The basement level had a total of eight observation rooms. Each was used to detain important figures. They featured double-layered ultra-alloy steel doors, sixteen-digit combination locks paired with infrared retina scanning. While not exactly indestructible, one couldn't hope to open them without a rocket launcher.
In the basement level, a soldier clad in "Azure Dragon" armor patrolled back and forth. Because it was nighttime, he was the only one on duty. Fortunately, shifts changed every six hours, otherwise, he'd die of boredom.
As the soldier sighed, footsteps echoed from the stairwell. The soldier vigilantly walked towards the stairs.
Seeing the familiar military uniform, his grip on his gun relaxed slightly.
"Forgot something, orderly?" The soldier recognized the person who had come earlier, although his cap brim was pulled low.
"Are you calling me?" 13 raised his head, pointing at himself.
The soldier's first reaction was to reach for the gun behind his back.
"Too late." 13 rushed towards the soldier just as he raised his gun. 13 swung his left fist, hitting the soldier's chest plate. Before the soldier could figure out what happened, he flew backward holding his gun, landing on the floor two meters away. Feeling less pain than expected, the soldier quickly jumped up from the ground, aimed his gun at 13, intending to shout "Don't move!" again, but found himself unable to speak. The person in front looked calmly straight at him. Then, his legs gave way, he knelt weakly on the ground, spat out a mouthful of blood towards the sky, and fainted.
"Not dead? Looks like the armor does offer some protection. I should add more force next time," 13 muttered to himself.
Following the numbers on the doors, 13 arrived in front of door number "3". He pulled open the small window on the door.
"You came?" Nie Yun saw the familiar face. Without extra words, he just smiled calmly, as if everything was a pre-arranged "performance."
"Yes, I came." 13 looked at Nie Yun's sallow face and nodded.
"How have you been lately?" Nie Yun asked.
"Yeah, fine." 13's body began to tremble.
"You know? Seeing you like this now, I'm very happy," Nie Yun continued smiling.
"Seeing you like this now, I have nothing to say." 13 turned his head aside; no one noticed his eyes were slightly moist.
"Why?" Nie Yun asked curiously.
"Clearly gave up everything for the country, yet now locked in a cell by the country." 13 turned back, looking puzzledly at Nie Yun. "Was it worth it? Was it worth it for the so-called country?"
"It's not like that." Nie Yun closed his eyes and shook his head. "A country needs people to dedicate themselves selflessly to it. When we fought for it, we never thought about getting anything in return. Just being able to see it progress bit by bit due to our own strength is enough. This is my lifelong wish."
"Can't argue with you. Step aside, I'll open the door." 13 took a step back, assuming a punching stance.
"It's useless. The door code is in Adam's hands, and the retina scan is his too," Nie Yun explained.
"Have you forgotten the 'monster' you installed in me?" 13 took a deep breath.
"'Wing'?" Nie Yun stood frozen in shock. "You can use it?"
13 swung his left fist, landing solidly on the smooth door surface.
"Boom!"
Accompanied by the alarm siren, Nie Yun clearly saw a convex fist print appear on the flat door.
"Really sturdy. Again!" 13 shook his slightly sore left fist and struck the same fist print again. Cement debris scattered from the doorframe; every securing bolt flew out from the wall. The door slowly fell to the ground, kicking up some dust.
"Unbelievable..." Nie Yun ignored the noisy alarm. "Just half a year, and you can exert such power. My original calculation was at least a year or more before your left hand could recover to a normal human level."
"Let's get out first and sigh later." 13 grabbed Nie Yun's hand and rushed towards the stairs.
"Report!" A soldier arrived at Adam's office. "Unidentified intruder detected! We found a large hole in the protective perimeter wall, estimated to be the intruder's entry method. Your orderly was found in the command building library. The door to Observation Room 3 in the basement level was blown open. No trace of Nie Yun found, only the unconscious guard. Please instruct on the next steps."
Adam paid no attention to the report's content, looking with interest at the reporting soldier. His equipment indicated he was a cover specialist. His sharp-featured face radiated youthful vigor. What caught Adam's attention was his calm demeanor, as if everything was under control.
"What's your assessment of the current situation? Tell me," Adam leaned back in his chair.
"Yes, sir!" The soldier's voice was resonant. "My analysis is that the intruders are few in number but extremely formidable. At least the large hole in the wall and the observation room door indicate they were man-made. If not eliminated promptly, our casualties will be immense!"
"Who do you think the intruder is?" Adam smiled slightly.
"I dare not analyze recklessly, but all evidence suggests it should be members of Special Operations Team Seven," the soldier stated confidently.
"Alright, that's all for you. You may leave." Adam waved his hand. The soldier saluted and turned to leave.
"Haven't asked your name yet?" Adam called out to the soldier who had reached the door.
"My name is Wu Gang." He closed the door after speaking.
"Looks like I found someone useful," Adam muttered to himself.
He picked up the phone on his desk and called Guo Mingqing, Commander of the Third Sniper Division: "Lock down the entire base immediately. All personnel enter level one combat readiness! The intruder, carrying Nie Yun, couldn't have left so quickly. Search every room within headquarters thoroughly. Remember! Each search team must consist of no less than fifteen members, and be extra careful. Because..." Adam looked out at the dark night outside the window, "The intruder is 13."
"I still think we should leave immediately." 13 stood before the locked metal door. Not far away, Nie Yun was searching for something everywhere.
This was an armory; the walls were hung with various Special Operations equipment and weapons.
"Adam won't let us just walk out like this."
"It doesn't matter. For the sake of SEED, he won't dare kill me." 13 stood before a black sniper rifle. Although not the one he used, it was a COOL-FIRE.
"You already know where SEED is?" Nie Yun turned around, surprised.
"I only sensed it recently." 13 clasped his left hand. "It's right here."
"It seems your adaptability to 'Wing' has exceeded my estimates." Nie Yun became excited. "That's right, SEED is within your 'Artificial Titan Arm'."
"'Artificial Titan Arm'?" 13 didn't understand the new term.
"Sigh..." Nie Yun sat down on the floor, sighing. "Your growth rate is truly astonishing... I think you can know some secrets about yourself now."
"Hong Yang said I am Adam's substitute," 13 said indifferently.
"Is that so?" Nie Yun thought of his old friend of many years. "What they know is only superficial. I've never told anyone about what happened on that island. Those were unforgettable two years. Everything has to start from the day we landed on the island..."
Another memory, one that would truly unveil some unknown things, including a relationship Nie Yun was unwilling for others to know.
Spring, 1991.
Nie Yun had just turned 50. While researching cells in his institute, he suddenly received a notice that the country needed his help. Without time to pack, he was taken away by soldiers. Nie Yun sensed that something must have happened in the world.
After several transfers, he arrived at a secret military pier in Qingdao City. Noticing the people with similar "experiences," he was surprised to find they were all authorities in various fields in China. Some were conducting research at the national level. What kind of event could bring these "geniuses," as ordinary people called them, together? And important enough to make them halt their ongoing research projects? Things became increasingly mysterious. Intense curiosity made Nie Yun eagerly anticipate what he was about to see.
After a brief rest, everyone boarded a huge oil tanker and sailed towards the vast Pacific Ocean.
On the ship, Nie Yun received a call from Zhao Xiang and finally understood a bit of the situation. Due to time constraints, Zhao Xiang had hastily organized this expedition team, the nation's strongest. The object of investigation was the small island that had suddenly appeared in the Pacific a few days ago. The island's location was in international waters, and other major powers had also sent expedition teams. The reason it attracted international attention was the legend of a tall pyramid structure standing on the island. Zhao Xiang hoped Nie Yun would take on the role of expedition leader and strive to find something useful for the country before other nations did.
At that time, Nie Yun's mind was filled with constant speculation. As for the team leader position, Nie Yun later didn't even know how he agreed to it.
On the fifteenth morning, Nie Yun finally saw the island Zhao Xiang mentioned. A thin mist hung in the air that day. Standing at the ship's bow, Nie Yun couldn't suppress the excitement in his heart. A flat island floated on the water like a piece of ice floe, enduring the pounding waves. There were no signs of life on it, only a magnificent pyramid structure, estimated to be over three hundred meters tall, standing majestically in the thin mist.
The ship dropped anchor right in the middle of the ocean. Everyone took small boats to the island. Arriving simultaneously was an American expedition ship. It was on this day that Nie Yun met Annie.
In Nie Yun's own heart, he described Annie with just one sentence: "So a person can be this beautiful."