“But, still, we need to be careful. The company has always been very strict about matters of religion.” James Sullivan reminded, holding a flashlight as he walked ahead.

At the intersection, he turned off the flashlight and carefully edged along the wall, turning right.

Brian Carter followed behind him, once again glancing up at the surveillance camera on the ceiling at the crossroads.

There was a red dot slowly blinking there.

Brian Carter stared at the red dot, then suddenly raised both hands, pinched his cheeks, and pulled the corners of his mouth upward.

He made a funny face.

Then, rubbing the muscles on his face that had been pressed by the flashlight, he imitated James Sullivan, edging along the wall.

After winding around for a while, James Sullivan stopped in front of Door 35 in Area A.

He immediately raised his left hand and knocked three times.

“New life is like the rising sun.” A deliberately deep voice came from inside the room.

James Sullivan craned his neck forward and replied in the same deep tone:

“Life is the most precious.”

With a creak, the door opened, and dim yellow light spilled out, gently flickering.

“What’s this?” The woman who opened the door saw James Sullivan and, just behind him, Brian Carter.

She was in her thirties, clearly had undergone some genetic enhancements, with straight black eyebrows, a high nose bridge, and upturned eyes—both beautiful and distinctive.

Brian Carter stepped forward and said sincerely:

“This is my first time attending.

“Uncle Shen brought me here.”

The woman’s slightly furrowed brow gradually relaxed, and she said thoughtfully:

“So, a new member.”

She glanced around, then stepped aside:

“Come in quickly, don’t let anyone see.”

Seeing that the woman had accepted Brian Carter’s identity without any further suspicion, James Sullivan strode into the room and turned off his flashlight.

Brian Carter followed, looking around and taking in the entire room.

This room was much larger than where he currently lived, and there was another door on the innermost wall, indicating the presence of a bedroom, bathroom, or small kitchen.

This reminded Brian Carter of his old home, suggesting that the owner of this room either had both spouses at D4 level or above, or one had reached D7 team leader status.

The outer room was about two and a half meters wide and nearly five meters deep. Against the innermost wall stood a wardrobe and a cabinet, and separated from these by a nightstand was a double bed, placed sideways, leaving a passage at the foot of the bed leading to the inner room.

Outside the bed was a small living area made up of an armchair, a square stool, a low stool, a coffee table, a desk, and a fabric sofa.

At this moment, two candles were lit on the coffee table, casting a dim yellow glow. Many people were seated around it—men and women, old and young.

Brian Carter didn’t count exactly, but judging by how packed it was, there were at least ten people.

“Xiao Shang, register first.” The woman who opened the door produced a softcover notebook from somewhere.

Brian Carter took the fountain pen and wrote his name on a blank page she opened.

“You know me?” he asked curiously.

The woman smiled and said:

“When your parents lived here, we were sort of neighbors.

“But you probably don’t remember me. You can call me Aunt Thompson.”

“Okay, Aunt Thompson.” Brian Carter replied without hesitation.

“All right, go sit down. The ‘Guide’ is about to start preaching.” Ms. Thompson pointed to an empty low stool.

“Where will you sit?” Brian Carter asked politely.

“I can sit by the bed.” Ms. Thompson replied with a smile.

Brian Carter didn’t ask further, sidestepped a few steps, and sat down.

After about two or three minutes, the door to the inner room opened and a figure walked out.

This figure was very familiar to Brian Carter—it was Alice CooperAunt Cooper, whom he had seen that evening at the “Activity Center,” a D3-level employee serving on the company’s “Strategic Committee.”

At this moment, Alice Cooper was still wearing that polyester shirt, but had changed into gray trousers. Her beautiful face, showing faint traces of age, bore a holy and dignified expression.

She walked to the space between the bed and the wardrobe and cabinet, sweeping her gaze over the crowd.

“Xiao Shang?” She immediately spotted Brian Carter sitting upright.

Brian Carter stood up, took two steps forward, and greeted her:

“Aunt Ren, I just finished registering.

“Uncle Shen brought me here.”

Alice Cooper’s eyes flickered, as if she was thinking about something, then she smiled:

“So that’s it, you’ve already passed the assessment.”

“Have a seat.”

Once Brian Carter sat down again, she looked at everyone and began:

“Since we have a new member joining us, I’ll briefly introduce our congregation.”

Clap clap clap, Brian Carter applauded enthusiastically.

James Sullivan and the others either turned around or shifted, all looking at him with the same puzzled expression.

Alice Cooper had probably heard that Brian Carter was a rather quirky person. She paused, then chuckled:

“No need for that, this isn’t a company meeting.”

She paused for two seconds, and after Brian Carter stopped, she said solemnly:

“All of us here have actually never left the company, never truly set foot on the surface.”