by date.

She clicked on one at random.

"S-27 virus strain observation log, day 45. Samples show astonishing adaptability and evolutionary rates. Today we observed a 300% increase in the concentration of the third-generation variant in brain tissue. Patient—"

Su Wanqing paused and looked at Lin Che and Xiao Ran. "These are the records of human experiments."

She continued reading:

"The patient has shown extreme aggression and sensitivity to sound. It's worth noting that the S-27 virus strain seems to have a significantly lower infection rate in elementalists than in the general population. Zhang Ming speculates that this is related to the special genes in elementalists. We need more samples to verify this."

Xiao Ran looked at the data charts on the screen. "These data are too technical. I can't understand them."

Lin Che approached the screen, his eyes quickly scanning the data. "These data show that the virus has undergone multiple mutations in a short period of time, and each mutation has become more stable and more contagious." Su Wanqing looked at him in surprise. "How do you know this?"

Lin Che shook her head. "I don't know. This knowledge is in my head. Maybe it's memories from the lab."

Su Wanqing browsed more documents and found a table titled "Evolutionary Trajectory".

The table records the entire process of the virus from the initial sample to the seventh generation of mutation.

"Look here," Su Wanqing pointed at the screen. "There was a sudden mutation jump between the third and fourth generations, significantly increasing the virus's infectivity and mortality rate. But there's a note here: 'Human intervention successful.'"

Lin Che stared at the screen. "They're manipulating the evolution of the virus."

"Why do you do this?" Xiao Ran asked, anger in his voice.

Su Wanqing clicked on another file, which was a backup of an email. The sender was Zhang Ming and the recipient was a person code-named "Supervisor".

"Director, I must express my concerns. The risk assessment results of the Origin Project are unacceptable. According to our model, even a 0.01% chance of the virus escaping would be enough to cause a global catastrophe. I recommend that the project be suspended immediately and the risks reassessed. Viruses are too dangerous as a tool for testing element holders. We should seek other methods."

“It looked like Zhang Ming was trying to stop something,” Su Wanqing said, “and then he disappeared.”

Xiao Ran had been standing aside, looking distracted. Su Wanqing noticed.

"Xiao Ran, what are you thinking about?"

Xiao Ran pulled a photo from his pocket. "This is my sister, Xiao Yu. She was recruited into a 'Special Youth Science Program' two years ago and then disappeared."

He handed the photo to Su Wanqing. It showed a lively girl with bold short red hair, bright eyes, and a brilliant smile.

"I've been tracking her whereabouts," Xiao Ran said, "The final clue pointed to a research base in the northern suburbs, but when I broke in, it was already abandoned."

Su Wanqing looked at the screen. "Let's see if there is any information about her in the Element Holder folder."

She clicked on the "Element Holders" folder, which contained seven subfolders labeled: Water, Fire, Wind, Earth, Metal, Wood, and Light.

Su Wanqing clicked on the "Fire" folder, which contained a file titled "X-7".

She opened the file and a photo of a girl appeared on the screen - it was Xiao Ran's sister Xiao Yu.

"Found her," Su Wanqing said.

Xiao Ran immediately leaned over, his eyes fixed on the screen. The file contained Xiao Yu's detailed information: name, age, family background, and ability assessment.

Finally, there is a note:
“X-7 Xiao Yu has demonstrated an extremely strong ability to control the fire element, and is currently the strongest among all fire element holders.

Her energy output is sufficient to support the energy requirements for opening the channel.

It is recommended to use it as the primary energy source. Note: The energy output rate must be controlled to avoid death due to energy exhaustion.

Xiao Ran clenched his fists. "They're using her as a battery."

Lin Che looked at his file. His codename was X-2, which contained his ability assessment and body modification records.

"They implanted a control device in me," Lin Che said, his voice trembling, "to control the output of my water-based abilities."

Su Wanqing browsed the information of other element holders and found that they were all marked as "acquired", only the "Light" folder was empty.

"They haven't found the Light wielder yet," she said.

Just as she was about to check other files, she found a hidden folder titled "Notebook."

There were scans of dozens of handwritten notes, but they were all encrypted.

(End of this chapter)