Lu Ting Cheng's instincts screamed, and he pivoted back a step just before the sphere erupted with a sharp crack. Not fire, not shrapnel, but dense, choking smoke that billowed fast, swallowing the narrow stairwell in seconds.
Through the haze, he caught the shadow of the intruder vaulting over the railing to the lower landing.
Corridor Six
The charcoal man didn't rush. He stepped over the tranquilized guard, crouching beside the package with the slow, deliberate movements of someone who knew exactly what he was touching.
His gloved fingers traced the modern seal on the ancient tube. "So it's here after all…" he murmured, almost to himself.
From the comm, Zi Zhen's voice cut sharply: "You... step away from the crate."
The man's gaze flicked to the camera in the corner, and for a heartbeat, the faintest smile crossed his lips.
"I'm afraid I can't do that," he said, knowing full well Zi Zhen could hear him.
---
Control Booth
