What It's Like Being a Vampire

Chapter 591: Chapter 591: Status

Seated on the other side of the screen was a man in his fifties, his slicked-back hair streaked with a generous amount of white. Despite wearing an old but carefully hand-tailored suit, Xiang Kun recognized him right away as none other than Director He Haomin from the “National Abnormal Biology Research Center”.

In fact, when Mr. Liang mentioned that there was someone he wanted Xiang Kun to meet, Xiang Kun surmised right away that it must be Director He.

Despite the vast team of professionals at Mr. Liang’s disposal in the secretive “Divine Technology” department – people like Fang Pingfang, Zhou Rui, and Li Shibao – serving him well, Xiang Kun understood that while these people were involved in various classified missions, some even coming into contact with the “mutants” or what they referred to as “blood-eating creatures,” they didn’t fully grasp the essential nature of the research on mutant creatures, the existence of the “ultimate predator,” Mr. Liang’s status and identity, and the ultimate goal of what they were doing. This ignorance was a form of protection Mr. Liang offered them.

Perhaps Mijoe was the only one among them who was “half” in the know. She was able to vaguely guess that Mr. Liang was a “mutant” and knew some of the characteristics of mutants, but even this knowledge mostly came from Guo Tianxiang.

So, when it came to introducing him to someone else, there was no one else but Old He.

If anyone knew solitude, it was Mr. Liang, even more so than him.

After the line was connected, Old He on the other side of the screen leaned back abruptly, his countenance revealing an expression of surprise, as if he was taken aback by the sight.

On his screen, he had yet to see Xiang Kun, but only Mr. Liang’s unusually large head.

He had seen Mr. Liang before and was well-aware that his appearance was the result of mutant evolution. However, in the past, his communication with Mr. Liang was typically one-sided video calls with only Mr. Liang’s voice coming through. Or both sides would have video connections, but Mr. Liang’s chair would be vacant. He hadn’t seen Mr. Liang in visual mode in a long time, so it was indeed a bit of a surprise.

What’s more, he wasn’t sure if it was due to his prolonged absence or his Uesugi sight, but Old He saw faint traces of the past young man Mr. Liang used to be when he was first brought back by Academician Shen on his now weird face that was filled with complicated patterns.

“I was just about to contact you. I heard that there’s something unusual about the bird strike incident at Jianzhou Airport. The birds are not from the same species. They seemed to be coerced by a certain bird. Is that bird the same one that caused the tourist accident at Wushu Mountain? Didn’t I tell you that blood-eating threats that pose a serious risk to the lives and property of the people must be dealt with promptly? This time…”

Seeing that Old He couldn’t stop himself from rambling on, Mr. Liang quickly interrupted, “Don’t worry, that bird has been taken care of. It won’t cause any more accidents. Old He, I have a new researcher I want you to meet.”

As soon as Mr. Liang spoke, whether it was his imagination or not, Old He discovered that the unpleasant and grating metallic friction sound in his deep, husky voice seemed to have drastically lessened.

“Oh? Who is it? Which research center or investigative group have you decided to assign them to?” Old He inquired curiously. Now that it was already past midnight and Mr. Liang had taken the initiative to get in touch with him at this hour, it was clear that something rather significant was at stake. This researcher must be someone extraordinary.

This said, he hadn’t anticipated that Mr. Liang’s image on the screen would then shift to the side, to reveal a bald head adjusting his glasses coming into the center.

“Hello, Old He. My name is Xiang Kun.”

Caught off guard, Old He blankly greeted him back while he was completely taken aback. Only then the realization hit him; the “researcher” that Mr. Liang spoke of wasn’t a researcher from the secretive division of “Divine Technology” but a researcher from the laboratory that Academician Shen personally established.

Although both are called “researchers”, their natures are fundamentally different.

To be strict, there is essentially only one researcher of this kind left, Mr. Lu Qinliang. Old He has urged him more than once to scout for new members; otherwise, if something ever happened to Mr. Liang, the relevant research would stagnate outright and lack successors. However, although Mr. Liang verbally agreed, he never carried it out. Whenever blood-eating humans in the country were discovered, they were found to have severe issues of varying kinds. Some managed to escape abroad, but most were executed.

“Old He, you can find Xiang Kun’s basic information in the database,” said Mr. Liang. He then briefly introduced Old He’s identity and background to Xiang Kun.

“Old He is the director of the ‘National Abnormal Biology Research Center’, our official supporting department. All operations involving transnational activities or exceeding normal regulations must, in principle, be approved by him first. Of course, he will provide us with much convenience and support. The most significant outcomes of our research also belong to the country based on the tone set by Academician Shen when he established this experimental department. Of course, for reasons you know, our data are basically sealed, and for now, no one else can access them except me.”

Grasping Mr. Liang’s intent, Old He turned on a nearby computer and found Xiang Kun’s basic data and information in the database. These were collected by a related team as soon as Mr. Liang identified Xiang Kun as the subject of investigation, including some very private account logs and platform-use data.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

“Is Xiang Kun like you?” Old He inferred from the hidden information, though he did have a preconceived understanding, as the very basic qualifying condition to become a researcher like Lu Qinliang is to be a human “blood eater.”

“Yes, Xiang Kun…” Mr. Liang hesitated, then said, “Much stronger than me.”

Traditionally, whether the so-called “bloodline vampires” in Europe or the various “blood eaters” in nature, the criterion for discerning strength has been the number of transformation stages. Because generally speaking, the more transformation stages one has passed, the stronger one tends to be. The strength doesn’t necessarily refer to one’s fighting ability, but is determined comprehensively.

However, during his brief interaction with Xiang Kun, Mr. Liang was almost certain that Xiang Kun’s stages of transformation were fewer than his own, but the inconceivable abilities to influence the weather, control thunder and lightning, and the forest that seemed alive, as well as the metal spheres being suspended in the air and manipulated at will, in sync, made him realize that the degree of Xiang Kun’s mutation had already surpassed his and other “blood eaters’.”

Next, Mr. Liang simply discussed with Old He what he knew about Xiang Kun’s process and experience of mutation. Since Xiang Kun had only been transformed into a “blood eater” for just over a year, his description was a simple summary, so it was quickly completed.

What Mr. Liang emphasized was Xiang Kun’s method of exploring own mutation, including establishing “QianKun Technology” and the so-called Intelligent Breeding Research Base in Chongyun Village.

Old He understood the point Mr. Liang was making. He looked at the information about the research base and hesitated to ask, “Xiang Kun… You don’t mind me addressing you like that, do you? So according to Mr. Liang, this Miss Xia Libing, she knows, doesn’t she?”

“Yes,” Xiang Kun replied very succinctly.

“In that case… For her safety and the overall confidentiality, if she wants to continue participating in the related research, she could join the secret department of ‘Divine Technology’. We can arrange a research center for her,” Old He suggested.

“No, our research base will continue to be built. She will be in charge of running the base and conducting independent research. Of course, to some extent, we can share our research results with ‘Divine Technology.’ We can also collaborate on some projects, and we will accept the supervision and leadership of the ‘Abnormal Biology Research Center’,” Xiang Kun said without hesitation.

Old He was visibly surprised. He glanced at Mr. Liang, who was in the video with only half a shoulder showing and did not object, and said to Xiang Kun, “Did Mr. Liang tell you that getting ordinary people involved in the research could pose a danger to them due to a ‘mysterious power’? Or is she also…?”

“Xia Libing is an ordinary person, but I can guarantee her safety completely. Furthermore, the ‘Ultimate Predator’ and ‘mysterious power’ that Mr Liang mentioned, we are already working on resolving them, and they will soon cease to be a problem. Then, research on related mutations no longer needs to be as cautious as it is now,” Xiang Kun said with absolute certainty.

Old He couldn’t help but glance at Mr. Liang again, although, as always, all he could see was half a shoulder, as Xiang Kun’s bald head was still dominating the primary screen in the video.

“Can you… take care of it?” Even as composed as Old He typically was, he couldn’t help but raise his tone slightly in doubt upon hearing this.

He understood what had happened decades ago that caused the official study of blood-eating creatures and the associated information to become so secretive and completely blocked off. This was consistent with the conduct of all other countries around the world, no exceptions were made for any force, country, or individual.

The ominous and omnipotent cloud that hung over all blood-eating creatures and related mutation studies – the entity that many don’t even dare to speak of, and can’t understand – Xiang Kun stated that he already had a resolution for it, claiming it would soon no longer be an issue. He stated it with such a light tone as if it was nothing to him.

If any other new individual from the lab or a human blood-eating creature were to assert these claims, Old He would consider this as nothing more than bluffing. It would be pure ignorance of the horror and the power of the ultimate predator, the mysterious power.

But Xiang Kun was introduced by Mr. Liang personally, and Mr. Liang, who was sitting right beside Xiang Kun during their discussion, had shared some related information about the ultimate predator with him, it was unlikely for him to be oblivious to this situation. Furthermore, Mr. Liang didn’t object to anything he said.

Reminiscing Mr. Liang’s previous claim of Xiang Kun being “much stronger” than him, not just “stronger”, but “much stronger”. The difference in the description made Old He suddenly realize that this bald man with glasses, who appeared to differ quite significantly from the traditional human blood-eating creatures he perceived, might possess unbelievable strength.

But didn’t Mr. Liang mention that he had only been a blood-eating creature for just over a year? This was a bit contradictory.

As Old He was slightly puzzled, Xiang Kun reaffirmed with a confident tone, “Yes, I can and will resolve it.”

“Ah Liang, will… will you be working together with little Xiang on this?” Old He asked.

“My role will be to assist,” Mr. Liang stated.

Old He nodded in understanding, and after a few seconds of contemplation, he said, “Xiang, your research institution can establish its research system like Ah Liang’s Divine Technology. The Research Center will dispatch relevant personnel for necessary assistance and supervision. Of course, core research information will be decided for public disclosure based on the security situation at the time, but primarily, control remains with you. Additionally, you must know that although I will make your investigation and research more convenient and cover up for you, this is not a privilege or a benefit. It signifies huge responsibility and danger. You may ask Ah Liang, he knows it very well.”

Adjusting his glasses, Xiang Kun nodded, “I understand.”

His understanding of Old He might even exceed Mr. Liang’s understanding of Old He. When he came to know that the National Abnormal Biology Research Center was the official agency backing Divine Technology, Xiang Kun and Miss Alice carried out a comprehensive and in-depth study of Old He and his associates, establishing a systematic understanding model of his character, preferences, habits, and judgment methods.

This was why, before the video call with Old He, Xiang Kun put on the glasses he took off when he “fought” with Mr. Liang. It also explains his concise, determined, serious, and slightly unsmiling manner of speaking. He knows how to behave to make Old He take him seriously, not to fool him but as a communication strategy.

Just like now, regardless of Mr. Liang being aware of his deliberate attempt to bring him here, despite knowing that many things were premeditated, his arrangement did not negatively impact their conversation. His previous planning played a significant role in leading Mr. Liang to investigate and seek answers.

The same words, Even if truthful, told under different circumstances and states can bring about completely different effects and impacts.

What Xiang Kun intended to do now was to try his utmost to make them believe in him, and to continue according to his plans.

If this were the earlier Xiang Kun, he only had one principle when dealing with people or approaching things – If I treat others sincerely, they will naturally treat me the same. If I treat people sincerely, but they deceive or misunderstand me, I would avoid contact with them.

But now, Xiang Kun had achieved a deeper observation and understanding of human thinking and behavior patterns, establishing many cognitive models. So, he was very clear that making others believe in you does not simply equate to opening up entirely or disclosing everything about yourself unconditionally; it requires an appropriate method.

In fact, he was also aware of Mr. Liang’s intentions when introducing Old He: one was to formally grant him official recognition, and the other was to control him using the authority of the government and Old He. Because it was clear that Mr. Liang had lost his initiative in front of Xiang Kun.

What this constitutes had nothing to do with trust or distrust. For Mr. Liang’s part, he had no other choice. But this wouldn’t stop him from taking necessary measures to safeguard and secure himself.

Xiang Kun knew that after today’s video call, Old He would not fully trust him immediately, nor treat him like Mr. Liang, a researcher, and provide QianKun Technology – Miss Xia’s research base and Divine Technology with identical authority and freedom. Instead, he would definitely conduct thorough backstage investigations – which was exactly what Mr. Liang wanted him to do.

But that didn’t matter, Xiang Kun had nothing to hide, and since he had Miss Alice, there would certainly be no problems.

Watching Mr. Liang disassemble his communication device to reassess it through the drone, Xiang Kun asked, “How do you feel?”

“I feel… as if my body has become much lighter?” answered Mr. Liang, “But it seems to only be a psychological feeling. My actual weight probably hasn’t changed much.” Though he was elder and more experienced in terms of mutations, experiencing Xiang Kun’s various shocking shows, he was feeling more like a student.

Xiang Kun nodded, “Do you have any underwater breathing and movement equipment?”

“Not with me right now, but it’s nearby. Why, are we going underwater next?”

“We’re going to Africa first.”

“So… are we hunting blood-eating creatures again? Isn’t it too soon? Should we stabilize ourselves for some time first? Or, are there any targets within our country or nearby?”

“No.” said Xiang Kun, “The blood source required for each stage is different, we need appropriate targets, not just ones that are in proximity. Your condition is quite stable, believe in yourself, and believe in me.”

Mr. Liang said, “If we are going abroad, we need to report to Old He. We have to keep a low profile.”

“Let’s report to Old He then,” Xiang Kun said, “I know what you’re worried about, don’t worry, everything is under control.”