Brian Clark’s nose was extremely sensitive, able to separate and analyze the mixed scents he detected. It was precisely because of this that Brian Clark was surprised.

Were the people using these reagents just bored, conducting research out of interest, or was there some other reason?

The smell wasn’t drifting in from the rain outside. From the wind direction and the other scents mixed in the airflow, it could be determined that the odor was coming from inside the building. But in such an abandoned building, who would be using those ancient reagents? Or rather, in this day and age, aside from some eccentric R&D departments, who else would use such primitive methods?

Following the scent, Brian Clark found a thumb-thick pipe among a pile of debris, and after following the pipe for a short distance, William Clark discovered that the rest of the pipe was hidden within the wall.

Very well hidden.

He turned on a finger-sized close-range projection flashlight, and the pale blue light illuminated the wall, making the pipe buried inside clearly visible. After inspecting it, Brian Clark grew even more curious.

Interesting.

Besides this pipe, Brian Clark found several other spots, all very well concealed.

Brian Clark became increasingly cautious. Although leaving now would be the best choice, Brian Clark had a strange feeling that compelled him to desperately want to find the reason.

Following the pipe downward, winding through twists and turns, Brian Clark had to crawl through a few ancient ventilation shafts. Reaching the first floor of the building, Brian Clark lifted a hidden cover and went down a narrow staircase.

It was very quiet all around, but not completely silent. After carefully sensing his surroundings and confirming that there was no one nearby, Brian Clark continued forward with the flashlight.

The pipes became more numerous, and Brian Clark knew he was getting closer to his target. Taking a deep breath, he turned off the flashlight. Although he hadn’t sensed anyone ahead, his intuition told him things wouldn’t go smoothly. Even though the energy fluctuations from the flashlight only extended within ten meters, to be safe, Brian Clark decisively turned it off.

Surrounded by darkness, Brian Clark relied on subtle air currents to judge direction and avoid obstacles. After about half an hour, the space around him gradually opened up, and some fingernail-sized electronic lights began to appear. By their glow, it was clear this place had some history. There was dust on the electronic panels—not thick, but enough to show that no one had passed through here in at least a month.

Looking at the light spots on the wall, Brian Clark grew more and more uneasy.

Something’s wrong, very wrong! This place is like... a trap! A trap!

A strong sense of danger surged up. Without thinking further, Brian Clark turned and ran back. As a hunter, his instincts told him he couldn’t handle the danger that might be coming.

But even faster than Brian Clark was the thick, specially-made steel plate that sealed off his escape route.

With a flip of his hand, a metal knife appeared. Although a laser knife could cut through the steel plate, it would take a lot of time, and the strong energy fluctuations from the laser knife would constantly reveal Brian Clark’s position.

Back against the steel plate, Brian Clark quietly watched the front. He knew there was definitely someone ahead.

Tap, tap, tap...

Footsteps approached at a steady pace, with no attempt at concealment—on the contrary, they exuded an air of utter confidence.

Click.

A beam of light shone, instantly illuminating the passage.

Brian Clark squinted, quickly adjusting from the dimness to the sudden brightness. The person standing opposite didn’t seem to be in a hurry, waiting for Brian Clark to recover.

It was an old man, looking about the same as an F-class genotype nearly a hundred years old, as if he could drop dead at any moment. His skin was brown and shriveled, his exposed arms showing atrophied muscles. Because the old man wore goggles, Brian Clark couldn’t see his eyes. Yet, this withered old man in front of him made every hair on Brian Clark’s body stand on end.

The old man slowly walked toward Brian Clark, as leisurely as if he were taking a stroll.

Strike first!

Brian Clark sprang up with a whoosh, so fast he didn’t even leave an afterimage—his speed was on par with a D-class genotype.

Clang!

A harsh metallic sound rang out.

Next to the old man’s carotid artery, a withered, branch-like hand firmly gripped the tip of the knife, as easily as if holding a twig.

Whether it was an ion knife or a laser knife, the energy fluctuations they produced were too great. With Brian Clark’s current physical condition, using them would only increase his chances of being exposed, so he preferred cold weapons, killing silently and without a trace. But even this specially-made alloy blade was easily blocked—no, pinched—by this seemingly decrepit old man!

Three years of life-and-death hunting experience left Brian Clark no time to think. He knew he couldn’t handle this person—escape!

But before Brian Clark could move, his body was suddenly bound tightly by several things like liquid metal. Tracing their source, Brian Clark was shocked to find that these liquid metal-like strands were actually extending from the old man’s other hand—from his five fingers, to be precise!

Human? Machine? Mutant? Or some unknown species?

The icy touch made Brian Clark sense the breath of death, every pore exhaling cold air.

Crack!