345: Get ready. 1

Morse Code.

There was not the slightest fluctuation in Lu Jianchuan's gaze beneath the mask, nor did his body posture change, as if it were merely a friendly contact from the other party. However, the moment the other's finger withdrew, his left hand, hanging at his side, lightly tapped a few times against his thigh with an imperceptible amplitude and rhythm, as a response.

Signal confirmed.

The staff member's smile seemed to become a bit more sincere as he lowered his voice and said, "Hello, we need two people to help with a small task, handling some equipment records. Could you please come with me?"

"Okay, no problem," Lu Jianchuan replied, signaling for Wei Ziqing to come along.

The three of them left the noisy training ground, passed through several quiet corridors, and finally entered a small room that appeared to be a storage room for cleaning supplies. The staff member quickly closed the door and confirmed that there were no surveillance devices in the room.

"Mr. Lu, Mr. Wei," he turned around, the relaxed expression on his face completely replaced by seriousness, his voice lowered to a whisper, "I am 'Peregrine Falcon,' code name from the GUPA Special Operations Department, ordered to infiltrate here. I have received encrypted instructions from my superiors to fully cooperate with your operation. What can I do for you?"

Lu Jianchuan nodded and got straight to the point: "We'll ask first. Aside from the nominal purchaser of the island, who else is behind the core personnel here? Who is the real controller?"

'Peregrine Falcon' was clearly prepared and quickly blurted out a name.

"But he's not the only one," he added, then mentioned several more names in succession, each representing vast capital or deep background in a certain field. "This 'Dawn of Life' project is a consortium funded and promoted by at least these four forces.

They have one thing in common—the core decision-makers are all elderly, or key elders in their families are facing health crises. Pursuing 'extended healthy lifespan,' or even further 'possibilities,' is their shared and most urgent desire."

He paused and said cautiously, "At least at the level I can currently access, all the research and documented projects conducted openly by the entire laboratory revolve around legal and even cutting-edge fields like 'anti-aging,' 'cell repair,' and 'genetic telomeres.'

I have not directly observed or obtained conclusive evidence of illegal human experiments or unauthorized biological modifications.

This might be because my infiltration level isn't deep enough, or they have hidden the illegal parts extremely well, or perhaps... they are using camouflage methods we are not yet aware of."

Wei Ziqing pressed further: "What about those 'restricted zones'?"

'Peregrine Falcon' looked serious: "There are two types of 'restricted zones.' One is what I mentioned earlier—areas that require wearing the highest level of protective suits to enter, usually related to research on high-risk biological samples or unknown pathogens, dangerous but 'legal.' The other,"

he emphasized his tone, "are several areas marked 'absolutely prohibited from entering,' but with no special protective requirements inside, and even relatively weak surveillance.

I haven't been able to enter, but I've accidentally heard some... low roars and impact sounds from inside. I personally suspect that those areas might be directly related to the 'abnormal' parts you are investigating."

Lu Jianchuan memorized the locations of these two types of restricted zones.

Wei Ziqing then asked: "What about other undercover agents arranged by the organization here? Do you have contact methods?"

Upon hearing this, 'Peregrine Falcon' was visibly taken aback, a flicker of genuine confusion crossing his face: "Other undercover agents?... Sorry." He quickly regained his composure, shaking his head with a bitter smile, "I don't know.

According to the highest-level infiltration discipline, we usually have single-line contacts and may not even be aware of each other's existence. I can't even be sure if there are any other colleagues here besides me."

Wei Ziqing nodded: "Alright, it seems we can't contact other possible infiltrators through you for now."

The undercover agent 'Peregrine Falcon' asked: "Is there anything else you need to know? I'll tell you everything I know."

Lu Jianchuan thought for a moment and said: "That's all for now. But if you later remember anything you find abnormal or important, no matter how small, you must find a way to tell us."

'Peregrine Falcon' nodded seriously, fell into brief thought, then his eyes lit up: "Right! If there's anything else worth noting... it's the structure of this building. The top floor, the rooftop part of this white building, is the exclusive 'pleasure floor' for the funders—those wealthy individuals. I've heard there are private dining rooms, cinemas, even small swimming pools and observation decks there, places they stay when they come to 'inspect' or 'vacation.' Real decisions and secret talks likely happen there."

He quickly outlined the clear hierarchy: "Below the top floor are the floor we're on now and the ones above, mainly the visible laboratories, office areas, and the training ground we use. Further down are the underground floors where those 'restricted zones' I mentioned are located. But based on fragmented information I've overheard from casual conversations among some ordinary Researchers, there seems to be more than one underground level. Rumors say there's space on the deepest bottom level, but what it's for, those without sufficient clearance have no idea. I haven't been able to verify this, possibly because I haven't been considered a 'core member' and informed."

Wei Ziqing pressed: "Is that all?"

"Based on what I currently know and speculate, that's all." 'Peregrine Falcon' said apologetically, "I haven't been infiltrating for long, only about two or three months, so I can't access many core areas and secrets yet."

Lu Jianchuan understood: "Got it. Stay alert, stay safe. Goodbye."

"Understood. By the way, help me take these record boards, for appearance's sake." 'Peregrine Falcon' quickly resumed his staff expression, handing Lu Jianchuan a few irrelevant documents.

The three of them walked out of the storage room with normal expressions, carrying "equipment" and "records," and returned to the noisy and busy training ground.

After lunch, Lu Jianchuan and Wei Ziqing found a relatively secluded corner.

"If what that Mantis said is true, that they recruited us to be their 'opponents,'" Wei Ziqing whispered, "when do you think they'll make their move?"

Lu Jianchuan shook his head: "Hard to say. At least until we let our guard down, or they find a 'reasonable' pretext. Probably a few more days. On the surface, it should be safe for now."

"Where should we focus our investigation next?" Wei Ziqing asked.

Lu Jianchuan pondered for a moment, then his eyes suddenly moved: "Wait, there's a way." He finished eating quickly and said to Wei Ziqing, "Stay here for now. I'll go get something and also find 'Peregrine Falcon.'"

He returned to the dormitory, retrieved a button-sized micro-device from the hidden layer of his disguised luggage, then used a training break to briefly contact the undercover agent 'Peregrine Falcon' again.

In an unmanned corner, Lu Jianchuan slipped the device into 'Peregrine Falcon's' hand. "We need your help. This is an emergency signal transmitter, directly connected to external support. Originally planned to be triggered by us during the final unified action, but the situation might change, and I'm afraid we won't have the chance then." His tone was grave, "If large-scale chaos occurs, or you judge the timing is right—like if you see us missing for a long time, or abnormal mobilization in this building—press it. Support forces will immediately launch a strong assault. This is a backup plan."

'Peregrine Falcon' gripped the device, quickly hid it inside his clothes, and nodded solemnly: "Understood, leave it to me."

Time soon reached evening. Dinner was held in the spacious dining hall, the food still abundant. Many of the recruits, after a day of "training," seemed to gradually adapt, the atmosphere slightly relaxed.

Just as dinner was halfway through, a middle-aged man in management-level suit, with an amiable smile, walked to the front of the dining hall and clapped his hands to get attention.

"Everyone, you've worked hard today! How do you feel? Getting used to it?" His voice was loud, his attitude friendly.

A few outgoing ordinary people laughed and responded: "Pretty good!"

"The conditions here are really great!"

"It'd be even better if we could let our families know we're safe, haha!"

"Of course, of course, I understand how you feel." The manager's smile remained unchanged, but as he spoke, he made an extremely abrupt move—he pulled a respirator similar to a gas mask from his suit pocket and quickly put it on his face!

At the same time, his other hand suddenly pressed a button hidden under the podium!

"Hiss—!"

A piercing gas ejection sound suddenly erupted from vents all over the ceiling! Dense, pale white mist instantly gushed out, quickly filling the entire dining hall!

"Cough! What...?"

"What's going on?!"

As exclamations rose, a few people close by had already inhaled the gas, their eyelids fluttering as they collapsed limply to the ground. Some reacted faster, immediately holding their breath and trying to rush toward the doors or windows.

But figures lurking in the shadows all over the dining hall, also wearing masks, quickly pounced out!

Their movements were skilled and ruthless, using short sticks or direct elbow strikes, accurately hitting the back of the necks or abdomens of those trying to escape, forcing them to gasp in pain, then collapsing in violent coughs and losing consciousness.

Lu Jianchuan and Wei Ziqing sensed something wrong the moment the manager put on the mask. The two exchanged a quick glance—resist? Or go along with it?

In a flash, they chose the latter. As the mist enveloped them, they symbolically raised their hands to cover their mouths and noses, then, like others around them, their bodies swayed slightly, and with expressions of slight "shock" and "weakness," they slumped into their seats and closed their eyes.

(666, as the narrator, I have to Let me rant, what's the difference between this and being smothered by a pillow, then pretending to struggle a few times before pretending to be smothered?)

The entire subduing process was clean and efficient, taking no more than two minutes. The dining hall fell completely silent, leaving only the Pervasive white mist and bodies lying haphazardly in unconsciousness. The masked manager scanned the room and waved his hand.

"Take them all away. Process them in groups as planned."

Several masked individuals stepped forward and began fitting restraints on the unconscious and dragging them away.

Lu Jianchuan and Wei Ziqing felt themselves being lifted and moved, but they maintained full-body relaxation, allowing themselves to be handled, only silently calculating the direction and distance of movement in their hearts.