After finishing the fingerprint match and applying for the reward, both families decided it was time to leave the Security Office.

As they passed by an office door, Lin Zichen, with his sharp hearing, caught fragments of a conversation inside.

They were discussing the cultists and the Giant Aberrant Rat.

“The Rat God Cult has been more active recently, luring in people dissatisfied with society and full of resentment.”

“I heard they’ve even infiltrated some universities, targeting students who can’t undergo gene fusion.”

“Tonight’s cultist was once a cultural student at Guangyan University. His body couldn’t handle fusion, but he still longed to be a Gene Fuser. The Rat God Cult manipulated him.”

“A bunch of scum. One day we’ll wipe them out.”

“Taking out traitors won’t solve the root cause. The self-proclaimed Rat King has to be eliminated.”

‘Rat God Cult?’

This was the first Lin Zichen had heard of it. He quickly searched on his phone.

He learned it was a cult that worshipped a Giant Aberrant Rat as a god. Its base was in Shanhai City, mostly made up of society’s rejects. Their activities have grown more frequent in recent years.

Apparently the Rat King sought to evolve into a higher being, requiring its followers to gather resources.

All of this was public information.

‘Worshipping a rat as a god?’ Lin Zichen shook his head, pocketing his phone.

They left the office and went to the parking area.

As usual, Shen Qinghan sat in Lin Yansheng’s car with Lin Zichen in the back.

Seeing this, Shen Jianye sighed, “Our daughter is practically part of the Lin family now.”

Xu Meng replied calmly, “Hanhan being close to the Lin family is her blessing. Why sigh?”

He laughed, nodding.

In the other car, Lin Zichen and Shen Qinghan chatted idly. Mostly she talked, he responded.

“Xiao Chen, I wonder how Teacher Strawberry is doing. She was bleeding from the neck. I hope she’s alright.”

“It didn’t look too serious. A simple bandage should suffice.”

“Xiao Chen, when that cultist mutated, his face grew eight eyes. It was terrifying.”

“Mutations can be like that,” Lin Zichen said casually.

Then Shen Qinghan went quiet. She pressed her legs tightly together, her face tense.

Lin Zichen noticed, glanced and saw it looked the same as when they were kids—her underwear area was bulging.

Not diapers, but another kind of pad.

He turned away to spare her embarrassment.

She knew he had noticed and stayed silent.

The car fell into awkward silence.

Suddenly, Lin Zichen’s eyes widened.

A fat rat the size of a cat darted from the roadside and vanished into the Security Office’s second floor.

How could a rat be so big?

Was it a Giant Aberrant Rat?

He tensed, then relaxed. This was the south, not the north. Rats the size of cats weren’t unusual.

‘I’m too strung out. I need to relax when I get home.’

* * *

At home, Shen Qinghan got out awkwardly, saying only “See you tomorrow.”

Zhang Wanxin asked, “Why so quiet? Usually she lingers to talk more.”

“She looked sleepy,” Lin Zichen explained.

His mother nodded.

Inside, she grew serious, “Xiao Chen, in the future, if something like tonight happens, prioritize your safety. Don’t act recklessly.”

“I know, Mom. I will.”

Relieved, she asked, “By the way, didn’t you buy three jin of Ghost Shadow Squid meat? Where is it? It wasn’t in the bike basket.”

“Mom, don’t be mad. When the cultist mutated, Hanhan and I ran too fast and lost it.”

Her eyes widened, but she hid her pain and comforted him instead, “It’s fine. You’re safe, that’s what matters. You even saved someone. You’re my pride.”

Lin Yansheng suggested, “Shall I drive back and look?”

“No, too dangerous. That area just had a mutation.”

He naturally agreed.

Lin Zichen stayed silent, vowing to save prize money from competitions to buy three jin of Ghost Shadow Squid meat for his parents.

* * *

Meanwhile, in the captain’s office, the Security Team captain examined the statement report.

‘A slingshot? Who uses a stone the size of an egg in a slingshot? Impossible. It had to be thrown by hand. Did he think I’d be fooled?’

The captain lit a cigarette, pondering. How could a middle schooler throw with such force?

He resolved to check the surveillance tomorrow.

He locked the report in the archive box.

Just then, he noticed a cat-sized rat perched on the windowsill.

Startled, he muttered, “Where did this rat come from? It’s huge.”

The rat didn’t flee, only stared back at him with eerie eyes.