Assigned Mission

The mystery of the Theseus Cell had been weighing on Mo Ling's mind.

Li Luo, on the other hand, was quite carefree. She had already started preparing to take on her next mission.

After a few days of rest, Li Luo updated her gear and supplies and returned to the mission counter.

As usual, she started looking from the back of the mission list, but she hesitated to accept a mission for a long time.

Following Li Luo's gaze, Mo Ling finally understood why she was hesitating.

[Collection Mission: Water Heart Lava, fifty kilograms, for experimental use, reward 1000 Monitoring Station points.]

[Collection Mission: Man Rolling Grass, twenty pieces, for research use, reward 2000 Monitoring Station points.]

[Hunting Mission: Hunt a Giant Jet Stream in the storm zone west of the Monitoring Station, requires submission of video footage and the Shining Spirit Core as a trophy, reward 2000 Monitoring Station points.]

There were no investigation missions, and the remaining missions were all very difficult to complete. Li Luo lingered for a long time because she couldn't find a suitable one.

Looking further up, there were only investigation missions worth a few dozen points.

Just as Li Luo opened the electronic screen, intending to settle for a less ideal mission, she happened to receive a message.

It was from Station Master Liang.

"Li Luo, you haven't accepted a mission yet, have you? I have something I need you to do."

Inside the Research Institute, Station Master Liang explained his idea to Li Luo: "The less people know about the Theseus Cell matter, the better. You are aware of what happened before, so there's no one more suitable than you."

He took out an electronic map, pointed to a location, and said, "This area marked with a red line is the Theseus Cell Lockdown Zone. I need you to go and take a look."

"Investigate if there are any omissions or abnormalities in the lockdown zone. Of course, the most important thing is to personally inform the personnel stationed at the Outpost Station about the appearance of the Theseus Cell outside."

Since there was an Outpost Station, why did Li Luo still need to go and investigate? Mo Ling couldn't help but feel suspicious.

Li Luo's face was also full of confusion.

Station Master Liang also saw Li Luo's confusion and continued, "We haven't had any personnel movement with the Outpost Station for a long time. Communication is limited to information transmission. I suspect something might have happened over there."

"No," Li Luo said decisively. "I need to accumulate points. I don't have time."

Hearing Li Luo's blunt refusal, Station Master Liang was stunned on the spot.

After recovering, he said helplessly, "I'll issue you a designated mission. You can get points after completing it."

Station Master Liang returned to his office and performed a series of operations on his workstation. Then, a notification sounded on Li Luo's electronic screen:

[You have received a designated mission from the Seventh Monitoring Station, issued by: Liang Zhi]

[Investigation Mission: Theseus Cell Lockdown Zone Patrol, reward 2000 Monitoring Station points.]

[Accept? Accept/Reject]

"This mission has a certain degree of danger. These points should be enough, right? If there are additional gains, I can apply for more points for you."

So many?

While Mo Ling was still shocked by the extent of the Station Master's authority, Li Luo had already pressed the accept button.

After getting the map and access permit to the Outpost Station from the Station Master, Li Luo immediately set off with the Cube.

The journey to the Lockdown Zone wasn't far, but it was very remote and hidden. It took two days of winding roads to reach the designated location.

Just as they were about to arrive, the sky suddenly darkened.

It's dark?

But the time doesn't seem right.

Mo Ling, inside the Cube, could only sense day and night through the changes in light and darkness.

He quickly glanced at the time on Li Luo's electronic screen and saw that it wasn't evening yet.

Looking at Li Luo, she had already slowed down and was looking up at the sky.

As the small vehicle moved forward, Mo Ling finally saw what was ahead.

It was a high wall.

A thick, high wall made of reinforced concrete. Mo Ling's vision couldn't even reach the top of the high wall, and the wall's foundation was deeply rooted underground, with no bottom in sight.

It was this high wall that blocked the light.

Only when they reached the high wall did Mo Ling barely see the scene inside the high wall.

The scenery was exactly the same as outside the wall, ordinary plants and small insects. He couldn't see anything unusual about the Lockdown Zone either.

But thinking that these plants and animals might all be composed of Theseus Cells, Mo Ling felt a chill run down his spine again.

Still focused on studying the world inside the wall, an angry shout interrupted Mo Ling's observation.

"Who goes there!"

A group of soldiers wearing thick combat suits and holding various weapons came forward and surrounded Li Luo.

"Get out of the car!"

The soldiers were well-trained and quickly searched the small vehicle and Li Luo.

When they learned that Li Luo was sent by the Seventh Monitoring Station, the soldiers' expressions worsened, and they started complaining.

"We already know the situation reported by the Monitoring Station. Hurry back, there's nothing unusual here."

"We will send people to assist in the investigation of the Theseus Cell escape. There are no special circumstances within the Lockdown Zone."

This attitude made Mo Ling suspicious instead.

Isn't this like saying 'there is no silver here, but I buried three hundred taels' (a Chinese idiom meaning a clumsy attempt to conceal something that only serves to expose it)?

Li Luo wasn't stupid either. She showed the soldiers her mission and access permit and insisted on going in.

Seeing the name of the person who issued the mission, the inspecting soldier said angrily, "It's Liang Zhi again. He hides in the Monitoring Station all day and still points fingers at us. If he's so capable, why doesn't he come himself?"

This remark was echoed by others.

"They want us to take the blame for the leak in the Lockdown Zone? Isn't this bullying honest people?"

"Higher rank crushes people to death. What's the use of us putting in our best effort here? It's still just a matter of his single word."

"Worst case, we just quit. Guarding this godforsaken place, constantly defending against those aberrations, and still being suspected by our own people."

This group of soldiers clearly held a lot of resentment towards Station Master Liang.

"Enough!"

Just as the situation was at a stalemate, a hoarse but powerful voice interrupted the soldiers' complaints.

The soldiers quickly turned around and stood at attention, each one straightening their back.

"Captain Su!"

"Captain Su!"

As the newcomer approached, Mo Ling finally got a clear look at the person.

Thin and weak.

Those soldiers were all strong and well-built, dressed neatly, but this Captain Su looked like a shriveled old man, his entire body wrapped in dirty bandages.

The bandages even covered his face, and dried black blood seeped out from beyond the bandages, making him look like a decaying mummy.

He walked up to Li Luo, reconfirmed Li Luo's mission and access permit, then turned to look at the soldiers beside him:

"Procedures are complete, inspection is finished, let her in. What are you dawdling for!"

The soldiers beside him quickly lowered their heads and admitted their mistake. Their tall bodies actually looked like children in front of this Captain Su.

"Let's go, I'll take you in."

Captain Su didn't do anything unnecessary. He led Li Luo out of the encirclement and walked along the city wall to the side.

The soldiers who had just been full of complaints were now all silent, following quietly.

Mo Ling looked at the dog tag hanging around Captain Su's neck, and the words on it also surprised him:

"Level Three Hunter, Bone Crusher Su Yang."