Superstars of Tomorrow

He suspected that Curly Hair had eaten some drugged bait that someone threw to the ground and fainted.

After observing Curly Hair’s mental state and running posture, a trainer in the team shook his head and said, "Nothing seems out of the ordinary. However, it’s still best to have a proper check up when we get back."

Inside a certain building that was arranged to serve as accommodation and office for Inter-planetary Fund personnel.

In one of the buildings, Little Bear had been watching the news out of boredom. He had already finished the "Founding Era" series as well as concerts, movies and other shows he wanted the watch. Also internet access within Whale Island Region wasn’t freely accessible. Because Little Bear was special, his movements were restricted. Other than watching the news every day, the only other thing he could do was play with his pet, Little Riches.

While playing, this superintelligence and his so-called "retarded" pet paused uniformly.

Little Bear’s hand trembled as tried to meticulously analyze this strange sound he was hearing. As for Little Riches, it had once again turned into a ball and deactivated itself.

After ten seconds, Little Bear didn’t check on Little Riches in its defensive state. Instead, he scuttled over and knocked on the adjacent room’s door. "Cui Hua! This place is too dangerous! I think we should leave!!"

Comprehensive research facility unit one quarantine room.

Other’s didn’t really react, but Fang Zhao, who had been deep in thought, had heard it.

It was a strange sound, yet it felt strangely familiar.

Fang Zhao had also observed the other people but couldn’t see any changes in their expressions. Unit Manager Nick also didn’t receive any urgent calls either, so Fang Zhao decided to observe first and see if there were any changes.

A short while later, Unit Manager Nick received a call from Zhao Chao, and his facial expression was somewhat strange. "The pathogen has been found, but the person who stole it wasn’t caught. It was like he suddenly disappeared."

Suddenly disappeared?

The island guards in isolation were also shocked by this news. Just as Unit Manager Nick had said, with the island’s armed forces and layers of encirclement, even if they weren’t able to catch the perpetrator, at the very least he shouldn’t have been able to escape without any trace.

The island guards were all full of doubt, but Nick didn’t intend to explain too much. He wasn’t too interested in all this. Everything was fine as long as the pathogen was secured. As for the rest, he would let the investigation bureau mull over it.

"Oh right, Fang Zhao!" Nick turned back towards Fang Zhao and said with a chuckle, "Captain Zhao said that Curly Hair has rendered meritorious service again."

Fang Zhao’s heart skipped a beat. Right now, he was more surprised than delighted. However, he didn’t show how he was feeling like deep down.

When Zhao Chao brought Curly Hair over, Curly Hair ran over to Fang Zhao, who was wagging his tail. He couldn’t enter the quarantine room, so he crouched in front of the safety glass separating Fang Zhao and grunted vigorously.

Fang Zhao didn’t notice any clear injuries on Curly Hair and he seemed to be in high spirits, so Fang Zhao turned towards Zhao Chao.

Zhao Chao was panting. "Fang Zhao, this dog is rather strong. I had intended to let the vet do a detailed checkup, but Curly Hair wasn’t cooperating and kept wanting to run over here. I wasn’t the one pulling him. Rather, he was dragging me!"

After briefly talking about Curly Hair’s service rendered, Zhao Chao also mentioned about Curly Hair lying down there for an unknown reason.

Zhao Chao was speaking to Fang Zhao from the interview booth at the side of Fang Zhao’s quarantine room. Privacy mode had also been enabled so no sound would escape. The transparent safety glass had become like reflectors, shielding them from the curious gazes of the island guards not too far off.

"Are the ones behind this from Tomorrow’s Empire?" Fang Zhao asked.

Zhao Chao’s gaze suddenly became penetrating. "You have come across them before?"

"Back during my military service on Planet Baiji," Fang Zhao said.

Zhao Chao remembered looking through Fang Zhao’s file previously. He coughed lightly and his gaze became milder. Back then, during his military service on Planet Baiji, Fang Zhao had came experienced a terrorist attack. The ones responsible were Tomorrow’s Empire. Fang Zhao had also killed a number of extremists and rendered meritorious service.

"It’s them," Zhao Chao replied.

Fang Zhao’s brows furrowed and a flicker of fury flashed across his eyes. Those b*stards again!

Seeing Fang Zhao in silence, Zhao Chao said somewhat ruefully, "Fang Zhao, don’t think too much about it. Once the assignment concludes, this matter won’t be your concern. We will be the ones handling it. You just have to be at ease and shine in the artistic circles. Of course, in special times, you... and your dog will be drafted. You have to be prepared and keep up with training so you don’t fall behind."

Zhao Chao worried that Fang Zhao would overthink. He already had the threat of infection to worry about. Now there was a terrorist organization on top of it. As someone in his twenties, he shouldn’t have to bear too much pressure. Zhao Chao also didn’t mention anything about infection to not let Fang Zhao fret.

Seeing Zhao Chao this way, Fang Zhao no longer continued to press the subject. He asked about Curly Hair’s condition and actions in this operation with the focus on when Curly Hair had fainted.

Zhao Chao also didn’t know too much. Curly Hair was already lying on the ground when he rushed over. He told Fang Zhao all that he knew.

"What can we do now? How are we going to get Curly Hair to cooperate with the checkup? I’m just worried someone might have fed him poison. It might be too late to save him if we don’t check him." Zhao Chao was worried but still defended Curly Hair. "Back then, he heard me and the island guard captain talking. He probably knew that you were exposed to the pathogen and might be in danger, so he had acted a little too urgently. Fortunately, the pathogen was retrieved and nothing bad happened, so you don’t have to blame him."

Zhao Chao couldn’t protect Curly Hair who he viewed as a little treasure, but he hoped that Fang Zhao wouldn’t reprimand him too excessively.

"I got it." Fang Zhao nodded before continuing, "Captain, can I speak to him in private?"

"Sure."

Zhao Chao went out of the interview booth and ran into the Whale Island Guard, who had finished reporting to their superiors. The captain had come to see how his quarantined subordinates were doing.

Seeing Zhao Chao coming out, the Whale Island Guard captain called him over. "How are things with Fang Zhao?"

"Still alright. No symptoms of infection. He is even lecturing his dog right now," Zhao Chao said.

The Whale Island Guard captain lowered his voice. "That Fang Zhao... when he killed the target at that time, that technique wasn’t something a newcomer could do."

Zhao Chao chuckled when he heard this. "You don’t have to worry about that. There are no issues with his background. It was checked thoroughly long ago. Do you remember the terrorist incident on Planet Baiji during the period where they discovered the new ore? That was the period when Fang Zhao was doing his military service."

The Whale Island Guard captain seem to have some recollection of that incident. "Right, I remember that. So the matter of Fang Zhao rendering meritorious services during the terrorist attack are true? It wasn’t something the top brass exaggerated to set him as a role model?"

"I previously thought that it was exaggerated, but this incident proves that this fellow is really impressive."

"Sss—" The Whale Island Guard captain sucked in a deep breath. "If he wasn’t trained from a young age, then he is just a gifted natural at this! When he safely gets through this quarantine period, will he be released to go back and dabble in those artistic circles?"

"What else can I do? He isn’t willing to stay on! And his dog! I really want him, but even Wai Base’s commanding officer isn’t willing to make a move. What else can I do?" Zhao Chao sounded a little gloomy.

Over at the quarantine rooms.

Through the safety glass, Fang Zhao watched Curly Hair pacing around in the interview booth.

"There isn’t any monitoring equipment here. Come here, open your mouth and let me see," Fang Zhao said.

Curly Hair wagged his tail and pressed his widened jaw against the safety glass to let Fang Zhao clearly take a look at his teeth.

Fang Zhao scanned it carefully and didn’t see any suspicious remains.

Curly Hair whimpered, making himself sound rather pitiful.

Fang Zhao told him, "I am only being kept in quarantine here. My life isn’t in danger, so don’t worry. When the conference is over, Nanfeng and the others will come fetch you."

Curly Hair retreated back a step and whimpered, clearly not delighted.

Fang Zhao couldn’t be bothered with his moodiness for the time being and continued to ask, "You fainted previously?"

"Woof Woof!" Curly Hair wagged his tail vigorously and appeared very proud of himself.

Fang Zhao raised an eyebrow.

"An act?"

Curly Hair puffed his chest out and wagged his tail vigorously.

"Where is the person?" Fang Zhao asked.

Curly Hair opened his mouth wide.

Fang Zhao: "..." It can’t be what I’m thinking, can it?