Chapter 159 Taking the Initiative
Qin Li obtained the original building blueprints of the "307" chemical plant through military channels, as well as a copy of the "Special Land Approval File of the Northern Industrial Zone" from forty years ago—which mentioned that the land had been briefly leased to a "National Defense Biotechnology Preparatory Research Institute".
Shen Yan monitored the area day and night, figuring out the patrol patterns around the chemical plant, the three main entrances, and the route of the underground ventilation ducts.
He also discovered that on odd-numbered days, sealed transport vehicles would enter through the factory's side gate, and the unloaded containers would be personally received by researchers in white coats and transported directly underground.
Zhou Min and Lin Yan prepared weapons, medicines, and emergency equipment, and planned multiple evacuation routes.
Ruan Ning then stayed indoors, repeatedly immersing her mental energy in the necklace, attempting to further enhance its power before the battle.
June 14th, the eve of the operation.
All intelligence has been compiled.
Qin Li pointed to the unfolded blueprints: "The main workshop has two underground floors. The original drawings marked 'sample storage area' and 'data core.' It is very likely that it will be transformed into their meeting place and warehouse. Shen Yan confirmed that the leaders of the three parties will be present at midnight tomorrow, including the new person in charge sent by the Shen family, the person in charge of the Northwest region of the 'Business Alliance,' and the technical director of the remnants of the research institute."
"Where are the guards?" Lin Yan asked.
"There are twelve visible sentries, divided into three shifts of four, armed with submachine guns. There are at least six hidden sentries, concealed in high points and ventilation shafts, and there may be snipers. The underground entrance has electronic locks and iris recognition; the internal situation is unknown, but the radio snippets Shen Yan overheard mentioned 'Level 2 protection' and 'energy suppression field.'" Qin Li's expression was grave. "Forcing our way in is very risky."
Ruan Ning was silent for a moment, then asked, "When will the transport truck arrive?"
Shen Yan: "Every night at 11 o'clock sharp, they enter through the west gate. There are two drivers and one escort. The vehicle belongs to 'Shanglian' and has special access markings."
“We hitchhiked,” Ruan Ning said.
Everyone looked at her.
"Shen Yan, can you handle electronic locks and iris recognition?"
"If there's enough time to get close to the main control board, yes. But there's definitely surveillance at the entrance."
Ruan Ning looked at Qin Li: "Tomorrow evening, find a way to make the base's power system 'fluctuate' for a few minutes, covering the northern suburbs. No need for a major blackout, just a brief trip or signal interference will do."
Qin Li nodded: "It can be done. And then?"
“Then, we’ll go in in place of the transport truck.” Ruan Ning traced the transport route on the blueprint with her finger. “Shen Yan will handle the access control, Zhou Min and Lin Yan will control the driver and escort, and Shen Yan, Da Huo, and I will go straight underground. Qin Li, you take some men to provide support on the outside and create a big enough 'commotion' to attract the guards’ attention.”
What's that noise?
Ruan Ning looked out the window: "Isn't there an abandoned gas station in the northern suburbs? Let it 'accidentally' catch fire and explode. It happened just ten minutes after we infiltrated."
Qin Li's eyes lit up: "A feint to the east while attacking in the west. That works."
"What happens after we go in?" Zhou Min asked. "Find the person, kill them? Or..."
Ruan Ning shook her head: "First, find the things. Experiment records, samples, their research data on 'Primordial Chaos.' Especially the part that the Shen family possesses. Then..." Her eyes were icy, "...clean up."
June 15th, two hours before 12 o'clock.
In the northern suburbs, the "307" chemical plant was silent in the night, with only a few windows showing faint lights.
About 100 meters outside the west gate, behind a pile of rubble.
Ruan Ning and his three companions, along with a dog, remained hidden in the darkness. In the distance, two headlights pierced the night as the transport truck arrived on time.
“Take action,” Ruan Ning whispered.
Shen Yan glided out like a ghost, flicking a thin metal wire from his fingertips, silently attaching it to a roadside utility pole. A few seconds later, the truck's headlights flickered, the engine emitted a strange noise, and it slowly came to a stop at the roadside.
The driver got out of the car, cursing and swearing, to check. The security guard also got out, gun in hand.
Lin Yan and Zhou Min pounced from the shadows on both sides, swiftly and decisively knocking the two men unconscious. Shen Yan quickly opened the rear cargo door—inside were stacks of cargo boxes bearing the "Shanglian" logo, but at the very back were several lead-gray sealed boxes.
"Change your clothes and get in the car." Ruan Ning tossed the driver's jacket to Shen Yan and got into the passenger seat. The fire shrank in size and squeezed into the gap in the cargo box.
At 11:05, the transport vehicle restarted and headed towards the west gate.
Someone peeked into the guardhouse, shone a flashlight on the license plate and driver, then glanced at the "escort" who was dozing off in the passenger seat, before waving him through.
The car drove into the factory area and, following the route Shen Yan had noted down, turned towards the unloading area behind the main workshop.
11:08.
The lights throughout the entire factory area, along with the surveillance screens in the guardhouse, suddenly went out simultaneously! A piercing static crackled through the radio!
"Damn it! The power went out again!" came the guard's curses and the flashlight beam from not far away.
Taking advantage of the chaos, the transport vehicle sped up, turned into the unloading lane, and stopped in front of a heavy metal door.
Shen Yan jumped out of the car, quickly pried open a nearby inspection panel, and connected the device he was carrying. The screen lit up, displaying an iris verification interface. He took out the iris data chip he had previously "backed up" from a certain unlucky bodyguard and attached it to the scanner.
The green light comes on.
The metal door slid open silently, revealing a downward-sloping passageway. The interior was dimly lit, with a cool breeze carrying a faint smell of disinfectant and stale metal.
"Let's go." Ruan Ning went in first. Shen Yan, Zhou Min, and Lin Yan followed closely behind, with Da Huo bringing up the rear.
The door closed behind me.
The corridor was long, with mottled cement walls and old ventilation ducts overhead. After walking about fifty meters, a fork in the road appeared ahead. According to the blueprint, the left path led to the "sample storage area," while the right path led to the "data core" and a possible meeting place.
Ruan Ning sensed something: "There's the presence of living beings on the left, not just humans, but also mutants. On the right, there's a dense energy reaction and the sound of voices."
She looked at Shen Yan and Zhou Min: "Go to the left, find the experimental records and samples. Take what you can, and destroy what you can't. Be careful."
He then said to Lin Yan and Da Huo, "You two guard this fork in the road to prevent anyone from flanking us from behind. I'll go to the right."
"Be careful," Shen Yan whispered, as he and Zhou Min stealthily made their way to the left passage.
Ruan Ning walked alone towards the right-hand passage. Her mental energy extended forward like invisible tentacles. At the end of the passage was an airtight door, with light shining through the cracks, and the faint sound of voices could be heard.
She pressed herself against the door, listening intently.
"...Forty percent of the energy spectrum of the 'key' has been analyzed. Although it's only remote scanning data, the matching degree is astonishing. As long as we can get the physical object, the success rate of Young Master Chen Yao's neural reconstruction will increase to at least seventy percent." A hoarse male voice, with the stereotypical tone of a research institute staff member, said.
“Seventy percent isn’t enough.” Another, younger male voice spoke arrogantly. “Father wants absolute certainty. Your cooperation with the ‘Business Alliance’ at the Northwest Base is progressing too slowly. Luo Hong and the old guys are keeping a closer eye on things.”
"Young Master Shen, please calm down." A third voice rang out, smooth and deep, probably the person in charge of the 'Business Alliance'.
"Once the 'cleanup' plan at the end of the month succeeds, the power structure of the base will be reshuffled, and Luo Hong himself will be in trouble. At that time, won't Ruan Ning be a piece of cake? As for the legacy of 'Origin,' it will naturally be shared by the three of us."
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