novelxo Chapter 1186
Island's
Edge.
The air was thick with toxic fog, completely impenetrable. Crimson and her crew were left with no choice but to stop in their tracks.
The Empire Base folks had shown up about fifteen minutes earlier, only to find themselves just as stuck, unable to move forward.
The Medical Division was working frantically to figure out a way through the poisonous mist, but it was like trying to catch smoke with bare hands.
Crimson, armed with her S-tier protective suit, dared to step into the fog, only to watch in horror as the suit began to dissolve. Luckily, Kruz yanked her back just in time, saving her skin from a nasty fate. "Stay back, all of you!" Jules shouted, his face dead serious. "This is Grade-A DENTEN fog. It could turn your bones to dust!"
"Jules, do you have any tricks up your sleeve?" Crimson was on the verge of panic.
Jules pulled out a small box. "I can whip up an antidote, but it'll take an hour." An hour could be the difference between saving Flora or losing her forever! Crimson's chest tightened with worry, knowing waiting was their only option. Just as their anxiety hit a fever pitch, a silhouette emerged from the fog...
...
Outside the Lab.
A young man was attempting to break into the lab, which was locked up tighter than Fort Knox. Without triggering its secret mechanisms, entry was impossible, and Eula wasn't one to share those secrets lightly. "Boss, we've got trouble! A whole lot of folks are heading our way!" Alex burst onto the scene, breathless. "Forget about Flora for now; we've got to deal with them!"
The real danger was the external threat, not the drama within.
But why were these forces suddenly descending on them? Could it be about Flora?
The young master's eyes narrowed, and after a moment's thought, he said, "Take some men and check it out. If they're here for Flora... let them in."
"Boss!"
Alex was floored. Letting strangers in was inviting disaster.
"Enough," the young master snapped, his patience wearing thin.
"Boss, I can't go along with this," Alex said, jaw tight. "Letting outsiders in is a no-go. Nobody here would back that."
Allowing those outsiders in would mean risking their own necks.
But the young master, already on edge, glared fiercely and aimed his gun at the dissenters.
"Choose. Let them in, or face the consequences."
A shot rang out, leaving a man dead on the ground, eyes open in final disbelief.
"Anyone else want to test me? I'm not shy about firing again."
Faced with their leader's wrath, silence fell over the group, though their reluctance was obvious.
In the midst of this tension, a hand landed on the young master's shoulder.
"What matters now is saving lives."
The voice was low but firm, "I've sent people to handle the situation outside."
The young master spun around, staring at a familiar yet strangely altered face, and growled, "Connor."
So, that was it. Connor had been in disguise, staying close.
"The lab-how do we get in?" Connor asked, his tone calm.
The young master, despite his
dislike for Connor and his belief that Connor was unworthy of Flora, was forced to reconsider given the circumstances.
"The lab's secured by a mechanism. We need to crack it," he admitted, taking a deep breath, aware of his own limitations. "Show me," Connor said.
Though skeptical, the young master
led the way, pointing out the mechanism on the left of the entrance. "My adoptive father had this set up. It's tough to crack."
"Looks tricky," Connor agreed, crouching down to take a closer look.
"Can you do it? If not, we'll have to blow our way in," the young master warned, having prepared explosives as a final option but worried about Flora's safety.
Connor didn't respond, just focused.
"See, I knew it. You're in over your head," the young master started, frustration mounting. "Let's not waste time—"
Before he could finish, a soft 'click' echoed.
The mechanism was disarmed, and the doors started to open.
The young master was dumbstruck.
Connor stepped inside first, and the young master, snapping back to reality, hurried after him, his mind buzzing with newfound hope and resolve.