Kidnapping

Under Lin Yu's control, the confidential information on the main control screen was turned off, and then the Security System records were opened.

Lin Yu quickly found what he was looking for.

"The latest records show that she opened the two access control systems with the Highest Authority at a little past 4:00 AM, and opened download access at 4:20 AM... It seems that she did indeed use her access privileges to directly open the access control system to enter, rather than physically breaking into the house."

"Considering that the three explosions occurred simultaneously, if that guy didn't find help and split into three groups, this was probably the last place he 'visited' yesterday."

Lin Yu pointed to the records on the screen and said.

"Of course... that's not the point," Lin Yu said, moving his finger slightly upwards to the latest record, "At 9:56, this security system suddenly triggered a brief one-second alarm. Before it could be confirmed as a real alarm, the Security System physically 'went offline'... so it was also determined to be a device malfunction."

"That means... a full five to six hours passed before the second intruder arrived using brute force."

Ren Gu exclaimed in surprise, "There really was a second group of intruders... It seems they were indeed attracted by the explosion, just like us."

"Although the Security Bureau has sealed it off, considering that the Detective outside can let people in with a little money, and this guy has the strength to break down the lock door with his bare hands, he's probably quite capable... so this isn't too surprising."

Lin Yu nodded. "Yes, and the key point is... it's only 10:20 now, which means we arrived around the same time as them—this second wave of intruders only arrived about twenty minutes earlier than us."

"I just don't know why they didn't take this 'Storage Device'... He didn't even bother to uncover the 'Raccoon sketch' clue to look at the screen below. Logically, this should have been quite easy to spot—or rather, most people who come here would check this note immediately."

Ren Gu pondered for a moment and said, "Perhaps this second wave of intruders has ulterior motives?"

Lin Yu nodded and said, "We can only assume this for now, otherwise there's no reason for him to enter the Control Room without taking the Storage Device..."

But just as Lin Yu finished speaking, Ren Gu suddenly spoke again.

"Or, considering that he only arrived 20 minutes earlier than us, and that the Control Room also has an access control system, only the glass was broken... So, Director, do you think it's possible that he heard our footsteps and realized there wasn't enough time to retrieve the Storage Device?"

"It's even more likely... that guy didn't leave!"

As Ren Gu spoke, he suddenly pulled out a megaphone and put it to his mouth.

"Concealing life force is forbidden here!"

The words fell, and the Rule were established.

Lin Yu's expression changed slightly, and then the powerful Life Energy hidden within him instantly erupted.

Ren Gu looked at Lin Yu in surprise.

"How come your level of life is so high? Where do you get such abundant Life Force?"

Before Lin Yu could explain, the two of them suddenly looked down at their feet.

Because the two of them instantly sensed...

Beneath their feet, another powerful Life Force emanated.

"Depend on!"

A loud, forceful male voice shouted curses from inside the control panel beneath our feet, followed by...

"Bang!"

The metal cabinet door below the control panel swung open with a loud bang, and Ren Gu immediately reacted.

He pulled out a spherical electric paralysis device and prepared to throw it in.

At the same time, Lin Yu had already pulled out the [Unfinished Totem Pole] and planted it in the ground, preparing to unleash Witchcraft to prevent the people inside from rushing out.

But...

Both of them made some misjudgments.

The people below the control panel did not rush out.

It came out...

Just two hands.

Two hands, adorned with reddish-brown sleeves, silver bracelets, and distinct knuckles, reached out and grabbed Lin Yu's calf.

"The 'Ren Gu' of 'Order'! I know why you've come!"

"If you want your companion to live, don't make a sound, don't tell anyone else what happened here—come alone to 'Shadow Lamp Bar' in White Elixir Alley in the Outer City one hour later!"

As they spoke, they pulled hard with both hands, dragging Lin Yu to the ground, almost pulling him into the control panel.

But...

At the critical moment, a loud "thud" was heard, and Lin Yu's body came to a sudden stop on the ground.

Lin Yu clung tightly to the totem pole, a gust of wind sweeping around him, his body surging with Pure Qi.

Because his life force was so undeniable, Lin Yu unleashed his abundant Life Force without any attempt to conceal it, forcefully pulling the opposite arm out bit by bit with his legs.

A surprised exclamation came from inside the control panel.

"What kind of strength do you have? Aren't you that 'Director' from the 'Tier 2'? How do you have so much strength?!"

Lin Yu said, "I've always been strong—or rather, if you can pull me down, then you're the one with real strength!"

Ren Gu looked at Lin Yu's ankle being gripped, put away the paralyzing device that could potentially Chain Reaction and electrocute Lin Yu, and took out another red-cased device, primarily for combustion.

"Director, don't worry, I'm here to help!"

As Ren Gu spoke, he was about to throw the device in.

But just a moment before he made his move...

"Damn! That's incredibly strong... I'll try another one!"

"Whoosh--!"

Amidst the curses emanating from inside, Lin Yu's feet were released.

Almost instantly, those hands grabbed Ren Gu's calves.

Ren Gu looked at his calves and then at Lin Yu.

"Oh no..."

Ren Gu looked at Lin Yu and spoke, then the next moment...

"Thump--!"

The lantern fell to the ground, and Ren Gu was almost instantly dragged into the interior of the main control panel.

Although it happened in the blink of an eye, Lin Yu could still have reacted and grabbed Ren Gu.

Only...

The moment that guy grabbed Lin Yu Ren Gu, he felt as if his head and internal organs had been hit by a heavy punch at the same time, and he staggered and lost his balance for a moment.

In that moment of imbalance, Lin Yu missed his chance to seize Ren Gu.

Although Lin Yu immediately lay down and looked into the open cabinet door...

But when Lin Yu went to check, all he found inside was the main control panel's wiring.

By the flickering light of the lantern, Lin Yu looked at the area beneath the completely empty control panel—it was so bare that it would be difficult to even fit a person in there—and found it hard to believe.

"They ran away... and they took Ren Gu with them?!"

While Lin Yu was still in shock, the same voice from before suddenly rang in his ears again.

"Director of 'Order'! I know why you're here!"

"If you want your companion to live, don't make a sound, don't tell anyone else what happened here—come alone to 'Shadow Lamp Bar' in White Elixir Alley in the Outer City one hour later!"

Lin Yu listened to the sound dissipate into the air and gently rubbed his face.

"What... is going on?"

"Where did this mysterious expert come from?"

Lin Yu felt utterly confused.

This guy can call out "Order" and even accurately state his own codenames "Director" and "Ren Gu"... This guy is most likely, or almost certainly a "Player".

After all, neither the City That Never Sleeps nor the Barren Realm possesses any means to make someone disappear into thin air.

Neither the Alchemy Lineage of Alchemy nor Isolated Alchemy involves the transfer or transmission of matter within space, nor can it possibly have the effect of making two living people disappear instantly.

However, within the Ten Realms, Player do indeed possess the means to achieve "instant teleportation."

Lin Yu himself possessed several of these skills—although they were relatively rare, it wasn't surprising that he had them.

But...

If Lin Yu was certain the other party was a "Player," then he felt even more puzzled.

Why would a mysterious "Player" who managed to slip away from me and even kidnap "Ren Gu" appear here at this particular time?

Lin Yu was quite certain that this was not just one of the experts he already knew, since he had never heard the tone of the voice before.

Even the hands that the other party had just extended were hands that Lin Yu had never seen before.

"The other side's appearance here is likely also to investigate 'Supreme Evolution'... Could he also have some connection with 'Secretary'?"

"But this style of behavior and way of speaking doesn't seem like something a 'Copper Furnace' guy would do..."

"Is it possible that he wasn't there for the 'Secretary' position, nor was he actively investigating 'Supreme Evolution,' but was simply drawn in by the explosion and wanted to take advantage of the situation?"

"That's possible... but we can't think of it that way—after all, if that were the case, the other party could simply escape on their own; there's no need to 'kidnap the Ren Gu.'"

"Even if he recognizes us as members of 'Order' and has no ulterior motives, if he simply steps forward and greets us, we won't make things difficult for him... unless he's someone who's been expelled or is wanted by the authorities..."

As Lin Yu pondered, he increasingly felt that this newly appeared mysterious Player was a complete mess.

"However, since they made a request, and they didn't seem to have any particularly malicious intent... we could check out that 'Shadow Lamp Bar'."

"Rather than saying, we have no choice but to comply with his request and go check out that bar."

Lin Yu thought for a moment and made a judgment.

After all...

To find out the origins and purpose of this suddenly appearing mysterious "Player," it is necessary to Xingyi contact with him again.

Even setting aside curiosity... Lin Yu couldn't possibly let the Ren Gu who were with him be captured and left unattended.

Although going alone might be risky, but...

His improved strength has given Lin Yu the confidence to "go into danger alone".

Not to mention...

"Choosing a 'bar' on the Outer City that City That Never Sleeps, they've really given me my 'home turf'..."

"It seems this guy really doesn't know me well enough—he genuinely doesn't know that the 'Fairy Queen,' the supreme ruler of all the Gangsters in the Outer City, is an 'ally' of me."