Behind closed doors, Yunxi and her three companions discussed their next steps. The Special Department, the military, and the Wei Lan family each had a completely different response.
After confirming the group's movements, the Gongsun brothers immediately reported to Minister Ruo Bai that the four had set up a temporary residence beside the Special Department.
Looking at the photo of the antique-style residence, especially since it had appeared out of thin air, Ruo Bai sighed. "Do not disturb them. The only thing we can do now is wait."
Gongsun Ming could not accept that. "Minister, are they really as formidable as you say?"
Gongsun Jing shot his younger brother a glare. "Ming, don't forget, the first time we met them, we could not even get close to Madam Ran Xi. She can collect souls without any equipment. We are not on her level. And there are four of them now. What do you think that means?"
Gongsun Ming did not want to admit it, but what his brother said was true. He could only grumble,"Up to now, we have not actually seen them make a real move. Collecting a few souls does not prove much."
Ruo Bai interrupted them. "What did you find about the man and woman beside Madam Ran Xi? That Han Lian was escorted to the Special Department by the military. They are not without backing."
"Minister, we have not even seen the face of the man in black. But we can investigate through the Sack Family who escorted him here. We should have a reply in a couple of days.
As for Madam Han Lian, I sounded out Captain Chen from the military earlier, but I could not pry anything useful from him."
Minister Ruo Bai tapped his finger on the desk. "I will inquire on the military side. You two keep digging into the man in black."
"Yes, Minister."
The two accepted the task and left the office at once.
Ruo Bai then dialed an internal line.
Captain Chen left men to watch the perimeter of the residence, then urgently contacted the person in charge at the research base.
"Mr. Noske, we have run into a small problem."
The middle-aged Academician Noske adjusted his glasses and narrowed his eyes. "Captain Chen, has something happened with visitors from beyond No. 1? She is an extremely valuable research subject. I want her alive if possible and confirmed dead if not. One way or another, you must bring her back."
Captain Chen looked at the stern face on the screen and tugged weakly at the corner of his mouth. "Sir, Madam Han Lian's vital signs are normal. She currently has no plans to return to the research base."
Noske sounded disappointed. "I see. Then why did you contact me? I am very busy."
Captain Chen inhaled and exhaled to steady himself before continuing. "Sir, Madam Han Lian has reunited with her companions, and not just one. There are three of them. They are currently staying beside the Special Department in District W.
Madam Han Lian's friends have been entrusted by the Special Department to handle something extremely difficult. I do not know the specifics. The Special Department and our system operate entirely separately."
He then displayed the antique residence in the feed and simultaneously transmitted the photos of Yunxi, Xun Kun, and Yun Chen.
Noske, who had been indifferent a moment before, suddenly perked up. He practically pressed his face to the screen, muttering under his breath, "Four? There are actually four visitors from beyond! Captain Chen, do not come back. Stay there and keep watch on them. Do not lose them under any circumstances. I will send support immediately."
He hung up without waiting for Captain Chen's reply.
Captain Chen stood with his mouth open, swallowing the warnings he had no time to voice.
The deputy captain beside him looked equally conflicted. He wiped a hand down his face and spoke bluntly, "Captain, with our current capability and equipment, do you think we can detain three people as powerful as Madam Han Lian?"
Captain Chen put away the communicator and shook his head helplessly. "We cannot. At least for now, Madam Han Lian is not the sort to kill the innocent at random. She seems more concerned about the creatures at the research base.
The reason she stayed at the base before was because Professor Huang could answer her questions. Now that she has found her companions, Mr. Noske's plan to treat her as a research specimen will not work."
"Tsk, then the unlucky ones are just us."
The two fell silent and could only stare at the tightly shut gates of the residence.
Lan Lan, who had left earlier, drove home with Li Li in her arms. The guard at the door caught a glimpse of the rare red panda and could not help a flash of amazement in his eyes, but he still stepped forward respectfully. "Miss Lan Lan, the animal in your arms must be examined before it can be brought inside."
Li Li glanced at the guard, then continued to lounge in Lan Lan's arms without reacting. Lan Lan shook her head. "He belongs to Master Ran Xi. He is even cleaner than I am. No need to examine him. There is nothing on him."
Refusing the guard's request, Lan Lan carried Li Li into the house. The spacious living room held only a robot housekeeper cleaning the floor. No one else was home.
Lan Lan sighed, sent a message to the family group, then sat on the sofa holding Li Li and began to zone out. Everything felt unreal. It turned out the family's doting was not because she was the youngest, nor because she was a girl, but because she did not have long to live.
Sensing the heavy gloom rolling off her, Li Li gave her forearm a light swat with his tail. When she did not respond, he did not mind. He hopped from her arms and, ignoring the looks from guards and robots alike, began to roam the living room.
Half an hour later, Lan Lan's family returned one after another. Seeing the dejected Lan Lan and the rare red panda, a bad premonition rose in every heart.
When her parents arrived, Lan Lan finally came back to herself. Meeting their concerned gazes, she asked the first question, "Did you all already know that I will not live past forty?"
"Lan Lan, who told you that? Were you threatened? Did something happen? I assigned guards to you. What were they doing?"
The stern man turned an unhappy glare on the guard.
The guard stepped forward helplessly and whispered two sentences in the man's ear.
The man's brows knit at once. He turned back to Lan Lan. "The people of the Special Department do not share my political views. There is no need for you to believe what they say."
The gentle woman at his side only asked softly, "Lan Lan, tell me what happened. What exactly did they say? Did anyone from the Special Department make things difficult for you?"
Lan Lan beckoned to Li Li. When Li Li hopped onto the sofa and crouched beside her, she finally spoke. "This was told to me by Li Li's master. The Special Department begged Li Li's master to intervene to stop Weilan Star's destruction. She said if they were to act, the Wei Lan family would have to pay a great price."
"What does that mean?"
"Why should we?"
"Hmph. Who has the right to demand a price from our family?"