Chapter 793: The Original Secret

The Original Secret…

Listening to Doctor An’s cryptic words, Lu Xin’s gaze suddenly grew profoundly distant.

Can we really uncover the Original Secret?

What is the real cause behind the appearance of the Red Moon in the sky?

Could it be connected to the original reason that turned nearly ten billion people insane overnight all those years ago?

This topic is unbearably heavy. Even after Doctor An disclosed it, she still felt a crushing weight in her heart.

“Anyway, let’s head in first,” someone declared.

Doctor An then divulged the secret, offering a smile as he explained, “There will definitely be something there.”

“The first-generation Research Institute meticulously recorded everything they did – the projects they studied, all corresponding documents. That’s certain. However, for reasons unknown, those initial researchers didn’t upload these vital records to a hard drive. Instead, they preserved them on paper and stored them in the classified room in the basement of the West Building.”

“Access there was highly restricted; only the first-generation researchers could enter.”

“During the relocation, in their haste, they only took what was immediately necessary – materials useful for stabilizing the world’s situation and for ongoing research. So, these documents concealing profound secrets were left behind…”

“Sigh…”

At that point, she couldn’t help but sigh and add, “In fact, the original relocation plan included a second transfer.”

“The Research Institute initially planned for the first group to move in, establish a base, and set up the environment.”

“Then the second group, carrying the classified documents, would join us, ensuring a successful relocation.”

“But during the relocation, Professor Wang Jingyun’s orchestration of the Escaped Lab incident threw all our plans into chaos, causing delays. By the time we recovered and prepared to bring the remaining people over, everything had changed.”

“Those left behind had vanished, severing all contact with us and even destroying key routes.”

“Even the solitary remaining first-generation researcher disappeared at that point.”

“Their disappearances, along with the Escaped Lab incident, have long haunted the Research Institute as two major mysteries.”

“…”

Listening to her account, Lu Xin’s heart stirred as she asked, “Aren’t you worried that they’ve already been relocated?”

“…”

Doctor An paused briefly, realizing he had misspoken, then shook his head softly and murmured:

“It’s possible, but I believe there must be some remnants left behind.”

“Even if everything had been cleared out, a massive Research Institute like this would undoubtedly leave some clues.”

“Sigh…”

She sighed softly and said, “No matter what, now that we’re here, we’ll spare no means in our excavation.”

“Whatever those secrets might be, we will find them and bring them back.”

“Back then, the mere presence of the first-generation researcher kept everyone on edge, too fearful to be overly curious about the secrets.”

“But now, it doesn’t matter—we need to unravel even more secrets.”

“Even if it means…”

“taking a stand against those people.”

“…”

After listening to her grave words for a while, Lu Xin finally understood.

Their feelings toward the first-generation researcher were remarkably complicated.

On one hand, they revered, appreciated, and even feared them; on the other, they were filled with doubt and curiosity.

Thus, from their perspective, resorting to any means necessary to conduct an exhaustive investigation of the Research Institute was only natural.

Yet, they handled it with utmost seriousness, requiring enormous resolve.

It’s akin to a once-obedient child growing up and deciding to uncover the secrets that adults once strictly forbade them from exploring, right?

“…”

“…”

After discussing quietly for a while, Lu Xin and Doctor An turned to look at the others.

They found everyone seated by the lake—some resting, some snacking, others preparing for the investigation.

Everything was in place, all awaiting Doctor An’s command.

“Why didn’t you wait for me to eat?”

Lu Xin frowned as she saw them stashing the compressed biscuits into A Zhen’s backpack.

Fortunately, she had also kept a piece of beef jerky in her bag.

As she munched on it, she watched Doctor An outline the plans for this investigation.

“Colleagues,”

Doctor An stepped forward and said, “We have reached the critical juncture of our investigation.”

“Once we achieve our objectives, we can finally leave this godforsaken place.”

“You all should handle your own business – if you need to separate, separate; if you need to team up with Xiao Dong, do so; if you need to cut, aim for the vital parts without mercy…”

“As for the charges regarding your use of parasitic items, consider them wiped clean.”

“…”

Hearing her words, the two doctors and the engineer immediately showed their displeasure.

Lu Xin thought to herself, “No wonder they never invite her to eat.”

“Alright, let’s put our heads together and finalize the investigation plan. The sooner we’re done, the sooner we can go home…”

Doctor An, ignoring their looks, simply waved his hand to issue the command.

At that moment, as the investigation reached its critical stage, Lu Xin, along with Bodyguard Sissi, Porter A Zhen, and Sissi’s good friend, as well as other simple-minded folks, were left aside, looking like laborers waiting for the foremen to discuss important matters.

They appeared to listen intently from the sidelines, yet understood nothing of what was being said.

In vague murmurs, phrases like ‘electronic eye detection’ and ‘within signal range’ could be heard.

Occasionally, they would stand up and fiddle with various instruments to conduct tests.

After about five minutes, the four nodded in agreement and signaled to move forward.

Lu Xin and the others hurried to follow.

After descending the mountain, they were already close to the Research Institute. Now, upon closer inspection, the ruins spanned several dozen acres with tall, orderly walls surrounding them.

They followed a grassy path beside the ruins until arriving at the entrance.

Gazing at the towering iron gate and the robust barbed wire enclosing the perimeter, they envisioned its former majesty.

“…”

“…”

“Now, let’s begin the first phase of the investigation.”

Doctor An assigned the specific tasks to the three and moved aside to take out his recording pen.

Earlier, in the forest, the intense mental radiation had rendered it unusable.

But once they reached the Research Institute, the mental radiation subsided, and the recording device functioned again.

Upon hearing her mention of an initial sweep, Lu Xin leaned in attentively.

In such a hazardous environment, sending someone in to check for abnormalities is standard procedure. And naturally, you choose someone with the strongest survival skills. Having pocketed a reward of 200 million, Lu Xin was all in.

“Make way.”

But unexpectedly, as Lu Xin approached, Master Li and the two doctors motioned for her to step aside.

However, as soon as they spoke, they suddenly remembered something.

Recalling Lu Xin’s earlier actions in the forest, their demeanor softened, and they added, “Please, clear the way.”

“This…”

Lu Xin complied, yet her inner doubts remained unabated.

If she weren’t allowed to enter, would that mean the three doctors were to take the lead in such a dangerous area?

“I’m counting on you…”

As she pondered this, Doctors Wang and Zhang addressed Master Li, with Doctor Zhang even patting her on the shoulder.

Master Li replied, “Get lost.”

Doctor Wang looked at Doctor Zhang with a mix of irritation and smug satisfaction.

Lu Xin was even more astonished, “Is Master Li really taking on the first phase of detection?”

“He doesn’t even seem like a formidable ability user, and he’s the one with the lowest qualifications…”

“…”

“I’ll handle all the rough, hard labor…”

At the same time, Master Li muttered as he opened the metal case taken from A Zhen’s back and spread out its contents.

“Can’t be helped—after all, I’m just the overlooked engineer…”

“…”

Muttering, he picked up a controller with an LCD screen and held it close.

Then, with his other hand, he opened the silver case to reveal a densely packed array of gleaming silver objects laid on a sponge base—each no larger than a fly, occasionally flashing with a high-tech glimmer under the Red Moon.

“Lift off…”

A spark of excitement flickered across Master Li’s face as he whispered.

At the same time, his fingers swiped lightly across the controller’s screen.

“Buzz.”

Immediately, a sound reminiscent of a fly’s wings buzzing filled the air.

Inside the silver case, the tiny, bean-like apparatuses suddenly unfurled four membranous, semi-transparent wings, fluttering gently in mid-air like fireflies.

In the next moment, one after another, these ‘fireflies’ took flight, resembling a cascade of starlight descending into reality.

Under the controller’s command, they soared over the gate and into the Research Institute.

“Who needs to go in personally for an inspection?”

Noticing Lu Xin’s astonishment, Doctor An sidled up with a grin and said:

“In this world, where mental alterations wield terrifying power, the strength of technology hasn’t been forgotten.”

“These electronic flies can perform an initial reconnaissance of the Research Institute, capturing what we need to see.”

“Even under heavy radiation interference, they’ll pinpoint the problematic areas.”

“Additionally, they have a neat feature: if exposed to a surge of strong mental power or a shielding signal, they’ll automatically short-circuit, releasing up to a thousand volts of electricity, damaging nearby mental forces and mysterious creatures.”

“…”

“This…”

Lu Xin paused, calculating carefully, and said, “Isn’t that still a bit insufficient?”

A thousand volts is terrifying for a human, but might not be enough against powerful mental creatures.

After all, if I can scale walls with high voltage, what chance do others have?

“Of course, it’s not enough.”

Doctor An shot Lu Xin a withering look and replied, “I never expected this little gadget to actually kill the anomalies.”

“But when those anomalies sneak up silently, a sudden surge of electricity will give them a good scare…”

“Isn’t it fascinating?”

“…”

Lu Xin was momentarily dumbfounded, “This works?”

And besides, the idea of merely startling the anomalies—it sounds so awkward, doesn’t it?