346: Chapter 343 It Exploded

"Captain, something seems off over there. Personnel are starting to shift. Some hidden sentries I hadn't noticed before are moving, changing their positions!"

Deep in the forest outside the research institute, Zhou Guoli listened quietly to the scout's description from above. His eyelids twitched—it was truly a case of 'what you fear most is what happens.'

"Wait, no, Captain. Their original positions for the visible and hidden sentries were all dispersed and facing outward. Now, it seems... it seems they are targeting the interior. Captain, it looks like something really has happened inside the research institute."

"Captain, what should we do now? Should we move in?"

Hearing this, the surrounding team members cast questioning glances. Although they had come specifically for this mission, charging straight into a research institute comparable to a military base was a difficult decision to make. This matter could only be left to Zhou Guoli, the one in charge.

Zhou Guoli was also exceptionally hesitant at this moment.

"How on earth did that kid manage this? Did he really fight his way out from the inside? No, I can't be sure about him fighting his way out, but he's definitely stirred things up."

He sighed inwardly. The biggest problem now was that if he ordered the team to move, and Li Changsheng failed to break through to the surface, they would quickly become targets for concentrated enemy fire.

In that case, it was hard to say whether their small group would even be able to escape.

Thinking of this, Zhou Guoli gripped a clump of grass beside him. The grass was torn into a near-pulp, showing just how unsettled his state of mind was.

Sigh, Li Changsheng, I hope you don't let me down. I'm betting on it!

"A-Qiu, take ten men and sneak over there first to take out those hidden sentries. Guo Li, take your men and lie in ambush near the visible sentries. Wait for my signal, then take out the visible sentries immediately."

Upon receiving Zhou Guoli's order, dozens of grass piles that had looked completely normal suddenly began to move, creating a continuous rustling sound.

But they weren't afraid of being exposed right now; those visible and hidden sentries were all focused on guarding the interior and had no time to pay attention to them.

——

Inside the Florida villa, Ava remained elegant and composed, smiling as she described a bright future blueprint for the company to a group of pot-bellied investors.

As time passed, the expressions on everyone's faces grew increasingly unsightly.

"Ms. Ava, I don't think there's any need to continue with these empty words. We aren't babies, nor are we naive youngsters who will get all fired up just because of your boasting. To be honest, Ms. Ava, you are very well-suited to be a politician."

As soon as these words were spoken, bursts of mocking laughter erupted in the living room. It was clear that everyone had become extremely impatient.

"Everyone, I am not deceiving you. Genentech would never lie to its investors, and we have been doing real work, haven't we?"

Ava's expression also looked a bit grim, but she maintained her external composure and smiled faintly.

"Of course, we are very willing to believe everything you say, Ms. Ava, including what you've promoted to us. However, why not let our professors have a thorough, in-depth conversation with your researchers?"

"Exactly! Ms. Ava, are you feeling guilty? Or is it that you lack confidence? Are you admitting that everything you've said is just empty talk?"

The group pressed their advantage, having no intention of letting Ms. Ava—with whom many of them had had one-night stands—off the hook.

Listening to these words and looking at this group of heartless guys, Ava was so angry that her chest swelled up several sizes. She was still quite attractive, but because of her age, she needed heavy makeup to handle many areas.

She rubbed her brows and took out her phone to check. It was a shock—she hadn't expected her satellite phone to show over twenty missed messages, all from Old Michael.

At this moment, she faintly felt that something was wrong.

But she still didn't consider the authenticity of Michael's words. In her view, the idea of one person overturning the defense system she had spent a fortune to build was a huge joke.

"Could it be to explain the recent lapse in composure?"

Thinking of this, Ava felt it was highly likely; she reckoned there was no other possibility.

"Everyone, as you wish, I will now contact my researcher. I believe he will be able to give you a satisfactory answer."

Ava faced the crowd with a smile again. Now she had no choice but to try to contact Old Michael, otherwise, there was no way she would be able to send this group of veteran politicians and asset tycoons away today.

Seeing this, the group didn't mind; this was their goal all along.

This group of people—some had invested authority, others had invested assets. Over so many years, Genentech had been like a bottomless pit; they only saw the investment, but didn't see much actual output.

They didn't care about that; as long as they could eventually see a finished product, or even just get a definitive explanation, that would be enough.

Soon the video call connected, and Old Michael's bald image appeared in view.

The other party seemed stunned for a moment, as if he were pleasantly surprised to see the video connect, but everyone else was startled.

It wasn't surprising that everyone was shocked; primarily because the Old Michael at this moment was completely incongruous with the researcher image they had seen earlier.

He looked like someone who hadn't slept for days and nights and was on the verge of sudden death. Even before he started speaking, he reached over to the side, took a medicine bottle, and popped a few pills.

"Michael, if this is to explain..."

Ava was just preparing to magnanimously forgive the other party, but Old Michael didn't say a word and started wailing immediately.

"Boss! Boss! Thank God, I finally see you. Where are you now? If you have time—no, even if you don't, you must rush back here..."

Perhaps because he was hung up on in a rush last time, Old Michael took a deep breath this time and began to recount the bizarre events at the research institute at a rapid-fire pace.

He spoke for nearly five minutes in total, and that was with Old Michael speaking at a rapid-fire pace; otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to finish even in ten minutes.

And as Old Michael finished telling this story, which sounded almost like a movie script, the entire living room fell silent.

Even Ava was stunned. She had had several opportunities to hang up the call, but because Old Michael spoke too fast and the events were too bizarre, she had been left dumbfounded.

After a long while, Ava looked angry and scolded, "Michael, you are a qualified researcher, not a Hollywood superhero movie director. I need..."

"Boss! This is the current surveillance footage. Look, it's over, it's all over."

Old Michael interrupted Ava's words again with a rush of speech, and he quickly pulled up a real-time surveillance screen clearly showing the situation on the ground at the research institute.

Whoosh!~

Now everyone in the living room completely erupted. For the sake of easy communication, this call had been projected directly onto a projection screen, so the footage was naturally seen clearly by everyone.

They saw what looked like an apocalyptic scene on the screen. Between the high-end, tech-styled research institute buildings, there was the constant sound of gunfire and artillery, and dense crowds of people were locked in a mutual slaughter.