Chapter 57: Mutation Halted, New Peril Arrives

The cheers were deafening, and the camera flashes were blinding. Standing in the center of the superpower metropolis, Mao Yu felt like a monkey being watched in a cage.

"Young Master Mao! Young Master Mao! Look over here!"
"Young Master Mao, how did you manage to uncover the truth behind the mutations?"
"Young Master Mao, what level of esper are you currently at?"

So annoying!
Mao Yu cursed inwardly, while forcing a smile on his face that looked far worse than crying.
This scene was even more exhausting than fighting a hundred super-powered individuals for three hundred rounds.

He waved his hand perfunctorily, while his heart remained ice-cold.
Those men in black were well-trained and merciless; they were definitely not ordinary street thugs.
More importantly, the superpowers they used were of a type he had never seen before...
An uneasy premonition welled up in his heart.
Things were far from over.

Bidding farewell to the overly enthusiastic crowd, Mao Yu rushed without stopping to the abandoned hospital.
A chilly wind poured in through the shattered windows, carrying a pungent smell of disinfectant that sent shivers down the spine.
The hallway was pitch dark, with only the moonlight piercing through the holes in the roof to cast mottled light and shadows on the ground.

"Creak—" Mao Yu pushed open a ward door. The rusted hinges emitted a piercing screech, as if warning him not to come closer.
The ward was completely empty, save for a few dilapidated hospital beds and medical equipment scattered across the floor.
Mao Yu squatted down, carefully examining the traces on the floor.
The dust was thick, indicating that no one had been here for a long time.
However, underneath one of the hospital beds, he discovered a black button.
The button looked ordinary, but its material was quite special. It felt cold to the touch and emitted a faint metallic scent.

Why did this thing look somewhat familiar?
Mao Yu frowned and slipped the button into his pocket.
"Tap, tap, tap..." A faint sound of footsteps came from deep within the corridor.
Someone was here!
Mao Yu whipped his head around, only to catch a glimpse of a blurry black shadow flashing past...
"Who is it?!"

The black shadow vanished without a trace, running faster than any scumbag boyfriend Mao Yu had ever laid eyes on.
"Hmph, what's with all the mysterious act?" Mao Yu curled his lip, turned around, and left the abandoned hospital.

The next day, Mao Yu began visiting and investigating, hoping to glean some information from other espers.
However, what greeted him was a series of cold rebuffs.
"Young Master Mao, are you being a bit neurotic? Hasn't the mutation issue already been resolved?" A burly esper waved his hand impatiently, as if shooing away an annoying fly.
"Exactly, Young Master Mao, you're a big hero now, so stop stirring up trouble for nothing," another esper chimed in sarcastically, his tone dripping with mockery.

Mao Yu felt a fire burning inside, but kept his expression calm. "I've obtained some new clues concerning the safety of the superpower metropolis. I hope everyone can cooperate."
"Cooperate? What reason do we have to cooperate with you? Who do you think you are, the savior of the world?" An esper with dyed yellow hair jumped out, pointing right at Mao Yu's nose and cursing.
"That's right, we just want to live our lives in peace now; we don't want to get dragged into any more trouble." Others chimed in agreement.

"Heh, if you don't want trouble now, trouble will find you later!" Mao Yu sneered coldly and turned to leave.
These people were simply hopeless!

Returning to his residence, Mao Yu did not lose heart.
He took out the black button he had picked up earlier at the abandoned hospital and studied it closely.
The material of the button was unusual, appearing to be some kind of unknown alloy.
Mao Yu channeled his superpower into the button, and a strange wave of energy instantly dispersed outward.

"This is..." Mao Yu widened his eyes, a look of disbelief crossing his face.
He immediately turned on his computer and began searching for related information.
"Found it!" Mao Yu shouted excitedly, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.
According to the data on the computer, this alloy was a new type of energy storage material that could be used to manufacture powerful weapons!
And the sole origin of this material was a mysterious organization named "Shadow".

"Shadow..." Mao Yu murmured to himself, the corners of his mouth curving into a cold smile.
"Looks like I've found a new opponent."

Just then, a contemptuous voice came from the doorway: "Well, what new trick is our great hero Mao playing at now?"
Feng Yao pushed the door open to see Mao Yu frowning deeply at the computer screen, with various documents scattered all over the floor like a miniature landfill.
She let out a helpless sigh, bent down to pick up the papers from the floor, and casually handed Mao Yu a cup of hot milk. "Still investigating that 'Shadow'? Don't push yourself too hard; you need to rest."

Mao Yu took the milk, gulped down several mouthfuls, and finally managed a tired smile. "No choice, those guys are secretive and even harder to shake off than a virus."

Feng Yao sat down beside him and gently massaged his temples. "Don't worry, I'll help you." Her gaze was as gentle as water, seemingly able to soothe the anxiety within Mao Yu's heart.
Mao Yu grasped her hand, feeling the warmth of her palm, and a warm current surged through his chest.

However, this cozy scene did not last long.
An indignant figure appeared at the doorway—it was Mao Ling.
Seeing the intimate sight of Mao Yu and Feng Yao, her little face instantly fell, and she turned around and ran off.
"Hey, Ling'er!" Mao Yu wanted to chase after her to explain, but Feng Yao stopped him. "Let her have some quiet time to herself."
Mao Yu sighed, feeling somewhat irritated. Why was this girl throwing another tantrum?

Over the next few days, Mao Yu conducted his investigation with even greater caution.
Disguising himself, he frequented various places in an attempt to find more clues about "Shadow".
Yet, "Shadow" remained elusive like a ghost, forever hidden in the darkness.

One night, Mao Yu followed a suspected member of "Shadow" to an underground bar.
The lighting in the bar was dim, the music deafening, and the air thick with the smell of alcohol and cigarettes.
Mao Yu sat by the bar counter, quietly observing his surroundings.
Suddenly, he felt a chilling gaze land upon him.
He snapped his head up, only to see a man wearing a black hat flash past and vanish into the crowd.

Mao Yu felt a chill in his heart, and an ominous premonition welled up within him.
He immediately stood up, intending to give chase, only to realize he had been surrounded.
Several men in black had silently materialized around him, their eyes cold and fierce, like a pack of hungry wolves locking onto their prey.

"Who are you people?" Mao Yu asked in a deep voice.
One of the men in black sneered, "You don't need to know. All you need to know is that your time is up!"
Just as the man in black finished speaking, the lights in the bar suddenly went out, and the music cut off abruptly.
In the darkness, the sound of metal clashing echoed...