47: Chapter 1 The True Face of the "Engineer"

At the end of the corridor was a heavy alloy door that slid open to both sides with a slight hiss of air pressure; the sight behind the door caused Lin Feng and the other three to hold their breath for a moment.

Before them was an intensely futuristic space. Rather than a secret base, it looked more like a high-tech command center. Soft, cool white light fell evenly from above, and the walls were massive curved display screens flowing with complex Data Streams and 3D models of the city. The air circulation system maintained constant temperature and humidity, completely devoid of the oppression and filth of the underground world. Several operators in simple grey uniforms sat before consoles with focused expressions, their movements efficient and quiet. The entire space operated like a precision instrument.

It was a world apart from the ruins, The Nest, and the filthy pipes they had previously inhabited.

“Welcome to the ‘Safe House’.” Nightingale removed her metal face mask, revealing a young but exceptionally calm face. She looked barely in her early twenties, but her eyes held a steadiness and sharpness far beyond her years. “Follow me. The Engineer is waiting for you.”

She led the four through the command center. Along the way, the staff only spared a glance before continuing their work, showing a high degree of discipline. Lei Kun’s gaze swept over the data on the screens, his brow furrowing slightly. He recognized some as real-time monitoring of the city’s security network and intelligence on Consortium movements; the technical level and breadth of information far exceeded their team or even the Rust-Iron Gang.

Ling Yue focused more on the technological equipment. Her mechanical prosthetic eye quickly analyzed everything, and the more she saw, the more alarmed she became. Many of the technical standards here were even more advanced than those publicly used by The Consortium, yet they bore non-official, customized marks.

Xiao Qi tightly gripped Lin Feng’s hand, feeling both curious and afraid of the light and silence. She could sense that the thoughts of the people here were very “orderly,” lacking the chaos and malice of the outside world, but also lacking warmth.

In addition to his shock, Lin Feng raised his vigilance to the highest level. The resources and technical prowess possessed by this “Engineer” were unfathomable. What exactly was his or her purpose?

They were led to a relatively independent observation room. Outside a large one-way glass wall, the busy scene of the command center played out. A figure with his back to them sat in a floating chair, staring at the city lights (perhaps a virtual scene) outside the window.

“I’ve brought them,” Nightingale said respectfully.

The chair slowly turned around.

Sitting there was not the majestic elder or sinister conspirator they had imagined, but a clean-cut man in his thirties wearing rimless glasses. Dressed in a simple white research lab coat, he had a gentle temperament, looking more like a young university professor. Only his eyes, looking through the lenses, were so deep they seemed capable of seeing through everything.

“Good work, Nightingale.” The man’s voice was gentle, carrying a hint of fatigue, yet possessing a power that made one unconsciously trust him. His gaze swept over Lei Kun and Ling Yue before finally resting on Lin Feng and Xiao Qi. When it reached Xiao Qi, his gaze became exceptionally complex, a mix of scrutiny, guilt, and a hint of... indescribable expectation.

“I am Grey. Some are used to calling me ‘The Engineer’.” He made a gesture for them to sit, and several comfortable chairs automatically slid out within the observation room.

“You’re The Engineer?” Ling Yue couldn’t help but speak up, her tone full of suspicion. “You went to all this trouble to bring us here—what exactly do you want?”

Grey smiled slightly and didn’t answer directly. Instead, he looked at Lin Feng. “Lin Feng, how do you feel? The taste of the ‘Source’ core forcibly merging with an ‘initial protocol’ fragment isn’t easy to bear, is it? Fortunately, this young lady was there.” His gaze turned back to Xiao Qi, his tone becoming even softer. “Xiao Qi, right? You are much braver than you were in your father’s memories.”

Xiao Qi snapped her head up, her eyes filled with shock and confusion. “You... you knew my daddy?”

Lin Feng also instantly tensed his body. “Dr. Lin? Who exactly are you?”

Grey sighed and gestured for everyone to stay calm. “It’s a long story. Simply put, Dr. Lin and I were once colleagues in the core research group of the ‘Ark Project’.”

“Ark Project?” Lei Kun caught the keyword.

“A secret project spontaneously organized by top scientists,” Grey explained, his eyes drifting into memory. “The original intent was to study the ‘initial protocol’—what you call ‘The Key’—hoping to find a way to resist or guide that power capable of rewriting reality, to prevent it from being abused, and even to preserve the seeds of civilization if necessary. We believed ‘The Key’ itself wasn’t evil; The Key was how it was used.”

His tone carried the glow of idealism but quickly dimmed. “However, we underestimated human greed and overestimated our control over ‘The Key’. The Consortium’s influence infiltrated the project, and its direction was twisted into a tool for creating their ultimate weapon. Dr. Lin discovered the danger, especially the devastation the project caused to test subjects... particularly individuals with specific genetic compatibility.” He gave Xiao Qi a meaningful look.

“To protect you, Xiao Qi, and to stop the plan from heading toward destruction, he defected with the most critical piece of ‘anti-phase stabilization data’—the ‘Pure Sample’ implanted in your body—as well as a portion of ‘The Key’ fragments. As for me, I chose to stay behind and go underground, using the resources and secret contacts I’d accumulated to continue maneuvering, trying to dismantle The Consortium’s conspiracy from within and search for the whereabouts of Dr. Lin and you.”

The truth came together like puzzle pieces: the tragedy at the laboratory, Xiao Qi’s background, and Grey’s secret attention all seemed to have a logical explanation now.

“So, you’re helping us for Xiao Qi? Or for that ‘stabilization data’?” Lin Feng went straight to the point.

“Both,” Grey admitted candidly. “Xiao Qi is Dr. Lin’s only bloodline; protecting her is my responsibility. And the ‘stabilization data’ in her body is The Key to safely contacting and ultimately controlling ‘The Key,’ the hope for stopping The Consortium’s ambitions. As for you, Lin Feng,” he looked at him, “you were an accident, but also a vital variable. Your compatibility with the ‘Source’ code is beyond imagination; your growth speed has even exceeded our initial expectations. You and Xiao Qi together—one representing ‘construction’ and ‘rewriting,’ the other representing ‘stability’ and ‘purification’—might be exactly the... balance point we’ve been looking for.”

He brought up a holographic interface showing a complex double-helix structure. One side flashed with a blue Data Stream (representing Lin Feng’s “Source”), while the other emitted a soft white light (representing Xiao Qi’s ability). The two were slowly attempting to intertwine and balance.

“We call it the ‘Binary Star Project’. We need your strength, and we need your trust.”

“Trust?” Ling Yue sneered. “Inviting us here in such a manner—referring to Nightingale’s ‘invitation’—how can you talk about trust?”

“The situation is urgent.” Grey’s expression turned serious. “The Consortium has already noticed your actions, especially the laboratory explosion. They are no longer sending peripheral forces like ‘The Cleaners,’ but true internal elites—the ‘Mirror Guard’. They excel at disguise, infiltration, and mind control. To them, this city is a giant Labyrinth, and we are all pawns within it. You are relatively safe here, but you are by no means free of worry.”

He pointed to the large screen, which showed several highlighted targets moving rapidly through the city network. “Their goal is clear: capture Xiao Qi, recover ‘The Key’ fragments, and eliminate all who know the truth. We need to strike first and obtain more intelligence on the Sky Curtain core before they complete their encirclement.”

Grey’s gaze swept over the four. “Cooperation is currently our only option. I will provide you with intelligence, technology, and necessary support. And you will need to use your unique abilities to infiltrate the core area of Mirror City controlled by The Consortium to execute a critical mission—obtaining the low-level access logs of the ‘Prophet’ AI.”

The mission objective made everyone gasp. The “Prophet” AI was the brain of the Sky Curtain system and the cornerstone of The Consortium’s rule! Infiltrating its core area was like pulling a tooth from a tiger’s mouth!

“That’s impossible!” Ling Yue blurted out. “The ‘Prophet’s’ defenses are top-tier!”

“Under normal circumstances, indeed impossible.” Grey operated the console, bringing up an encrypted file. “But soon, the heir of the Universal Group, Luo Hao, will host a grand charity gala at the highest point of Mirror City, the Glazed Tower. That is your only chance. We need a suitable identity to sneak in.”

His gaze finally landed on Lin Feng.

“Lin Feng, you need to play the role of a mysterious new tech investor from overseas. And the first step of this act is for you to learn how to think and act like a true ‘superior’.”

Lin Feng looked at the towering, shimmering Glazed Tower on the screen and the illusory scenes of elegance within. He felt as if he were about to step into a completely foreign battlefield. Code and firearms might fail here, replaced by hypocritical smiles, hidden barbs in conversation, and silent calculations.

In the Mirror Labyrinth, the battle of wits begins. The true test has only just started.