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Chapter 30 The Secret of the Nuclear Power Plant 2
"Biological research," Lu Zhao replied, "mainly virus research."

Su Wanqing looked at the floor plan carefully and noticed several coordinate points circled in red.

"What are these markings?"

Lu Zhao's expression turned serious. "These are the key nodes: the virus sample storage area, the elemental energy conversion room, and the channel test site."

"Channel?" Lin Che asked in a low voice, "Is this the channel the research institute wants to open?"

Lu Zhao nodded. "Yes. The core of the Spark Project is to open that channel."

"Where does the passage lead to?" Su Wanqing asked.

Lu Zhao shook his head. "I'm not sure. Theoretically, it leads to another dimension or parallel world. But no one really knows what's on the other side."

Xiao Ran frowned. "This sounds like a science fiction movie. Why take such a big risk to open an unknown passage?"

Lu Zhao sighed. "Because our world is dying. Resources are depleting, the environment is collapsing, and the population is overpopulated. The original intention of the Spark Project was to find a new living space."

"So they decided to take the risk and open a door to the unknown?" Su Wanqing asked. "That's crazy."

"It wasn't like this at first," Lu Zhao explained. "It was just theoretical research at first. But then someone insisted on speeding up the process, no matter the cost."

"What does this have to do with the virus?" Xiao Ran asked.

Lu Zhao took out another piece of paper from the file bag, which was a yellowed photo.

The photo showed a young man standing next to a strange metal device.

"This is my good friend, Zhang Ming. He's the head of the virus research department," Lu Zhao said, his voice tinged with sadness. "He discovered something, and then he suddenly disappeared."

Su Wanqing took the photo and examined it carefully. In the background of the photo, there was a partially obscured symbol with an odd shape.

"What is this sign?" she asked.

Lu Zhao's expression grew serious. "That's the logo for Project Origin Zero. It's the predecessor to Project Spark, and it's completely classified. Even I only know fragments of it."

"What did your friend find out?" Lin Che asked.

Lu Zhao shook his head. "He didn't have time to tell me the details. But he mentioned that the virus wasn't naturally occurring, but was engineered."

"Designed?" Su Wanqing asked in surprise, "Why design such a virus?"

"Clear the obstacles," Lu Zhao said, "reduce the population, eliminate the voices of opposition, and at the same time test the reactions and capabilities of the element holders."

The room fell silent as everyone digested this horrific information.

Xiao Ran was the first to break the silence.

"Do you have any evidence?" he asked, his voice tense.

Xiao Ran pulled out a folded document. "This is a report I obtained from within the military," he said. "It mentions a biochemical experiment that may be related to the recent epidemic."

He opened the file and saw several blacked-out names. "Someone has deliberately hidden important information."

Lin Che glanced at the document and suddenly tensed up. His eyes turned light blue—Aze appeared.

"These blackened areas can be restored," Aze said. "Give me some water."

Su Wanqing handed him a bottle of water. Aze poured the water on his hands, forming a thin film of water, and then carefully covered the blackened area with the water film.

Water molecules seep into the paper fibers, and slowly, the blackened text begins to appear.

"How many names are there?" Aze said, "Lin Fuping, Zhao Manlan, Yang Ke, and Lu Zhao?"

Everyone turned to Lu Zhao. His expression did not change.

“Yes, I was involved in the early research,” he admitted, “but once I discovered the truth, I started looking for ways to stop it.”

"Why are you looking for us now?" Su Wanqing asked.

Lu Zhao looked out the window. "Because time is running out. They've found six element holders, and only one more is needed to open the passage. Also, the virus is mutating and becoming more dangerous."

"Six?" Lin Che asked, "Do you know who they are?"

Lu Zhao nodded. "You are a water element, Xiao Ran's sister is a fire element, there is a girl who is a wind element, an old man is an earth element, a young man is a gold element, and a little girl is a wood element."

"Who else is missing?" Su Wanqing asked. "A holder of the Light Element," Lu Zhao replied, "the most powerful and rare elemental ability."

Xiao Ran clenched his fists. "Where is my sister? Is she safe?"

"She's in the underground laboratory of the nuclear power plant," Lu Zhao replied, "All the element holders are there, preparing for the ceremony to open the channel."

"When?" Su Wanqing asked anxiously.

"Three days from now," Lu Zhao said, "on the night of the full moon. That's when the elemental energy is strongest."

Su Wanqing looked at Xiao Ran and Lin Che. "We must stop this."

Xiao Ran nodded. "But we need a plan and more information."

Lu Zhao pulled a small flash drive from his pocket. "This contains all the information I could gather, including the nuclear power plant's security system, shift schedules, laboratory layout, and detailed information on the element's holders."

Su Wanqing took the flash drive. "Why are you helping us? What do you want in return?"

Lu Zhao smiled, but there was no warmth in his smile. "I just wanted to prevent a disaster. My friend disappeared because he tried to expose the truth, and I owe him so much."

Su Wanqing nodded, but didn't completely let down her guard. "We'll review the information and then make a plan."

“Don’t take too long,” Lu Zhao warned. “They’ve noticed that an elemental holder has escaped. They’re looking for you, especially him.” He pointed at Lin Che.

Ah Ze looked directly at Lu Zhao. "Why did you look for me in particular?"

"Because you are part of the key," Lu Zhao replied, "Every element holder is, but water abilities have a special role."

Aze's expression turned alert. "What's the special function?"

"Water is the source of life," Lu Zhao said. "In the passage ceremony, the water element holder is the first to be activated. Without water, fire cannot be controlled, and the other elements cannot coexist harmoniously."

Su Wanqing pondered for a moment. "So what special role does Xiao Ran's sister, a fire element master, have?"

"Fire symbolizes energy," Lu Zhao explained. "Her ability will be used to provide the enormous energy needed to open the channel. This is extremely dangerous for her and may lead to death from energy exhaustion."

Xiao Ran's expression darkened. "Then we must act quickly."

Lu Zhao nodded. "That's all I can offer. I need to go back, or they'll get suspicious."

Su Wanqing looked at Lu Zhao. "How can we contact you?"

Lu Zhao pulled a simple, old-fashioned cell phone from his pocket. "This is an encrypted phone. Only I know the number. I'll contact you when I have news."

As he was about to leave, he turned to Lin Che. "I'm sorry, Lin Che. For the sake of science, we shouldn't have treated you like that."

Lin Che didn't respond, but simply lowered her head. Su Wanqing guided Lu Zhao back to the outside world, then quickly returned to the shelter of the space.

"Do you believe him?" Xiao Ran asked immediately.

Su Wanqing thought for a moment. "I'm not entirely convinced. But the information on the flash drive might be useful to us."

Ah Ze looked out the window at Lu Zhao's departing figure. "He's hiding something. I can feel it."

"What's going on?" Su Wanqing asked.

Aze shook his head. "Not sure. But we need to be careful."

Su Wanqing took out the flash drive Lu Zhao had given her. "First, let's see what's here. We need to learn more about the nuclear power plant and how to rescue the trapped element holders."

Xiao Ran nodded, his expression firm. "Three days isn't enough time. We must act immediately."

Su Wanqing looked at Lin Che/Aze. "Do you remember what happened at the nuclear power plant? Have you ever been there?"

Aze closed his eyes, as if searching his memory. "Some blurry images of the underground corridor laboratory. Screams of pain."

His eyes snapped open. "The lab entrance requires the energy of an Element Holder to open. That's why they need us."

Su Wanqing glanced at the flash drive in her hand. "Then we need a complete plan. How to enter the nuclear power plant, how to find the underground laboratory, how to rescue the trapped element holders, and how to prevent the passage from opening."

Xiao Ran looked out the window. The rain was still falling, but its intensity had subsided.

"There could be a storm coming that's much bigger than we thought."

(End of this chapter)