Chapter6：Web of Traps

Chapter 6：Web of Traps

The decoding module of the mechanical prosthetic ran at full speed, sweat beading on Loy's forehead. The red light of the iris scanner swept across his face, but the hacking program needed time.

A clearer voice came from within the door—Ling's weak call: "Loy... is that you?"

"It's me!" he responded in a low voice, his fingers flying over the prosthetic's control panel, his clothes already soaked with sweat. "Hold on, almost there!"

The system was analyzing the iris database, decryption progress at seventy-three percent...

Noisy footsteps echoed from the depths of the corridor, making Loy's heart race with urgency. The heat dissipation module of his mechanical arm was already beginning to overheat.

Ninety-five percent...

"Come on!" he gritted his teeth.

The green light finally illuminated, and the heavy metal door slowly opened.

The detention room was starkly white, with a strong disinfectant smell hitting his face. Ling was curled up in the corner of the room, the monitoring equipment on her body had lost power, and thin wires were scattered on the floor. She looked even more haggard than when they'd been in the mine, but the moment she saw him, her eyes exploded with unprecedented excitement.

"Loy!" She struggled to stand up, but her body was too weak, barely managing to prop up her upper body.

He rushed over and embraced her, feeling the coldness and trembling of the body in his arms. She was lighter than he remembered, like a feather that could dissipate at any moment.

"Can you walk?" he asked softly, while putting the prepared breathing filter on her.

"I can... What's this?" She nodded, but her voice was thread-thin. "Oh, my necklace... they took it."

"Don't ask yet, I know where your necklace is." Loy helped her stand. "Let's get out of here first."

The two struggled out of the detention room. The two security guards at the door lay on the ground with bruised faces.

"What happened to them?" Ling asked.

"They got tired of playing, rare vacation time," Loy waved his hand dismissively.

Ling needed to rest every few steps, forcing Loy to support her half-carrying, half-helping. The chaos upstairs grew louder, and a strange sweet metallic smell permeated the air—those parasites were taking effect.

"Where is the necklace?" Ling asked breathlessly.

"Special laboratory on the first floor." Loy answered. "We'll take a detour..."

"No." She suddenly stopped, ruby-like eyes blazing with determination. "I must get it back. It's very important to me!"

Loy looked at her pale face, realizing this wasn't a request, but a life-or-death necessity.

"Alright, let's go get it back."

The two changed course, heading toward the laboratory where the necklace was stored. In the corridors, they occasionally saw staff members affected by the parasites—dazed expressions, sluggish movements, some even retching against the walls. The filters were indeed effective; neither Loy nor Ling were affected.

Reaching the laboratory door, Loy found it ajar, with intermittent groaning sounds coming from within.

He pushed open the door, and the scene before him left him stunned.

Two scientists in white coats lay on the ground, one with obvious head trauma, the other curled up and trembling continuously. The equipment on the experimental table had been ransacked, glass instruments shattered everywhere.

But most importantly—the safe containing the Tear of the First Dragon was wide open and completely empty.

One scientist was slumped against the wall, gasping and speaking loudly into a communicator.

"It was... it was Riko, Dr. Riko..." the person said. "She suddenly burst in... stole the necklace... and attacked us with something..."

Ling collapsed to the ground, all color draining from her face. "It was stolen..."

Fury surged in Loy's heart. He knew that woman couldn't be trusted! What "joint escape," what "research cooperation"—all lies. From the beginning, Riko had been scheming, using the chaos he created to steal the necklace.

"Guards!" The other injured scientist awakened from the ground, saw these two people before him, and pressed the alarm button with trembling hands. "Intruders!"

A piercing alarm sounded—this time not a system malfunction caused by the power outage, but a real intrusion alert. Loy heard urgent footsteps from the distance—reinforcements were approaching.

"We have to go!" He scooped up the despairing Ling.

Red dots were already visible in the corridor outside the laboratory—armed personnel were rapidly approaching. The chaos inside the building had actually made them more alert, beginning carpet searches.

Loy carried Ling out of the laboratory and ran frantically down the corridor. But he soon discovered that all passages to the upper levels had been sealed off. Armed personnel were surrounding them from all directions.

"This way!" Ling weakly pointed to an inconspicuous door. "There's a freight elevator there."

They hid behind that door and found there was indeed an old freight elevator. Loy pressed the button, and the elevator slowly ascended.

But when the elevator reached the first floor and the door opened, dense footsteps immediately echoed from outside.

"They're in the freight area!" someone shouted.

Loy carried Ling out of the elevator and found himself in the building's logistics area. This place was filled with various equipment and supplies, providing temporary cover.

They weaved between boxes and equipment, trying to avoid the searching beams. But the number of reinforcements far exceeded expectations—not just the building's internal security personnel, but armed forces from other parts of the city.

"Damn it! That woman played us!" Loy cursed while running.

They gradually approached the building's exit, and when the final door appeared before them, Loy's eyes seemed to see hope.

But a beam of strong flashlight light cut through the door crack like a blade, and the noisy footsteps at the entrance made Loy's heart sink completely.

At least twenty fully armed soldiers stood outside the door, their black armor reflecting cold light under the dawn streetlights. They had completely sealed off all entrances and exits, gun barrels aimed at the door.

Muscle soreness and fatigue from staying awake all night had pushed his body to its limits. Loy gritted his teeth and turned toward the warehouse deeper in the corridor before the door could be opened.

The lead officer shouted through a megaphone: "People inside! You are surrounded! Surrender immediately, or we will use force!"

He gave orders to the communication device at his ear: "If you encounter females with golden hair, blue hair, and deranged personnel, you are authorized to shoot! For the horned female, capture alive! Control all experimental and engineering personnel, prohibit entry and exit!"

Loy and Ling huddled in the warehouse, hiding behind small shipping containers. He couldn't run anymore.

Gunshots and screams occasionally echoed throughout the building.

Loy held Ling tightly in his arms, feeling her body trembling. Without the necklace, her life was rapidly fading. And now, they didn't even have a chance to escape.

Ling whispered in his arms: "I'm sorry... I've dragged you into this... Hand me over, maybe you can live."

"What nonsense are you talking about? Even if I hand you over, they won't let me go." Loy looked at Ling before him, touching the mechanical prosthetic that was overheating from full-power decryption. "Besides, I still have many things to ask you."

But facing such a large armed force, even he didn't know how to break through.

The encirclement outside was tightening, the footsteps in the corridor drew closer, and the girl in his arms was slowly losing body temperature.

This night's rescue operation seemed destined to end in failure.

At that moment, a hand silently placed itself on Loy's shoulder.