340: Natives

The Scarred Man's sharp questioning put the Coordinator in a bit of an awkward position. He managed to maintain a smile and explained:

"Recruiting professionals like you certainly has an important purpose. Our boss's philosophy is that true 'potential development' requires top-tier physical and mental strength as a basic template. You all are the best 'instructors' and 'benchmarks'."

He pointed to the slightly uneasy ordinary people. "As for recruiting physically fit ordinary people, it's to build a reserve for security and other auxiliary roles. We need a complete, hierarchical team."

He seemed to regain some confidence, and his speech speeded up. "You should also know that our recruitment across various channels has been going on for some time; you aren't the first batch. If there were truly something 'amiss,' how could we have continued recruiting so many batches and still be operating as we are? It wouldn't be logical."

Seeing the Scarred Man's expression soften slightly, he struck while the iron was hot, pointing to the ground beneath them. "As for the training grounds, we certainly have them, and they are very professional. They're right in the basement of this building. Please follow me."

Everyone followed the Coordinator into the white building. The interior was clean and bright, yet it possessed a sterile coldness. They took a spacious elevator deep underground.

The elevator doors opened to a wide, open space. It was a massive Underground Comprehensive Training Ground, brightly lit and fully equipped: standard rings, various fixed and free weight training equipment, a track, and even a simulated firing range with common training firearms. The air was thick with the scent of rubber, sweat, and metal.

Seeing all this, the wary expressions on the faces of many black market visitors and Martial Artists relaxed significantly. The Scarred Man also raised an eyebrow and said nothing more.

For them, "teaching people" in a well-equipped facility for a handsome reward without any life-threatening danger sounded like a pretty good deal.

The Coordinator announced the upcoming arrangements at the right time: temporary dorms would be assigned today to familiarize everyone with the environment, and starting tomorrow, they would be grouped by specialty for preliminary "teaching seminars." The atmosphere eased for the moment, and everyone began to look around the underground space in small groups.

Lu Jianchuan and Wei Ziqing did not relax like the others. They deliberately stayed on the edge of the crowd, seemingly observing their surroundings casually.

"Did you notice?" Lu Jianchuan said in a volume only the two of them could hear, his gaze sweeping over the elevator's control panel. "When the elevator stopped just now, below the floor indicator lights, there were at least two unlabeled blank button slots. Furthermore, this training ground's ventilation System and load-bearing structure... don't look like they only serve this one floor."

Wei Ziqing nodded slightly, his sharp gaze sweeping over some excessively thick walls and inconspicuous sealed doors at the edge of the training ground.

Lu Jianchuan's voice dropped even lower, carrying a gravity he himself didn't fully understand. "Also, more importantly... when we came onto the island and walked into those woods earlier, I had a very special feeling for a split second."

"What kind of feeling?"

"A kind of... resonance." Lu Jianchuan carefully captured that fleeting memory.

"A faint resonance between factors. I've... vaguely felt something similar once before in another battle. It's hard to describe, like two of the same kind being separated by a great distance, and suddenly the same string is plucked."

"It only lasted a moment, and then it was gone. That... was the second time. Although it was also just for an instant and had no direction, the feeling was very clear."

"There is... definitely something here. A large amount of things being activated or undergoing violent changes; otherwise, I wouldn't have had this reaction."

After visiting the impressive underground training ground, the smile on the Coordinator's face became much more natural, as if he believed he had eliminated the greatest doubts. He led the group back upstairs and began introducing the living area.

"This is the common lounge and cafeteria," he said, pointing to a simply decorated but well-equipped area. "Food and drinks are available 24 hours a day, buffet-style, to ensure you can get plenty of relaxation and replenishment outside of training. Over there is the residential area, two people per room, with all basic daily necessities provided."

After introducing these basic amenities, the Coordinator's tone turned serious as he pointed toward several closed metal doors deep in the corridor, marked with obvious biohazard warning signs and extra electronic locks.

"Everyone, there are a few places I must specifically emphasize—please do not approach or attempt to enter them under any circumstances." He added weight to his words. "Those are our Core Experimental Zones. They house cutting-edge research that is highly sensitive and carries potential biological risks. For your own safety, any unauthorized approach is strictly prohibited. If there's an accidental leak or infection... the consequences would be unimaginable, and we would be powerless to help. The security System here is comprehensive and automated; please do not take any chances."

Everyone looked at the cold warning signs and nodded silently. When unknown biological risks were involved, any normal person would choose to stay away.

Immediately after, the Coordinator mentioned another "forbidden zone," but for a completely different reason.

"In addition, although this island is the boss's private property, there are some Indigenous People who have lived here for generations." His tone softened, even carrying a hint of praise. "Our boss respects local culture and traditions very much. Out of a sense of humanity, he didn't ask them to relocate but instead designated a specific area for them to continue living in peace. Their village is located in a Seaside Valley on the east side of the island, completely isolated from our research area."

He looked at everyone, his eyes full of warning. "However, please do not disturb them out of curiosity. They have very little contact with the outside world, are not highly educated, live a primitive lifestyle, and are intensely wary of strangers. Trespassing into their territory might be seen as an intrusion, resulting in expulsion or even attack. For the safety and harmony of both parties, please stay within the designated activity areas."

This explanation sounded reasonable and even added a touch of benevolence to the mysterious "boss." Most people just nodded understandingly after hearing it, marking the "indigenous village" as a place they didn't need to visit.

However, in the ears of Lu Jianchuan and Wei Ziqing, it carried a different meaning.

Would a private institution with strict security measures conducting "high bio-risk" research really allow a group of "isolated natives" to stay on its core industrial island long-term? The so-called "humanity" and "cultural respect" seemed particularly out of place and suspicious in this context.

Was there something special about these Indigenous People themselves? Or was that "isolated" village itself another unknown "research area"?

The two of them silently noted this information. The "forbidden zones" introduced by the Coordinator might instead be the key areas that needed investigation.