Chapter 256: Squatting and Waiting

Han Meng stood silently, seemingly oblivious to the curious and intense gazes around him, his expression unchanged.

As a five-stripe enforcer promoted beyond his rank to deputy leader for such a critical mission, Han Meng was naturally an object of envy. A more experienced and "sensible" enforcer would, at this moment, have begun to act humble, perhaps even praising the other high-ranking enforcers to win favor and ease internal tensions...

But under everyone's gaze, Han Meng merely replied coolly: "I will handle this matter."

The two six-stripe enforcers immediately gritted their teeth, their stares at Han Meng growing colder.

As everyone spoke, a large green-canopied vehicle slowly pulled up outside headquarters. This was their transport to Aurora Base. Seeing its arrival, Qiong Xuan wasted no more words, as his intended effect had already been achieved. He waved his hand, "Get in the car."

The enforcers immediately boarded. Chen Ling kept his head down, trailing at the very end of the line. During the mission, it was best for him to maintain distance from others, avoid deep conversations, and prevent revealing any flaws.

Han Meng, too, was left behind by the others.

Chen Ling boarded and took a seat at the very back. Han Meng was the last to get on, settling directly opposite him. As the vehicle started moving, bumpy at first, the air suddenly fell silent.

"Your name is Chen Xin?" Han Meng asked, looking at him calmly.

"...Yes."

"When were you promoted to enforcer?"

"About three years ago."

"Your path?"

"Asura."

Hearing "Asura," Han Meng paused slightly, a figure instantly flashing through his mind.

He re-examined the young enforcer before him. "Why were you late?"

"...Saying goodbye to my family. My sister kept clinging to me, not wanting me to leave, so it delayed me a bit..."

Han Meng nodded. "You've lost this month's salary. Don't let it happen again."

With that, Han Meng closed his eyes, as if resting and recuperating, no longer paying attention to Chen Ling.

Chen Ling: ...

Although it wasn't Chen Ling's actual salary being docked, having been a corporate drone for so long in his previous life, the words "docking salary" were the last thing he wanted to hear. Yet, in this situation, there was nothing he could do about Han Meng.

However, it was worth noting that Han Meng had just been released from court and immediately assigned to Aurora Base by Tan Xin. Chen Ling sensed something unusual about this. He knew Han Meng too well; Han Meng was not the type to willingly be someone's security guard. If he was doing this, his goal certainly wasn't money or status... So what exactly was his purpose in entering Aurora Base?

Chen Ling also closed his eyes, calculating everything in his mind. Perhaps once inside Aurora Base, he could make good use of Han Meng as an unpredictable element. Chen Ling felt no guilt about using Han Meng; after all, it was he who had personally gotten Han Meng released from court just a few days ago. Taking a little interest now seemed perfectly reasonable, didn't it?

Both individuals, each with their own secret intentions, closed their eyes as the vehicle bumped along, slowly approaching Aurora Base in the night.

"This is my third day staking out Aurora Base."

Shivering in the cold wind, Wen Shilin huddled in a corner, continuously blowing warm air onto his wind-chilled hands. As he whispered, his pen rapidly scribbled in the notebook at his feet.

"I've been scouting for so long, and I still haven't found a way to infiltrate Aurora Base... The security measures here are too strict; getting in is next to impossible."

"All I can do now is stay nearby and record the people and vehicles entering and exiting daily. Since I can't get inside the base, I can only hope for a breakthrough on this front."

"Today, three vehicles entered and three left, consistent with the past two days. It's likely routine base operations and maintenance. In any case, I haven't found anything abnormal so far."

"I don't know if this is all futile... but it seems this is all I can do."

As Wen Shilin spoke, a faint hum approached from a distance. His eyes lit up slightly, and he cautiously raised his head from behind his cover, looking in the direction of the sound.

"It's 1:20 AM. A vehicle is approaching."

"Outwardly, it's a large green-canopied vehicle transporting people, estimated to carry fewer than thirty individuals, coming from the southeast..." He picked up a pair of binoculars. "Curtains block the view, so I can't see the exact situation inside, but they appear to all be enforcers wearing black trench coats."

"From the looks of it, this vehicle must be coming from the Enforcer Headquarters. Is Aurora Base's security about to rotate?"

Under Wen Shilin's gaze, the vehicle stopped in front of the base's main gate. Several enforcers emerged from the base, walked to the vehicle with a list, and began verifying each person, seemingly confirming numbers and identities. This process lasted about ten minutes before the vehicle slowly drove into the base.

Wen Shilin could mostly confirm that the base's security was indeed rotating, but he still had no chance of getting inside. He could only sit back down on the ground, resigned, realizing there would be no new findings tonight.

Hummmm—

Just as Wen Shilin was feeling disappointed, another vehicle emerged from the darkness.

He froze for a moment, then immediately got up and raised his binoculars, his brow furrowing unconsciously.

"It's not a green-canopied vehicle. It's an unknown, tightly sealed vehicle whose external appearance gives no clue as to its specific purpose, though it seems to be carrying something... The vehicle is coming from due north. Due north... besides the public hospital, there's nothing else that way, is there?"

Wen Shilin pondered. "Could what's in that vehicle be..."

"Why is there another vehicle behind it?"

As Chen Ling stepped out of the vehicle, he saw a mysterious vehicle immediately following them into the base. An enforcer beside him asked, puzzled, "Are there other enforcers rotating in besides us? That doesn't seem right..."

"That one doesn't look like it's transporting people. Is it a supply vehicle?"

"If it's a supply vehicle, doesn't it seem a bit small?"

As the enforcers whispered among themselves, Qiong Xuan swept his gaze over them and said in a deep voice, "Don't be curious about things you shouldn't be."

At his words, everyone immediately fell silent. After forming neat lines, they were led deeper into Aurora Base.

After passing through three or four medium-sized warehouses, they arrived at a low mound. They looked around in confusion, seemingly still searching for the main part of the base. It was then that Qiong Xuan's voice spoke again: "Why are you standing there? Go in."

"Go where?"

Qiong Xuan extended his hand and pointed at the mound in the darkness.

The group looked closely and realized it was a hemispherical artificial structure, shaped like a bunker. In the center of this bunker, an elevator descending deep underground quietly awaited them.

"Aurora Base is below."