From Human to Skeleton: Revived with Infinite System Crystals

Chapter 395 To the Room

"Well, for me, you will if the situation arises, okay?" Gerald's tone was firm, leaving no room for doubt about the seriousness of their mission.

Heiu nodded reluctantly, "Of course, friend. Even if I would prefer not to."

As the elevator reached their destination, the doors opened with a soft creak, revealing a starkly different environment. Gerald stepped out first, his senses immediately assaulted by the unique atmosphere of this new floor. "Well, this is a different very feeling, even the floors are black and a weird smell is hanging in the air.

What is that?" His nose wrinkled slightly as he took in the peculiar odor, his eyes scanning the dimly lit corridor ahead.

Gerald's gaze hardened as he processed the information, "I see, and contestants dying in the arena are brought straight here for extracting of some sort I assume?"

Heiu nodded, his expression somber, "Yes, that's mostly correct. Only those who can be brought here without family who want the body back... but even then..." His voice trailed off, hinting at the darker, unsaid realities of their operations.

The gravity of Heiu's words weighed on the air between them as they moved through the corridor. Gerald's mind raced, piecing together the implications of what such practices meant for his mission and the broader consequences it held for everyone involved.

Heiu maintained his composure under the guards' scrutiny, "That's likely because of the high tension with everything just starting, but I was sent up here by General Omina to ensure things are fixed before anyone notices."

The guards exchanged a glance, skeptical but not wanting to question the orders that seemed to come from higher up. "Hmmm, very well, just be quick about it," one guard conceded, stepping aside slightly to let them pass. "And who is that with you?"

"Oh, this is Reggie, he was working under the cleanup crew for collections, but I was able to get him approved for a transfer, so he's my little assistant right now," Heiu replied smoothly, gesturing to Gerald who nodded, playing along with the ruse.

"Sounds lame, but who are we to complain about a transfer? We're stuck guarding these stupid rooms all day with no action ever happening," the other guard commented, chuckling lightly before waving them through. "Now get a move on," he added, turning back to his post.

Gerald and Heiu proceeded down the hallway, Gerald noting the labeled doors they passed. "Testing 1" and "Testing 2," he thought to himself, cataloging each detail for future reference as they moved closer to their objective.

Heiu waved his hand dismissively and explained, "That's likely because of the high tension with everything just starting, but I was sent up here by General Omina to ensure things are fixed before anyone notices."

"Hmmm, very well, just be quick about it. And who is that with you?" one guard inquired, eyeing Gerald.

"Oh, this is Reggie. He was working under the cleanup crew for collections, but I was able to get him approved for a transfer, so he's my little assistant now," Heiu responded, gesturing towards Gerald.

Gerald, with his hands clasped, simply nodded in acknowledgment, choosing to remain silent to maintain his cover.

The guards shrugged indifferently. "Sounds lame, but who are we to complain about a transfer? We're stuck guarding these stupid rooms all day with no action ever happening," they both said, sharing a chuckle between them before one added, "Now get a move on."

Heiu nodded, leading the way as Gerald kept a close watch, matching his pace with a quiet alertness.

As they rounded a corner, one of the guards noticed something unusual. "Hey, Heiu? What's that on your head?" His tone was curious, tinged with suspicion.

Heiu instinctively touched the device embedded in his scalp, a brief moment of tension visible as his fingers trembled slightly. "O-oh... this, it's some new tech I'm testing that might... allow transfer of skills. Nothing to worry about... Arnold," he explained, forcing a half-smile to play down the guard's concern.

Gerald observed silently, his gaze fixed on the interaction. The guard looked perplexed, his brows knitting together as he processed Heiu's explanation. After a pause, he replied, "...okay then," his voice laced with uncertainty but choosing to let the matter go.

Gerald's presence loomed subtly, his stance calm yet commanding, ensuring that their passage through security was unchallenged but ready to intervene if the situation escalated.

As Gerald and Heiu proceeded down the corridor, they approached a formidable double door marked with black tape and bold yellow lettering: "Top Secret, Authorized Access Only."

Heiu extracted a badge from his pocket, swiping it through the reader with practiced ease. The doors clicked and slowly swung open. Gerald, who had been closely observing every movement, kept his hands clasively joined, betraying none of his inner alertness.

As they crossed the threshold, he queried, "Heiu, why did you call him Arnold?" There was a subtle sharpness in his voice, hinting at his alert concern.

"Oh, it's just something I do when I'm nervous. No need for concern," Heiu replied, his voice carrying a dismissive lightness as they entered the room. Immediately, a wave of warm air enveloped them. Heiu commented, "Yeah, it draws a lot of power, and this room is pretty much always a sauna to deal with."

As the double doors swung open, Gerald and Heiu stepped into the vast tech room, a dramatic shift from the dim corridors behind them.

The room glowed with a cool, blue light from panels and screens along the walls. The air vibrated with the hum of high-powered machinery, sending a palpable buzz through the floor.

In the center of the room stood the teleportation device, a massive structure with a smooth, metallic surface dotted with glowing lights.

These lights traced intricate patterns, giving the machine the appearance of a living, breathing entity under its clear protective casing.

The casing revealed a network of wires and glowing conduits, pulsing with energy like the vital organs of a technological titan.

Scattered around the room were various workstations, occupied by automatons and a handful of scientists focused intently on their screens.

Each station was a mess of tools and gadgets, with displays showing fast-moving data streams. Above, large monitors hung from the ceiling, displaying facility maps and the teleportation system's diagnostics, casting shifting shadows on the floor.