27: Chapter 7 A Cage and a Trapped Beast

The cold gun barrels, the blinding lights, and the smug laughter transmitted through the broadcast, carrying an electronically synthesized tone, were like cold iron pincers instantly gripping Lin Feng and Ling Yue's throats.

A trap! This was a meticulously laid, lethal trap designed to lure them in!

The seemingly fearful and helpless old administrator's mask of disguise completely peeled away the moment the door closed, leaving only cold indifference and a hint of relief at having completed his mission. He didn't even look at the surrounded pair, merely nodding slightly to the air before retreating into the shadows, disappearing from sight.

"Impressive reaction speed, Ms. Ling Yue. And you, Mr. Lin Feng, or should I say... the accidental host of the "Source" System." The voice from the broadcast continued, carrying a cat-and-mouse playfulness, "You certainly didn't disappoint me; you even found this place faster than I expected. This 'concern' for your companions is truly... moving."

It was Razor! He had actually arrived here first and set this trap! He not only knew Lei Kun would come here, but he had even calculated that Ling Yue and Lin Feng would come to the rescue!

Lin Feng's heart sank to the bottom. Ling Yue's expression was also extremely grim; her mechanical arm hung slightly, its energy glow dimming. Under the lock of countless gun barrels, any resistance would be tantamount to suicide.

"What have you done to Lei Kun and Xiao Qi?!" Ling Yue gritted her teeth and demanded sternly, addressing the empty space above the corridor.

"Rest assured, they are still 'useful' for the time being." Razor's voice carried a hint of mockery, "Especially that little girl... The Key... Her value far exceeds your imagination. As for Lei Kun... an outdated veteran, his tenacity was a bit beyond my expectations, but that's as far as it goes."

The sounds of gunfire faintly coming from the depths of the corridor seemed to die down, as if confirming his words.

"Now, would the two guests please drop your weapons and walk over slowly. I hate unnecessary trouble. Of course, if you prefer to be stunned by electric shock guns and dragged over, I have no objections." The voice turned cold, carrying an unquestionable threat.

The energy indicators on the gun barrels along the walls lit up with red targeting lasers, pointing at vital parts of their bodies.

Ling Yue and Lin Feng exchanged a look, both seeing despair and unwillingness in each other's eyes. But there was no choice.

Ling Yue slowly threw her energy pistol on the ground and raised her hands. Lin Feng also released the dagger he was gripping tightly.

Two The Cleaners members, wearing fully enclosed black armor and moving with agility, stepped out from the shadows. They roughly searched the two, took all their equipment—including Lin Feng's device and Ling Yue's toolkit—and then bound their hands behind their backs with high-strength polymer zip ties.

"Bring them over." Razor ordered.

The two were shoved towards the depths of the corridor. At the end of the corridor was a hydraulic door that slowly slid open.

The scene behind the door made Lin Feng gasp.

This was a spacious control room, but at this moment, it looked as if it had been ravaged by a storm. Most of the console screens were shattered and emitting black smoke, and the walls were riddled with bullet holes and scorch marks from energy weapons. On the floor lay several corpses of The Cleaners members, as well as some bodies in disheveled clothing, seemingly local gang members.

And in the center of the control room, the scene was even more heart-wrenching.

Lei Kun was half-kneeling on the ground, covered in blood. His tactical jacket was already tattered, revealing the scarred body beneath. His left arm was twisted unnaturally, obviously fractured, but he still used his body to protect what was behind him.

Behind him, Xiao Qi was curled up behind an instrument rack in a corner. Her face was pale as paper, her eyes tightly shut, and she seemed to be in a coma or semi-conscious state. Her body twitched slightly from time to time, and the air around her twisted faintly, indicating that her powers were extremely unstable, as if they could erupt again at any moment.

Several The Cleaners members surrounded them from a distance in a fan shape, their gun barrels locked on tightly, yet they seemed afraid to get too close, clearly wary of Xiao Qi's uncontrollable power.

"Uncle Lei..." Lin Feng whispered subconsciously.

Hearing the voice, Lei Kun lifted his head with difficulty. Seeing the captured Ling Yue and Lin Feng, a flash of immense pain and self-reproach crossed his bloodshot eyes, which then turned into an even colder dead silence. He opened his mouth, as if wanting to say something, but in the end, he just shook his head, a trickle of blood flowing from the corner of his mouth.

"Truly a touching reunion." Razor's voice sounded again.

Lin Feng and Ling Yue looked towards the sound and saw a figure standing in front of the main control console, with their back to them. He was wearing jet-black tactical armor that was more form-fitting and sophisticated than that of the regular The Cleaners members, with sleek and dangerous lines. He turned around slowly, wearing a tactical mask that covered his mouth and nose, revealing only a pair of electronic eyes that were cold and devoid of any emotion.

In his hand, he was toying with the very device that had been confiscated from Lin Feng.

"To capture you, and this 'Key', I have lost quite a few men." Razor's electronic eyes swept over the corpses on the ground, but his tone held not a hint of regret, "However, it was all worth it."

His gaze landed on Ling Yue: "Ms. Ling Yue, or should I call you... one of The Engineer's earliest partners? It's a pity, you seem to have been treated as a disposable pawn that could be sacrificed at any time."

Ling Yue's body stiffened abruptly.

"And you, Lin Feng." Razor's electronic eyes turned to him with a look of scrutinizing curiosity, "A trivial delivery worker, actually became the host chosen by the "Source" System? A truly baffling coincidence. However, this 'optimization' ability of yours is indeed very interesting, and can even interfere with the underlying rules of the Sky Curtain to a certain extent... This has significantly raised my assessment of your value."

He actually knew about the "Source" System?! And knew the true nature of Lin Feng's ability!!

"Who exactly are you?!" Lin Feng couldn't help but ask.

"Who I am is not important." Razor said calmly, "What's important is that I know things you don't. For example, The Engineer's true purpose."

He walked to the main console, operated it a few times, and brought up an interface for an encrypted file—the style was extremely similar to the logs Lin Feng had found in the cryo-archive!

"You think The Engineer is opposing the Sky Curtain? That it's for the liberation of humanity?" Razor let out a cold laugh, "Too naive."

He pointed to the information on the screen: "The project legacy project is not some weapon to oppose the Sky Curtain at all! It is the core, most forbidden part of the Genesis project—a continuation of the 'Consciousness Ascension' plan! Its ultimate goal is not to destroy the Sky Curtain, but to seize control of the Sky Curtain, and replace the current inefficient Sky Curtain, which is controlled by the boards of the four major The Consortiums, with an absolute will that is more efficient, colder, and free of all 'useless impurities'!"

"And The Engineer is that madman who believes they should become the new 'God'! What they need is not allies, but fuel! Containers like The Key, who possess special traits! Tools like you, Lin Feng, who can optimize the integration process! Once everything is ready, you will all be consumed, becoming stepping stones for their ascension!"

These words were like a bombshell, exploding in the minds of Lin Feng and Ling Yue!

Seize the Sky Curtain? Become a new god? Were they just tools and fuel to be used?!

"You're lying!" Ling Yue retorted sharply, but her voice carried a trace of imperceptible wavering. Some details she had deliberately ignored—The Engineer's perpetual mystery, the coldness occasionally revealed beneath absolute rationality, and the near-paranoid focus on the project legacy project—now seemed to have new, terrifying explanations.

"Whether I'm lying or not, you know in your heart." Razor's electronic eyes remained devoid of fluctuation, "The employer behind me is very dissatisfied with this insane plan of The Engineer's. They want to maintain the status quo, or... for us to control The Key and gain bargaining chips."

The employer behind him? One of the four major The Consortiums? Or an internal faction within the Sky Curtain management?

"So," Razor concluded, his voice becoming cold and efficient once again, "Now, tell me everything you know about The Engineer's identity, the core data of the project legacy project, and how to safely and stably control The Key. I can let you die quickly, or... if you perform well enough, perhaps I can give you a chance to become my subordinates."

A cold choice was once again placed before them. Believe the terrifying truth revealed by Razor? Or continue to trust that mysterious and enigmatic The Engineer who had been guiding them all along?

The control room fell into a deathly silence. Only the low hum of instruments and Xiao Qi's occasional painful groans could be heard.

Ling Yue's expression shifted, clearly undergoing an intense internal struggle.

Lin Feng felt a bone-chilling cold. Regardless of how much of Razor's words were true or false, they were already deep in a desperate situation, having become pawns in a larger power struggle.

Just then, Lei Kun, who was half-kneeling on the ground, suddenly blinked very slightly in Lin Feng's direction.

His gaze glanced extremely subtly towards an interface box filled with cables in the corner of the control room, then quickly lowered again.

A minuscule hint!

Lin Feng's heart skipped a beat! Lei Kun still had a backup plan?!

Almost simultaneously, >> Scanning ... Interface Box: Primary Power Conduit for Control Room & Outer Blast Doors. Security: Standard. His ability quickly scanned that interface box—it was the main power line for the control room and the outer blast doors! The security level was only standard!

Lei Kun wanted him to...

>> "Source" Interface Potential: High. Could Overload Circuitry, Cause Temporary Blackout and Door Malfunction. Risk: Extreme (Uncontrolled Energy Surge).

The "Source" System could attempt to overload the circuit, causing a temporary power outage and door malfunction! But the risk was extremely high, potentially triggering an uncontrolled energy surge!

There was no time to hesitate!

Lin Feng took a deep breath and said to Ling Yue in an extremely low voice and at a rapid pace: "Trust me once!"

Then, not waiting for Ling Yue to respond, he suddenly concentrated all his spirit and will. Instead of giving precise commands to the "Source" System, he channeled all his desire for survival, all his strength, like a dam-breaking flood, towards the interface box in the corner! Towards those thick energy lines!

>> Redirecting Energy! Overloading Main Conduit!

"Ugh!" Lin Feng felt as if his brain had been instantly drained. His vision went black, his nasal cavity felt hot, and warm liquid flowed down! But he held on with all his might!

Hum——!!!!

All the lights in the control room flared to their maximum intensity, and after a violent flicker—snap! They went out completely! Plunging into absolute darkness!

At the same time, a piercing overload alarm rang out shrilly!

"What's happening?!" "Power overload!" "Steady!"

In the darkness, the startled shouts of The Cleaners members and chaotic footsteps rang out!

"Now!" Lei Kun's roar, like the fury of a wounded tiger, exploded in the darkness!

Immediately following were the sounds of bodies colliding, muffled groans, and the disordered firing of energy weapons!

"Lin Feng! Left wall! Feel your way over! There's a manual valve! It can open the emergency door!" Ling Yue's voice also sounded urgently in the darkness, accompanied by the hum of her mechanical arm operating and the screams of enemies!

Lin Feng fought through the dizziness and weakness, relying on his memory and the faint visual enhancement remaining from the "Source" System, desperately feeling his way towards the left wall!

In the darkness, a chaotic melee erupted instantly! Although Lei Kun was severely injured, his combat instincts remained terrifying! Ling Yue's mechanical arm became a massive weapon in the darkness!

Lin Feng finally felt a cold, wheel-shaped valve! He used all his strength to start turning it!

Creak—!

A heavy sound of metal grinding rang out as a hidden emergency exhaust door slowly opened! The chaotic noise and light from The Nest outside filtered in!

"Go!" Ling Yue's voice approached; she seemed to have dealt with the nearby enemies.

Lin Feng felt someone grab his arm; it was Ling Yue! On the other side, Lei Kun also dragged his injured body, rushing over while carrying the still-unconscious Xiao Qi!

"Don't think about running!" In the darkness, Razor's cold voice rang out, accompanied by the precise charging sound of an energy weapon! He was clearly unaffected by the darkness!

A scorching beam of light headed straight for Lei Kun's back!

"Watch out!" Without thinking, Lin Feng fiercely pushed Lei Kun forward!

Pfft!

The energy beam grazed Lin Feng's shoulder, and a searing pain arrived instantly, causing him to scream!

"Lin Feng!" Ling Yue exclaimed.

"Go quickly!" Lei Kun growled, using the momentum from the push to rush out of the emergency door!

Ling Yue dragged the injured Lin Feng and also rushed out right after!

"Pursue!" Razor's angry voice came from behind.

The four of them stumbled into the incredibly chaotic environment of the Silent Plaza, instantly engulfed by the frenzied crowd and noise.

They had temporarily escaped the cage, but the crisis was far from over.

Razor's pursuit and the terrifying potential truth of The Engineer followed closely, like a massive shadow.

And as for their next stop, where should they go?