Li Chuan's fingertips had just touched the keyboard when Shen Qiu's urgent warning came through the earpiece:
"Five hostiles are moving toward your location—armed. Estimated arrival in thirty seconds."
"Do we retreat?" Su Man checked her magazine, a trace of alertness flashing in her eyes.
"We can't." Li Chuan remained calm, his fingers flying over the keyboard. "This 'S-01' must be the key. We can't leave empty-handed."
Cheng Mo had already moved near the door, silently drawing his combat knife. His voice was cold.
"Twenty seconds."
"I'll decrypt it. Shen Qiu, support me." Without hesitation, Li Chuan continued typing, breaking through layers of encryption screens. With Shen Qiu's remote assistance, the first firewall was breached in seconds.
"Fifteen seconds."
The approaching footsteps became clearer. Su Man and Cheng Mo exchanged glances and shifted into combat positions.
"Ten seconds."
Li Chuan finally accessed the core directory. Inside, there was only a video file and a document.
Li Chuan didn't hesitate—he clicked on the video.
On the screen, a man in a white lab coat appeared. His expression was tense, and his eyes carried unease.
"Experiment S-01, Phase Two test—failed. The subject has exhibited unpredictable behavioral patterns..."
The scene shifted.
Inside a lab, a man was strapped to a chair. Suddenly, his eyes snapped open—empty yet dangerously sharp.
"The subject is out of control. He... he's watching us." The researcher's voice trembled slightly.
The next second—
The lab lights flickered violently. The camera shook. Screams and alarms overlapped chaotically.
Then, in a completely impossible motion, the restrained man broke free—effortlessly.
"Turn it off—!"
The screen went black. The video ended abruptly.
"This is..." Su Man's pupils constricted, an uncharacteristic tremor in her voice.
Li Chuan remained silent, staring at the man on the screen. His face was distorted by the poor video quality, but there was something... vaguely familiar about him.
Shen Qiu's voice broke the silence.
"Shit. They're here!"
"Copy the files. We'll hold them off." Su Man's tone was sharp as she chambered a round.
"On it." Li Chuan started the transfer process. The progress bar moved painfully slow.
Cheng Mo exhaled deeply, standing to the side of the door. His blade gleamed in the dim light.
The footsteps outside came to an abrupt stop.
Then—
BOOM!
The door exploded inward.
Five armed operatives stormed in, weapons raised without hesitation!
Su Man fired first. Her bullets found their mark, hitting the shoulder of the leading attacker, forcing him back. Cheng Mo, moving like a shadow, lunged forward. His blade flashed—one precise slice, and the second enemy collapsed with a deep gash in his throat.
"Thirty seconds left for the file transfer!" Li Chuan announced, quickly taking cover while drawing his pistol.
The enemies were well-trained. Despite the brief moment of chaos, they swiftly adjusted, tightening their formation to suppress the team.
Su Man fired calculated shots, but their opponents wore reinforced gear, reducing damage and forcing a prolonged fight.
Cheng Mo struck again, his attacks relentless and calculated, pushing back two more enemies within mere seconds.
"Fifteen seconds!" Shen Qiu's tension was evident in his voice.
Li Chuan leaned out and fired three shots in quick succession, disrupting the enemy's formation while scanning for an opening.
"Five seconds!"
Just then, one of the operatives threw a small black device toward them.
"Flashbang—"
Before Su Man could finish her warning—
A blinding white light flooded the room.
A deafening ring filled the air.
Li Chuan instinctively dodged, but his vision blurred. In the haze, he sensed something cold slicing toward his throat—
The enemy had seized the opportunity!
BANG!
A gunshot rang out.
Blood splattered onto the floor.
Su Man, half-blinded, had fired on instinct. Her bullet tore through the attacker's wrist at the last possible moment!
Li Chuan didn't hesitate—he slammed his elbow into the enemy's ribs, knocking him out cold.
"File transfer complete!" Shen Qiu's voice came through.
"Move!" Li Chuan ordered. The three of them quickly exited through the side door.
As they retreated, Shen Qiu's voice turned cautious.
"Wait. I just detected an unauthorized signal..."
Li Chuan's brows furrowed. "Who is it?"
A brief silence. Then Shen Qiu spoke, his tone grim.
"I can't track it. But... it's not coming from the Skymark Tower's system. It's from a higher-level channel."
Li Chuan's expression darkened.
Someone, at a much higher level, was watching them the entire time.
Back in the room, the S-01 file remained on the screen, as if silently whispering of a much deeper secret.