Chapter 164: Bait Sattelite
The blonde woman—Kara—gave a curt nod, striding past them with cold indifference. The bustling world of Eden above, home to countless survivors and managed by its so-called leaders, was a smokescreen. Unbeknownst to nearly everyone above, a deeper, hidden base existed beneath their feet. And at its helm? Kara, known to the underground as the enigmatic leader of the Vanguard organization—codename: Immortal Fox.
Walking down the sterile corridor, Kara passed labs bustling with white-coated researchers. The atmosphere was clinical, almost eerie. Some operating tables were hidden beneath white sheets, but occasional movements hinted at grotesque experiments. From time to time, a gloved hand would toss what looked like still-pulsating organs into biohazard bins. Unfazed, Kara continued, never sparing a glance at the grim work surrounding her. At the corridor's end, she stopped in front of a seamless wall. Without hesitation, she underwent multiple layers of security checks: retina scan, fingerprint, and finally, brainwave verification.
Click. The wall slid open, revealing a room filled with advanced technology. At the center stood a sleek machine, resembling a high-tech cultivation pod connected by countless cables. Kara removed her clothes, stepping into the pod without hesitation. Dark liquid began to fill the chamber, swallowing her whole.
Meanwhile, thousands of kilometers away in the vast Sahara Desert, another facility lay hidden beneath the sands. In a dimly lit underground chamber, a similar pod hissed open, spilling out dark fluid. A blonde woman jolted awake, gasping for air as if escaping a nightmare.
Kara emerged from the pod, muttering under her breath. "This body's overdue for maintenance..." Stepping out, she wiped off the black liquid clinging to her skin. "Even the joints feel stiff," she grumbled, dressing quickly before taking an elevator to the surface. As sunlight poured in through the crack of the elevator doors, she squinted at the harsh Gobi landscape. Not far away, a towering rocket launcher dominated the horizon.
Ding.
When the elevator fully opened, the desolation of the desert hit her—a scene of endless yellow sands and scorching winds. Nearby, soldiers scurried about, hauling crates of mysterious black materials toward the launchpad. "Lady Immortal Fox!" The researchers and soldiers greeted her with a mixture of respect and fear as she approached.
"How's the rocket prep going?" she asked, her tone casual but sharp. A familiar face approached—a man known simply as Master. He wasn't under her direct command, operating instead in the Vanguard's energy development division, whereas Kara led the biotechnology branch. Despite this, Master reported with a neutral politeness that made it clear he wasn't intimidated by her.
"The rocket fuel's been fully loaded. We're ready for launch," Master said, adjusting his glasses.