Superstars of Tomorrow
chapter-475-30041322

Chapter 475: It Transformed!

Fang Zhao was aware that his own physical constitution was constantly strengthening, just that it wasn’t as exaggerated as Curly Hair’s. However, he didn’t know exactly how strong his physical constitution actually was.

But clearly, he had already far surpassed the constitution of an ordinary human.

Fang Zhao had also guessed before that these changes were possibly influenced by Curly Hair and had started the night he transmigrated. With the exception of hearing, he had acted like any other ordinary human in order to hide these changes.

However, because of the sniper incident, he could no longer conceal the changes to his body.

Planet Yin’s response was indeed quick. Yuan Zheng hadn’t brought along anyone when he left the concert venue, but his position had been monitored. The moment his signal had cut, Planet Yin’s relevant personnel went into action.

Less than five minutes after Fang Zhao was shot, the two sniper assailants were shot dead. Yuan Zheng was quickly brought away, and Fang Zhao was sent to receive medical treatment.

However, the paramedics discovered that Fang Zhao’s wound was rapidly healing and there was no infection. There seemed to be no signs of internal damage either. If not for the bloodstains on his clothes, Fang Zhao appeared to be in much better shape than Yuan Zheng.

The performance at the concert hall continued as per normal. The performer and audience weren’t aware of the situation happening outside. The few people in the loop wouldn’t leak anything either. Therefore, the inside was still as peaceful as ever.

In a small conference room, two of Planet Yin’s top brass were deep in discussion.

“After hiding for so long, ‘T’ Organization has finally made a move. We must take the opportunity to purge any enemies hiding within our midst!”

“A total of four assassination targets were discovered: three core research personnel and a Major with outstanding service in the field. Fortunately, we were prepared and thwarted these attempts. However… according to new information, ‘T’ Organization actually had five targets this time.”

“Oh? Who is the fifth?”

“It’s still being investigated currently.”

“Make it quicker!”

“Yes!”

“Also, are the results of Fang Zhao’s check-up ready?”

“It’s done. His recovery speed is quite startling, and all health metrics seem ordinary.”

“His rate of recovery is the greatest anomaly! An average person shot by this type of bullet would either die or be disabled. Given where Fang Zhao was shot, any other person in his place would definitely die! A bullet that can even penetrate light vehicle armor was blocked by him? You believe that?”

“Indeed, given such circumstances, it’s unfortunate that he’s leaving soon.”

The other high level military officer raised an eyebrow. “We can’t do anything to keep him here? We have to let him go? Who determined this?”

“Inter-planetary Fund’s highest authority vouched for him.”

“Now that’s troublesome. We should still go have a chat with him though. Let’s go.”

Besides a team of soldiers stationed outside Fang Zhao’s ward, Nanfeng too was also staying by the door. His legs had gone weak when he heard something that Fang Zhao was involved in a mishap.

Nanfeng didn’t know why Planet Yin personnel had to isolate Fang Zhao. Nanfeng wasn’t permitted to enter and could only speak with his boss via communications device. Regardless, Nanfeng was determined to stay there. Yan Biao couldn’t be reached. Nanfeng had sent them a message asking them to come over the moment he heard the news.

Nanfeng was in the middle of a call with Fang Zhao when the two high level executives came. Nanfeng didn’t dare say too much under the scrutiny of so many. Thus, he had only been asking about the severity of Fang Zhao’s injuries.

“… Boss, don’t lie to me! You can’t fool me! You must be very weak after losing so much blood… Although you sound full of energy, I know that you are just pretending to be strong!” Nanfeng was already pondering about food that could help Fang Zhao replenish his lost blood. As a self-acknowledged all-around assistant, Nanfeng felt that he was a failure. He had failed in his duties and let down his high wages. I have to make up for it! I must give my hardest to look after Boss during this period when he is weak!

The two high ranking military officers who just came over heard what Nanfeng said and thought to themselves, Still weak? We wouldn’t have seen anything more than a scab if he had been sent here any slower! If they hadn’t insisted that Fang Zhao stay here, that fellow would have long disappeared without a trace!

In his ward, Fang Zhao listened to Nanfeng in silence. This assistant was very good in most aspects, but his perception was a little weak.

Upon seeing the two high-level officers enter, Fang Zhao ended the call and looked over.

The arrivals seemed relaxed and were mulling over how to fish out information from Fang Zhao. But, before they could speak, an urgent call came through.

“The fifth target has been determined,” the officer who answered the call said.

“Who?” his companion asked.

The former officer turned his gaze to Fang Zhao.

Fang Zhao: “….”

He suddenly had a foreboding premonition.

A certain huge warehouse at Yin Base.

Planet Yin’s warehouses were built like forts. Besides shielding against storms, they were also designed to withstand damage from experimental testing and military exercises. There was an outdoor exercise zone near this warehouse. Once, a newbie had misfired at the warehouse during a military exercise.

The two man salted fish group also followed the inspection team over. As Curly Hair was being excluded by the inspection team’s dogs, Yan Biao, Zuo Yu and Curly Hair could only trail behind the team. Fortunately, the inspection personnel still treated them warmly.

Curly Hair’s exclusion by the other dogs was quite severe. Yan Biao and Zuo Yu had to keep some distance between themselves and the inspection team. Furthermore, there were some places they couldn’t enter. When the inspection team went to survey a room in the warehouse, Curly Hair and the two of them had to wait outside.

Today was the same. When they went to patrol the warehouse here, the inspection team had gone into one of the rooms to carry out their tasks. Zuo Yu, Yan Biao and Curly Hair waited outside and admired Planet Yin’s fort-like warehouses. However at this moment, the fortified shutter doors of the warehouse that were always open during daytime were shut! Their group was completely separated from the rest of the inspection team!

“Hide quickly! There’s a mecha at the warehouse…”

The rest of the inspection team’s message was cut off. Only static remained.

Communications with the inspection team was interrupted, and the warehouse sentry post was uncontactable. At the same time, the other shutter doors also began to malfunction. There was only one entrance and exit to this warehouse. Soon, footsteps sounded from the direction of the main door.

Heavy, mechanical footsteps.

“Assault Mecha! Why is there an assault mecha appearing here!!”

Yan Biao and Zuo Yu felt goosebumps just from looking at it.

What had they done wrong to deserve such a monstrosity?!

“This morning I heard that a malfunctioning mecha was transferred here and sent for maintenance.” Zuo Yu quickly recalled.

“The thing has way too much firepower. Our guns won’t even scratch its armor. We’ll be incinerated before being able to run if we go head-to-head!” A wave of despair washed over Yan Biao. He had decided to submit his resignation after this final time of dog walking. He had never imagined such a situation would occur!

Zuo Yu recalled the inspection team had mentioned that the shutter doors had manual controls on top of their automated system.

“Let’s go over there! We need to find a large store to hide in first! Planet Yin squads have fast response times. Since the inspection team already knows that something has happened, they’ll surely dispatch people over. We just have to buy some time!”

“That’s the only thing we can do!”

Yan Biao called Curly Hair over, and the three of them headed for the large rear store.

Curly Hair glanced outside and licked his nose. He remembered Fang Zhao’s warning and followed Yan Biao and Zuo Yu deeper into the warehouse.

Yan Biao and Zuo Yu didn’t notice Curly Hair’s reactions. In desperation, they chose a rectangular store that had two reinforced doors separating the inner and outer sections.

Zuo Yu closed the outer doors but didn’t stop as the trio continued to run inwards.

While running, Zuo Yu said, “The mecha outside should have been sent here for maintenance because it was malfunctioning. Normally, such mechas are under strict administration and can’t be easily mobilized. The one in this warehouse was the malfunctioning one. Perhaps its laser cannons don’t work?”

Just as Zuo Yu finished…

BOOM!!

A large hole had been blasted in the outer door.

Curly Hair faced the mecha that had fired. “Woof Woof Woof!!”

“Why the heck are you barking!” Yan Biao bent down, seized Curly Hair and started running.

Zuo Yu quickly shut the reinforced shutter doors to this store, blocking the shots fired by the mech’s energy gun.

After the inner store’s reinforced doors were shut, Zuo Yu and Yan Biao searched around. There was really no way out this time.

“What the hell did you do to attract this assault mecha?!” Zuo Yu shouted.

“I didn’t f*cking do anything! You should be the one thinking about what you did wrong!” Yan Biao shouted back.

“I can’t think of anything!!”

“Then why is the mecha targeting us?”

After a brief moment of silence, Yan Biao and Zuo Yu turned towards Curly Hair.

Curly Hair was listening to the activity in the surroundings. He sensed the gazes of the other two and returned an innocent and puzzled look at them.

“Who would expend this much effort to kill Curly Hair?” Zuo Yu was baffled.

“Curly Hair’s evaluation results are too good. He’s even better than specialized detection equipment. Even Planet Yin’s spaceport personnel are trying to get his offspring. Surely this has attracted the attention of some people with ill intentions. Detection equipment isn’t as portable as Curly Hair. Our enemies here probably want to get rid of Curly Hair.”

“I understand the reasoning! But, why is a mecha being employed to kill a dog!” Zuo Yu just couldn’t understand.

“Because Curly Hair runs too quickly? And he’s hard to pursue? Or, perhaps this operation to kill Curly Hair was hastily prepared.”

Regardless of the perpetrators’ intentions, it was pointless trying to understand the motive. Right now, the enemy had them cornered!

They simply had no way of retreating!

They were truly isolated without any chance of aid!

Even leaving last words would be tough!

Could they survive the barrage of the assault mecha’s tremendous firepower in here? They would be incinerated the moment they were in its sights!

“Planet Yin reacts very quickly. Reinforcements might be here soon. We just have to hold out for a little while…”

Yan Biao grit his teeth. “We can only go all out! At least until the reinforcements arrive!”

Curly Hair stood behind the reinforced doors making brief snorting noises from his nostrils. He glanced at Yan Biao and Zuo Yu before returning his sights to the doors.

“Look, Little Curly Hair hates to part with us.”

Yan Biao picked Curly Hair up and placed him further away from the reinforced doors before patting his head.

“I know you are smart. Find a corner to hide in first. Make sure to hide well. When the doors fall, find an opportunity to escape during the crossfire. Understand?”

Although Yan Biao didn’t think that Curly Hair could understand him or escape the assault mecha’s barrage, all he could do now was hope. He had to hope that Curly Hair would just have a little luck and find a gap in the firefight to escape.

Curly Hair continued snorting as before, and the snorting got even more hurried.

“Finally understand what it means to be frightened?” Yan Biao sighed. “Who asked you to be so capable that you are on the receiving end of such an assassination attempt?”

“Curly Hair is still worth protecting right?” Zuo Yu suddenly chuckled.

At this time, the two of them had already done a proper analysis of the current circumstances. They both realized that they wouldn’t be able to escape and could only try to create better chances of Curly Hair surviving.

While Yan Biao and Zuo Yu were formulating their plan for response, they never realized that there was an item missing from the collar around Curly Hair’s neck. Curly Hair had already started to stir restlessly.

Outside the inner store’s reinforced doors, a round, miniature personal terminal was lying in the center of the room. It had come loose when Yan Biao grabbed Curly Hair and retreated hurriedly.

Such a small object simply wouldn’t garner any attention.

One of the thick large robotic legs of the assault mecha stepped forward.

Crack!

The sound of the personal terminal shattering was drowned out by the motorized whining of the mecha’s armored leg.

Curly Hair was staring at the reinforced doors when his drooped ears trembled violently. He stood frozen in place with a vacant look in his eyes as all the fur on his body bristled. It appeared as if he had just received a massive blow.

Yan Biao assumed it was just Curly Hair being frightened and shifted the unmoving Curly Hair into the corner.

Yan Biao checked his gun and took a deep breath. “Comrade Salted Fish One?”

Zuo Yu grimaced. “Comrade Salted Fish Two.”

“Finally, we are no longer salted fishes.”

BOOM——

The reinforced doors of the inner store were finally blasted apart.

However, before Zuo Yu and Yan Biao could move, a shadow darted out from inside the store. It grew in an instant. A cold metallic glint blinded their eyes.

Amidst a heatwave caused by lasers, forceful streams of hot air and smoke rushed out.

Clatter!

Creak, Groan——Crash!

The ear-piercing sounds of metal breaking were terrifying.

Sparks flew everywhere, and metal fragments were sent flying.

The scene was extremely frightening.

The reinforced doors had split in two and were mangled beyond recognition. Yan Biao and Zuo Yu, who had been ready to die moments ago, had looks of extreme shock. Their legs seemed to no longer work.

The two man salted fish team’s inner thoughts:

Arghhhhhhh!!!

My Boss’s dog transformed!!!