Another O5

Huh?

Hearing this voice, Zhang Jue froze for a full second. He looked around, but there was no one around.

"Where are you looking, it's me talking to you!" It was only then that Zhang Jue confirmed that it was really this flower talking to him.

It's alive! So, this was the power he had acquired from Cain! He could actually talk to the plant!

"Holy crap, that's awesome!" Zhang Jue shouted in his heart.

"Put away your foul language." The flower reprimanded, "Can't you see there are so many minors around?"

Zhang Jue shot a glance, and sure enough it was right. Except for this one, which had bloomed earlier and others were still not bloomed. Perhaps in their eyes, they were still underage. Oh no, underage flowers.

"Sorry, it's my habit." Zhang Jue said heatedly, "Man, let me ask you a question. Why didn't you open your mouth before?"

"Before?" The flower snickered, "I've been talking to you before too, you just couldn't hear me."

So that was it. Zhang Jue could probably guess the reason for this. He had acquired Cain's ability. When faced with these plants, he could only communicate with them if he genuinely treated them as partners. Having figured this out, Zhang Jue turned to the other little plant.

"Little fellow, can you hear me?" He asked.

A childish voice rang out in his mind, "Who are you?"

Zhang Jue was overjoyed to discover that he could already master this skill.

He stroked the tip of the little grass's leaf with his hand, "Little one, don't be afraid. I'm a good guy-"

Before he could finish his words, a middle-aged woman's voice rang out from his mind.

"Hey, you stupid human. Get your dirty hands off my daughter!"

"Daughter?" Zhang Jue wondered, "I remember that you guys don't have any male and female gene? Is there such a thing as a son and daughter in the botanical world?"

Zhang Jue's knowledge of botany was not great, and he didn't know that while some plants had those genes. There were many plants that had a strict distinction between female and male individuals.

However, the mother of the flower could not explain so much to Zhang Jue. She said in a disdainful tone, "You humans can call cats and dogs sons and daughters. I can call my offspring whatever I want, why do you care?"

Well, it seems that this one is still a feisty one. But she also has a point. Zhang Jue laughed and turned to the previous flower.

"What about you? are you a male or a female?"

The flower proudly said, "Sorry, although I am as beautiful as a flower. I am a real man, a pure man!"

...

Having finally mastered the proper use of Cain's ability, Zhang Jue was in a good mood. After training, he could already communicate with most plants. Through this period of experimentation, he had discovered that even plants had high and low intelligence. But despite this, Zhang Jue was still very satisfied.

The ability obtained from Cain was not combat-oriented, but it was also very important. At some point, it could be used to great effect when used well. Zhang Jue came to Site-17, no matter what the reason what he got from there was not a total loss.

He wandered around the site for more than a month. Just when he was impatient and intended to go back to Site-14 with Yang Xue, a letter suddenly came from the Foundation headquarters. This also means that there is finally some information regarding follow-up of Site-237.

This day, someone from the headquarters came to Site-17. Even the Site Director Hubbard also rarely dressed in formal clothes. Needless to say, the person who came here to meet Zhang Jue was certainly not low in rank.

The extended version of the special vehicle slowly drove into the side gate of Site-17 without a sound and behind it, a whole MTF squad followed to indicate the identity of the person to whom this car belonged.

Must be a certain O5 member to have such qualifications and strength. The O5 council is the highest authority of the Foundation, yet the fellows working in the Foundation may never see them in their lifetime.

The moment that car pulled into the site gates, those gossip-loving researchers each found a good spot to satisfy their curiosity by even taking a look. All of them were discussing excitedly.

There are 13 people in the O5 council, and I wonder how many this one is. Legend has it that they all have three heads and six arms, even a few of them are not human at all.

Most importantly, what exactly they are doing when they come to Site-17? Even Site Director Hubbard is not enough for an O5 to travel so far to visit in person.

However, they don't know who would come at this time. It was possible that they had come to see Advisor Zhang Jue.

Everyone, including Clement, nodded secretly. After all, at this time within this site. The only one who really had the ability to get O5's attention besides Site Director Hubbard was Advisor Zhang. The more people think about it, the more they think it makes sense again.

It's the only explanation that make sense. In the crowd, the little girl called Kareena silently lowered her head while looking at the extended car and listening to people's praise of Advisor Zhang. An O5 had indeed come to see Zhang Jue.

Early in the morning, Zhang Jue and Yang Xue were both placed in a specially made room by Hubbard and they were very strictly screened, as if they were afraid of carrying any weapons.

In response, Zhang Jue could only hummed. If he really wanted to do harm to an O5, there were a million ways to bring weapons in unnoticed. Even if he didn't, it didn't matter. He himself was the most lethal weapon. But still, before he has turned his back on the Foundation, he still has to take it easy and not go too far when facing those so-called O5 Council.

A knock sounded on the door, followed by a kind-eyed old man walking in with the help of Hubbard. This level of hospitality was really high, even the Deputy Site Manager Harvey is not enough. Hubbard was not young, but the one he was supporting was obviously even older than him to the point trembling on its steps.

If Zhang Jue remembered correctly, this was the third O5 he had met. Unlike O5-2 (SCP-3844's old friend) and O5-5 (The Woman), this old man didn't have any special aura. Generally speaking, people who have been on top for a long time are bound to have some feeling, but there was no sense of it from them at all. He was just like an old man in the neighborhood. But it was also this feeling that let Zhang Jue know that this was certainly not a person to be messed with either.

"Advisor Zhang, Dr. Yang Xue. How are you?" The old man smiled, "I'm O5-8. I've bothered you guys to wait here for so long. I'm too old to be useful."

"No need to be polite, old man." Zhang Jue clasped his fist, not humbled, "It's okay to wait longer. As long as you bring good news."

O5-8 nodded, "The two of you found the long-lost Site-237, reorganized the Antimemetics Division, destroyed SCP-3125 once again, and saved humanity. Taking the greatest credit, what I bring you is of course none other than good news."

"Oh? Really? What good news? A monetary reward of 5 million?" Zhang Jue rubbed his hands. This time, he would not donate it again.

But the old man shook his head, his eyes shining, "Maybe it's even better than that."