Chapter 163: Director of the Security Bureau
The three of them moved through the pitch-black tunnel, with Lin Ye taking the lead and the traffic officer covering the rear.
The entrance to Research Base Number Two was located in the middle section of the tunnel. Without having seen the design blueprints, even Lin Ye would have had difficulty finding the base entrance.
Along the way, Lin Ye destroyed several surveillance cameras. The enemy definitely knew they were coming, yet hadn't sent any Mutation Creatures to intercept them.
Lin Ye cut through the passage door leading to Research Base Number Two. After descending for a stretch, they saw a small rail car similar to the one at Yongsen Laboratory.
However, this place hadn't lost power, and the rail car could operate normally.
The three rode the rail car downward at an angle. Ten minutes later, the car arrived at the entrance to Base Number Two.
Lin Ye used spiritual energy to unlock the metal door's mechanism. After pushing the door open, the three entered Research Base Number Two.
The moment they entered the base, the door automatically closed behind them. Beyond the door was a spacious hall, where four armed spiritual energy user teams hidden throughout the hall surrounded them from all directions.
Before they could even raise their weapons to threaten them, Lin Ye had already vanished from his original position.
The first to explode was the spiritual energy user standing at the far left of the hall. Then explosions occurred sequentially from left to right. Lin Ye appeared at the exact center of the hall—from this position, he could strike every person present with his shotgun backstab spiritual energy blades. They were standing too close together.
"Open fire now!"
Two third-tier spiritual energy users forcefully blocked the shotgun backstab spiritual energy blades. They led the spiritual energy users who hadn't been struck yet to open fire on Lin Ye.
Bang bang bang bang bang bang bang bang bang...
The mutated spiritual energy shield blocked the bullets aimed at Lin Ye. Lin Ye calmly put on the Power Gauntlets and Bloody Ring. Since these two intermediate-level spiritual energy items had rather troublesome negative effects, this was his first time using them.
These spiritual energy users would make perfect test subjects.
After donning the Power Gauntlets, Lin Ye instantly mastered numerous boxing techniques. If he hadn't frequently used rune cards, he might have needed some time to adapt to this state.
Lin Ye shifted his footing and instantly appeared before a third-tier spiritual energy user, throwing a straight punch directly at the opponent's chest.
Straight step punch!
This move was extremely fast. With the enhancements from the Power Gauntlets and runes, the opponent couldn't react at all.
The third-tier spiritual energy user had his upper body completely obliterated by Lin Ye's punch, with red-green fragments spraying radially across the ground.
Lin Ye barely paused, shifting his center of gravity to instantly appear before another third-tier spiritual energy user, casually swinging at the opponent's head.
Sliding step hook punch!
Having witnessed his companion's gruesome fate, the third-tier spiritual energy user had prepared in advance. He dodged Lin Ye's fist by turning sideways and thrust a short knife toward Lin Ye's heart.
Lin Ye spun away from the short knife, changing his right hand's motion from swinging to thrusting, punching through the opponent's head. As he withdrew, he added a shotgun backstab spiritual energy blade to the opponent's shrub-transformed corpse.
Flash step jab punch!
Lin Ye skillfully employed various boxing techniques, constantly moving through the crowd, quickly dispatching the remaining spiritual energy users.
From entering Base Number Two to eliminating the spiritual energy user teams, Lin Ye took less than half a minute—three seconds of which were spent putting on the gauntlets and ring.
The traffic officer also fired several shots at the entrance, transforming two spiritual energy users into mutated shrubs.
"Let's go."
Lin Ye removed the gauntlets. Those boxing techniques began to fade and disappear, but Lin Ye clearly remembered the process of using those techniques. Although he couldn't be as proficient as when wearing the gauntlets, with enough practice, he could recreate these techniques.
Of course, Lin Ye didn't plan to pursue a boxing close-combat style—he would integrate these techniques into his own fighting methods.
"...Are you really just a second-tier spiritual energy user?"
The traffic officer asked with complex emotions from behind Lin Ye.
"Yes, but you don't need to compare yourself to me. I've probably killed more monsters than you've seen people."
Lin Ye comforted him.
"Alright, where do we go now?"
The traffic officer asked.
Research Base Number Two was much more complex than Yongsen Laboratory, and the materials used to construct the base could also block mental energy. The three would need considerable time to explore the entire base.
"I've seen the architectural design plans. All important facilities are on the lowest level of the base. We'll go directly there. Even if the Director isn't there, it doesn't matter."
Lin Ye headed toward the emergency stairwell near the hall. Since there was an emergency stairwell, he naturally wouldn't waste energy creating a new path.
However, Lin Ye secretly placed several composite rune traps throughout the hall. If anyone tried to sneak away while Lin Ye was gone, they'd be in for a treat.
Practicing boxing footwork while descending the stairs, Lin Ye quickly rushed toward the lowest level.
The traffic officer carried Sarah while following behind Lin Ye. He didn't want to be left too far behind, otherwise he might face sudden death at any moment.
Lin Ye soon reached the lowest level of the base. Here were Base Number Two's cultivation chamber and main control room. The cultivation chamber stored various plant seedlings, while the main control room could operate all facilities throughout the entire base.
Two Public Security Bureau investigation team captains were waiting for them outside the emergency stairwell.
"Colin, you're such a nuisance. Even after being demoted to traffic officer, you still manage to cause trouble."
One of the investigation captains said with a laugh.
"I'm grateful I was transferred. Otherwise, I'd probably already be dead by your hands."
The traffic officer couldn't transform into a monster like his former colleagues.
"What difference does it make whether you die early or late? You don't actually think you can leave here alive, do you?"
Thick fleshy branches grew from within the investigation captain's body. The branches covered his form, wrapping around various parts of his body like armor.
The other investigation captain similarly donned fleshy branch armor. Both men emitted mad laughter from within their armor.
Lin Ye joined them in laughter.
"What are you laughing at?"
One of the investigation captains asked curiously.
"I'm laughing because you're already dead. What are you laughing at?"
Lin Ye activated several shotgun backstab spiritual energy blades he had placed before their transformation. Violent explosions sounded from within the two suits of armor.
Actually, Lin Ye had initially just habitually tried it out casually, but since the two investigation captains showed no reaction, he had placed additional blades.
"Alienation represents loss of control. The deeper the alienation, the more severe the loss of control. Your mental energy has been too deeply affected by those plants."
Stepping over the two corpses that had been ground into mincemeat inside their armor, Lin Ye approached the main control room.
Only one person was inside the main control room—the Public Security Bureau Director, who was a fourth-tier spiritual energy user.
What surprised Lin Ye yet didn't surprise him that much was that the Director had no plants within his body, nor any signs of alienation.
"Your mental energy is quite powerful."
The Director paid no attention to the agitated traffic officer or the trembling Sarah—his eyes were only on Lin Ye.
"Are you an RPG enthusiast?"
Lin Ye asked curiously.
"I don't play games."
The Director didn't understand Lin Ye's meaning.
"Then why send people to feed me experience points bit by bit?"
Lin Ye asked curiously.
"Because we needed to buy time. Although you're only a second-tier spiritual energy user, I've decided to give you the respect you deserve."
A distorted figure emerging from the cultivation chamber stood outside the main control room door, blocking their retreat.