Inside a brightly lit laboratory constructed entirely from special metal and filled with the most advanced technology, an experimental capsule with a silver-blue color and a glass cover suddenly triggered a red alarm light.
The water level inside the capsule rapidly dropped, revealing a man dressed in a tight white suit, his body pierced with numerous tubes.
The man looked somewhat worn and aged, with deep eye bags.
After the liquid inside the capsule drained away, he slowly opened his eyes.
A man dressed in a silver-white uniform immediately rushed over, operating the screen above the capsule a few times, then bent down to pull out several tubes attached to the man inside and helped him sit up.
"Shaoze, are you alright? Why did you suddenly get forcibly logged out?"
The man called Shaoze gradually regained consciousness, rubbing his forehead with a painful expression.
"I was reported. Damn it, the people from the beast-fighting arena killed me without even investigating, and they broke all my bones. Now, many factions in the Witch World have become alert. Undercover missions are getting harder and harder."
The man in the silver-white uniform was about to comfort him when another person came in from behind.
"Yes! Director!"
Xu Shaoze, who was just rubbing his forehead and complaining, immediately sat upright.
"Relax."
The newcomer had high cheekbones and sharp eyebrows, but when he looked at Xu Shaoze, he softened his expression as much as possible.
"What happened? How is the mission progress?"
The Director told Xu Shaoze to relax, but Xu Shaoze dared not really relax, especially given his poor mission performance this time.
"Director, I didn’t complete the mission this time. It’s all my fault. I was too reckless in the beast-fighting arena."
The Director exchanged a glance with the man in the silver-white uniform, who asked puzzled, "We have analyzed the beast-fighting arena. The working environment and management style there suit a scheming personality. You have entered the Witch World so many times and should have mature control over your personality display. How could you have been too reckless?"
The Director then asked, "Explain the exposure in detail."
Shaoze recounted his situation in the beast-fighting arena and how Kong, the slave, had caused his exposure.
Of course, he also mentioned Li Ban, but reporting the mission status was more important at this moment;
Li Ban's matter would wait a while.
Xu Shaoze had just been tortured to death and had a severe headache. After speaking a few sentences, he had to pause and wait for the most intense pain to subside.
Therefore, he did not notice that when he mentioned Kong, the Director’s eyes flickered for a moment.
But he said nothing.
"...Ah, this time, the guard’s identity probably benefited Kong."
Although filled with resentment, Xu Shaoze did not express any desire to re-enter the Witch World for revenge.
He had just died miserably, and now the aftereffects were severe. Half his head felt like it was being pricked by needles. He really did not want to lie down in the space capsule again anytime soon.
After listening to Xu Shaoze’s report, the Director nodded without criticizing him.
"It seems we still cannot casually use assets from previous undercover agents. Otherwise, the source is unclear and easier to suspect. The Witch World seems to have become aware of this. We need to be even more low-key. Chen Dong, take Shaoze to rest and treat him."
"Yes."
Just as Chen Dong was about to help Xu Shaoze out of the space capsule, Xu Shaoze raised his hand.
"Wait, Director, Chen Dong. The Li Ban I just mentioned is a colleague undercover in the Death Prison. He said he almost died once, but the mission assistance system showed that forced logout failed. If he hadn’t saved himself somehow, he would probably be trapped in a corpse now, and we wouldn’t know when we would discover it!"
"Forced logout failure again?" The Director frowned deeply this time.
Chen Dong’s face turned pale as he anxiously asked, "Are you talking about the new slave who arrived in Death Prison half a month ago? The boy around ten years old?"
Xu Shaoze looked up, "Yes, that’s him. Why, do you know him too?"
Chen Dong smiled bitterly, "Because I was the previous Death Prison undercover. After being discovered, I was strangled to death. But for some reason, forced logout failed. I hung on the gallows for a long time."
Recalling this experience, Chen Dong’s face grew even paler. "If it weren’t for the fact that my second merged element was the mental element, which helped me somewhat control the corpse, I don’t know how I would have survived."
The Director also nodded solemnly. "Yes, so Chen Dong’s current condition is not suitable for entering the Witch World again. I’ll keep him as my assistant for now."
Xu Shaoze nodded, suddenly recalling something and hurriedly said, "But the person who reported me also reported Li Ban. Li Ban is still just a slave in Death Prison. If they kill him without examination... Director, please fix his experimental capsule quickly."
"Don’t worry. Once you finish your report, I will immediately go adjust his experimental capsule."
Only then did Xu Shaoze relax.
No matter what, he had fulfilled his promise.
Chen Dong helped Xu Shaoze up again, but Xu Shaoze’s headache was severe, and even walking was difficult. His legs seemed unable to bend.
The Director saw all this and suddenly asked, "Shaoze, you have entered the Witch World multiple times and visited several factions. How about analyzing who might be the 'General'?"
Chen Dong looked at the Director with some surprise.
After all, the Director had just told Xu Shaoze to rest, but now was questioning him again.
But the Director was the highest leader in the laboratory, so he dared not say anything.
Xu Shaoze leaned half his body on Chen Dong, holding his head with both hands.
He originally did not want to speak, but the Director’s presence in the laboratory was so imposing that he dared not refuse to answer.
"I think the 'General' is less likely to be in the beast-fighting arena. The elements there are quite ordinary, and dead beasts are mostly sold to the Eternal Tower. Beasts that are disabled but still tortured are sent to Death Prison."
"If the 'General' is in one of the familiar factions, then the chances are higher in Death Prison and Eternal Tower. Ugh..."
Xu Shaoze’s headache worsened.
The Director continued as if he hadn’t noticed, "Then who do you think might be the 'General' in Death Prison or Eternal Tower?"
Chen Dong lowered his head.
After a few seconds, Xu Shaoze spoke.
"Eternal Tower... I don’t know anyone of high rank there. In Death Prison, jailer Zhou Gu and officer Du An... both are possibilities."
Xu Shaoze’s voice was already weakening.
"Why?" The Director softened his voice.
"Du An requires that all dead prisoner bodies be sent to the fifth floor. Hoo..."
"Zhou Gu might be deliberately killing the corpses. He could be using them for some experiments... Hoo... hoo..."
Xu Shaoze began gasping for breath, his face turning terrifyingly pale.
The Director glanced at Chen Dong, who then said, "My investigations are similar. But Shaoze has worked as a jailer before, whereas I was only a prison guard."
Suddenly, Xu Shaoze collapsed into Chen Dong’s arms, falling helplessly.
His gasping stopped.
Chen Dong seemed prepared, holding Xu Shaoze tightly. Though still looking at the Director, tears gathered in the corners of his eyes.
The Director’s face showed no emotion. He just checked several of Xu Shaoze’s physiological indicators and then let go.
"Shaoze’s loading success rate is high, but he always forces logout. It seems the aftereffects caused brain blood vessel rupture and death. Send him for cryogenic destruction."
Chen Dong hugged Xu Shaoze’s body tightly, seemingly reluctant to let go.
Seeing this, the Director’s voice softened somewhat.
"Don’t be sad. When entering the laboratory, they were already prepared for sacrifice. Of course, Chen Dong, you are different. You are a senior employee. I won’t send you in again for the time being."