Chapter 2: Evolution
The old residential building was quickly surrounded by police cars, the area below blocked off and congested, but the residents on Xu Huo's floor kept their doors tightly shut.
"Man, I really don't know what kind of bad luck you've hit, this is the third time this month." Zhao Biao, the veteran detective leading the team, took the cigarette Xu Huo offered, shook his head sympathetically, then pointed to a black RV trailing behind the police cars. "There are other people coming to ask questions today. Just tell them everything you know, and you'll be fine."
Xu Huo looked over and saw a young man in a sharp suit step out of the vehicle, his leather shoes gleaming like an elite attending a formal event, completely out of place in the neighborhood.
The man cast a glance at him, then walked over a few steps. "You're Xu Huo? Let's talk in the car."
He looked at Zhao Biao, not bothering to ask for Xu Huo's consent.
"Alright, I'm done here." Zhao Biao waved his hand.
Xu Huo followed the young man into the car, sitting across from him. A secretary-like figure beside them opened their phone to record.
"New face today?"
Xu Huo was the first to speak. The secretary instinctively glanced at the young man beside them, and the gentlemanly young man took over. "I need to ask you some questions. I hope you'll answer truthfully."
Xu Huo nodded. The car had come twice before, but back then, the secretary had accompanied an experienced middle-aged man.
"Tell me what happened."
Xu Huo recounted the events truthfully. After listening, the young man began questioning:
"Why did you buy a refrigerator?"
"The one at home was broken."
"What kind of food do you usually like to eat?"
"I'm not picky; I eat anything."
"Any recent changes in your appetite?"
"It's been too hot, so I've been eating more vegetables."
"Did you experience any physical changes when you came into contact with the deceased? Like hunger, thirst, or increased strength?"
"No."
"Your file shows you graduated from a top domestic university and come from a well-off family. Why are you working as a temporary actor in Ting City?"
"I have a bad relationship with my family. I don't want to rely on them."
"You worked as a stunt double for two years and a temporary actor for four years in Ting City. During that time, several directors offered you acting opportunities. Why did you refuse?"
"Personal preference."
The young man's gaze lingered on his face for two seconds before continuing:
"Why do you think criminals have targeted you three times?"
Xu Huo's tone shifted, becoming flat. "Victim-blaming theory?"
The secretary smoothed things over. "Mr. Xu, we're asking this to determine the conditions criminals use to select their victims..."
Xu Huo stared at the young man for a moment, thought briefly, then said, "I don't know about the first two, but today's one said I smelled good. She was a woman, probably thought I was handsome."
The young man gave a faint, knowing smile. "What did you think was different about that woman compared to ordinary people?"
"Pretty twisted. She tried to seduce me as soon as she came in, and she was unusually strong. Might have worked as a stunt double before."
"What did she say?"
"Not much. She just said she was an Evolver, had a lot of money, and asked me to save her."
"Do you know the person in the refrigerator?"
"Yes, he's a courier who often delivers packages around here."
...
The question-and-answer session dragged on for nearly two hours in the car before Xu Huo was finally let go. As he was getting out, the young man handed him a business card. "If your body starts to change, it's best to contact me. That would be the wisest choice."
"Ting City First Research Institute, Nie Xuan." Xu Huo held the card and joked, "You're not going to slice Evolvers up for study, are you?"
"There are many rumors about Evolvers online, but the result of not managing them properly is ending up like that woman who attacked you."
Nie Xuan didn't say much more. He tucked the cigarette Xu Huo had left in the car into his shirt pocket, gave it a light pat, then turned and walked away.
Watching the car drive off, Xu Huo stuffed the business card into his pants pocket, lit another cigarette, and turned back.
The police weren't done yet. Zhao Biao wanted to arrange a place for him at a nearby guesthouse, but Xu Huo refused, saying he'd stay at a friend's place for a few days. He quickly packed a couple of changes of clothes and found a nearby inn.
As soon as he entered the room, a stifling wave of hunger surged over him. Xu Huo shivered and took a deep drag of his cigarette, then dug out the compressed biscuits from his bag and stuffed them all into his mouth. But it still didn't ease that craving. He pressed his hands over his mouth and nose; his already cleaned skin seemed to still carry the scent of human blood, tantalizingly fragrant.
After a few minutes of calming down, he rubbed his pant leg hard and opened his tablet.
A month ago, strange phenomena had suddenly erupted all over the world. Along with these bizarre events, many people developed an insatiable urge to eat. Livestock and pets were the first to be attacked. Half a month ago, crime spiked explosively, with assault cases, disappearances, and murders being the most common.
After the initial uproar, someone suddenly proposed the "Evolver Theory." Since the urge to eat was accompanied by increased physical strength and sensory evolution, talk of "Earth's Mutation" and "Human Survival of the Fittest" quickly spread. Some radical forums even called on Evolvers to follow their instincts!
The forums were, of course, shut down immediately, but the real danger wasn't the rhetoric—it was the uncontrollable urge to eat that Evolvers couldn't suppress.
Xu Huo had encountered his first Evolver half a month ago, the second ten days ago, and today's woman was the third.
The first Evolver was clearly a novice, lacking physical strength and reflexes, acting purely on instinct like a wild beast.
The second Evolver already knew how to hide his urge to eat, even managed to buddy up with Xu Huo on set for a day, and that night found an excuse to "crash" at his place.
Today's woman knew how to disguise herself, but not very well. It wasn't that she couldn't; it was more likely she felt she had an advantage and didn't need to hide from an ordinary person.
In just a month, Evolvers had already adapted to this state.
Xu Huo stubbed out his cigarette and checked his pulse against his watch.
227 beats per minute. This heart rate was far beyond the normal range, but it wasn't his fastest. His fastest had been nearly 300 beats per minute.
Normally, such a rapid heart rate would cause dizziness, weakness, difficulty breathing, or even fainting and shock. But since his heart rate had started acting up a month ago, within just ten days, he had gradually adapted. The highest was nearly 300, the lowest under 40.
Besides the changes in heart rate and the urge to eat, his physical strength and sense of smell had also improved. His once slightly nearsighted eyes had returned to normal.
But this was nothing compared to the woman he'd seen today.
That woman's physical strength and speed were clearly superior to his. She was petite and physically weaker than an adult male, yet her rate of improvement was greater than his and the two previous Evolvers.
"Is it because she's passed the initial screening?"
Xu Huo sat at the foot of the bed, repeatedly flicking the disposable lighter in his hand, staring at the flickering flame.
"How do I get on that car?"
Just then, his vision suddenly went black, and a translucent projection screen lit up:
"Detecting this player's attributes, providing the following three career options:"
"A Gambler; B Adventurer; C Passerby."