Chapter 166: Mysterious Warehouse |
Shi Rang stared intently at the communication tool in his hand, as if he were holding a ticking bomb rather than a small device that closely resembled a Handheld Game Console.
Gathering manpower, combined with A Piao personally taking action, and having more than one target in mind...
This would be an open assault, an outright massacre.
An image flashed before his eyes: Wu Nian sitting on the mountain peak, raising a beer can in a silent toast to him.
'Perhaps I can use fake information to transfer him away from the Warehouse?'
As soon as this thought emerged, a harsh reprimand from his conscience echoed from the depths of his heart.
Hypocrite.
Wu Nian was just one of the many employees stationed at the Warehouse by the Administration Bureau. Was he somehow nobler than the rest simply because Shi Rang had spoken to him and shared a drink with him? Did saving his life mean there was no need to care about all the other people who would be slaughtered?
Shi Rang knew that it was rare to find a perfect solution in this world. However, as a centrist leaning toward the Ascension Society, he still could not stomach what might happen at the Warehouse after he provided the intelligence.
Just because he was not present did not mean he bore no responsibility.
If he could tolerate A Piao leading a team to break into the Warehouse for the Ascension Society's gain, then what right did he have to stand on the moral high ground and condemn Huang Xiao for killing civilians just to get a promotion? Both actions involved trading human lives for personal gain. Was it simply because the latter had jumped into his line of sight and could not offer Shi Rang any benefits that he deserved to die?
Shi Rang simply could not get past his own conscience.
He might be forced into slaughter and injustice sooner or later, but not today.
Because he had a way to prevent this tragedy from happening.
He did not spend much time contemplating; thoughts flashed through his mind like lightning.
Before A Piao could send any more inquiries, Shi Rang sprang into action.
"How many people do you plan to bring?"
A Piao: "I thought you fell asleep. Probably five or six. They are only responsible for moving things and helping me scramble the tracks."
Shi Rang: "Are you going to transport the loot using just manpower and small carts? What if the Warehouse is deep in the mountains?"
A Piao: "I will also bring an Anomalous Item. It will be the main force of the robbery."
Shi Rang: "If an incident happens at the Warehouse just a month after I arrived, especially since Shi Shixin parachuted me into this position, it will be hard not to draw suspicion. If the Administration Bureau conducts a deep investigation into me, my identity might be exposed. When that happens, we will not be able to protect a valuable chess piece like Shi Shixin either."
A Piao: "I thought you wanted him dead? That guy's value has been squeezed dry. He can be discarded at any time."
Shi Rang: "If I am forced to go Underground, I will not be able to help you anymore. The Human Manufacturer definitely has more secrets that have not been uncovered yet. You still need me here."
A Piao: "I am very happy that you are willing to help, but you do not need to treat this as your sole responsibility. However, you are right. Shi Shixin still has some value. He has an inheritance, which rightfully belongs to you. It would be a pity if it got confiscated. Do you have any ideas?"
Finally...
Shi Rang realized that using himself as an excuse to persuade A Piao was exceptionally effective. A Piao genuinely cared about his situation and would take his well-being into consideration.
He decided to strike while the iron is hot:
"Perhaps I can let you into the Warehouse openly and legally. I can tamper with the data layer and see if I can get you a fake identity with a genuine access pass. When the time comes, you might be able to take the items away without even needing to fight."
To prevent this massacre, he was going all out. He did not care if he had to reveal some of his secrets.
He knew that doing this was entirely to appease his conscience and make himself feel better. It was somewhat selfish, but he could not remain indifferent.
A Piao took a moment before replying:
"That sounds very interesting. I have tried directly possessing someone inside their facilities before, but it always triggers those annoying alarms. I have never tried just walking right in. I will leave it to you, then. Can you complete the preliminary work within 48 hours? If it exceeds that timeframe, I will have to proceed with the original plan."
Shi Rang heaved a sigh of relief, completely relaxing as he lay back on his bed: "Of course I can."
At the very least, he had bought himself two days.
'I hope the security level of that Warehouse is on the lower side, making it easier for me to tamper with the paperwork,' he thought.
The next day, Wu Nian returned to the Warehouse according to his holiday schedule. By the time he completed the procedures and returned to his post, it was almost noon.
Shi Rang, relying on Mounting his consciousness onto the other party's Communication Device, followed along. Based on the positioning provided by the Terminal Station, he confirmed that the Warehouse was hidden deep inside an unfinished mountain tunnel.
Moreover, that location... had surprisingly convenient transportation.
The highway connected to the mountain tunnel had been repaired by the Administration Bureau, allowing heavy vehicles to pass through. Driving straight along the road would eventually merge onto a commonly used main artery. Shi Rang eavesdropped through Wu Nian's Communication Device for several hours—spooked by A Piao's keen Sensing, he could not help but be extra cautious. He gradually began to doubt whether this Warehouse was truly the place where the Directional Reconstructor was stored.
The security here was far too lax.
"Pair of twos."
"Pass."
"Ha, Joker bomb!"
"Why are you bombing me?! We are on the same team!"
The most exciting part of the day for this group of Warehouse Security Personnel seemed to be playing cards. Aside from that, their routine consisted of nothing more than patrolling, doing inventory in the Warehouse, and standing guard.
Unable to make sense of it, Shi Rang continued listening in until Wu Nian went to the cafeteria to pick up the Boxed Meals delivered from outside. Only then did he gradually grow bolder, fully unleashing his Sensing.
To his shock, his consciousness was swept away in the very next moment. It felt just like encountering a massive whirlpool while swimming; he was irresistibly dragged deep inside.
'Crap!'
Before Shi Rang could even come up with a countermeasure, he received a continuous stream of information.
"Site 009 (Experimental Site)"
"Status: Normal Operation"
"Site Director: Doctor Kelvin (B-Class Employee)"
"On-Duty Personnel: 8 Guards, 2 Junior Researchers"
"Current Storage Status: 21 Non-Biological Containment Units, 5 Classified Document Archive Rooms, 30 Sealed Metal
Boxes"
"Time Remaining Until Next Storage Verification: 12 Hours"
While Shi Rang was still in a daze, another batch of data was presented to him. This time, it was a complete map of the facility—complete with employee locations marked by motion sensors.
Astonished, he stared at the map of the site, which was divided into an above-ground guard post and a two-story Underground storage area. Tentatively, he reached out to connect with the Extension Camera in one of the occupied Warehouse rooms, and he immediately saw the corresponding live feed.
A guard was standing with his back to the Extension Camera, holding a clipboard to record the mountain of metal cylinders stacked on rows of shelves, counting them one by one. When the guard walked behind the shelves, Shi Rang subconsciously wanted to walk around and take a look, just as he would in his own physical body. Instead, his vision seamlessly switched to the Extension Camera on the opposite side of the room.
He turned his head, and the Extension Camera swiveled along with him.
The faint whirring sound of mechanical gears caught the guard's attention. The man looked up, but upon realizing it was just the Extension Camera, he returned to his work.
Shi Rang waited nervously for a moment. Once he was certain that neither the Central Control Room nor the guard had noticed anything unusual, he tried switching between a few more rooms. He opened and closed doors in empty rooms and sent test signals to the alarms, interrupting them right before they triggered. Finally, he returned to the data page to check all the equipment currently under his control.
Soon, he was amazed to discover that every access control system, Extension Camera, alarm, fixed communication device, and sensor across the entire site's Warehouse—including the containment units—was completely under his command.
'Could this be...'
A long time ago, when he was remotely commanding Intern Robin to escape from Facility 031, Shi Rang had read the corresponding introduction for Facility 031.
It stated that it was "a special experimental facility, and its control system is currently being prepared for modifications to align with standard facilities."
There were about a dozen similar facilities within the Administration Bureau, and dozens of such sites.
And Site 009 happened to be one of those experimental sites.
If there was a commonality between this place and Facility 031, it was that the Central Control Room's computer could connect directly to the Terminal Station without ever losing connection. Furthermore, it could be used to control all the equipment throughout the entire facility, including the containment unit doors.
Back then, Director Bjorn had used an administrator key to obtain override privileges. Now, Shi Rang had acquired the exact same authority relying on his Consciousness Connection. He felt completely in his element here, experiencing an unprecedented thrill that he never felt when invading other data systems!
Site 009, the Special Communicator, and the Management Bureau Main Station all operated on the exact same principle. They all originated from the utilization of the same Anomaly!
For Shi Rang, entering and exiting this place was even easier than strolling into his own home!