Chapter 117: The Escaped Laboratory
Chapter 117: The Escaped Laboratory
“Colonel Chen!”
Rows of incandescent lights were embedded in the walls, illuminating the corridor brightly yet without harsh glare.
Chen Jing, having just undergone surgery, had already changed into a crisp, well-fitted leisure suit. Her hair was perfectly coiffed, not a strand out of place, and her feet were once again clad in stiletto heels over ten centimeters tall. Clutching a stack of files, she walked through the cold, hard-edged corridor. Click, click, click—her heels echoed as she headed toward the office at the end. At the doorway, two guards snapped to attention, saluting her in unison.
Chen Jing nodded to them. The guard on her left promptly opened the office door.
Inside the spacious office, Professor Bai, wearing a White Lab Coat, was hunched over a desk examining an old document through a magnifying glass. A large writing board beside him displayed numerous photographs. Some were dissection images of “Qin Ran”; others were analytical reports from various angles.
“Professor Bai.”
Chen Jing closed the door behind her and placed the files on the desk. “The testimonies of the Xu Family Father and Daughter, the locations where they collected those artworks this time, and the Scavenger Team’s records—it’s all here. I’ve reviewed it and have reason to suspect those people may have been searching for the painting in the city for quite some time.”
She paused briefly before continuing, “During Xu Xiaoxiao’s interrogation, she admitted that after seeing the painting, she developed selfish motives. She intentionally hid its existence and secretly moved it to another container. She acted very carefully—even her Father had no idea. Naturally, no one else could uncover this detail…”
“So I infer…”
She furrowed her brow slightly. Though speculative, her tone was firm: “In fact, the Ability Users Outside the City already knew the painting was in her possession. They might have even located the artworks the father-daughter pair stored at Bengbu Port long ago. But since they couldn’t find the painting among those items, they lay in wait until now.”
“Only after Xu Xiaoxiao left the Main City and exposed the painting did they seize their opportunity.”
“… ”
As she spoke, she set a stack of materials—apparently compiled and printed hastily—before Professor Bai. “From these events, we can deduce certain factors. Those Outside-the-City Ability Users likely couldn’t enter the Main City directly to find Xu Xiaoxiao, hence their need to wait Outside. However, they probably had informants inside the Main City. Otherwise…”
“… they couldn’t have known Xu Xiaoxiao’s exact departure time, let alone set an ambush for us in advance.”
She outlined her plan: “Before coming here, I’ve already dispatched agents to investigate the consulting firm that covertly hired Lone Soldier to handle the Xu family’s problem. Frankly, they’re the most obvious source of the leak!”
“… ”
Professor Bai listened silently, then slowly straightened up. “How’s your injury?”
Chen Jing hesitated. “No issue!”
“You still need to rest,” Professor Bai insisted, pulling a chair toward her and gesturing for her to sit. “Your ability might mask the pain and let you work, but that doesn’t erase the wound. It still strains you greatly. Ability Users are human too—don’t treat yourself like a machine.”
“I can’t afford to rest right now,” Chen Jing replied after a moment of silence. “This matter is too critical. I couldn’t relax at all until it’s resolved.”
“Actually, the picture is already clear.”
Professor Bai motioned to the writing board. “Special Contaminant-041—or let’s just call him ‘Qin Ran,’ since that’s all we know of him—is undoubtedly a formidable Ability User. Judging by his proficiency, he’s reached at least the peak First Stage, possibly even the Second Stage.”
He glanced at the dissected photo of Qin Ran, an almost admiring look in his eyes.
“Bold yet cautious, he understood Satellite City’s defenses thoroughly. This likely stems from extensive prior life experience inside a Highwall City. Perhaps infiltrating the city was solely to steal the painting. Regardless of whether his secondary measures—weakening our defenses for easier movement, inciting Chaos to divert our attention, or hindering pursuit—were intentional…”
“…his preparations pose grave danger to ordinary people.”
“We should actually be grateful: despite the scale, casualties were far lower than anticipated.”
“… ”
Chen Jing’s brows tightened. Suddenly, she interjected, “If it were mere bandits, fine. But the Church of Technology…”
“I doubt this represents the Church of Technology’s Will,” Professor Bai shook his head. “Given their modus operandi, if this were truly their operation, the city would’ve seen more than one Psionic Bomb. It’s more plausible this group of infiltrating Knights Order purchased this weapon from the Church to hamper our pursuit…”
“Of course, we can’t rule out the possibility that the Church of Technology instructed them to detonate it—both to gather experimental data and as an ‘advertisement’ signaling other Highwall Cities and organizations. After all, based on observed parameters…”
“…if that Bomb had fully detonated, the aftermath would’ve been catastrophic.”
“… ”
“It was Lone Soldier’s doing,” Chen Jing said quietly after a pause. “And Minister Shen actually had him under surveillance…”
“You know Old Shen’s thinking. For him, that’s normal.”
Professor Bai smiled faintly. “Frankly, I agreed to see you partly to discuss this.”
He pointed to the writing board. “Let’s return to this mysterious Knights Order.”
“Compiling past data, most of their actions follow discernible logic.”
“Yet one anomaly stands out…”
“They previously dispatched a Psycho-modified Human to Satellite City No.2 attempting to contact Lone Soldier.”
“…only to be scared off by Lone Soldier.”
“Regardless, residual sample analysis confirms this Psycho-modified Human shares identical traits with the one that ambushed your convoy at Jiujiang Road. Likely, both were creations of the same Puppet-Type Ability User.”
“In other words, this Knights Order has been targeting Lone Soldier for some time.”
He paused meaningfully, locking eyes with Chen Jing. “Do you know why?”
“… ”
Chen Jing listened intently, mentally reviewing events. When Lu Xin informed her about the Psycho-modified Human, she’d questioned its purpose. But resolving the Contamination Incident in Satellite City No.2, immediately followed by surgery, had left her no time to fully analyze all data.
Facing Professor Bai’s inquiry, she slowly shook her head. “I’ve no lead.”
“This document will clarify matters.”
Professor Bai slid the aged file across the desk. As Chen Jing scanned its contents, he spoke softly: “Due to past upheavals and incomplete Guard Bureau documentation, many records remain obscure. Fortunately, our investigation into the Red Moon Orphanage explosion began early. While clearer explanations for that mysterious blast elude us…”
“…we’ve uncovered other matters.”
“… ”
Chen Jing studied the file, her expression shifting to astonishment. Suddenly, she looked up at Professor Bai.
“You suspect he’s part of—”
“… ”
“Two decades ago, shortly after the Lunar Eclipse Research Institute’s founding, internal disputes arose,” Professor Bai stated calmly. “Those schisms led its Laboratory Director to abscond with vital materials and Experimental subjects. For years, the Institute sought him. Many know this affair.”
“Its official Codename: Escaped Laboratory.”
“… ”
He stood slowly, concluding: “We have grounds to suspect this is also among the Knights Order’s objectives!”