Chapter 161: The beginning of the turmoil
The researcher was caught in a specially designed composite rune trap set by Lin Ye.
To prevent damage to the research materials, Lin Ye had only incorporated Alienation and Weakening runes into the trap, combined with the spider monster's control concept, making it impossible for the researcher to escape.
"Are you the person in charge here?"
The traffic officer glared furiously at the researcher. If Lin Ye hadn't held him back, he would have already gone over to beat him.
Lin Ye controlled his spiritual energy blade to sever the researcher's right hand, causing a bottle containing gray-green gas to fall to the ground.
"Ahhhhhh!"
The researcher paused for a moment before letting out a piercing scream.
"You didn't actually think you could escape, did you?"
Lin Ye picked up the black metal briefcase near the researcher along with the gas-filled bottle as he spoke.
"Who are you people! How dare you attack a Public Security Bureau research facility? You're dead!" The severely mutated researcher said painfully.
"Funny coincidence—I'm the investigation team captain of the Public Security Bureau. You can file a report with me now."
Lin Ye took out Bill's credentials and waved them in front of the researcher's eyes.
"Dammit, you bunch of lunatics! This really is a Public Security Bureau laboratory! Do you know you're killing people here? Does your director know about this?"
The researcher was filled with hatred, wanting to immediately call the director to have Lin Ye eliminated.
"He'll know soon enough. I'll be sending him down to keep you company shortly... Or perhaps he'll be waiting for you down there instead."
Watching the emerald green vines crawling down to the first basement level, Lin Ye didn't kill the researcher. Instead, he took the items and walked toward the laboratory's main door.
"Wait! You're just leaving like this? Don't leave me here! It will eat me! Please! I know many things! I know where the director and the lab chief are hiding! Please, just kill me!"
Having observed numerous experimental subjects being consumed by it, no one understood the agony of being devoured better than this researcher.
Trapped by Lin Ye's rune trap, he couldn't even commit suicide.
"I only hope you can die quietly, just like a plant."
As the vines entangled the researcher's body, Lin Ye watched the despairing researcher being dragged into the pit before slowly closing the metal door.
"What do we do next?"
Back in the sanatorium lobby, the traffic officer seemed lost. If the researcher hadn't been lying, they would have to deal with the Public Security Bureau Director.
"Next, you can go home. I'll handle the remaining matters."
Lin Ye opened the briefcase to find a metal hard drive, a wetsuit-like bodysuit, and five gray metal syringes.
Lin Ye: Yongsen Laboratory has been dealt with. I obtained a metal hard drive. How are things on your end?
Zhao Yu: Not so good. We took care of two Public Security Bureau squads, but the target escaped during the engagement. While fleeing, the target mutated some citizens, and these mutated citizens began attacking nearby people. Those attacked by mutated citizens also underwent varying degrees of mutation.
Lin Ye: Zombie movie?
Shen Bing: These mutated citizens are much more difficult to deal with than zombies. Ordinary attacks can't kill them, and they grow mutated flesh vines inside their bodies that perform area attacks. People stabbed by these vines also become mutated.
Li Qihou: If we don't stop the target from running around, most of the city's population will turn into mutated monsters before long. Also, as our contact with these mutated monsters increases, we're developing slight mutation reactions within our own bodies.
Lin Ye: Inside your bodies? That's probably because those monsters are releasing some kind of pollen-like gas. You're inhaling this gas, causing slight internal mutations.
Lin Ye thought about that bottle of gray-green gas—it was likely concentrated plant secretions.
And the target young girl was probably secreting large quantities of this gas, causing mutations in nearby organisms.
Shen Bing: So wearing masks could prevent internal mutation?
Lin Ye: No, what I mean is, if most of the city's population undergoes mutation, the entire city will be enveloped by that gas. By then, we'll be doomed.
Li Qihou: Holy shit! I'm going to kill the target right now!
For Li Qihou, no side mission reward was more important than his own life.
Although he couldn't get close to the target, killing her wouldn't be difficult.
Lin Ye: No need. Send me the target's location. You handle the nearby mutated citizens—I'll deal with the target.
Zhao Yu: Then be careful! We'll come help you after cleaning up the mutated citizens!
Shen Bing: I'll update the target's location in real time in the chat room.
Li Qihou: Just say if you need anything—don't hesitate to ask.
Lin Ye: Understood.
Lin Ye changed into the 'wetsuit' from the case, then turned to look at the traffic officer who had been standing nearby the whole time.
"Your city is about to be destroyed now. Are you willing to do something before everything becomes irreparable?"
"Of course. What do you need me to do?"
The traffic officer replied firmly.
"Do you know how to drive fast?"
Lin Ye put away the case and walked toward the nearly wrecked sports car.
"Nobody understands fast driving better than me."
The traffic officer pulled open the car door and took the driver's seat.
"Then let's hurry, before everyone turns into monsters."
Lin Ye provided the address, then sat in the car contemplating his next steps.
He wouldn't kill Sarah.
Not because she was a victim—the moment she started mutating nearby residents, she became a perpetrator. She might not have been intentional at first, but she must have discovered her abnormal condition long ago. The fact that she remained in the city center until now was highly suspicious.
Lin Ye didn't want to kill Sarah because of the side mission.
The system wouldn't give meaningless side missions. Why did they need to protect Sarah? What would happen if Sarah died?
This was the real reason Lin Ye didn't want to kill her.
There had to be a reason why the Public Security Bureau Director selected her as the main subject of this experiment.
Yes, all of this was a large-scale experiment that had escaped Yongsen Laboratory. The entire city was the testing ground, and all citizens were experimental materials.
The missing person mission was just one part of the experiment, probably to test what kind of reaction would occur when spiritual energy user teams made contact with Sarah.
As Lin Ye pondered the complete picture of events, signs of chaos were already appearing on the streets—screams came from alleyways, car accidents happened in the middle of roads, blood-covered pedestrians ran wildly through the streets...
Clearly, Sarah wasn't the only experimental subject that had escaped the laboratory.
"Almost there. Turn right ahead—the address you mentioned is about a hundred meters down."
The traffic officer also sensed the chaotic atmosphere, but he didn't know what he could do to reverse the situation. He could only pray that Lin Ye could truly resolve things.
"Pull over to the right. No need to turn off the engine—I'll be right back."
Lin Ye walked directly toward a truck parked by the roadside. Inside the vehicle were five spiritual energy users—three second-tier and two third-tier.
But after Lin Ye passed by the truck, there were no longer any spiritual energy users inside.