The owner of Rundel's Emporium, a middle-aged man with a weathered face and solid frame, emerged from his shop just as night began to settle over the empty and desolated streets of the slums.
While he was making sure that all of the shop's security measures were in place, he gave a wary glance in every direction before locking the doors. His hands moved slowly and deliberately as he checked and rechecked the locks as well as the other safety precautions.
Thefts were widespread in the dirty slum's lanes, and the complex safety system was not out of place. However, his movements had an edge to them, a certain tightness that alluded to the existence of a different thing altogether.
Erik remained hidden on the street as he viewed the scene below with a focused gaze, narrowing his eyes. He had the impression that there was something more going on behind the seemingly ordinary act of the shopkeeper locking up for the night. He was hiding something, and the young man knew that had to do with the secret lab inside the shop.
He grabbed his phone and called Rebecca, who was hiding on the rooftop. He said in a low voice, "Come down. Follow the man, but stay hidden. I'm going inside to look for more information."
Rebecca's strong, determined voice came back.
"Understood." With a swift, graceful movement, she descended from the roof, her figure blending into the shadows as she landed on the ground.
During this time, the owner of the store resumed the thorough approach he had been using to secure the store. His eyes raced across the dimly lit street, searching for any indication that he was being followed or observed without permission. Following the last step of all of the closing procedures, he left the store and walked away, and Rebecca started following him.
Erik observed as the woman, who was now at ground level, began to tail the man. She moved with the poise of a skilled expert, her steps being light and silent, and her figure being hidden by the shadows. He was impressed; it was clear she received extensive training.
Erik switched his attention back to the shop once he was certain that Rebecca was successfully following the shop owner and once he determined that they were both a suitable distance away from the location in question.
<System, deactivate any security system or camera, open any lock, whatever.>
[UNDERSTOOD. ACCESSING THE DEVICES. PROCEDURE COMPLETE.]
After that was finished, Erik turned on the Chameleon Veil and opened the door, after first removing any mechanical locks that may have been present on the store's primary entrance.
Erik entered the store stealthily and quietly, the brain crystal power he possessed partially concealing his exterior as he did so. He stopped for a second and took in his surroundings, his eyes scanning the area carefully for any traps that were not activated electrically. There shouldn't have been anyone inside the shop. Erik made sure to check through the security system, so at least he was safe.
His nostrils were flooded with the shop's aroma, which was an intoxicating concoction of unusual flora, pungent herbs, and a lingering hint of something chemical and caustic.
The scent was an enticing concoction, which provided a clue as to the dual nature of the location, which was in part a shelter for alchemists and in part a covert drug laboratory.
ραndαsnοvεl.cοm Erik, now pleased that he was by himself, proceeded hastily towards the back of the shop, his movements being light and deliberate the entire time.
Thanks to the biological supercomputer's help, the young man was able to get to his destination without any trouble. The secret lab door, cleverly hidden behind a bookshelf, was already unlocked, its mechanism bypassed by the supercomputer.
Erik opened the concealed entry with a light push, which revealed a dimly illuminated stairway descending into the subterranean depths of the establishment.
As soon as Erik stepped foot inside the laboratory, the smell hit him; it was different from the one that was upstairs, and it was not in the least bit pleasant. The benches were lined with rows of chemist's tools, which shone brightly beneath the artificial lights. Shelves were stacked with jars and containers that held a variety of plants and chemicals, and vats of unidentified liquids boiled away in the background.
But Erik did not linger for long in admiration of the arrangement. He was aware of what he needed to find, and he moved with purpose as he searched the room for documents and any other material that could shed light on the real nature of the operation.
His search was methodical and exhaustive, as seen by the deft movement of his hands as they moved over the surfaces, opened drawers, and rummaged through files. He discovered folders that were jam-packed with documents, diagrams, and notes that had been meticulously cataloged and categorized, but nothing was on a computer. Since time was of the essence and Erik was confident that he would be able to assess the content at a later time, he did not pause to read any of them.
He began to assemble the documents in an orderly and methodical manner, placing them one by one into his backpack. Every file folder and sheet of paper could potentially conceal information that would reveal where Catrina was or how the illegal activity was carried out. He took everything that even vaguely seemed pertinent to the situation, his mind working swiftly to evaluate the worth of each object he was taking.
The room gradually became devoid of its hidden secrets, the shelves and drawers emptied, the evidence of criminal activity carefully collected and stowed away.
As he zipped up his backpack, he cast one final glance around the room. The silence of the place seemed to echo with the ghosts of its past, a haunting reminder of the darkness hidden beneath the surface of the city.
With a last lingering look, Erik turned and made his way back up the stairs, his mind already racing ahead to the next phase of the investigation.
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