Chapter 165: Escaping the Research Institute 10

Chapter 165: Escaping the Research Institute 10

Qin Fei climbed onto a chair and reached his hands into the vent, quickly feeling the edge above.

The ventilation shaft was just wide enough to accommodate an adult male. Qin Fei slipped in smoothly without any hindrance.

His sleeve slid down, revealing his well-defined arm. With a slight effort, he lifted himself up.

While talking to Qin Fei, Lu Cheng had been hurrying over. When Qin Fei crawled into the duct, they met eyes in the dark environment.

Lu Cheng grinned, showing eight white teeth: "Leaving?"

However, Qin Fei stopped him and asked the most pressing question: "Do you know that in this instance, we all have radiation values attached to us?"

Lu Cheng seemed delighted by the concern, nodding vigorously like a chick pecking at grain: "Yes, yes. I knew it when I overheard your conversation with the supervisor in the operation area this afternoon."

Not only did Lu Cheng know, but he had also secretly followed them into the cleaning room—through the sewage drain.

The tender green vines lurked at the bottom of the translucent pool, weaving between people without being noticed by any player.

Qin Fei: "...?"

A row of dots floated across the chat. In the Black Feather Guild's broadcast room, Vice President Gala silently raised his hand to cover his forehead.

Sewage drains connect everything?

Moreover, do you really need to be so open about eavesdropping on others!

It was evident that Lu Cheng was indeed familiar with the structure of the ventilation and drainage systems. He led Qin Fei through the ventilation ducts until they reached a certain exit, where he pushed aside the panel ahead.

Lu Cheng explained: "This is the janitors' storage room. No one comes here except during working hours."

It was very safe, perfect for a transfer station.

"Although the ventilation ducts are clean, not every room is connected to the exhaust system. To move freely throughout the entire institute, we still need to go through the sewage drains. Besides, although the drains are smelly, they are much wider than here, allowing us to walk upright. Look, my knees are almost worn out from crawling for so long..."

Lu Cheng kept talking non-stop.

Qin Fei had already found the entrance to the sewage drain in the storage room and entered it.

The sewage drain was damp and stuffy.

As soon as he stepped inside, the stench of water and decaying algae rushed towards him.

Those odors rushed into Qin Fei's nostrils, trying to invade his brain.

The sewage drain was even darker than the ventilation ducts. After asking Lu Cheng, Qin Fei had to take out a headlamp from his personal space.

With light, Qin Fei and the audience on the screen finally saw the scene inside the sewage drain.

The space was indeed spacious. Passing through the initial corridor, they arrived at an area resembling an underground square, with countless paths leading in different directions.

Unidentified plants intertwined on the ground and walls, their roots sucking up the flowing sewage. Qin Fei looked down and saw many unidentified bones lying at the bottom of the murky water.

"We start from here; this is a relatively central location within the entire institute."

Lu Cheng introduced his plan.

"Move forward first, remember what each room is used for along the way, then meet up with the other two members of the Black Feather Guild."

As he spoke, Lu Cheng took out a large piece of paper from his personal space, nearly A2 size, with a simple map drawn in black ink.

"Here and here. These places I've already checked during the day, mostly peripheral areas. Further inside, there are only drainage pipes, which humans can't enter. The daytime was too rushed, and the pollution and radiation were particularly severe inside, so I didn't use the vines to look."

Qin Fei stared at the somewhat abstract map, pondered for a while, and slowly said: "The place you want to go, I've been there—it's a biological laboratory."

The area Lu Cheng failed to explore wasn't the laboratory he stayed in at night?

"Moreover, if nothing unexpected happens, I'll stay in the laboratory for the next few days."

Qin Fei added.

However, Lu Cheng mentioned that the laboratory was heavily polluted, but Qin Fei didn't feel it.

That was strange because, although Qin Fei wasn't affected by pollution, his perception of it was more sensitive than that of ordinary players.

There was no reason for him not to notice the strong pollution in the laboratory.

The young man lowered his eyelids, seemingly deep in thought. Beside him, Lu Cheng was delighted upon hearing Qin Fei's words: "That's great; we don't need to go there."

Leave the details of the map to Xiao Qin to fill in. The saved time could be used to continue exploring the boundaries of the institute.

Lu Cheng kept talking as they walked, sharing his experiences from the day and stories from the guild.

"So far, it seems that when the instance started, the players were divided into four groups. One group is the water prison group, where you and I are low-level experimental subjects who were eliminated from the lab."

"The second group includes our leader and the two people he brought. Their identities are humans selected as potential staff members. According to known information, the NPCs here conduct a test based on their talents when selecting staff members, but the content of the test is still unclear."

On this point, Qin Fei had already figured it out: "The test used as a selection criterion is mental immunity."

He wasn't sure if mental immunity had another name in this instance, but the NPCs were definitely testing for this.

The lower-class humans, kept like livestock in the breeding center, would be pulled out at certain times for mental immunity tests.

Those with satisfactory results would be assigned to various parts of the institute as helpers.

Those who didn't qualify would be directly thrown into the laboratory as experimental subjects.

However, the system did not follow this standard when deploying players into the instances; instead, it scattered and reorganized all the players.

"All the people in the Research Institute exist to study these monsters," Qin Fei mused.

"Therefore, the upper echelons of the Research Institute used mental immunity as a criterion when selecting humans from the lower levels because those with higher mental immunity can coexist more harmoniously with the monsters."

Moreover, individuals with high mental immunity might even have a calming effect on the monsters during experiments.

Lu Cheng recorded the information provided by Qin Fei. After a few exchanges, the conversation shifted back to the players.

"The third group is where you infiltrated."

When Lu Cheng said this, his eyelashes fluttered, and his clear black-and-white eyes looked at Qin Fei, waiting for him to elaborate.

Qin Fei was forced to continue: "This group of players was deployed to the low-level life breeding center. Now half of them have been selected to work as laborers, while the other half has been taken to the laboratory—probably to be used as experimental subjects. If the results are unsatisfactory, they will end up in the same situation we were in at the beginning."

"Human experimentation?" Lu Cheng was momentarily stunned.

But in this instance, the NPC researchers were clearly studying various kinds of monsters, not humans.

"Could those monsters be transformed humans?" Lu Cheng recalled the researcher NPC in the stairwell who had grown a mouth and devoured a player.

"This is a mysterious organization's research institute hidden deep underground. Its research involves transforming humans into monsters to gain superhuman combat abilities, forming a monster army to rule the world above ground!"

As Lu Cheng spoke, his eyes grew brighter, as if he had already penetrated the truth of the instance.

However, he clearly knew he was talking nonsense.

At the height of his excitement, he suddenly sighed and deflated like a punctured balloon.

Facing his foolish companion, Qin Fei did not mock him but calmly comforted him: "It's okay, don't worry too much. The instance just started, and we have plenty of time to explore the storyline slowly."

Lu Cheng was moved again: "Xiao Qin, I really think you're such a good person! Have you really not considered joining Black Feather at our vice president's invitation? If it were the vice president or our leader beside me just now, they would have definitely been speechless."

Qin Fei revealed everything: "Actually, I was pretty speechless too."

Lu Cheng: "..."

Well, then keep being speechless in your heart and don't say it out loud to discourage me.

The discouraged Lu Cheng closed his mouth.

The radiation level underground was very high. Even though Qin Fei was wearing protective gear, the radiation level still increased nearly twice as fast as it did in the operational area.

Lu Cheng's situation was even more dramatic.

Before leaving the D accommodation zone, Qin Fei had confirmed that his radiation level was 10.83, but now it had risen to 20.26.

The two Black Feather players were far from the accommodation zone, and they had only covered about half the distance.

At this rate, Lu Cheng might not survive a round trip.

But he wasn't afraid.

Encountering difficulties in instances was inevitable, but there were always solutions. Lu Cheng took out a bottle of mineral water from his personal space, opened it, and poured the entire contents over himself.

Qin Fei sniffed and recognized it as the water used to clean radiation.

Liquid couldn't be directly stored in personal space, but it could be carried in containers, which was how Lu Cheng exploited a loophole in the system rules.

"I filled it secretly from the pool where you guys were soaking," Lu Cheng admitted openly.

Many players in the instance had obtained legitimate identities, and the concept of radiation levels was no longer a secret.

Those who were still illegal residents desperately sought liquids to cleanse radiation. Today, Lu Cheng traded two bottles of cleansing liquid for a piece of information from another team of players.

That team consisted of players who had escaped from the water prison along with Qin Fei's group. One of them had found a note before leaving the water prison, which read "Beware of shadows."

Qin Fei narrowed his eyes slightly: "Now, the note in the water prison cell doesn't seem like a rule but rather a deliberate hint left for us."

The warning "Don't trust humans" had already been validated.

So, what could "shadows" refer to?

Qin Fei lowered his head.

The only light source in the sewer was the headlamp he wore, casting long, thin shadows of him and Lu Cheng that looked more like walking tree branches than people.

Shadows had accompanied Qin Fei all day, and he hadn't noticed anything unusual about them.

As they continued forward, they encountered several batches of players. Due to mutual unfamiliarity, they remained wary of each other and did not engage in any communication.

The Black Feather players were working as helpers in an area called the Primary Feeding Trough Zone.

Lu Cheng led Qin Fei through the sewers, finally reaching their destination. They hid behind a drain outlet in the corner, peeking out from the edge of the wall.

Lu Cheng rested his chin on his hand, somewhat troubled: "There are too many people inside. When I came here during the day, I couldn't talk to them. I thought there would be fewer people at night, but..."

Although the area was called the Primary Feeding Trough Zone, which sounded unimpressive, it was actually quite different from the low-level life breeding center.

The stark difference in status between humans and monsters was evident here.

The Primary Feeding Trough Zone was clean and tidy, consistent with the overall architectural style of the Research Institute, built entirely of pure metal.

Qin Fei now realized that the Research Institute contained many hidden dangers, including pollution and radiation. Therefore, the materials used to construct the institute were likely special metals that provided some protection.

This explained why the radiation levels in the sewers and ventilation ducts were so high.

The Primary Feeding Trough Zone was similar to a monster cafeteria. The monsters were still kept in glass containers, arranged in neat rows. Different types of monsters were categorized and immersed in transparent liquids.

Compared to the monsters in the Research Center, the creatures in the primary feeding tank area were generally smaller, with the largest barely reaching the height of an adult human.

Human-shaped, fish-shaped, octopus-shaped, and even some covered in feathers that resembled birds, these monsters swirled around in their containers.

The containers were connected by pipes, and many NPCs dressed in protective suits moved through the corridors.

Almost all the workers in the feeding tank area were NPCs. Qin Fei scanned the room and found only two people without a favorability bar.

Lu Cheng said with a headache, "This is bad. I wonder when they get off work."

Qin Fei had been thinking earlier that night about how people in the Research Institute didn't have to work overtime, but he hadn't expected to end up in a place that required 24-hour shifts.

However, he didn't think this was a problem.

"Do you remember what I did in the Research Center?" the young man asked calmly.

Lu Cheng nodded instinctively.

In the next second, his hands became heavy as a brand-new protective suit was thrust into them.

Qin Fei: "Put it on."

Lu Cheng clumsily put on the protective suit.

He understood what Qin Fei intended to do, but he couldn't help feeling extremely nervous.

With the help of his innate skills, Lu Cheng had almost always grown stronger behind the scenes during his journey from a novice to a high-level player.

All he needed was a suitable position to extend his vines and gather information that ordinary players couldn't obtain.

But acting openly among a large group of NPCs like Qin Fei was something Lu Cheng lacked experience with.

"H-How about you do it?" Lu Cheng pressed his hand against his pounding heart.

"Are you planning to act as my assistant? How about you play the researcher, and I'll be your assistant. I'm afraid I might slip up..."

Qin Fei shook his head: "No, that won't work."

His tone was gentle as he clearly explained his refusal:

"If you play the researcher and slip up, I can say I was deceived by you. But if I play the researcher and get caught, we're both done for."

Lu Cheng was taken aback but had to admit that Qin Fei was right.

Lu Cheng nervously changed into the researcher's protective suit.

The moment he fastened the wristwatch, Qin Fei silently released the ghost infant.

The invisible ghost infant crossed the entire feeding tank area and reached the farthest point from Qin Fei.

Then, somehow, it caused a deafening noise.

All the NPCs turned to look in that direction.

Taking advantage of this distraction, Qin Fei smoothly emerged from the sewer.

By the time the NPCs realized what had happened, a researcher with an assistant had appeared in the feeding tank area.

Researchers indeed held unparalleled status within the instance.

Lu Cheng's legs felt weak as he walked among the NPCs, but no one dared to question him.

Thus, the two confidently approached two players from Black Feather.

Lu Cheng secretly pulled down the visor of his protective suit slightly. Upon seeing him, the two working players immediately perked up from their listless state.

The three gathered in a corner and whispered for a while. Then, Lu Cheng turned to report to Qin Fei: "They will finish their shift in twenty minutes and will join us outside then."

"In the Research Institute, many things are not convenient to ask. I think we should take a walk around the breeding center."

The two players from Black Feather approached.

The one speaking was a girl with red hair, a cold and delicate face, and light gray eyes. Her thin lips seemed sharp.

The low-level life breeding center was where Lin Ye and his team were initially placed.

There were only ordinary humans at the bottom of the hierarchy in that area, not even official members of the Research Institute.

But perhaps from them, they could obtain clues that researchers and managers wouldn't provide.

The man beside her had slightly dark skin and was very quiet.

From their close proximity, frequent eye contact, and subtle gestures, Qin Fei concluded that they were likely a couple.

The red-haired girl was named Ning Yu, a player with combat talent, while her boyfriend had a support talent.

Qin Fei had no objections to Black Feather's plan for exploring the instance tonight.

They still had too little information, like standing in the center of a pitch-black square with multiple paths to choose from. It didn't matter which direction they took first.

Qin Fei was more concerned about another point: "Did you see—"

"Miyang is with us," Ning Yu answered straightforwardly, guessing what Qin Fei wanted to ask.

As a celebrity player, Miyang was also a key focus for guild players, so it was natural for Ning Yu to recognize him.

Qin Fei nodded.

Now, only the last group of fifty players remained unaccounted for in the instance.

Qin Fei's heart sank.

In the first half hour of the scenario, when they had not yet escaped from the water prison, many players logged off.

At that time, Qin Fei was not fully aware of the situation outside and assumed that the other three groups were in more dire straits.

But now it seemed that both Mi Yang and Lin Ye were actually doing relatively well.

Then where were those players who had logged off?

Why was there not even a single clue?

Ning Yu, as a worker who had obtained her true identity, was restricted by the rules and could not get any information, which was understandable.

But what about Lu Cheng?

Lu Cheng had encountered a diverse group of players. Why hadn't he heard anything either?

...

In the live streaming hall, many players gathered in the central open area, chatting animatedly while looking at different light screens.

This exhibition match's scenario was truly special; one group of players had lost most of their members right at the beginning.

Even stranger was that there wasn't a single A-level player left in this team now.

"Do you think all these people will be completely wiped out?" The high-level spirit tossed a coin in his hand.

"It's really strange. Scenarios don't usually have useless designs. If all these players die, the clues on their side would be completely cut off."

The spirit muttered to himself.

Does this mean that all the players remaining in the scenario will lose their chance to return to the central city?

The spirit looked intently ahead.

In the live stream, the rain continued relentlessly, almost submerging the entire city.

Players, wearing raincoats and rubber boots, staggered through the endless sewage.

Now, this team, which initially had fifty members, had only thirteen left after less than a day in the scenario.

Xiao Xiao pulled his raincoat tighter.

When the raindrops hit their bodies, they brought an unusual burning sensation. Walking in the rain was a necessity for the players.

Xiao Xiao sniffed and caught a salty, fishy smell of seawater.

This scenario world was experiencing an unprecedented maritime disaster. The city, built with steel and concrete, was sinking and collapsing. Every step the players took was filled with trepidation, always on the verge of falling into an abyss of no return.

Worse still were the various monsters in the scenario.

There were simply too many monsters, forcing players to constantly change hiding spots. Staying in one place for over an hour would attract enough monsters to surround them.

At the front, a male player in his thirties, with a sturdy build, held a laminated map, frowning deeply: "If we keep going forward, we'll reach the central area marked on the map."

However, the short distance on the map was as difficult to traverse as crossing a chasm in reality.

The city was collapsing, roads were damaged, and monsters attacked from both front and back.

Xiao Xiao felt almost desperate.

This despair was not because of the challenging environment but because he had never experienced such a scenario, one that exceeded the scope of his imagination.

—The objective of the scenario was to escape the Research Institute.

But.

There was no Research Institute here at all.