Chapter 153: Unexpected Meeting

As Gu Hao examined the crystal cores, he frowned slightly. ’There must be something special about these crystal cores. Otherwise, it makes no sense for someone who possesses medicine capable of curing the X Virus to take an interest in them.’

After a moment of thought, Gu Hao picked up the phone on the table and dialed a number. He waited briefly before the call connected.

"Great Commander, what is your instruction?"

"Contact all available captains in the base and tell them to report to me immediately," he ordered calmly.

"Yes, Sir."

With that, he hung up and returned his attention to the crystal cores.

Meanwhile, after leaving the meeting room, Gu Lingjian and his team members headed downstairs. As they descended the stairs, Mu Nan spotted a familiar figure among the crowd below.

Pointing toward the crowd, he exclaimed in surprise, "Eh? Isn’t that Miss Liu?"

Gu Lingjian and the others followed his gaze. When they spotted Liu Yun and Ru Jianxiao among the crowd, Gu Lingjian’s eyes lit up.

Walking behind him, Mu Nan waved his hand and called out, "Miss Liu!"

Hearing her name, Liu Yun glanced around but couldn’t immediately spot the person calling her.

"Miss Liu, over here! Over here!" Mu Nan called again as he approached her.

Liu Yun raised her head and saw Mu Nan approaching with the others. She then offered them a slight smile as she greeted them politely, "Captain Gu."

Gu Lingjian nodded to both her and Ru Jianxiao before saying, "Miss Liu, I heard that you and your team rented a small villa in the middle ring area. How is it? Is the place suitable? If you’re not satisfied with it, I can help you find a better one in the central ring area."

Liu Yun nodded. "Mhm. The villa is good enough for us. Thank you for asking."

Noticing Mu Nan grinning at her, Liu Yun blinked in confusion. "Are you guys here to check out the new mission, too?"

Gu Lingjian smiled and asked back, "Are you planning to take on this mission, Miss Liu?"

"No. We just came to have a look." She glanced at the crowded counters before continuing, "But judging by how crowded this place is, it seems we won’t be able to check the mission details today."

Gu Lingjian considered her words for a moment before offering, "If you’re interested in learning more about the mission, I can tell you about it. However, we should find somewhere else to talk."

"Alright."

Gesturing for her to follow, Gu Lingjian said, "Please, come with me."

Liu Yun and Ru Jianxiao then followed him and the others out of the Civil Affairs Bureau.

Once they stepped outside, Liu Yun let out a sigh of relief. She glanced back at the crowd and thought, ’Heavens! Those people are so energetic. I wonder what kind of mission could make these ability users compete so fiercely just to accept it.’

"Miss Liu, this way, please."

Gu Lingjian’s voice pulled Liu Yun out of her thoughts. She followed him and asked, "Captain Gu, where are we going?"

"My team’s headquarters is nearby," Gu Lingjian replied. "We can go there and talk."

Receiving his answer, Liu Yun asked no further questions.

As they walked, she observed her surroundings. The farther they went, the fewer people she encountered. Before long, the only people she saw were ability users and soldiers in military uniforms.

Thirty minutes later, Gu Lingjian led Liu Yun and Ru Jianxiao to a military compound.

As they approached the main entrance, the soldiers standing guard immediately saluted him. "Captain Gu!"

Gu Lingjian nodded in acknowledgment before saying, "These two are my friends. Please register their names."

"Yes, sir."

One of the soldiers then turned to Liu Yun and Ru Jianxiao. "Please come with me."

While the two registered their names, Mu Nan leaned closer to Gu Lingjian and lowered his voice. "Captain, why did you suddenly invite Miss Liu and her friend to our place?"

Gu Lingjian kept his gaze on Liu Yun and Ru Jianxiao as he replied, "Elder Brother Xuanming doesn’t have much time left. We need to buy the medicine from Miss Liu as soon as possible. There are too many eyes and ears around us, so our own territory is the safest place to discuss this."

Mu Nan nodded in understanding. After a brief pause, he asked, "Captain, do you think Miss Liu still has that miraculous medicine?"

He hesitated before adding, "I’m also curious about why she gave me that medicine in the first place. We didn’t even know each other back then. There was no reason for her to give me something so valuable."

Gu Lingjian shook his head at his words. "I’m not sure whether she’ll be willing to sell us the medicine. As for why she saved you, you’ll have to ask her yourself."

Two minutes later, Liu Yun and Ru Jianxiao finished registering and received visitor cards from the soldier.

When they returned, Gu Lingjian asked, "Is everything settled?"

"Yes," Liu Yun replied, showing him her visitor card.

"Good. Let’s go."

After the soldier opened the heavy metal gate, Gu Lingjian led the group toward the dormitory building at the rear of the compound. Along the way, Liu Yun and Ru Jianxiao attracted countless curious glances from the soldiers.

Noticing their attention, Ru Jianxiao lowered his voice and said, "Younger Sister Liu, stay close to me."

"Got it."

They continued walking for another twenty minutes before finally reaching the apartment where Gu Lingjian and his team lived.

Fu Shuo opened the door and stepped aside to let them in.

"Please, come inside. Our place isn’t very spacious, but I hope you and your friend won’t mind, Miss Liu." As he headed toward the kitchen, he added, "You guys go ahead and talk. I’ll get some water."

Without waiting for a response, Fu Shuo disappeared into the kitchen.

Gesturing toward the couch, Gu Lingjian said, "Please, have a seat."

Sitting across from him, Liu Yun glanced around the small apartment. Besides the living room, there were only two bedrooms, a small kitchen, and a bathroom.

’This place is small, but very clean.’ Liu Yun thought to herself.