Chapter 1195: 749 Bureau's Responsibilities

The staff member never expected Sun Bumian, usually a cynic prone to tantrums, to be so serious this time. He watched, deeply anxious, as Sun Bumian walked deeper into the stone corridor.

Sun Bumian, however, paid them no mind. He forced his way through the corridor, his gaze sweeping over the rooms on either side. Most were narrow spaces with white bed linens, alongside some inexplicably empty rooms. His brow furrowed more and more deeply.

As he advanced, the guests' conversations grew clearer. Just then, several figures suddenly emerged from a nearby hidden passage!

“Mr. Sun, please don't act rashly…”

Without a word, Sun Bumian took a step forward, knocking all the staff members to the ground. He then grabbed one of them by the collar.

“Where is Sun Zhongliang?”

“Mr. Sun, there might be some misunderstanding between us…”

“If you don't tell me where Sun Zhongliang is, do you believe I’ll tear this place down?!”

“This…”

“Mr. Sun.”

A voice came from deep within the hidden passage.

Hearing the voice, Sun Bumian slowly turned his head. He saw Sun Zhongliang, accompanied by several people, standing at the entrance of the passage, having arrived at some unknown point, observing the scene with a complex expression.

Sun Bumian released the man's collar, letting him fall to the ground, then walked step by step toward Sun Zhongliang.

“Sun Zhongliang...”

Sun Bumian spoke with a cold voice, his sideburns still burning with iridescent flames. Though he wore small, round sunglasses, his entire demeanor was like a terrifying male lion, baring its fangs as it stalked its prey.

“What exactly are you doing??”

Under Sun Bumian's oppressive presence, the staff and military personnel surrounding Sun Zhongliang immediately moved to shield him. However, Sun Zhongliang raised a hand to stop them.

“Mr. Sun, we are simply doing what Bureau 749 is supposed to do.”

Sun Zhongliang was an ordinary person, yet he kept his back straight and responded calmly, despite facing Sun Bumian's Level Seven oppressive aura.

“What Bureau 749 is supposed to do? Are you saying, kidnapping the inheritor of Nuo opera?”

Sun Bumian stopped in front of Sun Zhongliang, pulling down the small round sunglasses on his nose. His pupils, nested with colorful rings, fixed on Sun Zhongliang, who was now within arm's reach. “Where is Shen Nan? What have you done to him?”

“He is resting here. If you wish to see him, I can take you to him.”

Sun Bumian raised an eyebrow.

“Lead the way.”

Sun Zhongliang didn't hesitate. He simply waved his hand, signaling the surrounding staff to clear a path, then turned and walked deeper into the hidden passage.

Sun Bumian watched Sun Zhongliang's retreating figure, wondering what he was thinking. After a moment of hesitation, he stepped forward and followed.

They navigated through one intricate stone corridor after another, eventually arriving at a spacious underground area.

This space was roughly the size of a basketball court, with four or five staff members busily moving about. In the center, a dense tower of CCTV monitors was stacked, displaying footage from various corridors and rooms.

At that moment, about four CCTV monitors were showing an underground space resembling a conference room. Old tables and chairs were arranged in an arc, and hanging incandescent lights illuminated the entire room as brightly as day. Numerous guests, looking bewildered, were gathered, intensely discussing something. Han Xiang, Xiao Chunping, Yao Qing, and others were among them.

Sun Bumian's gaze swept over the monitors before being drawn aside by Sun Zhongliang's figure. He watched as Sun Zhongliang stopped at a room in the corner of the space.

Knock, knock, knock—

He first raised a hand and gently knocked, then pushed the door open and entered.

Behind the door was a dim, ten-square-meter room containing a small single bed. The bed was already made with crisp white linens, and on the bedside table sat three dishes and a soup, though they appeared untouched.

By the single bed, a figure with a lowered head heard the commotion and slowly raised their eyes.

“…Sun Bumian?”

Shen Nan's dull eyes brightened slightly as he saw who had arrived.

Sun Bumian's face turned incredibly grim at the sight. He swiftly grabbed Sun Zhongliang by the collar, a burst of iridescent flame flashing as he lightning-fast pinned him against the wall!

“Still claiming no kidnapping?” Sun Bumian spoke coldly.

“I personally witnessed Bureau 749 being established, growing from nothing, little by little. While past directors were never exactly benevolent, they would at least never resort to kidnapping cultural inheritors... You, Sun Zhongliang, have truly opened my eyes. It seems I’ll have to clean house on behalf of your grandfather today.”

His speed was incredible, too fast for the other staff and military personnel to react. Just as everyone was about to move, Sun Zhongliang, still pinned mid-air, raised a hand to stop them once more!

“Speak! What is your purpose in specifically holding this conference in Wushan, luring all inheritors underground? And what about the Wushan town calamity?!” Cold light flickered in Sun Bumian’s eyes.

“Wait!!”

To everyone's surprise, Shen Nan suddenly stood up and grabbed Sun Bumian's arm, as if fearing he would instantly kill Sun Zhongliang.

Sun Bumian turned to look at him, a flicker of confusion crossing his brow.

“Things are not quite as we expected…”

Shen Nan opened his mouth, seemingly about to speak, when Sun Zhongliang suddenly interjected, “I admit I did detain Shen Nan, but that was to prevent information from leaking prematurely and causing unnecessary trouble... I, Sun Zhongliang, can stake my life that Bureau 749 has done nothing to harm any of the inheritors; we are simply fulfilling our duties.”

“Bureau 749’s duties?”

“To gather, protect, and ensure the continuation of all individuals who possess the divine paths formed through cultural heritage.”

Sun Bumian had watched Bureau 749 grow from its inception, so he naturally knew its original purpose. Yet, the doubt in his eyes deepened. “What does this have to do with this underground facility?”

“The Wushan 7012 Underground Facility is one of the most advanced shelters from the last century. It can withstand all levels of conventional weapon damage and boasts top-tier filtration systems for toxic gas and biological agents, as well as a superior ventilation system. Protecting all inheritors here is the safest course of action...”

“Safe?” Sun Bumian keenly caught the keyword. “What do you mean? What exactly do you know?”

“Mr. Sun... A critical juncture, concerning the survival of everyone, is approaching.”

A hint of bitterness appeared on Sun Zhongliang’s face. “Under the surging tide of global upheaval, you, I, and everyone in that conference room are merely tiny grains of sand... Sand cannot determine its own fate. Only by hiding in the deepest parts of the rock can we avoid the upheaval brought by the rushing currents.”

Sun Bumian froze in place.

The next moment, a piercing air-raid siren, accompanied by flashing red lights, suddenly echoed throughout the entire underground facility!