Chapter 22: The Truth Behind the Speculation

"Next, since every villager kept their own property within the livestock farm and feared their animals might be lost, they paid little heed to the missing persons. Every day, people came to guard their livestock, ensuring their safety."

"This situation persisted until the murderer could no longer restrain himself, committing further killings, taking more lives and stealing livestock. As disappearances grew frequent, unease swept the village. The murderer, fearing exposure, grew audacious, kidnapping or killing all the villagers—save for the old woman and Akun, who survived by sheer luck. This explains why the old woman is so wary of us."

"But this contradicts your earlier theory, doesn't it? Weren't you saying the murderer was a Sequences user, possibly with the power to control humans? I can understand the motive for killing, but why steal livestock?" Li Jiajie interjected, piercing straight to the heart of the mystery.

"Yes, that's what I said. However, when I heard Senior Si report the situation, I revised some of my earlier deductions and confirmed other parts of my theory."

"On the way back, I reviewed the material Captain sent me on my device. In Xia Country, there was a notorious blood-sucking murder case years ago, committed by a second-generation Sequence user named Zhang Gong, whose ability was adapted to the nematode class. He used his power to slaughter all the residents of an apartment building in the city, causing a huge uproar. Rebirth intervened swiftly and suppressed the incident, but due to a mistake by the Rebirth Emergency Department, Zhang Gong escaped. For over a decade, he was never found, and the country saw no similar cases."

"I have reasonable evidence to suspect Zhang Gong is our killer this time!" Zijing said gravely.

Everyone's hearts skipped a beat. If what Zijing said was true, the mission might be far more dangerous than just an SER-level threat.

Zijing continued, "According to the report, Zhang Gong exhibited only one ability: from any part of his body, he could shoot out white, thread-like nematodes. These would pierce other creatures, parasitizing and destroying them from within, ultimately draining their blood until death."

"Judging from the scene at the livestock farm, Zhang Gong first tested his power by draining two chickens, then moved to the chicken coop. He ran into a villager at the pigsty and killed them by draining their blood. The later missing villagers likely met the same fate."

"Fortunately, Zhang Gong is merely a second-generation class-level Sequence user, so his power shouldn't be too formidable. The villagers may not all have been killed, some could be hidden away. And the location—"

"It's the pond!" the three exclaimed in unison.

"Correct," Zijing nodded. "Senior Si said there were signs of activity around the pond, which aligns with my theory. The remaining villagers are likely near the pond. If circumstances allow tomorrow, Senior Si, please walk around the pond and see if you can find anything."

Si Guilong was taken aback. He did not expect a newcomer to begin directing him after deducing the situation. But on second thought, only those recruited by Zhu Daqing possessed such competence, so he nodded to Zijing without protest.

"I still have some questions." Everyone looked to Dai Yin, who raised her doubts. "You explained the old woman's odd behavior, but what about Akun? Is there an issue you haven't mentioned?"

"Indeed," Zijing explained, "Nematodes favor water, thriving in moist and warm environments. When we met the old woman, every household had a large water jar by their door. Even in winter, as the water evaporates, it keeps the village from becoming too dry."

"As for Akun, when I saw him, his hands were wet, and his clothes bore water stains. Thus, I surmise these water jars were temporarily placed and filled by Zhang Gong, to raise the humidity and ensure a constant supply of water. And Akun—he is Zhang Gong!"

"It seems we were wise not to alert them," Dai Yin said, wiping the cold sweat from her brow before pressing on, "But what about your claim of controlling humans?"

Zijing, now fully focused and composed, replied, "Among nematodes is a creature called the horsehair worm. Normally, it parasitizes insects like mantises. As maturity nears, it controls the host's brain to seek water. Once at the water source, the mature worm emerges from the body, and the drained insect dies instantly."

"The old woman we met might be under Zhang Gong's control through this ability. If Zhang Gong relinquishes control, she will die immediately." With Zijing's explanation, Dai Yin fell silent, sitting quietly in the corner.

Zijing looked to the captain, eyes meeting Li Jiajie's, who instantly understood. "Then, tomorrow we stay. The mission is changed: avoid direct confrontation with Zhang Gong and rescue as many surviving villagers as possible!"

"Luanbird, you monitor the old woman and Zhang Gong before we leave. Colorless, you and Zijing must find where the villagers are hidden before nightfall. I'll deal with the other two, see if I can extract useful information," Li Jiajie calmly assigned tasks, then continued, "Tonight, we'll take turns on watch, one hour each, to prevent accidents. The new member may struggle, but for the mission, please bear with it."

Zijing nodded heavily. "Understood, Captain. I'll do my best not to burden you."

Though Zijing possessed a sharp mind, physically he was just an unawakened Sequence user, barely stronger than an ordinary person. He took the captain's warning to heart.

The dawn light began to brighten the horizon, yet those golden rays seemed unable to penetrate Wangshi Village. The members of Phoenix Cry Squad were unaware that a fierce battle was about to unfold!