C24 Underground City(5)

At the end of the street, a silvery-white building came into view. Xie Yu nodded pensively through the car's front window.

"This is the main battlefield, the most challenging spot," Xie Yu murmured.

Song Mu nodded in agreement, sharing Xie Yu's sentiment.

Their current mission was straightforward: deliver a letter to Dr. Robert. Beyond that, they were in the dark, clueless about Dr. Robert's identity, stance, or even what he looked like.

For all they knew, Dr. Robert could be unwelcoming to strangers, and Xie Yu worried that he and Song Mu might not get the chance to meet him in the remaining hours.

But speculating was premature; their immediate task was to enter the Administrative Bureau's headquarters.

Hai Yun stepped out of the car, followed by Xie Yu and Song Mu. The trio stood on the deserted street, which felt somewhat bleak and desolate.

"I'll escort you inside," Hai Yun offered, advancing with a black access card she produced from her pocket. She swiped it at the silver door, which began to open slowly. Xie Yu held back, allowing Hai Yun to lead the way.

"Come in, and relax. I'm eager to learn about the outside world from you, and I won't let you come to any harm," Hai Yun said, flipping her hair with a flirtatious smile. However, her allure seemed to unsettle Xie Yu and Song Mu.

"This woman is dangerous. Stay alert," Xie Yu whispered to Song Mu.

Though Song Mu internally agreed, his gaze towards Xie Yu was tinged with skepticism and complexity.

"Yu, ever wonder why you've never had a girlfriend?" Song Mu asked in a hushed tone that could have been mistaken for discussing a grave matter.

Xie Yu gave Song Mu a baffled look, unsure of his sudden outburst.

"What does my love life have to do with our mission?" Xie Yu retorted.

Song Mu fell silent at the response. Hai Yun watched the two exchange whispers. She couldn't make out their words, but out of politeness and as a cooperative gesture, she refrained from eavesdropping. Yet, observing their facial expressions—one filled with disbelief and the other with an enigmatic smile—she couldn't shake the feeling that they weren't exactly exchanging pleasantries.

"Yu, from now on, you're my brother! But I've got to tell you, when you're wondering why you can't find a girlfriend in the future, just remember your actions these past few days, and you'll have your answer," Soong Mu said with an air of nonchalance.

Xie Yu gave him a sidelong glance and strode into the City Administrative Bureau's headquarters. The mission at hand was what mattered most; pondering the prospects of a girlfriend was the last thing on her mind.

"Quit daydreaming and focus on acing this dungeon first."

Soong Mu nodded, his smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. He was well aware of Xie Yu's temperament—it was high time he faced reality.

With a resigned chuckle, he followed Xie Yu through the gates of the City Administration Headquarters. No sooner had he stepped inside the building than a dull thud sounded; the door behind them shut firmly.

"Looks like this is the heart of the dungeon," Xie Yu remarked without looking back. Once the door was closed, it was almost certainly not going to open again.

Hai Yun, a character within the script, was clearly unaware of its contents. The sight of the closing door caused her expression to shift subtly. She turned to try the door again, only to find it immovable.

"What's happening?" Hai Yun was visibly distressed. The sealed gate meant they were trapped inside. If this was orchestrated by the City Administrative Bureau, then extracting information from Xie Yu and Soong Mu, the outsiders, would be a fool's errand.

Expecting generosity from the two strangers was out of the question, especially after her own world had resorted to violence first. But if such a setup existed, shouldn't she be in the know?

Hai Yun's face contorted with concern, clueless about the unfolding situation.

"Welcome to the City Administration Headquarters building."

The metallic voice resonated throughout the building, invigorating both Xie Yu and Soong Mu. A smile played on Xie Yu's lips—he thrived on the dungeon's unpredictability and feared a lack of challenges.

"Hello, my name is Resignation, and this is my colleague, Po Feng. We've come to see Dr. Robert," Xie Yu called out confidently, standing in the vast foyer.

The metallic voice paused briefly, then resumed, "Dr. Robert is present in the building, yet he has declined to meet with you."

Xie Yu's brow furrowed. Dr. Robert was proving to be quite the challenge.

He had hoped for a stroke of luck, to wrap up the dungeon in two hours and queue up for the next. Now, it was clear he had been overly optimistic.

"Dr. Robert, we're here on behalf of someone with an urgent letter for you, concerning pharmaceuticals. If you refuse to see us now, you might come to regret it later," Xie Yu stated icily. At this juncture, pleasantries were unnecessary.

"Xie Yu, something's off," Soong Mu said, stepping closer with a grave expression. "I suspect it's not that Dr. Robert is unwilling to meet us, but rather that someone is preventing him from doing so."

Xie Yu gave a slow nod, sharing Soong Mu's sentiment.

The letter bore the mark of pharmaceuticals, and Dr. Robert, being a researcher, would naturally be interested in such matters. There was no conceivable reason for him to reject the letter.

After all, it was just a letter. It seemed unlikely to intimidate Dr. Robert to the point of refusal.

There was definitely something fishy going on.

"Mr. Lee, we..." Hai Yun began, only to be cut off by the metallic voice, "Your presence is no longer required here, Captain Hai."

"Mr. Lee!" Frustration flared on Hai Yun's face, but she was abruptly silenced.

A man in a black suit emerged from the left side of the hall. His face was clean-shaven, his hair perfectly combed, and his expression stoic. With an indifferent gesture, he signaled for Hai Yun to follow him out.

Hai Yun's face flushed with anger. She had followed the plan to the letter, and yet, she was now facing unexpected turbulence.

Had there been any disagreements earlier, she would never have waded into this mess.

"Captain Hai, please come with me," the man in the suit said, his tone chillingly detached.

"You!" Hai Yun's fists tightened, and with a final turn, she addressed Xie Yu and Soong Mu, "I'm out of options. If you want to meet Dr. Robert, you're on your own. But let me offer a personal word of caution—watch out for Mr. Lee."

Having said his piece, Hai Yun turned with a sense of resignation and followed the man in the suit out through a small door on the left side of the hall.

Xie Yu and Soong Mu watched Hai Yun depart until he was no longer in sight. It was then that Xie Yu's lips curled into a sly smile.

"Mr. Lee, I believe it's time for us to have a meaningful conversation."