The large door slowly slid open to both sides, revealing a completely different scene inside.
"Access successful. Welcome, Doctor Lin."
"..."
Lin was momentarily stunned by the broadcast voice, then silently looked at the upper right corner of his viewport.
After leaving the upper right corner blank for a full ten seconds, Prometheus calmly replied: [Lin, don't you think the title 'Doctor' has significant weight?]
"...I do not have a doctorate."
[Doctor is merely an honorific. Doctor Mei does not have a doctorate either]
"Prometheus, I'm glad your personality is evolving to be very human-like. That was a good joke." Lin's expression beneath the helmet was as blank as a cold February wind. "But don't do it again, especially not at a time like this."
He never expected that the temporary identity Prometheus registered for him while hacking the facility would include the suffix "Doctor." Did she really think "Doctor" was the highest honorific?
What lay before him was another path, but it was narrower and covered in metallic patterns. It was likely an internal personnel passage. It seemed Lin's choice was correct.
[No biological life signs detected]
Lin did not allow himself a moment's hesitation and stepped into the passage.
No matter what lay ahead, even an ocean composed of Emperor-class Honkai Beasts, he had no retreat. He had to find the answers he needed here.
"Honestly, it feels like this place doesn't need any guards. The location is too secluded. No one would invade here, right?"
"Yeah, and we don't even have to watch the detention facilities. It's such an easy job. If only we could connect to the internal network, I could browse forums all day."
"Hiss... Got a smoke? It feels creepy in here, like someone's watching me. Need a cigarette to warm up."
"Forget it. How could they let us bring in cigarettes? Sigh, it's easy not having work, but it's so boring."
"Tsk, this is a classified facility that hasn't been fully opened yet. We can only leave when the big shots upstairs decide to make it public~"
The two men, yawning, were crouched at a corner, leisurely sharing tips on slacking off. For them, it was a good assignment: no front lines, no deadly experiments. This forsaken place had no flaws except that it was forsaken. They were even discussing making a deck of cards for their spare time.
In their scattered mental state, they didn't notice a helmeted man brazenly walking out of the passage behind them. He paused for a moment to listen to their conversation, then walked away.
Lin's habitual all-black attire allowed him to blend into the pitch-black environment. His footsteps became lighter and lighter, giving a deceptive sense of an easy stroll.
No surveillance equipment throughout the area? Is this to prevent video leaks?
Lin's fundamental purpose was not to thoroughly study The Deepest Reaches, but it never hurt to understand more about the unknowns. Besides the footage for Vil-V, he would keep a copy for his own research.
After stepping through the door, the routes became intricate. Lin occasionally crouched down to pick up some dust, observing which paths were frequently used. Gradually, he approached what seemed to be the core area.
Another door. Behind this one was likely the core area.
"There's still room for development in Weapon Folding Technology! The research on the Second Herrscher is far from reaching its limit! The headquarters' R&D department has even developed a Phase Transfer System! Why can't we completely stabilize something as minor as Weapon Folding!"
Lin instantly flashed against the wall, holding his breath, watching two people in lab coats walk out of a brightly lit room. The one leading was expressing his frustration, while the person behind him listened miserably to the outburst.
The person behind seemed to want to comfort him, so he forced a smile: "But Delta didn't develop Weapon Folding Technology either."
"That's because he wasn't interested! Not because he couldn't do it, understand!" The first person angrily spun around and shouted. "If he hadn't been crazy enough to develop those useless Titans and the Anti-Impulse Flight System, do you think he couldn't have made Weapon Folding? Would this have been assigned to us!"
"I... I don't know..."
"Of course you don't! That's why he's the chief technical consultant and head of the R&D department at headquarters, and we're here in this dark, sunless place researching the scraps he scoffs at! Not to mention, some random Engineering Department head popped up, and this whole prison we're in was built by her!"
So, does he want to compliment Delta's ability or call him crazy?
"The Deepest Reaches hasn't activated its intended function yet. We are here because we are potential prisoners. If we fail, we won't even need to move out; we'll check in directly as the first batch of guests." The person in front stopped, his eyes cold. "The higher-ups have likely split into factions. The news about that Cocoon member's corpse being sent to The Deepest Reaches was announced to those with Captain clearance and above. It won't be long before The Deepest Reaches is exposed to the entire Moth of the Fire Chasers. If we haven't completed what we need to, we'll be stuck here for life."
"Sigh, if only I had known... Ngh—"
A cold hand struck from behind, dragging the speaking person into the darkness. His terrified gaze became the last image imprinted on the front person's retina.
"Wh—"
Before the person could call for the guards, a strong foot accurately kicked him in the head, sending him slamming into the wall, where he rolled his eyes and passed out.
Lin put down the person he had choked unconscious, coldly staring at the two motionless researchers. He had controlled his strength well. They would wake up with only some pain and no lasting aftereffects.
The advantage of not wearing armor showed here. Lin quickly stripped them, changed into their lab coats, and used the spare clothing to tie their hands and feet and stuff their mouths. He threw them into a seldom-used corridor.
Finally, he took off his helmet and inserted one of the ID cards into the helmet's slot.
"Zzz—"
After a flash of electricity, Lin retrieved the ID card. The information on it had been rewritten to an imaginary "Doctor Lin." He carried his helmet and walked back to the door, opening it with his forged identity.
"Welcome back, Doctor Lin."
Lin calmly put away the ID card and walked in confidently, carrying his helmet.
There weren't many people. This was just one section, responsible for equipment R&D. Lin, carrying his helmet, didn't stand out among the researchers, who were all engrossed in their unreleased projects.
Except for his face.
However, in this atmosphere where everyone was busy with their own work, no one looked up to see who had left or entered. Lin found their work area based on the ID cards of the two men he knocked out, pushed the door open, and walked in.
Then, his movements froze the instant he pushed the door.
A person stood with his back to Lin, then slowly turned around.
Lin could never forget that person's back.
"Doctor, I've finished writing the report on the usage experience of the Weapon Folding Technology, but to be honest, I only used it once. There was no substantial... Who are you?"
The killer, who had been confirmed "dead," stood under the light, holding a report with a relaxed smile.