Infinite Nightmares

Seeing Tan Yougen turn to look at him, Zhang Wenda continued, "Only a monster can give birth to a monster. Does that mean my grandfather was a monster, too? Is that the only way he could have had my father?"

Tan Yougen fell silent for a moment before shaking his head. "No, he wasn’t. But your grandmother was."

At his words, Zhang Wenda’s pupils constricted.

"My grandmother?"

"Yes, your grandmother. Let’s not dwell on what happened. You young people get tired of hearing about the past, and it’s all over now anyway."

Then, Tan Yougen looked at Zhang Wenda. "Hmm... I know a little about your family’s situation, but I’m sorry. It’s a private family matter, and there’s nothing we outsiders can do to help."

"Ha!" Hearing this, Zhang Wenda’s expression twisted into a slight snarl, and his trembling fingers began to elongate.

SLAP! Zhang Wenda smacked himself hard across the face, forcing himself to calm down.

"Director Tan, let’s forget the past. As for what’s happening now, I don’t expect you to abuse your authority for my personal benefit. Just handle this matter by the book."

Having said his piece, Zhang Wenda got up from his chair, no longer interested in continuing the conversation.

"Can you get Teacher Rabbit over here now? Can’t you teleport?" Zhang Wenda asked, turning his head to 2826.

"Can’t teleport. This is inside a Bureau 507 branch office. If teleportation were possible, it’d be too easy to infiltrate. We have to go up to the surface in Shanghai." With that, 2826 led Zhang Wenda out.

After the two of them left, Tan Yougen sat back down, his gaze lost in a black-and-white photograph on his desk.

In it, several strapping young men in torn tank tops shouldered shovels, their youthful eyes full of life.

"I know you didn’t want your descendants to get dragged into this. You said it was all meaningless before you resigned. But I didn’t seek out your grandson—he came to me. I’m handling everything strictly by the book."

In the photo, besides a young Tan Yougen, there was another youth who bore a slight resemblance to Zhang Wenda. The young man in a straw hat beside them was a young Wang Daniu.

With the help of 2826 and other Bureau 507 personnel, they finally brought Teacher Rabbit over.

Looking at the bustling city of Shanghai and the bizarre, fantastical Bureau 507, Teacher Rabbit—now shorter than Zhang Wenda—seemed a bit nervous.

The Teacher Rabbit from Thought Wave Two looked nothing like the calm and powerful one from Thought Wave One.

But in Zhang Wenda’s eyes, ’No matter what he looks like, as long as he’s someone who helps me with his entire being, he’s still my teacher.’

"It’s okay, Teacher. You’ll be free of the monster inside you soon." Zhang Wenda took Teacher Rabbit’s furry paw and started toward a Bureau 507 elevator.

But he had only taken a few steps when he noticed Teacher Rabbit had stopped.

"Wenda, how about we just forget it? I know getting rid of the monster is important, but having you infiltrate such a dangerous place is just too risky."

"Teacher, it’s not that dangerous. It’s just an undercover mission. Ask 2826—he’s gone undercover plenty of times and he’s still alive and kicking."

Teacher Rabbit was silent for a moment, then shook his head again and let go of Zhang Wenda’s hand. "Let’s forget it. It’s really too dangerous. We can find another way. Let’s find one together. There’s no need to risk your life."

The Teacher Rabbit from Thought Wave Two seemed far more indecisive than his Thought Wave One counterpart, but Zhang Wenda didn’t hold it against him.

He patiently said to him, "And you’re helping me, too. If you don’t go through with the experiment, how will I know if Bureau 507 is tricking me?"

"Teacher, please help me, okay? Only if you succeed can I complete my mission with peace of mind."

Teacher Rabbit looked at the now-taller Zhang Wenda with a very complicated expression. "Before I knew it, you’ve already grown up. I can’t help you anymore; instead, I’m the one who needs you to take care of me."

"Don’t say that. Whether you can help me or not, you’re still my teacher. Since I’m the one who’s grown up, it should be me helping you."

After some convincing from Zhang Wenda, Teacher Rabbit finally agreed and started walking again.

However, just as Zhang Wenda brought Teacher Rabbit to a room full of strange equipment, he was stopped at the entrance. He was informed the procedure would be lengthy, possibly taking several days.

"You can’t just wait here the whole time, can you?" 2826 chimed in from the side.

Watching Teacher Rabbit wave gently at him from behind the glass door, Zhang Wenda felt a mix of emotions. ’I know that from now on,’ he thought, ’whatever happens, I’ll have to face it alone. No one is going to just show up and help me unconditionally anymore.’

After a moment of thought, Zhang Wenda said to 2826, "Give me the pager."

"What?"

"Cut the crap. Give me the pager you’ll use to contact me." Zhang Wenda reached right into 2826’s pocket and pulled one out.

Ignoring the staff members who tried to block him, he shoved the pager into Teacher Rabbit’s hand. "Teacher, tell me the second the experiment is successful!"

As Zhang Wenda was pushed out, he saw Teacher Rabbit, already lying on the bed, nod firmly.

Seeing this, Zhang Wenda gave a knowing smile. ’I have to consider the possibility that I might die over there,’ he thought. ’I have to leave something behind for the people I care about.’

"I can notify you just the same," 2826 said.

"I don’t trust you. I want to hear it from him directly." Only after Teacher Rabbit had completely disappeared behind the glass door did Zhang Wenda turn to leave.

"Fine. But I suggest you go back to Thought Wave One and wait. If you’re gone too long, you might arouse suspicion from the Big Circle."

"Mm." Zhang Wenda walked towards the exit of Bureau 507.

For the next two days in Thought Wave One, Zhang Wenda felt like every day was a year long. He was waiting for news from Teacher Rabbit, and also for the arrival of Tang Xingxiong.

The wait was making Zhang Wenda anxious. He pulled 2826 into a corner. "Give me the whole package you promised me before. I’ll use it to boost my strength." ’Thinking about the treacherous Big Circle Gang, the stronger I am, the safer I’ll be,’ he reasoned.

’Since Bureau 507 is giving me this package, it’d be a waste not to use it right away.’

But faced with this request, 2826 shook his head. "If I gave all that to you, and the Big Circle asks where you got it, how would you answer?"

"My advice is to just go in as you are. That’s why we’re not giving you any special training. Once you’re in, just act however you feel. Your most authentic self will be the hardest to expose."

"So you expect me to fight the Big Circle Gang with just this?" Zhang Wenda asked, pointing to the Tri-Core on his wrist.

"We’re not expecting you to fight them. Your mission is infiltration. An inside contact will reach out to you secretly. The code phrase is ’Friday’s Thought Wave.’"

"Shit," Zhang Wenda cursed under his breath. At that moment, 2826 left abruptly. "I have to go. Someone from the Big Circle is here. Can’t let it see me with you."

Zhang Wenda yelled in the direction 2826 had gone, "Then give my stuff to my teacher to hold onto! Hey, you hear me?!"

Just as Zhang Wenda finished shouting, he saw a Crow flash across the sky.

Zhang Wenda was about to step out of the alley when his pager started beeping. He pulled it out. On the green screen was a one-word message from Teacher Rabbit: "Success."

Seeing that single, simple word, Zhang Wenda let out a long sigh of relief, as if a heavy weight had been lifted from his shoulders.

He was about to put the pager back in his pocket when he remembered it came from 2826. He immediately smashed it to pieces. Taking nothing but a flashlight and an enamel mug, he hurried off in pursuit of the black Crow.