Chapter 235 Another Hidden Monster?

Su Ze had just reached the top of the stairs when his steps suddenly halted as he prepared to go down.

Guo Fei?

He still had an impression of that name.

Previously, to balance Zhou Kai and prevent a single faction from becoming too dominant, he had given this Guo Fei a chance, telling him to gather valuable intelligence within three days.

As it turned out, Su Ze wasn't satisfied with the results the guy produced,

and after obtaining the [mirror of surveillance], which allowed him to monitor the entire university, he had gradually forgotten about him.

Unexpectedly, the man had now taken the initiative to contact him.

Looking at the private message, Su Ze instantly thought of Shi Yetang.

Was she finally unable to sit still after seeing him about to annex the World Financial Center area, fearing he would become even more powerful?

Su Ze looked at the candid photo attached below the message.

The photo depicted a woman who looked to be around forty years old.

She was plain-looking with some freckles on her face—the kind of person who would vanish the moment they stepped into a crowd.

His heart instantly sank.

This woman was definitely not the "Li Fen" that Shi Yetang was disguised as!

He immediately diverted a sliver of his mind to activate the [mirror of surveillance].

In the mirror's reflection, the woman named Li Fen was currently staying obediently in the temporary laboratory on the ninth floor. Along with several other Research Personnel and under Chen Xueming's direction, she was organizing various instruments and equipment, seemingly preparing to set up a new production line.

Everything looked perfectly normal.

This Shi Yetang was being a bit too well-behaved.

Then who was this woman who had snuck out?

With a thought from Su Ze, the image in the [mirror of surveillance] shifted rapidly, locking onto the woman from Guo Fei's photo.

The woman in the mirror looked completely different from Li Fen, but her current actions were eerie in every way.

She was stealthily hugging the base of the walls, quickly leaving the vicinity of the Dormitory building.

Just then, Ye Qingqing and Gai Qian appeared in the hallway.

"Mr. Su Ze," Ye Qingqing spoke respectfully.

"Stay here on standby."

Su Ze didn't take his eyes off the mirror's surface as he gave Ye Qingqing the order directly, then turned to Gai Qian. "You, come with me."

Although Ye Qingqing didn't know what was happening, she immediately nodded. "Yes!"

Gai Qian's soul body was impossible to see unless one was a player with extremely high spirit and intelligence attributes, or if they had applied ox gall tears.

To prevent her from causing trouble, bringing her along was the best choice.

Su Ze didn't delay any further and quickly headed downstairs with Gai Qian.

Meanwhile, in the image from the [mirror of surveillance], the freckled woman had already walked out of the Dormitory area. After looking around to confirm no one was there, her movements suddenly changed.

She arched her body slightly, and in the next second, she shot forward like an arrow from a bow, charging toward the World Financial Center!

Su Ze's pupils constricted sharply.

What incredible speed!

He made a silent estimate; the speed this woman Burst forth with was actually close to his own!

Who exactly was this person?

Could it be... another Royal Zombie disguised as a human player?

Su Ze couldn't be sure.

After all, the system had only given a prompt because Shi Yetang happened to meet the criteria for a "Goddess."

If the other party didn't meet the criteria, the system naturally wouldn't have any reaction.

Gai Qian, floating beside Su Ze, also saw this scene through Su Ze's perspective. Her illusory body fluctuated violently due to shock.

She never would have imagined that in Jinghai University—a place she thought was completely under Su Ze's control—such a terrifying existence was still hidden!

What alarmed her even more was that she had some impression of this woman's appearance...

It seemed she really was one of the Research Personnel under Lu Jiaming's command at the Center!

At the thought that she had previously shared a building with such a monster, Gai Qian felt a wave of lingering fear.

Su Ze led her, silently tailing the woman from behind, while lowering his voice to quickly ask Gai Qian, "If someone from the Monster Camp wants to join the player faction, will they definitely be restricted by the rules?"

Gai Qian was taken aback by the sudden question, but she replied immediately.

"Logically, yes. The Monster Camp cannot directly join the player faction, even if they hide their identity."

"But... if they first leave the Monster Camp and become part of the 'Wandering Faction,' then they can be accepted by the player faction just like me. However, it's much harder for them... I'm just not particularly clear on the specifics."

Su Ze nodded, lost in thought.

Shi Yetang had most likely taken this path as well.

But this extra variable before his eyes truly made his heart sink.

He wasn't even sure just how many such enemies were still hidden within his Jinghai University...

"Is the price high to change from the Monster Camp to the Wandering Faction and then join the player faction?" Su Ze asked again.

Gai Qian thought for a moment, her tone grave.

"I don't know the specific price, but based on information I've heard before, the cost is definitely not small."

"In that case, the other side probably can't afford to have too many people sneak in."

Su Ze quickly analyzed in his mind. "Though it doesn't seem necessary. If they're strong enough, one is sufficient. Having more people would only make it easier to get exposed."

Gai Qian couldn't help but float a bit closer, asking in a barely audible voice, "Do you think... this person is an undercover agent planted by the Monster Camp?"

Su Ze didn't answer directly, but instead asked back, "Is it possible they planted more than one?"

"The cost is too high; it's unlikely," Gai Qian immediately shook her head.

Su Ze didn't speak again.

He was thinking to himself: if the cost was truly that high,

could it be... that the woman in front of him was Shi Yetang herself?

Did she master some kind of disguise technique, or have a special item that allowed her to change into different appearances?

But then what was the deal with that Li Fen?

While he was pondering, the woman had already reached the base of the World Financial Center.

Su Ze's [mirror of surveillance] could only monitor the Jinghai University area; once a target left, he could no longer track them.

He frowned and made a prompt decision, leading Gai Qian as he quietly followed.

The woman didn't take the elevator but instead rushed directly into the fire exit, flying up the stairs.

Su Ze followed closely behind, also without making a sound.

However, the structure of the stairwell was too simple and straight. To avoid being discovered, Su Ze had to maintain a certain distance.

Consequently, he reasonably lost track of her.

He didn't know if she had entered a floor or continued further up.

"What do we do now?" Gai Qian's voice held a hint of anxiety.

Su Ze stopped, his eyes sharp.

"You, starting from here, search floor by floor going up. Use your own methods to find her! The moment you discover any danger or find her trail, notify me immediately!"

Su Ze's thinking was very clear.

The other party's purpose in infiltrating the Center at this time was very likely to sabotage his plan to annex the Center's forces.

And the prerequisite for annexation was to make all surviving players submit to him.

Therefore, the enemy's objective was likely to find a way to make a portion of the people—

even if it was just one person—not join, or be "unable" to join him.

"Understood!" Gai Qian nodded immediately. Her figure flashed, turning into a wisp of barely visible black smoke as she floated upward.

Su Ze turned and walked quickly toward the seventh floor.

Since the enemy wanted to cause destruction, he had to finalize things completely before the enemy could act!