Heavy panting echoed in the silent corridor as the young officer stared agape at the elderly man sipping tea in profile.
That elderly man seemed unsurprised by the events unfolding; he just sat there quietly as if he were the director of fate, having arranged this very conclusion from the start.
Bang bang bang—
Rapid footsteps came from the other end of the corridor.
The young officer lifted his head and saw Mid running toward him.
At that moment, the elderly man in the office also placed his red tea back on the tray, gently closed the book in his hand, and slowly stood up.
"Mr. Lin En."
The young officer lifted his head and looked toward He Ao, who was now holding a book and walking toward the door.
His gaze subconsciously glanced at the book in He Ao's hand and rested on the title—"The Lost City-States of the Era of the Great Cataclysm - An Archaeological Record of the Ruins in the Middle of the Federation."
"Hmm,"
