American comics: Only I know the plot

Chapter 158 Detention and Vitality

Struggling will only increase the military's suspicions and may even lead to being identified as a dangerous individual on the spot.

Li Wei knew better than anyone that resistance was pointless in this area completely controlled by the military.

He could only endure it for the time being, pretending to be the most innocent and timid ordinary medical assistant.

Wait for the right opportunity to escape.

Soon, the two led Li Wei to a private lounge attached to the laboratory.

This is a completely enclosed, small room with no windows, so there is no view of the outside world.

The interior furnishings were extremely sparse, consisting of only a cold metal table and two hard plastic chairs.

A dim incandescent light bulb hung overhead, casting a yellowish glow that enveloped the entire room in a sense of oppression.

The soldier shoved Li Wei hard into the chair, so hard that he almost fell over.

He staggered to his feet and before he could even catch his breath, a pair of cold metal handcuffs were handed to him.

The handcuffs had a cold, hard silver sheen, sharp edges, and a metallic chill.

With a crisp click, the handcuffs were fastened tightly to Li Wei's wrists.

The icy touch instantly spread throughout Li Wei's body, sending a chill down his spine.

The handcuffs were fastened very tightly; even the slightest movement would leave deep marks on the wrists.

This is a symbol of his complete loss of freedom and direct proof of the military's high level of suspicion towards him.

Li Wei lowered his eyes, concealing the fleeting coldness and wariness in them, offering no resistance whatsoever.

After confirming that the handcuffs were locked, the two soldiers turned and left the room, slamming the door shut behind them.

With a muffled thud, the door was locked from the inside, and heavy footsteps immediately followed outside.

Clearly, guards had been deployed outside to prevent any possibility of escape.

In the small room, only Li Wei remained, so quiet that he could hear his own heartbeat.

Li Wei slowly raised his handcuffed hands and examined them carefully.

The metal handcuffs are hard and cannot be opened without a key; forcibly breaking free will only injure your wrist.

He gently moved his fingers, feeling the constriction around his wrists, and quickly made a mental calculation.

The fact that the military has placed him in solitary confinement indicates that he has become a prime suspect.

The walls of the room are made of thick soundproof material, so you can't hear any outside noise.

Only the faint hum of the overhead incandescent bulbs added to the eerie stillness.

Li Wei calmly surveyed his surroundings, memorizing every detail of the room.

The walls were smooth and without gaps, the doors were thick and sturdy, and there were no tools available.

This is a temporary, sealed cell specifically used to detain suspicious individuals.

Li Wei leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes slightly, and sorted through all the information in his mind.

From the experiment going out of control, to Banner transforming, to the Hulk breaking through the wall and escaping, the military sealed off the scene.

Every step proceeded exactly as he had predicted, without the slightest deviation.

His act of helping his injured assistant, though seemingly well-intentioned, made him stand out in the eyes of the military.

A medical assistant who can remain calm and help others in the midst of chaos is bound to attract attention.

In addition, before the accident, he had approached the control panel and reminded Banner to stop the experiment.

All of this combined was enough for the military to list him as their top suspect.

Li Wei knew very well that what awaited him next would not be a simple questioning.

This will be a rigorous, meticulous, and relentless interrogation, attempting to pry all the secrets out of him.

He had to prepare in advance, polishing all his statements to be flawless, leaving no room for doubt.

The consequences would be unimaginable if the secret of knowing the plot and foreseeing the accident were revealed.

After an unknown amount of time, footsteps finally came from outside the door.

The footsteps were steady and powerful, with an even rhythm, clearly belonging to a high-ranking officer.

The sound stopped at the doorway, and then the lock turned and the door was slowly pushed open.

A tall, imposing figure walked in against the light.

The person who arrived was dressed in a crisp military uniform, and the insignia on his shoulder straps indicated a high rank.

His face was serious and cold, his features sharp as if carved by a knife, without any superfluous expression.

His eyes were sharp as an eagle's, carrying the majesty and oppressive aura of someone who had been in a high position for many years, as he stared directly at Li Wei.

He exudes an aura that keeps strangers at bay, making people involuntarily feel fear.

The officer didn't say anything, but walked straight to the chair opposite Li Wei and sat down.

He placed a black notebook on the table, holding a fountain pen in his hand, his movements swift and decisive.

Throughout the entire process, his gaze never left Li Wei, scrutinizing him carefully from head to toe.

Those eyes seemed to pierce through the skin, reaching straight to the heart, seeing through all the hidden secrets.

The atmosphere in the cramped room instantly became incredibly oppressive, almost suffocating.

The dim, yellowish light from the incandescent bulb fell on the officer's face, creating interplay of light and shadow that made him appear even more imposing.

Li Wei kept his head down, his body slightly tense, deliberately appearing nervous and uneasy.

He knew that the interrogation had officially begun.

The officer remained silent for a full half minute before slowly speaking.

His voice was deep and cold, carrying an undeniable severity, like ice slamming onto a metal tabletop.

Without any opening remarks or buffer, they went straight to the most crucial and pointed questions.

"Tell me, what exactly happened on the day of the experiment?"

Li Wei's body trembled slightly, as if he were frightened by the stern questioning.

He slowly raised his head, his eyes deliberately filled with fear and panic, his lips trembling slightly.

This is the most genuine and reasonable reaction from an ordinary eyewitness, without any trace of deliberate intent.

He had to convince the officer in front of him that he was just an innocent, cowardly assistant.

Seeing that Li Wei remained silent, the officer frowned slightly and spoke in a more stern tone.

"Stop playing dumb. Tell me, what exactly went wrong at the experiment site?"

Why did the gamma rays suddenly go out of control? Why did the laboratory explode and collapse?

A barrage of questions, like a barrage of cannonballs, rained down on Li Wei.

Li Wei's body trembled even more violently, his eyes darting away, unable to meet the officer's gaze.

He deliberately slowed down his speech and made his voice tremble noticeably, simulating a state of panic.

"I—I don't know either—I'm just a medical assistant, and I've only been at the base for a few days—"

"I don't understand the details of the experiment; I was just on-site to provide medical support as per regulations."

The officer did not interrupt, but stared at him coldly, his suspicion undisguised.

Li Wei swallowed hard and continued to answer cautiously, following the script he had rehearsed beforehand.

"Everything was normal after the experiment started, until later—the instrument suddenly alarmed."

"The rays—the rays suddenly went out of control, there was light everywhere, and debris was flying everywhere—"

He deliberately described the horrific scene to emphasize his "excessive shock".

The details are authentic and credible, and do not contradict the accounts of other eyewitnesses.

The officer's pen hovered over the notebook, neither taking notes nor asking further questions, but simply observing Li Wei's expression.

Every subtle change in expression did not escape his sharp eyes.

After a few seconds of silence, the officer posed the second crucial question.

"How did Bruce Banner become that monster?"

This question hits the nail on the head and is also the most bizarre and confidential part of the entire incident.

The military is eager to know the truth behind Banner's transformation and the secrets hidden behind it.

A perfectly timed look of fear flashed across Li Wei's eyes, and his body shrank abruptly.

It was as if I was reliving that terrifying scene in the laboratory, and I was greatly traumatized.

His voice trembled even more violently, almost on the verge of crying, perfectly befitting the reaction of someone who was frightened.

"Yes—yes, we were hit by rays—"

"Dr. Banner saw someone was injured and wanted to turn off the switch."

"He rushed into the beam of light, and then—and then his body started to change—"

"My skin turned green, I grew bigger, and I became so scary—I was so frightened that I couldn't move and almost fainted."

Li Wei's answer was half true and half false; he didn't fabricate anything, but he deliberately concealed key information.

He did not mention that he discovered the anomaly in advance, nor did he mention that he reminded Banner to suspend the experiment.

He didn't say he knew Banner would become the Hulk, or that it was all part of the predetermined plot.

He only described the surface phenomena he saw, portraying himself as a pure bystander.

All of these reactions are simply normal responses from an ordinary person facing a terrifying scene.

The officer stared into Li Wei's eyes, trying to find traces of a lie.

But in Li Wei's eyes, there was only pure fear, panic, and unease, without the slightest abnormality.

His expression, tone of voice, and body language all perfectly captured the essence of an innocent and timid new assistant.

No loopholes could be found, and no evidence could be found.

The officer paused for a moment, then posed a third, more pointed question.

"What's your relationship with Bruce Banner?"

Why did he react to what you said? What did you say to him before the accident?

Clearly, the military has obtained footage of Levi reminding Banner through surveillance and eyewitness accounts.

This is the most dangerous part, and also the part where your identity is most likely to be exposed.

Li Wei's heart clenched, alarm bells rang in his mind, but he appeared even more flustered on the surface.

He shook his head vigorously, almost shaking it off, and spoke urgently to defend himself.

"No—I have absolutely no connection with Dr. Banner!"

"He's the chief scientist, and I'm just a junior assistant; I hardly ever speak!"

He deliberately lowered his voice, as if afraid of being blamed, and explained with a sob in his voice.

"Before the accident, I only noticed that the radiation levels were abnormal and, out of a sense of duty, reminded him to be careful."

"I just did what I was supposed to do. I really didn't know the experiment would turn out like this—"

Li Wei's answer was reasonable and fully in line with the professional standards of a medical assistant.

Reminding patients of radiation safety is a medical assistant's job, and there is nothing wrong with that.

Even if he was caught on camera, it only shows that he was doing his job well, and it doesn't mean that he had a problem.

This was a foreshadowing that Li Wei had laid in advance, and it was also his safest and most reasonable protective shield.

No matter how the officers questioned him, they could not find any flaws in this matter.

The officer's eyes remained cold; his suspicion had not diminished, yet he could not refute it.

He stared intently at Li Wei, as if trying to see right through him, inside and out.

Li Wei remained in a state of panic, trembling slightly, his eyes filled with fear, and he dared not look up.

The two faced off like that, the air seemed to freeze, and the pressure grew heavier and heavier.

After a long while, the officer posed the final and most crucial question.

"Did you already know that this experiment would get out of control?"

"Did you already know that Bruce Banner would turn into a monster?"

This question directly touches upon Li Wei's biggest secret.

Once he admits it, he will face endless imprisonment and research.

Li Wei's body trembled violently, as if he were frightened by the question, and he suddenly raised his head.

His eyes were slightly red, filled with tears of shock, and his tone was full of grievance and fear.

"How could I possibly know—I really don't know!"

"I'm just a newbie, I don't know anything, I don't even know what the experiment is about!"

"If I had known it would turn out like this, I would never have stayed in the base—"

"That monster was terrifying! I'm still scared!"

Li Wei's emotional outburst was perfectly timed, a genuine reaction from a terrified ordinary person.

He didn't deliberately get agitated, nor did he try to defend himself; he simply revealed the purest fear and grievance.

This kind of response is far more persuasive than a calm explanation and is more likely to dispel the other party's doubts.

The officer frowned as he looked at Li Wei, and the suspicion in his eyes gradually eased.

After observing repeatedly for a long time, no suspicious flaws were found.

Li Wei's entire behavior was exactly like that of an ordinary, innocent, and overly frightened eyewitness.

There were no anomalies, no concealment, no logical flaws, and nothing to criticize.

The officer remained silent for a long time before slowly closing his notebook and not asking any further questions.

He stood up, straightened his uniform, and his eyes remained cold.

"You'd better not be lying. The military's investigation won't overlook any details."

"If I find out you're hiding something, the consequences will be more than you can handle."

The officer left a cold warning, his voice devoid of emotion but full of intimidation.

Li Wei nodded hurriedly, as if pounding garlic, showing complete fear and obedience.

"I wouldn't dare—I absolutely wouldn't dare lie—everything I said is true—"

The officer stopped looking at him, turned and walked toward the door, his footsteps steady and cold.

The door was slammed shut again, the sound of it being locked clearly reaching Li Wei's ears.

The room returned to its previous deathly silence and oppressive atmosphere.

Li Wei only breathed a sigh of relief after the officer's footsteps had completely disappeared.

His tense body relaxed instantly, his back completely soaked with cold sweat.

That seemingly brief questioning was more nerve-wracking than facing the Hulk in the lab.

Every expression, every word, every movement is like walking on a knife's edge.

If there is even the slightest flaw, he will be doomed.

Li Wei gently moved his handcuffed wrists, and the marks from the handcuffs were clearly visible.

The pain kept coming, but it only made him more alert and calmer.

The interrogation has temporarily ended, but his crisis is far from over.

Although the officer did not find any flaws, he did not completely dispel his suspicions.

Otherwise, they wouldn't have kept him detained here and arranged for 24-hour guard.

Li Wei knew very well that he had only temporarily escaped disaster and was not truly safe.

The military will continue to investigate his background, whereabouts, and words until the truth is fully revealed.

He had to escape as soon as possible, otherwise the military would discover his secret sooner or later.