I was a rookie reporter in the 00s

Wang Kedong stood beside Zhang Wanqing, a flicker of unease in his eyes. He knew he had no choice but to trust Zhang Wanqing and her team. The people being used as test subjects still lay on metal beds. Although their tubes had been removed, their eyes remained hollow, their bodies so weak they could barely move. Zhang Wanqing knew they needed urgent medical attention, or their lives would be in danger.

The leader of the men in black sneered and interrupted Zhang Wanqing: "You don't have much time. We have received orders to bring Wang Kedong back to headquarters. Any behavior that hinders our mission will be regarded as an act against the international anti-terrorist organization. You'd better think it through."

Zhang Wanqing took a deep breath. She knew the men in black wouldn't change their minds easily. She had to find a way to convince them to at least temporarily let Wang Kedong go and rescue those innocent people first.

"You're law enforcement officers, too. Don't you know that forcibly arresting someone like this is illegal?" Zhang Wanqing tried to persuade them from a legal perspective. "Wang Kedong has agreed to cooperate with us. He's willing to take responsibility for his actions and accept legal sanctions. Taking him away by force will only make things worse."

The leader of the men in black sneered, "Law? We are carrying out an international mission. You have no right to interfere. Besides, these people who were experimented on are no longer of any use. You don't need to worry about them."

Zhang Wanqing was furious when she heard this, but she knew that this was not the time to be impulsive. She had to remain calm and find a reasonable solution.

Wang Kedong suddenly spoke up. "Will taking me back really solve the problem? My research materials are all here. Without me, you simply can't understand how these instruments work. If you really want to stop me, you should first ensure these innocent people receive medical treatment, and then decide whether to let me stay or go."

The leader of the men in black was silent for a moment, seemingly pondering Wang Kedong's words. Wang Kedong continued, "I can cooperate with your investigation, but I need time to deal with these follow-up issues. These people were experimented on by me, and I accept responsibility, but you can't just abandon them like this."

Zhang Wanqing's heart trembled slightly when she saw Wang Kedong's attitude. She knew this was an opportunity that she had to seize. She turned to the leader of the men in black and said, "We can guarantee that Wang Kedong will return with you, but you must give us time to treat these people. This is a humanitarian requirement and also your responsibility as law enforcement officers."

The leader of the men in black hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded: "Okay, I'll give you two hours. But after two hours, Wang Kedong must go with us."

Zhang Wanqing breathed a sigh of relief. She immediately said to Li Wei and Fu Siyuan, "Quick, take these people out and contact an ambulance and medical team."

Li Wei and Fu Siyuan acted quickly, carefully lifting the subjects from their beds and slowly leading them out of the basement. Zhang Wanqing stayed with Wang Kedong, supervising him as he continued to dismantle the experimental equipment.

Time ticked by. Li Wei and Fu Siyuan escorted the subjects out of the factory and placed them in a nearby open space. They had already contacted the local medical team, and an ambulance would arrive soon. Under Zhang Wanqing's supervision, Wang Kedong continued to operate the various equipment, ensuring that all experimental instruments were safely shut down.

"Wang Kedong, are you really willing to cooperate with them?" Zhang Wanqing asked.

Wang Kedong raised his head, a look of determination flashing in his eyes: "I must take responsibility for my actions. I hope to have a chance to make up for my mistakes."

Zhang Wanqing nodded. Two hours passed quickly, and the leader of the men in black walked into the laboratory with several of his men. They saw Wang Kedong operating the equipment while Zhang Wanqing stood by and supervised.

"The time has come." said the leader of the men in black.

Wang Kedong stopped what he was doing and turned to face the men in black: "I am willing to go back with you, but I hope you can ensure that these innocent people receive proper treatment."

The leader of the men in black nodded: "This is your responsibility. We will supervise your completion."

Wang Kedong was taken away by the men in black, while Zhang Wanqing, Fu Siyuan and Li Wei stayed at the scene to continue assisting the medical team in treating those being experimented on.

A few days later, Wang Kedong was taken back to the headquarters of the International Counter-Terrorism Organization for investigation. He is likely to face a complex series of legal procedures and sanctions under international law. His actions could be deemed to have violated international humanitarian law and human rights law, leading to criminal charges.

International counter-terrorism organizations conducted a detailed investigation and interrogation of the arrested suspect, Wang Kedong, to determine whether his actions constitute terrorism-related crimes. As a scientist, Wang Kedong's research involves devices that control the human mind, and such activities could be considered a potential terrorist risk, especially if his research were used for illegal purposes or posed a threat to social security.

Under the international counter-terrorism legal framework, countries are required to criminalize acts related to terrorism and ensure that penalties fully reflect the severity of the acts. Wang Kedong's actions may constitute violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law, particularly by experimenting on innocent people in the course of his research. As such, he could face trial at the International Criminal Court or be transferred to the judicial authorities of a relevant country for further proceedings.

If Wang Kedong's research is deemed a threat to multiple countries, international counter-terrorism organizations may work with relevant countries to extradite him to the most affected country for trial. In this case, Wang Kedong could face sanctions under the laws of multiple countries, depending on how his actions are characterized under the laws of different countries.

During the investigation, he explained his research process in detail and expressed deep regret to the victims. Multinational investigations have determined that Wang Kedong's actions did not cause any substantial consequences, and therefore other countries will not impose sanctions on him.

Although Wang Kedong will face severe legal sanctions, the international anti-terrorism organization finally decided to require him to cooperate with the treatment of the subjects in order to reduce the harm caused to innocent people by his actions and to embody humanitarian principles.

After this incident, Wang Kedong's research direction underwent a radical shift. He came to realize that scientific research must prioritize human well-being and ethical principles, and that innocent lives and dignity must not be sacrificed in pursuit of so-called "ideals." Under the strict oversight of international counter-terrorism organizations, he began to devote his talents and wisdom to more meaningful fields.

The subjects gradually recovered under the meticulous care of the medical team. Zhang Wanqing, Fu Siyuan, and Li Wei also monitored their recovery to ensure they could return to normal life.

Not long after, Zhang Wanqing received a letter from Wang Kedong. In it, Wang Kedong expressed his gratitude to Zhang Wanqing and his team and pledged to use his knowledge and abilities to make a real contribution to human society. Zhang Wanqing's heart moved as she read the letter. She knew this was a new beginning, a beginning filled with hope.