Dimensional Codex System: I'm really not a cultist!

Chapter 729: Chapter 728: The Ghost-Catching Game at the Guardian’s Office (Part 1)

Stepping out of the elevator, Fang Zheng was surprised to find that the eeriness of this place wasn’t limited to just the elevator.

Unlike the somewhat old-fashioned style of the Guardian’s Office itself, outside the elevator was an extremely modern, pure white lobby, resembling some kind of high-tech facility. Furthermore, in this hall, Fang Zheng saw a row of green plants being illuminated by daylight lamps placed in a corner and various items around that looked like research equipment. There was even a fully glass-enclosed space beside him... Judging by the equipment inside, it seemed to be some kind of emergency room or ICU...

Was this a hospital? Or some kind of research institute? Fang Zheng had never considered adding a dedicated research institute to Heavenly Dao Palace, but now it seemed there was a Fleet Girl who wanted to create one on her own?

”1408, are you there?”

Musashi asked, her voice echoing in the empty hall, but there was no response. For some reason, the place seemed unusually spacious, as if the footsteps of Fang Zheng and the others were slowly being swallowed up...

”Brother Zheng, I always feel this place is a bit scary...”

Midori leaned anxiously against Fang Zheng, reaching out to tightly grasp the corner of his clothes, while he patted her little head.

”Don’t worry, I’m here to protect you, and besides, we’re inside Heavenly Dao Palace, what danger could there possibly be?”

”Although that’s what you say...”

”1408? The captain has something for you, did you hear me? Come out.”

Iona also stepped forward, calling out several times in the hall, but clearly, there was no one there. Even the desk piled with what looked like research materials was deserted, with only a steaming cup of coffee... It seemed as though the owner had just left recently.

”Could they be resting?”

Fang Zheng glanced at the other steel doors on the wall, casually asking the question, while Iona and Musashi exchanged a glance before approaching one of the doors. Then with a whoosh, the door slid open, revealing the profound corridor inside... Wait, what in the world had this person turned Heavenly Dao Palace into?

”In any case... let’s just look around first...”

That was the only thing Fang Zheng could say now.

Meanwhile, back in the courtyard of the Guardian’s Office, Little Hei was also leading Illya and Yoshino on a search for the legendary Fleet Girl designated as 1408.

”Why does it feel like we can’t find her anywhere...” freeωebnovēl.c૦m

Little Hei strolled along with his hands clasped behind his back, boredly surveying his surroundings while muttering to himself. Illya and Yoshino also looked around as they walked, with Kurumi smiling and following behind the trio... Finding people was something she could leave to her clones, no need for her to get involved personally.

”1408... 1408... Where are you?”

Although they encountered a few Fleet Girls along the way, none of them were 1408. Furthermore, when Little Hei asked them about 1408, those Fleet Girls admitted they vaguely knew of such a person and seemed to remember training with her, but when pressed for what 1408 looked like or any identifying features, no one could provide a clear answer...

But this only piqued Little Hei’s interest.

”This is really interesting, I must find out what this Fleet Girl 1408 looks like!”

”Truly amusing...”

Now Kurumi was interested too. She had nearly spread her clones all over the outskirts of the Guardian’s Office, only to be informed that they hadn’t seen the Fleet Girl in question. Of course, just to be safe, Kurumi also sent a few clones to check out the streets and the docks—perhaps the person had gone out shopping?

”Hold on, I’ll go up and check!”

After saying that, Little Hei turned around and quickly ran up to the roof of the nearby Bell Tower, then squinted his eyes and swiftly scanned the surroundings. Immediately after, Little Hei stretched out his hand, pointing towards the square on the other side of the courtyard.

”Ah—! There! Under the statue, on the bench, I saw her! A big sister with long black straight hair, reading a book, and her nameplate reads 1408!”

Having said that, Little Hei leaped up, then swiftly ran across the rooftops toward the square. Seeing Little Hei take off, Illya was taken aback.

”Wait, Little Hei, you started first, that’s so sly!”

”Hahaha, it’s each to their own skills, Illya, if you lose, you have to admit you’re my little sister, okay?”

After leaving behind that remark, Little Hei disappeared from everyone’s sight in just a couple of strides.

”Hmph, no way, I’ll definitely be the first one there! Sister Yoshino, let’s go!”

”Ah... okay...”

Facing the imposing Illya, Yoshino couldn’t help but nod instinctively, then she was promptly pulled into the air by Illya and they both rushed toward the plaza.

”Ah, I see it!”

Soon after, Illya and Yoshino flying in the sky, also spotted the figure sitting under a statue reading a book, as described by Little Hei. However, their vision was obviously not as sharp as Little Hei’s Hawkeye and naturally, they couldn’t make out the number on the woman’s chest badge either. But since Little Hei had said so, it had to be her, no doubt about it!

”I’ll be the first to find Sister 1408!”

”No, it’s me who’s right!”

Amidst their shouts, Little Hei and Illya sped towards the chair, one above the other, and then...

”Thud!!”

With a muffled sound, their two little heads collided heavily, and then they tumbled to the ground with a ”thump.”

”Little Hei, Illya, are you two okay?”

”Ouch... this really is...”

Simultaneously, Yoshino, worried, flew down from the sky to their side, while Kurumi also covered her mouth with a hand and, with a slight smile, slowly made her way over to the pair.

”Ow...”

Hearing Yoshino’s voice, Little Hei and Illya, dizzy from the collision, quickly got up and looked once more towards the bench in front of them.

”It was me who found her first!”

”But I’m faster than you, and Little Hei, you cheat... huh?”

While looking at the bench before them, the two of them, who had been arguing, suddenly stopped. At this moment, the bench in front of them was completely empty, with nobody there.

”Huh? Where did that big sister go?”

”Huh???”

”... What is this...”

It was only then that the group realized in astonishment that the chair was, in fact, empty.

What was going on? They had clearly seen the Fleet Girl sitting right there just moments ago! But in the instant Little Hei and Illya collided, drawing everyone’s attention, the Fleet Girl had vanished?

What was the situation?

”Just now... there was definitely someone here, right?”

Little Hei scratched her head, then stood up and looked around. She saw that apart from the four of them, the plaza was empty, not even a mouse could be seen...

She could swear she had seen a Fleet Girl sitting right there, and the nameplate on her chest definitely read 1408! But now, how could the person be missing?

What on earth was happening?

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