Infiltrating the Research Institute

After leaving the agency, it was already night outside. Bai Jin and Yang Yu boarded a carriage with Slarat and arrived at a secluded corner of the city under cover of darkness.

Stepping down from the carriage, they saw stars glittering overhead. The city wall that securely enclosed the entire city stood before them, and the iron gate beside it was the entrance to the Silver Orchid Merchant Guild's research institute.

The research institute looked remarkably like an enormous villa. It had two floors, was brightly lit, and stood in the middle of a wide, open lawn covered in lush green grass.

Yang Yu had thought they would surely be taken into the wilderness and enter some secret research institute resembling an ancient castle. In the end, they had not even left the city gates.

Yang Yu had previously wondered how they would get back into the city to turn in their mission. Looking around now, he realized this place was actually not far from where they were supposed to report in.

The entire research institute was surrounded by iron fencing. The lawn was completely bare, with no cover whatsoever. Patrols moved back and forth, and it felt as though the moment someone escaped from the institute, a bright beam of light would shine down from its roof, leaving them nowhere to hide.

How were they supposed to escape from a research institute like this?

As for the escape route, Yang Yu had discussed it with Tella before. According to the overhead map of the institute Tella had provided, there was a pond along the city wall inside the institute. Few people patrolled there, making it the best escape route.

"Isn't it a little different from the research institute you imagined?" Slarat said smugly.

"Ahahaha! It doesn't feel like a research institute at all. It feels more like a prison," Yang Yu joked.

"People often say that." Slarat greeted the person on duty, then waved for the two of them to follow. "Don't worry. You'll get used to it soon enough. Once our new medicine is complete, this place will no longer seem like a prison."

And we won't need you anymore, either.

Slarat did not say those words aloud, but Yang Yu had the awareness expected of a commoner. In a mysterious research institute like this, unless outsiders made some extraordinary contribution, more than half of those involved would be eliminated with the excuse, "You know too much."

Yang Yu looked at the patrolling guards on either side and pointed at them. "Is our job just to wander around like them and get paid?"

"It's not as simple as you imagine. I'll take you to meet your superior. Just obey her orders."

Slarat wore a faintly amused smile as he led Yang Yu into the research institute.

First floor of the research institute.

Dozens of worktables filled the spacious hall. Beside each table stood an Herbalist in a white coat, using various instruments to formulate potions. Carts constantly brought in materials and carried away finished products. Everything moved smoothly and efficiently, everyone busy at work, and the whole place reeked of capitalism.

As Yang Yu looked around, a curvaceous red-haired woman swayed her hips as she approached. Every inch of her radiated the charm of a mature woman, and there was a hint of magnetism in her voice.

"So these are the newcomers? What a charming little handsome fellow."

The red-haired woman gave Yang Yu a seductive wink, and he got hard.

It was not some strange physical reaction. Yang Yu did not want this either.

Damn it, this bitch used Charm the moment she met us. There wasn't a single thing about her in the information Tella gave me. The Giant Umbrella Merchant Guild really is a tiny merchant guild—a complete scam. Is their intelligence department just sitting around doing nothing?

Looking at the Charm status in his status window, Yang Yu clicked his tongue inwardly.

"Hello, you two. I'm the instructor here, Asna." As she spoke, Asna moved closer to Yang Yu, her slender fingers gently stroking his cheek. Her eyes watched him like a venomous snake eyeing its prey. "There are many rules here. The most important one is: NO! SPIES! ALLOWED! If spies infiltrate this place, we will deal with them without mercy."

"Yes, Lady Asna," Yang Yu's mouth moved of its own accord.

Asna could not help laughing. She looked at Bai Jin, who seemed to have fallen into the same state as Yang Yu. Hearts practically shone in Bai Jin's eyes as she gave Asna a silly, dazed grin.

"Lady Asna, you are so beautiful today. I will follow you forever. Even if I must give my life for you, I would not hesitate."

Perhaps Bai Jin's smile was too strange. After taking one look at her, Asna shifted her gaze back to Yang Yu's face. This face was still much more pleasing to the eye.

"What you need to do is obey my commands absolutely. Now, tell me—who sent you here?"

Her deeply magnetic voice was like a sugar-coated shell piercing Yang Yu's heart. It was as though the woman before him was his entire world.

For her sake, he would willingly become a shameless simp.

"Actually, actually, no one sent us here! We came here because we were captivated by Lady Asna's beauty!"

"Actually, we—"

Bai Jin's eyes lit up, thinking this was a chance to prove herself. Just as she was about to speak, Yang Yu drowned her out with an even louder voice.

"No, I was wrong. What I said just now was flawed, an insult to Lady Asna. In truth, we were born into this world to serve Lady Asna. From the moment I was born, I had longed to meet Lady Asna and offer her everything." Yang Yu reached out and tightly grasped Asna's hand. "Lady Asna, I won't say anything else. Will you marry me? Only if you become my wife can I serve you even better!"

Smack—

Bai Jin slapped Yang Yu and Asna's hands apart.

"Get lost!" Bai Jin's roar echoed through the hall. "Don't think that just because you have some skill, you can touch Lady Asna with your filthy hands. Do you think just anyone can touch Lady Asna? Her beauty is one of a kind. I will never allow anyone to have her all to himself!"

"Hehe. It is precisely because Lady Asna is one of a kind that I want to possess her and devote everything to her. Accepting all of her is everything to me!"

"What nonsense are you talking about? How could you bear to possess such beauty?" Bai Jin was practically going mad. "If you truly want to possess it, then I'll curse you! I'll curse you at any cost! Ahahahaha! Just imagine yourself stewing in my cauldron—lizards, toads, dried venomous snakes, all kinds of poisons, plus you. That would surely create a one-of-a-kind magic potion, becoming part of what nourishes Lady Asna's beauty."

Asna shuddered in horror, goosebumps rising all over her body.

Yang Yu drew his long staff. "Oh, really? Then come at me! Do you think you can beat me?"

Bai Jin raised her staff. "Hehehe, not necessarily. How long do you think I've worked with you? I know all your weaknesses!"

The atmosphere instantly became tense, the air thick with the smell of gunpowder, as though it would ignite at the slightest spark.

"Ahem—don't argue inside the research institute. That is an order." Asna gave a light cough. "Both of you will have opportunities to serve me. Follow that soldier to your rooms. I have already prepared clothes for you. The soldiers will teach you all the rules here. Follow the rules, cause no problems, and that will be the best way to serve me. That is also my order."

"We obey your command, Lady Asna!"

At Asna's command, Yang Yu and Bai Jin immediately lowered their weapons and stopped arguing. They respectfully bowed to Asna, then reluctantly followed the soldier.