Chapter 7

There is no world with only light and no darkness. In order for the majority to live in the light, he did not mind placing himself in the darkness, "Academician Sukachev!" Shellov called out to the scientist who was about to leave, speaking in a low voice, "Can't the genes of a species be artificially synthesized through certain means?"

This question made Academician Sukachev's heart tremble. He looked at the KGB major general in front of him with some shock; this idea was too bold. Artificially synthesizing genes for crops is essentially genetic modification. Please forgive Shellov for not being an expert and thus not describing it very accurately, but his meaning was clear. As an expert in this field, Sukachev understood the implications of Shellov's words.

"We don't know what consequences challenging genes will bring!" Sukachev, unaware of the future debates over genetically modified organisms, questioned this possibility from his professional perspective.

"Since we don't know the outcome, let's try it first!" Shellov said with a smile that was repulsive, "At worst, we can export it and use foreign people as test subjects. If there are no side effects, that's best. If there are problems, it will affect our enemies!" As an ordinary person with a basic sense of distinguishing friends from foes, Shellov always held this view: tricking a hundred Americans every day would mean tricking at least a million before he died. Tricking one person is simple; the hard part is doing it every day.

"I cannot allow science to cause harm to humanity. I am a scientist, and my ideal is to benefit humanity!" Academician Sukachev pondered for a moment and gave his answer.

Understood! Shellov nodded in understanding, appearing to greatly appreciate Academician Sukachev's integrity. He said, "Everything has two outcomes. If your research can make people happier, why not do it?"

A true scientist pursues science with the ideal of benefiting humanity, and Shellov admired this. If that was the case, the dark side of things should not be left to such noble scientists. It was better for the KGB to take on this evil task. After all, Shellov did not care about adding one more sin to his list. He had already bombed the U.S. embassy, violated diplomatic principles, carried out mass executions, and spread revolution to incite wars. One more sin wouldn't make much difference.

For a scientist, the allure of challenging the unknown is greater than anything else, and this was true for Academician Sukachev as well. Scientists want to understand the world; it's an instinct! The more they know, the more they realize how little they understand. Shellov's proposal was highly tempting for a biologist at the top of the Soviet Union.

"Think about the future. If a species combining the advantages of various crops is created, how many fewer people would go hungry in the world? Whether we can save the people of the Third World depends entirely on whether scientists can advance science!" Shellov fell silent after speaking, leaving the scientist to ponder the implications on his own, rather than deliberately instilling them.

"Director, these people are too rigid and don't understand what the country needs. No wonder they can't compete with Lysenko!" Ysemtneva, Shellov's confidential secretary, fully understood what Shellov wanted to say and couldn't help but look down on Academician Sukachev's insistence on meaningless morals.

Riding on her back, Shellov remained motionless, his body as straight as a spear. He tilted his head with a doting smile and said, "Scientists have their own principles. It's good that they have their own ideals. We can handle all the things that can't be seen in the light. Isn't that our job?"

"But that's not fair to us! We contribute no less to the country than anyone else!" Ysemtneva looked at the man's profile and said resentfully, "We have sacrificed so much, but all we get is the people's misunderstanding. When they think of us, they only remember surveillance, terror, and coldness. No one remembers our contributions and sacrifices..."

"Don't think like that!" Shellov's voice was cold but quickly softened, "Society has its divisions. There is a light side and a dark side. We guard the darkness to protect the light! Stick to your ideals and don't pay attention to outside discussions; that's our job!"

He patted Ysemtneva's shoulder and let her down, then said with a determined smile, "I don't know what true communism looks like, but that doesn't stop me from imagining a beautiful life! Since the country needs people like us to guard the light from the darkness, it doesn't matter if we can't be seen in the light!"

"But, we might not see what a communist society looks like!" Ysemtneva said, her voice choking with emotion as she looked at Shellov. She knew more about his physical condition than even his legal wife. This change was neither good nor bad, and the woman didn't care about a grand ideal; she only wanted her man by her side.

"Hehe, I'm immortal!" Shellov laughed heartily, boasting to his woman until Ysemtneva's tears turned to laughter. Seeing her smile, Shellov felt the gloom in his heart lift.

On December 27th, Lubyanka Square was filled with various vehicles. All the heads of the KGB's departments gathered here, including the First Main Directorate for Foreign Intelligence, the Second Main Directorate for Counterintelligence, the Third Main Directorate for Military Affairs, the Fourth Main Directorate for Transportation, the Fifth Main Directorate for Secret Police, the Main Directorate for Technical Management, the Main Directorate for Inspection, the Main Directorate for Communications, the Main Directorate for Industrial Management, the Main Directorate for Personnel, and other departments of equal rank, such as the Special Investigation Department, the State Communications Department, the Confidential Inspection Department, the Experience Verification Department, the Financial Management Department, the Archive Registration Department, and the Action Execution Department, as well as some very important regional branches.

All the directors of the twenty-odd departments of the KGB were present, and most of the departmental officials would arrive the next day for the general assembly. Shellov, dressed in a military uniform with a deep blue-edged peaked cap, got out of the car, followed by Ysemtneva and Lukani. Before entering the headquarters, he took off his sidearm and said to the two women, "You two wait outside!"

Entering the headquarters' conference room, the moment he opened the door, Shellov felt as if he had entered a thermal power plant. A stream of smoke wafted out through the open door. "Someone who doesn't know might think our headquarters is on fire. The imperialists can't destroy us, but if a fire did, how ridiculous would that be?" Shellov joked as he sat down in his chair.

KGB Chairman Serov was a heavy smoker, and no one paid much attention to controlling their smoking in this setting. "We are in a meeting. Shouldn't we be mindful of not polluting the air?" Shellov stood on the moral high ground, criticizing his colleagues, then leisurely lit a cigarette and exhaled a long stream of smoke.

[Thank you to all the readers for your support, I will remember it in my heart!]

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