As class finished, Tangmo, who was absent-minded, was stopped by Hu Daoke. He told Tangmo that Luo'er wanted them to gather at his dormitory. Although she didn't quite understand what Luo'er was up to, she decided to go anyway.
She reached Luo'er's house with Hu Daoke and knocked on the door. Luo'er himself opened the door, then invited them in.
There were already two people at Luo'er's house, Baiyue and Cheng Ziang, who didn't participate in Tangmo and Hu Daoke's exploration plan, so she didn't quite understand why Luo'er had also called them.
"Sit!" Once inside, Luo'er gestured for them to sit down. After their last meeting, Luo'er had requested a set of tea tables from the logistics department, to facilitate their discussions and meetings.
After everyone had settled, Luo'er took the seat of honor. He looked around at all of them; his expression was serious, as if he was about to disclose some major secret, which made everyone present a bit nervous.
Luo'er took a strange device out of his pocket, pressed it, and put it on the table. He took a deep breath and then cleared his throat, saying seriously: "This is a Signal Blocker. If there are any eavesdropping devices around, they will all be blocked by it."
Then, he once again looked at everyone, his expression serious, "What I'm about to say might change your worldview. So, I hope you can promise not to leak any of this, okay?"
"I can!" Unexpectedly, the first to respond was Cheng Ziang, and he was decidedly firm.
"What about the rest of you?" Luo'er looked at the others.
"I can!" Baiyue nodded.
"Sister Moumou?" Hu Daoke, who was unsure, looked at Tangmo.
"I promise you, I won't leak anything!" Tangmo's eyes were firm, she declared decisively.
"Me too!" Hearing Tangmo's guarantee, Hu Daoke also nodded in agreement.
"Thank you. If any of you were to leak this, not only would you find yourselves in trouble, President Luo Qishan would also be in a difficult position!"
"President Luo Qishan..." Tangmo looked at Luo'er, expressing the biggest doubt in her heart.
"You've been wanting to know my relationship with him, haven't you, Moumou?" Luo'er looked at Tangmo, paused for a moment, then slowly said, "He is my grandfather!"
Grandfather!
This was a very alien concept to everyone, because in their lives they had only met their biological mothers, then daily encountered teachers and instructors. As for a father or grandfather, they were entirely unfamiliar.
"The difference between you and me is..." Luo'er hesitated for a moment, then continued, "I have my own parents. My parents gave birth to me in the Otherworld, and when I was five years old, my father brought me back to Earth..."
"As for all of you..." Luo'er clenched his fist, glanced down at the blocker on the table, let out a sigh, and said, "Your births originate from a plan that the Ministry of Defense established twenty-three years ago, the Origin Project!!"
"Origin Project!"
Everyone looked at one another and then turned their eyes in unison to Luo'er, hoping he could answer their questions.
"The Origin Project involved the fusion of Earthlings' and Otherworlders' genes, creating hybrids that could adapt to the environments of both Earth and the Otherworld. These hybrids are intended to become the key forces for their control of the Otherworld."
"You've all studied the history of the Otherworld War, so you should know that the greatest casualties in the conflict came from the difference in the two worlds' environments. The Otherworld is filled with magic, an invisible substance existing in the atmosphere that unconsciously permeates every living body. Otherworlders' bodies are like sponges, allowing magic to flow and accumulate freely. But Earthlings are like stone, unable to receive magic. Still, magic constantly tries to permeate Earthling bodies, causing irreversible damage. Once magic invades an Earthling's body, it causes organ failure, at which point it's too late to do anything."
"After the Second Otherworld War, Earth and the Otherworld kept the peace, but both were wary of each other, constantly seeking out the other's vulnerabilities and weaknesses over the past few decades. Twenty-three years ago, the Ministry of Defense launched the Origin Project, investing huge sums of money into researching the genetic fusion between Earthlings and Otherworlders."
Luo'er's speech left everyone shocked. They had never imagined that their births were entirely due to a war plan. What puzzled them more, however, was why Luo'er was so well-informed.
Observing their thoughts, Luo'er paused, then continued, "I know what you're thinking."
"Why do I know so much about this project? That's because I was a witness to the entire plan. Or rather, the entire plan came into being because of me..."
Seemingly recalling some painful memories, Luo'er lowered his head and covered his brain with both hands, closing his eyes and trying not to remember those painful past events.
At this moment, Tangmo was just staring at him in a daze, completely stunned. Therefore, when she saw the painful expression on Luo'er's face, she didn't rush forward to console him.
Taking a pause, Luo'er continued, "I've always been hiding my age from all of you. In fact, I'm older than each of you. I was born in 2022, which means I am almost 30 years old now. The Origin Project was initiated when I was six years old, and the architect behind the entire project... was my grandfather, General Luo Qishan!"
"Less than a year after my father arrived on Earth, he died due to organ failure caused by magic power erosion. On his deathbed, he entrusted me to my grandfather, who was General Luo Qishan at that time. However…"
Struggling with his words, Luo'er covered his mouth, his voice choked with emotion, "Because I was the world's first mixed blood of Earth and Otherworld, he used me as a reference and proposed to the Ministry of Defense this Origin Project of mixed-blood between Earth people and Otherworlders."
"My entire childhood was spent in a laboratory, endless blood tests, scans, and examinations, my dignity was completely trampled upon. I was like a precious guinea pig, being played and experimented on at will… and he, as my grandfather, hid behind thick glass barriers, coldly watching everything!" Luo'er said, revealing his arm, which still held numerous needle puncture scars.
No one dared to speak, they all took a deep, cold breath, silently listening to Luo'er continue his story.
"After obtaining the desired data from me, they began to cultivate new hybrids, which are the so-called sub-humans. But their research progress has always been hindered, and they have failed countless times. Just when the Ministry of Defense was about to give up on this project, a breakthrough happened in 2029. They found an expert in bio-research. Through him, they edited the genes of the hybrids, and finally completed the fusion of the fertilized egg at the beginning of the year. On December 8th, 2030, the first sub-human born in the laboratory marked the full start of the Origin Project..."
"Wait, you said December 8, 2030!" Tangmo suddenly stood up, calling out in disbelief. This date was all too familiar for her.
Luo'er glanced at her, then nodded, "Yes, Moumou... was the first successful sub-human born as part of the Origin Project. That's also why, you're older than everyone else."
"How...how can this be..." Tangmo showed a look of disbelief.
"I was there that day. When you were just born, you only cried a few times and then calmed down, not making any noise afterwards. Then, your mom...or rather, your birth mom said, you're so quiet, let's name you Moumou..." Luo'er went on to narrate that episode of Tangmo's past.
"Moumou...mom..." Tangmo sat down in a daze, her eyes instantly reddened, tears falling uncontrollably.
Luo'er didn't console Tangmo but continued, "After Moumou's successful birth, the project unfolded comprehensively. They started to breed sub-humans in large scale secretly in the same year. The entire area where Haiya Academy is located was classified as a military zone, guarded by heavy troops to prevent confidential leaks. By 2033, Haiya Academy had produced over 300 sub-humans, the so-called first batch. According to their expectations, once the third Otherworld war breaks out, they will dispatch the Earth's forces to crush the Otherworld army, then hand over the occupied territory to the sub-humans for control. Hence, for so many years, they have been tirelessly researching Otherworld weapons and magic, hoping to gain an advantage in the next war."
"That is the complete secret to this academy, and your identities. The reason I kept it from you was that I didn't want my grandfather to be implicated by your disclosure. Although I hate him, I don't want to lose him. I've already lost my father…I don't want to lose my grandfather too…" Luo'er's voice trailed off knowing how unfair it was to say so. He at least still had family, whereas those facing him have been alone since birth.
"So, are we destined not to see our mothers?" Tangmo asked through her tears.
"Yes, but that would require declassification." Luo'er replied after a pause, "In the year you were born, 2030, the modification of human genes itself was still considered unethical. Even the high-level officials could not withstand the pressure of public opinion. Once the matter is declassified in the future, that should change..."
"When will that future be?" Tangmo retorted.
"I don't know..." Luo'er bowed his head and fell silent.
"Why didn't they just allow Earthers and Otherworlders to naturally produce sub-humans?" Cheng Ziang, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly asked.
"Because..."
Luo'er was just about to answer, but he heard a familiar voice behind him, "Because the union of Earthers and Otherworlders itself is a tragedy!"
Everyone was startled, they turned around to find a sturdy man standing at the entrance. He had his hands behind his back, answering Cheng Ziang's question coldly.
Luo'er recognized him as Wang Xu. But what was he doing here at this time?
"What are you trying to do?" Hu Daoke jumped to his feet to ask.
"Keep calm, I'm not here to make things difficult." Wang Xu said as he revealed a pistol with a silencer attached to it in his right hand.
"Luo'er, you!" Hu Daoke looked at him in disbelief.
"It's not..." Luo'er was somewhat flustered, he quickly got up, stood in front of Wang Xu, clenched his teeth and asked, "What exactly do you want to do, are you tabling a motion for fishing law enforcement?"
"I told you, I'm not here to make things difficult for you." Wang Xu said as he calmly unloaded the magazine, and then pulled open the gun case to show that there was no bullet.
"All of you sit down. Since you've all promised Luo'er that you will keep it a secret, I'll pretend I know nothing. Of course, I'm here to clarify a few points, to prevent you from going down the wrong path." Wang Xu said slowly, he walked towards the group, tucking his gun into his waistband.