Lam Huy Trường hurried through the thinning stream of people in the corridor.
At first there were still a few employees rushing past him. Shoes slammed against the metal floor, the sharp clack—clack—clack echoing off the walls.
Someone brushed his shoulder while running by.
Another person glanced back over their shoulder, face pale, before disappearing around the corner.
But after only a few dozen steps, the noise began to fade.
Fewer footsteps.
Fewer voices.
The rushing figures vanished one by one.
Until—
Nothing.
The corridor stretched out ahead of him, long and hollow.
Fluorescent lights on the ceiling flickered with a cold, irregular rhythm. Pale white light flashed, dimmed, then steadied again.
No one else remained.
Only him.
And the sound of his own footsteps.
Clack.
Clack.
Clack.
The empty hallway amplified every step.
Lam Huy Trường sped up.
His breathing grew heavier as he pushed forward, passing the final stretch of corridor.
Just as he stepped out from the last section—
BANG!
A heavy metallic crash exploded behind him.
Lam Huy Trường spun around instantly.
A security shutter was descending from the ceiling.
Thick steel plates slid down in sequence, locking into the grooves along the walls. The mechanism groaned under its own weight as it sealed the passage.
The final lock slammed into place.
KENG.
The path behind him was completely shut.
No way back.
Lam Huy Trường stood there for a few seconds, staring at the steel barrier.
The cold surface reflected the flickering corridor lights.
He didn't say a word.
Didn't try to run back.
After a moment, he simply turned around again.
And continued walking forward.
From the watch on his wrist, the AI's voice spoke up.
"Professor?"
"Where are you going?"
Lam Huy Trường didn't answer immediately.
His footsteps slowed slightly.
In his mind, the memory of the last incident suddenly surfaced.
Back then… it had been the same.
A dead end right in front of him.
No idea what to do.
No plan.
No preparation.
And yet…
Somehow, he had survived.
People always said—
If you survive a great disaster, good fortune will follow.
Hopefully…
that saying was true.
Lam Huy Trường let out a quiet breath as he walked.
Ancestors…
please watch over your descendant for a bit.
The AI's voice from the watch suddenly grew sharper.
"Professor? Where are you going?"
"Professor?"
Lam Huy Trường slowed… then stopped.
His footsteps faded into the empty corridor.
He lowered his gaze to the watch on his wrist.
When he spoke, his voice remained calm.
But something heavy lingered beneath it.
"I have a few things I need to check."
He drew in a slow breath.
"Right now, increasing my chances of survival is the most urgent priority."
Lam Huy Trường raised both hands in front of him.
Empty.
Nothing.
"No weapon. No way to defend myself."
His fingers flexed slightly as if testing the weight of something that wasn't there.
A bitter thought crossed his mind, and the corner of his mouth twitched.
"I can't charge in like Lü Bu and storm the enemy camp."
He shook his head.
"Trying to imitate that kind of bravery right now…"
"…would be suicide."
His finger tapped the watch screen.
The inventory interface appeared.
A simple grid floated in the air above the watch.
Eleven items.
(+ one old battery taken from the little robot in the cafeteria.)
The list expanded in front of him.
But every entry looked exactly the same.
No descriptions.
No instructions.
No hints.
Just names.
Lam Huy Trường stared at the list.
His eyes moved slowly from one item to the next.
Nothing explained what they did.
Nothing suggested how they could be used.
Just silent labels.
Is there anything here… that could change the situation?
The mission briefing echoed again in his mind.
Main mission:
Kill the boss
Or survive the encounter.
But—
His gaze stopped on another line.
Hidden mission.
Why?
If killing the boss was the ending…
Then what was the hidden mission for?
Why would the system offer that option?
A vague possibility flickered across his mind.
Something not yet clear.
Something just out of reach.
Right then—
The AI's voice cut into his thoughts.
"Professor."
"The path ahead has been blocked."
Lam Huy Trường frowned slightly.
The AI continued its report.
"We are currently trapped at the border between Sector B and Sector D."
A small map appeared above the watch display.
A simplified layout of the facility.
"I recommend the following route."
"You can detour through Sector D."
"Although Sector D is close to Sector E, from there you can move backward into Sector C and then return to Sector B."
A brief pause.
"Would you like me to guide you through the detailed route?"
Lam Huy Trường shook his head.
"No."
His answer was short.
"I'm going to Sector E."
One second passed.
Two.
Then the AI almost burst out.
"You're going to Sector E?! Professor?!"