Zhou Tianming stepped out of the alley and back onto the main road, pulling up his hood to blend into the crowd.
This was the only shopping district on the entire Mendel Satellite, bustling with people coming for medical treatment, childbirth, work, and various other reasons. Children darted through the streets everywhere.
Mingling with the crowd eased his nerves slightly.
Checking his phone, he saw it had been nearly ten minutes. He dialed Zhou Hanxiang's number again.
Through a relay app, the call was redirected to Weber's phone hidden in the alley before connecting.
This time, the call was answered after about ten seconds.
Zhou Tianming remained silent, listening carefully to the faint breathing on the other end to confirm it was Zhou Hanxiang.
As his mind raced to analyze the information, the voice on the other end spoke first.
Though slightly weak, the woman's voice was generally alert as she urgently called out, "Tianming? Is that you?"
Zhou Tianming exhaled in relief—it was Zhou Hanxiang. "Mom, it's me. Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. What about you? Are you safe?"
"I'm out of the research institute. I'm at the shopping center now."
A relieved sigh came through the phone. "Thank goodness. As long as you're safe, find a secure place to hide. I'll come for you later."
"Can the institute arrange identity registration? I need to board a shuttle and leave the satellite to be completely safe."
"Sorry, they don't have that authority here. After all..."
He nodded in understanding. Of course, the institute wouldn't register identities for their "products."
Moreover, being undocumented made them easier to control. This was precisely why Zhou Tianming had never been able to escape the satellite before. Without Weber's help, he wouldn't even have money to buy necessities.
No food, no water, evading the Garrison, and even avoiding well-meaning citizens who might report a lost child...
Unless one was absolutely determined to flee, they'd be forced to return within days.
"In that case, I—"
Just as Zhou Tianming was about to explain his next steps, Zhou Hanxiang cut him off.
"—Tianming, I... um... I want to go to the quarantined area of the institute."
"No!" Zhou Tianming immediately objected. "Absolutely not! We agreed you'd wait for rescue and reunite after GARMR&D's parent company completes their investigation."
"But—but this is for the investigation!" Zhou Hanxiang paused, softening her tone. "Think about it. As the sole survivor, wouldn't the company pin the blame on me? I'm alone—I can't fight them."
Zhou Hanxiang's initially halting speech grew smoother as she continued: "I thought, if I could resolve this biochemical leak incident, they wouldn't be able to pin the blame on me anymore, right?"
Frowning deeply, Zhou Tianming considered this.
Indeed, with such a major incident, someone would have to take responsibility.
His mother was merely a professor at the research institute, without power or influence, yet she had survived both the Blue Cosmos attack and the virus leak.
Upon closer reflection, she was practically the perfect scapegoat. The Garrison would likely insist the attack was due to an inside job to absolve themselves of responsibility.
Her survival alone provided the perfect excuse to attack her.
Tsk—
He clicked his tongue in dissatisfaction. This was indeed a problem.
Zhou Hanxiang's risky rescue plan might actually be the key to breaking this deadlock.
Zhou Tianming sighed. "You're right. I hadn't considered that aspect, but it's still too dangerous. One wrong move—"
"It's fine. You're underestimating me. After all, I did earn my Ph.D. at the East Asia Genetics and Biotechnology University."
Exhaling, Zhou Tianming finally relented but still cautioned her: "Then you must be careful. Prioritize your safety above all else. Even if you succeed in the rescue, GARMR&D might still deny your contribution."
"True, but this is something that must be done. I'll be careful."
Zhou Tianming's mind raced as he meticulously planned how to achieve their ultimate goal perfectly, given the enormous risks involved.
"Mom, do you know any journalists or people in the news industry?"
"No, I've been at the institute these past few years. Most of the people I know are fellow researchers."
"Rest for now and don't act hastily. I'll reach out to someone who helped me before. If we can get a journalist to report your rescue efforts before the company can intervene, they won't be able to frame you so easily."
"Oh, Tianming, could you also ask if they know any skilled hackers?"
Confused, he asked, "Why do we need a hacker?"
"To help unlock the isolation barriers. Those partition walls can't be opened manually."
Nodding, he replied, "I'll ask about that too."
After hanging up with Zhou Hanxiang, Zhou Tianming dialed Weber's backup number, but no one answered.
He sent Zhou Hanxiang a message saying 'wait for now' and then checked the Mendel Satellite map on his phone to prepare for their eventual hiding spots.
...
At the research institute, in the medical room, Zhou Hanxiang let out a long sigh after ending the call.
"So you've decided to go after all," Keller remarked, cleaning and putting away the surgical tools as usual.
Zhou Hanxiang clutched her worn-out phone tightly. "I'm not doing this to help you."
"I know. That's enough."
Keller retrieved a revolver from his back. "I've done all I can. Now, there's only one last task left."
Zhou Hanxiang fell silent, her eyes involuntarily welling up with sorrow, her eyelids reddening.
Seeing this, Keller smiled, the wrinkles on his face deepening. "Don't grieve for me. Don't pity me. This is the fate I deserve. If you're willing to do me one last kindness, keep an eye out for my granddaughter. Her parents passed early, and now I... Just don't let that child be bullied."
Zhou Hanxiang nodded.
"That's enough." Keller pressed the pistol against his temple. "I hope they haven't gone far yet. It's time for me to atone for my sins."
With those words, he pulled the trigger.
Bang!
The revolver flew from his hand as blood gushed from his temple, staining his collar red. Keller collapsed to the ground, dead.
Watching someone familiar die before her eyes, Zhou Hanxiang couldn't stop her tears from flowing.
...
Mendel Shopping Mall.
The bustling streets were suddenly pierced by the shrill wail of police sirens.
People turned to look as multiple police cars sped down the road at dangerous speeds.
In the lead vehicle, an officer in the backseat rapidly typed on a laptop keyboard: "Just ahead! Take the first left into the alley!"
"Hurry, hurry!" Will's voice crackled through the police radio.
Outside the alley, multiple police cars screeched to a halt with ear-piercing brake sounds. Officers poured out and rushed into the narrow passageway.
Ten minutes later, at a garbage dump in the alley's depths.
Veins bulged on Will's forehead as he clenched Weber's phone between gritted teeth. "Where are they? Where are the escaped kids?"
"The signal was coming from right here..."
"I don't care about the damn phone! Where are the people?!"
With that, Will hurled the phone with full force.
The device shot straight toward the speaking officer's face. The man barely dodged as the phone whizzed past his ear and smashed into the concrete wall behind him.
The screen shattered and casing cracked, but the phone remained largely intact.
"Find them! Comb through every traffic camera if you have to!"
"Chief Will, we'd need to file a request to access the traffic camera system."
"Then file it!"
Just then, the veteran officer who'd suggested the plan earlier spoke up to intervene.
Will turned bloodshot eyes toward him, his expression murderous.
"Chief, once that request gets submitted, there'll be a record. We won't be able to cover this up anymore."