In a pristine, brightly lit room, The Watcher closed the door behind us. Everything we could need was here, and John Chou and I sat down, trying to appear at ease.
Immediately, The Watcher took a bottle of wine from the cabinet and poured us each a glass. We didn't drink, since we were still wearing our veils.
We still had no idea how we were moved here. All we felt was a strange force wrapping around us from behind, and in the blink of an eye, we found ourselves in this vast white house with countless rooms. The Watcher then led us into his own chamber.
The Watcher said nothing about how we were moved, and John Chou seemed disinclined to ask. There was still much he held back from us, even some suspicion. But since our appearances didn’t arouse much doubt, perhaps that so-called mimicry ability was just a ghost-type power that allowed one to alter their looks using ghost energy.
"When can you take us to the laboratory?"
John Chou asked directly. I quickly shot him a look—likely, even if we reached the laboratory, we wouldn’t find anything. The experimental data was all stored in those Glass Spheres, and since we couldn’t break them, we couldn’t obtain any information about the experiments.
"There's a problem right now. The Replicator has recently imposed martial law, strictly forbidding anyone from entering the laboratory without his direct permission. We'll have to wait and see."
"Is it because of Earthly Soul?"
John Chou asked tentatively, and for a moment, The Watcher looked at us in surprise.
"Earthly Soul is indeed in the laboratory, but I can't say for sure if that's the reason. I only deliver useful experimental data there on a regular basis."
The details were mostly clear now. We could only reach the laboratory through The Watcher, and the situation with Earthly Soul inside the lab was unexpected.
Alright, you two, remember not to leave this room. This is my private chamber; no one else can enter without my permission. I need to step out and handle some matters. Make yourselves comfortable.
After The Watcher left, John Chou and I removed our veils, then sipped some wine. There was plenty of food in the room, so we ate a little and waited quietly for The Watcher to return.
Does he really trust us?
John Chou shook his head immediately.
Brother, even though I say it like that, there's no way that guy really trusts us.
I swallowed in surprise.
So what should we do next?
We'll just have to take it one step at a time. Right now, everything depends on what the other side wants to do, and we're completely passive.
I tried to open the door but found it wouldn't budge. Just as I was about to use Deathbane Aura, John Chou stopped me.
Don't use any powers—if we do, we'll be exposed early. That guy looks dumb, but he's actually quite perceptive, brother.
Did he go to investigate something?
I realized it immediately. John Chou nodded and grunted in agreement.
The door opened. John Chou and I immediately resumed our previous appearance. The Watcher was back, having been gone for less than two hours.
Sorry to keep you waiting. I can take you to the laboratory now, since I have something to deliver. Here, you two should wear these Gold Epaulets.
I took the two Gold Epaulets from The Watcher and handed one to John Chou. We put them on and followed The Watcher out. He led us to the central area, then with a wave of his hand, John Chou and I were enveloped in black mist.
In the blink of an eye, my eyes widened—we were beneath a white building, surrounded by vast darkness. Only the building in front of us was white, and apart from the shadows moving inside, there was nothing else to see.
We followed The Watcher inside. Immediately, we saw several people in black busy at work, some carrying Glass Spheres and moving between rooms.
The Watcher led us up to the fourth floor and stopped at a large, private room. He stood at the door for a while, then it opened. Instantly, my eyes widened—glass cylinders filled the room, each containing a person immersed in transparent liquid.
Suddenly, I saw Lee Gee and almost cried out. He looked just as he used to, immersed in a large tank of transparent liquid. Several people in black stood in front of the tank, seemingly inspecting something, but I couldn't see clearly. At that moment, a shadow drifted over, and a fierce-eyed figure stood before us.
How come The Watcher has time to bring his subordinates today? Usually, you come alone, don't you?
As The Watcher spoke, he reached out his hand. A flash of white light, and a glass sphere appeared in his palm.
Only this one from last month's experiments is usable.
The fierce-eyed figure took the sphere, and we left with The Watcher.
At the doorway, The Watcher let out a sigh, then forced a smile and glared fiercely at the door.
Besides being a bit smarter than me, he's just trash—always so arrogant.
We stopped at a corner between the third and fourth floors.
Can you take us to see Earthly Soul?
The Watcher looked at us suspiciously, then sighed helplessly.
That guy should be on the eighteenth floor. I don't have clearance to enter above the tenth.
The situation was a bit helpless. John Chou concentrated, and his appearance changed to resemble the black-clad figures here. He tore off his Gold Epaulet and handed it back to The Watcher.
The only difference between these black-clad figures and The Watcher's subordinates was that their veils covered everything but their eyes. I quickly followed suit.
Alright then, I'll head back. When the investigation is over, don't forget your guide.
The Watcher left. John Chou and I kept heading upward, empty-handed. We passed many black-clad figures, all busy and ignoring us.
We finally reached the tenth floor—the top. We were shocked to see a staircase leading up. After climbing, we found ourselves under a black sky, already on the rooftop.
There was no one here. John Chou and I waited quietly, thinking of a plan.
Looks like we need a key, but there's no way of knowing what it looks like.
I nodded.
If we stay here too long, we risk being discovered. The priority now is to rescue Earthly Soul, then figure out the rest. John Chou mentioned before that Earthly Soul's power has recovered and he's gained new abilities.
You two—shouldn't you be going back with The Watcher?