Xia Fei opened the door and saw two safety officials. They asked him, “Are you Yin Fei? The temporary assistant of Division 4’s Institute 137 maintenance team?”
Xia Fei nodded. “Yes, that’s me.”
“The board of directors would like to see you. They have something very important to announce.”
These two were rather polite. Xia Fei knew what they were trying to do, but he feigned surprise as he said goodbye to Flynn. At this moment, one of the safety officials gave Flynn a cold glance, which made Xia Fei get an ill foreboding.
Frowning, Xia Fei followed the two safety officials. No matter what, the plan must proceed. At this point, there was no room for hesitation!
*Whoosh!*
A spatial compass brought Xia Fei to an unfamiliar large hall. It was brightly lit room, spartan and clean. There was a cream-colored sofa in the middle, and several snacks and tea had been served on the coffee table. It was clear that the other side was prepared.
Xia Fei sat down on the sofa and casually took a sip of tea. He then took out his compass from his spatial ring to see where he was. There were no windows, and the environment was isolated. The only way Xia Fei would be able to find out his location was by using his compass.
“Hold on!”
The two safety officials immediately stopped Xia Fei and thoroughly searched him. Xia Fei acted angry and even threw a small tantrum, but he did not resist.
As expected, anything that could be used to verify his coordinates was confiscated, and even the small knife that Xia Fei used to peel apples was taken away.
Xia Fei naturally protested, but the two safety officials were like blocks of wood, standing to his left and right while remaining deaf to his words.
Xia Fei angrily sat down on the sofa, cautiously looking around him.
It was not long before a fat, old man came in from outside. The moment the door opened, Xia Fei got a look outside. It was a long, long corridor, with no indication of where it might be.
“Heheh! You must be Yin Fei. I am the acting chairman of the board of directors, Mutso. Come, come, come. Sit down and let’s talk.” Mutso chuckled. The two large hoops he wore on his ears jangled around as he moved. Xia Fei wagered that these silver hoops weighed at least half a kilo; he truly had no idea how the man had managed to get them onto his ears.
“Sir, is there no freedom in this corporation anymore? I was just about to call Professor Flynn, but then my compass got confiscated. Not only that, these two took many things of mine,” Xia Fei pointed at these two wooden safety officials and grumbled.
The two of them were well-trained, making no noise and continuing to stand like spears. It was clear that they were not ordinary safety officials of the corporation, more formidable in terms of both bearing and cultivation.
Mutso smiled. “This is all a misunderstanding. The corporation has its confidentiality regulations. We’re currently in Research Division 1; you know how important this division is to the corporation. We naturally have to be stricter when it comes to security.”
Xia Fei was startled, surprise appearing on his face. Xia Fei complimented Research Division 1, and Mutso somewhat proudly said, “To tell the truth, the corporation is incredibly lucky to have produced a top-class talent like you. This sort of talent may not be seen even once in a thousand years. It’s not just me. Everyone in the company from top to bottom admires you. I currently have something very important to discuss with you.”
Xia Fei replied, “Please speak.”
“Heheh!” Mutso dryly laughed. “Yin Fei, do you know about the Pinnacle Research Team?”
Xia Fei pretended to pale in shock, hastily saying, “Pinnacle? I’ve heard rumors in the company and the academy, claiming that Division 1 has an incredible research team under it called Pinnacle. Could the rumors be true?”
Mutso smiled. “One, Pinnacle Research Team really does exist. Two, Pinnacle is Pinnacle. It doesn’t fall under the control of either the board of directors or Research Division 1.
“After all, Pinnacle is Fig Corporation’s most advanced research team. Each person in the team is the best of the best in their respective field, in charge of the most important research subjects in the entire company. No one has the power to order this research team around. At most, they can only be negotiated with.”
Xia Fei hastily nodded, appearing to be very sincere. In Mutso’s eyes, Xia Fei seemed like a great admirer of Pinnacle Research Team.
Seeing that the moment was right, Mutso whispered, “Yin Fei, I won’t hide it from you. Pinnacle Research Team is actually very interested in you and hopes to see you join them.”
Xia Fei’s face immediately turned red, as if he was receiving some enormous favor. Given Xia Fei’s acting skills, it was no problem at all to feign some exaggerated emotions and have them be believed.
Xia Fei soon received a thick contract. This was the agreement that he needed to sign to enter Pinnacle. The densely packed words described Xia Fei’s privileges and obligations.
Xia Fei scanned it once and frowned. “Once I sign this contract, I’ll lose my freedom, my words and actions under complete control of the team, and the contract will only end after three hundred years. Also, even after the contract is over, I have to live under the company’s surveillance, unable to interact with any outsiders. Doesn’t this mean that I’ll essentially disappear from the universe?”
Mutso nodded and patted Xia Fei on the shoulder. “That’s why I asked you to think about it. If you want to enter the supreme Pinnacle Research Team, then you have to agree to all the conditions. Think about it carefully; not just anyone can work with the finest researchers in this universe.”
Xia Fei lowered his head and thought. He suddenly slapped his thigh and said, “Screw it! Didn’t I start researching because I wanna see what real technology is like? I’ll sign!”
Mutso repeatedly praised the wisdom of Xia Fei’s choice, but in his heart, he muttered, ‘Sure enough, only weirdos come out of Independent College. Go on; sign it. You don’t even know that these fifty pages are no different from a slavery contract! Once you sign it, not even the mightiest gods will be able to save you!’
…
Mutso guided Xia Fei along a corridor. This was Xia Fei’s first time in Research Division 1, so he gawked at his surroundings; Mutso did not mind indulging him. Those stalwart safety officials behind him seemed to say that after signing the contract, Xia Fei could say goodbye to freedom forever.
Research Division 1 was very normal, though it seemed to be several times larger than the other three divisions. This was, after all, the heart of Fig Corporation. The research personnel alone numbered more than one hundred thousand!
As they walked along, they eventually entered an underground tunnel. Xia Fei slightly frowned and asked, “Could Pinnacle Research Team work underneath Division 1? Aren’t these conditions a little too poor?”
Mutso shook his head. “Pinnacle is the company’s most precious team. How could we make them work in a place like that? Still, this is the only path leading to Pinnacle.”
After making several turns, Xia Fei entered a spacious lobby. There was a spatial gate here that appeared rather old. Many of the parts on its were still mechanical when the Law Realm had already transitioned to using electronics.
Mutso slighly paused and nodded at one of the stern safety officials next to him. The man strode forward, a small syringe appearing his hand!
Xia Fei made no reaction, though it was better to say that he intentionally did not react!
It was clear that Mutso wanted to take Xia Fei to some unknown location, so he needed to knock him out first. Xia Fei understood everything the moment that light red syringe appeared.
*Plush!*
The tip of the needle jabbed into Xia Fei’s neck, and with a *thud*, he crumpled onto the ground, fast asleep.
“Did everything check out?” Mutso walked over to Xia Fei as he asked.
“There were no problems. I checked his brain region and body several times, and he’s not much stronger than an ordinary person. Even if he does have a little cultivation, it’s nothing to fear,” said that grim-faced safety official sternly.
What they did not know was that the Ark fragment’s modification had made Xia Fei truly seem like an ordinary person, but this was all a front! An exquisite disguise! The person Mutso was bringing into Pinnacle was a superspeed warrior, who could kill a Law Sage instantly! The lone wolf of the Skywing Clan!
Mutso sternly ordered, “The relay station has been activated. Take him away.”
“Yes!” The two safety officials grabbed Xia Fei by the arms and instantly disappeared through the spatial gate.
After sending off Xia Fei, Mutso walked back through the dark corridor. However, he did not follow the same path, instead making a turn and entering a spatial gate that was being guarded.
*Whoosh~*
A flash of light, and Mutso appeared in a place akin to a prison cell. He was surrounded by sturdy alloy walls. At the very center was a massive square metal table. At this time, four strong men were pressing a man down on the table. While the man tried to struggle, he could not break free of the grip of those thick and muscular arms.
Mutso frowned and sternly asked, “What are you doing? How could you treat Professor Flynn like this? Hurry and let him go.”
*Whoosh!*
The four guards immediately withdrew to the side, and someone brought in a comfortable sofa for Mutso to sit down. On the table, Flynn got up and massaged his aching shoulders, fury in his eyes.
Unexpectedly, the moment Xia Fei had stepped into Pinnacle, the insidious Mutso had Professor Flynn seized! It was clear that the board of directors did not completely believe Xia Fei!
“Mutso, why the hell did you bring me here?!” Flynn truly had some of the earnest zeal of a stubborn scholar. Though he had been arrested, he still pointed at Mutso’s nose and cursed at him, his attitude as aggressive as ever.
Mutso was unmoved, his eyes narrowing. “Flynn, you’re a professional, so you understand the importance of that warbot. The company gives you two choices: Tell the truth or remain in this dark cell for the rest of your life.”
Flynn was stunned, and then he said, “Yin Fei was the one who made that warbot. I really have no idea how he managed to make it.”
Flynn did as Xia Fei asked. No matter what Mutso asked, he pushed everything onto Xia Fei. Gradually, Mutso began to lose his patience.
One of the strong men suddenly said, “Why not let him taste a little pain and see how tightlipped he remains!”
Mutso shook his head. “It’s not the time yet. Let’s see how things go in Pinnacle first.”
Standing up, Mutso sighed and walked out. Behind him, Flynn declared, “Actually, I was the one who made that warbot.”
Mutso erupted into laughter. He turned to face Flynn and said, “You? If you had this ability, you wouldn’t be demoted to Division 4!
“Although the board of directors doesn’t know what you and your student are up to, never underestimate our intelligence and methods! Yin Fei should’ve arrived at the concentration camp by now, and I’m sure that Master Qing He has the means to deal with him.” Mutso’s face gradually chilled. “You two have your schemes, and we have our tricks! Let’s see who outplays whom!”
Mutso coldly strode out.
Flynn mentally moaned. He did not know the details of Xia Fei’s plan, nor did he know the methods of the board of directors!
In this contest of pin against awl, neither side giving an inch, it was hard to say who would have the last laugh.
