Chapter 260: Han Meng's Infiltration

Aurora Base, Level 1.

After Qiong Xuan led the group past the dormitories and the cafeteria, he slowly spoke:

"You should know the basic situation by now. Next, we will officially begin security work... Personnel deployment will be handled by Deputy Captain Han Meng. Everyone, stick to your duties. Remember, don't do anything unnecessary."

After saying this, Qiong Xuan turned and left.

The Enforcers all looked at Han Meng, who was standing to the side, as if waiting for his orders.

Han Meng held the personnel list in his hand, faint glimmers of light flashing in his eyes. After thinking for a moment, he slowly spoke:

"According to regulations, the duty personnel will rotate every six hours. The first round will be handled by Yue Dingyuan and Chi Shixiang, who will guard the entrance checkpoint. Wang Linxiang, Tian Yuezhong..."

As Han Meng read one name after another, the personnel responsible for the entrance and the first-level patrol were all determined. Finally, it was the patrol personnel for the second level.

"An Yongjian, Qiao Teng, Chen Xin... you are responsible for the second-level patrol." Han Meng put away the list. "I will briefly outline the specific patrol routes for you in a moment. Go to the dorms to drop off your things first. We start officially in three minutes."

Hearing the personnel list, a flash of surprise crossed the depths of Chen Ling's eyes.

He had been assigned to the second-level patrol, which meant that for the next six hours, he could openly move around the second level without needing to find a way to obtain a pass key to infiltrate it, avoiding many unnecessary risks.

After a quick cleanup, Chen Ling took the key, passed through the second checkpoint, and entered the second level.

The overall structure of this level wasn't much different from the first; it consisted of individual rooms connected by corridors. Chen Ling walked openly through them in his Enforcer trench coat, his peripheral vision occasionally glancing at the rooms on both sides.

Although most of the doors were tightly closed, occasionally figures in white lab coats would enter or exit, allowing him to see the scene inside. Groups of people were gathered together, as if busy with something in the laboratory. The moment a door opened, a pungent, strange odor would drift out...

Chen Ling sniffed and frowned involuntarily.

"Trinitrotoluene... Are all those explosive raw materials sent to the base kept here?"

Chen Ling just glanced at it, then withdrew his gaze as if nothing had happened and continued patrolling this level. After walking around for a long time, he finally managed to figure out the purpose of this level.

The numerous laboratories here were like an assembly line for manufacturing explosives. Various preparation and processing procedures were carried out in these rooms, independent of each other, like a precise and cautious military factory... When the final product was transported out of the last room, someone would come to perform specialized safety handling, seal the boxes, and transport them back to the first level.

Chen Ling had already figured out the first and second levels. He knew very well that there was no place on the first level to store these explosives, so it was highly likely that these things were sent directly back to the surface via the elevator on the first level.

Transporting raw materials to the Aurora Base, finishing the processing, and sending them back to the surface... Where were these terrifying quantities of explosives ultimately being sent?

What exactly did the Aurora Base want to do by manufacturing explosives at such a critical juncture?

Chen Ling paced back and forth on his patrol route, calculating the possible destinations for these explosives. Just then, a familiar figure, wandering the second level just like him, walked toward him.

Han Meng's gaze swept over the surrounding laboratories, his brow furrowed involuntarily, as if he too were deep in thought.

The two of them noticed each other at the same time. Their movements paused imperceptibly, and then they pretended nothing was wrong and swept their gazes around.

"Chen Xin, patrol well. Report anything to me immediately." Seeming to sense that the atmosphere was a bit subtle, Han Meng spoke indifferently with the air of a deputy captain.

Chen Ling: ...

"Yes, Deputy Captain," he replied, biting the bullet.

*Heh, it seems your purpose for entering the base isn't that simple either...* Chen Ling thought to himself.

Just as Chen Ling turned the corner, he heard Han Meng stop behind him. He didn't continue his patrol but silently hid by the wall, quietly listening to the movements behind him.

Han Meng had also stopped, but his position was in front of the checkpoint leading from the second level to the third.

Han Meng quickly glanced left and right. After confirming no one was around, he walked straight toward the passage to the third level... As soon as his foot stepped forward, an invisible barrier appeared out of thin air, forcing him back into the corridor.

Han Meng frowned. At the same time, a ghostly green eye opened from deep within the passage.

"Name," a hoarse voice sounded from deep in the passage.

Is this the ritual artifact Qiong Xuan mentioned?

"Han Meng," he replied calmly.

"Position."

"Aurora Base Deputy Security Captain."

"Reason for passing."

"Patrolling the third level."

After Han Meng finished answering, the ghostly green eye stared at him fixedly, its eerie gaze as if trying to pierce through his soul... About five seconds later, the hoarse voice sounded again:

"Identity and reason correct. Barrier lifted."

The ghostly green eye slowly closed. At the same time, the barrier covering the entire passage disappeared... The road to the third level was now open before Han Meng.

Chen Ling, who had witnessed the whole process, had his brain working at high speed. Seeing that Han Meng was about to walk into the third level, he steeled himself and walked out from the corner, pretending to pass by...

"Huh? Deputy Captain Han Meng, what are you doing?"

Han Meng, who was about to enter the third level, felt a slight jolt when he heard this voice. He turned to look at Chen Ling, who was full of astonishment, his expression a bit strange.

"Patrolling the third level," Han Meng replied steadily.

"Patrolling the third level?" Chen Ling was stunned. "We didn't receive orders to patrol the third level..."

"You don't have this order; this is my duty as Deputy Captain," Han Meng retorted. "Is there a problem?"

"...No."

Han Meng looked at this troublesome first-rank Enforcer, not wanting to waste time with him here. The longer he dragged it out, the more likely the other two patrolling Enforcers would pass by... He hadn't reported to anyone about entering the third level. Although his position as Deputy Captain did indeed qualify him to enter the third level, suddenly going down without a word at a time like this would inevitably be blown out of proportion if it reached Qiong Xuan.

A first-rank Enforcer like Chen Xin was one thing; after all, he was a newcomer, inexperienced in the world, and could be easily bluffed. But if all three patrolling Enforcers heard the noise and came over, it would inevitably reach Qiong Xuan's ears.

Just as Han Meng was congratulating himself on fooling the newcomer Chen Xin, Chen Ling turned and walked toward the passage to the first level.

Han Meng was stunned. He subconsciously felt something was wrong and turned back to ask:

"Where are you going?"

"Ah? I'm going to report to Captain Qiong Xuan," Chen Ling said, scratching his head. "After all, if you go down alone and something goes wrong, as a second-level patrol guard, I'll definitely be held accountable... It's safer to report it."

Hearing this, Han Meng's face stiffened. He was almost so angry he wanted to strike right then and there... Should he just knock this annoying newcomer unconscious?

No... If he knocked him out, how would he explain it later?

Han Meng struggled for a long time, his gaze toward Chen Ling becoming subtle. He beckoned to Chen Ling.

"Ah?" Chen Ling looked blank.

"Come here, you..."