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Chapter 98 Holy crap! This is the real Southern Heavenly Gate Plan, isn't it? (Please subscribe)
The office was eerily quiet, with only the faint sound of the air conditioner blowing air, as if time was passing by silently.

a long time--

Qin Longlong raised his head, the hesitation and struggle in his eyes had faded, replaced by an unprecedented calm and determination.

“Director Liu,” his voice was a little hoarse, but every word was crystal clear, “I am willing to bear all the consequences.”

"Anyway, I have a younger brother!"

"Okay." Director Liu nodded heavily and pushed a confidentiality agreement and transfer documents in front of him.

"Sign it. Comrade Qin Longlong, congratulations! From now on, you've officially joined a great project. As for the unit you'll be going to, I don't know due to confidentiality. I only know that you'll have a very heavy responsibility in the future!"

After signing, Director Liu stood up and gave a final instruction: "Go back and pack your bags. Only bring personal belongings, and don't tell your colleagues!"

"Also, contact your family this afternoon. Be prepared for a long period of no contact!"

"Someone will come to pick you up first thing tomorrow morning!"

Qin Longlong signed the document and left with a solemn expression.

Once back in his dormitory, he quickly tidied up his personal belongings.

He didn't need bed sheets or blankets, Director Liu said the classified unit had them all; he mainly needed his clothes and personal items.

When several of his roommates came in and asked about the situation, he answered according to the explanation given by Director Liu.

After lunch, he called home and chatted for more than half an hour.

Hearing that their son would be involved in some confidential work and that it would be difficult to contact him even during the Lunar New Year, the older generation, though reluctant to let him go, could still understand.

"When you have time, return the calls more often!"

"Ok!"

Qin Longlong was unusually free of research tasks and could sleep in.

Until his phone was suddenly dialed!
"Hello, ah... okay, I'll get right on it!"

"Old Qin, why are you tidying up so late at night?"

"The research institute assigned me a new task, which is quite urgent. People from there are coming to pick me up!"

"Oh, I see. Well then, I wish you all the best in your work!"

Qin Longlong smiled and waved.

He slung his backpack over his shoulder, carried a suitcase in one hand, and pushed open the dormitory door.

The night wind carried a chill, making him shiver.

Several men stood quietly by the streetlights downstairs, their shadows stretched long, like shadows nailed to the ground.

They weren't wearing uniforms, but you could feel their efficient and capable demeanor from a distance.

It's definitely the security department!

Qin Longlong walked over, and the leading man also came up, his gaze sweeping over Qin Longlong's face.

"Qin Longlong?"

The sound wasn't loud, but it was very clear.

"it's me."

"Have you told your family?"

"I told you."

The man nodded, extended his hand, palm up, the gesture simple and direct.

"All electronic devices, hand them over. From now on, you are no longer allowed to use any personal communication devices."

Qin Longlong took out his phone. The screen was black, but he could still see his mother's reluctant face during their previous phone call.

He unconsciously rubbed his thumb on the smooth screen before placing it in the other person's hand.

This action is like a ritual to bid farewell to the previous prosperous life.

As I opened the car door, a warm breeze carrying a mixture of the smells of smoke and sweat rushed out. The car was dimly lit, and several people were already inside.

Once his eyes adjusted to the darkness, Qin Longlong was stunned. A dark figure by the window moved, grinned, and revealed a set of white teeth.

"Ah, Old Zhang?"

"Hey, I knew you couldn't escape!"

Another voice rang out: "And me, Lao Qin!"

"Senior Brother Li? Senior Brother Wang?"

Qin Longlong was both surprised and delighted, and suddenly understood everything.

So what got rejected? Turns out they were all bundled up and sent here!

"They just happened to recruit the four of us. Is the director worried we'll be lonely, so he's putting us together for a mahjong game in this classified unit?"

Someone made a joke, and the oppressive atmosphere in the carriage immediately eased up a lot.

It turns out I wasn't fighting alone.

This feeling is so reassuring!

What followed was a long journey with no concept of time.

From a closed car to a windowless airplane, and then to another closed car. They were like a shipment of goods being transferred, with no known origin and no foreseeable destination.

When I get sleepy, I lean back in my chair and fall asleep. When I wake up, I chat quietly with the person next to me, but the topic always intentionally or unintentionally avoids the purpose of this trip.

The sense of time has become completely blurred, and some people have even started arguing about whether it is day or night.

Finally, the vehicle drove into an underground parking lot and parked inside a building.

The blinding white light made everyone squint instinctively.

"Gentlemen, please rest here for now." A middle-aged man in military uniform greeted them; it was Li Jingze, who had returned to the modern world to report the news and to rest.

Li Jingze looked at everyone with a serious expression: "There are still a few documents that you need to sign later. Tomorrow at noon, someone will come to pick you up and take you to the actual research institution!"

Looking at the several thick agreements, the terms of which were even more complicated than those given by Director Liu before, Qin Longlong's lips twitched.

"I feel like I've sold myself to the country for the rest of my life," Old Zhang muttered to himself as he signed his name in a flamboyant manner.

"Me too, but all I want right now is a good night's sleep!"

Qin Longlong spoke with a smile, and for some reason, he tightened his grip on the autograph.

After all the procedures were completed, Li Jing carefully put away the documents and looked around at the young people who were listless but had bright eyes.

"Okay, I know you're all tired and curious."

His expression turned serious, and the air in the conference room seemed to freeze.

"The nation will not forget your youthful sacrifices and contributions. Now, it's time to tell you what this gathering of the nation's top minds is all about."

"Let's go, I'll take you to our destination!"

Li Jingze's voice was like a stimulant, making the group of listless but bright-eyed young people extremely excited.

After all this fuss, we're finally about to see what their future priorities are!
The group rode the tram and followed him through several corridors where the outside world was not clearly visible.

Qin Longlong vaguely heard the sound of a car.

Then, as several heavy alloy doors were opened, the noise from the outside world dissipated.

Finally, they came to a stop in a huge space.

This building was originally supposed to be 15 meters tall, but it has long since been demolished.

To everyone's surprise, there was an extremely conspicuous gate.

An enormous gate stands in the center, its surface neither gold nor stone, and it slowly radiates a myriad of colorful lights in a strange rhythm.

The light was not dazzling, but rather so profound that it seemed to draw one's soul in.

The entire space was silent, except for the low hum of the halo, which vibrated in everyone's eardrums and heart.

"Holy crap..." Old Zhang's mouth gaped open enough to fit an egg, and it took him a while to utter two words, "This is the real Southern Heavenly Gate Plan, isn't it?"

(End of this chapter)