Chapter 446 Heading to the Base

Chapter 446: Heading to the Base

"While I truly hope Mr. Su can help us... you can refuse." Qin Ge's voice trembled slightly, laced with unease and hesitation. His gaze at Su Bai betrayed poorly concealed worry and anxiety. Su Bai could clearly sense the significant inner struggle beneath Qin Ge's outwardly calm demeanor.

Su Bai raised an eyebrow slightly, fully understanding the other's concern.

"Are you worried I'll disappear without a trace like the people you sent out?" Su Bai asked directly, his tone carrying a note of insight.

It was easy to see why Qin Ge was worried. The news that none of the dispatched investigators had returned had made him deeply wary of the city's danger level.

Qin Ge's expression turned slightly awkward, his lips tightening as if he couldn't find the right words to respond. He didn't deny it—Su Bai had clearly guessed his thoughts.

"Don't worry," Su Bai said with a faint smile, a flash of determination and confidence in his eyes. "I have a few ideas about what's going on in Qingliu City, and... I have means to protect myself." He spoke lightly, as if he wasn't bothered by the lurking dangers at all.

Su Bai also mentally tallied up his own trump cards—not to mention the strength ceiling of the Evil Ghost Puzzle, the key Su Xuan left him at the Mist Shop also provided Su Bai with a sufficient escape route. Although Qingliu City's mutation was terrifying, he was confident he could get out in one piece.

"Mr. Su, did you come specifically for Qingliu City's mutation?" Qin Ge's question was no longer beating around the bush, his eyes holding a trace of doubt and confusion. "Why? I don't think you're here for the suffering citizens, are you?"

Qin Ge's skepticism wasn't unfounded. After all, he clearly remembered on the No. 444 bus, Su Bai remained impassive at first, unmoved even when they mistakenly thought he was an Eerie Entity. It wasn't until the final moment that Su Bai intervened.

By all accounts, Su Bai didn't seem like the type to heroically stand up for unfamiliar Qingliu City residents.

The corner of Su Bai's mouth lifted in a faint smile as he nodded. "You're right, I'm not here for the citizens."

"Then why..."

"However, that's not important. What matters is whether we can cooperate." Su Bai didn't directly answer Qin Ge's question, instead lightly shifting the topic.

Qin Ge nodded. He had his doubts, but he knew now wasn't the time to press. Regardless of Su Bai's motives, as long as he was willing to stand on their side, it was already immense help for their current predicament.

Qin Ge had complete trust in Su Bai's strength. Even if someone claimed to have seen Su Bai "die" before his eyes, Qin Ge wouldn't believe it.

"Honestly, for whatever reason, if you're willing to work with us, that's more than we could have hoped for." Qin Ge sighed in relief, his tone becoming slightly lighter.

Qin Ge was about to find a place to sit and gather his thoughts, but his casual glance instantly froze on the sofa not far away—Lin Wei and the still-hypnotized Mutant were lying there in plain sight.

Qin Ge's eyes widened instantly, the color draining from his face, replaced by an expression of disbelief. His throat seemed clogged, the sounds he made fragmented—

"They... why... monster... how could..."

Qin Ge—the normally composed squad leader—had completely lost his composure, becoming incoherent.

Su Bai glanced at Qin Ge, still smiling. "It's nothing. I just collected two samples—one recently infected, the other critically ill. Obviously, I'm trying to treat them."

"Treat?!" Qin Ge's voice shot up, his eyes widening even further, his face instantly flushing red, his emotions so agitated he could barely control himself. "They can be treated?"

Qin Ge could hardly believe his ears, his voice trembling with suppressed excitement. "Mr. Su, was your attempt successful? Can the infected really be treated?"

He studied the Mutant lying there, growing more and more astonished.

Watching Qin Ge's extreme agitation, Su Bai guessed, "Someone you know?"

The reason for Qin Ge's excitement was obvious—someone close to him, perhaps even important to him, had been caught up in Qingliu City's experiment, mutated, possibly to the same degree as the Mutant on the sofa.

"Yes." Su Bai nodded slightly, meeting Qin Ge's hopeful gaze seriously. "Don't worry, I have a way to treat them."

Su Bai's confident tone was reassuring, quickly seeping into Qin Ge's heart.

"If you're in a hurry, we can head to your base now. On the way, you can tell me everything you know." Su Bai's words were concise and clear, yet highly effective for Qin Ge.

Uncontainable elation instantly spread across Qin Ge's face, his eyes becoming intensely fervent, as if seeing a beam of hopeful light in the darkness. He didn't hesitate, not even the thought of double-checking crossed his mind.

"Let's go now!" Qin Ge's voice was slightly hoarse from excitement, rushed and almost uncontrolled.

For Qin Ge, no confirmation was needed right now. Su Bai's words were like a lifeline thrown into despair, and he was already eager to grasp this sliver of hope for survival.

Before leaving the shop, Su Bai gently patted the sleeping Thread-Wrapped Doll on the counter, hoping this mysterious little assistant would remember to watch the store well. After all, the usually helpful black cat, Xiao Hei, really disliked the current smell inside.

Although Su Bai understood that locking the Mist Shop's door made the entire store seem isolated from the outside world, perfectly safe. And the two hypnotized people on the sofa wouldn't wake up on their own after he left. Having someone "watch" the shop seemed more like an unnecessary ritual.

Qin Ge hurriedly left the shop, and Su Bai unsurprisingly followed. The wind chime by the door tinkled softly, the street permeated with an evening chill. Qin Ge's black car was parked not far from the Mist Shop, its special Qingliu City license plate making it very conspicuous.

Su Bai glanced across the street, seeing the three plainclothes personnel still at their usual posts.

Although the three plainclothes officers likely knew Su Bai was acquainted with Qin Ge, when they saw the special squad leader Qin Ge respectfully open the car door for Su Bai, they couldn't help but show a flicker of surprise on their faces.

"That guy... is he really just a shop owner?"

The black car moved smoothly through streets that hadn't yet returned to their usual bustle. Qin Ge gripped the steering wheel tightly, his expression tense, eyes focused intently on the road ahead, not saying a word.

Su Bai had originally intended for Qin Ge to share information while driving, but seeing him straining to concentrate on driving, perhaps now wasn't the best time for conversation.

Soon, the car stopped in front of an official-looking building bearing government insignia.

Su Bai had originally thought Qin Ge and his squad would choose a more secretive, low-profile base, given Qingliu City was currently shrouded in the shadow of mutation. An overly exposed operational base would undoubtedly attract unnecessary attention.

"This time the situation is too dangerous. If we hid the base in the shadows, I'm afraid even if all our players disappeared during investigations, no one would know we ever existed." Qin Ge handed the car keys to a staff member downstairs, leading Su Bai inside the building. "So everyone on the team felt... it's better for us to be conspicuous. No matter what happens to us, people will know we tried for Qingliu City."