Chapter 1: The Capture of Polar Domain’s Top Assassin

“Number, 0759.”

“Polar Domain’s top assassin, codename Chong You.”

“Awaiting interrogation by the Supreme Commander.”

The cold, mechanical voice echoed through the stark white interrogation room, sending chills down the spine.

In the center of the room, a person was firmly restrained on the chair.

His hands were cuffed to the specially designed armrests on either side, with chains from his neck connecting to the wrist restraints.

Purplish-red ligature marks circled his neck and wrists.

Evidence of his violent struggles.

But all resistance had been futile.

He tilted his head back slightly, the harsh white light lending his strikingly beautiful face a fragile quality.

His light-colored eyes slowly shifted to gaze at the solemn Alliance emblem on the high wall ahead.

The interrogation room’s stark lighting reflected off the massive silver emblem, creating a blinding glare.

He stared for a long time.

His slightly reddened eyes began to glisten with unshed tears.

His name was Chu Shen the “Chu” from “besieged on all sides,” the “Shen” from “growing more cautious each day.”

This was his former name.

But now, in everyone’s eyes, he was merely Polar Domain’s top assassin, codename “Chong You” nameless.

Chu Shen raised his head, the chains around his neck clinking softly with the movement.

His vision blurred, yet he stubbornly kept his eyes fixed on the Alliance emblem reflecting the intense light, as if trying to reclaim something from that solemn symbol.

But he found nothing.

The Alliance emblem represented both the Command Department and the Enforcement Department – the most solemn commitment to humanity’s survival.

He too had once stood beneath the light of this emblem.

Back then, he wasn’t Polar Domain’s top assassin “Chong You,” but the Enforcement Department’s highest-ranking officer, number S01, codename “Chang Geng.”

Chu Shen’s eyes reddened, every breath coming in slight tremors.

In states of extreme agony, people often uncontrollably reveal emotions that shouldn’t surface.

No… he wasn’t even human anymore…

Chu Shen smiled self-deprecatingly and averted his gaze from the Alliance emblem.

He never expected to fail at such a crucial moment –

As one of the Altered, he experienced three days each month of extreme vulnerability. During these dangerous periods, he became more fragile than ordinary humans, susceptible to pheromone influences beyond his control, and could be marked by anyone of any gender like a sigma.

And that damned newly appointed Supreme Commander, despite being human, played dirtier than even Polar Domain!

Beneath the Alliance emblem’s glow, Chu Shen slowly closed his eyes in anguish.

The emblem grew increasingly blurred in his vision until finally, it dissolved into an indistinguishable gray-black mass, sinking into darkness.

Footsteps approached from outside. Chu Shen didn’t need to guess – it was the Commander who had set this trap for him.

Chu Shen took a deep breath, forcing his eyes open.

His only consolation was that he remembered to carry a Suppressant with him, which he had injected before the mission.

Although it provided little practical help for an Altered during the dangerous period, it at least blocked his pheromones better than nothing.

His dominant Alpha Sandalwood Pheromone hadn’t leaked at all.

If he maintained his composure, at least no one would detect he was in his vulnerable period.

With a soft click, the interrogation room door swung open.

The scent of gun smoke mingled with the fresh smell of blood washed over him. A tall, straight-backed figure stood silhouetted against the light from the interrogation room doorway, his murderous aura so palpable it seemed almost tangible.

The silver-black commander’s uniform outlined every line of his body with sharp, powerful precision.

The joint emblem pinned to his chest suited him perfectly.

Chu Shen looked up at the commander.

Young, yet carrying heavy, oppressive authority that belied his age.

He seemed as lifeless as if he had crawled out from a pile of bones.

This was the youngest newly appointed commander of the Command Headquarters Qu Zhuzhu Qing.

He had only taken up his post a few days ago, so recently that the Polar Domain hadn’t even managed to uncover his basic information, yet he had already severely damaged several of their bases.

Qu Zhuzhu Qing walked slowly up to Chu Shen; his voice was icy cold. “Chong You, the Polar Domain’s top assassin.”

His adjutant followed respectfully behind him, waiting by the doorway, holding his breath and not daring to make a sound.

No one dared to provoke this god of death.

Qu Zhuzhu Qing tilted his head slightly, his probing gaze coldly sweeping over Chu Shen’s face.

He suddenly let out a cold laugh and carefully retrieved a pocket watch from inside his uniform’s inner pocket a cherished keepsake.

Neither side of it contained a clock face. Instead, it held a joint emblem with its serial number worn away, along with a faded, yellowed photograph that had long since become indistinct.

The person in that photograph was identical to the Altered currently locked in the interrogation room before him.

Qu Zhuzhu Qing rubbed the long-faded photograph in his palm with an almost reverent touch of his thumb.

Chu Shen couldn’t see what he was holding, but he could see the careful, treasured look in his eyes.

That photograph captured Chu Shen’s youthful recklessness, forever smiling with warmth and determination.

That was Chu Shen from ten years ago.

Qu Zhuzhu Qing’s gaze slowly shifted from the photo preserved in the pocket watch to the Altered before him.

The same face.

Only now, that youthful spirit had vanished, replaced by a cold sharpness tempered only by life and death.

Over ten years, Qu Zhuzhu Qing had transformed from that thirteen-year-old brat into the supreme commander he was today, to the point where Chu Shen no longer recognized him.

Yet Chu Shen remained exactly as he was ten years ago.

He had always looked twenty-two.

Because if not for his Altered bloodline, he should have died at twenty-two.

Qu Zhuzhu Qing studied the face that showed no trace of time’s passage over ten years, his smile bleak.

“How much effort must your Polar Domain have spent to deliver you here in such a short time,” Qu Zhuzhu Qing said with another cold laugh, though there was no real emotion behind it.

Chu Shen frowned slightly, tilting his head. His pained eyes held confusion.

He didn’t understand what Qu Zhuzhu Qing meant.

“Your act isn’t convincing,” Qu Zhuzhu Qing’s gaze shifted from Chu Shen’s face back to the photograph in his palm.

His voice was so soft it created an illusion of gentleness, yet his eyes held a bone-chilling coldness.

As he spoke, Qu Zhuzhu Qing waved a hand at the Adjutant waiting by the door.

The adjutant stepped forward and presented a metal collar with an eerie blue glow.

Within the exquisitely crafted special collar, one could almost see electric currents moving. Several metal points raised on the inner side lit up with a faint glow when approaching an object, accompanied by a terrifying sizzling sound of electricity.
“You should know what this is. So far, few Altered have been able to withstand it.” Qu Zhuzhu Qing took it over, then signaled with his eyes for the adjutant to leave.

The moment the interrogation room door closed, the silence was so profound that Chu Shen’s breathing became audible.

Of course, he knew what this was.

This device could forcibly interfere with the nervous system through electric currents, amplifying all sensations.

Even the slightest bloodless wound could be magnified into unbearable pain, let alone the multiple knife wounds and abrasions Chu Shen had sustained while resisting when he fell into the trap, not to mention the gunshot wound on his left leg.

Pain perception would be amplified, and all sensations during the critical period would be intensified.

It might also cause neurological damage, causing hallucinations and phantom pain.

A flicker of uncontrollable tremor passed through Chu Shen’s gaze.

He looked up in disbelief at Qu Zhuzhu Qing before him.

This man radiated an aura of ruthless determination, clearly someone who would stop at nothing.

“Trade the secret of the Polar Domain for your life.” Qu Zhuzhu Qing slowly leaned closer to the pale-faced Chu Shen. “Last chance.”

Clink—

A crisp metallic sound interrupted Qu Zhuzhu Qing’s words.

It was the pocket watch in his hand, which had slipped and fallen to the ground when he leaned forward.

Under the harsh, blinding white light, Chu Shen clearly saw the faded photograph inside the watch, along with that unnumbered union badge already worn down and missing a corner!

Chu Shen’s pupils instantly dilated, the icy pretense in his eyes shattering abruptly as trembling tears nearly spilled beyond his control.

That photo and badge!

How could they end up in the hands of this supreme commander?!

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Zephyr Yizelle

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