Chapter 212: Chapter 212: Remember

Teacher Sherry’s disappearance didn’t initially draw Teacher Ai Li’s notice, as she had received a message from “Teacher Sherry” requesting time off. She just assumed something had come up at home and she couldn’t make it in.

It wasn’t until the third day that Teacher Sherry’s main husband showed up, saying he couldn’t contact her at all.

He asked Teacher Ai Li where Teacher Sherry was.

Teacher Ai Li was stunned. ’How would she know where Teacher Sherry is? Isn’t she supposed to be at home?’

When the two of them compared stories, they realized Teacher Sherry had told her main husband that she would be staying at Teacher Ai Li’s place for a few days to handle some urgent business for the Fifth Research Institute.

But there wasn’t any urgent business. ’Why would Teacher Sherry lie? Has something happened?’

Only then did the two of them realize something was amiss and decide to call the police.

The disappearance of a therapist from the Fifth Research Institute was a major incident, especially since the victim was a female.

When Kelan heard about this, he couldn’t help but connect the disappearance to the Black Tower.

It was just too similar to Lu Xiao’s disappearance.

’After all, Teacher Sherry is a therapist too. Why would a therapist disappear at a time like this?’

As soon as Lu Xiao heard about the incident, she went to find Admiral Clan.

Admiral Clan knew he couldn’t hide it from her. “You’ve heard, too?”

“Yes, I just received a voice call from Teacher Ai Li. She said Teacher Sherry has been missing for nearly two days. How could this happen? Have they really not found a single clue?”

Seeing she already knew, Admiral Clan no longer held back. “We got a little bit of footage from outside the main gate of the Fifth Research Institute,” he said directly. “Teacher Sherry must have seen something, but the other person was in a surveillance blind spot. Still, I think it must have been an acquaintance.” Admiral Clan then pulled up the security footage he had just received for Lu Xiao to watch.

In the video, Teacher Sherry had just left work. She looked up toward something in the distance, paused for a moment, and then walked out of the camera’s frame with a surprised look on her face.

It definitely looked like she was seeing someone she knew.

“Try not to worry. The police are already screening everyone in Teacher Sherry’s social network. I’m sure we’ll have news soon.”

“Her patients should be screened as well.” It was very possible the person was a former patient of Teacher Sherry’s from the Fifth Research Institute.

Admiral Clan thought that made a lot of sense.

As they were speaking, Admiral Clan’s adjutant pushed the door open. “Sir, the reconnaissance division just found some tracks at the scene. Here are the photos.”

Admiral Clan took them, and Lu Xiao immediately leaned in for a closer look.

Outsiders rarely entered the Fifth Research Institute; people from the S-Class Shelter were brought in through a dedicated channel.

So even after several days, the tracks outside the main gate weren’t very complex.

The scene hadn’t been seriously disturbed.

What’s more, the incident had occurred in a peripheral area, so the remaining tracks were still quite easy to identify.

Fortunately, there had been no rain for the past few days.

“The reconnaissance division is screening these footprints. This other mark was left by someone who fell. Our initial assessment is that it wasn’t Teacher Sherry, as the size doesn’t match her height; it was likely an adult male. As for this square impression here, we don’t know what it is yet. After that, this messy set of footprints, we can confirm they’re Teacher Sherry’s. It looks like she was running to get something to help the male, but then something must have happened. The tracks vanish here. However, a levitating car was parked in this spot. This appears to be a premeditated, organized kidnapping.”

After finishing his report, the adjutant waited quietly for Admiral Clan’s final assessment.

“This square impression… could it be from a box? Was someone giving Teacher Sherry a gift?” Lu Xiao stared at the image. “If so, could we assume the person was one of Teacher Sherry’s patients?”

“That’s a reasonable assumption,” Admiral Clan replied, “but why kidnap Teacher Sherry?” If it was a gift of gratitude, why would it lead to a kidnapping? What was the motive?

’It couldn’t be because she failed to cure them. If that were the case, why would they bring a gift?’

The logic didn’t add up.

The investigation hit a snag. They could only wait for the results of further inquiries.

Fortunately, everyone was highly efficient, and the second investigation report came out quickly. All of Teacher Sherry’s friends and relatives,

as well as the patients she had treated, had been questioned, and none of their statements seemed problematic so far.

After reviewing the report, Admiral Clan looked up at his adjutant. “Are you certain no one was missed?”

“Positive. We’ve gone over the lists three or four times. No one was missed. We’ve now expanded the scope of the investigation. All patients ever treated at the Fifth Research Institute are being questioned.”

Lu Xiao sat to one side, not saying a word, as she silently stared at the photo in her hands.

’That square box has to be the breakthrough.’

’The person who surprised Teacher Sherry must have been someone she never expected to see there. That means it wasn’t a close acquaintance. And they gave her a square gift. Square… could it be a cake?’

’The cake box I bought before coming here was square, and the size seems about right.’

’If that’s the case… Platinum?’

’Platinum knows Teacher Sherry, too!’

Lu Xiao’s eyes flew wide. ’This line of reasoning seems sound,’ she thought. ’The only question is, why would Platinum kidnap Teacher Sherry!’

Noticing Lu Xiao’s strange expression, Admiral Clan couldn’t help but ask, “Have you discovered something?”

Lu Xiao shared her suspicion. “But I can’t figure out Platinum’s motive.”

“I think your theory is highly probable. Send someone to find this male, Platinum.” Whether the lead was useful or not, true or not, they couldn’t afford to pass up any opportunity.

With a new line of investigation, everyone sprang into action.

Meanwhile, the advance team sent to Alpha Star sent back a report. They had found what appeared to be an abandoned underground research base, but the main gate was sealed with a lock that required a specific person’s genetic signature to open. Any attempt to force it would trigger an explosion.

It was just as C Luo had said: entering the base required Lu Xiao’s genetic signature.

Lu Xiao looked at Admiral Clan. “Can’t you just take a blood sample from me and send it over?”

Admiral Clan shook his head. “This kind of gene-lock requires a living subject. In other words, only you, in person, can open it. They’re forcing you to reveal yourself.”

At this, Admiral Clan slammed his fist on the table, clearly infuriated by their enemy’s shamelessness. Just as he was about to order a full withdrawal and abort the mission—determined not to let them get their way—his adjutant entered again. “Sir, the team sent to the cake shop is back. The shop was empty when they arrived, but after going inside, they found the owner and the baker locked in the back kitchen.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep