Chapter 96 A Bold Idea

After settling matters, Gu Fangyi planned to rest for two days and consolidate his cultivation gains. Having survived ten days outside the Wall, engaging in long-distance sniping and close-quarters combat, his strength had improved by leaps and bounds. Although he couldn’t compare to an anomaly like Lu Luo, he still needed to properly digest his advancements. Moreover, after his breakthrough, he had to consider skills for the Shooting Path. Lu Luo went straight downstairs, found Qi Xinzhu, and handed her the Type-I small red bottle. Qi Xinzhu looked at the small red bottle Lu Luo offered, her expression odd. "What’s this for?" "This is for you; consider it a share of the profits. The operation beyond the Wall is over. If you have nothing else to do, you should head back." Is he trying to send me away? The thought suddenly sprang into Qi Xinzhu’s mind. But upon reflection, she didn’t really have a compelling reason to stay. What about the pursuit of the one bearing the dawn? Han Shiyu had told her to get along well with Lu Luo and had entrusted him to take her on expeditions. Yet, in these ten days, no clear progress had been made in their relationship. She wasn’t a member of Circle Studio, so it seemed there was no alternative but to leave. "Oh, then I’ll be going. But I have my own Healing Ability, so I don’t need this. You should keep it." Lu Luo showed no intention of continuing the conversation. He still needed to find Ludie, so he simply waved at Qi Xinzhu and started to walk away. "Keep it. Your Holy Radiance will eventually run out, and your stamina will be depleted. When that happens, you won’t even be able to use your Sequence Ability. Hold onto this; it might just save you when you’re in a desperate situation." "Save... me?" Qi Xinzhu watched Lu Luo’s receding figure, pondering his words, then carefully tucked the red bottle away. "Tonight at 2 AM, the usual spot. See you on the rooftop!" Lu Luo postured into the microphone before hanging up. The call was for Ludie, though they didn’t actually have a "usual spot." The "usual spot" he referred to was where Ludie had previously given him the items—the rooftop of the East Ring hospital. Lu Luo figured that while Ludie might be terrible at the card game Landlord, his mind was sharp enough to likely guess the location. After hanging up, Lu Luo found a secluded place and took out the fragments of the small red bottle that Gu Fangyi had collected. "Can you analyze the components of this thing?" [Alchemical potions of this grade are typically top secrets of major corporations. Without a precise formula, the Observer cannot analyze them. If you wish to analyze the main components of the potion, please upgrade the Observer to LV3 as soon as possible.] All that big talk before, and now, when it really matters, you’re completely useless. "Forget it. ’Learn from the enemy to defeat the enemy.’ For something like a formula, I’ll still have to go to Blue Sky Pharmaceuticals and see if there’s any chance." Lu Luo took out the claim slip for the small purple bottle he had acquired earlier. Then, from his backpack, he pulled out a complete Blue Sky Pharmaceuticals uniform. Previously, when he killed people, he mostly decapitated them. Besides ensuring a swift kill, decapitation also preserved the integrity of their equipment as much as possible, including their clothes. So now he had a very bold idea: a night raid on a widow... oh, wait, no, a night raid on Blue Sky Pharmaceuticals—and he fully intended to put this plan into action. In the restroom of the building adjacent to Blue Sky Pharmaceuticals, Lu Luo quietly changed clothes. Then, taking out the cheap cosmetics he had plundered from a beauty store that afternoon, Lu Luo began his experiment. "Use foundation, concealer, and slather on thick layers of this stiffening makeup to mimic Wu Sen’s appearance." [Tip: The host’s height is similar to the target’s, but there is a significant disparity in physique and overall appearance. Furthermore, the disguise process is rather complex and may consume a considerable amount of energy. Do you wish to continue?] "Continue." [A complete disguise as Wu Sen requires 394 energy points. Disguising prominent body features requires 271 energy points, and facial disguise requires 89 energy points.] "Why is it so expensive!" Lu Luo had a little over 200 energy points remaining when he returned from beyond the Wall. Primarily, when returning from the Gravel Wilderness, he hadn’t anticipated encountering Wu Sen and Chu Qi, much less getting into a fight. A series of subsequent events had left him with no opportunity to hunt more Exotic Species. The 200-odd energy points were what he had kept in reserve from his time outside the Wall, his current standard energy reserve. "Perform a facial disguise." [Consuming 89 energy points to initiate one Fusioner alteration: Facial Disguise - Wu Sen.] This Fusioner alteration proceeded very slowly, the speed seemingly related to the amount of energy consumed. The various cosmetics Lu Luo held began to diminish rapidly, especially the stiff, paste-like makeup. A significant amount was used up; fortunately, Lu Luo had bought plenty. The stiff makeup gradually smoothed out Lu Luo’s originally sharp, distinct facial features, and his appearance began to look ordinary. Lu Luo even suspected that the high energy cost for a facial disguise might be related to his own handsomeness. If he were uglier, perhaps it wouldn’t have cost so much. Looking at his reflection in the mirror, Lu Luo nodded with satisfaction. "Tsk, how’s it look? Do I resemble him?" [It’s not a matter of resemblance; it’s an exact likeness.] After removing his red smiley-face mask, Lu Luo waited quietly in the building next to Blue Sky Pharmaceuticals for the dead of night. At 11 PM, Lu Luo arrived at Blue Sky Pharmaceuticals. This was his second visit. From the previous contract incident, Lu Luo knew that Blue Sky Pharmaceuticals would be mostly empty at this hour. Nightlife in the Wasteland wasn’t vibrant. Apart from those on night duty, most people were already asleep by 11 PM. Therefore, Lu Luo planned to use this period of low activity and reduced vigilance to infiltrate Blue Sky Pharmaceuticals. Firstly, he wanted to obtain the formula for the small red bottle. Secondly, he wanted to retrieve the trial version of the small purple bottle from Blue Sky Pharmaceuticals to see what it was all about. Lu Luo dared to be so audacious for many reasons, the Fusioner’s disguise ability being only one. There were numerous other factors: a complete Blue Sky Pharmaceuticals uniform, equipment, an identity badge, and he had even preserved some of Wu Sen’s hair and blood. He had always been a person of great courage yet meticulous attention to detail; otherwise, he wouldn’t have survived so many years undercover without being discovered. Lu Luo didn’t know if the Wasteland Alliance possessed sophisticated surveillance technology, but at least the Fourth Ring lacked any advanced intelligent detection devices. The emergence of Synthetics was too peculiar, and the Alliance seemed to prohibit its private corporations from manufacturing overly intelligent items. Discovery of such activities would result in severe penalties, even death. So, even a subsidiary of Blue Sky Biotechnology like Blue Sky Pharmaceuticals had no so-called intelligent detection devices. Their checks covered just a few things: hair, blood, appearance, and identity badge. Now, Lu Luo had Wu Sen’s appearance, held Wu Sen’s identity badge, wore Blue Sky Pharmaceuticals attire, and even possessed samples of Wu Sen’s blood and hair. For the next few hours, he *was* Wu Sen. The sole flaw was that his voice was incorrect. As Lu Luo passed the guardhouse at the entrance of Blue Sky Pharmaceuticals, he casually presented Wu Sen’s identity badge. The guard glanced at Lu Luo, then at the identity badge, and exclaimed, "Captain Wu Sen, you’re back? You... you came back alone?" "Mm." Lu Luo didn’t say much, just grunted in acknowledgment. His expression was extremely indifferent, yet it held a hint of fatigue. He looked as if he were ready to wash his hands of everything, as if Blue Sky Pharmaceuticals had nothing more to do with him. Lu Luo’s demeanor naturally sent the guard’s imagination into overdrive. He knew Wu Sen had taken a team outside the Wall to collect Rainbow Blood Mosquito blood sacs. This was a routine outing for Blue Sky Pharmaceuticals and hardly a secret within the company. The blood sacs were highly valuable, so such missions were generally considered lucrative assignments. Just a few days ago, people had been speculating that Wu Sen would strike it rich upon his return. But now, he had returned alone, at this hour, with such an expression. What did it mean? Wu Sen’s team might have been wiped out, his mission a failure. Teams being wiped out beyond the Wall wasn’t unheard of, nor was it particularly rare. Such a thing could happen to anyone and wouldn’t be considered an accident. The guard quickly inspected the identity badge, then returned it to "Wu Sen" with both hands. "Captain Wu Sen, your identity badge. Take care." "Mm." Lu Luo took a few steps, then stopped and turned back, staring at the guard. His icy gaze made the guard extremely uncomfortable. "Is there anything else, Captain Wu Sen? If there’s something you need, just say it." "Don’t go blabbing about my return. Keep your mouth shut. Otherwise, you’ll regret it." Lu Luo lowered his voice, making it sound somewhat hoarse and rather sinister. Although the voice wasn’t very similar to Wu Sen’s original, it was threatening and fearsome enough. He sounded like someone whose mission had failed and who harbored deep resentment. Lu Luo’s act immediately flustered the guard. "I understand, I understand. I know the rules." Though he said this, he inwardly cursed Lu Luo. Damn it, his team got wiped out because he’s incompetent, and now he’s taking it out on me, a security guard? Utterly pathetic. Serves him right for getting his team killed. Despite the guard’s silent indignation, Lu Luo’s threat was effective. If no one asked, the guard certainly wouldn’t mention anything about Wu Sen to anyone else, at least not tonight. Once tonight passed, it wouldn’t matter anymore. "Good that you know." Lu Luo walked icily into the Blue Sky Pharmaceuticals building. The guard watched Lu Luo’s retreating back and spat viciously on the ground. "What a pretentious prick, absolute moron! PHTOOEY!" Blue Sky Pharmaceuticals was indeed deserted at night. Even when Lu Luo occasionally encountered one or two night-shift employees, his attire and the identity badge on his chest dispelled any suspicion. Thus, Lu Luo infiltrated the interior of Blue Sky Pharmaceuticals without incident, a smoothness that surprised even himself. Without intelligent detection systems, and with complete credentials, identity, and a plausible disguise, this kind of infiltration is just too easy. Following the company’s signage, Lu Luo reached the fourth basement level, the location of the Blue Sky Pharmaceutical Research Institute. At this hour, most regular staff would have already gone home, but many researchers at Blue Sky Pharmaceuticals were still at their posts. The Blue Sky Pharmaceutical Research Institute operated on a departmental system. Each department developed a project; completion brought rewards and dedicated research funds. The benefits were excellent, with clear distinctions between rewards and punishments. This superior system, combined with the genuine passion many researchers had for their work, had forged the current success of Blue Sky Biotechnology. It was already past 11 PM. Normally, people in the Fourth Ring would be asleep by this time. However, the research labs were still brightly lit, with many researchers still busy. Stealing the formula will probably cause some disturbance. First, I need to figure out how to get my hands on that small purple bottle. Small purple bottle... to be collected from Research Lab 9. Lu Luo rubbed the claim slip in his hand and headed towards Research Lab 9 on the fourth basement level. Just as he reached the entrance, a person in a white lab coat stopped him. "Hey! What are you here for?" Lu Luo, still trying to maintain his cool facade, directly presented the collection slip for the trial version of the small purple bottle, stamped with Song Hana’s official seal. He waved it in front of the person and said in a low voice, "I’m here to pick something up." But to Lu Luo’s surprise, the person didn’t buy his act at all, seemingly oblivious to his indifferent demeanor. Instead, he grabbed Lu Luo’s hand. "Trial version of the small purple bottle? Collection slip... So you’re Wu Sen! You actually agreed! Haha, that’s great! Come in, quickly! I’ve heard about you; they say you’re built really sturdily. Come, come, follow me inside." Seeing the beaming smile on the researcher’s face, Lu Luo felt increasingly uneasy. [His remark about you being "built really sturdily" is ambiguous! What is he planning to do to you?] Lu Luo was starting to panic. He wondered if he should make a run for it. His original intention was simply to collect this small purple bottle, which seemed quite special, even requiring Song Hana’s seal for use. But now it looked like this researcher was about to drag him off as a test subject! What was he supposed to do? Seemingly noticing the change in Lu Luo’s expression, the researcher immediately softened his tone. "Don’t look like you’re about to die. Relax, I’ve conducted this experiment on Exotic Species many times. It’s safe and effective, guaranteed to make you soar." Hearing this, Lu Luo felt even more alarmed. "What do you mean you’ve done many experiments on Exotic Species? What happened to the human subjects?" "They all died, of course! That’s why we had to call in Second Tier experts like you. First Tier subjects couldn’t withstand it, let alone ordinary people." Holy crap! Are you kidding me? When you say ’First Tier couldn’t withstand it,’ do you mean all the First Tier people died? "I’ve reconsidered. I don’t think I’m suitable for this kind of experiment. Let’s just forget it." "Hey, hey, hey, how can you be like this? It’s really not dangerous. We’ve already experimented on many Exotic Species. They’re all alive and kicking now; some have even evolved. You know Red Shell, right? That thing was one of our experimental products. It’s a pity Red Shell died, but don’t worry, we’ve mastered this technology. It’s absolutely fine!" Although the researcher tried his best to persuade Lu Luo, Lu Luo remained unmoved and started to head for the exit. This agitated the researcher. He quickly ran to the door, his frail body, long deprived of proper rest, gasping for breath after just those few steps. However, upon reaching the door, he immediately turned, glaring fiercely at Lu Luo. "You’ve entered my, Zhang Desheng’s, lab, and you think you can just run off? No way! Unless you step over my dead body and smash this door down, you’re not leaving today!" Zhang Desheng took a key from his pocket, inserted it into the mechanical door, turned it several times, then pulled the key out and swallowed it. This series of actions left Lu Luo somewhat dumbfounded, but he still didn’t stop, continuing towards the door as if to break it down. I don’t care anymore. Staying here is too dangerous. I’d better leave first. With the decision to leave firmly in his mind, nothing could stop Lu Luo now. Just then, Zhang Desheng actually knelt before Lu Luo, grabbed his thigh, and began to weep. "Captain Wu Sen, I’m begging you, please give us a chance! Our department is already failing. If we can’t produce the correct experimental data for the small purple bottle soon, our department will probably be absorbed by the ’little yellow vial’ department! Please, I’m begging you, help me out! I’ll pay! We can negotiate the price!" Looking at the tear-stricken Zhang Desheng, Lu Luo was completely baffled. You’re a researcher; do you really need to be this dramatic? Is he truly willing to sacrifice everything for his scientific pursuits, or is he just a shameless deadbeat desperate to protect his department’s comfortable position and benefits? "Your snot is getting on my pants. It’s kind of disgusting!" Just as Lu Luo was about to kick Zhang Desheng away, Zhang Desheng pulled a vial of purple liquid from his coat, opened it, and held it out to Lu Luo. The moment it was opened, Lu Luo’s pupils contracted violently. [Detecting intense Life Energy! Detecting intense Life Energy! Source located in the purple potion vial before you. Absorption can be attempted.]