Chapter 100
After entering Yi Ning’s base, Lu Zheng jumped in place twice.
The leaping sensation that had constantly surged from his body due to the ability “Free Run” had already disappeared.
“Good.”
Lu Zheng clenched his fist.
Because he had entered Yi Ning’s base, the ability “Free Run” had disappeared accordingly.
He let out a slight sigh of relief, and the corners of his mouth faintly curved upward.
Although he had previously been thrown into dark memories by Yi Ning’s combo attack, having carried those burdens for so many years, he wasn’t about to fall into endless regret and self-loathing over them.
He still had an important mission to complete.
That was to find the surveillance footage from the camera in front of Yi Ning’s main gate and look for clues about that Freedom Alliance guy in the footage.
However, this was merely the final objective of this operation and could only be unlocked by completing numerous prerequisite tasks placed at the forefront.
For example, the current top priority—finding the light switch to gain visibility for movement.
It was already approaching evening.
Although summer nights fell later than in other seasons, Yi Ning’s base didn’t have any windows at all. The setting sun, soon to dip below the ground, could only provide a pitiful trace of illumination through the still-open main door.
Any farther in was engulfed in endless darkness.
“Let me see... the light... where’s the switch?”
Lu Zheng walked over to the side of the door and began groping along the wall.
“Weird.”
Lu Zheng furrowed his brows.
He had felt around every reachable spot on the wall near the door while standing, but still couldn’t find a switch to turn on the lights.
Could it be located higher up?
He found that hard to believe.
Yi Ning’s original height had already been shorter than his, and now she was even shorter after transforming.
If it were placed somewhere even he couldn’t reach, wouldn’t it be troublesome for her to turn on the lights every day?
Even so, Lu Zheng raised his gaze upward, hoping to spot some protrusion in the weak sunlight that might indicate a light switch.
But unfortunately—
The wall near the door faintly reflected the sliver of evening sunlight. The pale golden hue across the visible area revealed no shadows from any protrusions.
Lu Zheng rubbed his temples, voicing his frustration.
“I just don’t get it. With no switch, how does Yi Ning turn on the lights every day?”
Before he could finish the thought, an image popped into his mind—Yi Ning pulling a remote control out of her pocket at any given time.
Could it be that every facility in this base was operated by that remote?
Lu Zheng’s expression began to darken.
He couldn’t possibly ask Yi Ning to send him the remote, could he?
But fortunately, the very next second, Lu Zheng’s vision was flooded with light.
The light overhead turned on the moment his words fell.
Then, all the lights in the base lit up one after another from the main gate, spreading inward.
Lu Zheng blinked.
“Uh… lights off?”
He tested his theory based on his guess.
The lights throughout the base turned off all at once from the door inward, just like before.
“This really is…”
Lu Zheng’s expression turned a bit complicated.
Because Yi Ning’s inventions usually felt more like magic than science, Lu Zheng had never really seen her as a scientist.
But this time, through these electric lights, he finally got the sense that Yi Ning was indeed a scientist.
Yes.
Through these voice-controlled lights.
Although they didn’t exactly demonstrate any particularly high-level technology.
“Fine then, lights on!”
Lu Zheng closed the door, showing a helpless expression, and walked deeper into the base accompanied by the continuous illumination of lights.
As he walked, he kept glancing around at Yi Ning’s base.
Now, the base had returned to its original form, looking vastly different from the hot spring center it had been when he left.
Looking at the smooth walls and reflective floors around him, Lu Zheng couldn’t help but marvel.
“That Yi Ning… she really cleaned up well. I wonder what kind of strange invention she used.”
That girl could probably make a fortune just selling these convenient little gadgets.
Why did she have to be part of an evil organization?
Lu Zheng pondered.
Just like during that period when his relationship with Yi Ning was improving, he was now considering how to persuade her to switch sides from her evil organization to the righteous one.
But honestly, Lu Zheng couldn’t think of any particularly good ideas.
He had once faced the “expulsion” scam from her unreliable organization members with her, and Yi Ning’s heartbroken expression back then had definitely not been fake.
Her current organization was clearly a very important place to her.
Although they had known each other for quite some time, Lu Zheng’s understanding of such things was sorely lacking.
And their relationship had only recently improved, so Lu Zheng didn’t dare to be too direct in asking about it.
“Sigh—”
Lu Zheng let out a sigh.
These things needed time to build up understanding.
But fortunately—
He was now just an ordinary hero in D-City.
What he had the most of now was time.
D-City was a small city with no distinguishing features, no economy, and no development.
Other than Yi Ning’s shabby little organization, no other evil organizations would bother to show up.
As long as he took care of that Freedom Alliance guy—
He believed—
He would have enough time to slowly build his relationship with Yi Ning.
Moreover, the evil organization Yi Ning belonged to was different from others.
They had shown no particular desire for evil deeds, nor any intentions of seizing profits.
Apparently, there was a wealthy, low-maintenance angel investor backing them.
This allowed them to remain untainted among evil organizations, standing out as a uniquely pure group that simply enjoyed the act of villainy.
On top of that, the members of their organization seemed to have been friends since long ago, making the atmosphere among them more peaceful, with greater mutual understanding and acceptance.
Lu Zheng stood in front of the control room door in Yi Ning’s base.
This time was different from before.
Yi Ning’s organization didn’t force her to do anything she didn’t want to, and he had more free time than ever.
Lu Zheng’s expression began to turn resolute.
He believed.
This time, he definitely wouldn’t repeat the mistakes of the past.
He would achieve a better ending than last time!
Though speaking of harmony among organization members and mutual acceptance…
Lu Zheng recalled the blood-soaked scene he had seen at Yi Ning’s home.
That claim might be up for debate.