Chapter 22: Same-Frequency Sensing and the Invisible Person

by cnwebnovels

Based on my time observing the base and the files I’d secretly accessed, I had a feeling: the Sweeper organization wasn’t as simple as it appeared.

Something else might be hidden behind it. Because:

First, the Sweepers had far too much power—enough to arrest heads of state and operate above the law. They claimed UN authorization, but how could the UN have that kind of authority? It didn’t possess such power itself, so how could it delegate it?

Second, after the Human–Machine War, advanced AI had been abolished worldwide. Only the Sweepers could use it without restriction. So where did their AI come from? Xuanhong had been an architect, so I knew existing Silicon Valley companies couldn’t produce it.

Third, these AI-modified Sweepers already held an overwhelming advantage over the world, yet they still more or less fulfilled their duties. Then who was keeping them in check? Unchecked power would inevitably run rampant. The only thing that stops it is a wall.

So where was the wall?

Just as I sat around with nothing to do, letting my mind wander, Yin Kun sent someone for me again. This time, the person took me somewhere new.

At first I thought I was being interrogated. Then I noticed the investigator escorting me was rather polite, so that didn’t seem right.

The investigator drove me deep into a section of the facility. Three gates, each requiring multiple verifications before we could pass.

When we cleared the final gate, I finally saw the words above the entrance: CWP Tianshu Department.

The Tianshu Department was the decision-making core of the Sweeper base. I’d been to the other three departments. Only the Tianshu Department had remained mysterious. This was my first visit.

I had no idea why he’d brought me here.

The Tianshu Department building resembled the Cultural Intelligence Department, only far more luxurious. From the interior finishes to the office equipment, everything exuded refinement.

The investigator handed me over to an elderly man in an office, then turned and left without a word of explanation.

The old man gestured for me to sit across from his desk but said nothing, only watched me.

I didn’t know what he was after, so I didn’t ask. I just waited. Since they’d brought me here, there had to be a reason. I wasn’t going to speak first.

The old man leisurely puffed on an electronic cigarette, watching me while seemingly lost in his own thoughts.

His office was a little cold. It reminded me of the little dark room where I’d first encountered the black-clad men. Of course, this office had lights and wasn’t dark. Just cold.

I suddenly understood. Perhaps it had to do with the AI products installed in their bodies. Those things consumed energy and probably generated heat.

I sat quietly and looked back at him, waiting for him to speak. But he showed no sign of it. The two of us just kept staring awkwardly at each other.

I had no choice but to activate same-frequency sensing to find out what he wanted.

The moment I did, my same-frequency sensing actually detected that besides the two of us, there was a third person in the room!

But there were clearly only two people here.

What was going on?

I went on alert.

Was there another person hidden in the room?

Someone next door? Some kind of humanoid device?

Ever since I’d absorbed Xuanhong’s memories and gained skills from reading the Sweepers’ faces, my same-frequency sensing had improved dramatically. When I sensed someone, I could definitely tell how far they were from me.

But now, I felt the person I couldn’t see was standing right beside me. What was this? And he was moving slightly. The signal was exceptionally strong.

Of course, I wasn’t about to say anything. I pretended ignorance.

Inside, though, my mind raced. Could AI render a person invisible? If not AI, then what?

A new type of thought detector? An invisible simulated human? Or a soul person?

Did those exist?

The Sweepers were far more complex than I’d imagined.

The old man seemed to notice the shift in my expression. He glanced left and right but said nothing. I couldn’t tell what he was waiting for.

So I concentrated harder, focusing my energy on sensing the invisible person.

His brainwaves told me he was a real person.

I could even feel his slightly tense, complex thoughts, and the sigh he gave while observing me.

A ghost?

Did this old man know?

He should, right?

But the old man’s brainwaves told me he didn’t. It was making him uneasy.

After a long silence, the old man finally spoke.

“My name is Bi Deyuan. I asked you here to discuss same-frequency sensing.”

I still didn’t know this man’s angle, so I didn’t dare speak carelessly. I only replied, “Same-frequency sensing? What’s that? I don’t really understand.”

The old man didn’t seem rushed. Unhurriedly, he asked, “Do you know Tesla?”

“Yes.”

I didn’t understand why he’d brought this up, so I answered honestly.

“Do you mean the man who invented the Tesla coil, or Tesla-brand devices? If you mean the person, he was one of the greatest inventors of the early twentieth century. Major contributions to electricity, electric fields, and electronic equipment.”

Bi Deyuan said, “Mm. Not bad. A child who likes to read. Tesla had a theory called same-frequency resonance. This theory holds that the universe is an energy field filled with intelligence. The individual consciousness of each of us isn’t produced in isolation—it’s merely the tiny portion a living body can perceive. Consciousness is an energy form that permeates all life and resonates with the universe. Primary consciousness created our existing social structures. Intermediate consciousness can achieve its objectives through conscious energy resonance, like an amplifier. Advanced consciousness requires no tools at all and resonates directly with the ether.”

That profound?

Too bad I didn’t really understand.

But I knew he was trying to guide me toward understanding same-frequency resonance.

Tesla was undoubtedly a great scientist. Any one of his inventions could shake the world of his time. But what did he have to do with me?

From what this old man implied, same-frequency sensing had already been theoretically explored back in Tesla’s era—he’d simply never realized it. I, however, had been born with it.

So I said, “Then, Mr. Bi, you’re saying this has something to do with me?”

The old man nodded. “It has to do with everyone. I’m telling you this to establish a concept. I hope you’ll voluntarily join our three-level same-frequency resonance project. Our Tianshu Department is investigating and developing this achievement. We took Xuanhong away earlier because he possessed same-frequency resonance ability at the second level. Testing revealed an AI bioelectronic amplifier installed in his brain, allowing him to sense others’ thoughts. This achievement is remarkable. Unfortunately, we hadn’t discovered where he’d obtained it before he died. A bit of a shame.”

I felt Bi Deyuan was insinuating something about me. And he wanted to study me. This talk of joining the project was obviously meant to make me their lab rat.

That would put me in real danger. So I gave no answer and played dumb all the way.

Bi Deyuan continued, “We’ve carefully analyzed and studied all your performances. You clearly possess same-frequency resonance sensing ability. This is very important to us.”

I said quickly, “What if I say I don’t have it?”

Bi Deyuan said, “That would only mean you’re dishonest. We’d have to use certain measures on you until you tell the truth.”

I went on. “Then I’d better be honest. I actually don’t know anything about same-frequency sensing ability. I was just born with unusually sharp intuition about other people’s thoughts. Believe that?”

Bi Deyuan smiled. “Not entirely. But partly. Your ability is clearly stronger than Xuanhong’s. Xuanhong relied on an AI bioelectronic amplifier. You seem not to. That’s precisely where your greatest value lies.”

I said, “So how do you want to study me? You’re not planning to dissect me, are you?”

Bi Deyuan said, “If you don’t cooperate, yes. If you can explain clearly, no. Continue.”

I leaned forward slightly. “Mr. Bi, I really don’t understand this same-frequency resonance sensing you’re talking about. But I am quite sensitive to biological information around me. Like bats or dolphins. They use echolocation to render things they can’t see. Infrasound waves, I think. Maybe I’m like that.”

The old man listened quietly until I finished, then his expression grew serious.

“Right now, can you sense my thoughts? Can you sense whether there are other people’s thoughts around me at this moment?”

I asked quickly, “Other people? Isn’t it just the two of us here? I can sense a bit of what you’re thinking. The people next door, I’m not sure about.”

When the old man heard me interpret “other people” as “people next door,” his thoughts noticeably relaxed.

I immediately realized he’d probably summoned me to use my same-frequency sensing to help him detect whether anyone was hidden nearby.

So this invisible person hadn’t been arranged by Bi Deyuan?

No wonder he’d stayed silent this whole time. He’d deliberately let me activate same-frequency sensing to help him probe.

Sly old fox.

The old man had apparently achieved his objective, so his tone shifted toward wrapping up.

“Go back and consider my suggestion. Whether you join CWP or the project team, you must choose one.”

My expression darkened. “Isn’t this forced conscription? That’s not right! Liu Biao already promised that if I beat Min Long, he’d let me out right away.”

“The fact that you beat him makes it even less possible to release you. It proves you’re more valuable.”

With that, the old man waved me off.

This old bastard. No sense of reason at all.

Back in the dorm, I started thinking about escape routes. I definitely couldn’t become their lab rat, and I didn’t want to join the Sweepers.

If there was truly no other option, I’d have to use the immobilizing spell.

Just as I mulled over how to escape, I suddenly realized the invisible person had quietly followed me.

I got up quickly and walked outside.

I kept walking until I reached a place without people or surveillance.

A place I’d prepared long ago for beating people up—the public restroom inside the building.

I checked every stall. Empty.

Then I suddenly launched a flying kick at the invisible person.

I wanted to see what the hell this thing was.

If it was a soul, or some spirit person made of empty space, then I’d have kicked for nothing.