wavenovel Chapter 22 Fate unknown, that means dead
Chapter 22 Fate unknown, that means dead
Inside the underground laboratory of "Where the Stars Are", Zhang Menglin stood in front of the control panel, intently observing the reaction of the pale purple liquid in the container.
After observing for a few seconds, her fingers tapped on the keyboard, recording the current experimental data.
Just as she was about to proceed with the next purification step, the automatic door of the laboratory beeped and then slid open to both sides with a whoosh.
Zhang Menglin frowned slightly; she hated being disturbed while she was conducting experiments. So, somewhat annoyed, she turned her head, ready to reprimand which inconsiderate subordinate dared to trespass on her territory at this time.
However, upon seeing who it was, she swallowed the words of abuse she was about to utter.
"Basil... and ink-dyed cherry blossoms."
Zhang Menglin pushed up her glasses with her middle finger. "Is there anything you two can help me with? I'm busy with an experiment right now, so please don't interrupt unless it's important."
The two who barged in were two magical girls, the "Four Heavenly Kings," the strongest fighting force of "Where the Stars Are."
The woman on the left, with waist-length purple hair, wore a peculiar dress that blended scholar's robes with purple Lolita fashion. Her every move exuded a strange composure and neuroticism. She was none other than Basil, the magical girl who had chased after Arc Moon and Su Chenjin last night.
The other girl next to Basil had pink twin tails and wore a black and pink gothic outfit with a bow hair clip. The girl had her arms crossed and her face was full of dissatisfaction and anxiety.
This is the magical girl, Ink-dyed Sakura.
Ignoring Zhang Menglin's complaints, Mo Ranying angrily took a step forward.
"Aqi... uh, I mean, the commander..." Mo Ranying seemed to realize her slip of the tongue, her fair cheeks flushing slightly, and she quickly corrected herself, "The commander... where did he go?"
Zhang Menglin tilted her head slightly, turned around and continued fiddling with the instruments on the control panel, answering casually:
"The commander doesn't have to stay in the base all the time. As the organization's top leader, he's extremely busy, so it's normal for him to go out on personal matters occasionally, right? You've only missed him for one day, why are you in such a hurry?"
"no the same!"
Before Mo Ranying could speak, Basil stepped forward as well.
"The commander used to disappear from time to time. But back then, he would always answer our calls. Why is it that today he's not answering any of our calls, only replying to our text messages?"
"Yeah, yeah!" Mo Ranying nodded vigorously from the side, "I've called several times but she hasn't answered!"
"He probably couldn't answer the phone... So what did he say in his text messages to you?" Zhang Menglin asked without looking up.
"They said they're busy with an important investigation project at their branch in another city, and to avoid being exposed, they can't make phone calls. They want us to follow your instructions, Doctor, during this time."
Mo Ranying pouted, looking incredulous. "This is too strange! Aqi... even if the Commander is operating in secrecy, surely he can answer the phone?"
Zhang Menglin could only sigh helplessly in secret.
Of course she can't answer the phone! She's a gorgeous blue-haired loli with an adorable voice now!
Zhang Menglin feigned composure and replied casually, "Isn't it normal for the commander to go to other city branches for inspections? Not answering the phone doesn't mean anything."
"He went out to investigate, shouldn't one of us Four Heavenly Kings have taken him with him?" Basil retorted. "I just contacted the other two, and they both said they weren't with the Commander. This is really strange."
Mo Ran Ying took another step closer: "That's right! Running off to another city alone, without any guards and not answering the phone... I have a feeling that the Commander might be in some kind of danger..."
"The commander's fate is now unknown..."
Zhang Menglin was speechless as she watched these two magical girls whose thoughts kept spiraling out of control.
"It's not that exaggerated, don't overthink it. Since he instructed you to follow my orders, just stay in the base and wait for further instructions. Don't cause me any trouble."
Hearing that Zhang Menglin intended to use the "commander's orders" to suppress them, the two magical girls became even more dissatisfied—
"Hmph, Doctor, stop pretending!" Mo Ranying pointed a finger directly at Zhang Menglin. "Quickly confess, what exactly did you do to the Commander!"
"……stop."
Zhang Menglin stared at the finger that was about to poke her face, utterly exasperated. "What does this have to do with me? Don't jump to conclusions!"
"You're definitely the prime suspect!" Mo Ranying said, hands on her hips. "The Commander's disappearance was so inexplicable, and the instructions he left behind even said that you would take over the organization's supreme control! You're a scientist who spends all day in the lab, what right do you have to issue orders on behalf of the Commander? This is definitely an attempt to usurp the throne and imprison the Commander!"
"Usurpation...?" Zhang Menglin couldn't hold back anymore. "I'm just a weak, pitiful, and helpless scientist..."
"Hmph, of course scientists have ulterior motives! That's how it is in movies, crazy scientists do things for their own nefarious purposes..." Mo Ran Ying persisted.
"There's one more thing."
Basil, standing nearby, suddenly added quietly:
"I remember... when we defeated Crescent Moon and handed her over to you, the Commander was with you, right? That means you were the last person with the Commander before he disappeared. And Crescent Moon disappeared too, could it be that you let her go?"
When this was mentioned, Basil couldn't help but recall the scene from that day.
Zhang Menglin was chatting animatedly with a mysterious blue-haired girl. That blue-haired girl was later taken away by Hu Yue. Although Luo Le hadn't yet directly equated the "abducted blue-haired girl" with the "disappearance of the leader," she was quite certain that Zhang Menglin was hiding a huge secret.
However, out of caution, she did not reveal the blue-haired girl's information directly, but instead concealed it slightly.
Faced with the relentless questioning from the two magical girls, Zhang Menglin was completely stunned.
There's a limit to being unreasonable. It's only been a day, and they've already sensed something's wrong and come straight to the lab to interrogate me.
What can I do about ruling you all?!
He asked for the physical modification himself!
But the key point is... the fact that the Commander transformed himself into a beautiful girl and then infiltrated the Crescent Moon's side... is just incredibly outrageous!
If I were to reveal this, those two would probably rush to Arcmoon's side immediately and snatch the commander back...
When her undercover career comes to an end... she'll have to take her anger out on herself.
"What? You have nothing to say?" Mo Ranying looked at the silent Zhang Menglin and became more and more convinced that her guess was correct.
Zhang Menglin took a deep breath.
Explaining anything now would be superfluous... Let's just postpone the question for a while.
"I know you're in a hurry, but don't rush. Once the Commander finishes his business and returns to the base... he can prove my innocence, right? Until then... please wait a bit."