"Th-this is Genesis Tech's branch office?"
Lu Zhaoran looked at the charred and messy area not far away, her tone somewhat disbelieving.
At this moment, part of the ground here even appeared like glazed glass after being melted by high temperatures, forming a shocking crater.
"Yes." Cipher nodded, her tone indifferent. "The reason is also very simple."
"Hyacine wanted to open a clinic here to treat patients, and then this company called Genesis Tech sent people who wanted to destroy her shop and prevent her from opening it."
"Then Hyacine originally wanted to drive this group of people away, but as a result, they turned on something called... 'armor repair unit', and then became something like unkillable cockroaches."
"Upon learning that to kill this group of cockroaches she had to destroy the device inside the company, in order to avoid trouble, Hyacine destroyed this entire company."
After saying that, Cipher helplessly spread her hands. "Who told them to insist on courting death? If they hadn't turned on that device, this building might still be here right now."
"Is this the worldview of a big boss..." Lu Zhaoran muttered to herself, feeling her cognition refreshed. "We avoid trouble by taking a step back to find boundless sea and sky, while a big boss avoids trouble by directly physically transcending the source of the trouble..."
"Right."
As if suddenly remembering something, Cipher turned her head to look at Lu Zhaoran, her expression somewhat curious.
"Speaking of which, what were you originally planning to do coming all the way to the Chaos Capital?"
Hearing this question, Lu Zhaoran thought for a moment, then answered frankly:
"Genesis Tech tried to control this place by monopolizing the medical care in the Chaos Capital. This matter was noticed by the government of this country, so they wanted to stop Genesis Tech's plan."
"And they somehow got ahold of my intel from somewhere, commissioning me, this 'spatial-type special ability expert', to investigate Genesis Tech."
Speaking up to here, she curled her lips in annoyance.
"The reward is intel regarding Lin Zhenyi... There's no helping it, I had to take this bait. So I came over."
"Aren't you afraid this is a trap?" Cipher tilted her head, somewhat puzzled. "In this kind of situation, nine times out of ten it's either a deadly trap or a scheme to lure the tiger from the mountain, right?"
"I am afraid!" Lu Zhaoran put her hands on her hips, answering righteously. "That's why I asked you, Big Boss, to help look after Luo Lin and the others!"
"With you, Big Boss, holding the fort in the Pit Bottom District to protect Luo Lin and the others, luring the tiger from the mountain? That's the same as not luring at all! As for a deadly trap..." She confidently raised her chin. "I'm a spatial type at any rate, I still have life-saving methods. If I want to slip away, they can't stop me."
Cipher was momentarily rendered speechless by her logic, and could only sigh and say:
"Alright, as long as you have this confidence."
"Of course, there is another part of the reason... I actually came for you."
"Me?" Cipher pointed at herself, even more confused. "I wasn't in the Chaos Capital at the time."
"But Hong Guoguo was."
Saying so, Lu Zhaoran's gaze turned toward the figure curiously observing the edge of the charred crater not far away.
And Hong Guoguo, upon hearing her own name, turned her head blankly.
"Me? Does it have anything to do with me?"
"Because you are a feline demi-human who transmigrated here from another world." After Lu Zhaoran finished explaining, she turned back to Cipher. "Plus, Big Boss Cipher, you are obviously not a native of our world either... So I thought, could you and Guoguo be from the same place? Therefore, coming here this time, on one hand, is for the mission, and on the other hand, I wanted to ask Guoguo if she wanted to go back to the Pit Bottom District with me after the mission is over, so I could take her to meet you."
Then she paused, looking at the two who were already standing together.
"But looking at it now, you guys already met early on. You should have talked about all this, right?"
"Oh..." Hong Guoguo suddenly realized, but then her eyes dimmed again, and she gently shook her head. "Sister Cipher isn't from my world... I've already confirmed it."
But soon, a trace of hope reignited in her eyes.
"However! Sister Cipher said that there will be a way to send me back in the future!"
"That's good then."
"Wait..." Cipher suddenly interjected. She slightly narrowed her eyes and looked at Lu Zhaoran.
"I'm a bit curious, how did you confirm that I'm from another world?"
Could it be she deduced it using the same method as that person Li Yan?
Lu Zhaoran didn't keep her guessing and explained directly:
"First of all, you, Big Boss, are like an S rank expert who appeared out of nowhere. There was absolutely no trace of you beforehand. Plus, I heard Luo Lin mention that you firmly denied being one of Genesis Tech's Genetically Modified Humans. These two points made me have some guesses about your origins."
"Later, I tentatively brought up the matter of the 'Spiritual Tide', and sure enough, I found that you knew nothing about it. Combining these few clues, I could basically determine that you came from an Isekai, and the kind that just arrived not long ago."
"Then why didn't you lay your cards on the table with me earlier?"
Cipher asked, her eyes carrying a hint of amusement.
"How would I dare..." Lu Zhaoran scratched her hair in distress. "You don't know, back when I discovered Hong Guoguo's identity, she kept hiding from me, terrified that I would catch her and dissect her for research! If it weren't for me... Mmph mmph—!"
Before she could finish her sentence, a blushing red Hong Guoguo dashed forward in one stride, tightly covering her mouth, so she could only let out muffled "mmph" sounds.
"You're not allowed to say it!!" Hong Guoguo growled in shame and anger. "Wasn't it all because of those novels you stuffed to me back then! It was written inside that once rare intelligent species were discovered, they would be caught and subjected to all kinds of terrifying research! And at that time, you were always tinkering with weird and bizarre materials all day long... How could I not be afraid!"
Lu Zhaoran pulled Hong Guoguo's hands away and said somewhat unconvincingly:
"I already told you I study plants! You're not a plant!"
"Plants are life too! The way you study them, what's the difference between you and those mad scientists in the novels!"
"How can that be the same!"
Watching the two bicker like children, the corners of Cipher's mouth twitched, and she decided not to pursue this issue any further.
When the two finally settled down, Cipher cleared her throat and said:
"Alright, since we're done looking at the ruins and the matters are settled, let's go."
After speaking, she turned around and walked towards the direction of the car.
But after taking a few steps, she seemed to suddenly remember something. She stopped, looked back at Lu Zhaoran, and said:
"By the way, Little Ran, now that this Genesis Tech branch office is gone, and Hong Guoguo has met with me, what are your plans next?"
Lu Zhaoran was taken aback by the question. After pondering for a moment, she replied:
"I have to take a trip to this country's government side. After all, they still have intel regarding Lin Zhenyi on hand. I need to go take a look first."
"Alright then." Cipher nodded. "But you're going by yourself this time. Good luck. I still have some matters, so I'll be heading off first."
After saying that, she casually waved her hand, signaling Hong Guoguo to follow, and then didn't linger any longer.
...
Meanwhile, on the other side.
When Hyacine sent off the last patient, she looked at all the Stellar Jade she currently possessed.
"Five thousand six hundred Stellar Jades, converted down, that's enough for thirty-five pulls. I've already built pity with fifty pulls now. It can't be that it won't drop a gold for me even at eighty-five pulls, right?"
Thinking of this, Hyacine became restless and placed her thoughts on the Gacha (Pull) button.
"Come... out!"
Nine blues, one purple.
Eight blues, two purples.
"..."
"No way! It's been seventy pulls! Why isn't it dropping yet! It really just doesn't want to let me pull it a little earlier, huh!"
Looking at the three purples displayed, Hyacine felt extremely displeased.
"The last Ten-pull, the eightieth pull, let Little Ica bless me, come... out!"
Nine blues, one gold!!!
"A gold dropped!"