Chapter 35: The Importance of Mouse Beibei

"Is this report accurate?" Han Hao glanced at the coroner responsible for the autopsy, unable to suppress his suspicion that the man before him might be making a mockery of him.

The report clearly stated that Wang Jie was indeed shot to death, but all the other bullet wounds on his body had been inflicted postmortem. The real cause of death was the single shot to his brow.

Yet, that shot was not a single shot at all—it was at least four shots. Four bullets had been found inside Wang Jie's skull, but only one entry wound pierced his brow. The only possible conclusion was that all the bullets had been fired through the same hole.

In other words, the murderer had fired at least five shots in rapid succession.

Such marksmanship was almost beyond belief—not just for Han Hao, but for nearly anyone in the entire Jiangzhou Provincial Law Enforcement Bureau.

But even this wasn't what shocked Han Hao the most. What truly unsettled him was the forensic analysis of the wounds on Wang Jie's hand. The verdict: they had been inflicted by a rat.

A rat?

How could it be a rat? What kind of rat could possibly crush a human's bones to fragments?

Especially considering that Wang Jie had already advanced to a Divine Physique being. Even if the serum he had taken was less than ten percent digested, his bone strength should have been a level above that of any ordinary person.

"Captain Han, there's another page at the back," the forensic specialist said calmly, as if the bizarreness of the case did not faze him. Truth, after all, would not bend to incredulity.

Han Hao thumbed through the report and, as expected, found a final page. The coroner's deliberate reminder meant this page must be of particular importance.

"And this is...?" Han Hao's brows knit tighter as he read, his expression growing ever more grave.

It was a genetic analysis report—on the rat.

The forensic specialist explained, "We extracted DNA from the wound on Wang Jie's hand, belonging to the creature that bit through his bones. I've modeled the size of this rat: an estimated body length of sixty to seventy-five centimeters, tail of twenty-five to thirty-five, and a weight between five and seven kilograms. Obviously, no normal rat grows so large unless exposed to radiation. Suspecting something was amiss, I analyzed its DNA and found clear signs of cognitive mutation—the kind found in all animals that have awakened intelligence."

"In other words, there was likely an intelligent rat at the scene of Wang Jie's death."

"Yes. Given that it could bite through human bone, it may have already evolved into a Divine Physique being," the coroner added, though he was oblivious to Rat Bebe's unique nature.

Han Hao stood silent for nearly a minute, finally accepting what he had read.

He looked at the forensic specialist. "Old Qin, who else knows the results of this analysis?"

Old Qin, the coroner, considered briefly. "Six others. They're all my interns. I didn't keep this from them."

Six? Han Hao sensed the danger. This was too significant—any leak could spell disaster.

But could he detain all six? That would only arouse more suspicion.

In the end, he said helplessly, "Warn those interns. Make sure none of them speak of this. You know what this result means—an intelligent rat could tip the balance in the Wildlands."

Old Qin nodded, a place already forming in his mind—Rat King Ridge, in the Wastelands.

Upon returning, Old Qin summoned his six interns. They were recent graduates from several Jiangzhou universities—three men and three women. In college, none had received the advancement serum, but by joining national agencies like the military or law enforcement and earning merit, they might yet obtain it.

He understood their motives—after all, he had once been the same.

"You've all seen Wang Jie's autopsy results. This is a matter of great consequence; no one is to mention it outside. Anyone who leaks it won't just lose the chance for a permanent position—they'll likely face prison." Old Qin's tone was even, but the warning was clear.

"We understand, sir," the six replied. Yet, as one young woman turned away, a cold glint flashed in her eyes.

She had not thought it so important at first, but Old Qin's stern warning made her suspicious. Perhaps this information was valuable—worth trading for something she needed.

...

Han Hao wasted no time reporting to Wu Tengkong, Director of the Jiangzhou Law Enforcement Bureau.

"This is of utmost importance," Wu Tengkong said after receiving the call. "If this is confirmed, you will all be commended. I'll escalate this immediately. Meanwhile, thoroughly search the area where Wang Jie died—find that intelligent rat at all costs."

"Understood, Director," Han Hao replied. This aligned perfectly with his current investigation.

"Ensure the rat's safety," Wu Tengkong emphasized. Even though Han Hao was a cautious man, Wu stressed the point—this was too significant. If such a rat was killed in Jiangzhou, he might be held personally responsible.

That rat might be more important than the director himself.

...

Wu Tengkong, too, moved swiftly, escalating the matter to higher authorities. The Animal Protection Association was an unavoidable step, as the state had previously mandated that any case involving an awakened animal fell under their jurisdiction.

Animal Protection Association, Headquarters.

"Hmm?" A white-haired man in a white coat looked over the email he had just received. It contained Old Qin's analysis report, along with a note from Wu Tengkong, Director of the Jiangzhou Law Enforcement Bureau.

"A suspected case of an intelligent rat in Jiangzhou—please be advised!"

"An awakened rat—this is critical," the man murmured. "But from the description, this rat is still too weak. Who knows how many years it will take for it to grow enough to become the Rat King of Rat King Ridge. Still, we've failed to conquer Rat King Ridge for so many years—what's a few more? It could be a backup plan. Besides, rats are excellent at seeking treasures. Perhaps one day this rat will bring rare resources back to Earth."

After careful consideration, he printed the file, stamping it with a bold 'SSS' mark.

"Fetch Ji Wuli for me. I have a task for him."

"Yes, sir." A female staffer replied and picked up the phone.

...

At the same time, the female intern sought out a contact.

"A new moon hangs in the sky—long live the Holy Church," she whispered.

Her counterpart, a man seated opposite, paused thoughtfully, then replied in kind.

He frowned. "What is so urgent that we must meet in person?"

She hesitated, then answered, "I was worried my communications were being monitored, so I used the code you gave me to bring you here to this bookstore—just a coincidence, as I'm often here, and two strangers sharing a table won't arouse suspicion."

"You're cautious enough," the man snorted.

"I don't want to die. I only joined the Holy Church to obtain advancement serum—I never truly became one of your believers. Your dogma might fool ordinary people, but not a college graduate like me," she said, with a hint of disdain.

"Jiang Lan, enough nonsense. Just tell me what you have," he said impatiently.

She—Jiang Lan—nodded. "The information I have is important—enough, I believe, to earn me a vial of Azure Serum."

"That depends on what you have."

"Fine. I trust the Church's reputation," Jiang Lan replied. She knew she had no choice—there was no way they'd hand over the serum without hearing her intelligence first.

She then disclosed the details of Wang Jie's autopsy report. The man, upon hearing it, was as shocked as Han Hao and the others had been.

"How valuable is this?" Jiang Lan pressed. Her knowledge was limited—she couldn't fully grasp the significance, but Old Qin's tone had told her this was something big.

The man nodded. "If the report is true, you will be granted a vial of advancement serum."

Jiang Lan smiled—her gamble had paid off.

The man returned his book to the shelf and departed quickly, while Jiang Lan continued to read. She was not careless; since she had come to read, she would act the part. Leaving now would only draw suspicion.

She sometimes thought herself clever. She had not been admitted to Jiangdu University or Jiangzhou University, but that was only because of her own carelessness in youth. Now, having awakened, she saw no reason she couldn't also become a Divine Physique being. It was only fair.

So, she sought every possible path to ascend—even joining the New Moon Cult.

At that moment, Chen Meng had no idea the city of Jiangzhou was in turmoil because of a rat. He was still studying with all his might, desperate to pass the entrance exam for Jiangdu University.

When he returned home and switched on the light, he saw Rat Bebe leafing through his old junior high textbooks.

A rat, reading a schoolbook as if it were scripture—no matter how one looked at it, it was an odd sight.