Chapter 388 - 275: Rampage (2)
A thought suddenly flashed through Seth Walsh’s mind. ’This woman’s current strength is definitely beyond the Tenth Rank...’
His guess was undoubtedly correct, but right now, no one was concerned with Paige Summers’s exact rank. She was pushing him, smashing through one room after another.
The room they were in had originally been the innermost one on the second floor of the lab building. Now, they had reached the very edge. They were about to smash through the final wall and burst out of the building.
Professor Warren was practically losing his mind.
He never would have expected such an outcome.
At that moment, he had only one thought. ’I absolutely cannot let them get outside! Otherwise, The Research Institute will definitely send people over, and then I won’t be able to hide any of this!’
"Quick! Stop them!"
He shouted to Justin Jensen and the other researchers cowering behind him.
No one answered.
Just then, chunks of stone and dirt began to crumble from the ceiling above them.
Someone screamed, "Run! The building’s going to collapse!"
Before the words had even faded, the side of the building they had smashed through began to tremble violently!
As Paige Summers and Seth Walsh smashed through the final wall and were launched into the open air, the remote, old lab building could no longer withstand the abuse and finally gave way, collapsing completely!
The collapse, in turn, set off the flammable and explosive medicines in the laboratories. Only two or three minutes later, amidst a deafening series of BOOMS, the lab building exploded!
A disturbance of this magnitude was bound to alert everyone in The Research Institute.
In fact, members of The Guard had already heard the commotion when Paige Summers was smashing through the building and were heading over. But The Research Institute was massive, and this building was in a remote corner. They were still on their way when the whole thing exploded...
Not only did it explode, but it also erupted into a massive fire.
The Guard immediately summoned Water Ability Users to the scene.
Instantly, that corner of The Research Institute was thrown into chaos.
Thanks to the Superpower Users, the massive fire was extinguished before long.
It was clear the people inside had been killed by the explosion before the fire even started. But to the astonishment of everyone in The Guard, there was a survivor.
A girl was found in the rubble at the edge of the blast zone, still breathing.
It seemed she had escaped the lab building just before the explosion.
She was lucky.
The man not far from her wasn’t so lucky.
He had been struck in the face and head by debris from the explosion. His entire head was crushed flat, and he was no longer breathing...
The Guard quickly loaded the girl onto a vehicle and sent her to the institute’s medical department before continuing to search the rubble for other survivors.
Meanwhile, news of the explosion sparked the curiosity of researchers in other lab buildings. Once they learned what had happened, they began to gossip.
"There were still people in that building?"
"Yeah, how strange. Wasn’t it abandoned?"
"I heard that the group using that building was a special research project. They report to Vice Dean Sawyer!"
"Oh? Any idea what the project was about?"
"You can probably guess. It was one of *those* projects... you get it?"
"Ohhh, right. We should probably drop it then, before we get into trouble!"
"Yep, yep. Let’s break it up!"
"..."
The man they were all talking about, Vice Dean Sawyer, was currently in the office of The Research Institute’s Dean Jenkins.
Behind his desk, Dean Jenkins’s brow was deeply furrowed. "Sawyer, what’s the situation?"
Vice Dean Sawyer wore an equally grim expression.
"The fire’s been extinguished, and The Guard is searching for survivors." Even as he said the words, he knew in his heart that with an explosion of that magnitude and no one escaping, they were likely beyond saving.
Dean Jenkins clearly understood this as well, and he fell silent.
The researchers in that lab building didn’t belong to The Research Institute. They were brought in by Professor Warren, who in turn was recommended by Administrator Hayes.
Strictly speaking, their research project wasn’t affiliated with The Research Institute.
He had only agreed to host them because of their preliminary research results: an incomplete Enhanced Superpower Potion. Not only had they provided the formula for this half-finished medicine free of charge, but they had also promised to regularly publish more of their findings.
Dean Jenkins had felt that keeping such talented individuals at The Research Institute was a great opportunity, which was why he had made an exception to accommodate them.
But now, a disaster like this had occurred... The Government and the military would inevitably have to intervene...
"Any word on Administrator Hayes?"
Vice Dean Sawyer shook his head grimly. "He’s been placed under house arrest. I hear it’s not looking good." Administrator Hayes had originally been part of the Reid Family’s faction, but with the Reid Family gone and his name now tied to the Dudley Family’s scandal, he was likely to be completely ousted this time...
Dean Jenkins thought for a moment before saying, "Go and keep an eye on the site for now. I’ll try to figure something out."
Vice Dean Sawyer took his leave.
But before he even reached the site, Dean Jenkins rushed over with a group of people. He introduced them, saying, "Vice Dean Sawyer, these are members of a special operations team from The Power Corps. Please escort them to the scene."
"Of course, of course. This way, please!"
As Vice Dean Sawyer spoke, he felt a chill. ’The military is moving way too fast!’ he thought.
What he didn’t know was that the leader of this team, operating under the banner of The Power Corps’ special operations, was none other than Marcus Monroe.
Marcus Monroe had been searching everywhere because he sensed Paige Summers was somewhere in Central City.
However, barging in everywhere without official standing wasn’t an option, so he had Kiera Walsh grant him a special designation.
He was paying extremely close attention to any unusual incidents in the city, hoping to find a lead.
An event like an explosion at a Research Institute lab building was impossible for him to miss. The moment he received the news, he brought his team and rushed over!
Upon arriving at the scene, he gave his subordinates a meaningful look. The eight of them immediately understood and fanned out to search for clues.
After a moment, one of them picked up a few fragments from the rubble and ran over to Marcus Monroe. "Chief! Look at this!"
Marcus Monroe’s gaze sharpened.
"This is..."
"I’m certain. These are fragments from reinforced iron shackles. What’s more, they were broken open with immense force. Someone must have been imprisoned here!"