Const Orphanage 21

Elvira felt the underside of the medicine cabinet's shelves, noticing that the middle shelf felt off, as if there was a sticker attached. Had he not lifted the cabinet, he would have never discovered the secret hidden beneath the middle shelf.

Using the moonlight, he took out his flying knives from his sleeve and carefully used the knife to peel off a paper that had been pasted onto the underside of the middle shelf with water.

Leaning by the window and utilizing the moonlight, he unfolded the paper.

To his surprise, it was a blueprint of Const Orphanage's expansion project, including the main building's hall!

During his university years, Elvira had studied architecture. His eyes quickly scanned the document, discovering that the basement actually had two levels!

The basement's second level contained only one room, which was circled in pencil and labeled: Dean's Office.

In his two years at the Orphanage, Elvira had never known about this second basement level.

It might have been a new addition construct.

The Dean's Office likely held more information about the Dean.

He didn't rush to find the second basement level but instead studied the architectural plan more closely. The third floor, the storage room, and the infirmary had a secret passage.

There was also a secret passage connecting the third floor to the second floor, located behind the infirmary's medicine cabinet.

And there was a secret passage from the second floor to the first floor.

The stairs leading to the penultimate floor the Dean's office were at the end of the expanded section's laboratory.

Good, today he directly discovered three secret passages.

Currently, the investors were visiting the new infirmary on the first basement level, inspecting the medical equipment. Now, using the secret passage from the third floor to the second floor, then from the second floor to the new infirmary on the first basement level, was the plan.

Elvira neatly folded the architectural diagram and put it in his pocket, then pulled out a piece of chocolate. After tearing open the wrapper, he popped it into his mouth.

The rich chocolate flavor spread in his mouth, providing Elvira with the energy he needed.

...

Altair watched Elvira suddenly break away from the group without making a sound, instead, he impassively followed the other investors toward the basement's infirmary.

He had traversed the staircase connecting to the basement the day before. The stairwell was oppressive, with high ceilings that felt incredibly spacious, and the narrow stairs winding down like a dark serpent.

Altair heard the investors ahead gasping for breath as they slowly descended step by step. Their footsteps and labored breathing echoed in the spacious stairwell.

The handrail was cold to the touch, the walls were mottled with lime, revealing the bricks underneath, and the pallid light from above only illuminated a limited area, leaving the further spaces cloaked in dense shadows.

Soon, they reached the new infirmary.

The infirmary was brightly lit, with pale pink wallpaper, soft lighting, and even comfortable leather seats. However, Altair detected an unbearable stench.

A series of high-definition screens lined the walls, displaying real-time data on the children's health and vital signs. Their health conditions were being monitored comprehensively.

Not far away, a variety of sophisticated equipment was neatly arranged, resembling a small hospital.

Closing his right eye, through his left, Altair saw the space crowded with the souls of children. They sat on the various devices, looking bewildered and lost. He reached out to touch the head of a child's spirit in mid-air.

As if feeling the warmth, the children uniformly looked up at Altair, and he noticed their eyes were pitch black, devoid of any whiteness.

They enjoyed Altair's touch, and all their hands uniformly pointed in one direction:

There seemed to be a door there.

Altair kept his composure, casually wandering and listening to Georgewill's introduction like the other investors:

"We are also equipped with a series of advanced medical equipment. Intelligent diagnostic tools, automated medication management systems, etc., have greatly improved the efficiency and quality of medical care..."

Five steps, four steps, three steps...

Altair halted, feeling a gaze locked onto him.

It didn't want to go in anymore.

Altair looked in that direction with his left eye. There lay a despairing, filthy darkness, like an unrestrained ocean sprawling outward without the barrier of a dam.

Altair glanced at the other investors, noticing their expressions of contentment and comfort.

—Because this place matched their foul essence.

He then traced the source of the gaze he felt. It was him, Georgewill.

At this moment, Georgewill appeared different from when he stood at the entrance of the hall. It was difficult to pinpoint exactly what had changed, but it seemed as if he had become thinner, more transparent, like a slice of toast cut in half. Altair took another look; Georgewill's soul was shorter, not matching the height of an average adult.

It appeared that with him there, Altair couldn't proceed; he must be the guardian of this place. Altair took a step back, then two, then three, moving away from that dark doorway.

He touched the surrounding children gently and made a reassuring gesture with his mouth. "Don't worry, you will be free."

"Each child has their own health record, documenting their physical conditions, medical history, allergies, and other information. Medical staff can access these records at any time through the electronic system..."

The children around him jumped for joy, then lined up one by one for Altair to pat their heads.

Altair, having slain countless Human-beasts, possessed immense strength and a resolute spirit. His heart was clear and pure, and his touch brought warmth and comfort to these innocent and frail souls.

He didn't show impatience, carefully touching each one. By the time he had made his way around, Georgewill had finished his introduction.

"Thank you, investors, for visiting our new infirmary. Please follow our Care Workers to the hall where we have prepared some refreshments for you. After a short break, we will commence the second part of the investors' banquet."

At this moment, several Care Workers wearing copper masks entered the infirmary. They bowed to the investors and respectfully guided them in the direction of the hall.

Georgewill stood at the end of the line, waiting for the last person to leave the infirmary before he locked the door behind him.

Altair walked slowly at the back of the group, keeping an eye on Georgewill trailing behind.

Georgewill slowed down and disappeared around a corner.

Sniffing the air, Altair deduced that Georgewill must have taken a secret passage. Seizing the opportunity when the other investors were not paying attention, he ducked into a side passage, losing the group.

Following the scent, he stepped back a few paces and pushed against an inconspicuous stone wall, revealing a narrow secret passage beside it.

The secret passage was both dark and tight. Inside, he detected the scent of Georgewill.