Chapter 99: Mechanical Guardians

Only the streamlined, curved underside of the aircraft in the sky was visible when a section suddenly detached from its surface and descended slowly like a disc.

Resting upon the descending disc were three figures.

Standing at the front was a handsome mixed-race youth with black hair, dressed in a minimalist style dominated by black, white, and gray—the most common aesthetic seen recently on advertising projections throughout the urban circle—with almost no unnecessary accessories on his person.

Behind him stood two bodyguards clad in sleek black combat suits that completely enveloped their faces, even obscuring their eyes, making them look at first glance like two towering, humanoid black entities.

The inspectors below watched this scene with great astonishment.

Everyone could tell that this mixed-race youth was undoubtedly an elite figure from the urban circle.

"Quite a crowd," he remarked.

The handsome youth casually glanced at the surrounding inspectors before stepping off the disc with his bodyguards.

The disc then automatically rose back up and re-integrated into the aircraft.

Immediately, the saucer-shaped craft lurched forward, instantly transforming into a terrifying streak of black light that departed at a speed far exceeding the sound barrier by an unimaginable margin.

The numerous inspectors watched this spectacle in shock.

"Oh?"

The handsome youth sized up Inspector Tang and Lin Qing standing behind her, a faint light swirling in his pupils, before smiling and saying, "Inspector Tang Wanqiu of the Twelve Branch of the Inspection Headquarters?"

Tang Wanqiu stepped forward and cautiously replied, "Yes, may I ask who you are?"

She knew that high-ranking figures from the urban circle possessed technology far beyond Earth's level, or had implanted small amounts of nanomachines that allowed them to operate without communication devices.

Perhaps by merely glancing at her, their background databases could instantly retrieve a vast amount of her personal information.

"I am from the Vitas family," the handsome mixed-race youth smiled. "Given Inspector Tang's clearance, you may have heard of us?"

Tang Wanqiu took a deep breath and said, "One of the twenty-four companies invested in by the Wisdom Star Group; your name is indeed well-known."

To her knowledge, while the twenty-four families were not as massive as the external civilization-backed powers like the Chaoyang Martial Arts Hall or the Dawn Group, they were still top-tier family-based forces within the urban circle.

However, the Inspection Headquarters also had connections within the urban circle, so no matter how grand a family's background, they were not her superiors.

Therefore, maintaining a polite attitude was sufficient.

"Before arriving, I submitted an application to the Star Patrol Council to participate in this operation in the capacity of an 'External Affairs Advisor' to the Inspection Headquarters."

The mixed-race youth smiled slightly and said, "However, I know some intelligence hasn't been reported yet, so I must ask: are the biological weapons in the underground research institute still there? Is it truly possible that the Star Transmission Tower exists?"

Tang Wanqiu paused for a moment before saying, "According to the inspection report from the evacuation of the underground research institute twenty minutes ago, the biological weapons are still present."

She hesitated again and added, "As for the Star Transmission Tower, it is merely a speculation based on rumors that Dr. Chu Hui of the Original Research Institute once obtained it, yet it was never found even after his imprisonment."

"The rumor that Dr. Chu Hui possessed the Star Transmission Tower is false enough on its own," the mixed-race youth shook his head slightly. "And to hide the Star Transmission Tower in a dilapidated research institute?"

"It is just that the headquarters leadership holds onto a sliver of hope," Tang Wanqiu said.

The mixed-race youth chuckled helplessly and shook his head. "Even if the Inspection Headquarters truly obtained the Star Transmission Tower, they could not find a genius qualified to be recognized by it, could they? Would they not have to hand it over to the Star Patrol Council anyway?"

He glanced toward the opening leading to the underground research institute and said, "I will go in first."

"Mr. Advisor."

Inspector Tang frowned slightly and said, "Communications within the institute are jammed, and there are criminals from the Original Research Institute inside, making it somewhat dangerous; perhaps it would be better to wait outside?"

The mixed-race youth smiled and said, "If someone else obtains the biological weapons, it will be troublesome to take them back later."

He looked at Tang Wanqiu, realizing that at her level she could not be unaware that the underground research institute posed no threat to him, and shook his head, saying, "Inspector Tang need not worry; I have no interest in other junk."

The mixed-race youth gave Tang Wanqiu a look that was half-smiling and half-serious, said no more, and immediately led his two bodyguards toward the underground research institute.

Under the gaze of the inspectors, the mixed-race youth and his two bodyguards entered the eighty-meter-deep pit.

"Inspector Tang," Lin Qing spoke up.

"You should go down as well," Tang Wanqiu looked at him. "This is a good opportunity for you; you might truly gain something beneficial."

She added, "However, do not clash with that person; he comes from a powerful family in the urban circle and is only interested in the biological weapons, so just do not compete with him for it."

"I understand," Lin Qing nodded slightly.

In his heart, he muttered to himself that although the biological weapons were precious, they probably weren't that valuable to the urban circle, otherwise a family member wouldn't have come personally to fight for them.

He estimated that the mixed-race youth mentioned earlier was probably not an important figure within the Vitas family.

Of course.

After all, they were a major power family in the urban circle; even the most ordinary member would be a formidable figure not to be trifled with in his eyes.

If even an Inspector had to speak carefully and politely, one could imagine their true weight and influence.

Lin Qing made a final check of his Inspector Chief uniform and necessary equipment before walking to the already cordoned-off pit, taking one look, and jumping down.

Inside the dark, destroyed elevator shaft, signal lights placed by inspectors along the path guided the way downward.

Although Lin Qing had not prepared a rope specifically for climbing, he only needed to slightly activate his Free Body technique to reduce his weight to the limit; when his falling speed equaled the air resistance against his gravity, his descent speed would no longer increase.

Eighty meters, a descent that took over ten seconds.

After landing gracefully, a metal door about five meters high appeared before Lin Qing, seemingly embedded in the rock layer, with fragments of the dismantled underground elevator visible around it.

The character 'Seven' was visible on the door, seemingly indicating it was Research Institute No. 7.

"The Door of Imperfection?"

Looking at the text on the metal door, Lin Qing stepped forward and placed his palm on the circular sensor on the door.

In the next moment, a faint beam of light projected from the door, enveloping him.

Lin Qing knew this was the detection device of the underground research institute, capable of easily judging genetic-level information without DNA identification, with technology far surpassing that outside the urban circle.

As long as it confirmed Earth-human genetics and a genetic optimization index below 100%, entry was permitted.

However, if one failed the detection and attempted to force entry, the laser defense weapons on the institute's main gate would activate; under such high-power laser weaponry, even an Inspector daring to force their way in would surely die.

Furthermore, if the laser weapons failed to kill the intruder, the institute would initiate its self-destruct sequence.

"Access granted."

In the next moment, the heavy alloy door slowly opened, revealing a dim corridor.

Lin Qing immediately stepped inside.

And the alloyed gate behind him silently closed on its own.

According to the intelligence provided by the Patrol Headquarters, the underground research institute covers an immense area, spanning several million square meters, divided into multiple zones.

However, after a day and a night, most areas had already been 'searched'. Stepping out of the dim corridor, a huge white hall greeted him; inside the hall, splattered blood was visible everywhere on the ground, along with scattered limbs and corpses.

Clearly, this was the result of the battle between the Patrol faction and the Original Research Institute.

Lin Qing wasted no time; a map of the entire research institute appeared in his mind. He immediately plotted a route, then transformed into a silent, blurred phantom, maintaining a speed of about sixty meters per second as he rushed toward the 'High-Grade Gene Experiment Zone' deep within the underground facility.

That biological weapon was located in the 'Animal Breeding Zone'; naturally, he had no intention of competing with that high-ranking figure from a major urban family.

His goal was also fourth-level gene optimization, so he naturally prioritized the 'High-Grade Gene Experiment Zone'.

According to the Patrol's intelligence, the 'High-Grade Gene Experiment Zone' was also divided into multiple laboratories, two of which had not yet been breached.

One was suspected to be researching bloodline evolution genes, while the other was researching fourth-level energy theory.

However, as the location of an institution permitted by the Wisdom Star Group to arm itself for self-defense, the mechanical guard groups protecting these two laboratories were far too powerful; the Patrol members seemed to have already given up.

A moment passed.

Lin Qing swiftly traversed winding corridors, passing through doors that had been destroyed or unlocked, and soon arrived at the corridor entrance leading to his destination.

【Order Level decreased by 1.6 levels】

【Order Level decreased by 1.6 levels】

【Order Level decreased by 1.6 levels】

As soon as Lin Qing stepped into the corridor, a series of crimson warnings instantly materialized before his eyes.

Chu Dean's threat to him had only lowered the Order Level by one level, yet now a whole swarm of threats as high as 1.6 levels had appeared!

Suddenly, more than a dozen figures appeared ahead in the corridor.

They were over a dozen men wearing sunglasses and black leather coats, appearing cold and ruthless; almost every one of them held a heavy machine gun, either crouching on the ground or resting it on their shoulders.

"Da-da-da-da—!!"

Tongues of flame erupted; the dense curtain of bullets nearly completely sealed off the entire corridor.

Every bullet was a specially made armor-piercing round, capable of piercing the defenses of a Patrol Chief; now, who knew how many bullets were attacking simultaneously, furiously pouring down firepower.

"Enhance!"

A pale green light suddenly burst forth from Lin Qing's pupils; at the same time, a metallic sheen appeared over his entire body as he charged directly into the bullet curtain!

His hands became blurs, waving before his eyes to continuously block bullets aimed straight at his face, while his body simply took the hits head-on.

The armor-piercing bullets pierced through his sturdy Patrol Chief uniform, yet were completely stopped by his resilient skin, bouncing off one by one!

After reaching such a level of power, the currently restricted and even regressed firearm bullets posed almost no threat to his current strength.

In an instant, a human-shaped void appeared within the curtain of bullets formed by the massive volley.

"Hoo!"

Lin Qing, his figure exploding with speed, surged into the group of mechanical guards.

The mechanical guard closest to him dropped his machine gun; a black dagger instantly sprang from his palm, thrusting straight toward Lin Qing's body.

His strike was so fast that an ordinary person could not even see it.

Fire suppression was merely the simplest tactic of these mechanical guards; capable Senior Patrol Chiefs could withstand it, but once one broke into the crowd of mechanical guards, trouble would ensue.

Because the close-combat strength of every single mechanical guard was slightly stronger than that of an average Senior Patrol Chief!

Over a dozen mechanical guards could cooperate perfectly, supporting each other; if an average Senior Patrol Chief dared to charge in head-on, death was inevitable!

"Hmm?"

Lin Qing's expression did not change; his waist coiled and swayed like a noodle, easily dodging the black blade tip thrust by the mechanical guard, while his right arm extended, transforming into a palm-blade that swept out—

"Shhh-rack!"

The mechanical guard's head flew off instantly, its metal skeletal cervical spine severed by an invisible blade.

The other mechanical guards simultaneously swarmed to attack him, black daggers thrusting toward him from nearly every angle without a blind spot.

Lin Qing was not the slightest bit panicked; his agile and versatile figure moved like a butterfly weaving through flowers, changing his body in ways completely beyond ordinary comprehension, effortlessly dodging the black daggers while his hands unleashed invisible sharpness, continuously severing the heads of one mechanical guard after another.

If he did not possess the instinct-level 'Free Body', dealing with these mechanical guards would certainly be troublesome; changing his form would require a moment of preparation.

In such high-speed combat, that moment would seem far too long.

But the instinct-level 'Free Body' was completely different; changing the body at will required only a single thought, making his dodging ability truly extraordinary.

Moreover, unaffected by air resistance, free and unbound, acting with wild abandon! This speed and flexibility in combat was simply born for melee chaos.

Although his offensive killing power was clearly insufficient, Lin Qing had the gene ability 'Invisible Edge' to compensate; this was a purely offensive ability capable of easily tearing through the defenses of the mechanical guards.

Though it sounds slow, Lin Qing merely wove through the group of mechanical guards once; in just a few seconds, all dozen mechanical guards were destroyed and lay in pieces on the ground.

However, it was evident that the bodies of these mechanical guards contained memory components; they were still striving to reconnect their bodies, attempting to recover.

Lin Qing paid them no mind; glancing at the mechanical guards, he muttered to himself: "Why do they all look like Terminators..."

He glanced again at his Patrol uniform, which had already become tattered and torn, and felt a touch of helplessness.

Immediately, Lin Qing walked deeper into the experiment zone.

By now, the Order Level had already recovered, indicating that the threat from these mechanical guards had vanished.

Ahead lay a laboratory behind a blast-proof glass door.

Before he could even attempt to break the glass door, the laboratory's glass door opened on its own.

Lin Qing attempted to step through the laboratory door; after confirming the Order Level had not changed, he finally stepped inside.

At that very moment—

Beams of light suddenly converged, forming a little girl about seven or eight years old, with eyes as pure as an angel's, wearing a pristine white dress, her skin snow-white and flawless.

A projection?

The intelligent system of this underground research institute? Lin Qing paused mid-step, narrowing his eyes as he looked at the little girl.

"Patrol Chief Lin Qing."

The little girl gazed silently at Lin Qing, her childish voice devoid of any emotional fluctuation. "Your strength far exceeds what is recorded in the Patrol Headquarters' information archive. Please cease destroying the laboratory left by my father. If you want something, just say it directly."

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