Homo Sapiens

After two weeks of adapting to the bio-chip’s abilities, the surgical incision on Chen Jianxiong’s head had mostly healed.

Meanwhile, Li Qingye, though still engrossed in his research, had not neglected other matters.

For instance, he had members of the Fernando Clan, such as Mad, return to their positions and begin to secretly embed themselves.

Takasugi Hei, Watanabe, and the others had also taken control of the East Japan United Commerce Association’s intelligence network in the Luzon Islands.

Leveraging this network, Li Qingye had Takasugi Hei use his clearance to investigate the Xinxin Group for him.

The intelligence he could gather from the internet paled in comparison. The East Japan Chamber of Commerce, true to its reputation as an old power deeply entrenched in Huaguo and Southeast Asia for over a century, quickly unearthed numerous little-known secrets.

Putting down the intelligence report, Li Qingye took off his glasses. ’New Nanyang Company? So it’s registered under Yang Haibo’s wife’s name. Perhaps this guy is an opening...’

He looked at a photo in the report of a middle-aged man who bore little resemblance to Yang Haibo. This was none other than Yang Haibo’s eldest son—Yang Tiancheng.

He was the brother of Yang Tianci, the president of the New Nanyang Company, yet a year ago he had been suddenly assigned to a palm plantation on the island of Borneo in Malaysia.

Just as Li Qingye was pondering these matters, Chen Jianxiong knocked on the door.

”Come in!”

”Boss, I’ve fully recovered.”

Li Qingye glanced at him. ”It seems you’ve adapted well. As long as you don’t attempt to breach the Administrator Program’s protocols, I won’t randomly access your memories. I have no desire to lose this veneer of respect, and I trust you feel the same, don’t you?”

”I understand.” Chen Jianxiong was well aware of his current predicament.

’This absolute loyalty isn’t entirely a bad thing, though. At least I won’t have to worry about unemployment in the future. As long as I serve Li Qingye diligently, there will be no shortage of rewards.’

Li Qingye took out a restructuring plan for the Security Department and handed it to Chen Jianxiong. ”Take a look.”

Taking the document, Chen Jianxiong immediately began to examine it carefully.

According to the new plan, the functions of the Security Department and the Internal Affairs Department would be realigned, clearly defining the scope of each department’s responsibilities.

The Internal Affairs Department’s functions included internal security, internal surveillance, personnel training, weapons procurement, and intelligence collation.

The Security Department’s functions, on the other hand, included assassination, developing informants, infiltration and deep cover operations, gathering enemy intelligence, and establishing a secret armed force.

Clearly, Internal Affairs was focused inward, while Security was focused outward.

Chen Jianxiong wasn’t particularly surprised by this. Judging from Li Qingye’s past actions, he understood his boss’s ambitions went far beyond simply running a company.

As he continued reading the file, he saw that all existing security personnel in the Security Department were to be transferred to the Internal Affairs Department.

Meanwhile, the previously established Second, Third, and Fourth Teams would be folded into the Security Department.

According to the file, the Second Team was responsible for the Manila Region. It consisted of five members embedded in the Manila slums.

The Third Team consisted of six assimilated East Japan corporate spies, including Takasugi Hei and Watanabe. This team also controlled some of the East Japan Chamber of Commerce’s resources and had over two hundred informants throughout Luzon.

The Fourth Team was made up of eight assimilated members of the Fernando Clan, including Mad Fernando. Through them, a portion of the Fernando Clan’s power could be mobilized.

Reading this, Chen Jianxiong drew a sharp breath. Though their numbers were small, the network and resources they could mobilize were vast. Their influence was especially formidable in the Luzon Region.

”Finished?”

”I have a preliminary understanding of your intelligence network, Boss.”

Li Qingye didn’t beat around the bush and went straight to his plans. ”Our intelligence presence in Luzon barely meets our current needs. It needs to be further solidified.”

”Your first task is to consolidate our intelligence network in Luzon. You will vet the informants controlled by the Third Team, secretly capture a select number of them, and have them sent here to Dart Port.”

”Second, help Mad, the leader of the Fourth Team, gain control of the Fernando Clan. At the same time, prepare to seize control of the three gangs under the clan’s command. You will also need to screen for individuals suitable for conversion into Soldiers.”

”Third, with the Second Team as the core, focus on the Fuzhou Gang, which is entrenched in Manila. This gang has branches all over the world, which will help us fill our intelligence gaps in other regions.”

Chen Jianxiong activated the auxiliary functions of his Administrator Program, rapidly logging the tasks.

”Fourth, leverage the Fernando Clan’s influence to find a secluded island in southern Luzon Island to serve as a secret training base for the Blood Blade Special Team. Personnel for Blood Blade can be recruited from the various gangs.”

”Fifth, progressively establish an intelligence network covering all of Southeast Asia, East Asia, and South Asia. At least one team must be established in every country, with personnel reassigned from other teams. Aim to complete this within a year.”

”Yes, Boss.” Although the tasks were daunting, Chen Jianxiong was thrilled.

’After all, this was an intelligence network spanning over twenty countries and regions, along with command of an armed force. Few men could resist the thrill of wielding such great power, of operating on a global stage.’

Seeing Chen Jianxiong brimming with enthusiasm, Li Qingye didn’t immediately send him off to take command of these intelligence assets. Instead, he led him back into the core area of the research base.

After all, sharpening the axe doesn’t delay chopping the wood. Without the right weapons, his agents’ combat effectiveness would be severely limited.

Gazing at the bizarre, genetically engineered organisms in the laboratory, Chen Jianxiong was once again struck by the terrifying power of biotechnology.

”This is a Pheromone Hive-type Biocomputer. By releasing pheromones, it can control modified organisms within a three to five-kilometer radius...”

Li Qingye held a sphere roughly the size of a tennis ball. He connected a modified tablet to the sphere, and a series of hidden apps appeared on the screen.

He then took out a special syringe and inserted it into one of the sphere’s ports. The special nutrient solution inside was slowly absorbed by the sphere.

”These are surveillance flies. They’re controlled by the biocomputer.”

”These are also for surveillance. They’re called Listener Lichen and Observer Lichen. You can connect a cable to them to download the surveillance data they’ve stored...”

Chen Jianxiong finally understood why Li Jinglan and his people had been so utterly defeated. Their intelligence capabilities weren’t even on the same level.

”This is a Knockout Mosquito. Its bite can render a person unconscious for eight to twelve hours...”

”This is the Allergy Mosquito. It also works through a bite. Its venom triggers the human immune system, inducing a severe red meat allergy...”

’Isn’t that what killed that fellow Li Jinglan? So that’s how it was.’ Chen Jianxiong stared in astonishment at the inconspicuous mosquito before him.

Li Qingye reminded him with a smile, ”Don’t get bitten. Otherwise, you’ll never be able to eat red meat or any mammalian products again for the rest of your life. It’s a change on the genetic level, and for now, it’s incurable. Not even I can fix it.”

’Now *this* is a true assassination weapon,’ Chen Jianxiong thought. ’Impossible to defend against and incurable. As long as it’s not used on a massive scale, it would be difficult to suspect anything.’

GULP. Chen Jianxiong’s throat went dry.

Li Qingye then introduced several other genetically engineered organisms, all of which were incredibly useful.