The unanswered questions about the Theseus Cells lingered in Mo Ling's mind.
Li Luo, however, was unfazed. She was already preparing to take on the next mission.
After resting for a few days, Li Luo restocked her gear and food and returned to the mission counter.
As usual, she started browsing from the bottom of the mission board, but she didn't accept any for a long time.
Following Li Luo's gaze, Mo Ling understood why she was hesitating.
[Collection Mission: Fifty kilograms of Water Core Lava for experimental use. Reward: 1000 Monitoring Station points.]
[Collection Mission: Twenty Human Rolling Grass plants for research use. Reward: 2000 Monitoring Station points.]
[Hunting Mission: Hunt a Giant Jetstream in the storm belt west of the Monitoring Station. Requires submission of video evidence and the trophy, a Flash Spirit Core. Reward: 2000 Monitoring Station points.]
...
There were no investigation missions, and the remaining ones were all extremely difficult. Li Luo lingered for a long time, unable to find a suitable one.
Further up were only investigation missions worth a measly few dozen points.
Just as Li Luo opened her electronic screen, about to settle for one of them, she received a message.
It was from Station Chief Liang.
"Li Luo, you haven't taken a mission yet, have you? I have something I need you to do."
...
Inside the research institute, Station Chief Liang explained his reasoning to Li Luo. "When it comes to the Theseus Cells, the fewer people who know, the better. You're aware of what happened, so there's no one more suitable than you."
He took out an electronic map and pointed to a spot. "This area marked in red is the Theseus Cells containment zone. I need you to go take a look."
"Investigate the containment zone for any security breaches or anomalies. And, most importantly, you need to inform the personnel stationed at the outpost, face-to-face, about the Theseus Cells appearing in the outside world."
'If there's an outpost, why do they need Li Luo to investigate?' Mo Ling couldn't help but wonder.
Li Luo's face was also filled with confusion.
Station Chief Liang noticed Li Luo's doubt and continued, "We haven't had any personnel rotate to or from the outpost in a long time. Our communication has been limited to data transmissions. I suspect something might have happened over there."
"I'm not going," Li Luo said decisively. "I need to earn points. I don't have time."
Hearing Li Luo's blunt refusal, Station Chief Liang froze on the spot.
When he recovered, he said with a sigh of resignation, "How about this? I'll issue it as a designated mission. You'll get points upon completion."
Station Chief Liang returned to his office and, after a flurry of activity on his work terminal, a notification chimed on Li Luo's electronic screen:
[You have received a designated mission from the Seventh Monitoring Station. Issuer: Liang Zhi]
[Investigation Mission: Patrol the Theseus Cells containment zone. Reward: 2000 Monitoring Station points.]
[Do you accept? Accept/Decline]
"This mission does have its dangers, so this many points should be about right, don't you think? If you make any additional discoveries, I can even apply to get you a bonus."
'That many?'
While Mo Ling was still marveling at the scope of the station chief's authority, Li Luo had already hit the accept button.
After getting the map to the outpost and the access permit from the station chief, Li Luo set off immediately with Block.
The route to the containment zone wasn't long, but it was extremely remote and hidden. It took two days of navigating winding paths to reach the designated location.
Just as they were about to arrive, the sky suddenly darkened.
'Did it get dark?'
'But the timing seems off.'
Mo Ling, inside Block, could only sense day and night through the changing light.
He quickly glanced at the time on Li Luo's electronic screen and saw that it wasn't nighttime yet.
He looked over at Li Luo, who had already slowed down and was looking up at the sky.
As the vehicle crept forward, Mo Ling finally saw what was ahead.
It was a high wall.
A thick, high wall of reinforced concrete. It was so tall that Mo Ling's view didn't reach the top, and its foundations plunged so deep into the earth that he couldn't see the bottom.
This was the wall that was blocking out the light.
As they drew up to the wall, Mo Ling could just barely make out the scene on the other side.
The scenery was identical to the world outside—ordinary plants and small insects. He couldn't see anything unusual about the containment zone.
But the thought that these plants and animals might all be composed of Theseus Cells sent a chill down Mo Ling's spine.
As he was focused on studying the world within the walls, an angry shout shattered Mo Ling's concentration.
"Who goes there!"
A group of soldiers in thick combat gear, brandishing various weapons, stepped forward and surrounded Li Luo.
"Out of the vehicle!"
The soldiers were well-trained, quickly searching both the vehicle and Li Luo.
When they learned Li Luo had been sent by the Seventh Monitoring Station, the soldiers' expressions soured, and they began to grumble.
"We've already seen the report from the station. Go on and head back. There's nothing unusual here."
"We'll send people to help investigate the Theseus Cells escape. There are no special circumstances inside the containment zone."
Their attitude only made Mo Ling more suspicious.
'Weren't they protesting a little too much?'
Li Luo was no fool. She presented her mission and access permit to the soldiers, insisting on entry.
Seeing the issuer's name on the mission, the inspecting soldier said angrily, "Liang Zhi again. Hiding in the station all day, telling us what to do. If he's got the guts, why doesn't he come here himself?"
His words drew a chorus of agreement from the others.
"He wants us to take the fall for a leak from the containment zone? He's just pushing us around because he can!"
"Rank has its privileges, and it's crushing us. What's the point of us busting our asses out here when he can decide everything with a single word?"
"Worst comes to worst, I'll just quit. Guarding this godforsaken shithole, fending off those monsters every day, and for what? To get suspected by our own side."
...
These soldiers clearly held a huge grudge against Station Chief Liang.
"Enough!"
Just as the standoff reached an impasse, a raspy yet powerful voice cut through the soldiers' grumbling.
The soldiers immediately turned and snapped to attention, their backs ramrod straight.
"Captain Su!"
"Captain Su!"
...
As the man drew closer, Mo Ling finally got a clear look at him.
He was frail.
While the other soldiers were all well-built and in neat uniforms, this Captain Su looked like a shriveled old man, his body wrapped from head to toe in filthy bandages.
The wrappings even covered his face, and dried, black blood had seeped through, making him look like a decaying mummy.
He walked up to Li Luo, confirmed her mission and access permit one more time, then turned to the soldiers beside him.
"Her papers are in order and the inspection is complete. Let her through. What's all the dawdling about!"
The soldiers nearby quickly lowered their heads in apology, their tall frames looking like those of children in front of Captain Su.
"Let's go. I'll take you inside."
Without any further ceremony, Captain Su led Li Luo out of the encirclement and started walking along the base of the wall.
The soldiers who had been grumbling just moments before were now silent, quietly falling in line behind them.
Mo Ling's gaze fell on the nameplate hanging from Captain Su's neck, and he was startled by what was written on it:
"Third-level Hunter, Bone Shredder Su Yang."