Chapter 128

Chapter 128

As the truck moved, Cai Tao pulled out a palm-sized notebook, scribbling rapidly, "Alright, before the operation, let's draft a plan..." He tore off a page and handed it to Ding Hongsheng, "Ding, this is the layout of the research institute. Mark the locations of the detectors."

"You just draw a square and tell me this is the layout?"

Cai Tao said, "I've never been inside, that’s why I asked you to mark it."

Ding Hongsheng crumpled the paper into a ball and threw it out of the truck, "No need for so many plans. Those detectors are everywhere. It would take an hour to map them all. Once we're at the institute, I'll guide you."

"But we definitely need a plan; we can't just rush in blindly. Here's the pen, just draw something quickly. Hurry, we're short on time."

"Are there any detectors in the institute's kitchen? I heard they have great food," Ji Yi interjected from the driver's cabin.

Everyone was voicing their opinions, making the truck lively. Yan Bubu sat silently, glancing at Feng Chen, who seemed deep in thought. He felt like the others were the ones keen on stealing the cipher box, while he and Feng were just passengers.

Soon they reached the checkpoint. One sentinel poked his head into the driver's cabin, while another went to the back of the truck, shining a flashlight at the people sitting inside.

"All from the Sentinel-Guide Academy?" the sentinel asked.

"Yes, we all are."

"Is everything finished down there? How's the situation?"

Ding Hongsheng responded, "Almost done. The area we were responsible for is clear. We're heading back to the academy now."

"Alright, good job."

"Not at all, you guys too."

The truck quickly headed towards the academy. With everyone from the Sentinel-Guide Academy, including the research institute's soldiers, deployed to the first level, except for some activity near the orphanage, the entire area was eerily quiet.

After Ji Yi parked the truck in the academy's garage, the group ran towards the nearby research institute.

The institute's surroundings were devoid of soldiers, but the main gate was securely closed. The main building was still brightly lit, with shadows moving on the white walls of some floors, indicating the presence of numerous researchers inside.

As they approached the institute, Feng Chen murmured a number, "Turn off the main channel on your walkie-talkies and switch to this frequency."

As Ding Hongsheng adjusted the walkie-talkies, he said, "The front entrance is not a good entry point. There are three detectors there that can sense abnormal air vibrations above the wall and psychic entities climbing over, along with two surveillance cameras."

Feng Chen asked, "Which way is better to enter?"

"Let’s take the back door," Ding Hongsheng pondered.

"Alright, the back door then."

The group, along with a team of quantum beasts, circled around to the rear of the research institute. Feng Chen thought for a moment, "The quantum beasts can’t come in; leave them outside to signal us. I’m not sure from which direction their convoy will return. Peacock and Horror Cat go to the front intersection, Binunu and the black lion to the left side intersection, the crocodile stays outside the institute, and the wolfhound goes to the right street corner."

The quantum beasts obeyed the orders, heading to their respective areas and lying in wait behind bushes or buildings. Only the wolfhound, after reaching the corner, joyfully rolled around in a nearby lawn.

Feng Chen immediately changed his mind: "...Never mind, no need to guard outside the institute. Crocodile, go to the right side intersection and watch the convoy with the wolfhound."

The group reached the back of the institute, where a tall metal wall, topped with electric fencing, stood. They gathered in the shadows, unlit by the streetlights, surveying the terrain.

Ding Hongsheng said, "I know the wiring of that electric fence. I can cut it."

Feng Chen asked him, "How many detectors and cameras are here?"

Ding Hongsheng replied, "Three of each."

"Three of each? So there’s one more camera than at the front entrance? Why don’t we enter through the front?" Ji Yi asked.

Ding Hongsheng hesitated, "Climbing the back wall feels psychologically safer than the front one by just a tiny bit."

Everyone: "......"

Ding Hongsheng pointed at three spots on the top of the wall, "The cameras and detectors are hidden inside the wall. To disable them, it's not impossible. If three people shut them down simultaneously, in sync, it’ll work; otherwise, one will trigger an alarm."

Ji Yi rolled up her sleeves, "That sounds pretty simple."

"It’s not simple. Their wiring is connected to the electric fence, so we need to deal with the fence first."

Cai Tao interjected, "It's simple, just cut the electric fence wiring first, right?"

Ding Hongsheng glanced at him, "As soon as you climb the wall to cut the wires, the detectors will spot you."

Cai Tao, "...What if we disable the detectors first?"

"Then you'll be electrocuted to death."

Wang Suizi, confused, said, "Isn’t that a dead end? Cutting the fence triggers the detectors, and disabling the detectors gets you electrocuted."

Ding Hongsheng hesitated, "Well..."

Cai Tao pulled out several sheets of paper, shaking them in front of Ding Hongsheng, "I've drawn several plan diagrams, but now we can't even get past the perimeter wall. What do we do?"

Ding Hongsheng replied, "I'm just stating the facts. How did this become my fault?"

Yan Bubu added, "But you're an engineer, right?"

Chen Wenchao corrected, "He's an electrician."

Feng Chen intervened, "We can get in. There's a way. If we cut the electric fence within ten seconds before disabling the detectors, it won’t trigger the detectors or cause electrocution."

Ding Hongsheng, after pondering, said, "That might be the only way. Four people should act simultaneously: one to cut the fence wires, and three to shut down the detectors."

Ji Yi suggested, "Then the four of us sentinels should go."

Feng Chen agreed, "Okay."

Ji Yi asked, "But what about the cameras? Even if we cover our faces, it won’t work. We’re all in combat uniforms, clearly from the Sentinel-Guide Academy."

Cai Tao thought for a moment, then seriously suggested, "I think we should strip down and cover our faces. That way, they won't recognize us."

Everyone turned to look at him simultaneously, and he hastily added, "Of course, not completely naked, we should keep our underwear on."

Chen Wenchao let out a cold laugh, "The academy's underwear is also standard military green."

As Cai Tao was about to suggest finding something to cover themselves, he noticed Yan Bubu and Feng Chen staring at him, Feng’s look particularly meaningful. He abruptly stopped talking and closed his mouth.

Ding Hongsheng said, "No worries, the soldiers monitoring the cameras aren’t there. I’ll just go to the control room later and delete the footage from this time period."

Feng Chen pulled out a roll of thin adhesive tape, tore off a piece, and tossed it to Ding Hongsheng, "Cover all ten fingertips."

Ding Hongsheng, understanding the concern about fingerprints, tore off a section and then passed the tape roll to the others.

After everyone had their fingertips covered, Feng Chen prepared to climb the wall. Noticing Yan Bubu looking eagerly at him, he gently squeezed his shoulder and whispered, "Just wait here, it'll be quick, two minutes at most."

"Be careful, it’s electrified," Yan Bubu rubbed his face against Feng's hand.

"I fix all the electrical appliances at home, right? It’s the same, no worries."

Ji Yi finished taping her fingertips and looked around to pass the tape roll. Wang Suizi saw this and said, "Give it to me, I’ll hold it."

After Ji Yi tossed the tape roll to her, she raised her hands to her chest and mimed a heart beating: "Thump, thump…"

Wang Suizi shivered as if cold, and Ji Yi silently laughed, winking at her. Wang Suizi muttered under her breath, "...so greasy," and Ji Yi laughed even more joyously.

The wall was high and the metal surface smooth, with only a groove near the top. The four began a running start towards the wall, then leapt up, each hanging from the groove with one hand, before pressing against their section of the wall.

A section of the wall slid aside, revealing four square holes, each housing a control box.

"Everyone ready?" Feng's voice came through the earpieces.

The three sentinels placed their fingers lightly on the stop button inside the box: "Ready."

"One, two, three."

At the end of the countdown, as the three sentinels pressed the stop button, Feng, a fraction of a second earlier, cut the blue cable with his dagger.

The cable snapped with a soft sound, neither triggering the detectors nor electrocuting anyone.

Everyone sighed in relief, and the three guides ran towards the wall. Yan Bubu, while running, rubbed his palms on his clothes to dry the sweat.

With the electric fence now just ordinary metal wire, Feng deftly climbed over the wall, pulled off a section of the fence, and extended his hand downward, "One by one, come up."

Ding Hongsheng lifted Yan Bubu, and Feng Chen then pulled him up onto the wall. On the other side, Ji Yi lifted Wang Suizi, and Feng also helped her up.

Cai Tao looked at Chen Wenchao and extended his hands to help under his armpits.

"What are you doing?" Chen Wenchao sidestepped, "Trying to tickle my armpits again?"

Cai Tao replied, "Not tickling, I’m helping you climb the wall."

"No need, I can do it myself."

Chen Wenchao backed up a bit, focused his gaze ahead, took a deep breath, and, like the sentinels before him, dashed towards the wall and leaped up vigorously.

Thud!

He then found himself flat against the wall, his fingers short of the top groove.

Cai Tao almost laughed out loud, clapping softly, "Wow, our cool guy is really impressive."

Chen Wenchao slid down, his fair face reddening, but he backed up a few steps, ready to try again.

"Come on, step on my shoulders and go up, so you don't accuse me of tickling," Cai Tao crouched down in front of Chen, "We don’t have much time, show off later."

"Hurry up, Chen Wenchao," Yan Bubu and Wang Suizi urged from the top of the wall.

Knowing time was of the essence, Chen Wenchao gave up his stubbornness, stepped onto Cai Tao’s shoulders, and let him boost him onto the wall.

After climbing over the wall, Ding Hongsheng pointed to three locations near the back door, "There are three detectors here too, which automatically scan identities as soon as someone enters the door."

The wall appeared smooth, and without Ding's guidance, no one would have noticed the hidden detectors.

Feng Chen, Cai Tao, and Ding Hongsheng each took their positions and pressed the wall in front of them, revealing the control boxes inside.

"One, two, three." After the countdown, the detectors were switched off by the three.

The back door of the research institute was opened, and the group silently entered the interior.

They faced a corridor with walls made of transparent glass, revealing various instruments inside and numerous researchers operating them.

Feng Chen gestured towards Ding Hongsheng, questioning about the staircase nearby. Ding immediately pointed to two spots on the wall next to the stairs.

Understanding, Feng and Ding each took their positions and simultaneously disabled the detectors in the wall.

On the second floor, still in the lab area, many researchers were busy. After disabling the detectors at the staircase, the group quietly moved to the third floor.

The third floor no longer had labs; the corridor was flanked by tightly closed doors, not made of transparent glass.

Everyone stopped at the stairwell. Yan Bubu, peeking from behind Feng, who was crouching, asked, "Is the storage room for the institute's items on this floor?"

"Yes, the room directly at the end of this corridor is it," Ding Hongsheng turned to the group, "There are twelve detectors on this floor, and any movement at the door of any room triggers an identity check. Luckily, there are two circuits, A and B, with seven and five detectors, respectively. We have seven people here, so let's tackle circuit A first."

Feng Chen instructed, "Ding, lead them to their respective positions first."

"Okay."

Under Ding Hongsheng's guidance, the group stationed themselves at seven positions along the corridor and pressed the walls in front of them, revealing the hidden detectors inside.

Feng Chen began a countdown over the earpiece: "One, two—"

As Yan Bubu's finger hovered over the stop button, he heard Wang Suizi's anxious voice, "Wait, do we press on the count of three or after the word 'three' is said?"

"Press on the count of three."

"No, press after saying 'three'."

Multiple voices chimed in simultaneously.

Feng Chen, crouching in front of his detector, clarified: "Let's be uniform. Press after saying 'three'."

"Okay, got it. Let's start then."

Feng Chen confirmed, "Are there any issues? If there are, speak now."

"No more issues."

Feng Chen resumed counting: "One, two, three."

Everyone pressed the stop buttons simultaneously and held their breath for two seconds. Fortunately, nothing unusual happened.

"Good job, everyone coordinated well," Feng Chen stood up and asked Ding Hongsheng, "Are there five more?"

"Yes, five more are at the storage room's entrance."

The group quickly moved to the storage room's door to disable the remaining five detectors.

Facing the password-locked main door, Feng Chen turned and asked, "Where's the roll of tape from earlier?"

"I have it right here," Wang Suizi quickly produced the roll of tape from her pocket.

Feng Chen tore off a piece of tape, stuck it on the keypad of the lock, and then peeled it off to examine the fingerprints stuck on it.

"There are fingerprints on the digits 3, 5, 7, 8, 4. The password is comprised of these numbers. Try combining these digits in different sequences, each of you suggest one combination," Feng Chen instructed while prying open the iron box beneath the lock with his dagger.

“37854。”

“78543。”

“54387。”

Wang Suizi, Ding Hongsheng, and Ji Lei promptly recited a series of combinations.

Feng Chen, having pried open the iron box, began manipulating a black device inside, "Keep going, give me a few more combinations."

Chen Wenzhao suggested, "34578."

Cai Tao added, "87563."

Chen Wenzhao pointed out, "Where did the 6 come from? There's no 6."

Cai Tao insisted, "There is, one of the numbers Feng Chen mentioned was 6."

"Nonsense, are you deaf? There was no 6 at all."

……

Ignoring their argument, Feng Chen spoke into the earpiece, "Yan Bubu, you haven't suggested a combination yet."

"I'm still thinking... trying to come up with a meaningful combination, maybe incorporating your birth date or something," Yan Bubu said.

"No need for such significant numbers, just say any combination."

Yan Bubu replied, "Alright then... how about 57834?"

"Okay, let's try 57834 first and see how lucky you are."

Feng Chen's fingers moved swiftly over the black device. After finishing his sentence, he withdrew his hand and pressed 57834 on the keypad of the door lock.

With a click, the lock sprang open, and the heavy door of the storeroom began to open slightly.

"Ah! I got it right! I just randomly said a string of numbers, and it turned out to be correct!" Yan Bubu couldn't hide his excitement, speaking in a hushed, joyful tone.

"Yes, you got it right. You're really lucky, like a little lucky star," Feng Chen pushed the door open and asked Ding Hongsheng, "Old Ding, are there any more monitors inside?"

"There are, but not in the main hall. Go ahead, I'll let you know where the monitors are," Ding Hongsheng replied.

Feng Chen stood aside to let the others enter first. Ji Lei was the last to go in. As she passed Feng Chen, she suddenly said, "Feng Chen, you actually modified the original password to use Yan Bubu's numbers, didn't you?"

"What about it?" Feng Chen neither confirmed nor denied it, leaving it ambiguous.

Ji Lei exclaimed, "I just think it's a clever way to humor the young guide. I've learned another trick."

Entering the storeroom, they found an empty room with several sterile suits in a cabinet.

"This is the changing room. Put on sterile suits before going further to avoid contaminating the samples," Ding Hongsheng instructed.

Wang Suizi added, "Right, we're here to steal samples, we can't do anything that would damage them."

Cai Tao hissed, "Doesn't feel much better though."

Yan Bubu took out two sterile suits, handing one to Feng Chen who was approaching, and everyone quickly got dressed and proceeded to the next room.

"This is the sterilization and disinfection room, don't worry, there are no monitors here."

As they walked into the room, disinfectant spray misted from the ceiling, and the group passed through the fog-like disinfectant to the storage room door.

The door to this room had only two monitors on top. Feng Chen and Ding Hongsheng skillfully deactivated them and opened the tightly closed storeroom door.