Retired for A Hundred Years: Re-Employment for the Apocalypse Bigshot!-Chapter 317 - 312: Is Our Team Leader Afraid of Security?

Chapter 317: Chapter 312: Is Our Team Leader Afraid of Security?

Ji Ning and Xiao Shun did not leave the surgery area, but instead went to the medication preparation room.

Xiao Shun saw Ji Ning standing in front of a large refrigerator without moving and inquisitively stepped forward to ask, "Team leader, is there something wrong here?"

Ji Ning did not answer, his pupils only growing deeper and darker.

All the components of the drugs in the refrigerator were decomposed into herbal data and recorded in Ji Ning’s mind.

After a while, Ye Xingming walked in, still showing a trace of fatigue on his face, and asked, "Are you here to investigate the drug Steven used?"

Ji Ning replied calmly, "I want to take CH3."

"You can, but CH3 is a special drug that needs to be stored in a minus 80-degree refrigerator for long-term transport."

"I want the development information of CH3."

Ye Xingming was momentarily stunned, then became increasingly serious, "Sorry, Detective Ji. This is a top-secret research matter at the institute. If you want to take it away, you need approval from the Huazhou Alliance. Otherwise, I have no authority to give you confidential information."

The atmosphere suddenly became tense.

Ji Ning turned to look at Ye Xingming, seeing his firm attitude, and suddenly smiled lightly, "Okay."

Xiao Shun’s heart was in a twist.

He was really afraid that the team leader might take the old man hostage.

"Detectives, please come this way." Ye Xingming’s attitude was much more distant than before, and he politely asked Ji Ning and Xiao Shun to leave.

Afterward, Ye Xingming’s student came to lead the way, taking them out of the laboratory area.

"Detectives, the professor has an experiment later and cannot accompany you. Let me take you to the cafeteria for a quick meal later."

Xiao Shun looked at Ji Ning and seeing her accept gladly, settled down to follow her lead.

The institute’s cafeteria wasn’t very large, but the food was delicious.

When they arrived, lunch hours had passed, and there were not many people in the cafeteria.

Ye Xingming’s student explained, "Our cafeteria is open 24 hours. What would you like to eat? The chef can make it fresh."

Ji Ning looked up at the menu on the window and walked to a window selling Bao Zi.

"How large are the Bao Zi?"

The person serving food at the window was a middle-aged woman, wearing a kitchen cap, a face mask, and transparent gloves, looking very hygienic.

The woman turned back and lifted the lid of the steamer, revealing the still-steaming Bao Zi.

"About this big, would you like two?"

The Bao Zi was the size of a fist. The woman saw Ji Ning’s slender figure and assumed she wouldn’t eat much, only to hear Ji Ning say, "20 Bao Zi."

"How... how many?" The woman was so surprised that her hometown accent slipped out.

"Start with 20, we’ll add more if needed."

The woman looked troubled, pointing at a sign on the window, "We don’t allow food wastage here."

"Okay."

Seeing Ji Ning didn’t change her mind, the woman picked out 20 Bao Zi from the pot, dividing them into four plates, "That’ll be 50 yuan total."

Ji Ning stepped aside and looked at Ye Xingming’s student.

Ye Xingming’s student quickly stepped forward to swipe a card, wondering if the Security Bureau detectives were also buying dinner for later?

He was shocked to witness Ji Ning and Xiao Shun finish off the 20 Bao Zi between them, with Ji Ning eating 12 by herself, fearing she might be so full that she’d be unable to leave the institute.

Ji Ning wiped her mouth with a tissue and praised, "Better than the Security Bureau cafeteria."

Ye Xingming’s student politely offered, "Would you like more?"

Unexpectedly, Ji Ning nodded in agreement, "Please, another 20 Bao Zi."

Ye Xingming’s student & the cafeteria lady: "..."

After the meal, Ye Xingming’s student led Ji Ning and Xiao Shun, carrying 20 packed Bao Zi, to stroll in the park near the Xiao Bai building.

After a leisurely 20-minute stroll, Ye Xingming’s student couldn’t resist saying, "Detectives, the professor’s experiment isn’t finished yet. He just sent a message asking me to see you off. Thank you for coming to the institute amidst your busy schedules. The professor says he’ll invite you to his home another day..."

The student wasn’t used to saying such things, his expression was unnatural, his earlobes were red as drops of blood, and he didn’t dare meet Ji Ning and Xiao Shun’s eyes.

Seeing a "polite expulsion," Ji Ning didn’t make it hard for him and took the opportunity to say goodbye.

Back in the car, Xiao Shun saw Ji Ning looking seriously ahead and couldn’t help but quietly ask, "Team leader, is there something wrong with that Outer Continent person’s death?"

Ji Ning was presently recalling the structure of the white single-story building in her mind. From the main entrance to the disinfection area, there was nothing unusual, but only the laboratory area contained a strange energy suppressing spiritual power, preventing her from fully exploring the lab area.

Especially a specific section with no sign at the door, yet the energy suppressing spiritual power inside was dozens of times stronger than outside. Although she could delve deeper, it would require controlling a vast amount of energy.

Her earring was still outside.

Her gaze grew darker, exuding a hint of indifference.

Xiao Shun called out puzzledly, "Team leader?"

Ji Ning didn’t look at him; she merely answered his question, "Died of organ failure."

Xiao Shun pondered conspiratorially, "Is there a problem with their drug?"

"The drug is not the issue."

"Then why insist we go there? Could there be a conspiracy?"

The more Xiao Shun thought about it, the more he found Ye Xingming’s actions suspicious. Even if their team leader had a healing ability, he shouldn’t casually let the Security Bureau know about a rescue operation involving the Outer Continent people, right?

Unless he had some ulterior motives.

Xiao Shun glanced at Ji Ning, a trace of worry in his gaze.

"Team leader, should we report to the Security Department? The death of an Outer Continent researcher should be known to Minister Li and the others, right?"

Ji Ning turned her head slightly to look at him; the coldness in her eyes eased, "No, it’s fine. Let’s get out first."

Xiao Shun hesitated to speak further and obediently drove away from the institute.

After driving for a while, at a red light, Xiao Shun asked, "Team leader, should we go to the airport or head back to the Security Bureau?"

They had missed their scheduled flight and would have to reschedule for the next one.

"No, just park by the side of the road."

Xiao Shun was momentarily stunned and quickly pulled over.

"You drive to the Bai Family. I’ll return to the institute."

"Return... return?"

Xiao Shun, seeing Ji Ning wasn’t joking, hesitantly asked, "The security measures there are very tight, and I heard they’re all warriors from the Beijing Base."

Ji Ning gave him a sidelong glance, making Xiao Shun swallow his words.

Tightly controlled? Is his team leader ever afraid of tight control?

***

The afternoon sun was bright.

Though it was mid-winter, today was a rare fine day.

The snow on the road hadn’t melted, leaving everything blanketed in white.

The Beijing Research Institute was built in the suburb of Beijing, covering a vast area surrounded primarily by forest, with no residential zones nearby.

The spot where Ji Ning got out of the car, the roadside bordered a forest, lined up neatly with branches covered in a layer of unmelted snow.

Ji Ning moved through the forest quickly.

The footprints behind her faded with her rapid pace, making it seem as if she walked without leaving a trace in the snow.

Half an hour later, a towering wall appeared in front of Ji Ning. At the top of the wall was a wire mesh, reaching a height of three meters.

Inside the wall, a structure with elevated platforms was built, equipped with surveillance cameras that could rotate 360 degrees, with one camera every 20 meters.

As Ji Ning appeared in front of the wall, a camera happened to turn towards her.