"Don't worry about the guards and those people outside," Jiang Mian made a prompt decision. "Time is running out, so we'll just take the staff and leave. Almost all the research samples on the immortal water are here..."
He paused, wondering if this was one of the reasons why Jiang Pingyang would take such drastic measures. From the moment he decided not to drink the immortal water, he had planned today's outcome - to blow the Sigma Research Institute and his legacy into pieces, sinking into the dark river in the earth's core that would never see the light of day again.
“…Destroying myself along with those people is a worthy death.”
He strode towards Fabian and saw that he was still struggling to survive.
Jiang Mian tore off his protective suit with force, dragged his weak wrist, and tied a knot on the alloy data rack next to him.
"The same goes for you," Jiang Mian said, "I returned the slap I gave you just now; now I'm returning the knot on your behalf."
Looking at Fabian's ferocious and desperate expression, he smiled and whispered, "Happy hunting."
Jiang Mian stood up, without even looking at Fabian, and rushed into Lapers' arms: "Hurry, run!"
The mermaid prince held him firmly and stretched out an arm. Suddenly, the water surged and roared in from the door of the confidential room. Rapos rode the surging tide and quickly swept out of the corridor. Above their heads, the red warning light kept flashing and the mechanical prompt sound resounded throughout the station.
"Two minutes and twenty-four seconds until the emergency self-destruct device is activated."
"You really don't need to bring anything?" Rapos asked seriously.
Even though they had been on land for some time, the mermaid still had no intuitive understanding of the destructive power of lethal tools. Jiang Mian didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "It's such a time and you're still talking about this. It's good enough if we can get the people out!"
He nervously hugged Lapers' neck and asked hurriedly, "How many living staff are left in the institute?"
"Not much left, don't be afraid." According to the memories he absorbed, Lapers rotated his fingers, and the water in the observation room also poured down, whistling and rolling up the servants on the ground, following behind like a tail, the cook, the recorder, the cleaner... The more people Lapers took away, the more turbulent the water behind him became. The research institute was like an intricate maze, and they were like homing bees in the maze, racing against time, anxious to find a way out.
"There are still one minute and two seconds until the emergency self-destruct device is activated."
The red light above their heads was no longer flickering. The switches inside the Sigma Research Institute were disconnecting one by one, extinguishing the iconic cold white lights layer by layer, and closing valves one after another with a clang. Behind them, darkness followed closely, swallowing up the road they passed.
Jiang Mian's eyes were dazzled. He couldn't see the environment on both sides clearly, nor could he tell which route Lapers was taking as he was speeding like a meteor. He could only rely on his intuition from living here for more than 20 years to feel that they were getting closer and closer to the waterway dedicated to submarines.
"There are thirty-six seconds left until the emergency self-destruct device is activated."
The sudden feeling of weightlessness almost made Jiang Mian's heart rise up to his throat. Without the option of taking the elevator, Lapers jumped up, exerting his strong muscles, and jumped down three or four floors at the speed of falling objects from a high altitude, landing at the bottom of the institute at lightning speed.