The commotion at the camp's outer perimeter caught Zhou Ningning's attention. With her characteristic sense of ownership over everything she'd decided was her responsibility, she went immediately to find out what was happening.

"What's going on?" She stopped someone she didn't recognize.

The person recognized her. "You're Coal Lady from Huainan, right?"

Zhou Ningning smiled. "That's me — Zhou Ningning. We're all one family now."

"Right, right — welcome, all you brothers and sisters from Huainan." The brief pleasantry dispensed with: "Coal Lady, you probably haven't heard yet — Colonel Hu Ge captured the Tentacle Monster alive. The one that attacked the tunnel crew yesterday. The Research Institute people are all rushing over. First near-Heavyweight evolved beast we've taken alive!"

"What?" Zhou Ningning stopped. "He captured the Tentacle Monster? By himself?"

"Colonel Hu always operates alone." The man laughed at himself a little. "That's what the gap in evolution looks like, I suppose. I'm an iron person too, but I just process machinery here in camp. Nothing like the combat evolved people."

"Every role contributes to humanity and to this camp — don't sell yourself short," Zhou Ningning said, making a rallying fist gesture that carried genuine energy. "As long as you do what you're capable of, that's something to be proud of. Don't measure yourself against others."

"Thank you — I'll remember that, Coal Lady."

"Call me Sister Zhou. What's your name?"

"Chen Honghui."

"I'll remember it. Come on, Chen Honghui — show me where Colonel Hu is. I want to see this Tentacle Monster."

Standing at the platform's edge, Zhou Ningning and Chen Honghui had a clear view of Shen Cong's isolated elevated platform — positioned outside the camp's fence line, with a sign planted in the ground: No Entry Without Permission.

On the platform, beside Great Vajra, the Tentacle Monster hung from chains. Its forelimbs could just reach the ground, and the moment they made contact it clawed frantically — the stone surface disintegrated under its grip like tofu, scattering pebbles in every direction. But the chains only let it dig ten or fifteen centimeters before pulling…