A pitch-black, filthy liquid flowed silently through the vast hollow pipes underground, and above this liquid, a steel alloy cage spanning several meters was suspended in mid-air by numerous steel cables.
At the points where these steel cable intersected, the originally solid pipe ceiling had been replaced by a colossal transparent dome, and countless high-tech instruments were arranged along the dome’s edge. Dozens of researchers dressed in pure white lab coats were busy working with these instruments.
"We are currently administering a large dose of sedatives to the ’Lizard’ through the mechanical arms of the ’Cage’; the dose is enough to keep the ’Lizard’ asleep for an entire day. Then these steel cables will lower the ’Cage’ into the sewer pipes. The ’Cage’s own propulsion system will follow the sewer route to transport the ’Lizard’ to our new Research Institute,"
one of the researchers in pure white lab coats explained to Najia, who was standing beside them.
Najia’s gaze passed through the transparent dome, towards the giant cage and the huge lizard within that was mottled red and black and measured several meters in length. At that moment, the lizard was lying quietly in the cage, with numerous mechanical arms, each ending in fine, long needles, injecting sedatives into its body.
Najia asked in a gentle voice.
"The ’Cage’ has just started to descend. To ensure safety and not awaken the ’Lizard’, it will take approximately two hours to lower it into the sewer,"
the researcher replied.
"Make it quick," Najia turned and said to the slender driver behind him, "Aaron, keep an eye on things here."
Aaron nodded slightly.
After speaking, Najia walked towards an elevator to the side.
The underground lab had a dedicated secret elevator leading to the surface office, and this was the only access to the underground lab.
The elevator in the underground second-level parking garage could not directly reach this underground lab; it only went as far as the third-level parking garage.
The reason for designing that elevator was because the initial proposal for building the underground lab submitted to the municipal government was under the guise of constructing a dedicated three-level underground parking garage.
According to the construction requirements of Dawn City’s government, an underground parking garage must have a direct elevator and a vehicle entryway.
Najia had no intention of allowing anyone to access the third level, even if it was just a facade of a parking garage. The vehicle entryway had already been sealed, and the direct elevator was set to be usable only with authorization.
The gaunt driver Aaron watched as Najia entered the elevator; then he shifted his gaze back to the vast transparent dome above.
Najia’s departure didn’t mean he was unconcerned about the situation here; it was because he had to go to the office of the surface Research Institute to destroy related documents.
Their ’old friend’ actions today had put tremendous pressure on the Mayor, and with the election around the corner, the Mayor would not tolerate any mishaps in what was considered a winning situation.
So whether the Research Institute is exposed or not, the ’Lizard’ must be moved.
Aaron’s eyes, through the transparent dome, rested on the large ’Cage’ below it.
And at that moment, he suddenly heard a series of pounding sounds from behind him.
It was the sound of something heavy striking a wall.
He slowly turned his head to look behind him, and there, not far behind him, a small crack appeared on a wall that had previously been pristine.
The crack quickly widened, and a small piece of shattered brick fell from the center of the crack. Consecutively, the surrounding cement and bricks also rapidly fragmented, scattering in all directions.
As the dust settled, an elderly man with silver hair, wielding a massive iron ingot, appeared in Aaron’s line of sight.
After the wall was breached, the elderly man casually tossed the iron ingot aside, then took up a cane that was leaning nearby, pushed aside the exposed steel rebars from the broken wall, and entered the grand laboratory with composure.
The elderly man, leaning on the wooden cane, smiled at Aaron, whose eyes were filled with disbelief.
Najia had burned all the paper documents, physically destroyed the computer storage devices, and then slowly exited his office.
The staff and researchers outside his office were still bustling about.
On the surface, the Research Institute was indeed just an ordinary medical research facility.
Over the years, they had indeed developed several effective medical drugs.
Najia made his rounds on each floor of the Research Institute, ensuring that no outsiders had slipped in.
Everything was business as usual, until he reached the first floor and passed by a folding ladder that was carelessly leaning against the wall.
He stopped in front of the ladder.
The ladder was very new, not a speck of dust on it.
His gaze finally settled on a corner of the ladder, where there was a hint of crimson.
He bent down, his fingertips brushing across the dried red.
It was a dried bloodstain.
Aaron frowned, staring at the silver-haired elderly before him.
The surrounding researchers watched the scene dumbfounded, subconsciously stepping back.
"I remember teaching you combat."
He Ao dusted off his clothes and walked toward Aaron step by step, leaning on his cane.
"Yes," Aaron cocked his head, took off his jacket, and threw it aside, "then I’ll personally see you off."
Two short knives sprung from his sleeves as he leapt forward, charging at He Ao like a swift cheetah.
There were precision instruments all around, no guns could be fired.
But even without guns, he was confident he could kill the old man.
"I said," He Ao sidestepped, dodging the two flying knives, "you were taught how to fight by me."
"Old geezer," Aaron switched from slashing to sweeping with the knives in his hands, the sharp blades sweeping towards He Ao’s neck and lower body, "people grow."
He Ao leaned back, avoiding the upper blade, then angled his cane just so, catching the downward sweeping knife.
At the same time, his free hand landed a punch on Aaron’s exposed lower abdomen.
Aaron grimaced and was sent flying backwards, landing face down on the ground.
The whole fight lasted no more than a few seconds, with He Ao not even having moved from his spot.
"Twenty-four years," He Ao walked toward Aaron, who was on the ground, leaning on his cane, "and your combat skills haven’t improved at all; all strength and no skill. It seems your martial arts talent is truly not high."
"You broke through that limit?!"
Aaron lifted his head, looking at He Ao in surprise.
At the same time, the handle of the short knife in his right hand slightly opened, revealing a dark gun muzzle.
This muzzle slowly aimed at He Ao.
Aaron suddenly took in a sharp breath
The wooden cane slammed down forcefully, breaking his right hand in an instant.
Then the cane angled, breaking his left hand.
Then He Ao calmly walked up to Aaron’s legs, and crushed them.
Aaron couldn’t hold back any longer and let out a cry of pain.
He Ao did not kill him but merely broke both his arms and legs.
In the process, the swinging of the knives due to the cane’s strikes caused the blades to cut his wrists.
Mixed with a little dark fluorescence, the crimson blood trickled down his wrist, while Aaron watched the flowing blood, unable to do anything.
He knew He Ao wanted to torture him.
"Old geezer, if you have the guts, kill me now," Aaron screamed in pain, "do you know that the second time your leg was broken in that gang dispute, it was I who arranged it.
Kill me! Najia will be back soon, and you’ll be joining me shortly!"
He Ao ignored him and walked step by step to the huge transparent dome, looking at the ’cage’ hanging in midair.