Steam Era: The Lord of 'Puluo' Chapter 1406 637: Madman_2

But with so many people going in and out, can we really hide this from the Dark Star Bureau?

Du Wenming lowered his voice and asked, "Can these people be trusted?"

Pei Yurong said, "You know the rules of Hundred Demons Workshop. You understand how much tempering it takes to get in. Even those few doing the wall painting have been tested countless times. As long as the Workshop gives an order, even if it's to kill their own parents, they won't even blink."

A few workers were painting the walls; the color was still a dull yellow.

Du Wenming said impatiently, "Sect Leader, there's no need to bother with trivial things like repainting. I'm in a hurry to start work."

Pei Yurong smiled and said, "Relax, it won't delay your start. I bought this place half a year ago. The basic infrastructure is more or less done. How to install the experimental equipment, that's for you to teach them. I'll have them debug the basic systems for you in a bit."

As she spoke, Pei Yurong called over a project manager and gave a brief order. The manager had the workers debug each of the basic systems in turn.

The so‑called basic systems included water and electricity, ventilation, lighting, audio, and security.

The routine systems didn't need much inspection; only the security setup couldn't be treated carelessly. The project manager ordered a worker to test all the exits of the laboratory.

This laboratory had a total of five exits, including two regular exits and three backup exits.

The project manager gave a rough explanation: "The three backup exits are in normally‑closed mode, the two regular exits are in automatic mode, and all five exits can be set to inner‑open and outer‑open modes."

Du Wenming wasn't used to their jargon. "What are inner‑open and outer‑open?"

The manager explained, "Inner‑open mode means the door cannot be opened from outside. Even with a key it won't open; it has to be operated by personnel inside the lab to open it.

Outer‑open mode is the exact opposite. The door can only be opened from the outside with a key; any operation from inside has no effect."

Du Wenming frowned. "What's the point of outer‑open mode? Are you planning to deliberately trap people in the lab?"

Pei Yurong said, "I had them design it that way to prevent intruders from breaking into the lab and leaking our secrets. With outer‑open mode, we can trap any infiltrator inside the lab."

Du Wenming was puzzled. "If someone is capable of infiltrating the lab, do you really think a single door can stop him?"

Pei Yurong smiled. "These doors of ours are very special in their construction. They can withstand most Techniques used by Dark Energy Users. We can do a live demonstration."

The project manager shouted, "Door One, outer‑open, close."

The technician received the order and carried out the operation.

The shutter of Door One slowly slid shut. The color of the door was exactly the same as the wall. From the outside, even the seams overlapped perfectly with the wall tiles. Unless you were very familiar with the lab, it would be hard to locate the door while standing outside.

Pei Yurong said to Du Wenming, "Why don't you try it and see if you can open this door with your ability?"

This time Du Wenming understood. The so‑called outer‑open mode wasn't designed to guard against others; it was designed specifically to guard against him. Pei Yurong was worried he would run off once he had results from his research.

"Since the Sect Leader went to all this trouble to make such a fine toy, I don't need to test it," Du Wenming said with a meaningful smile. "Let them keep debugging."

The project manager gave the order: "Continue debugging."

The technician pressed the switch, and the remaining four exit doors closed one after another.

Because debugging was just a routine task, at first no one felt anything was off.

Not until Du Wenming asked a question: "With all five doors closed, are we now in inner‑open or outer‑open mode?"

The project manager replied, "Doors One, Three, and Five are set to outer‑open. Doors Two and Four are set to inner‑open."

Du Wenming still felt uneasy. "Open Door Two and let me see."

The project manager said to the technician, "Open Door Two."

The technician replied, "Can't open it. Right now all five doors are in outer‑open mode."

The project manager froze, and so did Du Wenming.

"What are you doing? With all five doors on outer‑open, none of us can get out!" the project manager shouted angrily at the technician.

Pei Yurong thought it was just a debugging mistake. She hurriedly took out her phone to call the people outside to open the door with a key.

Du Wenming stared hard at the technician. He felt there was something off about this man.

Bang!

Before Pei Yurong could get through, a Sickle flew over and smashed her phone to pieces.

As the lights flickered, the Projector shut off the projection. The technician who had been wearing gray coveralls turned into a man in a suit and a top hat.

Because the brim of his hat was pulled very low, no one could see his face; they could only see the slight upward curl at the corner of his lips.

"No way out—doesn't that sound great?" Li Banfeng lifted his head and looked at the project manager.

"I never said it was bad." The project manager was terrified and quickly ducked aside.

Li Banfeng swept his gaze over everyone and added, "Hundred Demons Workshop all neat and tidy—isn't that nice too?"

"Li Qi!" Du Wenming was greatly shocked. It wasn't just Li Qi's appearance that startled him; it was the fact that Li Qi had already entered the lab and had just been posing as a technician, yet he hadn't sensed a thing.

The people present gasped. Pei Yurong's eyes went wide. She had heard of Li Qi's reputation; quite a few people in Hundred Demons Workshop had heard of him.

She hadn't expected him to suddenly show up here.

"Director Du, long time no see." Step by step, Li Banfeng walked toward Du Wenming.

Du Wenming glanced behind Li Banfeng and said with a smile, "You came to see me all by yourself?"